FILM TEAM

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EUGENE YI | Director/Writer

Eugene Yi is an Emmy-winning filmmaker and writer whose directing work includes FREE CHOL SOO LEE (director, with Julie Ha; competition at 2022 Sundance Film Festival; PBS’s Independent Lens; News & Documentary Emmy® winner for Best Historical Documentary); and THE A LIST: 15 STORIES FROM THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DIASPORAS, for HBO. His editing work includes FAREWELL FERRIS WHEEL (2018 News and Documentary Emmy®-nominated); and OUT OF MY HAND (Berlinale,  2015 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award nominee). His print journalism has been honored with numerous awards, including the LA Press Club Award for an oral history of the events of April 1992 from a Korean American perspective for KoreAm Journal. He works out of Los Angeles and Palisades Park, New Jersey.

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DIANE QUON | Producer

An Academy Award-nominated producer, Diane worked as a marketing executive at NBC and Paramount Pictures in LA before moving back to her hometown of Chicago. Diane has produced many documentaries including: the Oscar nominated and Peabody award-winning film, MINDING THE GAP (Hulu, POV); 2022 Oscar-shortlisted BAD AXE (IFCFilms); THE DILEMMA OF DESIRE (Showtime); Emmy-nominated FINDING YINGYING (MTVDocs); Emmy-nominated WUHAN WUHAN (POV); AKA MR. CHOW (HBO) and BREAKING THE NEWS (Tribeca 2023, Indie Lens).  Upcoming projects include the UNTITLED SAM PROJECT,  as well as a fiction feature based on a NYTimes bestseller. Diane is an AMPAS member, a Sundance Creative Producing Fellow, a Cinereach Producer Awardee and the proud mother of four.

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SANJAY M. SHARMA & MILAN CHAKRABORTY  (MARGINAL MEDIAWORKS)  |  Producers 

Marginal MediaWorks, Inc. is a fast-growing independent studio focused on premium storytelling, from singular subcultures and voices. MARGINAL develops and produces feature films, docs, series, animation and audio series, with a primary focus on commercially established genres & subgenres from outsider points of view of all kinds in the US and globally. MARGINAL embraces stories where identity is a prism, but not the plot. In its first few years, the company has already produced 10 feature films (Amazon, HBO Max, Hulu, IFC). Its most recent film, CYPHER, starring Interscope recording artist Tierra Whack and directed by Chris Moukarbel (GAGA: FIVE FOOT TWO), won the Jury Prize for Fiction Film at Tribeca 2023. Its current film, SHE TAUGHT LOVE, premiered at Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and was recently named the “Best Independent Feature Film” of 2024 by the African American Film Critics’ Association.  Both are now streaming on HULU.

Marginal was founded by serial entrepreneur and producer Sanjay M. Sharma.  Sharma began his career at Warner Bros. Pictures and previously co-founded and led two digital media startups, Machinima & All Def Media, the former of which was acquired by Warner Bros.  Marginal’s Head of Film is a fellow Warner Bros. alum, Milan Chakraborty, a veteran indie film producer of over 25 films (ASSASSINATION NATION, PLUS ONE) whose most recent documentary, BLACK BARBIE, premiered at SXSW and was acquired by Netflix and Shondaland.

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JAMES SHIN |  Producer

James is the President of Film & Television at Hybe America, a diversified worldwide entertainment, and media company at the intersection of music, film, television, technology, brands, culture and social good.   James recently premiered the documentary film about BTS ARMY, FOREVER WE ARE YOUNG, at SXSW for global release later in 2025. James serves as Executive Producer for FX Network’s hit comedy series DAVE, which had a historic season 3 featuring Brad Pitt and Rachel McAdams.  Under James, Hybe America continues to grow the film and television offerings.  Projects produced include Netflix’s EXCUSE ME, I LOVE YOU with Ariana Grande, YouTube’s JUSTIN BIEBER: SEASONS, the critically acclaimed four-part docuseries, DEMI LOVATO: DANCING WITH THE DEVIL  for YouTube, Amazon Studios’ THE BOY FROM MEDELLIN  with Academy Award-nominated Matthew Heineman, and Hulu’s CHILD STAR with Demi Lovato.

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JOE PLUMMER  |  Producer

A visionary leader and Emmy and Tony-winning producer, Joe is President and Producer at Wavelength, where he oversees all in-house production and investment across non-scripted and scripted films, theater, and branded content. With an illustrious career spanning a variety of mediums, Joe is known for supporting stories that reveal our common humanity and championing individuals of cultural impact. His impressive film portfolio includes Academy Award®-shortlisted 32 SOUNDS, Venice Award Winning Documentary THANK YOU VERY MUCH, award winners THE CAVE OF ADULLAM, WERNER HERZOG: RADICAL DREAMER, BITTERBRUSH, AISHA, Emmy-winning ART & KRIMES BY KRIMES, FEELS GOOD MAN and ATHLETE A, and more.  Beyond the silver screen, Joe extends his expertise to Wavelength's branded content and commercial division, collaborating with industry giants like lululemon, American Express, and Uber Eats to craft unforgettable campaigns.

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DAVID E. SIMPSON  |  Editor/Writer

David is a documentary filmmaker with over three decades of experience. Programs he has produced, directed or edited have garnered three national Emmys, a pair of Peabody awards, two DuPont-Columbia batons, an Oscar nomination and best in category at countless festivals. Simpson’s first feature-documentary, WHEN BILLY BROKE HIS HEAD, was a groundbreaking film about disability culture that premiered at Sundance in 1995. His other films include  REFRIGERATOR MOTHERS, MILKING THE RHINO, and HALSTED STREET, USA.  A veteran director/producer, David considers editing to be the core of documentary practice, and now spends the bulk of his time in the cutting room, crafting impactful works with talented collaborators. Credits include AND STILL I RISE about Maya Angelou; half a dozen films for master documentarian, Marian Marzynski (SHTETL - Grand Prix, Cinéma du Réal); and seven projects with HOOP DREAMS director, Steve James, including the Oscar-nominated ABACUS: TOO SMALL TO FAIL and the  recent ESPN series on Bill Walton, THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD.

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JANET YANG  |  Executive Producer

An Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Hollywood producer, Yang recently completed three one-year terms as President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, ending her tenure on June 30, 2025. She is the first Asian American to hold this position. In July 2025, she became a founding partner of First Light StoryHouse, a new venture with Miky Lee of CJ Entertainment and Dominic Ng of East West Bank. 

Yang came to prominence through her collaboration with Steven Spielberg on EMPIRE OF THE SUN (Warner Bros), followed by a long partnership with multiple Academy Award-winner Oliver Stone where she served as Executive Producer on the iconic THE JOY LUCK CLUB (Disney), and as a Producer on the Golden Globe-winning THE PEOPLE VS. LARRY FLYNT" (Columbia Pictures).

Most recently, Yang was an Executive Producer on the Oscar-nominated OVER THE MOON (Netflix, 2020). Her other works include DARK MATTER (Sundance winner) with Meryl Streep, THE WEIGHT OF WATER (Lionsgate) directed by Kathryn Bigelow with Sean Penn, HIGH CRIMES (Fox) with Morgan Freeman, and cult favorites ZERO EFFECT (Jake Kasdan) and SHANGHAI CALLING (China Film Group).

Yang was named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood" by The Hollywood Reporter, included in Variety's "Power of Women," and was featured on the Forbes 2024 "50 over 50" List. She is a co-founder of GoldHouse, serves on the board of IMAX China, Forbes APEX, Unified Youth, and Asia Society Southern California’s Advisory Council. Yang is a Presidential Fellow at Loyola Marymount University and holds an honorary degree from Bowdoin College.

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JENIFER WESTPHAL  |  Executive Producer

Jenifer is a sought-after Emmy and Tony-winning producer and Founder and CEO at Wavelength. Named one of Variety's "10 Producers to Watch" in 2020, she is driven by a mission to tell great f***ing stories and has the track record to prove it.   Jen’s credits include the Academy Award®-shortlisted 32 SOUNDS, highly regarded RATHER and BITTERBRUSH, ON SWIFT HORSES starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Jacob Elordi, three-time Tribeca winner THE CAVE OF ADULLAM, AISHA starring Letitia Wright and Josh O’Connor, Emmy-winning ART & KRIMES BY KRIMES, FEELS GOOD MAN and ATHLETE A, Emmy-nominated documentary LET ME BE ME, and more. Her first directing credit was for MAYBE NEXT YEAR.   In her role at Wavelength, Jen is committed to cultivating diverse talent and supporting stories that highlight under-recognized communities through initiatives such as the annual WAVE Grant, which provides financial support and mentorship to first-time women and non-binary filmmakers of color.

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ROLAND KASSIS & ALYSSA SCHROETER (BREVITY FILMS) | Executive Producers

Brevity Films is an impact focused film finance and development company. Founded by Roland Kassis and Alyssa Schroeter with the mission to teach, challenge and entertain the broadest possible range of audiences. Brevity thrives on creating groundbreaking and impactful original series, features, and documentaries, strategically investing with like minded, award-winning filmmakers and production companies.  Past finance projects include the 2023 Emmy-nominated TIKTOK, BOOM,  IN THE SHADOW OF BEIRUT,   Ireland’s 2024 Oscar entry for Best International Film, and ENOUGH! LEBANON’S DARKEST HOUR,  winner of the 2021 Better World Fund's Movie That Matter award. Most recently, Brevity joined Brave Wilderness on the upcoming documentary THAT BEAR KID,  directed by Coyote Peterson and Executive Produced alongside BAFTA winner Bear Grylls.

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BINA SHUKLA | Executive Producer

Bina is a venture investor and founder of the Ahana Foundation, which supports female founders, fund managers, and filmmakers. Through her work at the intersection of capital and creativity, she leads initiatives that celebrate stories of hope and resilience, especially those centered on women and youth, while advancing impactful storytelling.

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BRENDA ROBINSON | Executive Producer

Brenda is an entertainment attorney and producer who has been an advisor to many entertainment companies, including Amazon Studios and IMDb. Brenda was a financier on the Academy Award-winning documentary Icarus, as well as  WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?  She is an executive producer on the BAFTA-nominated PASSING (Sundance 2021), produced by Nina Yang Bongiovi; the Emmy-nominated UNITED SKATES, alongside executive producer John Legend;  and UNCHARTED, alongside executive producer Alicia Keys.  Brenda is on the board of the GRAMMY Museum Foundation, is a member of The Recording Academy, BAFTA and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS); and is the Board Chair of Film Independent.

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JAMES ROH | Executive Producer

James is probably most well known as a member of music group Far East Movement (FM). The band hails from Koreatown, Los Angeles but has always had a global outlook on music.  FM attained platinum hits ranging from the US, the United Kingdom, China, to South Korea. Since becoming the first Asian American group to hit #1 on the Billboard Charts with their smash hit "Like a G6" and following up with another Top 5 on Billboard with "Rocketeer" co-written by Bruno Mars, they also delivered two #1 hits (“Bamboo” and “Lovebird”) on China’s Netease platform in 2018. 

James is also a graduate of Loyola Law School and his current focus is as the COO of Transparent Arts (TA), an entertainment company he built with his childhood friends.  TA’s roster includes global pop icons The Rose, Jay Park, Mark Tuan, Chungha, and DJ/ Producer Yultron among others. James also serves as a Board member for nonprofit organizations Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation and Gold House that support the arts and entertainment.

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DANIEL PARK | Executive Producer

Daniel is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Transparent Arts, where he leads creative direction, production, and directing across music, film, and TV. His work spans chart-topping artists, global tours, and acclaimed screen projects, shaping culturally resonant stories that bridge East and West.

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RICHARD HAMA | Co-Producer/Director of Photography

Richard is a talented cinematographer renowned for his work across commercial, music video, and documentary feature films. With a keen eye for visual storytelling, Richard has collaborated with prestigious clients such as Charles Schwab and Goldman Sachs, bringing their projects to life with stunning imagery and artistic vision.  In addition to his commercial work, Richard has also made significant contributions to the documentary film genre. He served as an additional cinematographer on the acclaimed HBO documentary AKA MR. CHOW which explores the life and influence of the enigmatic restaurateur and artist, Mr. Chow. He is currently in production on an IMAX feature length documentary  by award winning director Miko Lim and is concurrently working closely on the feature length documentary, THE ROSE: COME BACK TO ME (Tribeca 2025). Richard’s diverse experience and technical expertise allows him to adeptly navigate various styles and formats, creating compelling narratives that resonate with audiences. His passion for capturing authentic moments and his dedication to the craft make him a sought-after cinematographer in the industry.

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SO YUN UM | Co-Producer/Location Sound/Field Producer

So Yun is a Korean American Director and Producer born and based in Los Angeles. Her directorial debut documentary feature film, LIQUOR STORE DREAMS, made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival and had its broadcast premiere on PBS. So Yun is a 2022-2023 BAFTA Breakthrough participant and a Co-producer on Elizabeth Ai’s documentary, NEW WAVE (Tribeca 2024). She is also a CAAM 2021 Fellow, alumnus of the Armed with a Camera Fellowship by Visual Communication, recipient of the Sundance Uprise Grant and a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Grantee.  She has also produced a variety of branded K-pop content and documentaries for Snapchat, Teen Vogue, Meta and more.

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TAMMY CHU | Co-Producer/Archival Producer

Tammy is a producer and archival producer who has worked on documentaries and docuseries for HBO, PBS, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Vice TV, ESPN Films, and Discovery Asia-Pacific. Her credits include the HBO Original documentary AKA MR. CHOW and the Emmy Award–winning documentary FREE CHOL SOO LEE (Sundance Film Festival competition), ARE WE GOOD? (Tribeca Film Festival premiere), as well as the Peabody Award–winning PBS series ASIAN AMERICANS, and the P.O.V. series AND SHE COULD BE NEXT. She has also produced feature documentaries RESILIENCE, (Busan International Film Festival premiere), TOO SOON: COMEDY AFTER 9/11, and BEHIND FORGOTTEN EYES. 

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NAYON CHO | Animator

Nayon is a Seoul-born, New York-based animation director whose work merges traditional drawing, photography, cel, and digital animation. She has gained international recognition with projects spanning both artistic and commercial realms. Her short film STIGMA (currently in development) received The ARTE Award for Best Script at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival’s MIFA Pitches in 2023. She has co-directed an animation sequence for Netflix's series CLARK, directed an award-winning artist ident for Hulu, and created a short for Adult Swim Smalls that has screened at festivals worldwide. Her commercial work includes projects for DreamWorks, Amazon Music, Google, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Vice, and more. A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, she has taught animation at RISD and Cooper Union, and participated in a residency at The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark.

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CHAD CANNON | Composer

Chad  is a composer and violinist whose work can be heard in the Oscar-winning Netflix documentary AMERICAN FACTORY, the BAFTA-winning PlayStation game GHOST OF TSUSHIMA, and the Hulu docuseries ALGIERS, AMERICA.  He was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy for his score for Exposing Muybridge, and has received 7 International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) nominations, including for Harbor from the Holocaust - featuring special guest performer Yo-Yo Ma. Other recent titles include JOIN OR DIE (Netflix), THE DATING GAME (2025 Sundance premiere), MIND OVER MURDER (HBO), HIDDEN LETTERS (2023 Oscars shortlist), and TOKYO COWBOY.  As an arranger, he has worked for Joe Hisaishi, the composer for Hayao Miyazaki’s animated Studio Ghibli films. Chad studied at Harvard and Juilliard, and runs Asia-America New Music Institute (AANMI), a small nonprofit which produces cultural exchange concerts between Asia and the U.S.

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JESSE KERMAN | Motion Graphics

Jesse runs a busy motion graphics company, 423 Motion, Inc., with his wife, cats and dog in Western Massachusetts. His title sequence and motion graphics work can be seen on Paramount+, PBS, and Hulu in FINDING YINGYING, FOR THE LEFT HAND, and Academy Award-nominated MINDING THE GAP. Corporate credits include Apple, IBM, Twitter, AstraZeneca, New Balance, The Wall Street Journal, AirBnB, Pfizer, SAP, Blue Shield, and Cornell University.