REEL VOICES: Amplifying Vietnamese Stories and Representation on Screen

is a dynamic workshop and panel discussion dedicated to exploring the power of cinematic storytelling to represent and celebrate Vietnamese culture. This is a FREE community event that will feature a Q&A panel as well as two skill-building workshops in acting and directing for Vietnamese community members interested in starting a career in acting, directing, or other avenues of filmmaking and on-screen storytelling. This event is in partnership with Phoenix Eye Productions and Prestigious Powerhouse.

AGENDA

11 AM - 1 PM - Workshops

Intro to Directing, hosted by Linh Trần
Intro to Acting, hosted by Maria Trần

Workshops are free but limited to 20 people each and will be hosted simultaneously. Please register for only one workshop! 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM - Panel Discussion

Join us for a panel discussion hosted by Hoàng Nguyễn with Maria Trần, Linh Trần, Robert Nguyễn, Christine Phạm, Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên, and Dinh Thai. Workshop attendees will receive automatic access to this panel. All other guests are encouraged to RSVP using our registration link.

REEL VOICES BY:

Maria Trần, Actress & Filmmaker

MARIA TRẦN is a Vietnamese-Australian actor, filmmaker, and martial artist who has won multiple awards for her work in film, TV, stage, and performance. She also specializes in fight action choreography and is the founder of Phoenix Eye Films, a female-led production company based in both Australia and the US. She has a background in psychology, filmmaking, and working with culturally diverse communities. She is known for her international action blockbusters such as Fist of the Dragon in China and Tracer in Vietnam. She recently starred in Last King of the Cross as Madame Tien on Paramount+.

Maria Trần is often described as ground-breaking and trailblazing as a cultural practitioner, she travels between industries, while also maintaining her creative arts practice, to forge a new path for the next generation of creatives.

Linh Trần, Director

Born and raised in Vietnam, LINH TRẦN moved to the United States to pursue her higher education in 2013. Starting out in theater acting, she went on to make films, both documentary and fiction. Linh holds an MFA degree in film & TV from DePaul University. Her works are deeply personal, exploring memories of childhood and early adulthood. ​

Linh's short films have been selected by Dublin International Film Festival, One Country One Film - Apchat-Issoire International Film Festival, Bushwick Film Festival, Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Cordillera International Film Festival, Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival. Her feature debut Waiting for the Light to Change won the Narrative Feature Grand Jury Prize at the 29th Slamdance Film Festival.

Linh is one third of PRIMA MATERIA PICTURES.

Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên, Actress & MC

NGUYỄN CAO KỲ DUYÊN, born in Saigon, Vietnam, is a versatile Vietnamese-American artist excelling as an actress, singer, songwriter, and master of ceremonies. Widely recognized for her co-hosting duties in the esteemed Paris by Night series, she has left an indelible impact in the realm of acting. Her noteworthy performances include roles in productions such as Nu Dai Gia (2016), Lost Paradise (1993), and most recently, the upcoming HBO series, The Sympathizer, where she starred alongside Robert Downey Jr.

Dinh Thai, Writer & Director

DINH THAI is an Asian American award-winning writer/director by way of commercial directing. Born in Vietnam, fled to France, and finally settled in Los Angeles, the 80s and 90s nurtured a cultural mix that strongly informs Dinh’s filmic approach and aesthetic. His work blends visual style with realism, focusing on comedy and drama with strong musical influences. 

Along with being an alumnus of the Disney TV Director Program, Ryan Murphy's Half-Initiative, and NBC’s Emerging Director Program, Dinh has gone onto direct TV episodes of Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu), Warrior (Max), New Amsterdam (NBC), The Good Doctor (ABC), In The Dark (CW), American Born Chinese (Disney+), Under The Bridge (Hulu), and the season finale of Career Opportunities in Murder and Mayhem (Hulu). He has co-written and directed AZNBBGRL, a Vietnamese American pilot for Freeform.

Robert Nguyễn, Producer

ROBERT NGUYỄN started out in the entertainment industry in the 1990s when he worked as executive assistant to mega-talents like Bette Midler and film and television producer Bonnie Bruckheimer. During that time, he helped coordinate Ms. Midler’s music and acting career while also assisting Ms. Bruckheimer with film and television productions.

He has been creating content and planning some other projects with the original Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling (GLOW) as a producer of Afterglow Productions. Currently, he is an Associate Producer for the upcoming Vietnamese film, A Lone Lost Soul.

Christine Phạm, Development Executive and Producer

CHRISTINE PHẠM serves as the series producer for Last Days Of The Space Age. Previously, she served as a drama development executive at Universal TV, an award-winning division of Universal Studio Group. At Universal TV, she oversaw the development of Vampire Academy (Peacock), Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol (Peacock), Law & Order reboot (NBC), and limited series The Best Man (Peacock).

At digital studio AwesomenessTV she produced The Unsettling (HBO Asia), All Night (Hulu), Love Daily (Netflix) and season 4 of FOURSOME (YouTube Originals). Prior to that, as an Original Programming Executive at Pivot Network she oversaw co-productions of Josh Thomas' critically acclaimed Australian dramedy series Please Like Me (with The ABC) and Fortitude (with Sky Atlantic). Over her career, she has worked at The CW, Tollin Productions, Warner Independent, and Creative Artist Agency.

Hoàng Nguyễn, Director of External Affairs at AAPI Equity Alliance

HOÀNG NGUYỄN is the Director of External Affairs at AAPI Equity Alliance, a co-founding partner of the national organization Stop AAPI Hate. He currently leads the organization’s external and government relations along with strategic policy advocacy to benefit the 1.6 million Asian & Pacific Islanders in Los Angeles County. 

In 2023, Hoàng was appointed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to serve on the Los Angeles City Civil and Human Rights Commission to help enforce the city’s civil rights laws, becoming the youngest openly queer person to serve on the Commission. He was born and raised in Việt Nam, and immigrated to the United States when he was 10 years old.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Prestigious Powerhouse, Topo Chico and SANG Coffee

This event offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the wo

rld of storytelling, acting, and filmmaking while contributing to a broader conversation about representation, diversity, and the creative industry's future.