WRITTEN BY LEO ALBEA AND FRANCESA JANA SANTIAGO

We get a lot of “hate” comments on Facebook when we talk about “Filipino representation.” Many people like to think we’d rather blame Hollywood than create our own stories, but it ignores the simple premise that is the “make or break” moment for perhaps all films - do you have the money to make it?

And that’s a bit of a loaded question, considering that most Hollywood studios may prefer to group us (Filipinos) with the Asian category of audiences, and in doing so, we most often only see “East Asian Representation.”

And while this one film may not change it all, it’s at least a step in the right direction. It’s the very thing that commenters love to bash us on - “go make your own films then.” Fine, we will, but will you commit to supporting it?

In the short film, “FilAm,”  we follow JP, played by Nikolai Bazan, as he navigates his surrounding relationships and comes to terms with his individuality and cultural identity as a teenage Filipino American. We witness as JP rediscovers pride for his culture amidst the transition to adulthood. This same love for culture is displayed in other independent Filipino-centered films like “Lumpia with a Vengeance,” “American Adobo,” and “The Fabulous Filipino Brothers” which are all visibly used as motifs that take the plots across. “FilAm”’s use of the coming of age subgenre will serve “to bridge a connection between Filipino culture, Filipino Americans and a wider audience as a whole,” says director Tony Marquez.

The production aims to raise $20,000 to create this film in 2022, and over the course of a month, has been able to raise nearly $17,000. With only 1 day left to raise the remaining $3,000, we are looking to the community to lend their support to help make this film. There are multiple perks you can receive in addition to the perk of knowing you’re funding a film that invests back into our own visibility in film & entertainment. You can find the crowdfunding campaign here and learn more about the film.