Everyone’s story matters. In today’s episode we listen in on documentary film Director and Producer Larissa Lam and Producer Baldwin Chiu in conversation with Mt. SAC students about the making of their film, Far East Deep South - Discover The Past You Never Knew.

This film began as a search for one family’s roots but became an exploration of a broader story about hidden histories of intersectional communities forged in the segregated south. They share their filmmaking process and challenges they faced in their work to preserve these lost histories. Be sure to listen for Larissa Lam’s Mt. SAC connection and why sharing a fuller American history motivated her to make the film.

Perhaps this episode will inspire you to explore your own family history.

Resources:

Watch the Film

The Mt. SAC Library can provide access to the film Far East Deep South for Mt. SAC students and employees (sign-in required). The filmmakers (and Mt. SAC Librarians) encourage faculty to utilize the film in their classes. For those not at Mt. SAC you may be able to access the film through your local library’s Kanopy.

Learn more about the Film

Far East Deep South website

Resources mentioned:

At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943 by Erica Lee is available as an ebook for those with current Mt. SAC portal logins.

Lee, Erika. At America’s Gates: Chinese Immigration during the Exclusion Era, 1882-1943. New edition 1. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 2004.

Mt. SAC Library provides access to the 2018 PBS documentary, The Chinese Exclusion Act, through Films on Demand. (Requires Mt. SAC portal login).

“The Chinese Exclusion Act.” Films On Demand, Films Media Group, 2018.

Jane Hong’s book Opening the Gates to Asia : A Transpacific History of How America Repealed Asian Exclusion is available as an ebook with Mt. SAC portal login.

Hong, Jane H. Opening the Gates to Asia: A Transpacific History of How America Repealed Asian Exclusion. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2019.

Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu’s podcast Love, Discovery & Dim Sum is available where you find podcasts

The screening of Far East Deep South was brought to campus by Arise, the Center for Black Culture and Student Success, the Equity Center, Mt. SAC History Department, and Mt. SAC Library.

Run time: 33:27 min

To find the full transcript for this episode, click HERE