22
The Wildcat
Arts
March 8, 2013
bohswildcat.com
film production an aspiration for MORIAH BOHS graduate finds niche in Asian-American entertainment industry
W
by Joy Kim, Editor-in-Chief hen Farah Moriah graduated from BOHS, she aspired to be a they, and the project’s assistant editor, Mark Anthony Gadia, noticed that Asian figures neurosurgeon and went on to study at the University of California, were more prominent on YouTube and other forms of social media. San Diego. Amidst her ambitious career goals, Moriah knew According to Moriah, the project focused on how Asian Americans “found their voice” little about Korean pop culture. Her friends strove to change this, in social media as a gateway to becoming visible in mainstream media. Such examples are pushing her head first into the world of Korean music. singer Christine Gambito, breakdancer Mike Song, and comedian KevJumba. Little did she know that this immersion into the realm of Asian “Digital media has allowed Asian Americans, and more so, people of color, to have entertainment would change her career path and eventually lead her to become an aspiring self-agency: we can produce our own content and broadcast to a global audience,” movie producer. Today, she has created a documentary and continues to work on movie said Kanara Ty, Associate Editor and Online Manager for Audrey Magazine, an Asian sets, all with the intention of bettering the entertainment industry for Asian Americans. American women’s lifestyle magazine. “In that sense, spaces like YouTube have Moriah first stepped into the world of Asian allowed Asian Americans to become more visible entertainment as a journalist. She said she avidly read and producing more opportunities in Hollywood. Popseoul.com, one of the first English-language Korean However, that doesn't change the fact that racism and entertainment websites, at first to gain insight into Asian discrimination, a lot of which is fueled by ignorance, entertainment. still exists in the entertainment industry.” Later, when the site announced openings for writing Following the documentary, Moriah embarked on positions, Moriah thought, “why not?” and applied for more recent projects. Among them is a short YouTube the job. Although she had been the Co-Editor-in-Chief video called “Fireflies”, which Moriah produced with of the Wildcat newspaper, she realized that she had never the Jubilee Project. The Jubilee Project is a non-profit written for the entertainment section. organization that creates videos supporting causes “My first ‘trial’ article became one of the top posts of such as deaf awareness, North Korean refugees, and that month. Through that I ended up being blessed with sex trafficking awareness. “Fireflies” focused on meeting the right people at events such as the San Diego autism awareness, and was released on the Internet Asian Film Festival, the Epik High Concert, and many in December. other events,” Moriah said. Moriah also served as the Key Production The reporting job took Moriah from San Diego to Los Manager for the K-town Reality Show, currently Angeles three times a week at times. But journalism also airing on the LOUD Channel. paved a path for Moriah to film production. She described She is also currently a Marketing and Online it as a “natural transition” from reporter to producer. Advertisement Manager for Audrey Magazine and uploadedteam.com Moriah began to work with film students to film its sister publication, Koream Magazine, both awardLIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION: Moriah (far right) stands with the interviews. Through this, she learned how to organize the winning and long-running publications in the Korean team that produced Uploaded: the Asian American Movement, “logistics of a shoot” and was eventually asked by the community. the documentary of which Moriah was the executive producer. students to be a production assistant in their projects. Moriah said her goal as a producer is to produce Through being a reporter, Moriah made connections with notable figures in the meaningful films. However, she said it is also common for other producers to give the entertainment industry such as Wongfu Productions, Jon M. Chu, Director of Step Up 2 and same response to merely “sell out” and “have a good image.” But Moriah hopes to help Step Up 3D, and Kevin Tancharoen, director of Fame and Mortal Kombat Legacy. Moriah Asian Americans rise in the entertainment industry. later interviewed these figures in her “first big producing job”—filming a documentary. “I'm not saying I don't want to make blockbuster films. These films will probably end The documentary, Uploaded: the Asian American Movement, was first conceived up being my bread and butter, but by doing so, it puts my name out there to help other when Julie Zhan, its executive producer and Moriah partner on another project, spoke aspiring Asian American filmmakers and artists who feel like nobody will give them a with Moriah about the lack of Asian Americans in the entertainment industry. However, chance because of their race,” said Moriah.
Moriah’s journey in the film industry theBOHSwildcatnewspaper
Producer
Journalist
Moriah produced a documentary called Uploaded: the Asian American Movement and a Jubilee Project short film entitled “Fireflies”.
Moriah’s entrance into the entertainment industry began by reporting for Popseoul.com. She is now the Marketing and Online Advertisement Manager for Audrey Magazine.
Production Manager Moriah is the Key Production Manager for the K-town Reality Show.
Illustrations by JESSICA YIM / the wildcat