On Wednesday May 20, the Asian American Committee (AAC) hosted their first online meeting. In addition to Committee business, the meeting featured a a special panel discussion, The Art of Social Conscience.
In a conversation moderated by Director Kai Kim (The Young and the Restless), Directors Jessica Sanders (After Innocence), Cellin Gluck (Persona Non Grata), Michael Goi (Megan is Missing), Lily Mariye (Model Minority) and Josef Kubota Wladyka (The Terror: Infamy) engaged in a discussion about the role of storytelling and the use of the directors tools to change audiences’ awareness, perceptions and, hopefully, their hearts. Illustrated by clips from their work, the panelists also covered topics including: how to look through the eyes of reality, the power of emotional response, how authenticity tells the truth, changing the focus, and telling a new story.
Following the moderated portion of the event, the panelists took questions from the online audience.
ABOUT THE GUEST SPEAKERS:
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 Cellin Gluck
After launching his career in film production as an advertising agency producer and a commercial director, before moving to features as an Assistant Director to notable filmmakers including Ridley Scott, Mike Figgis and Robert Zemeckis, in 2010 Gluck co-wrote and co-directed Oba: The Last Samurai. In addition to his feature Persona Non Grata, Gluck's directing filmography also includes the feature Saidoweizu, a segment of the feature Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean, and the short film Through the Lens – Nikon. A DGA member since 1992, Gluck currently serves as a Co-Chair of the DGA Asian American Committee.
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 Michael Goi
In addition to Megan Is Missing, Goi’s directing credits include the feature film Voyeur and episodes of the television series Sexy Urban Legends, Pretty Little Liars, and American Horror Story. He is also known as an acclaimed cinematographer with over 70 narrative credits and earned Emmy nominations for his cinematography work on Glee, American Horror Story and My Name Is Earl. A DGA member since 2014, Goi currently serves a co-chair of the DGA’s Asian American Committee.
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 Lily Mariye
In addition to her feature Model Minority, Mariye’s directing credits also include episodes of The Terror: Infamy, How to Get Away with Murder, Stumptown, Council of Dads, Chicago PD, MacGyver, NCIS: Los Angeles and Prodigal Son. Mariye also earned a DGA Award-nomination in the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children’s Programs category for her 2017 “Just Add Meddling” episode of the Amazon series Just Add Magic. A DGA member since 2015, she currently serves a co-chair of the DGA’s Asian American Committee.
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 Jessica Sanders
In addition to her feature documentary After Innocence, Sanders's filmography includes the feature length documentaries End of the Line and March of the Living; the documentary shorts Sing Opera!, George & Brad in Bed and George & Brad Live Long and Prosper; the short films Los Angels and Bunion; and an episode of the series Almost Asian. Sanders has been a DGA member since 2007.
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 Josef Kubota Wladyka
In addition to his work on The Terror: Infamy, Wladyka’s directing credits include the feature film, Manos Sucias; and episodes of Narcos: Mexico, Fear the Walking Dead, Narcos, Animal Kingdom and Outcast. He is currently in post-production on his feature Catch the Fair One. Wladyka has been a DGA member since 2016.
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About the Asian American Committee:
The Asian American Committee (AAC) was created as a networking group to provide a forum for interests and issues that concern Asian-American Guild members. Through outreach efforts in the entertainment industry that emphasize career development and skills enhancement, the committee provides a variety of networking opportunities as well as screenings, seminars and discussions with industry professionals. The current AAC Co-Chairs are Directors Cellin Gluck, Michael Goi and Lily Mariye.