CAST and CREW
ALL ASIAN-AMERICAN CREW
100% of the cast and crew are Asian, 80% Filipino, and 16% from the LGBTQ community.
ELLA JAY BASCO
Half Filipino and half Korean, Ella Jay Basco made her film debut in February 2020, donning Batgirl’s mantle opposite Margot Robbie in Warner Brothers/DC’s movie Birds of Prey. She has also guest starred on Veep and Grey’s Anatomy. At 14 years old, she is blazing a trail for Asian American girls who are looking to see themselves on screen and now in music. Ella Jay is a singer-songwriter and plays the guitar, piano, and ukelele. Her career spans her 14 years of life and most recently she has performed at rallies in support of the Anti-Asian Violence movement.
Ruby Ibarra is a rapper and spoken word artist from the Bay Area, CA. She released her debut album, CIRCA91 at the end of 2017 and has since toured across the United States at universities, empowerment conferences, music venues, and spaces such as - the National Mall in DC, The Getty Center, and the De Young Museum. Ruby has been featured on notable publications such as NPR, Huffington Post, South China Morning Post, Buzzfeed, XXL Magazine and was featured in a Grammys/MasterCard commercial and campaign with R&B singer SZA. Ruby’s music is available on all digital platforms and can be heard in several museum exhibits, films, and television features. When she’s not doing music, Ruby is a scientist protecting the world from COVID-19.
Ruby IBARRA
DARRYL J. BASCO
Darryl J Basco is a singer-songwriter and producer. When he's not writing songs with his sister Ella Jay Basco, he performs under the moniker CAMPING. During the LA shoot he clicked the clacker and spent much of his downtime around crafty.
Director, producer, filmmaker, and photographer, Leslie Alejandro has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry. Her photography has been featured in Vanity Fair, GQ, Men’s Health, Teen Vogue, Women’s Health, The Wrap, Nylon, L’Officiel Hommes, etc.
Her directing credits include documentaries, award-winning narrative short films, and music videos.
Leslie actively campaigns and advocates for the inclusion, integration, and visibility of women and people of color "above and below the line" in the entertainment industry. She believes that by exposing the world to stories and experiences from those whom are underrepresented, compassion and connections can be found.
Leslie AlejandrO
DEREK BASCO
IG: @derek_basco
Twitter: @DerekBasco
djderek.net
Actor, Writer, Musician. Derek has been in the entertainment business for over 30 years. He grew up breakdancing and was part of the band The Basco Brothers. Now that he has children, he is helping them pursue their dreams in the entertainment industry. Derek successfully coached Ella Jay on Birds of Prey in the breakout role of Cassandra Cain, and he is continually supporting Ella and her brother Darryl with Ella’s music career as well. #teambasco
Emily Cho Talent Management has been nurturing talent for over 20 years in this industry, especially uplifting her clients of color. Being the CEO of her own management company and the mother of 4 who are also in the industry, this #GOLDbossbitch is one you wish was on your team.
EMILY CHO
ARIANNA BASCO
Arianna Lady Basco. Single mom. One ear. Cultural Architect. Founder of Palms Up Academy, author, filmmaker, actress, poet and teacher. Recognized by the City of Los Angeles as part of the “First Filipino Entertainment Family.” Her activism isn't just evident in building platforms - it is in the grassroots efforts she helms. Has been spotted singing and strumming guitar.
Dani de Jesus is an award-winning educator and award-winning producer (Adult Night, A Woman Reported) from Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA, Dani worked at Craig Anderson Productions as the Director of Development for six years. She then moved to Hawai’i and was a social studies/AVID teacher for ten years at Maui High School (GO SABERS) where she got to work with her biggest inspirations - her students. Now back in Los Angeles, Dani created a production company ALEJANDRO FILMS with her sister Leslie Alejandro and brother-in-law Kevin Alejandro to tell the stories that need to be told and create conversations around issues that impact our world.
DANI DE JESUS
ANDREA A. WALTER
Andrea Walter is a British Filipino writer, director and cinematographer. When she’s not filming, Andrea’s usually eating and playing video games.
A.J. Calomay has worked on independent projects such as Lumpia and Lumpia with a Vengeance as a producer and editor, the special features for The Debut and The Flipside, as well as music videos for the Black Eyed Peas Bebot and The Apl Song, through his company, Xylophone Films. He has also worked on editorial teams for shows such as Mr. Robot, Hunters, New Amsterdam, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, Covert Affairs, and currently a sci-fi show on AppleTV+. The Los Angeles native found a passion for filmmaking while he was a Psychobiology major at UCLA and creating videos for the Filipino club.
A.J. CALOMAY
IG: @ajxy
Twitter: @ajxy
xylophonefilms.com
DENISE SANTOS
Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Denise Santos is a Los Angeles-based composer specializing in TV and film music. She became part of several bands of different genres, most notably for jazz/alternative band "Hidden Nikki" and post-rock band "Bones Like Snowflakes".
Her most notable compositions include original music for TV shows Apollo: The Forgotten Films on Discovery Channel, Primates on BBC, Death Saved My Life on Lifetime, Dope on Netflix, Making the Cut on Amazon Prime, and for films Baka Bukas (Maybe Tomorrow) and Billie and Emma by Samantha Lee. When not in her studio, Denise can be spotted with her husband and their dog, camping, watching shows and movies, listening to music and podcasts, having another snack, or practicing yoga.
Bianca Catbagan is a Filipino director and photographer currently based in Los Angeles. She is part of the independent film kollective, Indie Pop Films.
BIANCA Catbagan
ROB SHOLTY
Rob Sholty is an LA-based cinematographer working on features, music videos, and commercials. Originally from Las Vegas, Rob moved to LA to pursue making more narrative work with like-minded people in LA. He also loves gaming, hiking, and experimental art.
Lance Heruela is a Filipino-American filmmaker who was born and raised in Texas and transplanted to Los Angeles in 2012. This adventure in LA has brought him to the heart of Asian-American community in media of which he loves so dearly. He is currently a Sound Mixer and continues to expand his filmmaking craft. If he’s not watching behind the camera or listening intently with his headphones you can most likely find him on the dance floor. His ideal “last meal” would be tocino pork belly from Tatang (in North Hollywood), sinigang lumpia (from AC Boral), ube custard with graham cracker pie crust (from Creme Caramel), cornbread bibingka (from Park’s Finest BBQ), a calamansi-ade, and a pint of Cats Pajamaz beer from Brewyard.
LANCE Heruela
Jane has been managing iconic film locations for the entertainment industry and numerous big social events for 15 years. Properties include the Goldstein Estate (The Big Lebowski, Charlie's Angels), The Wilshire Ebell Theater and The Stahl House.
Tym Shutchai Buacharern is a multi-nominated and winning Emmy make-up artist. Born in Thailand and raised in Los Angeles, Tym's eye for detail makes him a favorite to celebrities and producers. He has worked with superstars like Janet Jackson, Lupita Nyongo, Pink, Cher, Danai Gurira, just to name a few. Some of his film/television credits are Black Panther, Captain Marvel, US, and lots more.
Tym Shutchai
Buacharern
RENA Calhoun
Los Angeles native Rena Calhoun trained at the esteemed Vidal Sassoon Academy before beginning her hairstyling career as salon assistant to Vidal's Artistic Director, Tom Brophy. Brophy helped Rena to refine classic cutting and styling techniques into a distinctly modern expression of her talent. Years later, in pursuit of her freelance career, Rena began a rewarding creative mentorship under renowned session hairstylist, Adir Abergel. With Abergel's guidance, Rena learned to sculpt and shape hair in truly innovative ways, leading to the cutting-edge yet understated visual style that now characterizes her work. The collaborative process inherent to her work is among the most gratifying aspects of Rena's career and fuels her innate creativity.
Amanda Lim is an innovative fashion stylist and costume designer based in Los Angeles, California. Her origins in the industry began in New York City at Nylon Magazine, where she worked in the Fashion Department for J. Errico, Dani Stahl, Mitsu Tscuchiya and Tamar Levine. Amanda went on to work for other prestigious NYC-based fashion companies such as KCD Worldwide and Black Frame PR. Upon relocating to Los Angeles, Amanda worked as a freelance fashion stylist assistant for industry heavy hitters by the likes of Erin Walsh, Michael Fisher, Anna Trevelyan, Kris Zero and Jeanne Yang before accepting a full-time first assistant position with industry leading celebrity stylist, Elizabeth Stewart, in early 2016. Amanda founded her own styling and costume design studio in February 2018. Her specialities include, but are not limited to, red carpet award show dressing, fashion editorial styling and contemporary costume design. She works with her own celebrity, editorial and filmmaker clientele in Los Angeles and on location.
VINTA GALLERY
IG: @vintagallery
Twitter: @vinta_gallery
vintagallery.com
VINTA Gallery is bespoke and ready-to-wear modern Filipiniana and Filipino-inspired fashion and accessories. Owned and run by Filipino women, VINTA Gallery is designed in Toronto and ethically produced in our atelier in the Philippines.
Janet is a visual designer, plant lady, and flamin' hot chip aficionado. She works primarily on branding & identity design, and loves all things type and lettering. She is probably sitting at her desk in the PNW, drawing a new typeface, and drinking coffee while listening to a true crime podcast.
JANET CHO LEE
Kelsy LUA
Originally from the Philippines, Kelsy Lua moved to Los Angeles to pursue her passion for film and is a recent graduate from USC's School of Cinematic Arts in the MFA Film and Television Production program, with a focus on editing. Kelsy edited numerous short films that were screened at film festivals such as Creative Mind Group showcase at Cannes Film Festival, LA Diversity Film Festival, Dances with Films, AFI Docs, SXSW, and much more.
Kelsy takes every opportunity to collaborate creatively and universally while she strives to make films that tackle the complexity of human experiences, cultural divides, and conflicts that speak to both Asian and Western audiences.
Rhian Advincula is a video editor and graphic designer who was born and raised in California. She has been creating different forms of visual media since she was twelve years old and just never stopped. Since graduating from UC Irvine, she pursued her passion for video editing and hopes to be a voice in the fight for representation in American media. Alongside her work in media, Rhian has been active in the Filipinx-American community ever since she began dancing Tinikling in high school. She has since continued her journey in Philippine Folk Dance, performing with Los Angeles' Kayamanan ng Lahi.
RHIAN Advincula
DARCIE Moningka
Darcie works as an occupational therapist and part-time photographer based in Los Angeles, CA. She grew up in the Inland Empire, but loves her recent relocation to LA. Darcie values individual wellness and authentic living, and aspires to incorporate that into her work daily. In her spare time, she finds joy in surfing, snowboarding, and bouldering.
During his 22 year career, Erik has mixed spots, trailers, DVD commentaries, reality television, docs & feature length projects. He has had a hand in some of the largest movie marketing campaigns in history. He is a composer and lover of all things guitar.
ERIK Clemente
@edawgla
LinkedIn: Erik Clemente
