STATUS: We are currently in early production and looking for partnerships, investments, and donations. Any amount will greatly help this project. Thank you.
Logline: After her estranged uncle is shot and killed under ambiguous circumstances, Director So Yun Um embarks on a deeply personal investigation to uncover who her uncle was and how Asian Americans' views on gun ownership and violence are shifting--confronting grief, fear, and the rising belief that owning a gun is the only way to stay safe and empowered.
AMERICANA BANG BANG has been supported by Catapult Film Fund and Firelight Media.
Director’s Statement
Gun violence has always been part of my life and my family. Whether it’s my uncle getting shot outside of his shop or my mom getting held up at gunpoint while working at our liquor store, my family and I are no stranger to gun violence. For many immigrants, the admission price to live in America is the possibility of dying of gun violence in America. With more guns in the U.S. than another other developed country, it was only a matter of time that a member of my family would have to pay up.
I had initially started filming when I heard my youngest uncle died by a stray bullet. Despite us being estranged, my family still mourned and I yearned for justice in a way I didn’t expect. Accidents happen, so we all thought. And then this year, I read a news article which stated that he was actually targeted one night and left for dead.
The thought of making a documentary about guns terrifies me. But the thought of the loss of life to gun violence is one that continues to consume me and cause me grief. It’s this grief and fear of guns that makes me want to understand where Asian Americans fit in this gun-crazy world where we are not protected yet continuously targeted. In the midst of rising anti-Asian violence and gender-based violence, Asian Americans are turning to gun ownership to get a sense of control and safety in their lives.
“With the rise of Anti-Asian hate, “Nearly 30% of gun retailers said they had more Asian American customers in 2021 compared with the previous year,” ”
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