With a mission to create intergenerational and intercultural community building, Bridges Across Homelands is a documentary film series. Our filmmaker, Jen Cheng, interviews award-winning and nationally recognized BIPOC feminist trailblazers in arts and culture. Hear important new insights from visionaries Jewelle Gomez, Dr. Stephanie Anne Johnson, Madeleine Lim, and Kim Shuck on how to build and grow a creative career. These stories are important to share because it is in our lifetimes that women in the arts were not so welcomed in various workplaces and industries. Check out the trailer.
Bridges Across Homelands is part of Jen Cheng’s larger documentary project sharing stories of “LGBTQ Elders,” which will include other interview subjects for future short film segments. Filming on Bridges Across Homelands has been completed. We are raising $10,000 in finishing funds to support post-production costs on the first short film of the series.
Investment Opportunity
Donations at $1000 and up will receive Associate Producer credit and VIP invitations to Jen Cheng’s events and other perks. Co-Producer investment is $2500 and up. Please inquire about Executive Producer and series level investments.
Donors who sign on as producers before September 28rd will be included in media campaigns before the October 5th preview screening event which will also receive media coverage.
Please support this project with your tax-deductible donation through the project’s fiscal sponsor donation page (please write “LGBTQ Elders” in the DONATION MESSAGE text box) or donate directly to the filmmaker producer Jen Cheng (note “LGBTQ Elders” in memo). All contributions at any level are greatly appreciated and will be acknowledged in the Supporters list in the film credits if received before September 23rd.
Crew on the right: Stan Ng (sound recordist), Stephen Ho (cinematographer), Jen Cheng (writer/director).
More about the interviewees:
- Jewelle Gomez (author, founding board member of GLAAD). Jewelle’s book The Gilda Stories was the recipient of two Lambda Literary Awards, and was adapted for the stage by the Urban Bush Women theater company in thirteen United States cities. In our documentary, we learn about an unexpected and funny ritual that helps her get into her writing.
- Dr. Stephanie Anne Johnson (visual artist, lighting designer/producer). In our documentary, Stephanie talks about what it meant to be in theatre and film when women were not welcomed. She was a producer for the first staged production of Alice Walker’s The Color Purple.
- Madeleine Lim (filmmaker, founder/executive director of Queer Women of Color Media Arts Project). Madeleine’s groundbreaking queer film, Sambal Belacan, was banned in her home country of Singapore. In our interviews, she shares how she provides technical training to under-represented media artists, with the perspective that if we are going to see ourselves in the media, we need to be the ones making the media.
- Kim Shuck (Poet Laureate Emerita of San Francisco, multidisciplinary artist). In our interview, Kim reads poetry next to her art exhibit. We learn stories of her beadwork animals with insight from her Cherokee cultural background.
Screening Event
A preview screening of this short film is showing on October 5th, 2pm at Greenway Court Theatre, doors open at 1:30pm. Free parking lot adjacent (same as Melrose Trading Post). This event is part of the Circa Festival (One Institute) celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month.
This program is presented with the support of the City of West Hollywood. For more info on WeHo Arts programming please visit www.weho.org/arts or follow via social media @WeHoArts.
Community partners include Sapphic.LA and more to be announced.
Hear filmmaker Jen Cheng’s interview with Feminist Magazine radio on the Wed Sept 25th, 7pm show!
Behind the scene photos
Filming was conducted in August 2024 in the San Francisco Bay Area at their homes, offices, and an art gallery. Shot with Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini Pro and Blackmagic Design Pocket 6K Cinema Camera.
Oakland Asian Cultural Center.
Cinematographer Stephen Ho on the right.
Photo credits: Headshots in the graphics are from the artists. BTS photos by Jen Cheng.
Production team
Co-producers
Stephen Ho, From the Heart Productions
Associate Producers
Ernie Lee, Lailanie Gadia, Cristy McMahon, Ivan Maldonaldo
Thank you to Supporters
Kayte Deioma, Mark Piatelli, Chiray Koo, Kelly Cheng + Donald Hoang, Ghen Laraya Long (Attorney), Molly McCloy,
Gil Groom + Merri Davis, Visali Ramanathan, Ron Cortes, Alex Cho, Ernie Lee, and others TBA
Credits
- Stephen Ho (cinematographer)
- Sarah Kennedy (editor, sound mixer)
- Stan Lee (sound recordist)
- Ernie Lee (composer)
- Ghen Laraya Long (legal)
- Jen Cheng (writer, director, producer)
Thank you for your support of indie filmmaking and cherishing stories of cultural leaders!
JEN CHENG 