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May Film Study

by admin

The Picture House’s May Film Study Program, honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, will be taught by Will Tiao, an L.A. based actor, writer, producer, and filmmaker with a background in politics and international affairs. Tiao will lead the class in discussing important Asian American films, including the documentary Who Killed Vincent Chin?, as well as the narrative films Formosa Betrayed, Saving Face, and Minari. Classes will meet online on Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 pm on Zoom; Class dates are May 6, 13, 20, and 27. Cost is $90 for Picture House members, $100 for non-members.

Register Here

Class Details: This class functions much like a book club — students watch the films at home through available streaming services, and arrive at class for additional content and robust discussion led by the instructor. (You will need Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu accounts to access the movies.) The instructor will be in touch by email with details before the first class. For students unable to attend a class, meetings will be recorded through Zoom by request.

About Will Tiao

Will Tiao majored in cello performance at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance before transferring to Tufts University, where he received a B.A. in International Relations, and studied EU politics and economy at Sciences Po in Paris, France. Tiao then earned a M.A. in International Affairs from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and received a Fulbright Scholarship from De La Salle University for his research on ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations).

Tiao worked for the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Department of Labor and House Committee on Ways and Means. He was a Presidential Management Fellow under the Clinton administration and went on to become an international economist under the George W. Bush administration. After having spent a decade in international politics on the East Coast and abroad, Tiao decided to leave politics and travel west to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment.

Tiao has worked as an actor, producer, and writer/translator for TV and film. His TV credits include Sex and the CityYes, Dear, Mind of Mencia, The Winner, and the internet series Quarterlife. He starred in and produced the award-winning short film A Starbucks Story, as well as the independent dark comedy Stan. He is the writer, actor, and producer of Formosa Betrayed, a feature film based on the true events surrounding Taiwanese democracy and independence activists in the 1980s.