Fil-Am Creative in partnership with One Down Media & Kumu collaborated for an educational tv industry panel with AAPI Talent & Creatives on the hit Fox tv series THE CLEANING LADY

By Oliver Carnay

Laughs, tears, and inspired creatives filled the room when The Cleaning Lady panelists, consisting of female AAPI filmmakers (Martha Millan actress; Faith Bryant, actress; Celena Cipriaso, writer; Denise Hahn, writer; Diva Magpayo, editor; Bianca Valencia, music supervisor) spoke about their experiences in the industry.

Miranda Kwok and her team of AAPI filmmakers on the award-winning show The Cleaning Lady celebrated the start of AAPI Heritage Month by holding a Creative Panel for Filipino-American and AAPI creatives on May 7th, 2023. The house was packed.

“A rising tide raises all ships” is the operating motto of FilAm Creative (FAC), who partnered with Philippines’ #1 app, Kumu, and One Down Media. FAC’s VP of Creative and Career Development Programs, Drea Castro and Director Of Live Events Jeff Francisco led the event moderated by Leo Albea.

Ruby Ibarra, a Filipina-American rapper (whose music is featured on the show) spoke about the lack of representation of Southeast Asians in the media. “The Cleaning Lady is the complete opposite of that, showing that Filipinos and Cambodian-Americans do have a story to tell, do have a voice that people want to hear, and I think for me especially being cognizant of the fact that it is AAPI Heritage Month — history is a big part of that celebration, to remember where we come from, how we got here, because there are pioneers that allowed us to open the doors to get to the spaces we’re in.”

Miranda Kwok (Showrunner) adds: “It was a no-brainer, that’s just the experience I have. It was important to me to put on the screen, that is a representation of almost every Asian woman I know. She is resourceful, she is resilient, but she’s also compassionate. She’s a person who’s not putting other people down, even though she’s asserting her way or sticking up for others. So all of those qualities are qualities of my mother, my aunts, my best friends, everyone I know.”

Sponsors include JL Investment, Noble Creations, Social Dragon PR, AHA, Smart Water, Bistro Filipino, Red Ribbon, Vitamin Water, DJ Arcknight, Mission Hospice Palliative Care, Passion Tree, Ameritek, Alkaline Water, and 360 Camera by Jucevi Realtor. Media partners Blogtalkwith MJ Racadio and So Janelle TV.

The nonprofit debuts the FAC Film Festival (FACFF) the first Los Angeles-based, Filipino-American film festival of its kind led by Founding Director Anthea-Neri Best and Founding Asst. Director Shay Santos on September 9,10. NOW ACCEPTING Submissions for Short Films & Submissions via FILMFREEWAY: FAC Film Festival.

For more information. Please follow | support on IG: @FACFilmFestival. If you interested in volunteering: Email: facfilmfestival@gmail.com(Write “VOLUNTEER” in Subject line)

More video clips from this panel event can be watched on youtube channel “Hollywoodflip by Oliver Carnay”