In an exclusive interview, Dragon City director May Tjhang sat down with filmmaker Jeremy Thao to discuss his upcoming short film, Wokman, a deeply personal and poignant story about an immigrant Chinese family pursuing the American Dream. The conversation offered insights into Thao’s creative vision and the inspiration behind this slice-of-life drama.
Set in 1998 in rural Georgia, Wokman provides an intimate look at the lives of the Lis, the only Chinese family in a small town, as they run their restaurant, China Wok. Through their experiences, the film explores themes of cultural identity, resilience, and the challenges faced by immigrant families in America. Thao describes the film as a heartfelt reflection of the struggles and triumphs of carving out a space in a country that feels both familiar and foreign.
During the interview, Thao shared his motivations for creating Wokman, including this inspirations and favorite films. In addition, Thao interjects wisdom to new, up and coming filmmakers saying, “As an Asian American creative, I believe the more of my true self I inject into my stories, the more guaranteed it is that my perspective will be something never before seen or described in cinema. I encourage everyone to explore their own unique stories, the ones that no one else on this planet can tell. Sometimes, you have to uncomfortably look at yourself and get to know yourself better, but that’s part of what it takes to write an engaging story that others will want to help bring to life.”
Tjhang praised the film’s unique perspective and the importance of bringing stories like Wokman to life, adding, “It’s a privilege to spotlight Jeremy’s work. Stories like Wokman remind us of the beauty and complexity of immigrant narratives.”
The Dragon City team is proud to support Wokman and its mission to highlight underrepresented stories. As part of its fundraising efforts, Thao and his team have launched a Seed&Spark campaign to help bring Wokman to audiences. The funds will go toward production and post-production costs to ensure the story is told with the care and authenticity it deserves.
To watch the full interview between May Tjhang and Jeremy Thao, visit Watch Full Video. For those who wish to support Wokman, contributions can be made through their Seed&Spark campaign at Support Wokman.
This collaboration between Tjhang and Thao is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of supporting independent filmmakers who bring diverse voices to the forefront. As Wokman moves closer to production, audiences can look forward to an authentic, moving, and beautifully crafted film.