Tony Nguyen, director of Enforcing the Silence, has a new project, and it’s called “Giap and the Last Iron Board Factory.” It’s about a Vietnamese mother retiring from working in a factory in Indiana after more than 30 years. The trailer drew some emotions out of me. It reminded me of how tough my parents had to be to build a life here in America; how they never complained. They just exuded a silent dedication to care for their family.
Watch the trailer, you’ll like it. Then jump over to Tony’s Kickstarter page to support the project (and grab Giap’s Ban Xeo recipe, too!). Tony has already raised $4,005 of his $5,000 goal. Let’s put him over the top.
GIAP AND THE LAST IRONING BOARD FACTORY – 2012 Trailer from Birjinder Films on Vimeo.
From the Director, Tony Nguyen:
ABOUT THE FILM:
Giap and the Last Iron Board Factory is a heartfelt modern tale about the mother-son relationship between Giap Nguyen and Tony Nguyen. Giap is a refugee who fled Vietnam in 1975 while two months pregnant. A single mother who has worked on the grueling assembly line for nearly 35 years, she is finally retiring. Set in Seymour, Indiana, the town John Mellencamp made famous with his iconic rock song “Small Town,” this short documentary provides an intimate look at life inside the last standing ironing-board factory in the United States. Filmmaker Tony Nguyen captures his mother Giap’s last day at the factory and attempts to reconcile an unknown past in this quirky and deeply personal film that explores parental love and the refugee experience in small town America.
THE STORY BEHIND THE FILM:
When I found out my mother was finally retiring, I realized how little I knew about her job. I knew she worked in a factory but had no idea she made ironing boards. Returning home and filming my mother’s last day at work just felt like a natural thing to do and a good excuse to visit family in Indiana. I didn’t know it would allow me to finally talk with my mother about the past and our relationship.
Initially, I set out to make this film for only family and friends. But with the encouragement of others, especially producer Steven Okazaki, I started to see the merit in sharing this personal story with the wider public.
WHAT’S THE STATUS OF THE FILM?
Production on the film is nearly completed, but there is still some crucial footage I need to shoot. I have a 15-minute rough cut that will be edited into a half hour final version with additional new footage. I am also exploring the possibility of using animation to depict parts of the story that focus on my childhood in Indiana.
WHAT’S NEXT:
I am raising funds to complete production and to help cover the cost of post-production (editing) and distribution (getting the film out to you!).
HOW CAN I HELP?
This film cannot be completed without your help. Please consider supporting our Kickstarter campaign by making a pledge. Any amount, however small, will make a difference. Thank you!
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.