OUR MISSION
Empowering the next generation of Asian Pacific storytellers to create and inspire through arts education, cinema history, and community building.
WHO WE ARE
Strong Asian Lead is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of motion picture storytellers through education and career guidance towards a career in Hollywood. Our mission is to create a space where individuals can explore the art culture of Asian American cinema and forge a path towards their future in filmmaking.
Founded March 2020
Mas Moriya and Emi Lea Kamemoto begin conversations about DE&I for AAPIs in entertainment.
Our 3 hour zoom calls twice a week turned into an activism instagram account and inclusion webinars.
Clubhouse Conversations
With a website and an instagram account, Strong Asian Lead gains interest holding community audio rooms, holding space.
Our first break into public interest.
Podcast
Turned our zoom calls into a podcast, holding discussions with actors in the industry and diving into diversity of AAPIs in Film & TV. 
Tableread - Fundraising
Held a tableread contest for screenwriters to have their screenplays read for a fundraiser.
We raised our first $7,000 thanks to the help of virtual writers group.
Platform Launch
After all the hard work, it was a surprisingly smooth public launch. We're still working on it, but so far it's doing well!
In-Person Meetups
Hosting our first in-person meetup at the Peking Tavern in DTLA for a 100 Year celebration of AAPI Cinema during AAPI Heritage Month.
First In-Person Panel
Produced a panel discussion with Karen Tran Wood, Feliz Bahmanpour, and Travis Atreo at the Terasaki Budokan in DTLA. Sponsored by Makku, Drunk Fruit, Moshi. Food provided by Aloha Cafe.
Official 501(c)(3) status
After 2.5 years of hard work, we officially become a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit.
November 2022Launched East West Film School
Developed and launched an online course to take a retrospective of the past 100 years of Asian American cinema.
Read MoreJan 2023Join our
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Be inspired by classic Asian American films. Research talent. Find cast, crew and creatives.
