221: Documented + The Problem with Apu

Hey film buds,As much as we all love some good old fashioned fiction, it can sometimes be necessary, even refreshing, to us film and television as a way to explore our own world more directly. That's the power of the documentary. It is a way to present an idea, form an argument, and use the hard facts of our world as it is to create a compelling case for a particular view point. Or, that's what it is supposed to do at its best.This week, as part of our continued look at AAPI Heritage in film, we'll be looking at documentary work to bring the voices and concerns of AAPI people to the forefront of the discussion. Primarily, we'll be looking at documentaries on immigration and representation.Introduction - 00:00Opening ChatDocumentaries and Their FunctionsAAPI Collection on Streaming Platforms - 11:59First is the CNN backed documentary Documented from 2013. From Pulitzer Prize Winner Jose Antonio Vargas, Documented is a personal film about his journey in America as an undocumented person, his coming out to the public, and his work in immigration advocacy. We'll be reviewing the film and discussing its message, how well it was conveyed, and what tools it used to craft that message.Documented - 31:23Production History/BackgroundReview and DiscussionSecond is the 2017 pop-culture documentary television special The Problem with Apu. Comedian Hari Kondabolu spent several years working to realize his personal film about how he felt seen on TV. The film, though still about serious issues for the AAPI community, manages to work in humor in a natural way, which we'll discuss along with the information as it was presented and who we feel the audience was for this film.The Problem with Apu - 52:21Production History/BackgroundReview and DiscussionWe're rounding out our show with a little brief conversation. First, we dive straight into media news. Primarily we discuss the recent Netflix layoffs, followed by reactions to the She-Hulk and Prey trailers. Lastly, we wrap everything up with a brief discussion about what we're watching.End of Show - 01:12:53What We’re WatchingNetflix Layoffs and Corporate CultureNew TrailersIf you haven't already be sure to check out last week's episode and don't forget to join us again next week when we finish AAPI Heritage Month.Thanks y'all,The BudsTotal Runtime - 01:29:49Be a Friend to the Film Buds:thefilmbuds.comThe Buds on PatreonThe Buds on bandcamp@filmbuds on Twitter@thefilmbudspodcast on InstagramPaul’s Letterboxd Sources:NielsenUS CensusMorning Consult