Native Storytelling from the Heart with Justyn Ah Chong

Justyn Ah Chong is an award-winning Native Hawaiian filmmaker from Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi.  After graduating from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2011, Justyn worked as a director, cinematographer and editor at ʻŌiwi Television Network, Hawaii's premiere Indigenous broadcast station. Most recently his acclaimed film “Down on the Sidewalk In Waikiki” premiered at the Maoriland Film Festival in New Zealand and won the People’s Choice Award for Best Short Drama. The film has continued to screen at festivals around the world, including the imagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, and the 307 Film Festival in Wyoming where it was awarded Best of Fest. Justyn is currently producing two short narrative films, “Hawaiian Soul” and “E Malama Pono Willy Boy” and is also in early development on a feature-length documentary, "Bury Me Green." He's currently a 2020 Nia Tero 4th World Media Lab fellow, and continues to share culturally-inspired, place-based stories through his production company, Olonā Media.Watch these films on the links below:Down on the Sidewalk of Waikikihttps://honoluluboxoffice.givingfuel.com/hiff-home-down-on-the-sidewalk-in-waikikiMele Murals linkhttps://www.kcet.org/shows/pacific-heartbeat/episodes/mele-muralsBig Annoucement:  July 26-31 the films will be available for viewing in celebration of Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea in collaboration with Wai Wai Collective.Justyns' media and production business Olonā Media is also where you can find more incredilbe work and possibilties for collobration contact Justyn there.www.olonamedia.comInstagram Accounts:JahChongOlonamediadownonthesidewalkfilm--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thegoldenthread/support Get full access to Marni’s Substack at marnisuureynolds.substack.com/subscribe