They Call Us Bruce 211: They Call Us Liquor Store Dreams

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

In this episode, we welcome So Yun Um, director of the feature documentary Liquor Store Dreams, an intimate portrait of two Korean American children of Los Angeles liquor store owners. She talks about confronting popular media depictions of Korean American store owners, turning the camera on herself to tell this deeply personal story, and hitting record during some very tough, heated conversations with her family members. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making Liquor Store Dreams.

Dreams diverge in So Yun Um's 'Liquor Store Babies'

Short documentary explores the lives and dreams of two liquor store owners and their children.



So Yun Um's personal short documentary Liquor Store Babies explores the intersecting lives of two friends and their fathers, each of whom own liquor stores, amidst the unpredictable backdrop of Los Angeles.

The five-minute documentary draws from the director's true-life experience, contrasting two sides of the same coin. As the lives of So, her friend Danny, and their Korean American parents begin to diverge, their differences only work to strengthen their bonds. Liquor Store Babies is a candid and real look at how the lives and dreams of liquor store owners and their children are cyclical and ever connected to one another.

Produced through Visual Communications' 2018 Armed with a Camera program, Liquor Store Babies premiered at the 2018 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and subsequently screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, San Diego Asian American Film Festival and more.

We're pleased to present the online premiere of Liquor Store Babies.

Angry Reader of the Week: So Yun Um

"They call it K-rage for a reason and it's not pretty."



Hey, everybody! What's going on? It is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is So Yun Um.