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Let’s Talk About Microagressions

Crew

Arthur Mah: Director-DP/Editor/Producer

Gabby Moukhaiber: 1st AD/Swing/Producer

Shawn Tse: Producer

Brendin Christopher Evans: Sound Recorder/Swing

Harvey Li: Writer

VO Artists:

Darron Ta: Male voice 1

Jonathan Nickerson: Male Voice 2

Aaron Delaney: Male Voice 3

Jace Mix: Male Voice 4

Shawn Tse: Male Voice 5

Karen Cho: Female Voice 1

Megan Tsang: Female Voice 2

Stephen Tsang: Father Voice

Images/Assets provided by: Asian American Commission Calgary Herald, Densho Winne Wu, Asian American Foundation, Jeremy Lin Instagram post

Article headlines: Los Angeles Times, Global News, USA Today, ABC, 7 CBC, Vancouver Lions vandalized: Larry Chin Greater Toronto Chapter, National Association of Japanese Canadians (Toronto Ban clipping) Montreal anti-Asian rallies: Karen Cho Calvin Liu Sali Yang Nhatt

Let’s Talk about Microaggressions

(Clip of a masked Asian woman waiting in line in café)

Cashier, in the background, to another customer: Have an awesome day!

Unseen customer: Thanks!

(The Asian woman begins to walk forward in line to be served next. She is ignored by the masked cashier and looks confused)

Woman: Hi, can I get a large hot chocolate please?

(The cashier rolls his eyes and looks down at the register tablet to punch in the woman’s order. The cashier says nothing to the woman; only rudely gestures to the debit terminal for payment. The woman taps her card to pay for the beverage and the cashier immediately cleans the terminal right after the woman taps her card while glaring at the woman. The woman continues to look confused)

Cashier, rudely: I have to clean it

[Music]

(Text: Be a good kid. Listen. Don’t make a big scene)

(The cashier slams the woman’s beverage on the counter and says nothing)

(Photo montage of signs depicting hate towards Japanese Canadians: “Japs Keep Moving – This is a White Man’s Neighborhood.” “Coast Japs – You are Not Wanted”)

Narration in the background: It’s not what you think it is. Don’t freak out. Calm down. That’s not a big deal

An Asian man wearing a black mask states: And then his girlfriend on the back of the motorcycle yelled at me, ‘Shut up you fucking chink.’

(Photo montage of oriental exclusion in immigration and hatred against Asian Canadians)

Narration in the background: That’s not okay. Don’t take it. Are you just gonna stand there? You’re make a scene. It’s just a joke

[Music]

(Asian woman from earlier is seen leaving the café with sadness in her eyes)

Customers in the background: Good to see you. Yeah, you too.

Male customer to another male customer about the woman leaving the café: Look out man. she’s got the kung flu.

(The woman turns her head and clearly hears the man)

[Music]

(Montage of photos from Vancouver and Montreal showing graffiti on Asian statues regarding China and COVID-19)

(Images explaining the hatred the Asian Canadian and American community received because of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as attacks, increase in crimes against the Asian community)

Narration in the background: It’s a joke. Don’t let them treat you that way. Don’t worry. It’s not a big deal. Stand up for yourself.

[Music]

(Image montage of protestors carrying signs to protest Asian hate)

(Text: They expect us to be silent or they think it is a joke)

(Clip of woman leaving café returns. She looks conflicted)

(Text: If we don’t start the discussion, who will?)

(Text: Find out more at act2endracism.ca. Funded by the Government of Canada. Canadian Red Cross. ACCT Foundation)