84. Liquor Store Dreams: A Journey of Identity and Generational Dreams with So Yun Um

07/27/23 • 54 min

Short N' Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast

So Yun Um's directorial debut documentary feature film, "Liquor Store Dreams," made its world premiere at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. The film delves into the experiences of second-generation Korean American children of Liquor Store owners in the LA area, shedding light on their unique challenges. Her work has been screened at prestigious events including the Tribeca Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, BFI London, and more. In addition to her accomplishments, So Yun Um is currently a participant in the 2022-2023 BAFTA Breakthrough USA program. She is an alumnus of the 2021 CAAM Fellowship, where she received mentorship from acclaimed Director Nanfu Wang, as well as the recipient of the Armed with a Camera Fellowship by Visual Communication, the Sundance Uprise Grant, and a Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Grantee.

Join us on this engaging journey as we delve into the captivating world of "Liquor Store Dreams," discussing the experiences of growing up in immigrant families, the challenges of customer service, and the importance of breaking stereotypes surrounding store ownership. Along the way, we'll provide invaluable advice for Asian Americans pursuing their dreams. Don't miss out on this opportunity to be inspired and support the incredible work of our guest. Tune in now!

Liquor Store Dreams is now available on PBS and Apple TV.

Here are five golden nuggets for aspiring filmmakers:

1. Stay true to your own story: Tell a story that nobody else can tell. Take your time to work on the craft and create something uniquely you.

2. Embrace your delusional fighting spirit: Believe in yourself even when others may not. Support yourself and find the inner motivation to keep pushing forward.

3. Be brutally honest in editing: Cut out anything that feels boring or not cool. Don't just make your favorite movie; challenge yourself to create something truly exceptional.

4. Find a supportive community: Surround yourself with people who understand your vision and can contribute to your film. Build a network of like-minded individuals, including producers, cinematographers, and editors.

5. Don't tolerate toxic individuals: If there are people in the industry who are disrespectful or hinder your progress, feel free to cut them out. Focus on collaborating with those who support and uplift you.

Connect with me:

Email: [email protected]

Business Website: www.donutprincessla.com

YouTube: Mayly Tao / DONUT PRINCESS LA

Instagram: @donutprincessla / @maylytao

Facebook: Donut Princess Los Angeles

Twitter: Donut Princess LA

Tiktok: teochewdaily

LinkedIn: Mayly Tao

Apple Podcast: Short N' Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast

Liquor Store Dreams is now available on PBS and Apple TV.

Here are five golden nuggets for aspiring filmmakers:

1. Stay true to your own story: Tell a story that nobody else can tell. Take your time to work on the craft and create something uniquely you.

2. Embrace your delusional fighting spirit: Believe in yourself even when others may not. Support yourself and find the inner motivation to keep pushing forward.

3. Be brutally honest in editing: Cut out anything that feels boring or not cool. Don't just make your favorite movie; challenge yourself to create something truly exceptional.

Connect with me:

Email: [email protected]

Business Website: www.donutprincessla.com

YouTube: Mayly Tao / DONUT PRINCESS LA

Instagram: @donutprincessla / @maylytao

Facebook: Donut Princess Los Angeles

Twitter: Donut Princess LA

Tiktok: teochewdaily

LinkedIn: Mayly Tao

Apple Podcast: Short N' Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast

Previous Episode

83. From Boat to Mind: Len's Journey of Freedom, Engineering, and Martial Arts

In 1982, Len and his father along with twenty-three people left Vietnam on a small fishing boat to find freedom. After 21 days at sea, they were rescued and brought to the Hong Kong refugee camp. After almost a year at the refugee camps in Hong Kong and the Philippines, they settled in New York City. In 1998, Len graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering. He has been working as an engineer and a supervisor at the Patent and Trademark Office for more than two decades. With over thirty-five years of martial arts experience, he is also the founder of Virginia Shorin-Ryu, a traditional Okinawan karate style since 2005. In addition to teaching karate, he founded Kinetic Mind in 2020 with the vision of helping people engineer their busy minds to maintain focus and improve everyday life. He has just released his first book about his journey.

“One thing that I have to admire about my dad was, he has this discipline and his focus. He was asking me to endure the hardship and to endure the bullying and to face all the obstacles. One thing I've learned from him is it doesn't matter how big the obstacle is, just keep facing it, keep facing until you make it. It's not even about faking it, it's about the courage to keep facing it."

These tips can help you find the courage to write and share your own story with the world.

Write without worrying: If you have a story worth sharing, don't worry about who will read it. Just start writing and put the worrying aside.
Everyone has a story: No matter how ordinary you think your life is, we all have stories to tell. It's all about how you write and present it.
Motion creates momentum: When faced with writer's block, just start writing. Once you get the motion going, momentum will carry you forward and unlock your creativity.
Be open to feedback: Embrace feedback and be willing to listen. Growth comes from being open to constructive criticism and using it to improve.
Believe in yourself: If you don't believe in yourself, don't expect others to believe in you either. Have confidence in your abilities and the value of your story.

Connect with Mayly:

Email: [email protected]

Business Website: www.donutprincessla.com

YouTube: Mayly Tao / DONUT PRINCESS LA

Apple Podcast: Short N' Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast

Instagram: @donutprincessla / @maylytao

Facebook: Donut Princess Los Angeles

Twitter: Donut Princess LA

Tiktok: teochewdaily

LinkedIn: Mayly Tao

*Donate supplies to poor Khmer communities: https://gofund.me/e2569649

*Watch the Donut King Film here: thedonutkingfilm.com

(also available on Hulu, Apple TV, Google Play, and Amazon Prime Now)

Book Now:

Donut Exotics: www.donutexotics.com

Donut Princess LA: www.donutprincessla.com

First Class Doc Prep: email [email protected]

Next Episode

85. From Humble Beginnings to Multimillionaire: The Entrepreneur's Journey with Rashaan Mitchell "PushMan Mitch"

Rashaan Mitchell is not your average entrepreneur. He is a visionary, a risk-taker, and a true inspiration for all those who aspire to achieve greatness. His story is a living testament to the power of determination and resilience, showing us that no matter the obstacles we face, we can rise above them and achieve remarkable success.

Picture this: a young man growing up in Southwest Philly, a neighborhood plagued by poverty and adversity. Despite the challenging living conditions, Pushman Mitch never let his circumstances define him. His experiences of living in his grandmother's basement and dealing with roach-infested houses were all he knew until a move to Georgia revealed a whole new world of possibilities.

Rashaan's story serves as a reminder that greatness can be achieved by anyone, regardless of their background or upbringing. So, get ready to be motivated and empowered as we dive deep into the incredible journey of Rashaan Mitchell, a true visionary, risk-taker, and inspiring entrepreneur.

Pushman Mitch has graciously offered our audience a special discount if you DM @pushmanmitch “DONUTS” for 60% off his Turo course: https://tscourses.com/courses/pushman-mitch-push-rental-car-academy/

The five golden nuggets about guiding principles for entrepreneurs:

Work on your communication skills: Enhance your ability to effectively communicate about yourself and your products. Strong communication skills are vital for sales and entrepreneurship.
Surround yourself with quality people: Connect with positive and supportive individuals who believe in your goals. Avoid negative influences that can impede your progress.
Set accountability dates: Establish specific dates to take action and prove yourself and others wrong. By holding yourself accountable, you commit to achieving your goals.
Develop a strategic mindset: Instead of merely going through the motions, strategize and plan your actions. Set clear targets or goals and create a plan to achieve them.
Believe in yourself: Self-belief is essential for entrepreneurial success. Invest in yourself, have confidence in your abilities, and focus on personal growth.

Connect with me:

Email: [email protected]

Business Website: www.donutprincessla.com

YouTube: Mayly Tao / DONUT PRINCESS LA

Instagram: @donutprincessla / @maylytao

Facebook: Donut Princess Los Angeles

Twitter: Donut Princess LA

Tiktok: teochewdaily

LinkedIn: Mayly Tao

Apple Podcast: Short N' Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast

*Help me self-publish my mom’s book about her journey to America: https://gofund.me/e2569649

*Watch the Donut King Film here: thedonutkingfilm.com