Building The Table w/ Sujata Day

Emphasizing the importance of South Asian representation in the larger Asian American conversation, this week David talks with director, writer, and actress, Sujata Day. They discuss how her debut feature film “Definition Please” came to be, how groundbreaking “Bend It Like Beckham” was, the realities of creating an indie film, and the continuous journey of building your table in Hollywood.

Podcast Show Notes

Guest Title: Sujata Day

Recording Date: 2021-06-23

Episode Title: Building The Table w/ Sujata Day

Topics Discussed:

Topic 1 - Combining both academic and creative endeavors

Topic 2 - Family support and the influence of culture on Sujata’s career

Topic 3 - The journey of “Definition Please”

Topic 4 - Creating short films and gathering her team

Topic 5 - Struggles of financing indie projects

Topic 6 - Incorporating her Indian American heritage into the movie

Topic 7 - Actors of color and secondary characters

Topic 8 - Bengali and South Asian representation in Hollywood

Topic 9 - Studios and agencies need to back BIPOC actors

Topic 10 - The dynamics of the writer’s room

Topic 11 - Building your table

Links:

Handles:

Sujata’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sujataday/

Sujata’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/sujataday

Definition Please Website - https://www.sujataday.com/definition-please

Definition Please Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/definitionplease/

Definition Please Twitter - https://twitter.com/DefnPlease

David's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/davidmoriya/

Mentioned Notes:

“7th Heaven” (TV Series)

Case Western University

“Awkward Black Girl” (Web Series)

Rabindranath Tagore

“Gook” (Film, Justin Chon)

“Ms. Purple” (Film, Justin Chon)

“Cowboy and Indian” (Short Film, Sujata Day)

LA Asian Film Festival

CAAM Fest

Austin Asian American Film Festival

Tina Mayberry

Debbie Allen

Dino Ray-Ramos

E Film/Company 3

Skywalker Ranch

Masala Lay’s Chips

Thumbs Up Soda

Bend It Like Beckham

Kim Saira & “Spill Your Guts” Petition

“Blowing Up Right Now”

#OscarsSoWhite #EmmysSoWhite

Issa Rae

Matthew Cherry (“Nine Rides”)

Justin Chon

Tanuj Chopra

SAL Links:

https://strongasianlead.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/strongasianlead_ /

Crowdfunding -  https://strongasianlead.com/crowdfunding

SAL’s Feature in Feedspot’s Top 20 Asian Film Podcasts - https://blog.feedspot.com/asian_movies_podcasts/

SAL Podcast Team:

Project Manager - Sanjana DeSilva (www.theangryelephantproductions.com)

Audio Editor - Ravi Lad (www.itsravilad.com and @itsravilad on Instagram)

Podcast Producer - Kenna Tanouye (Connect with her on LinkedIn)

Podcast Volunteer Intern - Sadia Hussain

Episode Transcript: Transcript of the episode’s audio.

Calls to Action: Join the movement, stay tuned and follow us on Instagram!

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