I am a playwright and today I thought I would walk you through my process for
would walk you through my process for
would walk you through my process for writing a play and to help me out I want
writing a play and to help me out I want
writing a play and to help me out I want to invite a critic onstage okay Kamini
to invite a critic onstage okay Kamini
to invite a critic onstage okay Kamini give her a big round of applause
so my critic is gonna help provide some
so my critic is gonna help provide some constructive feedback yep okay so they
constructive feedback yep okay so they
constructive feedback yep okay so they write like to start with the title I’m
write like to start with the title I’m
write like to start with the title I’m gonna skip that for the moment I’m gonna
gonna skip that for the moment I’m gonna
gonna skip that for the moment I’m gonna start with an idea here’s the idea
start with an idea here’s the idea
start with an idea here’s the idea in 1997 among teen is on a mission to
in 1997 among teen is on a mission to
in 1997 among teen is on a mission to find a prom date so we need a location
find a prom date so we need a location
find a prom date so we need a location thanks st. Paul Minnesota 1997 uh we
thanks st. Paul Minnesota 1997 uh we
thanks st. Paul Minnesota 1997 uh we need a setting like I think the living
need a setting like I think the living
need a setting like I think the living room would work perfectly deep
room would work perfectly deep
room would work perfectly deep characters I think we should have our
characters I think we should have our
characters I think we should have our heroine should be Miranda a seventeen
heroine should be Miranda a seventeen
heroine should be Miranda a seventeen year old girl
year old girl
year old girl we need Miranda doesn’t really sound
we need Miranda doesn’t really sound
we need Miranda doesn’t really sound like a Hmong name can we have a more
like a Hmong name can we have a more
like a Hmong name can we have a more Hmong sounding name since this is a
Hmong sounding name since this is a
Hmong sounding name since this is a story about a Hmong girl yeah yeah sure
story about a Hmong girl yeah yeah sure
story about a Hmong girl yeah yeah sure we could do not great about mine oh I
we could do not great about mine oh I
we could do not great about mine oh I like My Mind’s a very Hmong sunny name
like My Mind’s a very Hmong sunny name
like My Mind’s a very Hmong sunny name great
great
great so my 17 year old one girl to her
so my 17 year old one girl to her
so my 17 year old one girl to her brother mother her mother
brother mother her mother
brother mother her mother so my says her mother mother I’m gonna
so my says her mother mother I’m gonna
so my says her mother mother I’m gonna go to prom this year and mother says my
go to prom this year and mother says my
go to prom this year and mother says my mom girls don’t go to prom oh and they
mom girls don’t go to prom oh and they
mom girls don’t go to prom oh and they wait what among team call her mother
wait what among team call her mother
wait what among team call her mother mother that feels a little too formal to
mother that feels a little too formal to
mother that feels a little too formal to me what would you call your mom mother
me what would you call your mom mother
me what would you call your mom mother okay how would other people call their
okay how would other people call their
okay how would other people call their own mom mom mommy mother okay well how
own mom mom mommy mother okay well how
own mom mom mommy mother okay well how would you address your mother and mom
would you address your mother and mom
would you address your mother and mom yeah okay let’s go with that
yeah okay let’s go with that
yeah okay let’s go with that that sounds more authentic yeah okay all
that sounds more authentic yeah okay all
that sounds more authentic yeah okay all right okay right so my says Nia I’m
right okay right so my says Nia I’m
right okay right so my says Nia I’m gonna go to prom this year India says oh
gonna go to prom this year India says oh
gonna go to prom this year India says oh my god how long Hmong people know that
my god how long Hmong people know that
my god how long Hmong people know that Nia means among though mom though uh did
Nia means among though mom though uh did
Nia means among though mom though uh did you think about translating it you know
you think about translating it you know
you think about translating it you know I could do that yeah I could do one
I could do that yeah I could do one
I could do that yeah I could do one translation to ground the audience
translation to ground the audience
translation to ground the audience wouldn’t see that so my says mother I
wouldn’t see that so my says mother I
wouldn’t see that so my says mother I mean Nia I’m gonna go to prom this year
mean Nia I’m gonna go to prom this year
mean Nia I’m gonna go to prom this year and yeah says good mom girls don’t go to
and yeah says good mom girls don’t go to
and yeah says good mom girls don’t go to prom and and my says well who said that
prom and and my says well who said that
prom and and my says well who said that was a good mom girl
was a good mom girl
was a good mom girl in there yes Ananias says that’s right
in there yes Ananias says that’s right
in there yes Ananias says that’s right you’re a lazy mom girl oh and excuse me
you’re a lazy mom girl oh and excuse me
you’re a lazy mom girl oh and excuse me I learned a lot about Asian cultures and
I learned a lot about Asian cultures and
I learned a lot about Asian cultures and I hear that Asian women are very
I hear that Asian women are very
I hear that Asian women are very respectful don’t doesn’t your character
respectful don’t doesn’t your character
respectful don’t doesn’t your character seem a tad bit rude well to be perfectly
seem a tad bit rude well to be perfectly
seem a tad bit rude well to be perfectly honest this was a very thinly veiled
honest this was a very thinly veiled
honest this was a very thinly veiled play about my own life even if it were
play about my own life even if it were
play about my own life even if it were true though I’m a aren’t you worried
true though I’m a aren’t you worried
true though I’m a aren’t you worried you’ll be perpetuating a stereotype that
you’ll be perpetuating a stereotype that
you’ll be perpetuating a stereotype that mom girls could be lazy all right so my
mom girls could be lazy all right so my
mom girls could be lazy all right so my kids angry so she decides to play video
kids angry so she decides to play video
kids angry so she decides to play video games as the form of self-care oh excuse
games as the form of self-care oh excuse
games as the form of self-care oh excuse me
me
me but I thought Hmong people were too poor
but I thought Hmong people were too poor
but I thought Hmong people were too poor to own video games also girls don’t play
to own video games also girls don’t play
to own video games also girls don’t play video games you know what I played video
video games you know what I played video
video games you know what I played video games in 1997 okay okay well you’re the
games in 1997 okay okay well you’re the
games in 1997 okay okay well you’re the exception to the rule
exception to the rule
exception to the rule oh what’s the title to your play again
oh what’s the title to your play again
oh what’s the title to your play again oh I was thinking about the Hmong girls
oh I was thinking about the Hmong girls
oh I was thinking about the Hmong girls guide to hooking up oh well what the
guide to hooking up oh well what the
guide to hooking up oh well what the racy title offend the elders in your
racy title offend the elders in your
racy title offend the elders in your community to be perfectly honest I don’t
community to be perfectly honest I don’t
community to be perfectly honest I don’t think elders are gonna come to see the
think elders are gonna come to see the
think elders are gonna come to see the play okay well they are not my target
play okay well they are not my target
play okay well they are not my target audience in this place why are you
audience in this place why are you
audience in this place why are you writing a play about prom then the Hmong
writing a play about prom then the Hmong
writing a play about prom then the Hmong people have such an important story to
people have such an important story to
people have such an important story to tell about how they fled our war-torn
tell about how they fled our war-torn
tell about how they fled our war-torn country you should honor your heritage
country you should honor your heritage
country you should honor your heritage by writing about that fine I will have
by writing about that fine I will have
by writing about that fine I will have mom Mia say something about being a
mom Mia say something about being a
mom Mia say something about being a refugee if that makes you feel better
refugee if that makes you feel better
refugee if that makes you feel better okay well if we produce this play we
okay well if we produce this play we
okay well if we produce this play we need you to do outreach to your
need you to do outreach to your
need you to do outreach to your community because our mission is to be
community because our mission is to be
community because our mission is to be inclusive so how can we reach your
inclusive so how can we reach your
inclusive so how can we reach your community okay if you want to reach
community okay if you want to reach
community okay if you want to reach Hmong elders who probably don’t speak a
Hmong elders who probably don’t speak a
Hmong elders who probably don’t speak a lot of English you have to do the play
lot of English you have to do the play
lot of English you have to do the play among okay okay so that means that we
among okay okay so that means that we
among okay okay so that means that we would have to do the performance and mom
would have to do the performance and mom
would have to do the performance and mom you can translate for them right you’d
you can translate for them right you’d
you can translate for them right you’d have to hire actors who are bilingual
have to hire actors who are bilingual
have to hire actors who are bilingual okay but if we did this play and how
okay but if we did this play and how
okay but if we did this play and how will non Hmong people understand it
will non Hmong people understand it
will non Hmong people understand it super titles like in the Opera okay well
super titles like in the Opera okay well
super titles like in the Opera okay well let’s get to the heart of the matter how
let’s get to the heart of the matter how
let’s get to the heart of the matter how will you make this more accessible to
will you make this more accessible to
will you make this more accessible to our white audience who are the mom why
our white audience who are the mom why
our white audience who are the mom why is prom an important part knowing they
is prom an important part knowing they
is prom an important part knowing they are being sold on I do not
are being sold on I do not
are being sold on I do not Oh can you translate what you just said
Oh can you translate what you just said
Oh can you translate what you just said I I would love to translate what I just
I I would love to translate what I just
I I would love to translate what I just said I just called you in shot thought
said I just called you in shot thought
said I just called you in shot thought scenes ooh which literally means a tiger
scenes ooh which literally means a tiger
scenes ooh which literally means a tiger bite who is worthy of being hated yeah
bite who is worthy of being hated yeah
bite who is worthy of being hated yeah also known as a church get off my stage
also known as a church get off my stage
also known as a church get off my stage geez
geez
geez I will not be oppressed today very well
I will not be oppressed today very well
I will not be oppressed today very well my work here is done
all right let’s start this again okay if
all right let’s start this again okay if this felt like it was really exaggerated
this felt like it was really exaggerated
this felt like it was really exaggerated let me tell you every single line you
let me tell you every single line you
let me tell you every single line you heard my critic is actually something
heard my critic is actually something
heard my critic is actually something I’ve heard in real life throughout the
I’ve heard in real life throughout the
I’ve heard in real life throughout the course of my career as an artist and I’m
course of my career as an artist and I’m
course of my career as an artist and I’m done I’m willing to bet that other
done I’m willing to bet that other
done I’m willing to bet that other writers performance artists creatives
writers performance artists creatives
writers performance artists creatives and even non creatives can empathize
and even non creatives can empathize
and even non creatives can empathize with this when you come from a community
with this when you come from a community
with this when you come from a community that hasn’t had a lot of platforms to
that hasn’t had a lot of platforms to
that hasn’t had a lot of platforms to speak whether that whether that be in
speak whether that whether that be in
speak whether that whether that be in you know TV movies books music we’re
you know TV movies books music we’re
you know TV movies books music we’re just life you don’t have the luxury of
just life you don’t have the luxury of
just life you don’t have the luxury of just being and artists you also have the
just being and artists you also have the
just being and artists you also have the burden of creating your work while being
burden of creating your work while being
burden of creating your work while being police by organization organizations
police by organization organizations
police by organization organizations funders audience members even people
funders audience members even people
funders audience members even people from within your own community often
from within your own community often
from within your own community often this results in work that is compromised
this results in work that is compromised
this results in work that is compromised or work that never gets created so what
or work that never gets created so what
or work that never gets created so what can we do to change this we need to
can we do to change this we need to
can we do to change this we need to start normalizing the stories and lives
start normalizing the stories and lives
start normalizing the stories and lives of people who come from underrepresented
of people who come from underrepresented
of people who come from underrepresented communities and not only that we as
communities and not only that we as
communities and not only that we as consumers or as just even regular people
consumers or as just even regular people
consumers or as just even regular people need to listen to these stories on their
need to listen to these stories on their
need to listen to these stories on their own terms
own terms
own terms we need to realize we are not the center
we need to realize we are not the center
we need to realize we are not the center of the universe and be okay with that I
of the universe and be okay with that I
of the universe and be okay with that I have spent the majority of my life not
have spent the majority of my life not
have spent the majority of my life not being the center of any universe come on
being the center of any universe come on
being the center of any universe come on I’m a Hmong American who lives in
I’m a Hmong American who lives in
I’m a Hmong American who lives in Minnesota right uh people think we only
Minnesota right uh people think we only
Minnesota right uh people think we only you know have Norwegians here um I am
you know have Norwegians here um I am
you know have Norwegians here um I am the daughter of shamaness and I get a
the daughter of shamaness and I get a
the daughter of shamaness and I get a two-year stint at a Catholic Junior High
two-year stint at a Catholic Junior High
two-year stint at a Catholic Junior High School where I had to go to church twice
School where I had to go to church twice
School where I had to go to church twice a week and you know religion class like
a week and you know religion class like
a week and you know religion class like everything everyday when I started
everything everyday when I started
everything everyday when I started teaching sexual
teaching sexual
teaching sexual health education specifically for the
health education specifically for the
health education specifically for the Hmong community people said to me me
Hmong community people said to me me
Hmong community people said to me me Hmong people don’t talk about sex good
Hmong people don’t talk about sex good
Hmong people don’t talk about sex good luck and even when I go to national
luck and even when I go to national
luck and even when I go to national convenience with other Asian Americans
convenience with other Asian Americans
convenience with other Asian Americans guess what and the exotic Asian it’s
guess what and the exotic Asian it’s
guess what and the exotic Asian it’s true a lot of them have usually never
true a lot of them have usually never
true a lot of them have usually never heard of Hmong people before or their
heard of Hmong people before or their
heard of Hmong people before or their reference point is the movie gran torino
reference point is the movie gran torino
reference point is the movie gran torino yes
yes
yes or maybe they read the book the spirit
or maybe they read the book the spirit
or maybe they read the book the spirit catches you when you fall down but even
catches you when you fall down but even
catches you when you fall down but even at home I was considered a weirdo da
at home I was considered a weirdo da
at home I was considered a weirdo da this is for real when I was 12 years old
this is for real when I was 12 years old
this is for real when I was 12 years old my mom yelled at me you know I had bad
my mom yelled at me you know I had bad
my mom yelled at me you know I had bad eyes I had to get glasses and my mom
eyes I had to get glasses and my mom
eyes I had to get glasses and my mom said to me mom people do not wear
said to me mom people do not wear
said to me mom people do not wear glasses what is wrong with you I’m this
glasses what is wrong with you I’m this
glasses what is wrong with you I’m this old in my vision is still perfect
old in my vision is still perfect
old in my vision is still perfect just what she also did not have access
just what she also did not have access
just what she also did not have access to five hours of television per day okay
to five hours of television per day okay
to five hours of television per day okay and you know what years later when other
and you know what years later when other
and you know what years later when other people in my family had to wear glasses
people in my family had to wear glasses
people in my family had to wear glasses guess what did they get yelled at no
guess what did they get yelled at no
guess what did they get yelled at no because I had normalized the wearing of
because I had normalized the wearing of
because I had normalized the wearing of glasses so in some ways you could say
glasses so in some ways you could say
glasses so in some ways you could say that you know I was a pioneer yes when I
that you know I was a pioneer yes when I
that you know I was a pioneer yes when I was 12 years old I also realized I
was 12 years old I also realized I
was 12 years old I also realized I wanted to be a writer but I get no any
wanted to be a writer but I get no any
wanted to be a writer but I get no any among people who are writers was my
among people who are writers was my
among people who are writers was my worldview really small yes definitely
worldview really small yes definitely
worldview really small yes definitely but what I did not realize until much
but what I did not realize until much
but what I did not realize until much later was that because Hmong people are
later was that because Hmong people are
later was that because Hmong people are an oral culture we didn’t have a writing
an oral culture we didn’t have a writing
an oral culture we didn’t have a writing system until the 1950s as a result most
system until the 1950s as a result most
system until the 1950s as a result most of the people of my parents generation
of the people of my parents generation
of the people of my parents generation and beyond did not have access to
and beyond did not have access to
and beyond did not have access to education and did not grow up being
education and did not grow up being
education and did not grow up being literate in Hmong or in English this was
literate in Hmong or in English this was
literate in Hmong or in English this was exactly the reason why when I was 12
exactly the reason why when I was 12
exactly the reason why when I was 12 years old in reading books people
years old in reading books people
years old in reading books people thought I was a weirdo this was why when
thought I was a weirdo this was why when
thought I was a weirdo this was why when I was looking for role models who were
I was looking for role models who were
I was looking for role models who were writers or actors I couldn’t find any
writers or actors I couldn’t find any
writers or actors I couldn’t find any because they didn’t exist yet when I was
because they didn’t exist yet when I was
because they didn’t exist yet when I was 18 I finally found a community among
18 I finally found a community among
18 I finally found a community among writers and what I learned would change
writers and what I learned would change
writers and what I learned would change the trajectory of my my work as an
the trajectory of my my work as an
the trajectory of my my work as an artist mining mom who has been hailed as
artist mining mom who has been hailed as
artist mining mom who has been hailed as the Midwife of the Hmong literary arts
the Midwife of the Hmong literary arts
the Midwife of the Hmong literary arts movement said if we don’t tell our
movement said if we don’t tell our
movement said if we don’t tell our stories other people would do it for us
stories other people would do it for us
stories other people would do it for us and this was completely true because
and this was completely true because
and this was completely true because today the 90s yes yes
today the 90s yes yes
today the 90s yes yes the majority of writing about Hmong
the majority of writing about Hmong
the majority of writing about Hmong people were not written by Hmong people
people were not written by Hmong people
people were not written by Hmong people they were usually stuff that what you
they were usually stuff that what you
they were usually stuff that what you know usually we had anthropologists and
know usually we had anthropologists and
know usually we had anthropologists and other folks who came and studied us or
other folks who came and studied us or
other folks who came and studied us or collected our stories this is why this
collected our stories this is why this
collected our stories this is why this is what I never take it for granted that
is what I never take it for granted that
is what I never take it for granted that I make a living
I make a living
I make a living practicing art forms my parents
practicing art forms my parents
practicing art forms my parents generation never had access to this is
generation never had access to this is
generation never had access to this is also why I never take it for granted
also why I never take it for granted
also why I never take it for granted that I have the capacity to tell my own
that I have the capacity to tell my own
that I have the capacity to tell my own stories in my own words for me being a
stories in my own words for me being a
stories in my own words for me being a writer is a being an artist is a bit of
writer is a being an artist is a bit of
writer is a being an artist is a bit of a double-edged sword it’s a great way
a double-edged sword it’s a great way
a double-edged sword it’s a great way for me to express myself creatively but
for me to express myself creatively but
for me to express myself creatively but I’m always juggling responsibilities and
I’m always juggling responsibilities and
I’m always juggling responsibilities and wondering how much to say like even
wondering how much to say like even
wondering how much to say like even right now I’m wondering how many of you
right now I’m wondering how many of you
right now I’m wondering how many of you are gonna leave this talking thing oh my
are gonna leave this talking thing oh my
are gonna leave this talking thing oh my gosh she is a semi angry PLC which
gosh she is a semi angry PLC which
gosh she is a semi angry PLC which stands for personal color by the way I’m
stands for personal color by the way I’m
stands for personal color by the way I’m wondering how many of you are gonna look
wondering how many of you are gonna look
wondering how many of you are gonna look down on my parents for not having access
down on my parents for not having access
down on my parents for not having access to education how many of you are gonna
to education how many of you are gonna
to education how many of you are gonna look at Hmong girls and think oh that it
look at Hmong girls and think oh that it
look at Hmong girls and think oh that it died Hmong girls who read books and
died Hmong girls who read books and
died Hmong girls who read books and think they are weirdos because of a
think they are weirdos because of a
think they are weirdos because of a story I relayed about my own life that
story I relayed about my own life that
story I relayed about my own life that you know happened 15-20 years ago so but
you know happened 15-20 years ago so but
you know happened 15-20 years ago so but still I create and still other artists
still I create and still other artists
still I create and still other artists from other underrepresented communities
from other underrepresented communities
from other underrepresented communities create and sometimes when I create I
create and sometimes when I create I
create and sometimes when I create I will say that my target audience is
will say that my target audience is
will say that my target audience is Hmong Americans who are bilingual this
Hmong Americans who are bilingual this
Hmong Americans who are bilingual this does not mean other people are not
does not mean other people are not
does not mean other people are not invited to the table but rather I would
invited to the table but rather I would
invited to the table but rather I would like you to imagine in this way if you
like you to imagine in this way if you
like you to imagine in this way if you asked me to be on my best behavior in
asked me to be on my best behavior in
asked me to be on my best behavior in meeting my 50 behavior yes the kind of
meeting my 50 behavior yes the kind of
meeting my 50 behavior yes the kind of stories you are gonna get from me are
stories you are gonna get from me are
stories you are gonna get from me are gonna be the filter one’s full of
gonna be the filter one’s full of
gonna be the filter one’s full of surface details it may be even
surface details it may be even
surface details it may be even stereotypes if you give me the space to
stereotypes if you give me the space to
stereotypes if you give me the space to create on my own terms the kind of work
create on my own terms the kind of work
create on my own terms the kind of work you’re gonna get is gonna be much more
you’re gonna get is gonna be much more
you’re gonna get is gonna be much more authentic nuanced and complex and isn’t
authentic nuanced and complex and isn’t
authentic nuanced and complex and isn’t that what we want from art and in life
and sometimes the stories you hear are
and sometimes the stories you hear are gonna you know be uncomfortable
gonna you know be uncomfortable
gonna you know be uncomfortable sometimes you’re not gonna get the joke
sometimes you’re not gonna get the joke
sometimes you’re not gonna get the joke sometimes the stories you hear are going
sometimes the stories you hear are going
sometimes the stories you hear are going to challenge the what a challenge what
to challenge the what a challenge what
to challenge the what a challenge what you previously thought you knew about
you previously thought you knew about
you previously thought you knew about this community and sometimes you are not
this community and sometimes you are not
this community and sometimes you are not gonna be able to empathize with any of
gonna be able to empathize with any of
gonna be able to empathize with any of the characters but so what
the characters but so what
the characters but so what I go to see place about old dead white
I go to see place about old dead white
I go to see place about old dead white people all the time okay yeah yes
people all the time okay yeah yes
people all the time okay yeah yes obviously I’m not old dead or white but
obviously I’m not old dead or white but
obviously I’m not old dead or white but do I care
do I care
do I care remember you don’t need to be the center
remember you don’t need to be the center
remember you don’t need to be the center of the universe all the time it’s okay
of the universe all the time it’s okay
of the universe all the time it’s okay rather than being an interloper who sort
rather than being an interloper who sort
rather than being an interloper who sort of just like peeks through the windows
of just like peeks through the windows
of just like peeks through the windows and eavesdrop some conversations why not
and eavesdrop some conversations why not
and eavesdrop some conversations why not be an actual guest a proper guest who
be an actual guest a proper guest who
be an actual guest a proper guest who comes inside takes off their shoes
comes inside takes off their shoes
comes inside takes off their shoes because let’s be real even though I am
because let’s be real even though I am
because let’s be real even though I am Minnesotan I’m also super Asian okay why
Minnesotan I’m also super Asian okay why
Minnesotan I’m also super Asian okay why not come inside have a seat at my table
not come inside have a seat at my table
not come inside have a seat at my table listen to stories eats my food as it is
listen to stories eats my food as it is
listen to stories eats my food as it is not as you would like it here’s the
not as you would like it here’s the
not as you would like it here’s the thing I spent the first half of my life
thing I spent the first half of my life
thing I spent the first half of my life being ashamed of who I was where I came
being ashamed of who I was where I came
being ashamed of who I was where I came from
from
from and trying to hide my authentic self
and trying to hide my authentic self
and trying to hide my authentic self then I spent the second part of my life
then I spent the second part of my life
then I spent the second part of my life trying to create a world in which people
trying to create a world in which people
trying to create a world in which people like me exist moving forward I hope that
like me exist moving forward I hope that
like me exist moving forward I hope that you will also be a part of that movement
you will also be a part of that movement
you will also be a part of that movement thank you
”
Be First to Comment