Overview:

Project Overview:

‍In collaboration with the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, I served as an Associate Producer and UX Designer for the digital restoration of The Fall of the I-Hotel, a documentary by Curtis Choy. This project aimed to preserve and digitally restore a film significant to Filipino American history, while also ensuring the voices and needs of the Manilatown community were woven into its legacy. As Filipino American artists, we recognized the film’s power to reveal hidden histories, empower future generations, and inspire positive social change. The restored film premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in May 2023.

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The restoration premiered at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in May of 2023.

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The Problem:‍

The challenge was twofold:

1. Preserving the Film: The documentary, originally made in 1983, was at risk of deteriorating, and a digital restoration was necessary to safeguard its quality for future generations. The film not only documents the struggles of Filipino American seniors fighting against eviction in San Francisco’s International Hotel during the 1970s, but also serves as a broader story of Asian American activism and resistance against gentrification and displacement.
2. Community Involvement: It was crucial to involve the Manilatown community, which encompasses multiple generations with diverse perspectives, in defining how the film would live on digitally and how its story would be shared to resonate with current and future audiences.

Our Approach and Solutions:

‍The project was executed in two main phases: the technical restoration of the film and a community-focused design process.

1. Film Restoration:
   • Partnering with the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), we meticulously restored the film to resemble Curtis Choy's original vision. This process included color correction, subtitle integration, and quality assurance to eliminate errors, ensuring the film's enduring legacy.
   • Our aim was to create a high-quality restoration that preserved the authenticity of the original, allowing it to be experienced as intended by new generations.
2. Community-Centric Design Workshops:
   • We conducted a multi-day, community-led design workshop with members of the Manilatown community. This allowed us to engage with a broad range of voices to understand their unique needs, desires, and concerns.
   • We documented and outlined these findings, ensuring that the restoration process and resulting digital legacy addressed their needs while fostering intergenerational connections. The insights from these workshops helped shape not only the restoration but also the outreach and engagement strategies around the film.

Outcomes and Impact:

• Defining the Digital Legacy: Based on insights from the workshops, we developed a plan that outlined the community’s expectations and needs, ensuring that the film's digital legacy would honor the history and struggles it represents.
• Broader Awareness: The film was submitted to several film festivals, with its premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in May 2023. This allowed for the story to reach a wider audience, fostering a deeper understanding of the historical significance and ongoing relevance of the struggle against gentrification and displacement.
• Empowering Future Generations: The project not only preserved an important piece of history but also engaged younger community members, creating a sense of ownership and connection to the struggles of the past.

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My Role:
As the Associate Producer and UX Designer, I was instrumental in bridging the technical aspects of restoration with the human-centered design process:

• Coordinating Restoration Efforts: I collaborated with CAAM to oversee the restoration, ensuring quality control and that the final product remained true to the original vision.
• Leading Community Engagement: I facilitated the design workshops and documented the community's input, translating their feedback into actionable plans that informed both the digital restoration and the broader outreach efforts.
• Shaping the User Experience: By integrating UX principles, I helped ensure the film’s presentation would be accessible, culturally sensitive, and emotionally resonant, from its digital format to festival screenings.

Lessons Learned:

• Community Insights Are Invaluable: Engaging the community not only ensured that the project aligned with their needs but also enriched the restoration process, adding layers of authenticity and cultural significance.
• Balancing Preservation and Innovation: Maintaining the integrity of the original film while modernizing its presentation required careful planning and collaboration.
• Storytelling as a Tool for Social Change: This project reaffirmed the power of storytelling in raising awareness about historical and ongoing social issues, underscoring the role of media in catalyzing empathy and change.

Next Steps:

• Ongoing Film Festival Submissions: Continue submitting The Fall of the I-Hotel to film festivals to broaden its reach and impact.
• Educational Outreach: Partner with academic institutions and community organizations to use the film as an educational tool for teaching about Asian American history and social justice.
• Digital Archive Development: Explore options for creating a digital archive of related materials, including oral histories, photographs, and documents to complement the film and further preserve the legacy of the Manilatown community.

This case study highlights the profound impact that culturally responsive, community-centered design can have in preserving history and fostering social change.

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