On November 12, 2024, Asia Society Southern California hosted its 15th U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards, an exciting event that brought together top industry leaders, creatives, and innovators from across the Asian entertainment world. The event celebrated the achievements and contributions of key figures in the industry, while also providing a platform for important discussions on the trends, challenges, and opportunities currently shaping the entertainment field.

The event kicked off with the U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit. The summit featured thought-provoking panels and discussions, where industry experts explored the evolving nature of entertainment, from issues of diversity and inclusion to the rapid technological advancements transforming media production and distribution. The event encapsulated the vital role that Asian talent, creatives, and executives are playing in shaping the future of entertainment worldwide.

The first panel at the summit, titled "AWE (Asian Women Empowered): The Power of Creator and Content Marketing," featured Paris Berelc, Actor, Producer & Activist; Paravi, Singer/Songwriter, Actor & Creative; Sulhee Jessica Woo, Content Creator & Bento Box Queen; and Julie Zhan, Actor, Writer & Filmmaker. The panel was moderated by Jade Alex, Executive Director of Events & Global Publicity at Warner Bros. Pictures. Though the panelists came from different professional backgrounds, they shared insights from their journeys in the creator and content marketing spaces. Some of the topics covered included staying authentic on social media, managing representation and large followings, and the future of content creation.

The next panel was titled "Production in Australia" and featured Australian Deputy Consul-General in Los Angeles, Amanda Annamalay Jochum, and Executive Vice President of International Production at Ausfilm, Erin Stam. They discussed the role of Ausfilm in fostering creative partnerships between the U.S. and Australia. They explained how the organization helps connect the two industries. They also highlighted the incentives Australia offers for media production, which have made the country a popular choice for filmmakers, showcasing a promising future of collaboration in entertainment with Australia.

The "Navigating New Media Finance" panel featured a discussion with Joey Jia, Founder & CEO of Crazy Maple Studio, and Bennett Pozil, Executive Vice President & Head of Corporate Banking and Greater China at East West Bank. Moderated by Michael Krider, Founder & CEO of Wyld, the panel explored the new mediums of how content is consumed, focusing on emerging platforms and formats. Jia shared his own insights on ReelShort, a platform developed by Jia's company, Crazy Maple Studio, that centers on short-form video content specifically designed for mobile usage. The panel explored the financial implications of these new media formats, examining how creators can monetize short-form content. They also touched on the changing dynamics of content production in the mobile-first era, highlighting the opportunities for both creators and investors.

The panel titled "Fandom: Community & Connection in a New Generation" brought together three directors from different animated series: John Aoshima, Co-Director of Ultraman: Rising; Jane Wu, Director & Executive Producer of Blue Eye Samurai; and Emmett Yonemura, Director of X-Men '97. This discussion focused on the differences between creating stories for a new IP and building on established franchises while staying true to the original vision. They also explored how fandoms can shape the direction of a project, and the importance of representation in animation. Looking ahead, the directors speculated on the future of animation, especially how fandom and new digital platforms will continue to shape storytelling in the industry.

The final segment of the summit began with a screening of the short film Summons, giving the audience a chance to watch the film before the panel discussion that followed. Titled "Summons: Charting New Paths in Filmmaking," the panel featured Summons Writer, Director, and Producer Ken Cheng, along with James Shin, President of Film & Television at HYBE America/SB Projects and Producer of Summons. The session was moderated by bestselling author, journalist, and screenwriter Jeff Yang. During the panel, Cheng and Shin shared insights into their personal journeys into filmmaking and how they found themselves working on Summons. They discussed their decision to focus on a short film rather than a feature film, exploring how short films can provide unique opportunities for creative expression and recognition. They also delved into the opportunistic side of short films, highlighting how they can open doors for future projects and attract attention from major studios.

The Game Changer Awards followed in the evening, honoring five outstanding individuals and teams who have made a lasting impact on the Asian entertainment industry.

Sean Wang, Director of Dìdi, introduced honoree Joan Chen, the legendary actor and director, recognized for her significant contributions to both Asian and global cinema. Chen was celebrated for her recent starring role in the Sundance Award-winning Dìdi. She began her speech by telling the story of how she started acting in America after moving to Los Angeles at the age of 20. Chen pointed out how difficult it was to find work as an Asian actor in the past and how it has changed for the better in recent years. She stated that her performance in Dìdi has garnered more recognition than any previous role, and she feels more passionate about acting than ever before.

Bird Runningwater, President and Executive Producer of Cloud Woman Media, introduced Dana Ledoux Miller, co-writer and one of the directors of Moana 2. Ledoux Miller was celebrated for her creativity, leadership, and commitment to inclusion in shaping the future of the beloved Disney film franchise. Ledoux Miller spoke about her sense of self-worth and the need to prove that she is enough, even while working on major projects. She likened herself to the titular character of Moana 2, as both realized they had much responsibility on their shoulders. They both recognized their ability to push beyond boundaries and bring their community into a bright new future.

Actor Nazanin Boniadi introduced co-creators Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks of FX's cultural phenomenon Shōgun, which won a record-breaking 18 Emmys at the 76th Emmy Awards. Their speeches highlighted the importance of inclusion and cultural specificity in American media. Marks brought up that not only is inclusivity important in bringing people together as a community, but it makes stories better overall and brings characters to life. With an international team working on this series, the concept of "East meets West" was a driving force behind their creative process and work ethic. They concluded the speech by expressing that he wishes to see more global collaboration and representation in the future.

Renowned Japanese music producer TOMOKO IDA introduced Grammy-winning and six-time Latin Grammy-winning producer Tainy, who was honored for being a bridge builder connecting Latin America and Japan. Tainy discussed the importance of Japanese culture and anime in his upbringing and their influence on his works. He mentioned he felt a connection with Japanese culture from a young age and although Japan is so far away from his home in Puerto Rico, it also feels so close to home for him. Tainy mentioned the connection that one can feel with the entire world through music and how that played a pivotal role in his recent projects bridging the gap between Latin music and Japan.

Patrick Lee, co-founder and founding CEO of Rotten Tomatoes, introduced Yumi Yokoo, the CEO of Pony Canyon USA and President and CEO of Pony Canyon Music Publishing, who was celebrated for her visionary leadership in the music and entertainment sectors.

The 15th U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit and Game Changer Awards was a night of celebration and reflection, highlighting those who are leading the charge in shaping the global entertainment industry.

View the program book