Declan Zimmermann, who teaches the Animation Area's Intro to Animation classes, recently completed work on The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas. This HBO Original documentary is a tapestry of personal vignettes from across the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities in America.
Mr. Zimmermann and his company, Perpetual Motion Graphics, designed and animated the main titles and motion elements, collaborating closely with director Eugene Yi and editor Johanna Giebelhaus.
The film captures lived experiences from high-profile celebrities like Sandra Oh and Kumail Nanjiani, to unsung heroes like Madelyn Yu, a retired nurse in New Jersey. These intimate first-person accounts invite viewers to question umbrella terms like “Asian American” and “AAPI,” and instead draw focus to the individuals and the communities themselves.
Other notable voices featured in the film include pioneering journalist Connie Chung; army-helicopter-pilot-turned-senator Tammy Duckworth; trans advocate and athlete Schuyler Bailar; activist and astronaut Amanda Nguyen; surfer and scientist Cliff Kapono; DJ Rekha, whose underground parties transformed the New York City music scene; and Haroon Mokhtarzada, a child refugee who went on to become a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. The film’s 15 participants reflect the diverse histories and cultures across Asia and the Pacific Islands and attempt the impossible: to reflect a community whose roots span two-thirds of the world. Their moving stories of tragedy and triumph, joy and pain, illustrate the commonalities from which community can emerge. With original interviews and rich archival materials, the film reframes the proverbial “A List” by placing these communities squarely at the center of American life.
The film is the latest in the “The List” series of documentary films, large-format photography portraits, and books that examine the rich cultures of various underrepresented communities, created by renowned photographer and filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders. Past projects include HBO’s “The Black List,” “The Trans List,” “The Out List,” and “The Latino List.”
The film debuts Wednesday, May 13 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max.