Em Collective presents our submission to the Silicon Valley Asian Pacific Film Fest, titled "Greater Than A Pandemic - Hope, Passion & Community". When our hearts are away from each other for too long, fear and anxiety set in. Fear and anxiety become a placeholder for our true selves. With the rise of Covid-19, we have seen countries, schools, and businesses come to a screeching halt. The economic and health breakdown has left much of the country asking what is next? The inaction and actions that were taken by those we trust only revealed the capacity of humanity are like at our worst and our best. And with that, we are forced to come face to face with a few important truths about ourselves. In a country that measures success by the metrics of GDP and economic gains, we are taught to value human lives as contributions to dollar signs. In a combination of the shelter in place orders, we have further pushed away and into isolation. When we are pushed to isolation and the only measurement of success is in the forms of economics, we are no longer human beings, but rather humans doing what they are told and putting a price on our worth as if we could easily be sold. However what lies beyond these challenges are our real strengths and those strengths lie in the ability to create hope, act out of compassion, and come together through our most difficult times. People in our communities will always have the freedom to choose to stay in despair or choose hope, compassion, and community. In our community, we have leaders who have chosen the latter. The fear of being infected with Covid-19 falls second to preparation and courage to see each other as humans in need. There have been stories of those who chose to collect and deliver donations to the most vulnerable, underserved, and even marginalized. When our community realized where authority has failed, they chose to serve with the resources and resourcefulness they possessed. They created personal protective equipment for our healthcare workers. It is hope and compassion that allows us to come together as a community. There have been a lot of reasons why we should have succumbed to the worst parts of our humanity, but despite all of this, we have seen our community reach out to each other’s hearts. Even in periods of mandated isolation, we still found a way to reach the better parts of humanity: hope, compassion, and community. Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Greater Than A Pandemic | Em Collectve

In this video, we will show you how this wall art was created in celebration of the Moon festival. Using basic art supplies and the hanging wall art piece included in your "Moon Fest in a Box" you can recreate this piece or make your own original wall art. We can't wait to see your recreations and creativity! Please tag us @emcollectve on Instagram to share your artwork. Filmed by: Jason Leung @xninjason on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Moon Lantern Wall Art Tutorial | Moon Fest Box | EM Collective

In this video, we will show you how to create a one-of-a-kind moon lantern using some common art supplies and paper lantern(s) provided in your Moon Box. Depict the bunny on the moon, flower branches like shown in the video, or however you wish to decorate your "Moon Lantern"! Supplies: Markers or Paint Colored Tissue Paper Scissors Glue Paper Lantern Have a great Moon Festival and thank you for celebrating with us! Enjoy! Filmed by: Jason Leung @xninjason on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Moon Lantern Paint Tutorial | Moon Fest Box | EM Collective

With the given conditions this year, we can't produce our annual community cultural event (Moon Fest Night Market), so we wanted to re-create the experience and bring the Moon Festival experience to you and yours, in the safety of your home. EM Collective has curated a “Moon Fest in a Box”. With the boxes you’ll be able to partake in some sweet treats and activities that are an ode to traditions and create bonding experiences. Whether you are celebrating alone, with a significant other or with family we all can celebrate, stand under the same sky and look at the Harvest Moon together! Proceeds go to Asian SMB Restaurants owners impacted by Covid19. Link: https://www.em-collective.org/moon-fest-in-a-box Videographer: Ngoc Phan & Jason Leung Video Editor: David Nguyen

In this video, we will show you how to create a tie-dye lantern using common household items and paper lantern(s) provided in your Moon Box. Mix and match colors, use as little or as much as you'd like to make your lantern one-of-a-kind! Have a great Moon Festival and thank you for celebrating with us! Enjoy! Filmed by: Jason Leung @xninjason on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Moon Lantern Tie Dye Tutorial | Moon Fest Box | EM Collective

Tết or Vietnamese New Year marks the beginning of the new year on the lunar calendar and is one of the most significant cultural events in the Vietnamese culture. A time of celebration, there is plenty of preparation leading up to the New Year with customary practices such as lighting firecrackers, having traditional foods, gift-giving, family time, and paying respects to ancestors makes for a typical three-day celebration that can extend for even more than a week. The first week of the new year is considered auspicious. This event usually falls at the end of January to early February, based on the Lunar calendar. In this video, it showcases how one family prepares and celebrates the start of Tết. Filmed by: @hoadavid on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Tết (Vietnamese New Year) | Culture | EM Collective

Buu Kim Tu is a non-profit lion dance group based in San Jose, CA with a wide age range of members joining together to maintain the cultural significance of lion dancing in the Vietnamese and Chinese culture. This eye dotting ceremony is a practice done with new lion costumes as a way to awaken and tie the spirit and energy of the lion to the costume, in order to provide blessings and protection when used while performing. Red paint is used to dot the eyes, horn, feet, and back as well as a red bow being tied to the horn to seal in the "spirit". After the ceremony, the lions "come alive" and dance. Other performances during this event showcased the member's skills and told various mythological lion dance stories through dance. For more check out their Instagram: @buukimtu or website at: www.buukimtu.com Filmed by: @hoadavid on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5OXoWUP3_hBGQJb64S1Ww?sub_confirmation=1 Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Buu Kim Tu Lion Dance Eye Dotting Ceremony | Culture | EM Collective

Join us in the kitchen as we make Xôi Lạp Xưởn, Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage. A simple dish that is not only easy and humbling to make, but savory and flavorful! It uses sticky rice giving this dish a more hearty and toothy bite that is texturally satisfying and paired with strong flavors like Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, fried shallots and scallion oil which makes for a satisfying dish. Check out the recipe by here: https://theculinarychronicles.com/2014/02/27/xoi-lap-xuong-sticky-rice-with-chinese-sausage/ Filmed by: @knockhanh on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage (Xôi Lạp Xưởng) | Street Eats | EM Collective

Nam Ho is a designer, entrepreneur, and musician. In 2009, he started Oh Man! Clothing as a way to bring more representation to Asian Americans in the fashion industry—something he felt was lacking at the time. Additionally, he wanted to show his community that it was possible to break away from the cultural expectations of becoming a lawyer, doctor, or engineer. Oh Man!, which is his name spelled backward, is a reflection of his life experiences and the affirmations learned that he hopes will help guide others along their journey. In addition to his own brand, he has also designed for the likes of Pacsun, Kanye West’s Yeezus Tour, Been Trill, LRG, Mitchell & Ness, and Cookies SF. Since then, Nam has started his journey as a musician and DJ going by the alias OHMS a.k.a. Oh Man! Sound. His goal is to inspire others to pursue the path that makes them happy, and also show that it is always possible to follow more than one path at the same time. “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. Minimum work, maximum fun.” - Nam Ho Website: http://www.ohmanclothing.com Instagram: @ohmanclothing | @ohmansound Film Producer: @knockhanh on Instagram Video Editor: @irenaamartinez on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5O... Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Oh Man! Clothing with Nam Ho | Short Stories | EM Collective

Join us in the kitchen as we make Bánh Bột Chiên, fried rice flour cakes that are pan-fried, scrambled with eggs, topped with sauce and served with pickled vegetables. A popular and famous street food in Saigon that borrows from both the Vietnamese and Chinese cultures. It is a savory, rich and comforting treat that is full of fun textures and flavors. Check out the recipe by Helen Le here: https://danangcuisine.com/snacks/recipe-80-bot-chien-fried-rice-flour-cake/ Filmed by: @knockhanh on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5OXoWUP3_hBGQJb64S1Ww?sub_confirmation=1 Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Fried Rice Cake (Bánh Bột Chiên) | Street Eats | EM Collective

Join us in the kitchen as we make Bánh Tráng Nướng, a grilled spring roll rice paper wrapper covered in savory South East Asian toppings. Otherwise known as Vietnamese Pizza. A popular, street food in Vietnam you can now recreate in your own home! With just spring roll rice paper and eggs, there is no right or wrong topping that can be added. Check out the recipe here: https://www.vickypham.com/blog/vietnamese-pizzaquesadilla-banh-trang-nuong Filmed by: @knockhanh on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5OXoWUP3_hBGQJb64S1Ww?sub_confirmation=1 Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Vietnamese Pizza (Bánh Tráng Nướng) | Street Eats | EM Collective

On April 30, 1975, marked the end of the Vietnam War, the Fall of Saigon, and the reunification of Vietnam into one country as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This day is a tribute to those who fought for freedom, the lives lost during the war, those that died at sea trying to escape Communism, and for the individuals experiencing poverty, disease in post-war living. We mourn for the losses and sacrifices that were made during this time and for all those affected by war. Though it represents great loss, it represents the resilience of the Vietnamese people and has resulted in the expansion and presence of Vietnamese culture around the world. From popular Vietnamese foods; Pho and Banh Mi, Vietnamese community groups, and Vietnamese-run businesses, the Vietnamese people all share a remarkable resilience that prevails. Filmed by: @ knockhanh on Instagram Still haven't subscribed to EM Collective on YouTube? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5OXoWUP3_hBGQJb64S1Ww?sub_confirmation=1 Give us a follow: ● Instagram: @emcollectve ● Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emcollectve/ Black April (Remembrance of Saigon) | Culture | EM Collective