C3: Special Sneak Preview – New Short Film by Bao Nguyen

C3
50 mins

Join producers Kenneth Nguyen, Michael Dinh and former journalist Chenda Ngak for a special sneak preview of a new short film by Bao Nguyen followed by an in-depth discussion on the current utilization of open source tools for filmmaking and content creation. As technology development ramps up and new products become more available, how will this impact artists as they continue to create? This post-screening dialogue will spark ideas and offer insight on the current situation of available avenues for creation and for consumers to use.

PANELISTS:

Michael Dinh is a producer working across indie film and brand-driven storytelling, with a focus on projects that sit at the intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. His entry into film was through marketing and distribution of indie Vietnamese cinema and executive produced the film Saigon Electric by the late Stephane Gauger.

His work spans narrative and commercial worlds, producing films, content, and campaigns from concept through delivery, including a recent collaboration with Automattic exploring the role of open source in shaping the future of the internet and ownership of our own creative works Outside of production, he is active in civic and community efforts across Los Angeles notably in the recovery of Altadena after the LA fires.

Chenda Ngak is a Northern California-based communications leader, producer, and former journalist. She is Head of Communications at Automattic, the company that developed WordPress.com, Tumblr, WooCommerce, and other platforms powering the open web. Before Automattic, Ngak covered and shaped stories across technology, science, travel, and branded content for CBS News, The Weather Company, and eBay. She has contributed reporting and produced storytelling projects recognized by the duPont-Columbia Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, Webby Awards, Hermes Creative Awards, North American Digital Media Awards, and Internet Advertising Awards.

A refugee born in Cambodia, Chenda’s personal story is rooted in her family’s escape from the Khmer Rouge and their assimilation into American culture, documented in the books “To Destroy You Is No Loss: The Odyssey of a Cambodian Family” and “Bamboo & Butterflies: From Refugee To Citizen.”

Kenneth Nguyen is the host and creator of The Vietnamese podcast, a platform that spotlights Vietnamese excellence from around the world. Since its start in 2020, Kenneth has recorded over 500 episodes, engaging in thoughtful conversations with members of the global Vietnamese community.

Notable guests on the podcast include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, author Ocean Vuong, actress Kieu Chinh, actor Dustin Nguyen, comedian Stevie Ho and many more. Kenneth’s work has been recognized for its contribution to preserving and sharing the stories of the Vietnamese diaspora, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances of Vietnamese identity across generations and geographies.

Kenneth is a founding partner at EAST Films with a few films currently in production.

Dates & Times

Directors Guild of America

May 1, 2026
1:00 pm

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