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As a former co-host of the podcastWho Charted?,Kulap Vilaysackwas regularly putting herself out there.
For two decades she decided not to track down her biological dad … untilOrigin Story.
But would he be the person she wanted him to be or the dad she feared hecouldbe?
Its exciting, but frankly Im a little nervous about it.
A lot of the time it was just me and my editor.
That was the goal so that people could see it.
But its like you said; itsonlypersonal.
Im putting myself out there.
I said to her, How do you feel?
and she said, Im nervous.
I said, I totally understand.
All I ask is that you stay through to the end.
But you know, its a lot.
Because its one thing to talk about myself and to hang my dirty laundry.
To tell my story, I have to tell theirs, in part.
But everybody else, all I could do was just be honest and vulnerable.
Yeah, there are parts in it I still, when I watch it, Im uncomfortable with.
Or I judge myself.
I dont like how I look when I yell at my mom.
I dont like how I am when Im in that place.
Somebody asked me what were the things that I had trouble leaving out.
I was like, Well, I have to put it in.
Goddamn it, I have to put it in the film!
If Im gonna share this, I have to be as honest as I can.
Thats the most important thing: I learned how to finish.
I was able to gain perspective.
Ive known Sarah for almost that long, and June and Casey have been my best friends.
They were there for me when stuff would go down with my mom and my parents.
So I think it really is just a look into how we talk.
You dont talk bad about your parents; you dont tell these things.
Its likeFight Club:You dont talk about it.
We also dont have conversations about mental health and addiction.
This is a community that many didnt have a choice to come here; they are war refugees.
Weve been in this country for 40 years, 45 coming up, I think.
This is a group of people that largely feel invisible and are minorities within a minority.
And growing up, I felt outside of a lot of groups, including the Lao community.
I was worried that people would hate it for that reason, you know?
But the film has been successful on the [festival] circuit.
I almost forgot to tell you before you brought it up that I have let go of that fear.
Its not even inside of me anymore.
Like,Oh, yeah, thats right, you were freaking out about that.
Youwent back onWho Charted?recently.
Do you plan to ever get back into podcasting?Thats home to me.
Howard [Kremer], thats my family.
I went back to support him becauseour friend Brody Stevens, he passed.
But thats what family does you show up.
And Im certainly going to be back to talk about theOrigin Storyrelease.
Youve said that youre justhoping to find a home forBajillionseason fourand its still up in the air for now.
Two awesome producers approached me with this project idea and Ive been clearing the cobwebs.
Its a narrative show with an Asian-American lead.
Im really excited about it.
These are early stages where were putting the pitch together, but its something were really excited about.
So, theres a preview!
