A-TOWN BOYZ is the story of the American Dream ignored by sons of Asian immigrants, who are drawn to gang life as they fight against racism and find love and acceptance in the streets of Atlanta.
This edgy documentary is an illuminating time capsule of the immigrant struggle juxtaposed with cultural trends and socio-economic needs. With unprecedented access, the filmmakers follows the journey of gang leader Eugene Chung, aspiring hip hop artists Harrison “Vickz” Kim and Jamy “Bizzy” Long as they navigate their destiny in the margins of society to find their dreams.
Above all, A-TOWN BOYZ gives a vérité look at the vulnerability of immigrant families in America. It unveils the quiet suffering and untold hardships of a growing number who live beneath the poverty line. Unlike the mainstream media's portrayal of Asian Americans as the “model minority,” many Asians like them are bullied in school and neglected by immigrant parents who struggle to make ends meet. As a result, their children face social, cultural and linguistic barriers that make assimilation difficult. Caught between two cultures, they often feel alienated and turn to gangs for kinship, material gain and identity. Filmed over ten years, A-TOWN BOYZ demonstrates the true story behind the “model minority” myth and what it means to be American.
Winner of the NYWIFT Award for Excellence in Documentary Directing at the 2024 Woodstock Film Festival for her latest film TROLL STORM, Eunice is a former journalist whose works have appeared on Discovery Channel and Al Jazeera. She is supported by eminent arts organizations such as Film Independent, Jerome Foundation, Tribeca Film Institute, Chicken & Egg Pictures and is featured in publications The New York Times, Variety, and Filmmaker Magazine. As a descendant of immigrants displaced by conflict, Eunice is drawn to stories about the journey of migrants and it is reflected in her body of work. Her debut documentary ACCEPT THE CALL set in Minnesota’s Somali community explores the impact of injustice and intergenerational trauma. It aired on PBS Independent Lens after screening at acclaimed film festivals. Her second documentary film A-TOWN BOYZ set in the Asian American community in Atlanta, explores identity, belonging and migration. It is streaming on Amazon after premiering at the 2023 New York Asian Film Festival. She is currently working on two TV series, including a comedy drama inspired by A-TOWN BOYZ is which is selected for the Film Independent Episodic Lab. A MFA film graduate of New York University, she lives in New York City.
New York Asian Film Festival 2023
Film Editor - Yasu Inoue
Producers - Grace Jung and Eunice Lau
Cinematographer - Ryan Johnson, Woojae Chung, Jess dela Merced, Eunice Lau
Colorist - Boonshin Ng
