By Maly Ly, Writer for The San Diego Asian Film Foundation

For myself, a daughter of the nomadic, agrarian Hmong hilltribe of Laos, I’m possibly one of the last generations to speak my native language, witness the spiritual chanting of our chosen shaman healers, or perform the elaborate hand dances of young Hmong maidens in vibrant costumes during New Year celebrations.

Only in recent years have books and articles emerged about the Hmong people, yet real visual imagery remains under-developed. I often wonder what will remain of our rare culture as we adapt and adjust to a new way of living in America.

Then I was introduced to Larry Gagnon, instructor for the nationally-acclaimed Digital Media program at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego. Upon meeting Gagnon during a recent visit to his classroom, he greeted me with congeniality and a willingness to share his passion to young aspiring filmmakers. He’s a tall, burly, jovial-looking man of Guamanian Hawaiian descent.

He reminds me of the family friend who always has a good story to share – the kind of adult that kids actually want to listen to.

In Gagnon’s second year as the man who inspires a whole new crop of award-winning film production artists, Gagnon offers a solution that makes it palpable.

"Film is the perfect medium for storytelling from within Asian Pacific cultures where much of the culture can be lost to oral tradition. Whether it’s a song, dance, custom, or part of history, it needs to be told and recorded. The story is what’s important for the next generation."

When it comes to producing top film talent and representing ethnic minorities in the media business, Gagnon acknowledges: “There are not as many Asian Americans in this field, but you can bring a lot as an ethnic person. It doesn’t matter who you are, you can make a difference.”

Although Gagnon’s last name leads me to question his origin, Gagnon was adopted at birth on the island of Guam by a French Canadian Father in the U.S. Marine and a Guamanian mother. He grew up in San Diego, and as a child would spend time back on the islands with his adopted Guamanian grandparents. Through film, Gagnon has found ways to incorporate personal family legacy.

"I had the chance to document my native background a few years ago when my cousins got into learning the Chamorro language and dance. I’m from the generation that understands but doesn’t speak my native language," Gagnon admits.

He laments that it was too late when his grandparents passed on. Fortunately, he was able to immortalize his mother’s presence on tape before she passed. For Gagnon, these simple family keepsakes are a wealth of invaluable information.

Last weekend, Gagnon covered a story on the Southwest Festival for the Union Tribune about Native Americans trying to keep up their tribal crafts. He recognizes the trend among all cultures trying to do the same. In his City Heights neighborhood, Gagnon lives with Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian families across the way.

"It makes the world smaller. When the people from Europe arrived, they were trying to lose their culture. Now people are trying to keep it. Where America is known as a melting pot, there was a tendency to lose the culture."

"I find it so interesting when you look at the people. You can appreciate the culture and their foods."

And when you enter his classroom, there are no traditional desks and textbooks. It looks like you’ve just stepped into an actual film production studio with set equipment, endless cables, cameras, and multiple computer editing workstations in another room.

The students are visibly engrossed in what they are producing instead of looking at the hand on the hour clock tick.

"If you’re here to watch film," Gagnon tells his would-be students on their first day of class. "Then you should leave."

He runs his class like a production shop. His goal is to prepare the students for the real world, with a taste of what’s out there. Students are given specific roles and held accountable for their responsibilities throughout the process.

Last school year, Rancho Bernardo won all eight awards out of the eight nominated categories at San Diego’s Innovative Video in Education (IVIE) competition including Best Interactive Media for Bronco Magazine, Teacher Videos, Best Lighting, Best Comedy, and People’s Choice Award. Rancho Bernardo additionally placed top honors in the 24hr. Redeye Film Festival within the IVIE competition.

Now in its fifth running year, these students have garnered over forty film nominations and awards in addition to being featured in San Diego on ITV Channel 16 and KFMB News 8’s "Cool School."

Gagnon joined Rancho Bernardo High’s highly decorated program two years ago, bringing with him fifteen years of field expertise. He’s worked at ad agencies and spent years as a freelance photographer. The opportunity for change came while Gagnon served as an advisory member on the board for Rancho Bernardo High School’s Digital Media Arts Program. It was at that time that the founding faculty producer, Ross Kallen, approached Gagnon about teaching.

Gagnon recounts Kallen saying, "I need to get you in here because the kids would really benefit from your field experience."

And benefit they did. "Oh, I love it! [Working in the digital media program] is probably one of the best things you can do for your future. Just flat out. The skills that I’ve learned are much more important to me than like a history lesson or anything like that […] I’m doing real world activities right now at a high school level that many kids don’t have an opportunity to do," says Kevin Graham, student president of the Digital Media Club."

Graham also enjoys the sixty dollar stipend the school pays the students for every project they produce.

"You know, that goes a long way on a high school student’s budget."

Vince Flores is another senior whose talents have flourished from Gagnon’s teachings. "I got started in tenth grade over the summer by one of the teachers before. It was almost an accident that we met. He saw my graphics and asked if I wanted to join the program."

Under Gagnon’s mentorship, Flores has since broadened his career ambitions from graphic design to computer animation and digital cinematography. Next fall he’ll be heading off to art school in Florida or San Francisco with an impressive portfolio, far advanced beyond his age.

Just a quick viewing of Flores’ astounding work reflects a modern curiosity about his Mayan ancestry. It was awe-inspiring to see him combine elements of cultural mysticism and imagination using digital technology. "Forty percent of the time it’d be more cultural. Books are a good inspiration for me, [as well as] random thoughts. I’ll think of stories in my mind and make up demons and cool stuff."

Flores takes great satisfaction in his creations. "I feel like really proud after I do it too. And I feel like the work is never done, so I’m constantly changing things."

Class had been dismissed by now, but I hadn’t noticed any female students among the group. After interviewing the boys and a second glance around, I had to be the one to ask, “Where are all the girls?”

Bronco Magazine and other award-winning student film projects are viewable on the Rancho Bernardo High School website at www.rbdigital.net

"Some students will want to spend more time going through the bookwork. You have to learn to walk before you can run and should start off slowly. If anybody has a desire for film or television they should just get out and do it!" Gagnon urges.

His every word resonates with my own creative urges. Since I was seventeen, I knew I would have a story to tell someday. I just didn’t know how the story would transpire or through which form. It happened unexpectedly.

Three years ago, my youngest brother was murdered in an attempted robbery over Mother’s Day weekend. It marked the end of the world as I knew it, and the beginning of questioning everything. His funeral—a spiritual return journey—was my reintroduction into our undocumented customs and heritage. It was both confusing and fascinating at the same time. I was left with an aching desire to document such an extraordinary ritual so others after me would have a better understanding and preparedness of Hmong ways.

During the funeral, one of the most amazing comforts was a collaborative home video that his fiancée and friends put together of their favorite moments and testimonials. I remember how we all sat in silence and in awe as we relived his life, comforted by the knowledge that in his brief lifetime, he had lived and loved well.

*My family at a traditional party

Of course, there is more to this story. My purpose is clearer now. I could possibly be the first Hmong female filmmaker to capture the vitality and survival spirit of an uncommon people.

If Gagnon can harness this much effect in just a couple hours of conversation, imagine what creative breakthroughs can transpire throughout an entire semester under his instruction. Larry Gagnon’s influence resonates in fostering and nurturing the timeless storytellers among us. It could be me. It could be you.