Experiencing Interruptions?

Asians Have Feelings Too

A stranded dreamer, a bored typist and a defiant, transqueerian space captain attempt to rediscover joy in a fantastical #StopAsianHate music video propelled by dance and animation.

Outrageously underrepresented in the UK arts, 87% of the creative team were East and/or Southeast Asian or South Asian. Over half were LGBTIQA+, with nearly a third identifying as trans/non-binary/genderqueer. The team included neurodivergent and disabled artists.

  • Darius Shu
    Director
    Queer Parivaar, Stockholm, Peach Paradise
  • The Mollusc Dimension
    Director
    Breaking The Spell of the Armada Portraits, Pashville, Adventures in Time & Gender
  • Tuyết Vân Huỳnh
    Producer
    10 Thousand Heartbeats, Summer Rolls
  • Darius Shu
    DOP
    Queer Parivaar, Stockholm, Peach Paradise
  • April Lin 林森
    Editor
    now i close my eyes the world i see is so beautiful, TR333, Reality Fragment
  • The Mollusc Dimension
    Animation
  • The Mollusc Dimension
    Key Cast
  • Tim Lytc
    Key Cast
  • Raisa Kabir
    Key Cast
  • Lusty Lovelace
    Key Cast
  • Chloe Wing
    Key Cast
  • Bruce Tang
    Key Cast
  • Shay Shay
    Choreography Consultant
    Peach Paradise, Mulan Rouge
  • Christine Urquhart
    Set & Costume Designer
    Mulan Rouge, Iphigenia and the Furies (on Taurian Land)
  • Victor Charles
    Make-up Artist
  • Ituski Yoshida
    Set & Costume Assistant
  • Marcin Weremczuck
    Production Assistant
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Experimental, Music Video, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Fantasy, LGBTIQA+, queer, trans, non-binary, community
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 26, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Asians Have Feelings Too at Rich Mix London
    London
    United Kingdom
    April 28, 2022
    World Premiere
  • Pride at Eaton 2022 - Queer Kin, Love Walks in
    Hong Kong
    June 12, 2022
    East Asian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Trans Pride Brighton 2022
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    July 15, 2022
    Official Selection
Director Biography - Darius Shu, The Mollusc Dimension

DARIUS SHU is a British cinematographer and director who loves telling poetic visual stories with striking imagery.

His latest projects include a musical-drama film "Queer Parivaar" which had its World Premiere at BFI Flare Film Festival 2022 and a Netflix documentary, "Peach Paradise" which premiered on Tik Tok's first-ever live stream showcase for films and is now streaming on Netflix Still Watching channel.

He has shot with artists such as Léa Seydoux, Lily James, Gemma Chan, Tia Kofi, The Vivienne, Omari Douglas, Billy Cullum, Kaya Scodelario, Big Zuu, and Dominic Cooper and has produced work that was featured in Netflix, L'Officiel, Attitude, Advocate, Gay Times, Dekkoo, Amazon Prime Video and Channel 4.

Darius' directorial debut short film premiered at Tribeca Film Festival 2019. He will be writing and directing a British East Asian queer comedy-drama film, "GOLDFISH", in 2022.

THE MOLLUSC DIMENSION is a British-born, Chinese, queer, trans-masc, non-binary, multi-hyphenate artist working with sound, visuals and words. As a survivor of many things, he decided it IS time to offer his personal stories, music, art and entertainingly unruly perspectives to a wider audience.

His portfolio spans comics, zines, improv comedy, poetry, DIY video-making, community/public initiatives and over 1.5 decades of teaching experience. Since 2007, his creative work has toured the UK and been screened/performed in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia. He believes that decolonising education, intersectional feminism and trans rights have crucial benefits for people of all backgrounds and ages.

The Mollusc Dimension has been platformed by: Bar Wotever, besea.n, Bitten Peach (Vault Festival), CAN (Chinese Arts Now) Festival, Emma Frankland, ESEA Hub, Forest Gayte Pride, Jason Barker (Adventures in Time & Gender), National Maritime Museum, Queer China UK, Trans Pride Brighton, Usurp Art and many more.

In 2022, he self-published his debut poetry collection and 16th zine, "I just want you to know I exist". He has been published by Out on the Page and The Feminist Library, and several of his zines are in the Goldsmiths Zine Collection, The Museum of Transology and The Tate Britain Zine Collection.

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Director Statement

DIRECTOR, THE MOLLUSC DIMENSION SAYS:

"Racism is devastating, but music and art can help us to heal.

Coronaracism rose by 300% in the first quarter of 2020 alone. Like many ESEA (East and/or Southeast Asians) I was traumatised by it. Motivated by the #StopAsianHate movement, I wrote the song, "Asians Have Feelings Too".

K-pop is everywhere but what I'm bringing you is trans-masculine, non binary BESEA (British East and/or Southeast Asian) pop!

Songwriting and creativity helped me cope with the aftermath of coronaracism. Throughout my life, I have often struggled with a lack of confidence which stems largely from erasures and marginalisation - something this video aims to address!

ESEA artists contribute enormously to global and local culture and our labour brings benefit to many communities. Yet many ESEA and BESEA (British ESEA) parents still do not consider the arts to be suitable or worthy careers for their children. Our sadness and rage can be transformed into affirmative action.

I want to see more ESEA leaders and representation in all fields - the arts, pop music, literature, science, the media, sport and education - especially LGBTIQA+ people. We do exist!"