All posts tagged: Rita Phetmixay

Podcast aims to heal Lao community through conversation

Image courtesy of Healing Out Lao’d Rita Phetmixay wants you to make your mental health a priority. As a self-described politicized healing practitioner, educator, filmmaker and storyteller, Phetmixay aims to create a space for the Lao diaspora to heal through her new podcast, “Healing Out Lao’d.” With this project, Phetmixay said she wants to raise awareness of Lao American stories of intergenerational healing and resilience, provide a place to process grief and destigmatize the idea of asking for help. “I’m hoping that people can finally say, ‘Hey, I’m not weak for asking for support and I’m not weak for being soft or being in my feelings or being sensitive. I’m not weak for seeking therapy or whatever healing avenue works for me,’” Phetmixsay said. ‘”I am strong, I deserve to be healed and I deserve to have access to it.’” Phetmixay was inspired to create the podcast under the mentorship of actress, director and writer Kulap Vilaysack, who also founded Laos Angeles, a community of Lao people in media and entertainment. Phetmixay said she noticed …

Phetmixay Means Fighter: Interview with Rita Phetmixay

What does it take to tell a personal story? Where do you even begin to capture life, loss, and new beginnings? And most importantly, how do you tell your family story? LLOTP sat down with Rita Phetmixay, UCLA graduate student and director of the 9-minute short documentary, Phetmixay Means Fighter, a recent feature at the Sacramento Asian Pacific American Film Festival (http://www.sapff.org/). The short film follows her father, Phouthone “Peter” Phetmixay, a former Lao rebel soldier, as he narrates his escape from his homeland of Laos. With no prior experience in filmmaking, Rita discusses what it’s like to capture and curate family histories for the big screen. “I think about myself. I was born in maybe wrong time, wrong country, but it’s okay. I’m still proud about that. I was an unlucky man… I tried to be an officer to serve my country. To protect my country. But I cannot. Because at that time I lost my country.” – Phouthone “Peter” Phetmixay, Phetmixay Means Fighter How did you decide to do a film on your dad’s story? When I was living …