Movie tells of biracial kid here

By Jung Min-ho

Jacobi Hollingshed

Korea has long presented itself as an ethnically homogenous society. It was only a few years ago when school textbooks removed phrases that taught students to take pride in being part of a nation of “homogenous people.”

According to Jacobi Hollingshed, a co-director of an upcoming movie project called “KIN,” dismissing the “pride” from people’s minds should be Korea’s next multiculturalism goal, and that is what he is trying to achieve through the film.

“We wanted to portray the message of the inherent human-likeness,” Hollingshed said in an interview. “What separate us are our races, backgrounds and cultures. But, ultimately we are all human-beings. That should be what connects us.”

“KIN” tells the story of 21-year-old Afro-Korean-American Jake, who struggles with his identity and relationship with his Korean father, even after living in Korea for five years.

The title, which means relatives, also has a meaning that expresses disregard and indifference when it is written in Korean, “즐,” Hollingshed said. “It expresses not only Jake’s perspective in the film as a biracial Korean in a homogeneous society living with his father who abandoned him and his mother several years earlier, but also expresses the sentiment of any marginalized group.”

Co-director Deborah Kim and the associate producer Bernard Ahn came up with the title and its connection with the story.

Hollingshed is a recent New York University graduate who majored in French and Korean. Last year, his interest in Korea and fluent language ability naturally led him to study at Seoul’s Yonsei University for a semester. His affection for Korea grew more but he also had a real taste of what it feels like to live in Korea as a foreigner.

Because of his distinct appearance, he said he “felt immediately different” from the rest.

“On top of that, when I began to form relationships, I was often stereotyped as Afro-American, who steals, fights and does drugs,” Hollingshed said.

“I really like Korea. I have learned the language for the last three and a half years and many people treat me really nicely. But I think there are certain things that should be brought to light in every culture.”

He said the idea of keeping society homogeneous should be changed in the interest of Korea’s future.

“I think the country will have to accept diversity, especially because of the low birthrate here,” Hollingshed said. “Many babies being born now are multiethnic. The country has to learn to live with it.”

“We all have similar emotions. We all know what it feels like to be lonely. Ultimately, we are all human-beings first.”

A team of several New York University students and two Korean citizens came together to make the film. The entire movie will be shot in Korea this summer and most of the dialogue will be in Korean with English subtitles provided for viewers that are not familiar with Korean.

“Movies are the medium that everyone loves,” Hollingshed said.

“We hope the movie will elevate cultural awareness about half-Koreans.”

The team is currently raising money to support the movie production. There will be a series of teasers shot both in the U.S and in Korea. They will be released before the film is completed alongside information on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.

For more information about the film, visit https://kck.st/131yDqt.