Meet a VC Intern: Jason Tiangco

Learn more about one of our 2021 VC Summer Interns Jason Tiangco, our LACAC Archives Associate!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Jason Tiangco (he/him), and I am a rising senior studying Film and Electronic Arts at California State University, Long Beach. In a non-pandemic world, I’m watching films, going to shows, and traveling the world. I am forever curious, always learning, and never really satisfied with my own work. I am left-handed, right-brained, a Clipper fan since ‘99, and I miss Kobe Bryant. Although I have an old soul, I’m definitely young at heart. I enjoy playing the drums and piano, but I am much better with a camera or a tennis racquet, since I spent over a decade harnessing those skillsets. I am artsy-fartsy, shy, and awkward, but you will know I hit my comfort zone when you can’t tell if I am being serious.

How did you hear about VC and what drew you to apply?

I heard about this internship through my Asian Cinemas instructor at CSULB, Dr. Rowena Aquino. I started researching Visual Communications, and learned that many of our values and goals overlap: spotlighting underexposed voices and connecting people through media. I actually wouldn’t have had this internship if the pandemic didn’t happen. I originally booked a big trip to Asia, but it was canceled due to lockdown, so I took an East Asian Cinemas course as my consolation. I then registered for a Southeast Asian Cinemas course the following semester to get in touch with my roots, past and present. These courses ignited my appreciation for Asian cinema and my desire to dig deeper into Asian histories in general. Visual Communications felt like an ideal landing spot to do so.

What are your intern duties at VC? Which part do you find interesting?

Although I work with every department in VC, my main tasks are related to the VC Archives. I organize film negatives and color slides, and scan digital copies so that these important historical pieces can be widely accessible to the public. I get to wear these cool little cloth gloves when handling the film. The most interesting part is being involved with the digital release of Speak Out for Justice, which consists of 26 hours of footage from the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) Los Angeles hearings. I am so honored to connect with such brilliant, inspiring minds during this process. I also find our weekly VC staff meetings to be incredibly insightful, especially leading up to the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in September.

What is your favorite thing about working here? Any memorable moments?

My favorite thing about working at VC is getting to learn about Asian American history from the heart of Little Tokyo. I love wandering around cities, getting lost, and stumbling across gems along the way. I am learning about the little pockets of buried histories scattered around Los Angeles, like the hole-in-the-wall food spots tucked behind Starbucks. I am also seeing the impact that community can have on bringing people together. My most memorable moment was getting stuck in the elevator room at the VC office. I was helping to transport a scanner, walked into a room with an auto-lock door, and forgot to prop it open. Long story short, “It’s dark in here, can you let me out now please?”

Tell us something that most people would be surprised to learn about you.

For the past 10 years, I spent a lot of time behind the camera capturing moments for the people of Southern California. When I graduated high school, my job was to photograph students and schools from Los Angeles to Orange County. I got to experience the notable differences in location and class divides in our education system, like how some schools in affluent areas catered to a specific demographic, while others didn’t appear to have funding and got through by community engagement. I transitioned away from schools and started photographing weddings and portraits with Joey Ikemoto Photography, a small mom-and-pop photography studio in Torrance, CA. As stressful as the job was, I spent almost every weekend with a new family, capturing what could possibly be one of the most important days of their lives. I learned how to anticipate moments and adapt to situations on the fly. My favorite part was being immersed into a different culture each week, and hearing about all the unique stories of how people met.

Who is Jason?

playing life-sized chess at a museum in Rotterdam, Netherlands

I was born and raised in Harbor City, California. My parents were born and raised in the Philippines. I am the youngest of five brothers. 

When I was a miniaturized version of myself, my parents used to own a small little video store in Carson, CA. The library of VHS tapes and DVDs were my film school. My older brothers’ eccentric but widely varied tastes broadened my curious, observant mind. I remember my parents wanting me to go into the medical field, but I was around six years old and already knew I wanted to win an Oscar. I used to write it down in grade school under the question, “Where do I see myself in 20 years?” I gravitated towards the idea of being able to change the world through films, and the possibility of creating something that could save a life through a screen. 

Once I got to college, life blindsided me hard. I lost a parent to cancer during the years I probably needed the most guidance. I started using cinema, music, and art as forms of therapy. Cinema provided me with escape, meaning, and hope. I took a break from school and started traveling the world. I wanted to explore every aspect of life. I saw life as precious and time as valuable. I started giving my mom hugs that lingered for a few extra seconds. When I’d get back from a trip, I’d appreciate home even more, especially the things we overlook because it’s in our backyard. Being near water, the pretty trees, and vibrant flowers. The road trips with friends and getting lost on adventures. The little pockets of dense culture neighboring the borders of tourists’ traps. The things we take for granted like quality time with family. I started writing personal notes because as I get older, I’ll probably forget. I want to remember all the little details. 

I also want to normalize the use of American Sign Language (ASL). One of my brothers is deaf. I grew up watching him struggle during the pre-internet, pre-smartphone era of communication. The faces and gestures people made behind his back, mocking his ASL, always really stuck with me. I knew I wanted to be able to do something about it once I got older. I want to help people channel their struggles into healthy, creative outlets, and nurture an atmosphere where people can feel whole, not have to compromise parts of themselves to fit in. I live for seeing eyes light up when people talk about their passions, so one day I will curate a space where people can get in touch with that side of themselves. I want to change the world through films, and somehow, I know I will. I set my heart on it a long time ago, so I’ll probably see it all the way through. It might take a little longer than expected, but I can feel it in my bones.

my niece Marceline and the Tiangco boys

With friends on Halloween

my dog, Rigby. he’s a digital currency now