Impact
Rolling A Million is a powerful and timely film that offers a message of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of family and being an adoptee. Its impact will be felt by audiences of all ages and backgrounds, inspiring them to embrace the complexities of life and pursue their own dreams. The film's impact lies in its ability to:
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Inspire hope and resilience: Tuy's journey demonstrates the human spirit to overcome adversity. Despite facing physical limitations and the challenges of adoption, he never loses sight of his dreams and aspirations.
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Challenge societal perceptions: Rolling A Million tackles complex issues such as disability, adoption, and the effects of War, prompting viewers to question their own biases and assumptions.
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Promote understanding and empathy: By sharing Tuy's personal story, the film fosters a deeper understanding of the human experience and encourages empathy for individuals facing similar challenges.
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Celebrate the power of family: The film emphasizes the importance of family, both biological and adopted. Tuy's relationships with his adoptive and birth families demonstrate that love and support can transcend cultural, linguistic and geographical boundaries.
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Encourage exploration of personal identity: Tuy's quest to discover his roots resonates with audiences seeking to understand their own identities and belonging. The film highlights the importance of self-discovery and embracing the complexities of who we are.
In addition to its thematic impact, Rolling A Million also has the potential to:
Raise awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities: By featuring a protagonist with polio and restricted to a wheelchair, the film can spark important conversations about disability rights and accessibility.
The film's journey across Vietnam, Philippines, and America fosters intercultural dialogue and understanding.
Inspire individuals to pursue their passions and make a difference in the world: Tuy's story serves as a powerful example of how individuals can overcome challenges and make a positive impact to the world around them.
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Body surfing in Hawaii, 1990
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Finding my mother in Sa Dec, Dong Thap, Vietnam, 1993
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Meeting with President Clinton in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 2000
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2E's jewelry collection, 2e & Co., 2015
Meet the Team
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Tuy "2E" Gentry Buckner - Executive Producer
Born during war; disabled as an orphan; airlifted to America.
This is how Tuy "2E" Gentry Buckner began his life. Yet he was fortuitous enough to have an American family who taught him that his disability did not define him.
A global traveler, Tuy returned to Vietnam in 1991, and under the most improbable circumstances, was reunited with his birth mother in 1993. 6 months to the day of finding his Vietnamese mother, again under the most improbable circumstances, he found his birth father in the Philippines.
Now, after dedicating the last 30 years to creating a life in Vietnam, Tuy is ready to tell his story. It includes meeting with Senators, Presidents, celebrities and mafia bosses, the search for identity, the desire for a home, and an insatiable quest to help others. Tuy’s journey has been anything but common; almost as if it was one in a million.
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Paul Brenner - Director / Producer
Advance film and screen degrees, Director, Producer, Creative Writer. Paul Brenner has been both a producer and director for over 30 years. He oversaw a 26-part TV “lifestyle” series titled Spicy Vietnam and 3 feature length documentaries, plus 1 low budget fictional drama feature film. Paul is also the founding partner of Comink, a leading animation development program in Vietnam. Paul’s personal network, experience, and extensive marketplace knowledge enables him to reach out internationally to contacts and connections. His deep passion and commitment to create sustainable creative pathways comes from a first-hand understanding of how hard it can be to make it in this industry. Talent is not enough - persistence is key.
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Dave Lemke - Writer
Dave Lemke has been many things. Record store manager, filmmaker, journalist, photographer, copywriter. He even at one point was pursuing a path as a fulltime chef. Dave has lived and worked in Vietnam (both Hanoi and Saigon) since 2008. Somehow, he magically landed a role as RMIT Vietnam's Senior English Writer, which is what he focuses on presently. Although, as he says, he has been many things, Dave is primarily a connector.
A matchmaker. A fixer. Due to his extensive experience working in or for various industries, Dave's network is deep and well maintained. Nothing makes him feel better than placing two people together for the right reasons to make business work in the right way.
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Thine Chua Angeles - Co-Producer / Project Manager
Thine has been a project manager from various fields for 7 years. What sets her apart as an assistant producer/project manager is her unique combination of creativity and organizational skills. Thine have a genuine passion for bringing ideas to life and possess the ability to coordinate timelines and budgets, ensuring that each project shines brightly. She firmly believes in providing innovative solutions and strive to create a collaborative environment where everyone's opinions are valued and heard. Moreover, her friendly and approachable demeanor ensures a stress-free atmosphere while keeping everything on track.
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Nguyen Le - Assistant Producer
Nguyen has been a fashion e-commerce entrepreneur for 6 years. Mother of two beautiful children. Her diligence in sorting and managing assets for this project is immensely valuable.
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Marc Angeles - Creative Designer
Throughout Marc’s 15 years on his creative career, he has consistently brought creativity and innovation to every project he undertakes. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for design, he delivers exceptional results that exceed client expectations. He contributes from brainstorming and sketching ideas to refining concepts and selecting materials, Marc guides each project with meticulous care and expertise.
Additionally, Marc has a proven track record of successfully creating and refreshing brands for various international companies. He has a knack for understanding the unique identity and values of each organization, allowing him to develop branding and rebranding strategies that truly resonate with their target audience. His expertise in this area has resulted in numerous successful brand transformations that have helped businesses stand out and thrive in competitive markets. Marc’s creative vision and extensive knowledge of design principles and trends enable him to create visually stunning and highly functional products.
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Tung Le - DOP / Editor
In January 2014, Tung took a break from his BFA to embark on a meaningful volunteer mission in Vietnam. During that time, he had the incredible opportunity to shoot and edit videos showcasing the incredible talents of children with disabilities. This experience had such a profound impact on him that made the decision to stay and work in Vietnam instead of returning to complete his BFA. Since then, he has been involved in producing over 200 videos for various noteworthy organizations and brands such as Huong Nghiep A Au school of culinary, Lipton Ice Tea, Liem's Barbershop, King BBQ, Food Export Northeast USA, Park Hyatt Saigon, and Minh Long Porcelain, Autonomous Furniture, Google, VinFast, Toto, Meat & Live Stock Australia, Andros Asia, and Senka.
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