A SHARED JOURNEY TO THE AMERICAN DREAM.

Fifty years ago, our country grappled with discrimination that profoundly impacted minority communities. In Los Angeles, neighborhood leaders united to challenge these barriers by establishing a community-focused bank, aiming to deliver the American dream to those marginalized. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a journey that has closely mirrored the experiences of the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community. To commemorate this shared journey, the East West Bank Foundation commissioned director Evan Leong to create The Bridge. This feature-length documentary explores the struggles, perseverance, and successes that have empowered us all to reach further.

NOW STREAMING

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Director

EVAN JACKSON LEONG

is a director and documentary filmmaker. Leong is most known for his documentary Linsanity about Jeremy Lin, which made its world premiere at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. In 2017, he directed I AM MORE: OBJ an Uninterrupted produced docuseries following Odell Beckham Jr. for Facebook Watch. In 2021, his first narrative feature film SNAKEHEAD premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2023, he directed the Snapchat series Level Up with Stephen Curry. In 2024, Leong directed The Bridge, a story chronicling the 50 year journey of East West Bank.

A FOUNDATION FOR
REACHING FURTHER

While the story is told through the lens of our history and growth, it also includes interviews with others who’ve faced similar adversity and discrimination. You’ll hear from Michelle Yeoh, Janet Yang, Michelle Kwan, and more on how far we’ve come as a community and how important it is to reach further.

MICHELLE KWAN

The Olympic medalist talks about the importance of family and embodying East and West in her pursuit of excellence.
MICHELLE YEOH

Actress Michelle Yeoh discusses her forty-year career in film, and the power of movies to bring cultures and communities together.
JANET YANG

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Janet Yang talks about challenging traditional representations of AAPI people and culture in the entertainment industry.

Listen to

IN THE JOY

East meets West in a musical bridge to celebrate the AAPI community. World renowned singer/songwriter JJ Lin and Grammy-winning artist Anderson .Paak teamed up to create “In the Joy”, a new single featured in The Bridge.

Listen to “In the Joy” on all streaming platforms.