Cameras flashed and cheers rang out as the three members of Wong Fu Productions took the stage Saturday afternoon in the Louis Room of Norris University Center.
Philip Wang, Wesley Chan and Ted Fu, not much older than the crowd of more than 200 students before them, spoke about their experiences as Asian-American college students and how they managed to create and sustain their independent production company.
The three University of California, San Diego alumni presented one of the most anticipated workshops of the Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association Midwest Conference held at Northwestern this past weekend, said Chiana Hung, the conference's co-programming director.
"On some level, we're in the same boat as you," Wang said. "We're trying to have a positive influence."
The three members of Wong Fu met and founded their production company when they were seniors at San Diego.
"I started out as an electrical engineer," Fu said to the laughing audience. "Later on, I transferred into visual arts because I really got into computer animation and I loved it."
The conference included a series of mini-workshops, ranging from political discussions and guest lecturers to arts and entertainment speakers and figures like the founders of Wong Fu Productions. The conference coordinators designed the workshops, which took place during the first segment of the conference, to help students learn more about their identities as Taiwanese-Americans.
Following the workshops, students focused on contributing to the Taiwanese-American community and networking with other members, said Kim Chiang, a conference co-chairwoman.
"We wanted to have a really multifaceted conference," said Chiang, a Weinberg senior. "We were thinking of which speakers would draw the most people… (Speakers) who are thriving in the Taiwanese communities in different areas."
The three-day event began late Friday evening with a Taiwanese night market in Parkes Hall and ended early Sunday morning with check-out in the Multicultural Center. A record 220 high school, undergraduate and graduate students registered for the event, the largest number yet to attend the conference.
2008 Woodie Awards
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