What Is This Project About?

BITTER ASIAN QUEEN is a satirical romantic comedy that explores middle aged queer love. A bitchy Amelie, it’s based on my script that was a Humanitas New Voices semi-finalist in 2021. It follows a bitter aging gay man who finally gets everything he wants in life, at a time when he may be too set in his ways to receive it. The project explores aging, loneliness, and queer trauma, all through a sarcastically hilarious, yet heartwarming lens.

Who Are You?

My name is Kevin Yee and I am a writer and actor! I am also a filmmaker who’s past short projects have screened at SXSW and OUTFEST. I have written for TV shows on Netflix and Disney, including HAILEY’S ON IT! currently streaming on Disney+. You may have seen me as an actor on TV in the Apple series DICKINSON, or on stage dancing in WICKED, MAMMA MIA, and MARY POPPINS. My first comedy special is streaming on PEACOCK, and some may remember me from my time in the 90s boyband YOUTH ASYLUM.

Why Is This Important?

I am an openly gay Asian filmmaker that began creating after years as a performer on stage and screen. Throughout my career I found that the roles that I auditioned for were extremely limiting. They were often stereotypes or one dimensional caricatures. At first I just stayed silent and contributed how I could. As I grew older though, my desire to see myself reflected authentically  in the media became increasingly important. I started exploring my voice, teaching myself how to write and film and edit, and posting my small projects on youtube. Years of experimenting made me realize I had something to say, and that I could be the change that I so deeply desired to see. 

I create to tell stories that lift queer and POC communities. Stories that didn’t exist for me when I was growing up, and that still rarely exist in the Hollywood landscape today. I want to speak to the younger me that never had the chance to see himself reflected. But I also find it imperative that my storytelling connects to wider audiences. With connection comes understanding. My hope is to tell stories that make people laugh, but also think. To be specific with the storytelling, but in that specificity, have every audience member see a part of themselves and their families and friends, in the characters I create. 

Why Should You Donate?

I want to be honest about why I’m asking for your support as it’s a little more complex than just wanting to make something. As this WGA strike has revealed, acting and writing for TV does not make people a lot of money these days due to corporate greed, so although I’ve always self funded in the past, it has become unsustainable for me as the quality of my work grows and more resources are needed. The traditional route of selling projects to companies is also difficult as it takes a lot to sell diverse projects these days. As research has shown, lgbtq representation was down in 2022 (Source: GLAAD), and although Asian representation made gains, Asian lead characters starred in only 2.3 percent of Hollywood projects (Source: UCLA). After this strike, it sounds like it may get harder. 

A lot has been said about the ownership process as well, and how some companies profit over artist’s work without proper compensation, or delete it all together. I have in the past lost ownership of my work, where the production company has legally continued to financially benefit while I contractually make nothing. So your donation will help me retain as much ownership of this project as possible. 

I have been an artist my entire life, but it is getting harder to achieve the level of growth I need without financial support. I’m hoping there will be a point where I won’t need to ask for support, but I’m not quite there yet. I’m also at a point where making more short films doesn’t feel like growth. So any donation will help as I continue into the next phase of my journey. We are at a turning point in the world. I plan to push against the discourse and continue to create defiantly queer and POC stories. Please consider helping me in my quest!