Meet Tana Hok | Filmmaker & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tana Hok and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tana, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
In the past I used to stress myself out with trying to achieve a “normal” work-life balance, but if you really think about it, who is defining the threshold for what is considered to be a normal balance? Especially as someone working in the entertainment industry, I don’t think a balance really exists. To me, what’s more important is the ability to take a step back and evaluate where my priorities lie. I used to romanticize the grind of having sleepless nights from chasing my filmmaking dreams but now realize how stupid that is. Now I know that health comes first and my job (chasing my filmmaking dreams) comes second.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
You don’t see a lot of female Cambodian filmmakers with the background of a Third-Culture Kid in the entertainment industry here in LA – though I am not only defined by this label – the grit that comes with holding this identity speaks for itself.

I’m from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. I was born and raised there at an international school for the first 17 years of my life. For some context into my upbringing, a large portion of my crucial developmental years were spent navigating two opposing worlds – my IB international school life (socially liberal) versus my traditional Cambodian home life (socially conservative) – all while figuring out how to cope with losing friends, due to the nomadic nature of kids at international schools.

My tenacity, authenticity, and my excitement for human connection through visual storytelling is what I am most proud of. I acquired these traits from the best role models: my parents. They have the biggest impact on shaping who I am today. Despite having zero dollars to their name and living on the streets from surviving the Khmer Rouge genocide, through grit and pure determination, they built their lives back up.

How could I strive to pursue a conventional career path when the reason I am alive today is because of a million miracles? At 18 years old, I decided to make the big move halfway across the world from Phnom Penh to Boston to attend film school at Emerson College. Now, I am 22 years old, am based in Los Angeles, and working as a freelance filmmaker and photographer.

Currently, if I mentioned I was from Cambodia in a conversation, people either don’t know much about it, or they immediately think of the Khmer Rouge. The Cambodian diaspora is dispersed globally because of the genocide – there is much complexity and potential to be explored within the Khmer people – the humans – who make up these communities worldwide.

The stories about Cambodia and our people are not limited to war and the struggle of Khmer people living in poverty. I see myself writing and directing my own independent movies and TV series revolving around Khmer lead characters. This kind of storytelling about Cambodians has not been tapped into the mainstream yet, and I know for certain that these stories will resonate with people no matter where they come from. My end goal, really, is to help people feel less alone by watching my movies or TV shows, and helping people find community in visual storytelling.

Amplifying stories of underrepresented communities in an accessible way is what matters most to me. I know that people in minority communities who are underrepresented in mainstream media are the most likely to feel isolated and alone in their struggle – I say this because I used to be one of them. It’s a soul-crushing feeling, and when you’re in the thick of it, it’s hard to see the beauty of being alive. Creating art through visual storytelling is what helped me get out of this downward spiral. If there are more people like me represented more authentically in mainstream media, it will help uplift so many people who feel alone in their struggle.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I highly recommend the spicy tripe soft tofu soup at BCD Tofu House in Koreatown. The restaurants in K-Town are unbeatable, and food brings people together so it’s the perfect hangout plan. If you’re craving a soulful homey mom-and-pop type spot, go to Hanbat Shul Lung Tang, their ox-bone broth is to die for. Ice cream at Honeymee is delicious. Downtown Sawtelle is also a great area to grub. Other than food, some great scenic spots for picnics or casual hiking are Elysian Park, Vista Hermosa Park, and good ol’ Griffith Park. For shopping, Century City Mall is pretty cool. Oh and if you’re in LA, you have to experience take the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Beach, the drive is gorgeous.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First off I’d like to thank Gagan for referring me to Chris and highlighting my story here on this platform.

Shoutout to my best friends Nurul and Eliza for being my day ones. We grew up together in Phnom Penh. They were my very first collaborators in Theatre (shoutout Ms. Lizzie), filmmaking, and photography.

Shoutout to my bong-bong in Cambodia–Vanthan, Sana, Thep, Jeremiah, and Kwan for showing me the ropes of working in a creative industry.

Shoutout to my second family here in LA: Anusha, Rachel, Twisha, and my cat Pooki. We’re all hustling trying out all sorts of gigs within the entertainment business, and it’s reassuring to be swimming through uncertainty together.

I also want to recognize my mom and dad for investing in the best for their kids. I am forever grateful to them, plus my siblings, Neary and Dara, for looking out for me and supporting me in my filmmaking journey.

Website: https://www.tanahokproductions.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanahokfilms/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tanahokfilms

Image Credits
Anusha Halwai