Bay Area Brothers Discuss Filming for 1000% Me Documentary

Mixed Asian Media - May 11, 2023

By Lauren Lola

Georgio Reed and Myles Williams are two Black and Filipino American half-brothers from San Francisco. They are also two of the subjects of the new HBO documentary, 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed. Directed by W. Kamau Bell, the film explores the nuanced experiences of mixed-race children and their families as they talk about their lived experiences growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The opportunity to participate in the documentary first came about when a family friend, Bay Area puppeteer Ramon Abad, was contacted by Bell about people he’d recommend for it. Myles instantly came to mind.

“I wanted to participate in this documentary for educational reasons, of course,” Myles explained, “but mainly for non-mixed people to understand how it is, you know, to grow up mixed and to live your life mixed and insight into other people who are mixed… their lives. Also, for other mixed people to see the differences between how they grew up and how other mixed people are growing up, before and now.”

Reed later came aboard when the search was broadened to include siblings and parents as well. For him, it was important to also participate in the documentary because it was something he got to do with his brother.

Reed is 22 years older than Myles, and so their experiences with race vary across their generational differences. While he experienced challenges growing up, he didn’t realize at the time that it had to do with race. It wasn’t until he was older that he was able to look back and reflect on the harder parts of making friends in some areas and locations, such as when he lived in Tacoma for a time.

When looking at Myles and today’s generation of mixed kids, he believes that the experiences are a bit different. “It's not as in your face as it could be being separated, Asian, Black, or whatever ethnicity you are. I think now there's just more of a mixed group of kids. But I mean that's probably more so for him — Myles — to see than me, ’cause I don't hang out with kids often.”

Myles found filming for 1000% Me to be quite fun. “You got to meet a lot of different people and it's just nice seeing how many mixed-race kids there are and kind of all the different mixes.”

Reed pointed out how being in front of the camera is second nature to Myles, seeing that he does modeling and commercial shoots. For him, stepping in front of the camera was almost akin to what his brother does so often.

“I thought for me it was like, ‘Oh, this is cool,’” Reed recalled. “I get to step into his world a little bit and kind of see what this is like. So, I thought it was a cool experience. Everybody was super nice, very friendly, the experience was awesome besides just being nervous, being on camera, but it was fun.”

Although the film doesn’t show the kids interacting with one another, Myles mentioned that they did get to spend time together. In doing so, he learned how one does not have to be limited to one culture or path.

Reed didn’t have the opportunity to spend time with the other participants of the documentary. However, in watching the final product, he found comfort in the fact that he’s not the only one navigating this particular experience.

“The thoughts that I’ve ever had and theories of what I think life should be like or as easy it should be like, or as complicated as it sounds, [I] wasn’t the only one going through the same thought process,” he explained. “Other kids were too; other adults have gone through it as well. But I think the crazy part is some of the stories are still similar, which I felt like it should slowly be watered down to where everything is not as challenging.”

For their parents, Carolyn Sideco and Marcus Williams, they like the perspective 1000% Me is giving to mixed kids and highlight how more common experiences like theirs are becoming.

“For me, I think it's good because I think people who don't have mixed kids can get a perspective that they never really thought about before,” Marcus said, “and I think mixed kids of early generations didn't have this so the kids of today, they get to have a reference where they can say, ‘Oh, OK, that's like me.’ Or, ‘Yeah, I can relate to that.’ So I think it's good for that side of the story that wasn't there before.”

“I think it's films like this and exposure like this, or a media like this that considers a parent's experience, I think is important because it's normalized. I guess it’s kind of regular,” Sideco added. “When I was raising Georgio, there weren't too many parents like me raising a mixed kid, that I knew. And now raising Myles, most parents that I talk with are, he has a whole bunch of mixed friends, and so we have parents that we can also talk to that might have similar experiences as us. I didn't have that with Georgio. So I think it's more frequent.”

1000% Me has been making its rounds in the film festival circuit, having played at San Francisco International Film Festival a few weeks prior to its release on HBO and HBO Max. In hearing from audience members who’ve seen it so far, according to Myles and Reed, the response has been very positive.

“So far, that I've heard, it's been a lot of positive responses, kind of seeing the viewpoint of different people and a little peek into their daily lives as mixed-race people,” Myles said, “and I think people really enjoyed it and it's kind of a change and a step into a new perspective.”

“Yeah, I agree. I think, especially from seeing that, it seemed like for many mixed folks that were there watching and supporting, it was a sense of breath of fresh air that there's finally something out that's not just one ethnicity, but it addresses being mixed in America,” Reed elaborated. “So it was a lot of positive reviews and I think it's exciting to see this is one of what should be many to follow from, whether it be mixed film directors or anybody, but it should pretty much be the start or opening up to more things like this.”

Both brothers hope that audiences who’ve yet to see 1000% Me appreciate the different view into different people’s lives, and — specifically in the case of mixed-race people — understand that there is a certain way to inquire about a one’s racial background and to have such conversations without resorting to inappropriate questions and comments.

“I'm taking us, for example, we're both Black and Filipino, but from the outside we dominantly look Black,” Reed explained further. “So instead of just being like, ‘Oh, you look more Black, but what else are you mixing with?’ or, ‘What else are you?’ I feel like why not just try to get to know me, ask some stories, and maybe you'll get the answer like, ‘Oh, you eat Filipino food, are you Filipino as well?’ Or something. I feel like getting to know somebody is different rather than just assuming heritages and backgrounds and colors. I don't know, I feel like patience and better conversations.”

1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed is now streaming on HBO Max.

Lauren Lola is an author, freelance writer, playwright, and screenwriter from the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of the novels, An Absolute Mind and A Moment’s Worth, as well as the upcoming graphic novel, Dasig. She has written plays that have been produced both virtually and in-person for theatre groups on the West Coast of the United States, and has penned the short films, “Breath of Writing” and “Interview with an Aswang.” Aside from Mixed Asian Media, Lauren has also had writing featured on The Nerds of Color, CAAMedia, PBS, YOMYOMF, and other outlets and publications.

You can find Lauren on Twitter and Instagram @akolaurenlola and on her website, www.lolabythebay.wordpress.com.