Google celebrates diversity in new ‘Finding Pride’ series directed by FINCH’s A.J. Greenwood
At the beginning of 2020, director A.J. Greenwood embarked with FINCH and Google on a journey that would span six different countries across the Asia Pacific.
Traveling prior to the pandemic, alongside a small and nimble crew, A.J. Greenwood captured the lives of six people who all represented different parts of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the region.
In pre-production, A.J. worked alongside each person to write a piece of prose about their individual identity journey. A.J. then designed a visual portrait based on the everyday life of each individual to be used as a backdrop in which to set their story.
With the preproduction, all executed remotely from Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand the team took off on a whirlwind shoot schedule through the Asia-Pacific to Singapore, India, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
As COVID-19 began to spread, the team had to navigate the production process to round off the seven-part series. It was a one-and-a-half-year journey for Greenwood; one that she has considered a privilege to have undertaken.
Together, the films celebrate the diversity of LGBTQIA+ experiences within the Asia-Pacific, showcasing the open-hearted, courageous, and intelligent LGBTQIA+ people who live there.
Says A.J.: “This series has been an inspiring, life-changing experience, it is a great privilege to be welcomed into these people’s lives and to be entrusted to assist them in telling their stories. I am in awe of all of their strength, courage, and humanity.“
All the participants hope in sharing their stories and experiences they will help others like them to feel seen.
As a company, Google has long been a supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights and has worked hard to create products and platforms that allow people to express their views while fostering an open environment where people of different views, backgrounds, and experiences can come together and show up for one another.
Says Tara McKenty, creative head at Google: “Hopefully Finding Pride can help members of our community to see themselves and stories like theirs so they don’t feel so alone, or so different. I wish I had access to stories like these when I was coming out.”
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN ASIA PACIFIC
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN JAPAN: MIWAZA’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN SINGAPORE: SAM’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN INDIA: YASH’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN KOREA: HAMEL’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN TAIWAN: STEPHAN & JOVY’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN AUSTRALIA: STEPH’S STORY
VIEW FINDING PRIDE IN NEW ZEALAND: LEAH’S STORY
CREDITS
Client: Google – Tara McKenty, Erin Tsuchiya, Simone Takasaki, Joel Cruz
Creative Development Partner: Jonathan Hiley, David Arcus
Creative script writing: Beth O’Brien (Colenso BBDO)
Production Company: FINCH
Director: AJ Greenwood
Managing Director: Corey Esse
Executive Producer: Loren Bradley
Producer: Bryce Lintern
Field Producer: Casey Ventura
DOP: Tammy Williams
Casting: FINCH/Google
Post Production: Atticus
Post Producer: Amelia Bromley
Editor: Jordan Swioklo
Colourists: Alina Bermingham, Fergus Rotherdam
Music & Sound: Rumble Studios
Executive Producer (Music & Sound): Michael Gie
Composers: Jeremy Richmond & Adam Moses