We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nancy Ma. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nancy below.
Nancy, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
I’m currently developing a musical that follows a group of immigrant women who work at a garment factory in Chinatown. My mom worked at a garment factory when I was growing up and whenever we didn’t have daycare, I would spend my afternoons there. It was a wildly loud and dusty place, but what I remember was getting to hide in between piles of fabric and getting toys from my mom’s coworkers. My mom says those were some of her happiest days, and today, some of her closest friends in America are those former co-workers. I wanted to explore the magic and community in a place that feels mundane and messy. It was a really hard and grueling workplace. It was also the place that people found community, built resilience and raised families. The story started out as a music video in my head and that evolved into a short film script. When I described the short to friends they saw it as a stageplay, and I thought, “Huh, why not…?” I was accepted into Fresh Ground Pepper’s writing residency last winter and alongside artists more brilliant than myself, I pumped out a first draft. My dear friend Cora Chung graciously came alongside me to develop music for my lyrics for a work-in-progress presentation. That led into another work-in-progress showing with an ensemble of women, directed by SB Tennet. Right now I’m figuring out what next steps are…bring on a producer, participate in a residency, apply for funding for the album music. This has been a whirlwind of friends generously giving their time and heart and saying yes to curiosities, and yes to things that scare me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up in Chinatown New York watching Miss Hong Kong pageants. (I don’t recommend watching pageants as a young person…tbh, unless you have an incredibly supportive family like in “Little Miss Sunshine.”) I would imagine myself winning to erupting applause, giving speeches that made people tearfully hopeful, and traveling the world to make a difference. Another perk of becoming a Miss HK winner was getting to act in their Hong Kong tv series. Instead of being restricted to my working class immigrant environment, I would get to experience all sorts of lives and loves. That’s one of the earliest seeds that years later bloomed into me moving to Los Angeles to become an actor. I was encouraged by my teacher Steve Braun to write, to write the stories Hollywood won’t give me, but that I would have to bring out myself. As annoying as that felt, I’m grateful because writing became not only a source of agency, but also a safe place where I could process my past and upbringing. My work is inspired by my identity as a first generation Asian American woman who was raised in a low-income immigrant environment. I live in the conversation straddling cultural worlds, socioeconomic classes, languages, and varying ideas of a life well-lived. And in that melding, I hope I create spaces and stories that encourage others to laugh and cry equally hard.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I get to meet the most inspiring, collaborative folks, often. I meet people who imagine new worlds and systems. I meet people who pursue their work even when few people get why they take these risks. I am surrounded by people who have hope. And, they are so fun!
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
After being burned by a collaborator, I was really reluctant to bring others in to help me with my solo show. My trust was fragile and that terrible experience confirmed that only I would know what’s best for me. I performed at a small Burbank theater and that show I told myself, I’m not doing this anymore. This show is too hard to do on my own so let me scrap it. Geoff Rivas was in the audience and he came up to me after asking if I had a director. Who was this guy?! No way. I’m not going there again… Geoff was generous and kind and patient. He sat with me, listened to me…didn’t run away when I wanted to shut him out. He eventually directed the solo show, “Home,” that would be part of The Latino Theater Company’s 2019 season. I am grateful he never gave up on me and the show.
This is still something I’m still on: asking for help and letting others in. Growing up, it felt like a badge of honor to be able to do everything yourself and come off #independent. I am independent, AND, I can ask others to join my in my work, in my struggles, in my wins. I think most people are willing to give if they’re able, and why not give them this opportunity. Don’t just willy nilly trust anyone, but if someone good, like Geoff, comes around, hold on!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.littlemoisttugboat.com
- Instagram: iamnancyma
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