A Mississippi Story: MPB airs Ļć½¶Ö±²„documentary on Vietnamese immigrants āThe Fisher Peopleā
Contact: Mary Pollitz
STARKVILLE, Miss.āFrom attending church services and celebrating the Lunar New Year to spending nights aboard shrimp boats off the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Ļć½¶Ö±²„ās Television Center staff immersed themselves in the lives of Vietnamese immigrants to document stories of resilience, community and triumph. āThe Fisher People,ā a four-part documentary series, airs on Mississippi Public Broadcasting Oct. 2 at 8:30 p.m., running weekly through Oct. 23.
Documentary Video Producer Olivia Aylsworth and Senior Documentary and Special Projects Producer James Parker approached the project by building trust with their subjects, and the series reflects their total immersion within the coastal Vietnamese community.
āWe spent a lot of time embedding into their community,ā Aylsworth said. āIt was only because we got close that they opened up about their stories. We needed to develop that relationship first.ā
āThe Fisher Peopleā traces the journeys of Vietnamese refugees from fleeing communism in Vietnam to rebuilding their lives along the Mississippi Coast, where many found work and stability in the fishing industry. Parker said the scope of the project broadened and became more impactful as it moved forward.
āThis story spans from the beginning of the Vietnam War to present day,ā Parker said. āWhat we believe is all of Americaās story can be found in Mississippi. These stories are important. They were trying to find a new and better life. Itās a story of the American Dream.ā
Ļć½¶Ö±²„TV Director David Garraway said the series arrives at a critical moment in the national conversation.
āThere have been very few times in our countryās history when itās more important to tell stories of immigration and cultural acceptance than today,ā he said. āThis country was built on waves of immigrants who have come to the U.S. seeking a better life for themselves and bettering their new home in the process.
āThe Vietnamese Americans on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are a fantastic example of a group of people that has created a better life for their families and have made our country better and stronger,ā Garraway added.
This project is made possible in part by a grant from the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area. MGCNHA Director Rhonda Price said āThe Fisher Peopleā accurately portrays a coastal story of the āheritage, resilience and economic and cultural importance of commercial fishing.ā
āThis documentary speaks directly to the Mississippi Coast National Heritage Areaās mission of preserving and sharing the stories that define the Gulf Coast,ā she said. āThe thoughtful storytelling and focus on community made it a natural choice for support.
āThis project is a great example of what public-private partnerships can accomplish, by combining grant support with creative talent and community voices, weāre able to turn local stories into projects that reach far beyond the coast,ā Price added.
Ļć½¶Ö±²„Filmsā recent project, which earned two Southeastern Emmys in the photography-long form content and topical documentary categories, underscores a growing need for authentic, localized storytelling.Ā
Ļć½¶Ö±²„Films, an extension of MSUās Television Center, is a nationally recognized leader in documentary and short film production. Founded in 2020 as a creative initiative of the universityās award-winning production unit, Ļć½¶Ö±²„Films brings powerful, source-driven narratives to millions of homes across the country. Through authentic, first-person storytelling, its work has earned more than 100 regional and national honorsāincluding 28 Southeast Emmy Awards, a National Edward R. Murrow Award and a James Beard Foundation nomination.
³Õ¾±²õ¾±³ŁĢżĀ to learn more about the Ļć½¶Ö±²„Television Center. To watch MSU-produced documentaries and other media, visitĀ .
Ļć½¶Ö±²„ is taking care of what matters. Learn more atĀ .