A little about our film, Play It in Woo
“Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers and Ubiquity.
“Before I Let Go” by Frankie Beverly and Maze.
Both songs are anthems in the Black music soundtrack, and are candidates for, as the New York Times says, "The song of every summer."
And both songs feature the keyboard playing of Philip Woo, who is one of the first Asian American musicians to make a name in the funk and soul genres of the 1970’s and 1980’s, recording and touring with such legends as Roy Ayers, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Ashford & Simpson, Patti Labelle, and more. Philip’s playing has continued to live on through the countless artists that have sampled his keyboard playing, from Notorious B.I.G. and A Tribe Called Quest to Mary J. Blige and Beyonce.
Philip Woo’s story is one of stubborn self-belief in the pursuit of your dream, and having to constantly break the mold of Asian American stereotypes at every stage of life. It’s a truly American story of art and activism, of community and displacement, and the intertwined paths of the Black and Asian American communities in all its beautiful complexity. And it is the story that we will tell in our film, PLAY IT IN WOO.
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine " by Roy Ayers and Ubiquity
"Before I Let Go " by Frankie Beverly and Maze.
OUR PRODUCTION STORY (STILL IN PROGRESS)
The majority of our film has been shot, with production beginning in Fall of 2022. Since then, we’ve had 13 total days of filming in Seattle, New York, and most recently, an April 2024 shoot in California, where we shot in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Vallejo. Although Philip Woo lives in Tokyo, Japan, we built all our shoots around his concerts in the U.S. and have filmed 24 interviews to date, with musicians including: Roy Ayers, Valerie Simpson, saxophonist Kenny G., Merry Clayton (singer for Ray Charles, Rolling Stones, featured in the film 20 Feet From Stardom), George Murray (bassist for David Bowie and Philip’s brother in law), drummer Mike Clark (Herbie Hancock, The Headhunters), singer Maxayn Lewis (Ike and Tina Turner), bassist Byron Miller (Roy Ayers, George Duke, Santana), Felicia Collins (guitarist, CBS Orchestra/World’s Most Dangerous Band), guitarist/composer Makoto Horiuchi; former Maze members Robin Duhe, Ron Smith, Billy Johnson, and Anthony Beverly; Philip’s singer in Japan, Brenda Vaughn; hip hop producers Jake One and Large Professor; DJ Supreme La Rock (KEXP), and DJ / culture writer/academic, Oliver Wang. We also filmed an interview with Philip’s high school mentor and band teacher, James Gardiner, as well as members of the Woo family, and of course, Philip Woo himself. Additionally, we’ve captured two of Philip’s concerts in entirety, in Seattle and New York, as well as band rehearsals for each show. We also have been blessed with a few amazing intimate, and impromptu, musical performances.
AFTER THIS…
We will be cutting various trailers and teasers that we will use to continue fundraising that will launch us into our last phase of production, which will focus on filming in Japan, where Philip Woo lives. And once production is complete, that will take us into the edit, and all the post-production costs that will come with a film like ours - namely, music and archival footage rights. But, as we've been doing, we'll get there one mighty step at a time, and we will be keeping you updated along our journey!
Please follow us on Instagram @playitinwoo for fun behind-the-scenes photos, footage, and more updates!