Stephen T. Maing — Director (5)

Movie

Hers To Lose (2013)
Hers To Lose TMDB
From the start of the New York City mayoral race, Christine Quinn had it all: name recognition, an overflowing war chest and a seven-year record of accomplishment as City Council speaker. She was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s heir apparent, on track to become the city’s first female and first openly gay mayor. Then, a month before the primary on Sept. 10, she began to slide in the polls. This is the story of her collapse, as witnessed from within her campaign.

Movie

The Surrender (2015)
The Surrender TMDB
In August 2010, Stephen Kim, a highly-regarded State Department intelligence analyst, was indicted under the Espionage Act for jeopardizing national security by allegedly divulging classified information to a reporter. Despite numerous officials in the State Department describing Kim's disclosure as nothing extraordinary, he faced 10 to 15 years in prison if convicted at trial. The Surrender intimately documents Stephen Kim's struggle to understand the events leading up to his prosecution as well as his last free days before prison.

Movie

Union (2024)
Union WikiData IMDb TMDB Douban
★ 9.2 5 ratings
other title: 工会 / 아마존 노동조합
When some workers make history by becoming the first unionized Amazon workplace in the United States, their victory stands as extraordinary for any union, let alone the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), which succeeded with no prior organizing experience, institutional backing or substantial budget. These leaders, including the charismatic Chris Smalls, embraced their group’s unique persona and highly unconventional strategies, like wearing Money Heist costumes at press conferences or distributing free marijuana to workers, and did not back down in the face of near-impossible hurdles, including a dire lack of resources, interpersonal tensions, and the ruthless tactics of a corporate giant. In this vérité documentation of their organizing, what emerges is a surprising turn of events led by an unwavering determination and a belief in labour-power. Heralded as the most important win for labour since the 1930s, ALU’s historic grassroots campaign demonstrates the profound ability of collective action to awaken the inherent power of the working class.

Movie

High Tech, Low Life (2012)
High Tech, Low Life IMDb
Stephen T. Maing actor: Shihe Zhang / Shuguang Zhou
other title: 高科技 低生活
HIGH TECH, LOW LIFE follows the journey of two of China’s first citizen reporters as they travel the country – chronicling underreported news and social issues stories. Armed with laptops, cell phones, and digital cameras they develop skills as independent one-man news stations while learning to navigate China’s evolving censorship regulations and avoiding the risk of political persecution. The film follows 57-year-old “Tiger Temple,” who earns the title of China’s first citizen reporter after he impulsively documents an unfolding murder and 27-year-old “Zola” who recognizes the opportunity to increase his fame and future prospects by reporting on sensitive news throughout China.

Movie

罪与罚 (2018)
Crime + Punishment IMDb Douban
other title: Crime + Punishment
本片以轰动的针对非法警察配额的集体诉讼为背景,以一群名为“NYPD12(纽约警局 12 人组)”的黑人及拉美裔警官的视角,历时四年记录了美国纽约警局的治安执法过程。这些警官冒着巨大风险揭发警局的不当行径,如执法中的种族歧视、深存于警局体系中的打击报复和腐败问题。因为没有达到规定的在少数族裔社区的抓捕配额,这些少数族裔警官都曾被处罚,所以他们秘密地聚到一起,决定把这些骚扰记录下来,并发起了轰动全市的集体诉讼。无人诉苦,“NYPD12”便用长官和警员的对话录音、原始账单和感人的证词向世人揭示真相。同时,已转行为私家侦探的前警官曼纽尔·戈麦斯,也在向那些曾受以打击犯罪为名义的警察骚扰的少数族裔的年轻人搜集证词。