Lights up, sound speed and cameras rolling!
CAUSE teams up with filmmaker Milton Liu (Executive Director of Asian American Media Alliance) and AANHPI creatives across film, TV and the digital space to turn storytelling into real-world impact.
In LA County alone, there are 700,000 registered AAPI voters, yet fewer than one in three showed up to cast their ballot in the last two general elections... a gap that doesn’t reflect the size, growth, or influence of our community. So we’re flipping the script: making civic engagement more visible, more accessible, and yes… a little more fun.
When CAUSE brought a mobile voting booth to Haunted Little Tokyo in 2024, it generated the highest number of mobile votes ever recorded in LA County! It’s verifiable proof that when you meet people where they are, they show up. That’s the energy we’re building, because our stories don’t just belong on screen, they deserve a voice in shaping the future.
Part of CAUSE’s 2026 Together We Vote Initiative
MILTON LIU
Executive Director (Asian American Media Alliance), Writer and Filmmaker – AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS, JOHN HUGHES RUINED MY LIFE, I HATE BIG PHONY, LUCKY GRANDMA
I’m honored to be joining CAUSE and other AANHPI creatives for #HollywoodVotes and to share why I vote. As a filmmaker, I’ve called Los Angeles home for almost two decades now. Long enough to remember when you could find easy parking for Cafe Bleu...
WHY I VOTE? To me, voting is personal, immediate, and woven into how I move through the world.
As a Stage IV cancer survivor, I know firsthand that healthcare policy isn’t theoretical. It determines access, affordability, and whether people get the care they need when it matters most.
Being a second-generation American raised in the Midwest (hence the terrible accent), immigration policy isn’t an abstract debate. It influences whether entire communities live with a sense of safety or constant uncertainty.
And in my creative field, I’ve seen how studio and network consolidation has led to fewer productions, fewer jobs, and fewer opportunities to tell our stories.
I’ve watched these forces play out in real time, not as headlines but as lived consequences that ripple into what paths are available, and who gets to take them.
So I vote.
Because the choices made today shape our health, our safety, our stories and our future.
LAUR ALLEN
Actor (YOUNG & THE RESTLESS, LUMPIA WITH A VENGEANCE), Attorney, South Pasadena City Commissioner
Taken by Tom Phan at Golden Dragon Parade
Taken by Michael Roud
WHY I VOTE? I vote because it's how I show up for others, for my community, for my family, and for myself. To me, voting is the opportunity to have a say in creating our collective story and advocating for how our narrative unfolds.
Voting is a privilege and I believe each chance we get to cast our vote is a special occasion to represent causes that matter and the voices that get overlooked. Our community has always been incredible at showing up for each other and for others. What better (and simpler) way to do this than to exercise our individual and collective voices through voting!
As an actor, a lawyer, and a local city commissioner, I vote because I care deeply about others and protecting the future of our home. Our system was intended to be participatory, to have checks and balances, and to work for (not against) us. Progress doesn't happen by accident.
I vote because every ballot is a small (but significant) act of resilience, hope, and belief. Belief that leadership can reflect the people they serve, that policies can support progress, and that our collective voices can empower advocacy within local communities and subsequently society at large.
I vote because our story is being written in real time—let's take ownership of it!
dave jung
Actor, US & World Air Guitar Champion, Poet & Actor (ERIN & AARON, AMERICAN DAD, DOOGIE KAMEALOHA, MD, PROM PACT, AWESOME ASIAN BAD GUYS)
WHY I VOTE?
I'm C-Diddy former US and World Air Guitar Champion and star of Air Guitar Nation. I want to talk about you and all Asian Americans in LA County who care about this country.
Our constitution begins with: “We the people”
Because it's “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
CAUSE did a recent voter survey that counted 700,000 Asian Americans were registered to vote in LA County.
But we could only get a 27% turnout for that election.
The top reason for not voting was that they didn't have time to vote.
But now we're all running out of time. Because policy impacts everyday of our lives. We need to have a say now.
That’s why I vote. Because we the people baby. We the people!
So rock onward and vote!
sam futerman
Actor & Filmmaker – THE MOTEL, TWINSTERS, JOHN HUGHES RUINED MY LIFE, FROM HERE, MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA, THE BIG C, KROLL SHOW
WHY I VOTE?
Because my voice matters. Because I deserve to be here. Because I want a future that my daughter will be safe in.
minji chang
Actor. Filmmaker, Podcast Host – CYBERPUNK 2077 PHANTOM LIBERTY, ASHIMA, JANE
WHY I VOTE?
I vote because I have the privilege, opportunity and responsibility to represent myself and my community. I've seen the impact policies and subsequent attitudes have on our rights, opportunities, and our safety. Over the years, I've learned to pay more attention to how resources are allocated, how power is perceived, distributed and abused, often without accountability or effective oversight. I learned that giving away our power and abstaining from participation sets a dangerous precedent; conversely, embracing our rights is more empowering than I'd previously imagined or understood.
As a millennial Asian American woman, I'm humbled to realize how I've benefited from the extensive political advocacy of marginalized people who refused to settle for inequality, oppression, and exploitation. It's inspiring to know that everyday people rallying together and standing up for what we want and need is a special kind of stewardship. It's a demand for visibility and justice, and a counterbalance to unchecked or sometimes ignorant power. Even if it doesn't feel like it, especially nowadays, I remind myself of that to hold the line and encourage those around me that we can't give up.
Loving a community and loving our neighbors is not just a sentiment, it's an action. One of those actions is using our voice and our collective power to protect and build the world we live in - our jobs, schools, healthcare, safety, and more.
Koji Steven Sakai
Writer/Producer
Koji Steven Sakai is a prolific writer and producer behind numerous feature films and chart-topping podcasts. A versatile storyteller and educator, he also teaches screenwriting at UCLA Extension.
SONAL SHAH
Actor – FOUR SAMOSAS, SCRUBS, DEFINITION PLEASE, MIRA ROYAL DETECTIVE
WHY I VOTE? I vote because my voice deserves a seat at the table-and so does yours! Small actions, done together, create real change. And something as simple as turning in a ballot can shape the future we all share!
I vote because honestly… it makes absolutely no sense not to.
We have the right to do something this important-and we’re just gonna… skip it?? What the what?!
I vote because policy isn’t abstract-it shows up in all our everyday lives.
It shapes whose voices are heard-including my friends, my community, my family. It shapes whether people feel safe or targeted.
In my work as an actor, I’ve seen how industry shifts have meant fewer jobs and fewer opportunities to tell the stories that matter.
These aren’t hypotheticals. They’re already happening.
So yessss- I vote.
Because the systems we live in don’t just exist on paper.
Because the future isn’t something that just happens—it’s something we show up for.
I vote because it’s not just a task-it’s a moment.
A moment to show up, be counted, and do something together.
And hey if we’re all showing up anyway, we might as well make it a thing. A party!! Turn in the ballot. Bring a friend. Make it fun. Let’s do it together!!!
BOBBY CHOY (AKA BIG PHONY)
Singer/Songwriter, Actor & Filmmaker – K-TOWN COWBOYS, I HATE BIG PHONY, FICTION & OTHER REALITIES
WHY I VOTE?
I vote so my kids have the best possible opportunities for success.
JANET HSIEH
Actor (ZERO DAY ATTACK, FROZEN) and Host (FUN TAIWAN, GET AWAY WITH JANET HSIEH)
WHY I VOTE?
I have kids – and policies that affect them matter to me.
I vote because policies affect my everyday life.
MATT OKUMURA
Screenwriter — MARVEL’S VISIONQUEST, STAR TREK: PICARD, INTERIOR CHINATOWN
WHY I VOTE?
Why vote? Why stand? Why speak? When it’s only a name, a word, a yes, a no. Just marks on a page. How much could they matter? One choice, one voice, yes. But joining a chorus. To say, again and again, as history seems to demand, “No more. Not to us. Not to them.”
That’s why I vote.
No more. Not to us. Not to them.
THE MIGHTY GIANTS
A collective of artists and puppeteers from Los Angeles, seamlessly blending hip hop culture with unique puppeteering performances
Originally hailed as some kids who loved everything boom bap in their previous iteration, they have matured with the realization that their creative boundaries are limitless, and inclusive of all types of music they appreciate. The group is composed of muralists, DJs, music producers, MCs, illustrators, graphic designers, and dancers, each represented by a unique puppet alter ego. Primarily active on Twitch, The Mighty Giants entertain audiences with live DJ shows and puppeteering acts while also bringing original music and skits to life in live performances on stage.
WHY WE VOTE?
We’re The Mighty Giants, and we vote because we know that together we’re stronger. When we combine our efforts, we can work towards bringing real change in our community for the causes that matter most to us. Whether it’s for matters on immigration or policies affecting the entertainment industry, we want people to be safe and secure to live, work, and thrive in our neighborhoods. When we have people in office representing our interests, we can do what we do best... Keep the tunes, laughs, and good vibes flowing.