Pamela Tom

Pamela Tom is a 5th generation Chinese American producer, director, and screenwriter. Her films often explore the Chinese experience in the Western world, social justice, feminism, and religion.

Early life Tom's family immigrated to the U.S. from southern China in the 1870s. Her grandfather owned the restaurant, New Moon, in Downtown L.A. Her father managed the restaurant and mother was a teacher.

Tom was born in Los Angeles and raised in Monterey Park.

Education In 1981, Tom earned a bachelor of art degree in Development Studies from Brown University.

From 1980 to 1981, Tom was a visiting student at the University of Ile-Ife in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

In 1990, Tom earned a MFA from UCLA's Department of Theater, Film and Television. Her narrative thesis film, Two Lies, screened at the Sundance Film Festival, the New Directors/New Films Festival, and the Smithsonian Institution. The film went on to be distributed by Women Make Movies.

Career

Tom began her career when she received a Disney Writing Fellowship. After leaving Disney, Tom became the Senior Associate Producer on the ABC Television Special The Story of Mothers & Daughters and the field producer on the PBS television pilot directed by Michael Camerini, "Becoming the Buddha in LA". She went on to direct Sidney Poitier in a monologue to promote the Showtime original film, Mandela and de Klerk.

Tom has taught film directing at UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University, and UCLA Extension. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and Film Fatales.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Role 2018 Finding Home Writer, director, producer 2015 Tyrus 2009 American Primitive Executive ProducerThe Story of Mothers & Daughters Associate Producer 1990 Two Lies Writer, director, producer

Television

Year Film Role 2008 World War Two: Behind Closed Doors Post-Production Producer (1 Episode) 2007 Wired Science Producer (1 Episode) 1993 Becoming the Buddha in L.A. Field Producer