Support Play It in Woo: Final Production Phase

Three years ago, we flew out to Seattle to start production on our documentary, Play It in Woo, and now in September 2025, we are heading back to the Emerald City for more filming, and to kick off a new crowdfunding campaign. We're hoping that your continued support will propel us in our third, and final, phase of production, taking place in Seattle and Japan.

The majority of our film has been shot, in locations that span from Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Oakland, and New Jersey. We have filmed 26 interviews to date, with artists spanning generations and genre, from hip-hop luminaries like producer Jake One, Large Professor, and DJ Supreme La Rock (KEXP), to megastar saxophonist Kenny G. and music legends Valerie Simpson and Roy Ayers - in perhaps one of his last on-camera appearances before his passing.

But with as much great footage as we have, there are still many more notes we want to hit, and we'll need to do that in Japan, where Philip has lived for over 20 years. We couldn't have gotten this far without your help, and we hope you'll be able to join us for this next round. We know that, with your help, we will be able to film the remaining chapters that we need to properly tell Philip Woo's story and finally start editing the full film!

Here’s more about our film, Play It in Woo:

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"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.

Check out https://www.playitinwoo.com/ for more info, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook for fun behind-the-scenes photos, footage, and updates!