Short film “No Dogs” confronts the history of racial discrimination against Filipinos

Photo courtesy of the “No Dogs” Team

“No Dogs” is a short film set against the backdrop of the Watsonville Riots of 1930 when anti-Filipino violence raged across California’s Central Valley.

Written by Alex S. Fabros, Jr. and Georgina Tolentino the 2021 film introduces audiences to Marisol, a Filipina who seeks safety after the bombing of a taxi dance hall where Filipino men and white women socialize. As the night grows darker and the sounds of gunshots louder, Marisol finds herself in the most unlikely of places: seated in a diner with a white man named Carl.

“They share a meal but are skeptical of each other. A lot of their conversation is about trying to find similarities that are not controversial—so it is about the food you like to eat or where you grew up, the small talk that we all make with people. I think that is something we can all relate to,” Tolentino said. 

“No Dogs” reveals more than a disagreement between two people; it exposes the historical mistreatment of immigrants and the underlying causes of racial discrimination in the United States.

“White supremacy and patriarchy are deeply embedded in American culture and society. It’s tough to undo that when you’re taught from birth that you have rights, but someone else does not. That is why I felt ‘No Dogs’ is important; it bridges that connection with generations before,” Tolentino said.

Carlos Bulosan, author of the novel America is in the Heart, described 1930 as “the year of the great hatred: the lives of Filipinos were cheaper than those of dogs.” During the Great Depression, migrant workers became convenient scapegoats for economic hardships in the United States. Filipinos faced racist attacks from white nativists who believed they were losing job opportunities to migrants, particularly in the agricultural industry.

In January 1930, a mob of roughly 500 white men terrorized Filipinos in Watsonville, California, often with the complicity of local law enforcement. They targeted, robbed, and beat Filipinos for five consecutive days. The violence escalated when rioters shot and killed 22-year-old farmworker Fermin Tobera at Murphy Ranch. No one was charged in Tobera’s killing. Widespread violence and destruction of Filipino lives and property continued after the Watsonville Riots, notably in Stockton, Salinas, San Francisco, and San Jose.

U.S. policies also contributed to the perpetuation of systemic bias and marginalization of Filipinos. In 1933, California expanded its anti-miscegenation law to prohibit marriages between Filipino and white residents. Following the passage of the Tydings–McDuffie Act, Congress restricted Filipino immigration to the United States to just 50 people per year.

“I didn’t know anything about Filipino history in the United States, and I don’t know why we don’t learn about this in school,” Tolentino said. “In ‘No Dogs,’ I was really curious to see how I could bring current events and conversations about race and white fragility into a scene.”

Like her parents and grandparents,  Marisol migrated to the United States with an ambition to achieve the “American Dream.” However, upon arriving in the United States, thousands of Filipinos encountered labor exploitation and deep-seated prejudice that prevented them from building the future they had envisioned. Tolentino hopes that viewers can see the depth of humanity in Marisol’s character and feel empowered to have open and honest conversations about the injustices in the United States.

“It’s not politics, it’s people. It’s a humanitarian conversation, and I think people get overwhelmed with that,” Tolentino said. “I felt this is bigger than me, and if we can have these conversations, I feel people can appreciate other cultures when they see themselves as well. What I want to be seen is for us to be seen in this entertainment industry.”

“No Dogs” was directed by Randal Kamaradt and produced in partnership with RD Media, Urduja Films, and Soliloquy Films. The short film received numerous awards, including Best Short Film and Best Director at the 2022 Asian World Film Festival, Best Supporting Actor at the 2021 Chelsea Film Festival, Best Actress and Best Director at Bridgeport Film Festival, and a Gold Award for Performance in a Lead Role at the FACINE Filipino International Cine Festival.

"No Dogs" is available on Amazon Prime Video via Indie Flix and YouTube.