Ep.1 Reality Sandwich: Are you High (school)?

Title: Ep.1 Reality Sandwich: Are you High (school)? (2024)
Runtime: 15:26
Director: Ho Bin Kim
Starring: Andrea Wang
Music: Kimchi Cowboys

Synopsis

Reality Sandwich is an ongoing, place-responsive, subaltern video series that unfolds through performative encounters with artists across diverse geographies. Inspired by absurdist gestures and relational practices, each episode begins with a single question—“What does a Reality Sandwich mean to you?”—and evolves through unscripted, daylong collaborations with local practitioners. Filmed in cities such as New York, Gwangju, Shanghai, Bacolod, Seoul, Rotterdam, Jogja, Kawasaki, and Riyadh the series resists conventional documentary structure, favoring instead a poetics of slowness, improvisation, and affective entanglement.

In the debut episode of "Reality Sandwich," Ho Bin Kim reunites with Andrea Wang, an Asian American stand-up comedian and high school friend, in New York City. The episode embarks on a nostalgic journey through Brooklyn, where Ho Bin repeatedly asks Andrea, "What is a Reality Sandwich for you?" Initially taken aback by the question, Andrea responds with, "Are you high?"

Despite her initial confusion, Andrea begins to reflect on the concept of a "Reality Sandwich" as they wander through Brooklyn. The day is filled with laughter and reminiscence as they revisit their high school memories, food they often at at the school cafeteria, and favorite hangout spots.

As the day comes to a close, Andrea unveils a deeply personal revelation. She shares that the Asian family photos she keeps are not actually of her own family, but a collection of 400 photos she purchased on eBay for $30. Andrea explains that this is her "Reality Sandwich"—the idea that these strangers could be her family because they visited the same places and wore similar clothes to those she wore as a child. 

This poignant moment captures the essence of a "Reality Sandwich" as a blend of reality and imagination, where personal connections and identities are formed through unexpected means. 

The episode concludes with Andrea adopting a new attitude towards the question that initially annoyed her. She begins asking others if they know what a "Reality Sandwich" is and passionately explains the concept, showcasing her transformation and newfound understanding.

Through this journey, the first episode of "Reality Sandwich" explores themes of identity, memory, and the ways in which we create meaning in our lives. It sets the stage for the series' ongoing exploration of diverse interpretations of a "Reality Sandwich," inviting viewers to reflect on their own definitions of reality.