Jo Koy produces documentary on Filipino nurses during COVID

Jo Koy | Image: Instagram/@jokoy

Filipino-American comedian Jo Koy is onboard as executive producer of the documentary “Nurse Unseen,” which explores the unsung Filipino nurses who fought at the frontlines during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The standup comedian shared the news on his social media and expressed his gladness to be part of the documentary film.

“Nursing is a big part of my Filipino community. So happy to be a part of this project,” he captioned his post.

Jo Koy serves as one of the executive producers alongside Emmy award-winning Filipino filmmaker Michele Josue, Carlo Velayo (Lingua Franca), Grammy and three-time Tony Award-winner Jhett Tolentino, and Filipino-American nurse and creative visionary Joe Arciaga.

According to the official website of the documentary, “Nurse Unseen” aims to shed light on the struggles of Filipino nurses “who risked their lives on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic while facing a resurgence of anti-Asian hate in the streets.”

It is also leaning to dwelve on the colonial ties between the Philippines and the United States that have led to Filipino nurses becoming one of the pillars of the U.S. and global healthcare systems.

“There is a reason why I talk about Filipino nurses in my stand-up, as I have so many family members in the healthcare system. They are some of the hardest-working people and have filled the gaps in medical facilities that are frequently understaffed and under-resourced. I’m proud to help shine a light on their heroism. No documentary has ever captured their stories like Nurse Unseen,” Jo Koy told Deadline.

Josue then expressed her admiration for the Fil-Am comedian, saying that the latter inspired her to get in touch with her own roots.

“I’m not only a huge fan of Jo Koy, the comedian, but I’ve also long admired his leadership within the Fil-Am community. Jo’s comedy, philanthropy, and efforts in elevating and supporting the Filipino and Fil-Am experience in mainstream culture have been incredibly impactful and meaningful to Fil-Ams like myself. In many ways, Jo’s comedy inspired me to look more deeply at my own Filipino heritage, my family’s story, and, specifically, to explore the reasons why so many Filipinos go into nursing,” she shared in the same interview. 

Jo Koy rose to fame after consecutively breaking records for the most tickets sold by a single artist for standup shows. The mayor’s office in Honolulu proclaimed November 24th as “Jo Koy Day,” after the Fil-Am sold out 11 shows in the city at the time.

In 2018, the 53-year-old comedian was given the prestigious “Stand-Up Comedian Of The Year” award at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Earlier this year, despite receiving mixed reactions, Jo Koy landed the hosting duties for the 81st Annual Golden Globes.