Oscar Winner Daniel Kwan Gets Excited about a New Passion Project: Assisting with Rewriting L.A.'s City Charter

At a recent meeting of the City Charter Reform Commission on October 8, a familiar figure appeared in Los Angeles City Hallnot a politician or lobbyist, but Academy Award-winning filmmaker Daniel Kwan. Best known as one half of the duo behind Everything Everywhere All at Once, Kwan is currently preparing for a Universal Pictures release scheduled for November 19, 2027. Yet, his presence at City Hall reflected a different pursuit: a deep dive into civic engagement.

Kwan has joined Rewrite LA, a new initiative aimed at ensuring public participation directly influences the city's governance during the ongoing rewrite of Los Angeles City Charter. The organization emphasizes that community inputthrough assemblies and digital platformsshould shape decision-making in addressing pressing issues such as land use, housing, climate change, pandemics, economic shifts, and technological advances.

The systems in place were built for a world that no longer exists, said Nick Goddard, co-founder of Rewrite LA. We want to empower residents to reshape democracy so it is transparent, participatory, and aligned with todays challenges.

The city charter, comparable to a municipal constitution, is undergoing its first major revision in nearly three decades. Rewrite LA seeks to involve as many residents as possible in this process, highlighting issues that demand urgent attention. The group plans to host a series of civic assemblies, beginning with a session focused on land use at the Institute of Contemporary Art LA on December 13.

Kwan described his involvement as a natural extension of his interest in solving complex societal problems. For the past decade, Ive been fascinated by large-scale issues, he said. Social media and technological advances have highlighted the limitations of our existing systems. This is a chance to rethink governance and try new methods to engage the public effectively.

Inspired by Taiwans digital democracy initiatives led by Audrey Tang, Kwan and Rewrite LA aim to employ deliberative technologies that counter polarization and foster consensus. The approach emphasizes shared goals and values as a foundation for discussion, allowing residents to vote on the topics most relevant to them.

Los Angeles is at a critical crossroads, Kwan noted. After a year of devastating fires, federal ICE raids, ongoing housing challenges, and emerging technological shifts, the city needs agile, transparent governance. Rewriting the charter is an opportunity to make democracy more tangible and accessible.

Rewrite LA intends to complement the official work of the City Charter Reform Commission, tackling issues the commission may not have the bandwidth to address, including AI governance, climate reform, policing, city corruption, and land use. By engaging the public in focused assemblies, the organization hopes to submit actionable recommendations to the city council and ultimately influence the ballot in the coming year.

Kwan also emphasized the potential role of Hollywood in civic engagement. This charter affects everyone, including the entertainment industry. We need storytellers and communicators to raise awareness and participate. Its a rare opportunity to shape the future of our city, and anyone willing to contribute can find a way to help.

The initiative seeks volunteers to assist in storytelling, online content creation, and outreach, aiming to involve as many residents as possible in this once-in-a-generation civic effort.

Author: Gavin Porter