"Here and Now - An Eye to The Future"
New York City, Thursday, November 19. Sponsored by the IW Group, with ALTRA being the Media Sponsor and the Publisher/Editorial Director Nancy Moran as the moderator of the "Media" panel
2009 Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Presented By HBO
Daniel Henney personal video for 'Three Rivers' Sunday 9PM PST
Korean American actor, Daniel Henney will address Asian American issues on air this Sunday, October 18th, 2009 on CBS medical drama, 'Three Rivers'. The show airs every Sunday, 9pm Eastern/Pacific Time. Henney roles include Agent Zero (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and various international films.
Below is Henney's video to the Asian American community on his role as Dr. David Lee in 'Three Rivers':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP_9DPlFGvk
See Daniel Henney on 'Three Rivers' every Sunday 9pm PST on CBS!
New Artist Spotlight: Jaeson Ma. Click and Watch his video - "Love"
In Hollywood, Cash Speaks Louder Than Words
Interview by Nancy Moran
Photos courtesy of Justin Lin and Phil Chung Justin on the set of Fast and Furious
In light of recent complaints against the negative portrayal of Asian Americans in the film The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Writer/Director Philip Chung (Kono: Living in Silence) posted the comment "Hollywood and Asians: Why Protests Alone Won't Change Anything" on the blog "You offend me, you offend my family", a blog started by film director Justin Lin (Fast and Furious, Better Luck Tomorrow, Finishing the Game), stating that verbal and written protests alone will not generate the respect Asian Americans want from Hollywood. However, a show of monetary support - such as seeing films at the movie theater instead of downloading them for free on the Internet, along with well-thought out protests, will more likely to garner the entertainment industry's respect in the long run. Phil also pointed out that Asian Americans need to show more monetary support for the independent Asian American film market as well. He stressed that Asian American filmmakers are struggling to carry out a more realistic portrayal of Asian Americans on the big screen, but their efforts won't prevail by going at it alone.
The truth is, majority of the Asian American population have historically failed to show a strong financial support for the arts, entertainment, media and fashion industries across the board, yet these industries are the most pivotal in cultivating influential images and reinforcing powerful statements in the general public, and they need to see numbers before words. So hopefully, we'll soon see more Asian Americans showing their financial support collectively, in these industries that will make – and break, the power of Asian Americans. Meanwhile, here's a brief chat I had with both Justin and Phil, about their blog, their thoughts, and what we can expect to see from them next...
*JUSTIN LIN:
Q: What made you decide to start "You offend me, you offend my family", and what is its mission?
Since I work all the time, it became very clear to me that the only time I see my friends is when we work together. The site came from that idea of getting friends together and writing to entertain each other. We're all Asian Americans, but we wanted to do a blog that was different from most of the other Asian American sites – we can write about whatever we want. We get up every day and don't think about everything Asian American and we wanted to a site to reflect that sensibility.
Justin Lin
Q: What project(s) are you currently working on?
It's been fun to work on the site. We have a lot projects and ideas we'd like to create for the future including a possible web series. Just finished directing the Halloween episode of the new NBC series Community, have signed up to do a reboot of Highlander, and just optioned an amazing book We Disappear and some other things down the pipe.
*PHILIP W. CHUNG:
Q: Why do you think most Asian Americans are not willing to show monetary support for Asian American films and personalities in entertainment, fashion, and the arts overall?
I think there are a few possible reasons for this. The first is the diversity of the Asian American community. It's more difficult to act as a unified community when we are all different ethnicities that speak different languages and some of us have been here for generations while others are newly immigrated.
Most Asian Americans are also more recent immigrants who came to the U.S. after the laws were changed in 1965. For these immigrants, the arts were not considered a necessity. They had to work hard to make a living so that took priority and the emphasis for their children were to study and go into more traditional careers like medicine or law.
So I think we've created a culture where the arts are generally not valued or considered important so this fosters an attitude of "why do we need to support something financially that really doesn't matter?"
Most studies show that Asian Americans pretty much have the same patterns as Caucasians when it comes to media consumption. So in other words, Asians are more likely to pay money to see a Tom Hanks film then one by an Asian American so when we do spend our money on entertainment it's definitely not to support our own. I'm not sure why this is. Are we more assimilated than other minorities? We certainly don't support our own community in the way that African Americans support their work en masse. Let's be honest, Tyler Perry's films aren't great films, but Black audiences have supported him financially and allowed him to build a media empire that will provide more opportunities for African American artists.
Philip Chung, left
Q: Asian Americans often complain about the lack or misrepresentation of Asians in TV and films, but these complaints often go unnoticed in Hollywood, so what would make them become more noticeable?
I think some people misinterpreted the blog I wrote on this subject as saying I felt protests were completely ineffective. I think protests are a great way to bring attention to an issue, but the point I wanted to make was protests alone will not really change the way Hollywood does things. I know some people like to cry racism, but I think it would be more proper to cry capitalism. Films are a big business and decisions are made based on what the Executives think will bring in the most profit; there's no conspiracy to exclude Asians.
Until Asians establish themselves as a box office force, I personally don't think real change will occur. That means either we make "Asian American" films that will appeal to "mainstream" (i.e. non-Asian) audiences or Asian Americans need to start financially supporting work by Asian Americans. One or both of those things need to happen.
Philip Chung seated, facing camera
Q: What is your next upcoming project? (Or a project you're currently working on)
As Justin mentions, we're planning a number of upcoming projects with some of our other friends who are on the site. My background is as a writer and mainly in theater so I have a new play running from November 14-December 20 here in L.A. called Grace Kim & the Spiders from Mars. It's a romantic comedy and the final production for my theater company Lodestone Theatre Ensemble after ten years (www.lodestonetheatre.org). It's sort of my tribute to the screwball comedies of the 1930s and 1940s but with an all Asian American cast. I'm also working on a number of screenplays including a couple of adaptations of novels.
*To read Phil's blog, go to http://youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com/hollywood-and-asians-why-protests-alone-won%E2%80%99t-change-anything/
Los Angeles: GRACE KIM & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS (Nov 14-Dec 20, 2009) A new comedy for anyone who's ever felt like they were born on the wrong planet. Presented by Lodestone Theatre
Los Angeles: BREAKING THE BOW: The 1st Annual Independent Asian Pacific Islander Performing Artists and Writers Festival
Over 70 Asian Pacific Islander artists participate in the 6 performance, 4 day event October 22-25, 2009 at the Miles Memorial Playhouse at 1130 Lincoln Blvd; Santa Monica, CA 90403.
Programs include play readings, an API cabaret, and Battle of the Pitches, and an innovative screenwriting pitch competition. Sponsors include FOX Diversity, East West Magazine, and Visual Communications.
Thursday October 22
5PM Kick Off Party with Cold Tofu and Dawen($5)
6:30PM VIP Reception ($10 with invitation)
8PM: Battle of the Pitches/Ten Minute Asian Pacific Islander Play Contest Performances with Kristina Wong special performance ($10 admission with $5 Battle of the Pitches contest entrance fee) Pitch sessions with FOX 2000 and FOX Searchlight for best screenplay pitch. Celebrity judges.
Friday+Saturday October 23-24 8PM
AARGH!!, the API cabaret ($15) (Ken Choy, Jude Narita, Rodney Kageyama, D'Lo, Youtube all star musicians Seriously, Mikey de Lara, C. Kenneth Lee, Dawen, and Sue Jin)
Sunday October 25
2PM: Ken Narasaki's No-No Boy reading ($5) Premiere
7PM: Staged reading of Ken Choy's theatrical extravaganza Lazy Susan ($5) Premiere
Miles Memorial Playhouse 1130 Lincoln Blvd; Santa Monica, CA 90403
For more information and reservations, please contact Ken Choy at ken@mapid.us. www.mapid.us
More photos at www.mapid.us.
New York City: THE SEAGULL: A COMEDY IN FOUR ACTS - THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMA's VERSION (Sept.26 - Oct.17) Presented by National Asian American Theatre Company
West 32nd Now Available on DVD
THIS IS NOT A CHINATOWN BOOTLEG!
It's the real thing and it's finally here -- West 32nd on DVD (packed with extras!).
You've been waiting a long time for this day to come. This is the movie you've heard about or caught at its festival run throughout the world (Tribeca Film Festival, Pusan Film Festival, etc.). Get it where all DVDs are sold or rented.
Tell your friends!
FIGHTING!
-West 32nd Team
Pathfinder Pictures presents
West 32nd
a film by Michael Kang
featuring John Cho, Jun Kim and Grace Park
DVD EXTRAS:
* 16:9 Anamorphic Aspect Ratio
* Audio Commentary with Director Michael Kang and Actors John Cho and Jun Kim
Deleted Scenes
* Production Gag Reel
* Music Video for Heather Park's "Leave Me To Dream"
* Interview with writers Michael Kang and Edmund Lee
* Official Trailer
New York City: New York City Metropolitan Opera Opening Night
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN OPERA SEASON OPENS WITH NEW PRODUCTION OF TOSCA AND A STAR-STUDDED RED CARPET AND SIMULCAST IN TIMES SQUARE
The 2009-10 New York City Metropolitan Opera season opens with famed Director Luc Bondy's new staging of Puccini's classic opera Tosca, starring Karita Mattila and conducted by Music Director James Levine. The Opening Night performance was broadcasted live in Times Square and in Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza.
Photographer: Michael Seto
San Francisco: APATURE 11th Annual Festival of Emerging APA Artists
Kearny Street Workshop Presents APAture: A Spotlight on Asian Pacific American Art 11th Annual Festival of Emerging APA Artists
SAN FRANCISCO – August 4, 2009 – Kearny Street Workshop (KSW), the nation's oldest Asian Pacific American (APA) multidisciplinary arts organization, presented its 11th annual festival of emerging APA artists, APAture, September 17 – 26, 2009. This two-weekend-long festival took place at venues throughout San Francisco, including Goforaloop Gallery, VIZ Cinema at New People, Hotel Rex, Intersection for the Arts, and Poleng Lounge. Each night of the festival was dedicated to a different art discipline, with events included a concurrent visual art exhibition, film screenings, music concert, literary readings, performing art showcase, and handmade fair of comics/zines and DIY crafts. In addition to the over 80 artists presented, APAture selected seven "Featured Artists" who have broken through the "emerging" point in their careers. These artists are Taraneh Hemami (visual art), Johnny Hi-Fi (music), Tanuj Chopra (film), Kenny Yun (performing art), Aimee Suzara (literature), Debbie Huey (comics and zines), and Loretta Nguyen (DIY crafts).
For More Information, Please Contact:
Lisa Leong
APAture Coordinator
415.503.0520
apature@kearnystreet.org
kearnystreet.org/apature
Photographer: Kenni Camota Crowd at APAture gallery happy hour event
Hopie $pitshard at APAture Music Might