Old News   What shook in Asian American Filmmaking

The festival proper doesn't begin until mid-July, but the party starts in a week!  With DJ Distraction and DJ Mas and an open bar - Friday, June 28, 2002 8:00 - 11:00pm at the IndoCenter of Art & Culture, 530 West 25th Street, 2nd floor (btw. 10th and 11th Avenues).  $10 at the door.  Special membership and festival ticket discounts will be available for guests!  RSVP BY JUNE 24 212.998.9044

7 p.m. Wednesday, June 14
(followed at 8 p.m. by "My American Vacation")
The New Asian Filmmakers series
The Anthology Film Archives
32 Second Avenue (at 2nd Street)
New York City
$5 admission
For tickets, call 212-505-5110

The Workshop, The Asian American Arts Alliance and The New School Diversity Initiative present "Avenue of the Asian Americas," 10 short digital films which take the viewer on a quirky trip down the side streets of the Asian experience in New York City.

8 p.m., Wednesday, April 12, 2000
Tishman Auditorium
New School University
66 West 12th Street, NYC
Admission - FREE!

Avenue of the Asian Americas is also screening at the Chicago Asian American Showcase and FilmFest New Haven.
 
 
 

"Avenue of the Asian Americas." will screen at the Chicago Asian American Showcase:
    3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at the Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in downtown Chicago near the lakefront, Columbus Drive at Jackson Boulevard. General admission is $7.

Workshop member Greg Pak has launched AsianAmericanFilm.com, a new website devoted to Asian American films and filmmakers. The site features the latest news, in depth articles, and great features like "My Favorite Asian American Films," top five lists written by opinionated people.

Workshop member Greg Pak will appear on the television show "Asian America" to plug the Workshop and Avenue of the Asian Americas. Check it out -- the show includes a trailer for "Avenue of the Asian Americas."
    7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 16, on WNYE, Channel 25 in NYC
    For other cities, check your local listings.

"Avenue of the Asian Americas." will screen at the Chicago Asian American Showcase:
    3:30 p.m., Saturday, April 1, at the Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in downtown Chicago near the lakefront, Columbus Drive at Jackson Boulevard. General admission is $7.

This website has starting two great new features:
 

• An Asian American Films & Video Database (shorts, features, docs -- everything!). For completed films & videos only. A great resource for people looking for contact info for AA films & filmmakers.
• An Asian American Films in Production page. Producers can list their needs (actors, crew, etc) and progress.

It's easy (and free!) to be listed in either section. Just visit one of the Registration forms below:
    Film & Video Database Online Registration Form
    Films in Production Online Registration Form

An advice column penned by the ghost of Bruce Lee is now up and running.
    Looking for sage advice on love, politics, and everything else? Send your conundrums to AskBruce@excite.com or fill in the online form at the Ask Bruce page.

The Workshop has finished its much anticipated MiniDV shorts anthology, "Avenue of the Asian Americas."
    The anthology screened to enthusiastic response December 14 at a sneak preview for cast and crew members. Public screenings will be scheduled for January and February in New York City. Check back for all the details!

Hey, friends! Workshop members NaRhee Ahn, Thomas Moon, and Greg Pak are appearing on Manhattan Neighborhood Network television on Time Warner Cable. Check it out -- the show includes a trailer for "Avenue of the Asian Americas."
    Channel 34, 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 11
    Channel 56, 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 11

The Workshop is currently in production for "Avenue of the Asian Americas"(twelve 3-minute DV films by twelve AA directors).
    We are seeking production and post production assistance in all areas.
    Shooting in NYC October/November.
    No pay, but chance to work on a groundbreaking project, and make connections in the Asian American filmmaking community.
    E-mails can be sent to narhee@earthlink.net with a cc:aaworkshop@hotmail.com.
    Please give brief paragraph of experience and areas of interest. Also let us know if you would like to be included in the Workshop's website Crew Database (free listing).

From Kit Hui, an observer during this cycle's AAFC workshop sessions:

The first fundraiser for my film project "Tofu" was so much fun that we decided to have another one. It was great to see some of you there last time, I hope you guys had so much fun that you're coming for this one again. For those of you who couldn't make it, I would love to see you guys this time!

    TOFU FUNDRAISER
    6 - 9pm, Wednesday, Nov. 10
    At Finally Fred's (765 Washington St., at 12th St.)
    $20/person     Features: Live music (w/ new bands this time), refreshments & cash bar

"Tofu" is now fiscally sponsored by Women Make Movies, so all donations are tax deductible. If you're unable to attend, and would like to show your support, you can make donations payable to:

    WOMEN MAKE MOVIES (indicate "Tofu" on the memo line)

And send payment to:

    c/o Jancy Ball
    SHW Productions
    95 Horatio Street, #8E
    New York, NY 10014
 
 
 

Workshop member Greg Pak has created FilmHelp.com, an ever-growing compendium of filmmaking advice, articles, pointers and mistakes. Complete with practical references to Greg's own filmmaking successes and failures, the site's worth checkin' out.
    Greg directed the award-winning shorts "Fighting Grandpa," "Mouse," and "Po Mo Knock Knock" and was the cinematographer for the Oscar-winning documentary "The Personals: Improvisations on Romance in the Golden Years."

Filmmaker Kit Hui, an observer during this cycle's AAFC workshop sessions, is holding a fundraiser for her short film "Tofu" from 6 to 9 p.m., Monday, September 27 in New York City.
    The location is Finally Fred's, 765 Washington Street (two blocks west of Hudson at 12th Street). $15 per person.
    Here's Kit's personal plug:
    "Come and have fun, and network!! A fundraiser will be held for TOFU, a short film by Kit Hui. Recently TOFU received an Oppenheimer Camera Grant for $5,000. We're trying to raise another $10,000 in order to put the film in the can and on the screen. There'll be live music, screenings of Kit's films, noshes & cash bar -- all in all, FUN!"

We wrapped shooting on my Columbia thesis film, "98.6," on August 27th. It is a 15 minute, 16mm narrative film about a magnet school in New York City that was workshopped with the AAFC in the summer. Briefly, it's about cheating, rumors, friendships, and finally, the awakening of yet another cynical kid in this world.
    I suppose the highlight of the shoot (other than a production truck mishap) was the outstanding performances of the leads--Andrew Sung, Kathy Lee, and Sindy Ho. Good luck to all three in college this year.
    I am greatly indebted to two fellow Workshoppers who made many personal sacrifices in helping me produce the film--Mozell and James. Finally, much love to the Workshoppers who came out to help during the four-day shoot -- Rea, Donna, and Mike -- as well as the rest of you who provided me with invaluable feedback, leads, and support. WADers forever.
    -- Thomas Moon

Workshop member Greg Pak has added a Q&A message board to his website for filmmakers or aspiring filmmakers with questions about writing, directing, production, post-production, distribution, etcetera.
    "I'll do my best to answer as quickly and completely as I can," promises Greg.
    Already the board features a helpful, detailed breakdown of barebones video production -- check it out: members.boardhost.com/gregpak.

Manhattanites! Tune in to The MNN Cafe, Channel 34, Monday, September 20 at 8 p.m.
    The program is a live telecast featuring three shorts films by emerging Asian American filmmakers Michael Kang, Veena Cabreros Sud and Xu Lei. Also, live music from Alankar ("Indian influenced/'Free' jazz").
    Mike is a founding member of the Workshop and the director of the festival favorite "A Waiter Tomorrow."
     If you're in the neighborhood, come by to watch the show. Arrive by 7:30, 537 West 59th St. NYC. The admission is free.

It's now absolutely free to register your name & contact information in the Workshop's Crew Database. So all you cinematographers, editors, producers, sound recordists, sound mixers, costume designers, production assistants, animal wranglers and what have you: if you're interested in working on Asian American film projects, fill out the Film Crew Database Registration Form and get hooked up!

Workshop member Greg Pak recently completed "The Penny Marshall Project", a "Blair Witch" spoof produced with the Pollyannas, a New York improv comedy group.
    The premise? Three aging filmmakers disappear into the woods while searching for their independent spirit. The filmmakers: Penny Marshall, Francis Ford Coppola, and Akira Kurosawa (played by the ever-game Bobby Nakanishi).
    Hilarity, of course, ensues.
    And most exciting of all, now you can view Quicktime clips of the film at the Pollyannas website, www.thepollyannas.com. Check it out! Spread the word! (And if you've visited before, come on back -- there's new material and all of the clips have been recompressed and load much faster).

Asian Cinevision presents the 22nd Asian American International Film Festival from July 23 to August 8 in New York City. The festival features 35 films by Asian and Asian American directors and hosts a number of special events and workshops. Not to be missed!

All the details are just a click away at the AAIFF website, or you can call the festival hotline, 212-925-6014.