Speak. Asian Americans

2008-10-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

http://gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/10/Picture_754.jpg

Thanks! Gawker.com!

Now we know (like we didn't before...) that SARAH PALIN is a fuckin' stupid person and should not be running for VICE PRESIDENT of one of the biggest, most powerfulerest (how Sarah would say it) in the WERLD!

Asian parents would not have approved having a daughter like her... (most Asian parents, I mean)

HE DID call us GOOK. just fyi !!!

2008-10-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

Irwin A. Tang's book "Gook: John McCain’s Racism and Why It Matters" attempts to connect the dots between McCain’s racist language, his policy stands, his monetary and political support for U.S. hate groups, and his apparent love of starting and maintaining American wars.

(Unrelated to the book, but related to the subject matter, Vu-Bang Nguyen is hosting a "McCain Hates Gooks Campaign Launch Party" on Friday, October 17, from 9 p.m. at Ez5 Bar on 684 Commercial Street in San Francisco. Event listing here.)

Tang believes that war and race overlap in the racial slur “gook ” that has roots in various U.S. wars dating back to the conquests of the Philippines and Haiti. The racial slur broke through to the mainstream American vocabulary during the Vietnam War, with that war’s famous motto, “The only good gook is a dead gook.”

In addition to McCain’s warmongering, a central focus of the book is John McCain’s endorsement of racist policies and white supremacists.

“John McCain has given so much money to the white supremacist Richard Quinn, that it’s questionable whether Quinn’s hate group journal, the Southern Partisan, could be published without McCain’s support.”

Tang’s book examines McCain’s decade-long relationship with Richard Quinn, who runs a headquarters for white supremacists, “neo-Confederates,” and anti-gay efforts. Quinn has served as a spokesperson, campaign organizer, and consultant for John McCain. Quinn’s white supremacy headquarters has served as a major campaign headquarters and even rally site for McCain from 1999 to 2008. A McCain rally was held there this year.

Tang questions why McCain endorsed and raised large sums of money for hate group lecturer George Wallace, Jr. “There were hundreds of thousands of Republican candidates that John McCain could have endorsed in 2006,” says Tang. “McCain chose to go from city to city making speeches for a man who had just given the keynote speech for the largest hate group conference in the nation.”

“Nobody accidentally uses the racial slur ‘gook’ for 27 years,” says Tang, “And there is a long list of equally disturbing acts and speeches delineated in the book.” McCain, for instance, courted and sought the support of anti-Islamic extremists such as John Hagee and Rod Parsley (whom McCain calls his “spiritual guides”) and continues to send his chief henchman, Sen. Joe Lieberman, to speak to the extremist anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic organization Christians United for Israel.

Organizations such as those run by Hagee and Parsley encourage holy war against Muslims in order to bring about “destiny” and the end-times, namely the Armageddon. They believe that God sent Hitler to execute the Holocaust, call the Catholic Church “the Great Whore,” believe Hurricane Katrina was a punishment for New Orleans’ sins, and that war with Muslims the reason for the creation of America.

Tang goes into detail about McCain’s sending his own money to the terrorist contra guerilla group in Nicaragua. He violated the Neutrality Act by personally financing the murdering, raping band of castrating and mutilating terrorists. McCain even visited the contras where they organized their terrorist attacks, even as five Central. American nations had already signed a peace plan. So fervent was McCain in his support of the terrorists that he physically attacked a Nicaraguan government official, as witnessed by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who says that a McCain presidency sends “chills” down his spine.

McCain also supported American aid to an armed coalition that included the Khmer Rouge, who brought to Cambodia, one of the worst genocides in history.

John McCain promised to start wars in North Korea, Iraq, and Libya if he were elected president. “Where would we be if McCain had become president in 2000?” asks Tang. “Fighting wars in at least five nations – North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and most likely Iran.” Yes, ink in Iran on the list of nations to start wars with. McCain has laughingly sung about bombing people in Iran and spoken casually about killing people in Iran with cigarette addiction. In a speech to religious extremists (at the CUFI convention), he seemed to add Syria, Russia, and other nations to the list of rogue states needing invasion.

For 110 years, the racial slur “gook” has encompassed war and racism. In his new book, Irwin Tang asks if that bloody symbiosis is embodied in John McCain.

Irwin Tang is the author/co-author of five books, including the history, Asian Texans, and the true story When Invisible Children Sing. Tang is best known for a public tangle over race with Shaquille O’Neal. Gook is available at www.irwinbooks.com and Ingram and Baker & Taylor book distributors; ISBN 0967943343. For a free book, please email irwinbooks@gmail.com. For interviews, please email the.it.works.publishing@gmail.com.

AMAZING TRUTH OF QUEEN RAQUELA!!

2008-09-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, is an 85 minute drama which chronicles the story of a naive but street smart Filipina transsexual prostitute named Raquela who decides to travel in order to find her prince charming. Like many Transsexuals (often known as "Ladyboys") in the Philippines, Raquela dreams of marrying a heterosexual man from the West. She spends much of her time on the internet looking for men who can come and rescue her. They promise to come, but time after time Raquela gets stood up at the airport. Her life changes when, by luck, she lands a job as a webcam host on a transsexual porn site. The owner of the website, Michael, a "Ladyboy specialist" who runs his business from New York, promises to help Raquela. Through the internet, Raquela makes many interesting friends. Among them is Valery, the only "out of the closet" transsexual in Iceland, who is looking for someone like herself. Through her friends in the internet world, Raquela eventually gets the opportunity to travel far away on her quest to find the straight man of her dreams.

Released in the US on September 26th.

It won Best Feature at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival !!

For more information and schedule http://www.queenraquela.com/

REVIEW TO COME TOMORROW (and it is a positive one!!)

WHAT IS WHITE PRIVILEGE?!!

2008-09-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

This is Your Nation on White Privilege

Sep 13, 2008

By Tim Wise

Tim Wise's ZSpace Page / ZSpace
http://www.timwise.org

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are
constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this
list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin
and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a
personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents,
because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families
with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible,
pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like
Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with
you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot
shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a
great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years
like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then
returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no
one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a
person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and
probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative
action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller
than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the
same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan , makes
you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on
themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state
Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God"
in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding
fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from
holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s
and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that
reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the
Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires
it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people
immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband
who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to
secede from the Union, and whose motto was " Alaska first," and no one
questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and
your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with
her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being
disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the
work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to
vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child
labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely
question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no
foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow
being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree
with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate
anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired
confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a
"second look."

White privilege is being a ble to fire people who didn't support your
political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a
typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely
knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you
must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose
pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George
W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian
nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological
principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict
in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and
everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if
you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin
Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often
th e result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism
and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates
America .

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a
reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a
"trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word
answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question,
or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything
at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and
experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow
someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent
of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their
homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world
opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change"
thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more
years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me (Soft Skull, 2005, revised 2008),
and of Speaking Treason Fluently, publishing this month, also by Soft Skull.
For review copies or interview requests, please reply to
mailto:publicity@softskull.com

EDUCATION does not mean anything when it comes to presidential campaign!

2008-09-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

From our good friend Risa (filmmaker!)...

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899 - bottom of his class

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to "hire" ?

video of the day!

2008-09-16T13:20:00.000-07:00

GET UP... DONT GET STUPID.

2008-09-15T11:52:00.000-07:00

US Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN tells insecure conservative-right-wing married couples to shut the fuck up, but in an articulate way.

For those crazy right wings here is a reminder of OTHER priorities that people care about (more):

1. Economy
2. Travel Safety
3. Education
4. Universal healthcare

Anyways, here are Ms. Feinstein's fine words-----

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, September 12, 2008
http://feinstein.senate.gov/

Statement of Senator Dianne Feinstein

“Proposition 8 would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. I oppose it as a matter of equality and fairness.

The right to marry is fundamental. It provides social stability, economic equality, and the ability to make decisions for a spouse in a time of crisis.

If Proposition 8 were to pass, not only would it eliminate the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples, but it would also create a complicated legal quagmire for those who have exercised this right under the California Constitution, as adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the State.

The views of Californians on this issue have changed over time, and as a State, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage.

I urge Californians to oppose Proposition 8.”

-Senator Diane Feinstein

Sarah Palin on ABC News with Charles Gibson

2008-09-14T12:41:00.000-07:00

POLITICS 101.

PIVOT: (verb) to change the subject when you have

no idea what the fuck the interviewer is asking.

CASE STUDY #1.

Charles Gibson (aka CHARLIE to Sarah Palin) asks Governor Palin: "What is your foreign diplomacy experience like." Sarah Mooseburger Barbie Palin answers. "I was the Chair of Alaskan Energy blah blah blah." Did Sarah answer the question...? Hellz to the NO!

Mooseburger Barbie's answers were similar to this:

My brother asks me "Why do you think you should run for Governor of California?"

I answer: "Oh, I was the Editor in Chief of my High School newspaper (RAMAPGE), and uh... i was on Student Government).

SHE IS ONE SHYTY MESS!

AMERICA WAKE UP!

meanwhile... let's have a laugh, because Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house!

(Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live!)

MUSIC in DA MOrnIn'!

2008-09-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

FAREAST MOVEMENT

FAREAST MOVEMENT

LOW RIDIN' LIVE!

Cable's top 50... including ASIAN AMERICANS!

2008-09-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

CABLE 360 recently put out (not like PUT OUT), but published a list of top 50 (and second batch) of 50 top CABLE NETWORK TV power players... and we managed to take a look at the list, and found that there were lots of Asian American brothas and sistahs on the list!

Hopefully, they are the representin' us too on the small screen!

And they are (partial list)....see below!

xoxo,
SAA

2. Andrea Wong, President & CEO, Lifetime Networks

Now in her second year atop Lifetime, Wong continues the transformation of the programmer. Under her leadership, Army Wives has become the most successful series in Lifetime Television’s 24-year history, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was Lifetime’s most-watched original movie in 13 years and Lifetime Movie Network posted nine straight months of prime and total day growth. Lifetime’s W18-49 total day ratings have risen 20% since Wong arrived, the network reports. Wong has also revamped myLifetime.com and launched the Lifetime-Glam online network. She made headlines earlier this year when she forged a deal with The Weinstein Company to bring Project Runway to Lifetime, which should attract a whole new demo to the network.

3. Albert Cheng, EVP, Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group
Cheng oversees digital media efforts including online, VOD and mobile strategies/initiatives for Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney/Jetix and SOAPnet as well as the ABC Television Network, and is involved in all digital media-related deals for those networks. He and his digital media team are helping to create new trends in the way people watch content by making shows available on iTunes, streaming full episodes online and launching fast-foward-disabled VOD. This technological leadership extends throughout the Walt Disney Co. and beyond, to the company’s cable affiliates and the rest of the TV industry. This past spring Cheng spoke at NAMIC So. Cal.’s West Coast Creative Summit.

4. Dinni Jain, President & COO, Insight Communications
How do you get to be No. 4 on our list? If you’re Dinni Jain you reinvent your company by implementing what CEO Michael Willner calls "radical changes." As COO of a company that lost 11,000 customers in 2003, Jain adopted strategies from Jim Collins’ book Good to Great. Instead of holding regional managers accountable for the final score, aka cash flow, Jain broke out elements of cash flow success. It was these metrics and others that he pushed. And managers became hands-on: Jain and his senior staff listen in on customer calls regularly. The results of the transformation are impressive. Insight posted record growth across the board in ’07 and was named our MSO of the Year.

5. Henry Ahn EVP, TV Networks Distribution, NBC Universal
Henry Ahn is more than a triple threat. Besides being one of cable’s most engaging people, he’s also one of its brightest minds. Ahn’s passion and people skills alone earn him a spot on our list, but add in his job — he’s instrumental in national sales and distribution of NBCU’s 15 cable properties and the Beijing Olympics — and you see why he’s in our top five. In addition to all this and his board position at Cable Positive, Ahn’s one of cable’s great road warriors. There are few cable events that Henry does not attend, and they’re not nearly as fun and interesting unless he does.

13. Mike Hayashi EVP, Advanced Engineering, Time Warner Cable
One of the creative engineering forces behind Time Warner Cable’s technological advances, including converting set-top boxes to digital, HD, DVRs and VOD, Hayashi has also managed the selection and negotiated the purchase of more than 1.75 million digital set-tops yearly. He has transformed Time Warner Cable’s advanced services suite to include more than 4 million installed digital units across the company’s footprint. A sought-after speaker, Mike also chairs CableLabs’ OpenCable Certification Committee.

Lisa Chang, EVP, Human Resources, The Weather Channel

In the last five years, Chang has surfaced as one of the industry’s leaders in pay equity best practices. As a result, Weather has been identified as a top company in pay equity in the WICT PAR results several years running. Chang now is catalyzing change in other companies in the cable sector. She is actively involved in Leadership & Education for Asian Pacifics and the National Association for Asian American Professionals, and contributes her time to mentoring and speaking engagements to support young minority professionals. In the cable sphere, she sits on the national boards of directors for both WICT and CTHRA.

Lisa Choi Owens, SVP, Online Distribution & Partnerships, Scripps Networks
A new kid on the Scripps digital team, Owens is already developing a reputation as a heavy hitter. She successfully finalized partnerships with AOL, YouTube and Adobe Media Player for Scripps. She also leads the team developing a strategic framework to extend the company’s growth in non-linear platforms. On top of all that, Owens manages major policies, operating procedures and financial goals. In her spare time (how does she find it?), she is heavily involved with WICT and NAMIC.

Jennifer Chun, SVP, Business and Legal Affairs, Fox Cable Networks
Talk about well-rounded. Economic trends, politics and even popular culture factor into Chun’s astute leadership of the business and legal team that supports the affiliate sales and marketing department for FCN’s 10 national and 16 regional sports nets. This year her visionary approach helped shape the playbook that sealed the multifaceted deal with Comcast for The Big Ten Network, a deal that includes television, broadband and VOD carriage. Chun also advises on other strategic corporate transactions for FCN sister companies.

Susan Jin Davis, VP, Corporate Development, Comcast Corp.
A leader in Comcast’s diversity initiatives, Jin Davis serves as the liaison between the MSO and national Asian and Asian-American organizations. She also oversees government and regulatory affairs related to voice and online issues for Comcast, and provides counsel to the company’s online and voice services senior management.

Mark Kang, VP, Affiliate Relations, The Sportsman Channel
Before joining The Sportsman Channel, Mark Kang wasn’t what you would call an avid sportsman. Kang’s habitat is Manhattan, which wasn’t even a hotbed of hunting and fishing in 1626, when the Manhattoe Indians sold it for $24. Still Kang’s hard-driving spirit and cable tutelage under Bob Rose were enough to convince TSC to let Mark create a New York office. It’s been a good move. A slew of carriage agreements have followed, due to TSC’s slate and Kang’s relationship building. Kang seems ubiquitous on the cable circuit, touting TSC at NAMIC, Cable Positive, the Cable Hall of Fame and a slew of regional events.

PING PONG PLAYA!

2008-09-12T13:44:00.000-07:00

I know there is a big ass hurricanne in TEXAS that is ripping through... We hope everyone in HOUSTON is doing a-okay. We <3>

From the Playas... of PING PONG PLAYA

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped spread the word and came out to see the film last week! We are still playing in theaters now and we also open in Seattle and Houston!

Don't forget to share your pictures with us and leave a message on the wall where you saw the film to WIN an autographed poster or a PPP ping pong paddle/balls set.

Keep spreading the word so we can show Hollywood that audiences DO want see films like PPP and Asian American faces onscreen ARE marketable!

---------------------SCREENINGS-------------------

Opened in theaters: SEPTEMBER 5th & still playing!
Where: NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES and
BAY AREA
-----------------------------------
NEW YORK CITY
AMC Village 7, New York, NY
Regal E Walk (42nd street) , New York, NY

LOS ANGELES
Chinese Theater, Hollywood, CA
Glendale Exchange, Glendale, CA
Alhambra Palace, Alhambra, CA

IRVINE
University Town Center, Irvine, CA
***Formerly at the West Park theaters***

BAY AREA
Metreon AMC, San Francisco, CA
Shattuck Landmark, Berkeley, CA
Camera 12, San Jose, CA

and then...

Opens in theaters: SEPTEMBER 12
Where: SEATTLE and HOUSTON
------------------------------
SEATTLE
Lincoln Square, Bellevue, WA
Meridian Regal, Seattle, WA
Alderwood AMC, Lynwood, WA

HOUSTON
Marq E Houston, TX
First Colony, Houston, TX

****** WANT FREE PING PONG PLAYA STUFF?******

e-mail us your photo at the movie theater, watching PING PONG PLAYA to...

speak.asianamericans@gmail.com

open letter to President Bush

2008-09-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Dear President George W. Bush-

Where is Osama Bin Laden?

Seven years later, what have you done to try to capture him...?

and why are we in Iraq?

-SAA

NOT ALL ASIANS ARE ALIKE! - LA TIMES

2008-09-10T05:50:00.000-07:00

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES, OPINION PIECE (9/9/08)

No, they DON'T all look alike.

If you're one of those minorities whose ancestors hailed from the eastern hemisphere, figuring out what box to check in the "race/ethnicity" section of any form is a stressful experience requiring a quick soul-searching session. Now, though, the University of California hopes to ease that existential burden for UC applicants, raising the number of Asian/Pacific Islander categories from eight to 23. From

The Daily Californian

...the University of California will increase threefold the number of subgroups under the Asian and Pacific Islander categories on its admission application, officials announced Friday. [...]
Asian American categories will include Chinese, Taiwanese, Asian Indian, Japanese, Pakistani, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, Hmong, Thai, Cambodian, Laotian, Bangladeshi, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Malaysian and “other Asian.”

The Pacific Islander category, previously under one heading, will now include Native Hawaiian, Guamanian/Chamorro, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and “other Pacific Islander.”

And no, this is not about being PC. Or at least, not just about that. In between the Asian supernerd stereotype and the fact that Asians now outnumber whites across the UC system, many Asian minorities fall through the cracks.

It's kind of the reverse of the way whites assimilated: Asians are now being officially subcategorized in finer detail, while whites have blended from very distinctive communities — German, Italian, Polish and others — into this monochromatic mash. Part of that has to do with intermarriage: Many people know where their parents and grandparents came from, it's just that none of them came from the same place. That's generally still not the case for Asian Americans.

Not that this ethnic differentiation is a new phenomenon. Go to any number of California colleges and you'll see the unsanctioned version: Pakistani students sit at one club table and the Pilipino students man their own. (Some Korean-Christian groups, however, do have a tendency to proselytize to unsuspecting freshmen.) Self-contained social networks spring out of those isolated groups, and it's debatable whether that's a good thing -- even if the alternative is the monstrously huge Asian American Association.

Oddly enough, Asian Americans aren't the only ones experiencing diversity/fragmentation issues. A recent Pew poll found that 37% of African Americans surveyed no longer saw blacks as a unified race. The question is, how exactly would they break blacks down by ethnicity? Is it region, or dialect, or country of origin?

Mooseburger Barbie

2008-09-09T09:39:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin- Republican's Vice Presidential Candidate

tells Community Organizers to SUCK IT.

And the legit journalists are not having any of that!

Here is a clip from CBS Coverage. recently uploaded.

ASIAN WEEK is having a FRIENDLY DISCUSSION.

now DISCUSS

la music en la manana!

2008-09-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

Carmensita- featuring Natalie Portman.

The video pays a great homeage to the 50s, 60s Bollywood films, and also, this video is a hot mess....!

Dumb Ass of the Day

2008-09-08T17:50:00.000-07:00

Add this racist to your facebook now, and then...

EDUCATE him: http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=Adam+LaDuca&init=q

Student GOP leader resigns over Obama remark
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM – 2 hours ago

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The leader of a statewide group of college Republicans has been forced to resign after posting racially insensitive comments about Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on the Internet.

Adam LaDuca, 21, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans, wrote on his Facebook page in late July that Obama has "a pair of lips so large he could float half of Cuba to the shores of Miami (and probably would.)"

LaDuca, who previously had called Martin Luther King Jr. a "pariah" and a "fraud," also wrote: "And man, if sayin' someone has large lips is a racial slur, then we're ALL in trouble."
The College Republicans asked LaDuca to resign after his remarks were publicized by the Pennsylvania Progressive, a blog written by a Democratic committeeman from Berks County. The group announced LaDuca's resignation on its Web site Friday.

"The comments were completely uncalled for and very offensive," said Anthony Pugliese, 22, a senior at West Chester University and chairman of the College Republicans, an umbrella group with more than 50 chapters statewide. "The P-A College Republicans do not accept or tolerate racism in any way."

LaDuca said Monday that he regrets posting the comments and understands how they can be construed as racist. "In hindsight, when you read it a second time, it's like, 'oops,'" he said. "It was just a dumb move on my part to make a statement like that public."
He said he is not a racist and that he admires prominent blacks such as economist and author Thomas Sowell and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He compared the comment about Obama to jokes about Republican presidential nominee John McCain's thinning hair or President Bush's large ears.

LaDuca is a senior at Kutztown University. Two years ago, Kutztown's College Republicans chapter was heavily criticized for holding a "bake sale" to protest affirmative action in which whites were charged more for cookies than blacks. LaDuca, then the group's spokesman, made a public apology on the group's behalf.

Jesus may make Asian youth sad :(

2008-09-08T15:42:00.000-07:00

Here is a Debbie Downer report: Participating In Religion May Make Adolescents From Certain Races More Depressed

Here is a quick summary of the report: "Previous research has shown that teens who are active in religious services are depressed less often because it provides these adolescents with social support and a sense of belonging.

But new research has found that this does not hold true for all adolescents, particularly for minorities and some females. The study found that white and African-American adolescents generally had fewer symptoms of depressive at high levels of religious participation. But for some Latino and Asian-American adolescents, attending church more often was actually affecting their mood in a negative way.

Asian-American adolescents who reported high levels of participation in their church had the highest number of depressive symptoms among teens of their race."

This come as NO SURPRISE for me. In college, I explored my religious beliefs, and attended a cult-like Korean/Korean American Church called ********. I have nothing against churches, or any other religious institutions. Whatever works for people! Well, this particular church scared da-Jesus out of me. No pun intended.

This is what went down at ********- People sang along to the words that appeared on a GIANORMOUS projection screen, everyweekend. This would go on for HOURS. People took turns singing the chorus. It was like Moulin Rouge, minus Nicole Kidman and the glitter. I decided that I wanted to have a more personal relationship with Jesus and did not need all the high-tech karaoking service every Sunday. However, this was not quite okay with my fellow church-goers. One by one, each would call me every weekend, inviting me back to the service. They would stop me in the middle of the road, while I was walking to class. They got a hold of my cell phone and dorm room phone numbers and 'outreached to me' every single day. This continued for about 8 weeks, until one day, I got really angry and I told them that they better stop before I call the campus po pos.

And then I got to know more of these Jesus-lovin college students.... one even tried to snuggle with me one night. And it was a boy.

It's okay, I love boys and girls. However, he preached that homosexuality is a sin, and then tried to put his hands on my juicy Asian boy bootie.

Anyways, the moral of the story- SOME, and not all, Asian church goers are scary. They are the untapped conservative pool that the RNC has yet to discover. However, slowly... the Republicans are outreaching to these Jesus lovers, but they are giving them the wrong message.

Again, I digress.

I am happy to have found my spirituality...Hopefully the Asian American youth mentioned in the report will break free from the religious institution and discover their own spirituality.

Xoxo,
SAA

MORNING VIDEO!

2008-09-08T10:31:00.000-07:00

John McCain can SUCK IT.

BARACK OBAMA at the RNC

xoxo,

SAA

DECISION 2008- PRO FPAC or PRO PINOYFEST

2008-09-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

PINOYLIFE.COM just made my nose bleed from laughing so hard...

Check out DECISION 2008 ! 17th FPAC or First Annual PINOYFEST.

I was talking to my papi chulo about these two festivals, and he suggested that a little friendly competition helps to improve the quality of both festivals. However, not when the organizers (PINOYFEST to be specific) are kinda assholey for having their festival at the SAME DATE AND TIME as the 17th FPAC.

My excellente espanol would say: "NO ES FRIO" which means "NOT COOL."

ok. like what Pinoylife.com says...

SEE YOU AT FPAC this weekend! Street parking is available. Pets available

2008-09-05T00:51:00.000-07:00

"YEAH! HOMIE!"

Dear Friends,

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - SEPTEMBER 5 AND SEPTEMBER 12 FOR THE OPENING OF THE FILM PING PONG PLAYA!

PING PONG PLAYA OPENS TODAY!!!

The new comedy from Oscar winner Jessica Yu - PING PONG PLAYA opens September 5th in SAN FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE, BERKELEY, LOS ANGELES, GLENDALE, ALHAMBRA, IRVINE and NEW YORK.

On September 12, the film opens in SEATTLE and HOUSTON! Please spread the word and send email blasts!

It's an exciting time--but here's where we need you. We'll let the movie speak for itself (if the reactions of people who have seen the movie is any indication, we firmly believe you won't be disappointed), but we need your help to spread the word about the release of the movie.

Independent movies don't have the marketing budget to compete against the mammoth studio movies, but what we do have is intense, strong word-of-mouth (just check out any of a number of our reviews--from outlets large and small, from critics, bloggers, and chat room posters alike).

We are encouraging groups of people to buy out blocks of seats on our first opening weekend in each of these cities. Bring your friends, your family and your neighbors. The film is for all ages.

In San Francisco - on Saturday, September 6 - we have some groups of people buying out seats and in Los Angeles there will be groups coming to the Mann Chinese 6 and Alhambra.

We could use more people buying out seats on all of the other cities and every theater. Our website:www.pingpongplaya.com

And if you know of any friends w/ websites or blogs that want to support the film by putting up our banner ads, please download here:

www.pingpongplaya.com/PPP_FlashUnits.zip

Please help us continue to spread the word and come check out the movie opening weekend (Sept 5--LA/SF/NY; Sept 12--Seattle/Houston).

HERE ARE THE LIST OF THEATERS - PLEASE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR TIMES AND TO BUY TICKETS. SOME THEATERS WILL OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR GROUP SALES - PLEASE CHECK WITH THEM.

SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)

REGAL E-WALK (TIMES SQUARE)
247 W. 42ND STREET (AT 8TH AVENUE)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/10036_movietheatershowtimes?date=9/5/2008

AMC LOEWS VILLAGE 7
66 THIRD AVENUE (AT 11TH STREET)
NEW YORK, NY 10003
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?wssac=58&tid=AABQF&wssaffid=11480_LoewsTheatresWebsite

LOS ANGELES

ALHAMBRA/PASADENA/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
EDWARDS ATLANTIC PALACE 10
700 MAIN STREET
ATLANTIC AT MAIN STREET
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/edwardsatlanticpalace10_aaedc/theaterpage?date=9/5/2008

GLENDALE
MANN GLENDALE EXCHANGE 10
128 MARYLAND AVENUE
GLENDALE, CA 91205
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIEFONE.COM
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/mann-glendale-exchange-10/391/showtimes

HOLLYWOOD
MANN CHINESE 6 THEATERS
HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND
6801 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90028
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIETICKETS.COM
http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=806

IRVINE
EDWARDS UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER 6
4245 CAMPUS DRIVE
IRVINE, CA 92612
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?tid=AABHI

SAN FRANCISCO
AMC LOEWS METREON 16
101 4TH STREET AT MISSION
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94013
BUY ADVANCE TCKETS AT FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/amcloewsmetreon16withimax_aanem/theaterpage

BERKELEY
LANDMARK SHATTUCK CINEMAS
2230 SHATTUCK AVENUE
BERKELEY, CA 94704
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT LANDMARKTHEATRES.COM
https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Landmark.aspx?TheatreID=200

SAN JOSE
CAMERA 12 DOWNTOWN
201 SOUTH SECOND STREET
SAN JOSE, CA 95113
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT CAMERACINEMAS.COM
http://www.cameracinemas.com/cgi-bin/movies.cgi?cmd=np&f=c12

Please check the www.pingpongplaya.com website often for updates. There are already two parties taking place with the opening of the film.

Friday, September 5 - Los Angeles with Climax Global - check our website for more details and address - meet the director and stars of PING PONG PLAYA
Bring y our ticket stub!

Saturday, September 6 - San Francisco - Hyphen Magazine and Center for Asian American Media are creating an evening party for all ticket stub holders. Details coming.

Again, make sure you check the wesbsite for current info and breaking news!

Please spread the word and let's sell out the weekend!

xoxo,

SAA

WTF is Asian America. Today.com?!

2008-09-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

Why do people make UNEDUCATED opinions?

http://asianamerica.today.com/2008/09/03/asian-american-film-ping-pong-playa/

DUDE: watch the film before you open your mouth ! I think Jessica Yu got an Oscars, an Emmy... and dude, you got...?

It's no a coincidence that LA TIMES, NEW YORK TIMES gave PING PONG PLAYA awesome reviews!

Asian American. Today.com can go suck it.

xoxo,

SAA

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM DVD comes out 9/9/08!!

2008-09-04T14:34:00.000-07:00

Dear gurls and bois:

Forbidden Kingdom DVD finally comes out next Tuesday (9/9/08)!!

I had the special opportunity to check out an advance copy of Forbidden Kingdom DVD... and I have to say... Get it next Tuesday!

Yes, originally, I was a bit creeped out by the fact that it was written by a Caucasian man who knows martial arts... however, writer John Fusco really did a terrific job blending the old eastern folklores with the western fascination of martial arts.

Let's be real here. Even though the lead Caucasian actor from Will & Grace is super annoying and miscasted, we have to bypass that- FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is JET LI and JACKIE CHAN's first collaboration, and that is pretty darn entertaining.

che che check it out here at FORBIDDEN KINGDOM !

xoxo,

SAA

ps: My favorite featurette is CHINAWOOD. Did you know China built a whole set for studios to film there?! It's like Universal Studio's backlot, but in China...

The special features include:

• Audio commentary with director Rob Minkoff and writer John Fusco

• “The Kung Fu Dream Team” featurette

• “Dangerous Beauty” featurette

• “Discovering China” featurette

• “Filming in Chinawood” featurette

• “Monkey King and The Eight Immortals” featurette

• Blooper reel

• Deleted scenes with audio commentary by Rob Minkoff and John Fusco

ABOUT: FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (DVD)

In modern-day Boston, Jason (Michael Angarano, TV’s “Will & Grace”), a teenage Kung Fu movie enthusiast, purchases a bootleg DVD from his favorite shopkeeper, Old Hop. When a local bully forces Jason to help rob Old Hop, Jason escapes with an old golden staff that magically transports him to ancient China. He is soon rescued from the forces of the Jade Warlord by Lu Yan (Chan), a raggedy wanderer whose wine-guzzling ways conceal his Kung Fu mastery. Yan, along with the Silent Monk (Li), reveals that Jason is the fabled Seeker who must return the staff to the Monkey King (also played by Li), in order to stop the warlord from carrying out his evil plans. Yan and the Silent Monk join forces to teach Jason the ways of the Kung Fu warrior so he can save their world and return to his own.

SUNDANCE is now accepting your films!

2008-07-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

You may think your little short is a crapper, others may think it is a gem!

The 25th Sundance Film Festival will be held January 15-25, 2009 with screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.

Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival are:

August 18, 2008 - EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINE (ALL FILMS)
September 5, 2008 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, SHORT FILMS
September 8, 2008 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, FEATURE FILMS

The application can be completed directly online at the official Sundance Institute website at www.sundance.org/submissions.

Call our sister Irene Cho (Sundance Institute, Manager, Media Relations) for questions!

Phone: (435) 658-3456

NO REGRET opens in LA/NY/OTHERS on July 25th !

2008-06-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

Gosh Jolly... long time no chat!

Hope everyone is well.

We are going to start blogging again after a loooong haitus. There is much exciting news in Asian America going on that it has refueled our passion to blog.

We are going to introduce everyone a great gay 'ROMEO and JULIET' film (as coined by my friend over at CollegeMovieReview.com.)

NO REGRET is a breakthrough Korea film directed by an openly gay filmmaker, starring two Korean heartthrobs.

Set in mondern Korean (unlike the cult-favorite KING AND THE CLOWN), NO REGRET follows a in-closet businessman who falls his employee-call-boy-then unemployeed-lover-cab-driver. However, there is a tiny problem- The businessman is engaged to a lady.

With the recent California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, NO REGRET definitely reminds us of how far the gay community has come, and how far we still have to go. Furthermore, the idea and image of homosexuality continues to be a taboo in the Asian and Asian American community. The dramatic Korean soap-opera like NO REGRET is a close depiction of men on the down-low living in suburbia and living double lives in order to assimilate and imitate the mainstream image of masculinity.

NO REGRET also made its mark in Korean independent cinema’s box office, with crossover audience

Check out the trailer here:

“No Regret” to Open in U.S. Theatres July 25

Breakout Gay Korean Film will Debut in Select U.S. Theaters This Summer

LOS ANGELES – June 16, 2008 – Regent Releasing is pleased to announce the U.S. theatrical debut of “No Regret,” an award-winning romantic drama focusing on class conflict and contemporary gay life in Korea. “No Regret” was recently acquired by here! Films, Regent Releasing’s sister company, and will premiere in Los Angeles and New York on July 25th, with other select cities to follow.

“No Regret”, the first true gay film from Korea, centers on Sumin (Lee Young-Hoon), a poor 18 year-old orphan who seeks his fortune in the bright lights of Seoul. After losing a series of jobs, he is forced to work as a prostitute in a gay karaoke bar. A wealthy and powerful industrialist, Jaemin, (Lee Han) falls passionately in love with the boy and seduces him. Their relationship soon begins to interfere with Jaemin’s pending nuptials and his promotion to a high-profile job at his father’s company. Vengeful after becoming ignored, Sumin sets off on a destructive course of action that brings the film to a powerful and emotional moment of truth. “No Regret” is as uplifting and bittersweet as it is compelling and surprising.

Director Leesong Hee-il has received critical acclaim for his shorts (“Sugar Hill,” “Good Romance”) as well as omnibus work (“Camellia Project - Three Queer Stories at Bogil Island”). His screen achievements have set the bar for gay Korean filmmakers and his devotion to creating true-to-life gay characters has made him a favorite at film festivals from Vancouver to Berlin. “No Regret” has been well received at prominent festivals in the U.S., such as Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco, Outfest in Los Angeles, the Seattle International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Leesong Hee-il has received numerous awards including “Best Independent Director of the Year,” Director’s Cut Awards Korea and the “Best Film Award,” Ansan International Next Film Festival.

For more information, please visit www.noregret-themovie.com.

“No Regret” RT is 114 min, color, 35mm aspect ratio 1.85, Dolby Digital, 5.1 surround, in Korean with English subtitles, MPAA rating pending evaluation.

Harold and Kumar at SXSW!

2008-03-14T11:24:00.001-07:00

Colma the Musical opens in NYC!!!

2007-07-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

COLMA THE MUSICAL!: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=48541081

SPREAD THE WORD - COLMA: THE MUSICAL
opens this weekend in New York - exclusively at the QUAD.
Bring everyone out to this fun and crazy film.

RUN DON'T WALK!!!!

"3 Stars"
Jack Mathews, NY Daily News

“Irresistible!
From the opening tune you know it's going to be fun…and it is.”
-G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chroniclecol

COLMA: THE MUSICAL

A film by RICHARD WONG
Written by H.P. MENDOZA

IN THEATRES JULY 6th
EXCLUSIVE NY ENGAGEMENT at THE QUAD

34 West 13th Street

COLMA: THE MUSICAL takes the music of H.P. Mendoza and weaves it into a fresh personal look into the ups and downs of early adulthood.

Best pals Rodel, Billy, and Maribel find themselves in a state of limbo; fresh out of high school, they are just beginning to explore a new world of part-time mall jobs and crashing college parties. As newfound revelations and romances challenge their relationships with one another and their parents, the trio must assess what to hold onto, and how to best follow their dreams.

COLMA: THE MUSICAL has been awarded the Special Jury Prize
at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and has been winning the hearts of everyone who has seen it!

For more information about the film, please log on to: http://www.colmafilm.com

For showtimes and tickets, please call 777-FILM #636
Or log on to: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=216

COLMA: THE MUSICAL opens in Los Angeles this August.
-A ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS Presentation -

2007-07-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

EVE and the FIRE HORSE screening!

2007-07-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Golden Horse Productions invites you and your guests
to a special screening of

EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE

A film by Julia Kwan

Starring Vivan Wu

Monday – July 9th, 2007

Film begins at 7:30 pm

Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Julia Kwan

Fine Arts Theatre

8556 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211

$2.00 Validated Theatre Parking in lower garage level at:

8484 Wilshire Blvd (Flynt Communications building)

The black tower at the South-East corner of La Cienega and Wilshire.

Bring parking stub to the Fine Arts Theatre concession

RSVP IS A MUST TO:

(213) 624-7827 ext. 2

Jack Song
Please leave your name, let us know how many guests you are bringing, and please note your affiliation. Please RSVP early, as seats are limited. Early arrival is suggested to guarantee seating.

SYNOPSIS

Eve & the Fire Horse

A Film by Julia Kwan

Eve, a precocious nine year-old with an overactive imagination, was born in the Year of the Fire Horse, notorious among Chinese families for producing the most troublesome children. Dinners around Eve's family table are a raucous affair, where old world propriety and new world audacity mix in even measure. But as summer approaches, it seems like Eve's carefree childhood days are behind her.

When her mother chops down their apple tree — a superstitious omen — bad luck worms its way into their family in unexpected, tragic ways. Forced to grow up too fast, Eve learns to take pleasure in life's small gifts — like a goldfish she believes to be the reincarnated spirit of her beloved grandmother.

Meanwhile, Eve's older sister Karena is going through changes of her own, exploring a newfound fascination with Christianity. Soon, crucifixes pop up next to the Buddha in the family's house, and Eve must contend with a Sunday school class where her wild imagination is distinctly out of place.

Caught between her sister's quest for premature sainthood and her own sense of right and wrong, Eve faces the challenges of childhood with fanciful humor and wide-eyed wonder. Along the way, she proves that sometimes the most troublesome children are the ones that touch our hearts most deeply

A lyrical, lighthearted look at a young girl's spiritual experience, EVE & THE FIRE HORSE takes you on a wondrous yet deeply felt journey, where family life is strange, childhood lonely and religion perplexing.

EVE & THE FIRE HORSE is the first feature film from director Julia Kwan and features international film star Vivian Wu, Chan Chit Man Lester, Ping Sung Wong, Hollie Lo and introducing Phoebe Jojo Kut as "Eve." The film was also written by Julia Kwan and produced by Shan Tam, Erik Paulsson and Yves J. Ma.

CHECK OUT THE GREAT REVIEWS !

ROGER EBERT

"LUMINOUS! Intelligent, delicate and touching. One of the most beloved films at Sundance this year . . . "

VARIETY

"EXCEPTIONAL! A slice of delicately captured childhood."

CBC

"Absolutely enthralling! An inspired generational document"

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

"Touching, funny and thoroughly enchanting! One of the most enchanting and memorable films made in this country."

CINEMATICAL

"A delightfully imaginative tale! Eve and the Firehorse is everything good filmmaking ought to be - rich, inventive storytelling, just the right touches of humor and levity, and heart-rending acting."

SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY

"A rare gem!"

SEATTLE TIMES
"The details of the girls' world are wonderfully captured; this film is a poignant charmer."

COLMA THE MUSICAL opens in SF 6.22!

2007-06-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

COLMA THE MUSICAL
OPENS THIS WEEKEND 6.22!

at Embarcadero 1 Center!

BOBBY LEE is KICKIN' iT OLD SCHOOL

2007-03-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL tops the charts!!!!

2007-03-26T10:56:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,

Help keep the momentum going - tell everyone you know to see JOURNEY FROM THE FALL!

Buy your tickets early.

For press - if you can run another story in your outlets this week, that would be great. We will open Dallas and Houston this Friday - March 30!

Let's keep pushing! This is very important!

-SPEAK ASIAN AMERICANS

UPDATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

ImaginAsian Pictures’ JOURNEY FROM THE FALL tops the charts!

#1 per-screen average in the country at $21,861 per screen

NEW YORK, March 26, 2007- ImaginAsian Pictures’ first theatrical release, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL made a spectacular bow in the opening weekend of its rolling theatrical release, earning the highest per-screen average of any film, specialty or mainstream, in the country with $21,861 per screen. Playing in four theaters, the film grossed $87,442 for the weekend.

"This is a defining moment for Asian American cinema and is a testament to the talent, determination and vision of the filmmakers and producers involved. All those who champion independent productions should draw inspiration from this!" said Michael Hong, CEO of ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc.

Currently playing sold-out screenings in New York City, Westminster, and San Jose, and expanding nationwide beginning March 30, 2007, Journey from the Fall is directed by Ham Tran and is inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon, and the struggles of those who stayed behind and suffered the brutalities of the re-education camps. The critically acclaimed film was an official selection of both the Sundance and the Pusan Film Festivals, and has won more than 10 awards at 20 festivals around the world.

The film stars Kieu Chinh, Long Nguyen, Diem Lien, Nguyen Thai Nguyen, and Jayvee Mai The Hiep.

Journey from the Fall (www.JourneyFromTheFall.com) is an ImaginAsian Pictures release, a division of ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc.

About ImaginAsian Pictures
ImaginAsian Pictures (www.iapictures.tv ) is ImaginAsian Entertainment’s feature film distribution division dedicated to cutting-edge and critically acclaimed Asian films. It aims to establish a slate of diverse releases, bringing the best of Asian cinema to American screens.

About ImaginAsian Entertainment
ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc. (www.iaei.tv) is a multimedia company that promotes Asian Pacific American culture to mainstream America. Headquartered in New York City, ImaginAsian Entertainment uses a fully integrated marketing strategy through multiple platforms: ImaginAsian TV (America’s First 24/7 Asian American Network), The ImaginAsian Theater (New York’s Premier Asian American Theater), ImaginAsian Pictures (distribution of cutting-edge and critically acclaimed Asian films), ImaginAsian Home Entertainment (video/DVD unit dedicated to quality Asian home entertainment), ImaginAsian Radio (the sound of Asian America), and iaLink (ImaginAsian’s community-based e-zine).

###

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL opens TODAY!

2007-03-23T11:58:00.000-07:00

Please support director HAM TRAN's superb feature film debut: JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, opening TODAY!

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, an official 2006 Sundance Film Festival selection, is an award-winning film that finally reveals the untold story of what happened to millions of Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon.

Determined not to let one of the most pivotal events in modern history be forgotten, director Ham Tran has crafted a searing epic that traces the route of the boat people, from Vietnam to America, and the fate of those left behind.

Starring Kieu Chinh and Long Nguyen, and winner of 12 international film awards, including the official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL has been hailed by critics as "striking in its timeliness, unforgettable in its impact."

Check out LA TIMES rave on JOURNEY FROM THE FALL!

Finally, a film about our community, made from our perspective...

For more info, please see: www.journeyfromthefall.com.

***Exclusively at the Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, 9741 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (800) 326-3284; and the Edwards Westminster 10, 6721 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, (800) 326-3264, #172.***

2006-09-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

Harvest Moon Festival 2006

Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Arcadia County Park in Arcadia
405 S. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006-3509

The Harvest Moon Festival is a day for the entire family to enjoy!
FREE Activities & entertainment for kids
Asian cuisine & food sampling
Contest and prize giveaway – VOLVO S40 CAR GIVEAWAY
American Idol JASMINE TRIAS and top notch Asian musical & cultural performers

Park at Santa Anita Race Track and take the free shuttle bus service to Arcadia County Park.

From the 210 Freeway, exit Baldwin Avenue, Huntington Drive or Santa Anita Avenue heading South and follow the signs to parking at Santa Anita Racetrack.
　
To access a printable map of bus routes available in the City of Arcadia, please click here.
Can’t view the link? Please click here to download Adobe Reader to read the map.

For more information, contact: Joyce Shimazu at (310)442-2353 or email jshimazu@la18.tv
　
Special Performances by
　

American Idol's JASMINE TRIAS !!!!

FAR*EAST MOVEMENT, featured in the summer movie hit The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

JET LI'S FEARLESS OPENS at #2!!

2006-09-25T15:07:00.000-07:00

JET LI AND RONNY YU TEAM UP TO BRING "JET LI'S FEARLESS" - HIS FINAL MARTIAL ARTS FILM OPENING HUGE NATIONWIDE!

#2 at the BOXOFFICE !!

Yes, it's Jet Li's final martial arts film and this time he goes out with a bang. Amazing fight scenes, great acting and a compelling story based on the life of of Wushu martial arts founder HUO YUANJIA makes JET LI's FEARLESS one of his best films. Fans of Jet and of Wushu will not be disappointed. This is a must see for all fans and friends.

Big props to Rogue Pictures for bringing this to the US. And some of you have seen it on the bootleg dvd from Chinatown - but trust that seeing this on the big screen will make this brilliant film come to life.

JET LI'S FEARLESS delivers on all counts with action, heart and Asian pride! Don't miss it. Opening in over 1800 screens across the land - you can be sure to catch it and it's rated PG 13 - so you can bring your neighbors, too. We love Jet Li!

Also did you know that director RONNY YU was originally attached to direct SNAKES ON A PLANE? Lucky for him, it did not pan out.

~from APA FirstWeekend

APA FIRST Weekend ... SPECIAL BULLETIN!

2006-09-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

SPECIAL BULLETIN! DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND!

AWARD WINNING "THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS"
FROM PHILIPPINE DIRECTOR AUREAUS SOLITO
MAKES ITS US PREMIERE IN NEW YORK AT CINEMA VILLAGE
AMAZING FILM IS THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS
FOR BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

This amazing little film from the Philippines has warmed the hearts of
audiences and judges at every festival it has played and has walked away with
numerous awards.

THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS from director AUREAUS SOLITO will make its
US theatrical premiere this weekend in NEW YORK at the CINEMA VILLAGE.

The film and director embody the new asthetic for Philippine cinema
encompassing great performances with great stories about real people. Moving away from normally cliched melodrama, THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS tells the story of gay12 year old Maximo who lives with his father and two brothers in one of Manila's slums and falls in love with a local handsome policeman. Who will
young Maximo choose - love or his family? The film is tender and handles the
subject of pre-teen gay identity brilliantly without making it an issue. If
anything, the film is truly about family.

Big congratulations to filmmaker Solito for making a very moving and honest
film. And props to Unico Pictures and Unitel Films for distributing the film.
Check out Rotten Tomatoes - it's at 100%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pagdadalaga_ni_maximo_oliveros/

OPENING -
SEPTEMBER 22
NEW YORK - CINEMA VILLAGE
22 East 12 th Street
New York, New York 10003

SEPTEMBER 29 -
LOS ANGELES
REGENT SHOWCASE
LABREA just south of MELROSE
Los Angeles, CA

2006-09-22T01:57:00.000-07:00

JET LI'S FEARLESS OPENS NATIONWIDE TODAY!!! 9/22!!

JET LI'S POETIC TRIBUTE TO THE ART OF WUSHU, or also known as MARTIAL ARTS.

EXCLUSIVE- FROM SPEAKAsianAmericans!

2006-09-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

EXCLUSIVE from MELVIN MARTINEZ of SpeakAsianAmericans.blogpost.com !!! Pictures above: Tim (who worked with Jet Li on CRADLE 2 the Grave) and Tony (catch him in JET LI'S FEARLESS) demonstrates how a sword fight scene is done.

The Slanted Screen Premiere!

2006-09-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

THE SLANTED SCREEN

a Los Angeles Premiere!

WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2006
7:30pm Premiere of The Slanted Screen
8:45 pm Networking Panel: “Influencing the Image-Makers”

WHERE: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

RSVP by September 30th to speak.pr@gmail.com

ABOUT:
Directed by political-entertainment crossover JEFF ADACHI, the elected Public Defender of San Francisco County, THE SLANTED SCREEN (www.slantedscreen.com) pokes fun at Hollywood’s one-dimensional portrayal of Asian men by focusing on Asian American men in film and television. THE SLANTED SCREEN features in-depth interviews with actors such as Will Yun Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Jason Scott Lee, Bobby Lee, and Mako, who has made over 90 feature films and appeared in over 100 television programs over his 40 year career, and many others.

Immediately following the screening, a panel discussion entitled “Influencing the Image-Makers,” entertainment industry executives will discuss strategies to increase diversity in film and television. The panel members will be asked to respond to specific questions and share their ideas on how to increase and improve diversity within the industry.

The program will also include a special tribute to Mako, who passed away last July. EVENT SPONSORS: This event is sponsored by the following organizations:
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Casting Society of America Center for Asian American Media Coalition of Asian-Pacifics in Entertainment Directors Guild of America Producers Guild of America Screen Actors Guild Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation West Asian American Writers Committee Writers Guild of America

PARKING
Free parking is available at 8920 or 9025 Wilshire Blvd.
Dress: Business or cocktail attire

APIA Voters... the new political sleepin' giant.

2006-09-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

Asian voters' dormant power

Language, cultures hinder political clout

By Patricia Jiayi Ho Staff Writer
Pasadena Star-News

A UCLA report released Thursday describes Asian Americans as the new "sleeping giant" in California politics, pointing to the ethnic group's increased population and citizenship rate in the past five years.

However, when compared with white and African-American populations, Asian Americans are still less likely to register to vote, the study said.

"We've gone through that first hurdle - getting a sizeable population that is eligible to vote," said Paul Ong, who compiled the data and is a professor with UCLA's School of Public Affairs. "The real challenge is now translating that number into registered voters who go and vote."

Asian Americans made up 12 percent of the state's eligible voters in 2005, up from 10 percent in 2000, the study found.

That represents an increase from 2 million to 2.5 million Asian Americans who are both citizens and 18 years old or older, according to the report, which looked at data from U.S. Census Bureau counts and the recently released 2005 American Community Survey.

Despite the increases, Asian Americans do not have the political clout their numbers would suggest. Only 52 percent of Asians who are eligible to vote have done so, compared with 71 percent of whites, 64percent of blacks, and 54percent of Latinos.

Part of the barrier to engaging Asian Americans in politics is language, said Sharon Owyang, executive director of the Center for Asian American United For Self Empowerment in Pasadena.

"We have a multitude of languages under the `Asian American' rubric," she said.

Besides Chinese and its assorted dialects, there are Southeast Asian languages such as Thai, Lao, Khmer and Vietnamese that present communication challenges.

Another reason for low voter-registration rates may be cultural. Recent immigrants may be more accustomed to an autocratic tradition than a democratic one, said former Monterey Park Mayor Lily Lee Chen.

In Asian countries, "politics was something far away from the real people," Chen said. "The basic idea of serving the people, providing services, representing the voice of the people is different. When you are a ruler, you are powerful, you can do harm."

Chinese Americans - the largest Asian subgroup in the San Gabriel Valley - have not had the kinds of galvanizing political battles that other ethnic groups have experienced, Chen noted.

Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, said the report makes clear that there need to be more services targeted to Asian Americans and elected officials who will represent the needs of the community.

"It's an opportunity to make sure that Asian Americans can increase in influence and in clout," Chu said.

Martin Truitt, a Pasadena political consultant, said one reason Asian Americans may find it harder to form coalitions to exert political influence is the communities are not homogenous.

"There's just such a disparity," Truitt said. "Fifth-generation Japanese and new immigrants from Mainland China - Where's the commonality?"

Asian Americans also practice different religions, have been in the country for varying periods of time, and may remember animosity toward their former neighbors, he said.

"Over time, you may see an Asian coalition \ cultural differences fall away," Truitt said. "But in California the immigration rate is so high, that the dream is deferred."

The report also found that of the general Asian-American population, the proportion that are citizen adults increased from 67 percent to 71 percent from 2000 to 2005.

The growth in the potential Asian American electorate continues a pattern that began in the 1990s. In 1990, of all the adult citizens in the state, Asian American's comprised about

6 percent. If trends continue, that figure will increase to 14 percent by 2010, the report stated.

patricia.ho@sgvn.com
(626) 578-6300, Ext. 4586

2006-09-08T10:58:00.000-07:00

SEEDS OF TOLERANCE CONTEST:

$100,000 GRAND PRIZE

ATTENTION FILMMAKERS!
Current TV, in partnership with the Third Millennium Foundation, is accepting submissions of short form (3-5 minute) non-fiction videos that explore the theme of tolerance, which may include topics such as racism, sexism, homophobia, or issues related to class, disability, age or religion.

PRIZES:
* $100,000 Grand Prize with an additional $15,000 to a relevant charity.
* $10,000 Finalists Prize (2 to be awarded)

The five top winning entries (Grand Prize winner, two finalists and two semi-finalists) will be broadcast on Current TV; all other entries are also eligible for broadcast on the network.

DEADLINE:
Seeds of Tolerance submissions are due October 2, 2006

JUDGES:
Guest judges M. Night Shymalan, Edward Norton, Paul Haggis, Melissa Etheridge and Margaret Cho along with a panel of Current and Third Millennium staff will help select our five semi-finalists. The final vote will be cast by viewers via our website, www.currrent.tv.

FOR CONTEST RULES, GO TO:
http://www.current.tv/tolerance

Bebot!! 15th Annual Festival of Philippin Arts & Culture!

2006-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

This is from SpeakAsianAmerican's big kuya... Winston Emano. We love him, and that's why we are going to go to the 15th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture (FPAC).

Filipino! Filipino! Filipino!

Contact: Winston Emano winstson@filamarts.org
Alison De La Cruz alison@filamarts.org
Tel. (323) 913-4663

WHAT: Southern California's largest community tradition of Filipino
arts and culture, the Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC)
celebrates its 15th Annual with the theme "Diwang Sumisikat" (The Spirit of the
Community Rising).

The two-day event features:
· Live Entertainment on two stages featuring:
Rex Navarette, Florante, Bernardo Bernardo, The Visionaries, Native
Guns, Joey Guila, Charmaine Clamor, a special appearance by Kuh Ledesma, and
very special celebrity guests!
· Films at the 13th Annual PinoyVisions
· 8th Annual FPAC Balagtasan Poetry Slam
· 7th Annual Vegetable Competition
· 6rd Annual FPAC Amateur DJ Battle (w/ Stacks Vinyl)
· Literary Festival and Filipiniana Books
· Arts and crafts, storytelling at the Youth Pavilion
· Ati-atihan parade
· Live Art and Paintings
· Filipino & Asian Cuisine
· Traditional Dance & Martial Arts
· Shopping at the Marketplace by the Sea, and MORE!!!

WHO: The annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture is annually
produced by FilAm ARTS, a non-profit, multi-disciplinary community arts
organization whose mission is to advance the understanding of the arts
and rich cultural heritage of Filipino Americans in the United States
through presentation, education and art services.

WHEN: September 9 and 10, 2006 - Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Point Fermin Park - 807 W. Paseo del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731

CONTACT INFO: www.FilAmARTS.org

COST: Two Day Pass @ $5, Single Day @ $3, Parking is FREE.

SPONSORED BY: National Endowment for the Arts, California Arts Council,
Los Angeles County Arts Commission, City of Los Angeles Dept. of
Cultural Affairs, 13th District Councilman Eric Garcetti, 15th District
Councilwoman Janice Hahn, Entertainment Industry Foundation, Alliance
for CA Traditional Arts, and The Getty Foundation. Corporate Sponsors: AAA
Automobile Club, Bestway Supermarkets, Blue Cross of CA, Mama Sita's,
Normandie Casino, Philippine Expressions Bookshop, Washington Mutual,
Wells Fargo Bank.

Media Sponsors: LA-18, KPFK, and The Filipino Channel.

2006-09-06T16:22:00.000-07:00

The California Democratic Party Presents

Raise your glass, not your hand!

Let’s gather over “homeroom” at Cinespace in Hollywood.
Meet other young professionals in the LA area

as we discuss education and ongoing democratic campaigns.

Date: Friday, September 8, 2006
Time: 6-8pm
Location: CineSpace
6356 Hollywood Blvd
Second Level
Hollywood, CA 90028

*Feel free to bring school supplies to donate for LA public schools.

call 213 239 8730 for more info!

Come meet Phil Angelides & APIA leaders!

2006-08-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

Be there to represent' our awesomely diverse community !!

GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE
Phil Angelides

for an
APIA Leadership Forum

with

Congressman Mike Honda
Candidate for Controller John Chiang
Candidate for Board of Equalization Judy Chu
Assembly member Ted Lieu
LA Community College Trustee Warren Furutani

and other APIA Leaders

Saturday, September 2nd
10:00-11:30am
Empress Pavilion
988 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA

REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

Please RSVP with Mónica Henestroza at
916-448-1998 or rsvp@angelides.com

APL.De.AP honored on Oct 14 2006!

2006-08-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

APL.DE.AP!!

SAT, OCT 14 - The Filipino American Library will honor Black Eyed Peas' APL.DE.AP at the 6th Annual Spirit Awards and Dinner Benefit GALA

LOS ANGELES - Allen Pineda Lindo ("apl.de.ap") of the Grammy award-winning hip hop group Black Eyed Peas will receive the Role Model Award at the Filipino American Library's 6th Annual Spirit Awards and Dinner Benefit GALA on Saturday, October 14 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel (506 S. Grand Ave.) in downtown Los Angeles. This year's GALA will commemorate the centennial of Filipino migration to the United States.

Cocktails will begin at 6:00 pm followed by the dinner and program at 7:00 pm. Guests will be treated to an elegant night of entertainment featuring a ballroom dance competition with celebrity judges. More than 400 people are expected to attend this largest fundraising event of the year for the Filipino American Library (FAL). Numerous sponsorship and advertisement opportunities are still available. Pre-sale dinner tickets are $125 each and $150 at the door.

The Role Model Award will be given to Mr. Lindo for the outstanding example he sets for the community. This year's awardees also include John Chiang, Chair State Board of Equalization (Public Service Award), ABS-CBN Global, LTD. (Community-Building Journalism Award), Filipino American Service Group, Inc. ("FASGI") for community service, and Washington Mutual (Corporate Philanthropy Award). The Spirit Awards and Dinner Benefit GALA honors the outstanding achievements of Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

Come meet John Chiang! Candidate for State Controller!

2006-08-29T14:33:00.000-07:00

THE HONORABLE JOHN CHIANG

Chair, State Board of Equalization

Invites you to a

FREE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY SMALL BUSINESS FAIR

Keynote Speaker

Ron Kilgore

KNX 1070 NewsRadio Busines Reporter

Friday, September 8, 2006

8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Hilton Los Angeles/San Gabriel

225 West Valley Boulevard

San Gabriel, CA 91776

For information and RSVP's call: 213-593-1311

Or visit our website at: http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/tpsched.htm

Tofu Festival: 8/12-8/13

2006-08-07T11:06:00.000-07:00

TOFU FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND!

(thanks to Stacy Toda for the info!)

FREE PUBLIC PARKING!!!!!!
available for LA Tofu Festival Goers
Under Groud at City Hall - 201 N Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles
Enter Southbound on Los Angeles Street between 1st and 2nd Street

For you "Initial D" Anime Fans out there,
come see a replica of the Toyota Corolla AE86
from Season 3 at the LA Tofu Festival!

********************************************************

"It's Hip to Be Square!"
11th Annual 2006 LA Tofu Festival

Saturday, August 12th 2 pm -10 pm
Sunday, August 13th 12 pm - 6 pm

237 S San Pedro St (at 2nd and S San Pedro)
Little Tokyo, Downtown LA

NEW CELEBRITY CHEF COOKING DEMO STAGE
Featuring
Tommy Tang, PBS Chef and Cookbook Author
IRON CHEF MORIMOTO of "Iron Chef America"
Troy N. Thompson of "Iron Chef America"
Scott Liebfried of "Hell's Kitchen"
Reggie Sutherland, finalist on "Next Food Network Star"
Candice Kumai of "Top Chef"
Ann Gentry, Real Food Daily
and more!

Live Entertainment including
SickStep, all male hip hop and bboy dance crew, recently appeared on FOX's
"So You Think You Can Dance"
TAIKOPROJECT, first American Group to compete and win top honors at the
Tokyo
International Taiko Contest
and much more!

SATURDAY NIGHT CONCERT PERFORMANCE BY
BLACKALICIOUS
with Ill Again & The Gaslamp Killer (DJ)

"JACK" from the Jamie, Jack & Stench Morning Show on STAR 98.7
will MC the LEE KUM KEE TOFU EATING CONTEST on Sunday
Compete for a chance to WIN A 13-DAY TRIP to Hong Kong, Vietnam & Thailand
with the
New Asian Cuisine Chefs Tour!

For Anime Fans, first time in the U.S.
INITIAL D ANIME MARATHON IN ENGLISH

The Tofu Festival is Wireless!
Little Tokyo Wi-fi Scavenger Hunt
Come join us and play in the first wireless scavenger hunt at the Los
Angeles
Tofu Festival!

TOYOTA YARIS ROADSHOW (Saturday Only)
Featuring the Toyota Yaris and
Scarf Making Workshops
T-Shirt Making Workshops
Food Dehydration Workshops

PreSale Package Available Online, Deadline to Purchase is Wednesday, August
9th at 5pm.
$42 Value for $30

General Admission $8
Seniors (60+) $5
Children (5-12) $5
Children (Under 5) Free

DISCOUNT COUPON ONLINE

For complete event info, visit www.tofufestival.com

Hope to see you there!

All proceeds benefit the Little Tokyo Service Center
"Helping People, Building Community" for over 26 years
www.LTSC.org

Upcoming L-A APA Events!

2006-07-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

TOFU FESTIVAL
Los Angeles
Saturday, August 12th 2 pm -10 pmSunday, August 13th 12 pm - 6 pm

Chinese American Museum Banquet (can we get a signed poster/something event)
Sunday, September 10, 20065:30pm Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction7:00pm Dinner

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Mid-Autumn Moon FestivalSaturday, September 17 2006Los Angeles Chinatown

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Screening:

LEGEND OF THE DRUNKEN MASTER August 3 at Jade Pavilion 686 N. Spring Street
THE BIG BRAWL August 10 at Mandarin Plaza 970 N. Broadway

ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA August 17 at Far East Plaza 727 N. Broadway - 2nd Floor

IRON MONKEY August 24 at Central Plaza 951 N. Broadway

Asian Professional Exchange (APEX) GALA
Saturday, September 9th, 2006
Omni Hotel

2006-07-06T15:34:00.000-07:00

JET LI'S ( 李連杰) FEARLESS

Will Open in the US on September 22

Already a boxoffice hit in Asia, JET LI'S FEARLESS, directed by Ronny Yu (helmer of the Hong Kong classic "The Bride with White Hair") is Jet Li's final martial arts masterpiece, capping a tremendous body of work in that genre. JET LI'S FEARLESS reunites the actor with producer Bill Kong ("Hero") and action choreographer Yuen Wo Ping ("Unleashed") as he portrays real-life martial arts legend Huo Yuanjia, who became the most famous fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. The film will open nationwide on September 22 in theaters.

Huo faced incredible personal tragedy, but ultimately fought his way out of darkness and into history, forever defining the true spirit of martial arts. His self-discovery, and the choices he made, inspired his nation. The son of a great fighter who did not wish for his child to follow in his footsteps, the bullied Huo Yuanjia resolves to teach himself how to fight - and win. Years of training enable him to ace match after match in his home region of Tianjin. But as his fame as a martial arts master grows, so does his pride. After an ill-advised fight leads to another master's death, members of Huo's family are slain in revenge.

Grieving and ashamed, Huo wanders the country in shock. Near death, he is rescued by women from an idyllic village, and is offered simple kindness and generosity that helps him heal and regain his equilibrium over a period of several years. Huo realizes that the future of martial arts lies in sportsmanship and not brutality, and he rejoins society to apply what he has learned.

Returning to Tianjin, Huo takes steps to come to terms with his past and restore his family's name. His evolving, graceful Mizong (Missing) Fist method of fighting brings Huo renewed success, and he forms the progressive Jingwu Sports Federation. Taking note, duplicitous members of the Foreign Chamber of Commerce engineer a Shanghai tournament pitting Huo against four fighters, each representing the major foreign powers in China. Huo commits to the bout and faces off against, respectively, a British boxer, a Spanish swordsman, a Belgian soldier, and a Japanese martial artist. What happened that day in 1910 has never been, and will never be, forgotten in China.

"I believe JET LI'S FEARLESS is my most personal and important martial arts movie. This film captures the martial arts beliefs and philosophies I have learned and experienced over the past 30 years." - Jet Li

JET LI'S FEARLESS comes to theaters in the US on Friday, September 22, 2006 directed by Ronny Yu and written by Chris Chow and Christine To. The cast includes Jet Lil, Nakamura Shindou, Sun Li and Dong Yong. The film will be released by Rogue Pictures and has an MPAA Rating: PG-13. Mark your calendars!

Juice !! Tokyo Drift

2006-07-05T16:07:00.000-07:00

E-mail us at speak.pr@gmail.com to get an exclusive soundtrack of THE FAST and THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT soundtrack!

THE WORLD IS A STAGE!

2006-06-27T13:24:00.000-07:00

http://xd2.xanga.com/f71a547b3723262679508/b42022479.jpg

(Click on the link above to enlarge pic)

LA FILM FEST!

2006-06-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

The 2006 Los Angeles Film Festival (June 22- July 2) is proud to present this year’s line up, which features a diverse selection of Asian and Asian American films. From special screenings to US/World premieres, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

ALL TOMORROW'S PARTIES
Mingri Tianya
Special Screening
Director Yu Lik-wai
China/France/96 min.

In the near future of a China ruled by a bizarre cult, two brothers face an uncertain fate in this beautiful and slyly elliptical examination of fears in the new China.

Sat. July 1, 7:00pm, UCLA James Bridges Theater

THE ARCH
Dong Furen
Special Screening
Director Shu Shuen
Hong Kong/99 min.

This stylized period melodrama stars Lisa Lu as a widow who suppresses her requited desire for a virile young man, in favor of feudal virtue and her daughter.

Sun. June 25, 7:00pm, UCLA James Bridges Theater

BEFORE BORN
Jie Guo
Director Zhang Ming
China/104 min.

The paths of three people cross as they search for the same mysterious man. With echoes of Antonioni's L'Avventura, Before Born employs provocative character doublings, role reversals and disappearances to weave a mesmerizing study of isolation.

Fri. June 23, 2:30pm, Italian Cultural Institute
Sat. June 24, 7:30pm, Italian Cultural Institute

GRAIN IN EAR (SOUTH KOREA/CHINA)
Mang Zhong
Director Zhang Lu
South Korea/China/109 min.

In this quietly beautiful film, single mom Cui Shunji sells illegal kimchi and struggles to adapt as best she can to her difficult circumstances, but nothing could prepare her for what lies ahead.

Fri. June 23, 9:45pm, Italian Cultural Institute
Sat. June 24, 4:45pm, Italian Cultural Institute

IN BETWEEN DAYS
Director So Yong Kim
USA/South Korea/Canada/83 min.

Chronicling the daily life of Aimie, a young Korean immigrant who lives with her mother in the suburbs, this stunningly beautiful film offers a passionate study of cultural adaptation and adolescent longing.

Thu. June 29, 9:30pm, Landmark Regent Theatre
Sat. July 1, 7:00pm, Landmark Regent Theatre

MY MOTHER AND HER GUEST
Sarangbang Sonnimgwa Eomeoni
Special Screening
Director Shin Sang-ok
South Korea/103 min.

This classic of South Korea's Golden Age cinema is a subtle work of longing about a widow torn between propriety and her feelings for an artist renting a room in her rural home.

Sat. June 24, 7:00pm, UCLA James Bridges Theater

PAPER DOLLS
Bubot Niyar
Director Tomer Heymann
Israel/84 min.

This sensitive, complex documentary follows a group of gay Filipino immigrant workers in Israel who spend their days caring for the Jewish sick and elderly, and their nights performing in drag.

Sat. July 1, 11:59pm, The Majestic Crest Theatre
Sun. July 2, 1:00pm, Landmark Regent Theatre

THE SEVEN SAMURAI
Shichinin No Samurai
Director Akira Kurosawa
Japan/207 min.

Japanese master Akira Kurosawa’s boldly elaborate chambara tale of wandering swordsmen who band together to protect a village against marauding bandits remains a touchstone of the genre and a classic of world cinema.

Sun. July 2, 6:00pm, UCLA James Bridges Theater

UNDOING
Director Chris Chan Lee
USA/90 min.

After mysteriously disappearing one year ago, Samuel returns to the mean streets of Los Angeles’ Koreatown, determined to amend for the mistakes of the past. But balancing revenge with reconciliation is a tricky business in this stylish, character-driven neo-noir.

Sat. June 24, 10:15pm, Landmark Regent Theatre
Tue. June 27, 4:30pm, Landmark Regent Theatre
Fri. June 30, 7:30pm, Laemmle Sunset 5

THE UNFORGIVEN
Yongseo-batji-motan-ja
Director Yoon Jong-bin
South Korea/122 min.

This poignant, compelling drama examines the strained relationship between a sensitive young man just beginning his mandatory Korean military service and a childhood friend who serves as his senior officer.

Mon. June 26, 9:45pm, Laemmle Sunset 5
Tue. June 27, 7:00pm, Mann Festival Theatre

VOICE
Yeo-go-gwae-dam Sa Mok-so-ri
Director Equan Choi
South Korea/104 min.

Equan Choi's atmospheric thriller layers tension with philosophy. In the hallways of their all-girls school, Sun-min still hears Young-eon's ghost begging for attention, forcing them to confront the limits of loyalty and remembrance.

Sat. July 1, 11:59pm, The Majestic Crest Theatre
Sun. July 2, 1:00pm, Landmark Regent Theatre

TICKETS AND PASSES ARE NOW ON SALE!
To purchase passes or tickets and for more information about the films, call
1-866-FilmFest or visit www.lafilmfest.com

SAVE THE DATE! TOFU FESTIVAL!

2006-06-19T15:47:00.000-07:00

DRIFT ON!

2006-06-19T09:55:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT, and THOSE WHO CAME TO THE SPECIAL Screening!

check out MY TOKYO DRIFT for latest FAST N FURIOUS info!

from our friend at APA FIRST WEEKEND

2006-06-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS opens TOMORROW!

Friday, June 16, 2006!

Shows some APIA love:

Director Justin Lin
Director Evan Leong, Round Round (music video)
Far-East Movement [FM]
Sung Kang
Bryan Tee (UC Berkeley grad! WoOt! WoOt!)
Visual Communications!

Buy a ticket on opening weekend for TOKYO DRIFT (remember, you always have the choice of attending another movie, but the key is BUYING a ticket for TOKYO DRIFT!)

2006-06-02T14:21:00.000-07:00

LIKE A VIRGIN!
SPINNING FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!

Making his virgin debut... PKDJ will be spinning at GAMeBoi SF!

This guy spins awesome mixes, today's top hits. Congratulations PKDJ!

Catch PKDJ tonight at GAMeBoi SF, at http://www.lunaloungesf.org/

THE FAST N THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT PREMIERE!

2006-06-02T12:39:00.000-07:00

sSHhhhHShhhh...a premiere is coming...

get a peak at the FAST and the FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT !

WHEN:
SUNDAY JUNE 4 2006

WHERE:

Universal Studios Backlot.

Universal City, CA

WHAT TIME:

4pm

WHO:

Cast of TFTF: TOKYO DRIFT

John Cho of Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, Better Luck Tomorrow, American Dreamz, American Pie. Left of Zed

Kel Penn of Superman, Harold & Kumar go to White Castle.

Maggie Q of Mission Impossible 3

Daniel Kim of LOST

FM= Fareast Movement: the HOT HOT hip hop group.

...and much more!!

YOU HEAR IT FIRXT ! ! ! episode #324

2006-05-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Be on the look out for

Justin Lin's THE FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, in theaters June 16th, 2006

Jet Lee's FEARLESS, in theaters in July 2006

Dubbed as Korea Cinema's Mission Impossible, Typhoon will open on June 2nd, 2006

go to www.typhoonthemovie.com and visit www.xanga.com/typhoonthemovie. for more information!

Bang-bang: 72 Hr. Shoot Out!

2006-05-25T16:23:00.000-07:00

3RD ANNUAL 72 HOUR FILM SHOOTOUT
June 9-12, 2006 Nationwide

The Shootout is a nationwide competition where filmmaking teams have 72 hours to write, shoot, edit and produce short digital films up to six minutes in length and based on a common theme. The intention of this competition is to create opportunities for Asian Americans to demonstrate their talent, gain exposure in the entertainment industry, and impact the visibility of Asian American stories and characters in film and television. At least one key production member and a principal actor from each team must be of Asian descent.

On June 9th, 2006, at 8:00pm, the 3rd Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout will commence. The competition theme will be announced at the New York City launch party and simultaneously relayed over the internet to out of town competitors. This year, The Shootout anticipates 75 to 100 teams with an average of five people per team (a total of 375 to 500 participants). In addition, over 300 attendees are expected at each of The Shootout events (Launch Party, Wrap Party, After Party, Screening) not including the countless numbers of spirited supporters and enthusiasts.

REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Early bird May 12; Regular June 2; Late June 8.

For more information, visit www.asiancinevision.org or www.aafilmlab.com

_______________________________________________
VCFilmMaker2006 mailing list
VCFilmMaker2006@lists.apanet.org
http://lists.apanet.org/mailman/listinfo/vcfilmmaker2006

SHUT OUT: higher education not public?!

2006-05-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

Hi folks! Hope you can join us for this very important panel discussion. Bento box dinners provided only for those who RSVP by today, May 19 by e-mailing or calling Paul Estuar at pestuar@littlaw.com or (213) 386-3114 ext. 210. Please distribute widely and have a nice weekend! ~Speak.AsianAmericans

Join us on May 24th: SHUT OUT: Is Higher Education Truly Public? Ten Years After Proposition 209

Do you think diversity, equity and equal representation in public education is a good thing? If so, then this is the place to be next Wednesday evening!

2006 marks the 10-year anniversary of the passage of Prop. 209. Join us for an expert panel discussion on the effects of Prop. 209 on higher education - past, present and future efforts. Find out about the latest initiatives to address those effects and efforts to possibly overturn 209. The event will be an opportunity to learn the lessons that 10 years of Prop. 209 has taught us, bring our communities together around initiatives to fight for equity and equal representation in our higher education system and meet some of the top community leaders who are at the forefront of this issue.

WHAT: SHUT OUT: Is Higher Education Truly Public? Ten Years After Proposition 209

SCREENING: “Beyond Black & White: Affirmative Action In America”

PANEL DISCUSSION

§ Kathay Feng, Executive Director of Common Cause
§ Jerry Kang, Professor at UCLA School of Law
§ Evonne Lai, Law Student at UCLA School of Law
§ Eva Paterson, Executive Director of Equal Justice Society
§ Julie Su, Litigation Director at the Asian Pacific American Legal Center
§ Saul Sarabia, UCLA School of Law

WHEN: Wednesday, May 24th; 5:45 - 6:30 pm light dinner and reception; 6:30 - 8:30 pm program

WHERE: David Henry Hwang Theater; 120 Judge John Aiso St. in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles

COST: $10 for APABA members; $15 for non-members; FREE for ALL STUDENTS - Light dinner provided for all attendees who RSVP by Today, Friday, May 19

If you're interested in attending, please RSVP to Paul Estuar at pestuar@littlaw.com or (213) 386-3114 ext. 210 by Today, Friday, May 19.

Presented by The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (APABA at www.apabala.org) in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

REMINDER: REGISTER TO VOTE!!

2006-05-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder to all the Asian Brothas and Sistahs out there:

Remember to register to vote, so you can vote on the primary. Here are the steps for those who are civic-participation confused:

Step 1. Register to vote. You can register to vote with CAUSE. They are the experts in Asian American voter outreach, and you can request different Asian languages. If you do not register, then you cannot vote. Last day to register is May 22nd 2006. DO IT NOW! www.causeusa.org

Step 2. Vote in the Primary: (n) Vote for the candidate within your party (Democratic or Republican, depending on your registration). For California, 06-06-06 is the OMEN... the date to vote for your PARTY candidate.

Who ever wins out the primary will go on to the general election.

Step 3. Vote in the General Election: (n) November. Vote for YOUR most favorable candidate on the ballot. Republican or Democrat (Speak.Asian Americans PREFERS you to vote Democrat, of course.)

Why do we need to vote: As Asian Americans, we are the second largest voting bloc, coming behind the Latinos. It has been disheartening listening to the first generation Asian community (mostly, our parents) to be civically-disengaged. Most are more passionate about motherland politics than what is going on with our State. As 1.5 and second generation Asian Americans, we need to galvanize our community and educate them the importance of voting. Voting is like buying power. We express our opinions and choices through our votes. We help to elect officials to represent us in the decision-making process and obtaining a piece of the pie: Education, Work Compensation, Justice... to name a few. Please REGISTER to VOTE... and VOTE!

Hot Stories:
Asian Votes= Hot Commodity (San Jose Mercury News)
Democrats Courting Asian American Community (Contra Costa Times)

Thank you Asian Brothas and Sistas!

2006-05-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Thank you to AngryAsianMan.com, the GODfather of ALL Asian American blogs.

Speak.AsianAmericans got a quick mention on the May 16th entry.

yea!

we also got a mention in AArising. Yea!

~ S.A-A

YOU HEAR IT FIRST! TOKYO DRIFT!

2006-05-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

YOU HEAR IT FIRST ! THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT

Director Justin Lin presents The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift

Our brotha, Director Justin Lin, puts finishing touches to THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT. *check out the trailer below*

Over the past Sunday (bless all mums, it was Mothers' Day), Speak.AsianAmericans caught a sneak preview at Universal's editing studio at full length, of The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, directed by Better Luck Tomorrow's Justin Lin. Justin shared with me the story behind the making of this movie. While I cannot share too much (yet! ), I gotta say I truly enjoyed the movie! What an eye-candy! The silverscreen image of the post-modern industrial feel to Japan is refreshing. It absolutely rocked for the following reasons:

-RESPECT: The previous FNF installments paid NO repsect to the importing/tuning scene, which is a predominantly Asian/Asian American scene. On the other hand, Tokyo Drift, was down-to-the-details to show what 'drifting' was all about. Asians were not seen as the stereotypical 'evildoers.' They were 3-dimensional, slick, and cool. The always rico-suave Sung Kang's character really helped to move the story along as well.

In addition, one of the biggest character in this film are the cars. the CARS are absolutely HOT.

- ASIAN PRIDE: Justin was very all about 'respectin' his past' in having Jason Tobin, Sung Kang, and Bryan Tee as lead Asian MALE actors. Both Jason's and Sung's names also are the same as Better Luck Tomorrow, respectively Virgil and Han. Alden from East West Players also makes his appearance as part of Han's posse.

- MUSIC: This movie is like a hot 95 min. music video. Pharrell of N.E.R.D loved the film so much that he did a HOT HOT track for Tokyo Drift. I cannot wait for the soundtrack to come out; this is going to be those CDs you'd be pumpin' while driving down (not drift, because it is illegal. ) the 110 Hwy.

- LIN FACTOR: Director Justin Lin is truly an amazing talent. He changed the original script from a tacky, stereotypical-deAsian film (and I do have the original script in front of me, I read 75% of it, and it WAS crap) to an Asian American empowering film. Lin also made a conscious attempt to make a diverse cast that truly represents the global community: the cast included: there are white, black, Peruvian/Australian, Pinoys, Chinese, Korean, Japanese. Moreover, the cinematography is amazing. There is one screen shot where Lucas Black's car drifted and the audience can see reflections of people and building on the windshield. Better Luck Tomorrow fans will have a blast when they see the film: be on the look out for some scenes reminiscent of BLT. Oil drill, anyone? I remember when I sat down with Justin back in UCBerkeley days, he was an up and coming director. He was full of passion and spoke about BLT as not about a film project, but a vehicle to open up the road of opportunities for other Asian American actors and actress. 3 years later, he kept that vision and is still pushing for more APA representation via Tokyo Drift, even thought Justin had to deal with an uphill battle with studio heads.

Please go support Justin Lin's Tokyo Drift, which premiere in L-A on June 4th.

April 11, 2003. Better Luck Tomorrow opens

and 3 years later... Justin Lin has BLOWN UP!

May 13th Canvassing

2006-05-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

May 13th Canvassing

On May 13th 2006, Democratic activists and grassroots organizers gathered and canvassed for the state-wide May 13th Neighbor-to-Neighbor event. There were preccinct-walkings in various Southern California neighborhoods from Los Angeles, San Gabriel Valley, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, and Riverside.

"In seeing us out there, they were getting the picture that [California Democratic Party] is really trying to turn things around," said Susanne Savage, a longtime activist. "It was a good event and one that was very worthwhile in executing."

What was different about this effort was that no preccinct maps or lists were used. Activists simply talked to their neighbors in their immediate communities to discuss what mattered to them: Honest leadership and open government; Real security; Energy independnece, Economic prosperity and educational excellence; a healthcare system that works for everyone; and Retirement security. Democrats are changing the nation by speaking from the heart to the communities.

With the success of this first effort, the California Democratic Party is planning to launch another Neighbor-to-Neighbor event in July.

Below are some pictures taken on May 13th.

Author Mark Twain promotes The Democratic Vision as well.

26th Congressional District candidate Russ Warner and volunteers walked the neighborhood of San Gabriel Valley and San Bernardino County

Volunteers also walked the neighborhood of San Fernando Valley.

...and the San Gabriel Valley as well.

Armand and Nancy of Hollywood says they "were met with some surprised looks" for their effort.

More pictures to come...!

Democratic Party activists in Southern California!!

2006-05-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

Please join the California Democratic Party and your local activists for a special screening of CONVENTIONEERS at the The 2006 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, presented by Honda!!

Help spread the word! RSVP with Jack Song at jack@cadem.org.

** Followed by a Meet & Greet with your Southern California Deputy Political Outreach Directors, local Democratic Party activists, and film director Mora Mi-Ok Stephens! We will be discussing about our upcoming May 13th Neighbor-to-Neighbor Outreach event as well !! **

CONVENTIONEERS

"whose side are you on?"

Saturday, 5/6/2006

2:30 pm

Directors Guild of America, Theater 2

7920 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood

ABOUT THE FILM: Comedy. Massey, a Republican delegate to the Republican National Convention, falls into an unlikely affair with a girl he knew in college-Lea, a Liberal who has returned to the city to protest the Republican agenda. Both are political virgins who have surrounded themselves with like-minded colleagues and have never really confronted the "enemy " in the flesh. Meanwhile, Dylan, a former protester who dropped out of the scene after becoming a father, must also confront his dedication to the cause when he is hired as a sign language interpreter for the President's speech at the convention. When he tells his activist friends about the job, they try to convince him to stage a protest during the President's speech instead. The tension builds as Dylan reaches the convention floor itself, takes his place next to the President, while Massey and Lea try and find each other in the chaos outside. What follows will test their beliefs about politics, love and commitment, and will push buttons on both sides of the divide.

Memorial Service: Mayor Mui

2006-05-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

we will miss you:

Services for Mayor Mui will be held:

Friday, May 5, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
San Gabriel Civic Auditorium
320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Office of the City Clerk – 626/308-2816
Donna Vine, Clem Arroyo or Cynthia Trujillo
dvine@sgch.org

City Mourns Loss of Mayor Chi Mui

SAN GABRIEL, CA – April 28, 2006 – It is with deep sadness and regret to announce the death of Mayor Chi Mui after a courageous battle with cancer. Admitted to San Gabriel Valley Medical Center on April 24, 2006 Chi passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 11:12 a.m. with his wife Betty and a few close friends by his side.

Elected to the San Gabriel City Council in March 2003, Chi was appointed Vice-Mayor in 2005. March 21, 2006 was an historic time for San Gabriel when Chi was appointed to serve as the City’s first Asian and Chinese-American Mayor.

Chi loved San Gabriel and cared about every member of the city organization. Although our hearts are heavy and we have lost a great friend, the process of remembrance, grief and healing will be respected. We join together to acknowledge and honor Chi by continuing his example of service to the community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Chi’s wife, Betty, and his family. Services for Mayor Mui will be held:

Friday, May 5, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
San Gabriel Civic Auditorium
320 South Mission Drive, San Gabriel

Tuesday Nights @ Little Tokyo!

2006-04-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Angry Asian Man's mention... The in-your-face, yet enjoyable and relaxing Tuesday Nights @ Little Tokyo is back!

Tuesday night: The Tuesday Night Project. Presented by Katalyst Productions, partnering up with Blacklava and the Little Tokyo Service Center to bring great music, theatre, dance, spoken word, live painting and good vibes to LA's Little Tokyo.

Tuesday, April 18th, at the Aratani Courtyard/Union Center for the Arts. More info here.
Little Tokyo in Downtown L-A!

2006 VC FilmFestival reveals the lineup!

2006-04-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

This is from our Daddy/Pilipino Papi over at APA First Weekend! We love him. absolutely LOVE him.

because we love him, we must listen to him...

and get ready for the 2006 VC Film Fest: The 2006 Los Angeles Asian/Pacific Film Festival!!!! ~SpeakAsianAmerican

ASIAN AMERICAN DIRECTORS TAKE SPOTLIGHT AT 22ND EDITION OF
THE VC FILMFEST 2006 - THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

RECORD NUMBER OF ASIAN AMERICAN FEATURE FILMS WILL INCLUDE
LA PREMIERES OF HAM TRAN’S "JOURNEY FROM THE FALL" AND
ERIC BYLER’S "AMERICANese" TO BOOKEND EIGHT DAY FESTIVAL

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 13, 2006 The 22nd edition of VC FILMFEST- The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival presented by Honda will feature a record number of feature films from Asian American filmmakers during its eight-day film fest beginning May 4 - May 11 in Los Angeles. Visual Communications (VC), the nation’s pioneering premiere Asian American media arts resource and education center will present over 140 films, shorts and videos with an unprecedented 16 feature films from 18 Asian American artists.

"This is truly an historic number of feature films from our own artists," states VC executive director, Leslie Ito. "This year’s showcase of Asian American films underscores the fact that these filmmakers are not waiting for Hollywood to call and are doing it on their own. With Ang Lee being the first non-white director to win the Oscar for Best Director, we are hopeful that these emerging storytellers will also become future contenders. For VC, these artists and their stories illustrate the strength that our organization has in terms of developing, shaping and supporting their works."

The opening, centerpiece and closing night films of this year’s festival are from three Asian American filmmakers whose careers got their start with short films showcased at previous VC FILMFESTs. This year, the Festival is proud to present the Los Angeles Premiere screenings of the Sundance hit film "JOURNEY FROM THE FALL" from local filmmaker Ham Tran as the Opening Night feature on Thursday, May 4, 2006 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA); the centerpiece screening of Sundance award winner "EVE & THE FIRE HORSE" from Julia Kwan on Saturday, May 6 at the DGA; and Eric Byler’s "AMERICANese" as the Closing Night film on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo.

The list of Asian American features being presented at this year’s fest include:

* JOURNEY FROM THE FALL - HAM TRAN
* PUNCHING AT THE SUN - TANUJ CHOPRA
* THE MOTEL - MICHAEL KANG
* CONVENTIONEERS - MORA MI-OK STEPHENS
* THE MISTRESS OF SPICES - PAUL MAYEDA BERGES
* SAIGON LOVE STORY - VINH "RINGO" LE
* EVE & THE FIRE HORSE - JULIA KWAN
* THE QUEEN FROM VIRGINIA - DAVID NGO
* ONLY THE BRAVE - LANE NISHIKAWA
* KIEU - VU T THU HA
* RIGODON - SARI LLUCH DALENA/KEITH SICAT
* ASIAN STORIES BOOK 3 - RON ODA/KRIS CHIN
* PURITY - NARHEE AHN
* FINDING HOME - ART NOMURA
* COLMA: THE MUSICAL - RICHARD WONG
* AMERICANese - ERIC BYLER

Established in 1983, VC FILMFEST is Southern California’s leading showcase for Asian Pacific American and Asian international cinema. This year, the eight-day movierama will also include a complement of filmmaker seminars and panel discussions, workshops, and filmmaker awards. The Festival will take place at the Directors Guild of America, Laemmle’s Sunset 5 Theaters, National Center for the Preservation of Democracy/JANM, and the Aratani/Japan America Theatre.

VC FILMFEST 2006 is presented by Honda and supported by the following sponsors:

PREMIUM - Directors Guild of America;

PLATINUM - L.A. Weekly, National Endowment for the Arts, Workplace Hollywood;

GOLD - Multicultural Radio Broadcast, Inc., Project by Project, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wahoo's Fish Taco, Heineken;

SILVER: Department of Cultural Affairs -City of Los Angeles, Eastman Kodak Company, FOX, Los Angeles County Arts Commission, Mole-Richardson Co., MTV Films, MUSE, Tiger Cinema;

BRONZE - Diskovery Center, East West Players, Hitachi, Ltd., Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, National Center for the Preservation of Democracy/JANM, SAG Indie, Union Bank of California, Warner Independent Pictures, and Writers Guild of America, West Inc.

For ticket and program information, a complete listing of sponsors and partners, and to purchase tickets, log on to www.vconline.org or contact Visual Communications at (213) 680-4462 x68.

Press Contact: WINSTON EMANO (213) 624 -7827 EXT. 5 or wemano@tcdm-associates.com

SPECIAL ADVANCED SCREENING!-MOUNTAIN PATROL

2006-04-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

CHINESE DIRECTOR LU CHUAN TAKES
MOUNTAIN PATROL: KEKEXILI TO THE US!

MOUNTAIN PATROL: KEKEXILI is a critically acclaimed film that captured the true events surrounding the atrocious illegal Tiebtan antelope poaching movement in the region of Kekexili, the current largest animal reserve in China.

Winner of Taiwan’s 2004 Golden Horse Award and a official selection of the 2005 Sundance Film Festival, MOUNTAIN PATROL: KEKEXILI opens in Los Angeles on Friday April 14th, 2006; San Francisco on April 21st, 2006.

Set in a dauntingly-beautiful backdrop of the Tibetan desert, Chinese Director Lu Chuan (The Missing Gun) paints a tragic tale of a group of local Tibetan men who face death and starvation while trying to preserve the endangered animals from ruthless hunters.

In reality, MOUNTAIN PATROL:KEKEXILI is a film about human’s struggle to find their own identity this great circle of life. In addition, MOUNTAIN PATROL: KEKEXILI’s message of preserving endangered species as caught the attention of National Geographic, who signed on as one of the film distribution company!

Director Lu Chuan is currently in Beijing filming his next project. Join Visual Communications and other community organizations.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12th, 2006, 7:30pm Laemmle’s Sunset 58000 Sunset BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90046FREE AdmissionRSVP to: info@vconline.org •First come, first serve basis

SAVE THE DATE!

2006-04-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE!!!

Visual Communication presents:

2006 The Los Angeles Asian/Pacific Film Festival

May 4-May11th.

www.vconline.org for more info!

Support Lodestone!

2006-02-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

LODESTONE THEATRE ENSEMBLE
presents
OUR 6TH ANNUAL OSCAR PARTY FUNDRAISER

This year's event hosted by ROGER FAN (Annapolis), CAMILLE MANA (UPN’s One on One) and EDDIE SHIN (WB’s upcoming Misconceptions)

Produced by Michelle Ko, Julian Chang Zolkin and Lodestone’s Board of Directors.

Ticket price includes:
∑ Academy Awards viewing on a BIG SCREEN with SURROUND SOUND....
∑ ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BUFFET from 6-8 PM (w/free soda & coffee from 6-8 PM)...
∑ Hang out with your favorite Asian American celebrities including stars from the upcoming films Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Americanese…
∑ Enter to win COOL PRIZES IN OUR RAFFLE...
∑ Fully-stocked bar with DRINK SPECIALS all night (featuring L.A.'s largest martini menu with over 100 selections)...
∑ Enter our annual Oscar pool and try to guess the winners (Pool closes before the announcement of first award). Only $5 to enter...
∑ FREE Karaoke rooms available upstairs at no additional cost…
∑ Meet the cast/crew of Lodestone's upcoming production of The Golden Hour…

All this and more at Koreatown's hottest nightspot:
Orchid Restaurant and Cafe
3900 W. 6th Street (Corner of Oxford and 6th)
Los Angeles, CA 90020
http://www.orchidlosangeles.com/

Sunday, March 5th, 2006
Doors open at 4:00 PM /Oscars start at 5:00 PM
Arrive EARLY for best seating!
Valet parking available

Tickets:
$20 pre-sale (if received by March 3rd)
$25 at the door (early arrival suggested)
VIP tickets $35 (includes reserved VIP seating, free access to VIP karaoke room and gift bag. Only a limited number available.)

To order advanced tickets, send a check (made out to: Lodestone Theatre Ensemble) for $20 per ticket (or $35 for VIP) to:
Lodestone Theatre Ensemble
c/o Oscar Night
PO Box 1072, Studio City, CA 91614

Please include your phone number and e-mail address so we can confirm your order. Tickets will be waiting for you at the door. All checks MUST be received by March 3 for pre-sale price ($20). All proceeds benefit our mainstage productions including our World Premiere production of THE GOLDEN HOUR opening April 15.

For more info. about Lodestone:
(323) 993-7245
www.lodestonetheatre.org

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble is a nonprofit Asian American theatre company founded by Alexandra Bokyun Chun, Philip W. Chung, Chil Kong & Tim Lounibos with a mission to develop, create, promote and present edgy, compelling and impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and entertaining artistry.

To be removed from our mailing list, please reply and type "REMOVE" in the subject line.

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!

2006-02-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Subject: "4704" Lunar New Year Party w/ Double Standard 4 @ Grand Star
Asiatic Empire, Go Productions LA, Plan 9 Entertainment, and Pure Sounds present
"4704"
Year of the Dog
Official Afterparty
of Chinatown LA's
Lunar New Year Festival

***3 party spots in Chinatown connected by 2 free bus shuttles*** see www.asiaticempire.com for map + more details

Saturday, Feb 4, 2005
Chinatown, Los Angeles
9:30PM-2:00AM
21+
$10 cover (pay at any venue & get free access to ALL locations + party
bus)

[Area 1]: Double Standard 4 @ Grand Star Jazz Club (943 N. Broadway)
main dance floor
DJs Op+imis+, Ant, Dithmar spinning hip hop all night long
outdoor live performances hosted by Dumbfoundead JUPITERSCIPLES BLUEKEYCORETET EUGENE HWANG PRETTIER THAN PINK MC BATTLE AT MIDNIGHT!!!!!!! (cash prize, sign-up on day of with host)
outdoor electronic dance area
DJs Paris, Atomic Mike, De Leon, Sugar Ant Invasion
***drink special: $2 Tsing Tao beer before 11PM***

[Area 2]: Chow Fun & Roberto's (686 N. Spring St.)
first floor lounge (Chow Fun)
DJ Ultraman (Methodology/Cerritos All-Stars) spinning funk, r&b, reggae, soul ***drink special: $2 Hite Beer before 11PM***
second floor bar (Roberto's)
DJ K-Rod spinning 80's 90's Top 40
***drink special: $3 Coors & Bud Light all night***

[Area 3]: Mountain Bar (473 Gin Ling Way)
DJ Denkym spinning hip hip
**drink special: $5 Sake before 11PM**

***Party bus routes start at 9PM & last pick-up at 1:45AM (no alcohol on buses).
for more information, contact asianhiphopsummit@yahoo.com or check www.asiaticempire.com or www.goproductionsla.com

12-02 Hate Crimes on LGBQT

2005-12-02T11:25:00.000-08:00

Assembly Select Committee on Hate crimes
Assembly Member Judy Chu, Chair
Invites you to a hearing on

Hate Crimes against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community

Monday, December 5, 2005
6:00 PM- 8:30 PM
Renberg Theater at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center: The Village
1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038

This hearing will explore the phenomenon of hate crimes and bias motivated incidents in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. The hearing will involve personal testimony from hate crime victims, advocates, federal and state agencies, and community based organizations.

11-30-05 Korean American Community Symposium

2005-11-30T11:44:00.000-08:00

“Korean Community in the United States: A Century of Engagement”

Date: Friday, December 2, 2005

Location: Davidson Conference Center, USC

Program:

08:30-09:00 Continental Breakfast

09:00-09:10 Opening Introduction: Marilyn Flynn (Dean, USC School of Social Work)

09:15-10:00 Session 1: “Korean Community in the United States”

Moderator: Dr. Junghoon Lee (Dean of Int’l Exchange, Yonsei University)

Speakers:

¡× Dr. Sammy Lee, Two-Time Gold Medalist and Physician

¡× Mr. Steven Koh, Chairman and Founder of Wilshire State Bank

¡× Mr. Art Yoon, former Mayor, Hermosa Beach

10:00-10:15 Coffee Break

10:15-10:30 Video “Korean-American Mosaic: Portraits of a Vibrant Community”

10:30-11:45 Session 2: “Roundtable: Future Role of Koreans in American Society”

Moderator: Dr. Chaibong Hahm (Director of Korean Studies Institute, USC)

Participants:

¡× Dr. Maurice Suh (Deputy Mayor, Los Angeles)

¡× Mr. Charles Kim (National President, Korean-American Coalition)

¡× Ms. Soa Kang (President, Ten Communications)

¡× Dr. Ruth Gim Chung (Associate Professor, USC)

¡× Dr. Janelle Wong (Assistant Professor, USC)

Parking Instructions:

Enter the USC campus at USC McCarthy Way (W. 35th Street) off Figueroa Street for hosted parking in Lot “PSX.” The symposium will be held in the Davidson Conference Center, located on the southeast corner of Jefferson Blvd. and Figueroa

EAST/WEST Players presents....

2005-11-21T08:18:00.000-08:00

"Compelling revival ... gripping power." - LA Times, Critics Choice
"The production sizzles." - Daily News
"Striking and highly erotic." - Daily Variety
"Seamless presentation ... unforgettable work." - Rafu Shimpo

EQUUS
By Peter Shaffer
Directed by Tim Dang

EQUUS is an electrifying journey into the mind of a 17-year old boy who senselessly blinds six horses with a steel spike. As a psychiatrist explores the young boy’s tortured psyche, the play becomes a shattering confrontation between the passionate spirit of the life force itself and the distortions forced on the spirit by “civilized” society. East West Players has eagerly awaited the opportunity to produce this Tony Award-winning play which stars veteran actor George Takei in the lead role of psychiatrist Martin Dysart.

EQUUS contains mature subject matter and language, nudity, cigarette smoke and loud sound effects.

Cast: Claudia Choi, Cesar Cipriano, Arthur Hsu, Alberto Isaac, Wesley John, Mark Jue, Dian Kobayashi, Paul Leach, Catherine Lee, Nelson Mashita, Charles Romaine, Jeanne Sakata, George Takei, Elbert Traister, Trieu Tran, Cheryl Tsai and Harry Du Young

Now - December 4, 2005
Thursday- Saturday @ 8 pm (no 8 pm on 11/24)
Saturday & Sunday @ 2 pm
$40 Orchestra, $35 Balcony
(student, senior and group discounts available)
More information on EQUUS.

THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB HOLIDAY ON THIN ICE tickets on sale

THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB HOLIDAY ON THIN ICE
Directed by Mike Hagiwara & Emily Kuroda
December 9 – December 18, 2005

Continuing the holiday tradition, the members of The Nisei Widows Club return to plan a special holiday variety show for the Little Tokyo community. Join Sumi, Michiko, Taeko, Fumiko, Hana, Masako, Betty, Tomi and other guest stars and community members for the crazy antics, laughter, fun and good tidings of the season.

Here's what the critics said about the show in 2004:
"Festive celebration of community ... enjoyable for any culture." Los Angeles Times
"A wonderful, wonderful holiday treat." Rafu Shimpo

December 9-18, 2005
Friday @ 8 pm
Saturday @ 11 am & 3 pm
Sunday @ 11 am & 3 pm

Tickets
$25 Orchestra, $20 Balcony
More information on THE NISEI WIDOWS CLUB HOLIDAY ON THIN ICE.

LODESTONE PRESENTS American Monsters 2

2005-11-17T14:32:00.000-08:00

ONLY TWO MORE WEEKENDS LEFT! TONIGHT'S PERFORMANCE (NOV. 17) IS SOLD-OUT...

"...Directed with stylized expertise...all five writers have a finely developed sense of the macabre...so much fun I can't wait until American Monsters 3!"
--ENTERTAINMENT TODAY

"...first-rate...sizzling production...features fine acting and writing as it thoughtfully examines the dark side of romance, love and vanity..."
--THE TOLUCAN TIMES

"...combines Grimm's Fairy Tales with the Old Testament, serial killers, vampires and religious obsession to provide a witch's brew of horror stories...a solid production, with ominous musical backup...and skillful performances..."
--LA WEEKLY

LODESTONE THEATRE ENSEMBLE
under the artistic direction of Philip W. Chung & Chil Kong
proudly presents
THE WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF

AMERICAN MONSTERS 2

SOME DAY, MY DARK PRINCE WILL COME...

Written & produced by Corinne Chooey, Isaac Ho, Angela Kang, Oanh Ly & Judy Soo Hoo
Directed by Miranda Yousef
Produced by Jeff Liu

Starring
Feodor Chin, David J. Lee, Dom Magwili, Freda Foh Shen, Linda Shing, Jennie Yee, Peggy Ahn, Corinne Chooey & Michael Kuya

AM 2 is a collection of five original one-act plays based on the Grimm Brothers fairy tales. Each of these modern adaptations lifts and twists an original dark element from the Grimm's morality tales. One man, born at the beginning of time, wreaks havoc upon the lives of five different mortal women who share the same familial bloodline.

October 29 - November 27, 2005
Thursday - Saturday 8 PM, Sunday 2 PM
No show Thanksgiving, Nov. 24

General Admission $15
Students & Seniors (w/valid ID) $13
Groups of 10+ $11
Every Thurs. is 2-for-1 tickets on regular admission price ($15)

GTC Burbank
1111-B W. Olive Ave.
Burbank, CA 91506

FOR RESERVATIONS, PLEASE CALL (323) 993-7245

The theatre is in George Izay Park between S. Victory Bl. and N. Griffith Park Bl.
Park near the jet plane at 1111 W. Olive and walk past the Olive Recreation center. The theatre is behind the rec center; the entrance faces the softball fields.

For more information: http://www.lodestonetheatre.org

For Mature Audiences only. This play contains violence and adult themes.

Lodestone is a Company-In-Residence at GTC Burbank.

Lodestone Theatre Ensemble is a nonprofit Asian American theatre company founded by Alexandra Bokyun Chun, Philip W. Chung, Chil Kong & Tim Lounibos with a mission to develop, create, promote and present edgy, compelling and impassioned works that bridge communities through truthful and entertaining artistry.

If you'd like to be removed from our mailing list, reply and write "delete" on the subject line.

NEW API elected officials in CA!

2005-11-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2005

SPECIAL ELECTIONS ELECT
NEW ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICANS TO OFFICE

Pasadena, CA – In the aftermath of the November 8 Statewide Special Elections, cities, schools and special districts elect six new Asian Pacific American elected officials to office throughout California. Culled from unofficial election results, most of the new APA officials are based in southern California; whereas, more incumbents are winning races from northern California. Over 50 candidates of predominantly Asian, Pacific Islander and South Asian descent ran for office this election cycle throughout the state.

New APA elected officials include Jeff Siccama, City Council Member, City of Montebello; Ray Gen, Governing Board Member for El Camino Community College District; Al Muratsuchi, Governing Board Member for Torrance Unified School District; Dana Tom, Board Member for Palo Alto Unified School District; Andrew Wong, Governing Board Member for Pomona Unified School District; and Ling-Ling Chang, Member, Board of Directors for Walnut Valley Water District.

Those reclaiming their seats are Wen Chang, City Council Member, City of Diamond Bar; Ken Ibarra, Council Member for City of San Bruno; Yoriko Kishimoto, Council Member for City of Palo Alto; Patrick S. Kwok, Council Member for City of Cupertino; Karyl Matsumoto, Council Member for City of South San Francisco; Michiko A. Oyama-Canada, City Council Member for City of Hawaiian Gardens; Phil Ting, Assessor-Recorder for City of San Francisco; Edwin “Ed” Chau, Governing Board Member for Montebello Unified School District; and Joseph Chang, Governing Board Member, Hacienda-La Puente Unified School District; Olympia Chen, Governing Board Member for ABC Unified School District; Judy Chen Haggerty, Governing Board Member for Mount San Antonio Community College District; Pearl Cheng, Board Member for Cupertino Union School District; Paul Fong, Board Member for Foothill-De Anza Community College District; Ben Liao, Board Member for Cupertino Union School District; and Mark E. Pulido, Governing Board Member for ABC Unified School District.

Dana Tom, when elections results are confirmed, will be the first Chinese American and Asian Pacific American school board member in Palo Alto Unified School District’s over 100-year history.

Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan community-based organization with a mission to politically empower the Asian Pacific Islander American community through voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development.

# # #

Kathy Ng Hassan
Director of Administration
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
260 South Los Robles Avenue, Suite 118
Pasadena, CA 91101
Tel: 626-356-9838 Fax: 626-356-9878
www.causeusa.org

VOTE!

2005-11-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

REMEMBER TO VOTE TODAY!

VC is calling for ARMED with a CAMERA Fellowship

2005-10-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

ARMED WITH A CAMERA FELLOWSHIP FOR EMERGING MEDIA
ARTISTS 2006
CALL FOR ENTRIES

Received by 5 p.m., December 2, 2005
To download an application, go to http://www.vconline.org/artistops/awc.html
Visual Communications (VC) seeks to cultivate a new
generation of Asian Pacific American media artists
committed to preserving the legacy and vision of VC.
ARMED WITH A CAMERA FELLOWSHIP will award up to ten
fellows $500 to complete, within a four-month span of
time, a five-minute digital video.
Final projects must be shot in digital video format
and completed by April 21, 2006. A special program
will showcase all completed projects at various VC
exhibitions across the city of Los Angeles, including
the VC FILMFEST: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film
Festival and other venues nationwide. VC will own the productions and will also package and distribute completed works. Distribution income will aid in the continuation of the Armed with a Camera Fellowship.

Benefits
Selected artists will gain the following through this
program:
-Monetary compensation for their artistic work
-Access to VC’s post-production facilities (valued at
$700/week)
-One year VC FILMMAKERS UNION membership (valued at
$120)
-Exhibition of their new work at the VC FILMFEST 2006 -Professional Training Workshops throughout the year -Opportunity to build portfolio and gain exposure which may open up other exhibition opportunities & the opportunity to compete with media veterans -Future use of VC as a fiscal sponsor -Technical assistance when necessary
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants must be of Asian Pacific descent,
30 years old and younger in the year 2006, residents
of California and have had previous work in the VC
FilmFest, ChiliVisions, any other VC exhibition and/or
any Film Festival—this may NOT include on-campus
student festivals.
Project Criteria
All projects must conform to the following guidelines:
-Final piece must be a new, original work
-Final piece must be shot in digital video format, no
16mm film
-Final piece must be completed by April 21, 2006 for
inclusion in the VC FILMFEST 2006
-Total length of final piece must not exceed five
minutes
-Budget for each project shall not exceed $500
-Mandatory orientation on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2006, and bi-monthly peer sessions from January through April -Priority will be given to animation, documentary and experimental pieces.
Fellowship Selection Process
Ten media artists will be selected by a
multi-generational review panel composed of community
members, media artists, critics, and curators.
Selections will be made on the basis of creative
excellence and innovation. Applicants will be
contacted by the first week in January 2006.
How to Apply
Downloadable applications available at
http://www.blogger.com/www.vconline.org
Please send the following:
-Information Cover Sheet
-Resume
-Project Treatment (2 page maximum)
-Project Timeline (All projects must begin in January
2006 and must be completed by April 21, 2006)
-Budget (proposed budget must total $500; budget items
may include artist stipend, equipment, supplies,
location fee, food, etc.)
-Sample work cued to five minutes
-Self-addressed stamped envelope for return of sample
work
DEADLINE: Received by 5pm, December 2, 2005. For any
questions or concerns, please feel free to call
Kennedy Kabasares at (213) 680-4462 x32 or by email.
Email to : kennedy@vconline.org Fax: (213) 687-4848
Mail to: Visual Communications
120 Judge John Aiso St., Basement
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Attn: Kennedy Kabasares
ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Founded in 1970, Visual Communications is the first
Asian Pacific media arts center in the nation. The
mission of Visual Communications is to promote
intercultural understanding through the creation,
presentation, preservation and support of media works
by and about Asian Pacific Americans. Visual
Communications was created with the understanding that
media and the arts are important vehicles to organize
and empower communities, build connections between
generations, challenge perspectives, and create an
environment for critical thinking, necessary to build
a more just and humane society. That understanding is demonstrated through the commitment to excellence in the media arts at the grassroots level through a range of programs that promote honest and sensitive portrayals of Asians and Asian Pacific Americans. These programs are complemented by the long-standing collaborative efforts with other community organizations and a commitment to the development of an informed community.
Armed with a Camera is partially funded by the James
Irvine Foundation and the Linda Mabalot Legacy Fund.
.
.
--------- Visual Communications - http://www.vconline.org/ -----------
. APAnet - http://www.apanet.org/

APA Hip Hop Summit. this thing has become crazier every year!

2005-10-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

website: www.asiaticempire.com

Asiatic Empire presents

ASIAN HIP HOP SUMMIT 4

Sat, Nov 19, 2005, 7PM-10PM
Sun, Nov 20, 2005, 4PM-10PM

@ Jeet Kune Flow Camp
625 S. La Fayette Park Place
(Wilshire & La Fayette Park Pl)
K-Town, Los Angeles 90057

$5 admission each day
all ages
all proceeds benefit Green Pastures Youth Center (www.green1004.org)

hosted by DJ K-Sly (100.3 The Beat) & Dumbfoundead

Sat, Nov 19, 2005: "K-Town All Stars" 7PM-10PM
JEET KUNE FLOW (Dumbfoundead, Chosen 1, Viruss, Furis, Nelson, Mista Ri, Yellah Fellah)
SHIN-B
DENIZEN KANE (Typical Cats/Chicago)
FLOWSIK (New York City)
HEP DA TIGHTEST (Seattle)BRENDA
WONHYOMC MIN (17 years old)EXFLOSIVE (17 years old)
hip hop dance teams:

UNBALANCEUPLOAD (1st place -- Radio Korea Dance Contest)
COMPLAIN (LA High)UNIQUE ONEZ (Fairfax High)GUESS WHO (Van Nuys High)
DJs: Cloud, Benny, G-Son, Kid Atomic+++FREESTYLE DANCE-OFF hosted by QUIKFLEX

Sun, Nov 20, 2005 "Asiatic LA" 4PM-10PM

4PM-6PM afternoon show:
FAR EAST MOVEMENT
HUNGRY HOOLIGANS (Bay Area)J-TEK (w/ live band)
SIR REAL & C-SPILLS
RED BLOOD CELL (Kollaboration winner)
SAM I AM (Jeet Kune Flow)A-ILLSOPHAY DUCH (spoken word)6PM-9PM evening show:
LONGEVITY CREWKARMACYPRACH LYQ-YORK & KNOWA LAZARUSLYRA FLIPVY (singing)MIWA LYRICKOVERT LIVENEXT PHAZE (singing)REBELS TO THE GRAINDJ SOULSPEAK (mpc live beats)E.A.R.T.H.
LA ZOO (b-boys)
9PM-10PM MC BATTLE (16 MC Tournament):
hosted by Slant
$200 prize + video games + Deep C gear
sign up on day of or pre-register at asianhiphopsummit@yahoo.com

2004 champ: Yellah Fellah
2003 champ: NoCanDo
2002 champ: NoCanDo

Asian Hip Hop Summit 4 is sponsored by:KDAY 93.5 FM (www.935kday.com)
Korean Resource Center (www.krcla.org)
KTown213.com (www.ktown213.com)C&A Marketing (www.chungassoc.com)
Buzzin' Bee Entertainment, LLC (www.thebuzzinbee.com)
159 Entertainment & Flow District (www.159ent.com)
Aznraps.com (www.aznraps.com)Jinhee Kim, LA Korean Int'l Film Foundation (www.lakiff.org)
Kollaboration 6 -- Nov 12, 2005 (www.kollaboration.org)
Deep C

for complete schedule: www.asiaticempire.com
for more info: asianhiphopsummit@yahoo.com

Aquarium of the Pacific Autumn Festival!

2005-10-27T15:49:00.000-07:00

This is the 4th year that the Aquarium of the Pacific and RYOMA (Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival) is partnering in producing the Aquarium of the Pacific Autumn Festival - celebrates the arts, food, culture and marine environments of Japan, China, Korea and the Phillipines with taiko drumming, cultural dances, chinese acrobats, lion dancers, japanese doll making demonstrations and palm leaf designs, as well as the magic of orgami by Michael, Yami & Joe who will also be teaching a daily class and much more. There will be children's crafts of fish kites, orgami fish and chinese lanterns and storyteller actors from SAG Foundation's BookPals. On Sunday November 5th there will be a special awards ceremony at 1:45 p.m. honoring the Chinese American Museum! Returning by popular demand is our Master of Ceremonies, veteran actor Rodney Kageyama and Art Nakane with his one man band!

We also have a $5.00 off coupon flyer - let us know if you wish a copy of the coupon flyer.

THANKS!
Hope to see you at the
Aquarium of the Pacific Autumn Festival
Sat & Sun - November 5th & 6th
Autumn Festival from 10 am to 5 p.m.
Aquarium open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

100 Aquarium Way
2 Parking Lots: Parking directly across the street on Aquarium Way or
at the Pike Parking Lot directly across the street on Shoreline Drive.

Wendy Fujihara Anderson - WOW! Event Productions & Public Relations
Co-Founder/Executive Director/Producer - 5th Annual Pasadena Cherry Blossom Festival
www.pasadenacherryblossom.org - 4/1/06-4/2/06
Co-President East West Players - Nation's Foremost Asian American Theater - www.eastwestplayers.org
EWP's 40th season with Stewed Rice, Equus, Sweeney Todd & Motty-Chon
Publicist, DVD Documentary Team & Invited Workshop Presenter, International Special Events Society - Eventworld 2005 - August at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel - www.ises.com
Co-Producer - Aquarium of the Pacific Autumn Festival - 11/5-11/06/05
Pasadena Commissioner (District 2) Status of Women
Partner, Kellye Wallett Studio - www.kellyesart.com - Artist/Actress Kellye Nakahara Wallett
Member: International Festival & Events Associations (IFEA)

Mailing Address: 686 S. Arroyo Parkway, #221, Pasadena, CA 91105
626-683-8243 Fax: 626-405-8809
wowproductions2@earthlink.net

2005-10-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS TODAY!

Pasadena, CA - Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE), is targeting several communities in southern California to register Asian Pacific American (APA) voters for the upcoming November 8 elections. Communities include Hacienda Heights, Thai Town (Hollywood), Garden Grove, Westminster and Irvine. The deadline to register to vote is by 5 p.m. on Monday, October 24.

With last year's Presidential Elections and the recent Los Angeles Mayoral Elections still fresh on voters' minds, it has been an interesting challenge this fall to sustain voter interest in this year's Special Elections. "Despite 'voter fatigue,' however, it is vital that CAUSE continues the work of registering new voters, and educating everyone on the issues that will affect their lives as Californians. As Asian Pacific Americans, it is also crucial that we show up to vote. Our vote is our voice, and we need to make sure that our voices are heard loud and clear in this and in every election," says Sharon Owyang, CAUSE Executive Director.

Los Angeles County voters have an opportunity to vote early (October 26 to November 4) at 11 Touchscreen Voting locations. For locations and more details, visit www.lavote.net or call the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Multi-lingual hotline at (800) 481-8683. For voter information in Orange County, visit www.oc.ca.gov/election or call the following phone numbers for Asian language assistance:
Vietnamese - (714) 567-7585 (Mr. Leslie Le) or (714) 567-7581 (name unavailable)
Chinese - (714) 567-5143 (Ms. Delicia Hsu)
Korean - (714) 567-5141 (Mr. Jay Koo)

In order to prepare APA voters to make an informed decision, CAUSE has begun distributing the non-partisan Easy Voter Guides in Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese - free to the public. Voter registration forms, absentee ballot applications and how-to-vote audiotapes are also available free to those who call CAUSE's toll-free voter assistance hotline at (888) 809-3888. Operators are available Monday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM to answer questions and help voters. For those who prefer to use the Internet, voters can visit www.causeusa.org for more information on CAUSE's calendar of events, voter resources, and the CAUSE hand out, "Statewide Special Election: Propositions on the November 2005 Ballot," which gives a description, list of major supporters, and funders of each proposition.

# # #

Asian Youth Leadership Conference

2005-10-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Asian Pacific Leadership Conference offers 50 college undergraduates,
selected from public and private colleges across the state, a unique
opportunity to explore their potential to develop him or herself as future
leaders for California's emerging Asian Pacific Islander communities. The
conference features highly interactive workshops, intensive small group
discussions, exploration of leadership in a cultural and community context,
and the chance to interact personally with state leaders.

Dates: Friday, Nov. 11th through Sunday, Nov. 13th
Location: Santa Barbara, with a portion of the conference on the UCSB campus

Cost: There is NO FEE to attend the conference. Meals and lodging will be
provided, however, attendees will have to find their own transportation to
Santa Barbara and back.

Other: The conference is NOT restricted to political science or public
policy students. Any student with an interest in community leadership or
non-profit work is absolutely encouraged to attend.

However, for those students who are interested in politics, the conference
offers the chance to hear presentations from a member of the California
Assembly, several community activists, as well as the chance to interact
with chief advisors to Attorney General Bill Lockyer and to the Speaker of
the California Assembly.

Conference information, agenda and online application is available at:

http://aplc.sa.ucsb.edu/Default.aspx

Because of the relatively short timeframe, interested students should submit
their application by the middle of next week. Any questions can be directed
at "anthony (dot) bhe (at) gmail (dot) com".

Asian Americans @ the Race Track

2005-10-21T14:20:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, October 22nd 2005

12-5pm

Club Court
Santa Anita Race Track and Park
285 W. Huntington Dr.
Arcadia, Ca 91007

Event Director Scralet Timphony
(626)688-2013

Enjoy an Asian American Outreach VIP Luncheon in celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival Day at the Races!

2005-10-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

FYI:

Primary Contact: Jemie Sae Koo - (949) 331-2927
Secondary Contact: Teresa Lin - (626) 347-2947

API Community Observes
National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
API Community Leaders and Organizations

Join Campaign to End Domestic Violence

MONTEREY PARK, CA – To mark National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Asian Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Task Force of San Gabriel Valley announces its establishment and to call for attention to the issues of domestic violence in the API community.

"National Domestic Violence Month reminds us all of those who have died as a result of domestic violence. We owe it to their memories to do everything we can to prevent more lives from being lost to this terrible senseless crime," said Vanda Yung, co-chair of API DV Task Force. "It is critical that the community is aware of the resources that are available in helping victims of domestic violence," said Yung.

Together the API DV Task Force in conjunction with local and federal agencies recommit to eliminating domestic violence and reaching out to victims of domestic violence. This is a preventable social problem that requires collective action and for communities to unite to help end this devastating issue. With dedication and vigilance, we can increase safety and hope for thousands of our citizens.

Teresa Lin, co-chair of API DV Task Force adds, " Every woman or man has the right of seeking happiness in their relationship, that right is not to be violated by anyone."

The API DV Task Force is supported by Assemblymember Judy Chu, Mayor Frank Venti, Police Chief Jones Moy, Asian Pacific Family Center, Asian Pacific Women's Center, Buddhist Tzu Chi Free Clinic, California Women's Law Center, Center for Pacific Asian Family, Chinatown Service Center, Chinese American Citizen Alliance, Chinese American Human Social Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Health Services, Department of Public Social Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Health Service - Violence Prevention Program, Kaiser Permanente, Korean American Family Service Center, Korean Family Services, Little Tokyo Service Center, Neighborhood Legal Services, South Asian Network, and United For Justice

API DV Task Force was formed by a group of domestic violence program social service agencies and community members in November 2004. Our mission is to eliminate domestic violence in Asian Pacific Islander communities by providing outreach, education, and advocacy. The members include but are not limited to shelters, legal services, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, family services, advocates, and community members at large.

Get Edumacated... on the Nov. Special Election

2005-10-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

POLITICIAL EVENT:

UNDERSTANDING THE PROPOSITIONS
An Asian Pacific American Perspective

Hosted by
CAUSE
Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment

Friday, October 14, 2005
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Monterey Park City Hall
City Council Chambers
320 W. Newmark Avenue, Monterey Park

THIS FREE EVENT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
- - -

ON NOVEMBER 8, HOW WILL THE APA VOTE COUNT?

This informational session will provide voter education and an Asian
Pacific American perspective on the eight propositions on the ballot:
73 – Parental Notification about Abortion
74 – Public School Teachers
75 – Government Employee Union Dues
76 – State Budget and School Funding
77 – Political Districts
78 – Prescription Drug Discounts
79 – Prescription Drug Discounts and Medi-Cal
80 – Regulation of Electric Service

Come see how the Touchscreen voting machine works!
(Provided by the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office)

Conference sponsored by
The Monterey Park City Clerk’s Office

PLEASE RSVP BY OCTOBER 13 TO:
(626) 356-9838, or Kathy@causeusa.org

CAUSE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, non-partisan community-based organization

SPEAK. ASIAN AMERICANS UPDATE

2005-10-12T16:12:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: In order to better serve the online surfers and SpeakAsianAmericans readers, the site will now categorize the events for easier viewing.

The events/activites/commentaries will be in the category of

-Entertainment: Asian Americans in entertainment. Upcoming artwork, features, films, museums.
-Politics: California State elections & nationwide elections...
-Activism Now!: Asian American/Ethnic minority injustice needing your support or grassroot network.
-Job Announcements: Take a lead role, apply for these key jobs and represent Asian Americans.

Feel free to e-mail Speak Asian Americans here for upcoming events. Support the peeps. Remember to sign up SAA's yahoogroup for exclusive entertainment engagements & job info.

Best,
SAA

AAPI policy initiative @ UCLA, with other UCs

2005-10-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

I'm goin... see you there!

"Strengthening the AAPI Policy Infrastructure: Community-Based Research, Teaching, and Advocacy"
Saturday, October 15, 2005, 10 am - 4 pm. UCLA School of Public Affairs, Room 2343 (2nd Floor)

** Sponsored by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, UC Office of the President, UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, UCLA Department of Public Policy, and the Asian American/Ethnic Studies Departments and Programs at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz
The event is free and open to the public. RSVP requested (email: aascrsvp@aasc.ucla.edu; phone: 310 825-2974). Lunch free to the first 100 RSVPs. Parking: Lot 3 ($8.00 all day)

AGENDA:

9:00 - 9:45 am. Registration. Room 2343 UCLA School of Public Policy

10 am - 10:15 am. Welcome by UCLA Asian American Studies Center and UCLA Department of Public Policy

10:15 am - 12 noon. "Political historical contexts, lessons, and examples of AAPI policy activities and trends"
John Park, UC Santa Barbara (moderator); Lane Hirabayashi, UC Riverside; Dana Takagi, UC Santa Cruz; Jerry Kang, UCLA

12 noon - 1 p.m. Lunch

1:00 - 2:30 p.m. "Teaching AAPI policy within a community-based framework at the undergraduate and graduate levels"
Don Nakanishi, UCLA (moderator); Linda Vo, UC Irvine; Mary Anne Foo, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance; Marjorie Kagawa-Singer, UCLA; Lois Takahashi, UCLA

2:30 - 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. "Contemporary AAPI policy advocacy research and legislation"
Yen Espiritu, UC San Diego (moderator); Bill Ong Hing, UC Davis; Luna Yasui, Chinese for Affirmative Action/Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality; Lisa Park, UC San Diego

East West Players seek box office personnel...

2005-10-11T12:47:00.002-07:00

East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre organization, is currently seeking Box Office personnel. We are looking for individuals who possess excellent customer service skills, excellent phone skills, cash handling and light bookkeeping skills and are adept at various computer applications or have experience with ticketing systems. This person should be highly organized, diligent and energetic. Previous experience is a plus but not required. This position is paid and part time.

To apply please send a resume to Alden Villaverde:

E-MAIL
avillaverde@eastwestplayers.org
Subject "Box Office"

FAX
(213) 625-7111

MAIL
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

NO PHONE CALLS

--------------------------------------------------
East West Players
David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts
120 Judge John Aiso St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 625-7000
(213) 625-7111 FAX
www.eastwestplayers.org
info@eastwestplayers.org

Mission Statement
As the nation’s premier Asian American theatre organization, East West
Players produces outstanding works and educational programs that give voice
to the Asian Pacific American experience.

_________________________________________________________________
On the road to retirement? Check out MSN Life Events for advice on how to
get there! http://lifeevents.msn.com/category.aspx?cid=Retirement

.
.
--------- Visual Communications
- http://www.vconline.org -----------
. APAnet - http://www.apanet.org

East West Players seek box office personnel...

2005-10-11T12:47:00.001-07:00

2005-10-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

Asian Arts updates...

2005-10-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

VisArt Central Asia Visual Arts Residencies
September 25-October 21 Visual artists Kerimbek Bukar Akmatov (Kyrgyz Republic), Alisher Primkulov (Tajikistan) and Assel Alpysbaev (Kazakhstan) are in Johnson, VT to participate in month-long, in-depth residencies at the Vermont Studio Program.

VisArt Central Asia Contemporary Music
September 30-October 9Bang on a Can musicians Philippa Thompson, Mark Stewart, David Cossin, Robert Black and Evan Ziporyn, and Kenny Savelson, Managing Director, perform and offer master classes and workshops in Almaty, Kazakhstan and Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

VisArt Contemporary Music
October 7-13Long Arms Music Festival: Terry Riley, Pauline Oliveros, Shelly Hirsch, Charles Gayle, Mark Stewart and David Moss perform in Moscow and St. Petersburg. This new festival was created in memory of Nikolai Dmitriev, founder of the DOM Cultural Center.
ArtsLink Residencies
October 10-November 19
14 Fellows from Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia are in Residencies with the U.S. arts organizations including Cornerstone Theater Company, Los Angeles, CA; International Writing Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA; New York Theatre Workshop, New York, NY; Playhouse Square Center, Cleveland, OH; Washington Performing Arts Society, Washington, DC.

Open World Cultural Leaders Program
November 6
Sergey Bosenko, Ivan Golovnev and Alina Rudnitskaya, the filmmakers from Russia, and film expert Antonina Udalova, participate in the 2005 Margaret Mead Film and Video Festival in New York.

Application Deadlines

November 7, 2005
ArtsLink Residencies awards for artists and arts managers in visual and media arts
from Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia.
ArtsLink Independent Projects awards for artists and arts managers from
Central Europe, Russia and Eurasia.

January 16, 2006
ArtsLink Projects awards for U.S. arts professionals and arts organizations in
performing arts and literature.

October 21, 2005
Residencies for arts managers from Russia for Jubilee Fellowships.

You are invited to attend an exclusive preview Film Screening of

2005-10-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

You are invited to attend an exclusive preview Film Screening of La Visa Loca!

starring Robin Padilla, Rufa Mae Quinto and Johnny Delgado. Film synopsis: Like millions of Filipinos, Jess Huson (Robin Padilla), has a dream: to get a visa and work in the United States. However, luck never seems to be on his side. With biting wit and humor, La Visa Loca touches on many facets of contemporary Filipino culture - folk superstition, the media, action star mythology, and the importance of family. For more fun film info view http://www.lavisaloca.com.

Date: Saturday, October 8,2005
Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm
Location: James Bridges Theater at UCLA Melnitz Hall
Special Reception will immediately follow film screening.

Individual Ticket price $50, this includes admission to the film and reception.

***Free for UCLA students, email your name and student organization. Reserve your seat now by emailing aascrsvp@aasc.ucla.edu.

UCLA Parking is $8. Parking permits can be bought from parking services attendants at kiosk on Wyton and Hilgard Ave for Lot 3.

This is a benefit for the Filipino Legacy Fund at the University of California, Los Angeles - Asian American Studies Center. To donate online click on to: https://giving.ucla.edu/Asian American/donate.asp. The mission of the Filipino Legacy Fund is to: v Promote education and research about Filipinos and Filipino Americans; v Support the documentation and historical preservation of the Filipino Experience; v Enhance UCLA's role as the premier center for Filipino and Filipino American Studies; v Link UCLA with the broader Filipino American community by supporting campus and community collaboration; v Support the development of Filipino American scholars, leaders and activists. UCLA Disclosure policies/ statement applies and is available.

Thank You for your support! Filipino Legacy Fund at UCLA
For more info phone 310/ 825-2974.

Writer's Guild presents diversity

2005-10-05T14:59:00.000-07:00

THE WRITER'S GUILD OF AMERICA

Introduces a FREE EVENT open to the public discussing....

"THE WRITE INFLUENCE: VALUING DIVERSITY"

Date: Sat. October 15, 2005
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. -
Location: Writers Guild Theater - 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Details: A day-long multi-panel seminar featuring lively and honest discussions exploring how diversity is making storytelling a richer, more profitable experience. Working writers, those who hire writers, media ad buyers, and those who market and distribute films are set to share their progressive successes and missed opportunities within today's entertainment world. This event is free and open to the public.

THE FIRST PANEL: "THE CHANGING ROOM"
This panel will feature showrunners who've hired diverse staffs that create challenging and quality television content.

THE SECOND PANEL: "EVERYBODY LOVES GREEN"
This panel will focus on media buyers, as they discuss the economic and moral connection between advertising and entertainment product that features diverse storytelling.

THE THIRD PANEL: "DAMN, YOU WROTE THAT?!"
This panel spotlight successful multi-cultural screenwriters who've excelled in Hollywood by writing against type.

RSVP to: (323) 782-4577 or via email at PAEvents@wga.org

Sent by:
Consuelo Flores, Coordinator II
Employment Access Department
Writers Guild of America, west
(323) 782-4549
cflores@wga.org

RSVP: now... Diversity in Writing Screenplays

2005-10-03T17:09:00.000-07:00

THE WRITER'S GUILD OF AMERICA

Introduces a FREE EVENT open to the public discussing....

"THE WRITE INFLUENCE: VALUING DIVERSITY"

Date: Sat. October 15, 2005
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. -
Location: Writers Guild Theater - 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Details: A day-long multi-panel seminar featuring lively and honest discussions exploring how diversity is making storytelling a richer, more profitable experience. Working writers, those who hire writers, media ad buyers, and those who market and distribute films are set to share their progressive successes and missed opportunities within today's entertainment world. This event is free and open to the public.

THE FIRST PANEL: "THE CHANGING ROOM"
This panel will feature showrunners who've hired diverse staffs that create challenging and quality television content.

THE SECOND PANEL: "EVERYBODY LOVES GREEN"
This panel will focus on media buyers, as they discuss the economic and moral connection between advertising and entertainment product that features diverse storytelling.

THE THIRD PANEL: "DAMN, YOU WROTE THAT?!"
This panel spotlight successful multi-cultural screenwriters who've excelled in Hollywood by writing against type.

RSVP to: (323) 782-4577 or via email at PAEvents@wga.org

Sent by:
Consuelo Flores, Coordinator II
Employment Access Department
Writers Guild of America, west
(323) 782-4549
cflores@wga.org

Oct 1 issue of APA First Weekend

2005-10-03T10:38:00.000-07:00

IN THIS ISSUE: NOTE - WE ARE GOING TO BE SHORT AND TO THE POINT
1. SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL KICKS IT SEPTEMBER 29!! BE THERE!
2. JUSTIN LIN GETS READY TO START SHOOTING FAST AND FURIOUS 3: TOKYO DRIFT
- JASON TOBIN RETURNS!
3. VC CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF ASIAN AMERICAN CINEMA
4. ASIAN AMERICAN FILMS GO TO PUSAN
5. THE MOTEL GETS DISTRIBUTION FROM PALM PICTURES
6. ENTRIES NOW FOR SAN FRANCISCO NAATA FILM FESTIVAL AND VC FILM FEST 2006
7. ASIAN AMERICANS ON TV NOW! IT'S A NEW DAY...
8. SONNY CHIBA GOES HAWAIIAN - AT THE HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
8. WHAT ELSE?
**********************************************
1. SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL KICKS IT SEPTEMBER 29!! BE THERE!
Hopefully, you are reading this in San Diego right now and you just got back
from the Opening Night film. If not, get yourself down to San Diego and join
Lee Ann Kim and crew for what is one the nation's rocking Asian American film
festivals. San Diego knows how to party. And the gala is September 30
featuring beaucoup Asian American celebrities including Tamlyn Tomita, Dustin
Nguyen, Jason Scott Lee, Roger Fan, Karin Anna Cheung, Michelle Krusiec, Lynn Chen,
Moria Mi-Ok Stephens and many more. And don't forget these outstanding Asian
American films - THE MOTEL; CAVITE; THE GRACE LEE PROJECT; ONLY THE BRAVE;
CONVENTIONEERS; SAVING FACE; MONKEY DANCE and others. Don't miss the panel ASIAN
AMERICANS IN HOLLYWOOD - featuring your favorite stars sharing their insights
into working in Tinseltown. For more info- www.sdaff.org - get complete
schedule and tickets. Make sure you join us at the San Diego Asian Film Festival
Sept 29 - Oct 6!

2. JUSTIN LIN GETS READY TO START SHOOTING FAST AND FURIOUS 3: TOKYO DRIFT
- JASON TOBIN RETURNS!
Get ready for this: two of our favorite BLT folks are cast in Justin Lin's
next big budget project FAST AND FURIOUS 3: TOKYO DRIFT.
Check out the return of JASON TOBIN (Virgil in BLT) and the ever dynamic SUNG
KANG (Han in BLT). Also in the cast are Lucas Black (Friday Night Lights)
and Bow Wow (he's not Lil no more - from Roll Bounce). Word has it that
LEONARDO NAM (The Perfect Score) has also been added to the cast. Shooting begins
next week in LA and will also include Japan. Should be a great set to visit.
Maybe we can get a sneak visit. Much love to you guys out there. Kick it down.

3. VC CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF ASIAN AMERICAN CINEMA
Thursday night, Visual Communications celebrated it's 35th birthday with a
bang up evening hosted by TAMLYN TOMITA (we love her) and featuring a number of
Asian American celebrities including TSAI CHIN (Waverly's mom from Joy Luck
Club); the hot DUSTIN NGUYEN (his latest film Little Fish where he does it with
Cate Blanchett); AMY HILL (50 First Dates/Cat in the Hat); the ever sweet and
sexy MARIE MATIKO with one of our favorite veteran actors MAKO; News anchors
TRITIA TOYOTA and TED CHEN; filmmakers JESSICA YU, GRACE LEE, JUSTIN LIN,
JESSICA SANDERS, CHRIS CHAN LEE, SASHA HSU - SCZYK, HENRY CHAN, GENE CAJAYON,
ROBERT NAKAMAURA, TAD NAKAMURA, CURTIS CHOY, KRISTINA SHERYL WONG; the BLT crew
ROGER FAN (Annapolis), and SUNG KANG (Undoing/Fast and Furious 3); the cool boyz
- GREG WATANABE and KENNEDY KABASARES; and COLD TOFU girls - DENISE IKETANI
and HELEN OTA who brought the house down with the theme song "ALL WE WANT IS
DUSTIN NGUYEN" to the tune of "Dust in the Wind." The evening also consisted of
some outstanding clips of Asian American Cinema over the past 35 years
covering themes of "buddies," "romance," "documentaries," "families" and "music
videos." It was truly a night to celebrate our own media artists and our own
legacy of Asian Pacific American cinema. Please keep making more.

4. ASIAN AMERICAN FILMS GO TO PUSAN
Looks like this year's Pusan Film Festival is featuring some very strong
Asian American films:
THE MOTEL - MICHAEL KANG
THE GRACE LEE PROJECT - GRACE LEE
JOURNEY FROM THE FALL - HAM TRAN
We are sure there are more but congratulations to this outstanding group of
Asian American filmmakers and good luck at Pusan.
www.piff.org

5. THE MOTEL GETS DISTRIBUTION FROM PALM PICTURES
Congratulations to MICHAEL KANG and everyone on the film THE MOTEL on getting
theatrical distribution from PALM PICTURES. Big props to DAVID KOH at PALM
PICTURES for picking up this great film. Looks like next spring, everyone will
be able to see this Sundance fave at a theater near you. We will keep you
posted.
Congrats to the producers GINA KWON, KARIN CHIEN, MATTHEW GREENFIELD and
MIGUEL ARTETA!

6. ENTRIES NOW FOR SAN FRANCISCO NAATA FILM FESTIVAL AND VC FILM FEST 2006
Two of the nation's largest Asian Film Festivals are looking for your film.
Log on to their websites and get more info. Enter now!
1. SF NAATA ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - www.naatasf.org
2. VC FILM FEST 2006 - THE LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL - www.vconline.org

7. ASIAN AMERICANS ON TV NOW! IT'S A NEW DAY...
No, it was not your imagination. We are on now more than ever - and we are
not just on LOST - but how cool is that we are such a great show. You know,
DANIEL DAE KIM and YOON-JIN KIM are like super hot.

But also there are others - check this out:

CAMILLE MANA - ONE ON ONE - UPN
MARILYN TOKUDA - ONE ON ONE - UPN
ALEC MAPA - HALF AND HALF - UPN
JOHN CHO - KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL - FOX
LINDSAY PRICE - KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL - FOX
KEIKO AGENA - GILMORE GIRLS - WB
EMILY KURODA - GILMORE GIRLS - WB
KIPP SHIOTANI - BARBERSHOP - SHOWTIME
PARMINDER NAGRA - ER - NBC
MING NA - INCONCEIVABLE - NBC
DANIEL DAE KIM - LOST - ABC
YOON-JIN KIM - LOST - ABC

Are there others?? Write us back and tell us.
Also HENRY CHAN will be directing some episodes of KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL.

Now, if you want to see more of us or want to keep us on these shows - please
write to the shows and to the networks telling them how much you want to see
these characters on screen. The networks pay attention to these letters!

8. SONNY CHIBA GOEST HAWAIIAN - HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - OCTOBER
20 - 30! ALOHA!
YEP... The legend, the master SONNY CHIBA will be at this year's 25th
Anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival taking place
October 2 0 - 30.
Book your reservation now and be there. Also, SAMUEL L. JACKSON and ZHANG
YIMOU will be honored. Rumor has it that film critic ROGER EBERT will be in the
house at the Festival, too. Log on to : www.hiff.org for more info. Aloha,
Mahalo and thank you.

9. WHAT ELSE?
• GRACE LEE PROJECT will have a premiere theatrical run Decmeber 14 - 27 in
NEW YORK CITY at the FILM FORUM - we need to mobilize and sell this mutha out
that first weekend and get everyone to show up support this funny and
insightfully sweet film by this new Asian American voice. Log on to www.gracelee.net
for more info and how you can get involved.

• Word on the street is that Justin Lin's next film coming to theaters
ANNAPOLIS is sharp. Starring JAMES FRANCO, TYRESE and ROGER FAN. Early reports
from test audiences had the people clapping in their seats. Congrats Justin Lin.

• In post - some Asian American features coming down the pike - AmerAsian -
ROGER LIM; UNDOING - CHRIS CHAN LEE; AMERICAN KNEES - ERIC BYLER; JOURNEY FROM
THE FALL - HAM TRAN; Any others out there?

• Anyone seen MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA? Love to hear your comments. Why they
got to have the poster with a Geisha with blue eyes?

• ANG LEE kicked butt up on Toronto with BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Oscar buzz is
Heath Ledger. Audiences coming out of the film were singing the film's
praises. Also, it won at Venice Film Festival. Congratulations ANG LEE. Check it
out December 2!

• Props to PAUL MAYEDA BERGES - h is first feature directorial debut THE
MISTRESS OF THE SPICES premiered at Toronto and the audiences loved the film.
His lovely wife GURINDER CHADHA is so gracious - she walked down the "wait list"
line of over 200 people and greeted everyone. Chadha co-wrote the film with
Berges, as they normally do. This couple is on the money. CHADHA is still
prepping I DREAM OF JEANNIE THE PREQUEL.

• It's not Asian - but it's good category:
A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
CAPOTE
THUMBSUCKER
GREEN STREET HOOLIGANS

See you at San Diego,

APA FIRST WEEKEND!

Organization of Chinese Americans

2005-09-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Image Awards

OCA-GLA invites you to recognize Asian Pacific Islander American community leaders and role models at our annual Image Awards Dinner and Reception.

September 30, 2005
6:00 PM
Omni Los Angeles Hotel

The evening will feature a guest performance by singer songwriter Scott Tang, a silent auction of over 100 great items, and a raffle to support the OCA-GLA internship program.

Actor John Cho will be present as well!

Calling for film entries: Visual Communications

2005-09-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

"CALL FOR ENTRIES: VC FILMFEST 2006"
VC FILMFEST 2006
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
May 4-11, 2006

CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS!!!

VC FILMFEST: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is currently seeking film and video productions for its Twenty-Second Edition, set for May 4 through 11, 2006 and presented by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center. Productions for consideration include features and shorts in the following categories:
dramatic/narrative;
documentaries;
experimental works; and
animation/graphic film...
and 1-channel video works in all genres. 16mm, and 35mm entries (film); and NTSC-format works (video)
by Asian Pacific American and Asian international producers, and or directors with themes involving, but NOT
limited to, Asian Pacific culture, history and experiences are welcome and encouraged.

EARLY DEADLINE: postmarked by November 14, 2005
Processing Fee: $20 U.S. (domestic and international)

Final deadline: postmarked by December 16, 2005.
Processing Fee: $35.00 U.S. (domestic and international)

Preview Formats: 1/2" VHS format (NTSC or PAL); or DVD (region One).

Notification of selection will be announced in mid-March 2006. A
self-addressed stamped mailer is required for return of preview tapes.

Entry materials are available by contacting:

Festival Director, VC FILMFEST 2006
c/o Visual Communications
120 Judge John Aiso Street
Basement Level
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For more information call (213) 680-4462 x68 or fax (213) 687-4848; to
Download the Entry Form now by visiting the Festival website at www.vconline.org.

Be a part of one "Los Angeles' Top 10 Film Festivals" as recognized by the LA WEEKLY!

Asian Am hip hop summit audition

2005-09-23T14:00:00.000-07:00

OPEN AUDITIONS FOR ASIAN HIP HOP SUMMIT 4
Sunday, October 9, 2005
4PM @ Jeet Kune Flow
625 S. Lafayette Park Place (6th & Hoover)
K-Town, LA 90057

*rappers & dancers & turntablists & spoken word & singing & all other genres of performance are welcome to audition *performers must be of Asiatic descent (including Arab & South Asian & Pacific
Islander)
*two mics and CD player and two turntables will be provided (deejays should bring own needles and headphone and if preferred own mixer)--any extra equipment needed, please let us know *performers are allowed one song (3-5 minutes)
***to reserve your spot in the audition or if you have questions: ahkwon@yahoo.com

Asian Hip Hop Summit 4 will be arriving this fall
an Asiatic Empire production (www.asiaticempire.com)
past Asian Hip Hop Summit performers: Visionaries, Jupitersciples, DJ K-Sly, Cerritos All-Stars, NoCanDo (AHHS 1 & 2 freestyle battle champ), Prach Ly, Ishle Park, D'Lo, Nemo, Karmacy, Chosen 1, Slant, Shin-B, Ken Oak, Longevity Crew, Susie Suh, DJ Coy, DJ Dwendz from Foundation Funkcollective, Inland Teikoku, etc., etc., etc.

Visual Communications need you!

2005-09-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

"CALL FOR ENTRIES: VC FILMFEST 2006"
VC FILMFEST 2006
The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
May 4-11, 2006

CALLING ALL FILMMAKERS!!!
VC FILMFEST: The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is currently seeking film and video productions for its Twenty-Second Edition, set for May 4 through 11, 2006 and presented by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center. Productions for consideration include features and shorts in the following categories: dramatic/narrative, documentaries, experimental works and animation/graphic films; and 1-channel video works in all genres. 16mm, and 35mm entries (film); and NTSC-format works (video) by Asian Pacific American and Asian international producers with themes involving, but NOT limited to, Asian Pacific culture, history and experiences are welcome and encouraged.

EARLY DEADLINE: postmarked by November 14, 2005
Processing Fee: $20 U.S. (domestic and international)

Final deadline: postmarked by December 16, 2005.
Processing Fee: $35.00 U.S. (domestic and international)

Preview Formats: 1/2" VHS format (NTSC or PAL); or DVD (region One).

Notification of selection will be announced in mid-March 2006. A self-addressed stamped mailer is required for return of preview tapes. Entry materials are available by contacting:

Festival Director, VC FILMFEST 2006
c/o Visual Communications
120 Judge John Aiso Street
Basement Level
Los Angeles, CA 90012

For more information call (213) 680-4462 x68 or fax (213) 687-4848; to download the Entry Form, visit the Festival website at www.vconline.org.

Visual Communication

2005-09-21T11:54:00.000-07:00

Visual Communications presents... Past/Forward 2005!

For more information go to: http://www.vconline.org/pastforward/pf05/tickets.html