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April 07th 2005: Issue 31
Ruddy Morgan, producer of American classics such as Cannonball Run and the recent Million Dollar Baby, and also of pan-Asian films such as Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon has come on board the upcoming $10 million musical Perhaps Love. The film, to be directed by Peter Chan (The Love Letter) along with celebrated cinematographer Christopher Doyle (Hero), is the first full-blown Mandarin-language musical by a Hong Kong director since the heyday of the Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1960s. Set in mainland China, Perhaps Love revolves around a love triangle that develops during the making of a musical and will star star Takeshi Kaneshiro (House of Flying Daggers) and Xun Zhou (Baober in Love).
Over here in the States, Chinese actress Gong Li, known for her parts in Raise the Red Lantern and Farewell My Concubine and appearing in the upcoming Memoirs of a Geisha, is set to appear in Michael Mann's (Heat, Collateral) upcoming film, Miami Vice based on the 1980s TV crime drama. Colin Farrell and Jamie Foxx star, respectively, as Detectives Crockett and Tubbs and Li will play Isabella, the Chinese-Cuban wife of the leader of a transnational crime syndicate and Crockett's love interest. Outside of Hollywood, the International Channel has changed its name to AZN Television, as the new branded tv station has swtiched to all Asian programming.
And still on a smaller scale, a friend of mine out in LA is participating in an impressive new musical all produced, directed and starred by UCLA students during its annual UCLA Korean Culture Night. The Tale Changsu is an original full-length
production based on a traditional Korean folktale, featuring an all original music score, elaborate costumes straight from Korea (thanks to KBS), and traditional dances and drumming.
-ubn
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THEATER
Sides: The Fear is Real...
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Ma-Yi Theater Company
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Opening Night: Saturday April 9th, 8:00pm
Weekly shows: April 7th - May 1st
Wednesdays 8:00pm, Thursdays 8:00pm, Fridays 7:00pm and 10:00pm, Saturdays 7:00pm and 10:00pm, Sundays 7:00pm
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Performance Space 122
150 First Avenue
New York City
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www.ma-yitheatre.org | www.mrmiyagi.com
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Ma-Yi Theater Company presents Mr. Miyagi's Theatre Company's Sides: The Fear is Real... written by and starring Sekiya Billman, Cindy Cheung, Paul H. Juhn, Peter Kim, Hoon Lee and Rodney To, directed by Anne Kauffman. Actors. Auditions. Agony. After years of collectively accumulating bit parts as the Asian American characters on Seinfeld and Sex and the City, the actors of Mr. Miyagi's Theatre Company decided to write and star in their own sidesplitting off-Broadway production, "Sides: The Fear is Real". The group earned the Best Ensemble Award at the 2003 New York International Fringe Festival for its previous staging of the show, which draws from its members' personal experiences, portraying actors and their comically excruciating trials with casting directors. It'll make the aspiring thespian in you laugh, then shudder.
Mr. Miyagi's Theater Company, as we are called, is a group of 6 Asian American actors who have written a very funny show about the trials of auditioning for acting roles called "Sides: The Fear Is Real...." The show's 3 Korean cast members have recently been interviewed by both The Segye Times and Korea Times.
“Whip-smart comedy ?a bull’s eye?- Wall Street Journal
“High-speed, chokingly funny?- Washington Post
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PARTY
ALLive!
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New York Korean-American Junior Chamber (KAJC)
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Friday, April 8th, 7:00 ?10:00pm
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Gallery Club & Lounge
7 East 27th Street
between 5th and Madison
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www.kajc.org
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As the first in our Kor-Ting series for 2005, ALLive! features live music from the top young performers in hip hop & R&B. Ha Jin and Sung have been featured on MTV and ESPN. Vocalist Joe Trombino with Urban Sun has been featured on Ricky Martin’s video as well as Saturday Night Live. Their phenomenal ALL LIVE performances will move, inspire and put you on the dance floor. Also, fresh from his tours to Japan and the UK, DJ Ronin, the “Asian Nemesis,?will rock the house. This event is organized by KAJC. Kor-Ting is our brand of “quality socials for young professionals.?All net proceeds will be used towards community service projects by the KAJC.
The NY Korean-American Junior Chamber (KAJC) is a membership based organization of young Korean American professionals, leaders & entrepreneurs. Through our affiliation with NY State Junior Chamber, U.S. Junior Chamber and Junior Chamber International, we are a part of a worldwide federation in 100 countries with a worldwide membership of over 500,000. Our goal is to help individuals develop themselves and their communities.
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SCREENINGS
Perspectives on North Korea
A special screening of three films and a panel discussion with guest filmmakers. Co-sponsored by New York Seoul, LiNK, NAKA-NY, and Nodutdol and supported by New York University KSA. This is a great opportunity for those of you who seek a more informed perspective on North Korea that may not be found in the general media. The films provide different viewpoints on the North Korean situation through firsthand accounts from North Korean citizens, refugee's, and economic migrants. We hope you will join us for this special event that is free and open to the public. This is a free event, but seats are limited.
North Korea: Beyond the DMZ (2003)
United States, English, 55 minutes
Directed by: JT Takagi & Hye Jung Park
Documentary
A documentary that follows a Korean American woman to one of the most mysterious and the most demonized countries on earth: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The film offers a unique look at life there today, post-famine but in the midst of both economic and nuclear crises. As tensions have continued to mount between North Korea and the United States, it presents not only an alternative look at this "evil empire" - but a more human one, a view that has rarely been presented in America. Jikyung, a young Korean American in New York, was brought up to fear North Korea. She then finds out she has family there and feels compelled to go and visit.
Seoul Train (2004)
United States, English, 45 minutes
Directed by: Jim Buttorworth & Aaron Lubarsky
Documentary
With its riveting footage of a secretive underground railroad, Seoul Train is the gripping documentary expose into the life and death of North Koreans as they try to escape their homeland and China. Seoul Train also delves into the complex geopolitics behind this growing and potentially explosive humanitarian crisis. By combining footage, personal stories and interviews with experts and government officials, Seoul Train depicts the flouting of international laws by major countries, the inaction and bureaucracy of the United Nations, and the heroics of activists that put themselves in harm's way to save the refugees.
Children Escaped From North Korea Go To China (1999)
United States, English, 35 minutes
Directed by: Jae Sung Byun
Documentary
The camera closely follows North Korean child refugees living on the northeastern Chinese border, the Yanbian Korean-Chinese self-governing state of Jilin and Shenyang of Liaoning. North Korean children live from a hand to mouth by begging for money and food from the Chinese on the street. Some of them are seen fallen asleep on a stairway of an apartment. Others go to inland big cities to find something more and to escape being arrested by the police. The camera finally stops at the Duman River, the border between China and North Korea, the sight of the boys going back to North Korea with saved
money to try and help their families.
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SCREENINGS
City Cinematheque: Contemporary Korean Films
City Cinematheque: Contemporary Korean Films will be on Saturday and Sunday nights at 9:00pm, repeated the following Friday night at 12:00 midnight, CUNY-TV: Cable Channel 75 (New York City). Hosted by JerryCarlson. City Cinematheque is a co-production of City University Television and the Department of Media & Communication Arts of The City College of New York/CUNY.
April 9th - 10th and 15th
Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?(1989)
South Korea, 137 minutes, Korean with English subtitles, color, drama
Director by: Bae Yong-kyun
Starring: Pan-yong Yi, Won-sop Sin, Hae-jin Huang, Su-myong Ko
Visualization of the contemplative nature of Zen Buddhism with a story that follows the interactions of a young disciple, an aging Zen master and an orphan boy at a hermitage on Mount Chonan in South Korea. In Korean with English subtitles. Discussion follows film.
April 16th - 17th and 22nd
Tell Me Something (1999)
South Korea, 116 minutes, Korean with English subtitles, color, crime drama
Directed by: Yoon-Hyun Chang
Starring: Suk-kyu Han, Eun-ha Shim, Hang-Seon Jang, Jung-ah Yum, Jun-Sang Yu
Grisly police drama about an obsessive cop in Seoul and his pursuit of a serial killer who leaves body parts of victims to be found by the police. Warning: Contains scenes of extreme gore. In Korean with English subtitles.
Discussion follows film.
April 23rd - 24th and 29th
Take Care of My Cat (2001)
South Korea, 112 minutes, Korean with English subtitles, color, drama
Directed by: Jae-eun Jeong
Starring: Doo-na Bae, Yu-won Lee, Ji-young Ok, Eun-shil Lee, Eun-joo Lee
Poignant coming-of-age drama about five close-knit female friends in the South Korean port city of Icheon who try to make their way in the world after high school but find it hard to stay together. Discussion follows film.
April 30, May 1, May 6
Painted Fire (aka Chi-hwa-seon) (2002)
South Korea, 116 minutes, Korean with English subtitles, color, historical drama
Directed by: Im Kwon Taek
Starring: Min-sik Choi, Sung-kee Ahn, Ho-Jeong Yu, Yeo-jin Kim, Ye-jin Son
Vignettes in the life of Ohwon, the 19th century painter revered as Korea’s greatest artist, who was rescued from life in the streets and managed to achieve fame and recognition during one of Korea’s most turbulent periods. Discussion follows film.
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SCREENINGS
Korean Animation Film Series
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Stony Brook University Charles B. Wang Center and Department of Korean Studies
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April 12th, 19th, and 26th
All screenings at 7:00pm
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The Charles B Wang Center
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
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Admission is free
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www.stonybrook.edu/wang
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Savor Asianness in all its diversity and complexity at the Charles B. Wang Center - April is Asian Heritage Month at Stony Brook University. Catch a glimpse of how Korean artists have expanded their modes of expression through various new styles and images. Through experimentations such as pictures drawn on tissue and variations on Buddhist artwork or traditional Korean art, these animated films are among the best in imaginative innovation. This series includes Kyungwon Im's Little Dinosaur Dooly; Sung-gang Lee's My Beautiful Girl Mari; Moon-saeng Kim's Wonderful Days (Sky Blue); and Sung Baek-Yeop's Oseam. Co-sponsored with the Department of Korean Studies and generously supported by the Korean Cultural Service in New York.
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POKER TOURNAMENT
Project by Project's 1st Annual No-Limit Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament
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Project by Project
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Saturday, April 16th, 1:00pm
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Club Deep
West 22nd Street
between 5th and 6th Ave
New York City
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$50 Buy-In, online only. Final registration ends midnight, April 14th
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www.projectbyproject.org/ny/poker
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It's about time to put on your game face and dust off your lucky charms. Project by Project is excited to bring together poker players for an incredible day of fun. Not a poker pro? Come by and our pros will teach you! The poker tournament will serve to create more awareness of our selected partner's cause in a fun and competitive atmosphere, while also raising funds in support of PbP's ongoing mission. Learn more about our 2005 partner ?the End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes network www.ecpatusa.org.
The format is 100 player maximum, shotgun style. Prizes include two nights & dinner for two at Foxwoods, fee poker lesson with Mike Scelza & Johnny Marinacci from Spike TV's Casino Cinema Show, Click2Asia poker tournament buy-in waiver & Chance to win a seat on World Series of Poker, and more!
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EXHIBITION
Pintadas: An Exhibit of Tattooed Asian Pacific Islander Women
The exhibit is entitled, "Pintadas: An Exhibit of Tattooed Asian Pacific Islander Women". The name pintados comes from the name the Spanish gave the inhabitants of Panay Island of the Philippines because of their tattooed bodies, and the word pintadas marks the female aspect. In this spirit, the evening will include a photography exhibit of tattooed API women from both the West & East Coast (& Canada!), as well as a live mic
portion where some of the participants will relate the stories behind their tattoos & their identity. This exhibit is an unprecedented event. In addition, there will be luscious wine & chocolates served throughout the evening! There are now 36 women participating in the exhibit.
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MOVIE RELEASE
Save the Green Planet (Jigureul Jikyeora!)
Save the Green Planet (Jigureul Jikyeora!) (2003)
South Korea, Korean, English Subtitles, 118 minutes
Directed by Jun-hwan Jeong
Starring Shin Ha-Gyun and Baek Yun-Shik
Finally, an Asian movie that matters gets an American release. Save the Green Planet is a tilt-a-whirl genre-blender from Korea that turns film history against itself to create one of the most savage, affecting and inspired anti-violence movies ever made. This is a movie that defies all marketing labels and is exactly what it wants to be: like nothing you¹ve ever seen before.
Lee Byeong-Gu (Shin Ha-Gyun, JSA) is a sensitive, blue collar sad sack hopped up on conspiracy theories and sci-fi films whose life has been derailed by one bad break after another. Yet he knows there's no such
thing as bad luck. The only thing that could have made such a mess of his life are...aliens. Nasty, disgusting aliens who have infiltrated human society. Sly aliens who are planning to destroy our planet at the next lunar eclipse. The one alien possessing the Royal Genetic Code needed to contact the Crown
Prince and stop the destruction just happens to be his old boss, CEO of Yuje Chemicals, Kang Man-Shik (Baek Yun-Shik). So with the help of his circus-performer girlfriend he sets out to kidnap Kang and torture him until he confesses to his alien identity and stops the invasion. Of course, it¹s hard to confess to something that¹s just a delusion in a sick man¹s mind.
First time director Jang Jun-Hwang has marshaled every trick in his cinematic arsenal to unleash a full-out moviemaking assault on the audience. Shot for only $3 million, this stylish flick looks like something Terry
Gilliam would come up with if he were in a really bad mood.
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SCREENING
A State of Mind
A State of Mind (2004)
North Korea and United Kingdom, English, 93 minutes
Directed by: Daniel Gordon
Documentary
A stunning new documentary on North Korea to open in New York looks into the hearts and minds of North Koreans. The new film from the director of The Game of Their Lives follows two North Korean schoolgirls 13 year old Pak Hyon Sun and 11 year old Kim Song Yun and their families for 7 months leading up to the Mass Games, the biggest and most elaborate human performance on earth. Through the voice of three generations of North Koreans, the film reveals more of North Korea than anything you¹ve ever seen before. Coming to the Tribeca Film Festival (April 21st ?May 1st). Director Dan Gordon will be at screenings for questions and answers. Look for it in New York theatres August 2005 (www.kino.com) .
"You have to understand, no one has ever been allowed to see, let alone film, what you are witnessing." - North Korean advisor to the film crew
"An extraordinary documentary...a rare picture of a secret and little understood country." - The Guardian
"The footage of the games is magnificent but it is the insight into Korean lives that is breathtaking." Sunday Times
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TRAINING COURSE
The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) Organizer Training
The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is seeking to recruit and train Asian and Pacific
Islanders organizers. APALA is looking for individuals who want to help workers stand up for themselves and their families by demanding a living wage, health insurance, and dignity on the job.
More than half a million Asian and Pacific Islanders Americans are part of the union movement and have a voice in their workplace. Yet, millions more need your help to fight exploitation and abuse and demand respect and dignity in the workplace. Join us for a hands-on training conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American organizers who work on the front lines in the fight for economic justice.
On Friday, April 29th - Sunday, May 1st, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Organizing Institute will co-conduct a training especially for Asian and Pacific Islander workers and potential organizers. The Organizing Institute is a selective three-step program that includes a 3-day classroom training, field training, and job placement. APALA and the Organizing Institute will co-sponsor a special 3-Day Training in April 2005 that focuses on organizing immigrant and Asian and Pacific Islander American workers into
unions. The 3-day training is an intensive weekend course that teaches the basics of campaign tactics and strategy to potential organizers and assesses participants' skills. Housing and food are provided. Following the 3-day training, field training, and job placement opportunities will be available to qualified participants.
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CONCERT
Rainstone Live!
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April 29th, 7:30 - 10:30pm
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Hammerstein Concert Hall
311 West 34th Street
between 8th and 9th Ave
New York City
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Tickets $90 - $55
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www.rainstonelive.com
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Rainstone Live presents the largest Korean Concert ever held in New York City. Performers include Lee Soo Young, Eun Ji Won, Eugene (SES), Tim, Maya, JK Kim Dong Wook and other special guests. Special host: Kim Dong Hyun. Sponsored by Korea Times, Hyundai and Korean Air.
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PERFORMANCE
The First Annual YELLA if ya HEAR ME!
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Saturday, April 30th, 7:00pm
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Jung Dong Theater
505 S. Virgil Ave 3rd Floor at 6th and Virgil
Los Angeles, California
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$10 presale; $12 at the door; $20 VIP
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www.projektnewspeak.com
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It's time for Asian Americans to break and shake the entertainment scene! The Asian American SLAM Poetry Showcase in Los Angeles! Cash prize for the winner! Limited discounted presale tickets available! Performers include: Junichi Semitsu, D'Lo, Danie Jung, Skim, Leonard Shek, Justin Nakasone.
Celebrity Judges:
Miss Info - HOT 97 and VH1's Best Week Ever
DJ K-Sly- 100.3 the Beat, Dance 360 and Steve Harvey's Big Time
Shihan - Resident Performer of Russell Simmon's Def Poetry Jam
Zero3 - Stage and Spoken Word Superheroes
Special Guest Performers:
PK - Comedian/Spoken Word
Ken Oak - Musician
Duane Koh - Musician
Shihan the Prototype - Spoken Word
Zero3 - Spoken Word
with our resident DJ, DJ Ultraman
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CALL FOR ENTRIES
Asian American International Film Festival Four Youth by Youth
Attention Asian American youth filmmakers between the ages of 16-21! Do you want to use media as a tool for social/political/community change? Do you have a story to tell and share? Do you want to possibly have your work screened at the first and oldest festival dedicated to Asian American filmmakers?
The 28th Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) is seeking submissions from youth filmmakers for our annual For Youth By Youth program. The FYBY program showcases works for and by Asian/Asian American youth. Works selected to screen will be presented during the 28th AAIFF to take place July 15-23 at the Asia Society and Museum in Manhattan. Submit your film to the 28th AAIFF by filling out the FYBY entry form and sending in the appropriate materials on the check list today. Entry is free and open to any youth filmmaker of Asian descent. Click here to download the entry form and check list.
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CALL FOR ENTRIES
First National "Asian American Experience" Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest
Asian American multi-media entertainment company, ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc., has announced that ImaginAsian TV will present the nation's first and only public service announcement (PSA) contest
in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. ImaginAsian TV hopes that this contest will give creative young minds an opportunity to express themselves and to share their thoughts with millions
of homes. Each 15-30 second PSA entry will be judged on its creative merit and its interpretation of the theme, in relevance to Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Winning PSAs to broadcast during Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month on iaTV throughout May.
The contest invites all high school and college students of any ethnic background to share his or her experience of Asian America. All entries must be postmarked by April 22, 2005 to qualify. Interested
applicants should send a 15 to 30 second video on DVD or VHS to:
APA Heritage PSA Contest
ImaginAsian TV
19 West 44th Street, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
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