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August 20th 2004: Issue 15
Some interesting news in the Korean film industry. First off, the epic Korean War flick and most expensive Korean film ever made, Tae-Guk-Gi, boasting mammoth battle scenes requiring 25,000 extras and nine months to shoot, will be opening September 3rd in New York City. The movie starring Korean megastars Jan Dong-Gun and Won bin, was number 1 at the Korean box office for six consecutive weeks this year and was shown on a record number of screens (513) and sold an unprecedented 10 million tickets in its first 40 days of release. Word is it that they will both be in town along with director Kang Je-Gyu ( Shiri) the weekend of the release. And instead of being distributed in the US, another big Korean film, the critically-acclaimed Old Boy, (recently screened at the Korean Culture Service) is getting remade for the US market, with Asian American director Justin Lin best known for Better Luck Tommorrow at the helm.
There's a controversial new book out, by Filipino American journalist Michelle Malkin called In Defense of Internment that argues among other issues, that the Japanese Internment was justified. Didn't someone tell her that she is Asian? Maybe she forgot—can someone give her a call? I hate to give this woman free press, but this is the last thing we need—next thing you know, we go to war with North Korea, and I end up in an internment camp. Her too, probably. We all look the same.
Don't forget to cheer the National Korean Soccer team when they play their Olympic Quarterfinal match vs. Paraguay at Kaftanzoglio Stadium tommorrow on channel Telemundo (channel 8 for those of you who live in the city) at 2:00pm!
-ubn
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MIXER
Lock and Key Singles Mixer
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Friday, August 27th, 9:30pm - 4:00am
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Fashion Forty Lounge
202 West 40th Street between 7th and 8th Ave
New York City
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Free with registration at www.ahnline.com
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www.ahnline.com
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Sponsored by Anheuser-Busch and in association with Underscore Media and Atmosphere, Ahnline.com will be hosting another evening of social networking. Geared toward Asian-American professionals in the New York City / New Jersey metro regions, Ahnline will offer an 1 hour open bar for all ladies from 9:30pm - 10:30pm as well as a lock and key mixer for all to participate. We have again chosen the sophisticated and intimate Fashion Forty Lounge as our venue, conveniently located just steps away from the heart of Times Square. Both levels of the hip Fashion Forty will offer a laid back, relaxed atmosphere to serve as a perfect setting for mingling and conversation.
The lock and key mixer will give our guests a new interesting way to meet new people. All ladies will receive a numbered lock while the gentlemen will receive a numbered key. Throughout the night as you mingle, you will search for your matching numbered lock or key. Need help? We'll have our Ahnline hostesses helping you out. When you find your match the both of you will receive a complimentary drink and also be entered in our raffle drawing where, two randomly chosen winners will win an Apple iPod Mini each!
Ahnline is committed to providing Asian American professionals with exciting and fresh ways of connecting either via the internet or through our special Ahnline Events. All Ahnline members will be given free admission. Just tell us your screen name or registered email address at the door. Non-members $10. Registration is free and only takes a minute to join our rapidly growing network of Asian-American singles. So come on out, unwind and have a fun night meeting some new people!
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SCREENING
Preview Screening of Hero
Part of Fist & Sword: A Tribute to Jet Li
Guest Curator, Warrington Hudlin
The martial-arts film is the world's most popular cinematic genre. There were once at least a half-dozen cinemas in New York City where martial-arts films were shown on the big screen. Alas, the Music Palace, the Sun Sing, the Pagoda, the Rosemary, the Canal Cinema, and the Bijou have all closed their doors. Moving Image is pleased to provide New Yorkers the opportunity to once again see these films on the big screen. This monthly series will continue throughout the year, showcasing films from China, Japan, Korea, and elsewhere. A special bonus with each screening will be a discussion with a martial-arts master on the film's interpretation of the martial arts forms it depicts.
Hero (2003) 96 mins. Directed by Zhang Yimou. With Jet Li, Maggie Cheung, Tony Leung, Zhang Yiyi.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Annual Anna Erika Nursing Home Visit
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Young Korean American Network) (y-KAN)
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Saturday, August 21st, 11:00am - 3:00pm
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Anna Erika Assistance Living Home
110 Henderson Avenue
Staten Island
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www.ykan.org | community@ykan.org
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Please save the date, Saturday, August 21, 2004, 11am-3pm, for our annual luncheon with the Korean Senior Citizen residents at the Anna Erika Adult Home in Staten Island, NY. Anna Erika is an elderly nursing home for those
who or whose family cannot look after themselves/them. Most of the residents are senior citizens and there are about 20 Korean residents. For over 8 years, yKAN has held annual visits to the retirement home and provided free Korean style lunches to the Korean-American residents. Since these elderly seniors often do not get a chance to eat their
native foods as Anna Erika is a state subsidized retirement home, yKAN will bring catered Korean food and serve the residents. Not only are we bringing Korean cuisine to their facilities, we are also going to provide gifts and
entertainment! As we continue our annual event with Anna Erika, we need your help and participation! yKAN is committed to serve the 1st generation seniors, as well as, the community that we love. Rides are available from Manhattan - Please rsvp in advance.
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FESTIVAL
A Korean Afternoon
A buquet of rare, traditional dances and music featuring the Sounds of Korea
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Sunday, August 22nd, 6:00pm
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Lincoln Center
62nd and 65th Streets and Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues
Josie Robertson Plaza
(center of the Lincoln Center campus)
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www.lincolncenter.com
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Part of the Lincoln Center "Out of Doors" Festival, Sounds of Korea is an ensemble of second-generation Korean-Americans who perform the traditional dance and music of their ancestral homeland. Founded in 1990, their colorful repertoire includes fan dance (p'chae-ch'm) and drum dance. Sounds of Korea has performed extensively in the U.S. and Canada. This event is free.
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CONCERT
AIR (Asians In Rock) Tour
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Wednesday, August 25th
Doors open at 8:00pm, Show begins at 8:30pm
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Knitting Factory
Old Office
74 Leonard Street
New York City
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www.jennychoi.com/air.html
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The AIR (Asians In Rock) Tour starts August 14th in Chicago and makes its New York City leg on Wednesday, August 25th. Jenny Choi (Double Zero/Suburban Home Records) conceptualized the Asians In Rock (AIR) tour to kick off a celebration of Asians who revel in the indie rock subculture and are actively bringing innovative soundscapes to the forefront of what we consider today as American music. The tour hopes to give voice to the often silent "model" minority by broadening the cookie cutter stereotypes often relegated to Asian Americans, and to inspire Asian youth to avoid assimilating to mainstream tendencies in their artistry by finding original ways to articulate their own unique cultural context and identities.
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SCREENING
A Night at the Movies: Samaria (2003)
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Korean Cultural Service
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Thursday, August 26th, 6:30pm
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Korean Cultural Service
460 Park Ave at 57th Street
New York City
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www.koreanculture.org | (212)759-9550
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Samaria, an abstract drama told in three parts, was the winner of the 2003 Silver Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for director Ki-duk Kim. The film's plot involves two teenage friends who turn to prostitution as a way to finance a European trip. When one of them dies, the other must try to redeem herself. Famous for making low-budget films, Ki-duk Kim made Samaria for an estimated cost of 500 million won. Here in New York, Ki-duk Kim's Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring was recently screened at the Lincoln Center/MoMA New Directors/New Films Festival to great critical acclaim. Director: Kim Ki-Duk. Running Time: 95 min. Genre: Drama
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FILM RELEASE
Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War
Korean War epic and Korea's all-time box office leader and the biggest Korean film ever produced, Kang Je-Gyu's Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War opens In New York On September 10th. Rated R. Running time: 140 minutes. In Korean with English subtitles.
Destination Films & Samuel Goldwyn Films present the acclaimed Korean War epic Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War, directed by South Korea's leading filmmaker Kang Je-gyu (Shiri, The Gingko Bed) and starring Korean superstars Jang Dong-Gun (Chingu, Nowhere to Hide) and Won Bin (Guns and Talks). Released earlier this year in its homeland, Taegukgi has gone on to become Korea's highest-grossing film of all time and a blockbuster across Asia. With a budget of $14 million, it is also the most expensive Korean film ever produced. Destination Films & Samuel Goldwyn Films will release TAEGUKGI in New York and select cities on Friday, September 10.
Taegukgi is the story of two brothers who are unwillingly drafted into the South Korean army following the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950. The older brother (Jang Dong-gun) strives to protect his younger brother (Won Bin) on the battlefield while struggling to find a way to have him discharged so he can return to their village and care for the family they left behind. However, as the war progresses, the horror and violence they witness begin to take its toll on each man and severe their bonds as brothers and soldiers.
Featuring large-scale battle sequences and an intimate and complex look at the social consequences of the Korean War on its country and people, Taegukgi offers a unique perspective on "The Forgotten War", which permanently divided a nation and turned friends--and families--into sworn enemies. In addition to smashing Korean box-office records, the film has been a breakout hit in numerous Asian territories, particularly Japan, where its success has surprised many industry experts.
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SPORTS LEAGUE
Fastbreak NYC Asian Basketball 2004 Fall/Winter League
Fastbreak NYC is the largest Asian American basketball league on the east coast which provides its players with the best facilities, top notch referees, personal player statistics, and most of all a chance to compete against the best while making a difference in a child's life. The Fall/Winter 2004 season starts September 18th.
Be a part of the top Asian basketball league in the Tri-state area by registerting your team or yourself as a free agent. Fastbreak NYC offers the best services that no other league can offer:
All games played at Basketball City Pier 63
Complete access to fitness center before and after games
Certified Referees
8 Fastbreak NYC uniforms
Personal Statisticians and Scorekeepers keeping up-to-date stats
Individual players stats available online
Free warm-up gym time before and after games
Interested in playing but don't have a team? Dont worry cause you can join as a free agent and we'll place you on a team! Your involvement with the league will allow Fastbreak NYC to educate and encourage Asian American underprivileged children in the New York / New Jersey Metro Area to strive toward success. Our "Make A Difference" program allows children, ranging from 6-18 years of age, to excel not only in their basketball skills, but also to enter into a mentorship program with our team of committed and dedicated volunteers that inspire and encourage a
positive path in life.
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INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
ImaginAsianTV Call for Interns
ImaginAsian TV, a pan Asian television network is looking for recent graduates to intern in their production department, both in the office as well as out in the field. This will be a great opportunity to gain experience in every aspect of production, post-production and broadcasting. The ideal candidate will be energetic, hardworking,
enthusiastic, enterprising and with a passion for production. Production/broadcast experience will be a plus. Please respond with resumes and current contact info to kbasil@iatv.tv. Compensation: $20 a day for travel and meals. Possibility of becoming full time with benefits, after 4 months of proven ability.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Fall 2004 Internships for Undergraduate, Graduate, and Law Students
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy, and community education. Fall internships are available for college,
graduate, and law students in AALDEF's Voting Rights Program.
In the 2000 elections, Asian Americans faced a series of barriers in exercising their right to vote; for example, ballots have been mistranslated listing Democratic candidates as Republicans and vice versa, lack of interpreters, denial of language assistance, rude and hostile poll workers. Then, when the news media reported on election returns and the vote by specific groups, Asian Americans were overlooked. AALDEF's Voting Rights Program aims to enhance the political participation of Asian Americans and guard against anti-Asian voter discrimination.
Voting rights interns work on the following:
Election monitoring to ensure Asian Americans are treated fairly at the polls and to document violations of the Voting Right Act and federal Constitution. The Voting Rights Act mandates the availability of Chinese and Korean language assistance and forbids anti-Asian voter discrimination
Coordinate a survey of Asian American voters to document the use of bilingual ballots and report on Asian American voting patterns. The survey will be taken at poll sites in New York City and New Jersey. Interns will recruit, train, and supervise volunteers, as well as coordinate logistics at three dozen polling sites.
Register new voters after citizenship swearing-in ceremonies.
Conduct research and advocacy on local, state and federal election
reform proposals.
Description of fall internships:
Supervision: Interns are supervised by attorneys through regular meetings and trainings.
Compensation: These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged.
Hours: Interns work anywhere between 12 to 25 hours per week in the office.
Duration: The internship usually follows the semester, commencing with the start of classes or (end of August/ beginning of September) and goes to the first or second week of December.
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KOREAN LANGUAGE CLASSES
Korea Society 2004 Fall Session
Emphasizing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, the language program’s balanced and thorough approach instills in the student a greater understanding and appreciation for Korean culture. Korean language courses extend over a semester of twelve sessions. Instructors are experienced Korean language teachers with university affiliations. Class size is limited to allow more interaction with the instructor and other students. Classes are offered throughout the year in five sequential levels from basic to advanced.
Korean I (Basic) Tuesday 6:00 - 7:45pm
Pronunciation, the Korean alphabet and basic sentence structures are taught in this course. The focus is on common daily expressions and vocabulary used in greetings, dining and other everyday routines. This course is intended for individuals who have only a limited or no prior knowledge of Korean. Instructor: Shin-Hark Suk
Korean II (Beginning I) Tuesday 7:45 - 9:30pm
Conversational skills, vocabulary and mastery of basic sentence structures are the focus of this course. Instructor-guided discussions and role-playing will be used to encourage and promote speaking. Instructor: Shin-Hark Suk
Korean III (Beginning II) Thursday 6:00 - 7:45pm
This course prepares students for intermediate level language study by polishing skills learned in the Korean I and Korean II levels. Emphasis is placed on expanding the student's vocabulary and improving speaking and listening skills. The objective is to promote fluency in basic language structures used in everyday conversations. Instructor: Shin-Hark Suk
Korean IV (Intermediate) Thursday 6:00 - 7:45pm
Students enrolled in this course will study more sophisticated language structures, enhance their vocabulary and sharpen their conversation skills. The course focuses on enhancing the four language skills—speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is available only to students who have completed at least three semesters of Korean or can demonstrate the equivalent language competency. Instructor: Eun Sung Park
Korean V (Upper Intermediate) Thursday 7:45 - 9:30pm
This course is designed to strengthen oral skills through such activities as role-playing, student-led presentations and discussions. Special emphasis will be placed on mastering the social and functional aspects of language use. This course is available to students who have had at least four semesters of Korean or can demonstrate the equivalent language competency. Instructor: Eun Sung Park
The Society reserves the right to cancel any course if sufficient enrollment is not obtained. In such cases, students already enrolled will receive full refunds.
Fee: $375 (nonmembers); $350 (members). Payment must be received prior to class attendance to guarantee your place. No refunds or cancellations will be made after the second day of class. There will be a $40 service charge for all enrollment cancellations.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Senior Citizen Tutoring
Below is a message from a friend of mine active in the Korean community:
As a member of the Korean American community, I feel it is vitally important that people who are interested in becoming citizens to get all the help they need.
The Korean American Association of New Jersey has implemented a program to tutor permanent residents, mostly senior citizens who don't speak English,in passing the US citizenship test. This is a wonderful program which helps a group of truly appreciative 'halmonies and harabogies" who need your native English speaking skills. You can also practice your Korean with them. (Every time I say something in Korean, a couple of halmonies in the front start to giggle.)
If you are a student this would look great on your resume, and if you just have some flexibility in your time, it's also a lot of fun and quite gratifying. So if you are a native English speaker, with time available on Monday
afternoon from 2-4, The Korean American Association of New Jersey will pick you up (from anywhere in the tri-state area), feed you lunch, and give you a ride home.
I've been doing this for the last 4 weeks, and would love to keep doing so,but just do not have the time. Contact me if you're interested.
Vicki Jang
International Affairs, VP
Kajaycees
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