Slant Eye For The Round Eye

Determinism And The Majumdar Twins

2009-11-08T23:57:00.003-06:00

The above is a trailer for the film Determinism by twin brothers Sanjit and Ranju Majumdar and while I haven't seen the film - the trailer definitely makes me want too.

Here's the synopsis:

A taut story about the dark side of friendship, the ultra low budget feature, DETERMINISM, is set in a racially charged fictional college town in Pennsylvania, where students and drug dealers are often one and the same.

Alec, the film’s anti-hero, is an alienated South Asian. He’s always been an outsider, and he certainly doesn’t fit in here. New York is his Mecca. Tristan, his former best friend and a reformed cokehead, is a white guy, living with Alec’s ex-girlfriend, the beautiful, black Lynn. Tristan thinks he’s got it made.

Broke and cut off from his family after he flunks out of school, Alec sets off to free himself from the stereotypical role of “South Asian Geek” imposed upon him from birth. So opposed to typecasting that he can barely use a computer, he is determined to transcend Determinism — by any means necessary.

Guns and gangstas have an allure that Alec can almost taste. Taking on the gangsta mantel, Alec convinces Tristan to be his lookout when he robs a local drug dealer. The winnings are Alec’s ticket to New York, where he can start afresh and live in a world where color is no barrier.

What seems like a simple heist inadvertently turns into a spiraling bloodbath — and way more than Alec had bargained for. But Alec’s manic obsession keeps him in the game. No matter what goes down, he’s not leaving town without his money.

The filmmakers knew the look and sound of the film before they began principal photography. A major challenge in creating that feel — a thick atmosphere reflecting the desperation of the central characters — was sticking to fluid and carefully composed camerawork for a guerrilla-style production. The Majumdar twins went for an expressionistic visual mode: spare production design, panoramic wide shots, and high contrast lighting were used to create oppressive, lifeless vistas of the fictitious town Narakaville.

The film is grounded in the Majumdars’ sound design, an original dissonant music score, and a cinematic approach inspired by the timeless dark aesthetic of German expressionism. Motifs of college students walking uniformly through campus, spare indistinguishable locations—sterile cookie-cutter apartments within indistinguishable cookie-cutter housing complexes — the overriding atmosphere of isolation, claustrophobia, rigid conformity: a metaphor for modern purgatory. Narakaville reflects the prison Alec must bust out to find his spirit.

Check them out on twitter and facebook in addition to the film's website.

Schoolhousin' Safety: Look Before You Cook

2009-11-08T23:35:00.002-06:00

Got this sent in from the MSG News about their new video and just like everything else they do - it's pure MSG.

Melissa Polinar: Try

2009-11-08T23:12:00.003-06:00

I've been in a Melissa Polinar mood lately so I thought I'd post up one of her more recent tracks "Try" from a couple months ago.

That Was A Little Longer Than Expected...

2009-11-08T23:00:00.003-06:00

So a couple of days turns into about a week.

Go figure.

Don't Call It A Sabbatical?

2009-11-02T19:38:00.004-06:00

A quick post letting you know that I am on a blog sabbatical for a couple to a few days.

See you soon.

Kwok Wai Ho's Killer Gets Sentenced

2009-10-30T12:23:00.003-05:00

While the penalty was technically more than the sentencing guidelines, and at least in some ways Kwok Wai Ho's family gets some type of closure - if you can call it that - I still don't know if it was harsh enough:

After hearing pleas for mercy from the 19-year-old defendant, his relatives and former teachers, and after calls for the maximum sentence from Ho's family, Judge Shelley Robins New handed him a 12 1/2-to-25-year term in state prison.

The third-degree murder sentence was harsher than the 72 months to 20 years that state sentencing guidelines allow for a defendant with no prior criminal record, but it was less than than the statutory maximum range of 20 to 40 years.

The defendant, the judge said, "had the benefit of a large, loving family . . . people who tried again and again to guide him in a world that is difficult." But, according to testimony during his August trial, Walker-Williams on July 10, 2007, veered sharply from those influences when he went looking to "catch a body."

That's street slang with a range of meanings, from assaulting to robbing to murdering a stranger. Walker-Williams, according to several friends who testified, asked them if they wanted to catch a body as they walked to a drugstore on Greeby Street near Loretto Avenue in the Oxford Circle neighborhood in the Northeast.They said no, but moments later, Walker-Williams grabbed Ho from behind, got him in a choke-hold and slammed his head to the pavement.

It still doesn't bring Kwok Wai Ho back though does it?

David Chang, Matt Lauer, And Everyone's Favorite - Kimchi

2009-10-29T23:58:00.001-05:00

Mindy Kaling's Subtle Sexuality

2009-10-29T23:51:00.000-05:00

Aziz Ansari + Kanye West + David Letterman

2009-10-29T23:50:00.000-05:00

Advancing Justice Conference: Asian Americans And Pacific Islanders Building New Foundations For Civil Rights

2009-10-28T23:49:00.003-05:00

Even though the online registration is closed you can still get tickets at the door from what I understand for tomorrow and Friday's Advancing Justice Conference.

The Advancing Justice Conference is an inaugural national civil rights and social justice conference, expected to draw several hundred individuals from across the country. The conference aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders in one place to address a broad range of issues facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It serves as a unique forum where researchers, advocates, direct service providers and other leaders can meet face-to-face, talk about their common challenges and find ways to work collaboratively.

Taking place over two days, the conference covers a variety of issues including: immigration reform and enforcement, immigrant integration, human rights, civil rights and national security, health care, Census 2010, redistricting, low-wage workers, hate crimes, and LGBT rights. It also includes presentations on corporate and foundation fundraising, new media, community organizing, board and commission participation, capacity building, and intergroup collaboration.

The Advancing Justice Conference is a joint project by the Asian American Institute (Chicago), Asian American Justice Center (Washington, D.C.), Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (Los Angeles).

Check down at their site for more info.

Coming Soon: The 2009 Austin Asian American Film Festival

2009-10-28T23:30:00.007-05:00

Because it's never too soon to plan for next month (even though maybe you already should have) - here's some updated info on the Austin Asian American Film Festival:

Austin, TX – The 6th annual Austin Asian American Film Festival (AAAFF) is slated to run November 12th through November 15th at the Alamo, South Lamar. The 2009 movie line-up includes 40 outstanding feature films and shorts selections from over 300 submissions from around the world. In addition, we have a wide variety of special events and film-festival related parties to pick from. Click here for a complete listing of movies and events for this year.

The 2009 Film Festival kicks off Thursday, November 12th with a 7:00pm screening of local filmmaker Ed Radtke’s award-winning drama, Speed of Life, followed by a one of a kind opening night party at KTV Silhouette Lounge featuring DJ Chris Klassen spinning Cambodian girl rock and other feet tapping tracks from around the globe.

VIP Badges for the festival are now on sale @ http://shop.aaaff.org/ for $50 (the price goes up to $60 starting November 1st). Use “AAAFF” Coupon code for a 10% discount coupon on badges (until coupons last). Badge holders will enjoy:
VIP access to all festival screenings, events and unlimited drinks @ selected events
No waiting in line for any screenings or events, guaranteed entry to sold out shows
Exclusive opportunities to meet with the filmmakers, actors and special guests
Admission to a private brunch - the coveted AWM Visionary Awards will be announced at this event
A goodie bag containing an impressive array of treats and surprises including discount coupons to popular Austin restaurants
Films line-up, most premiering for the 1st time in Austin, include:
White on Rice (Dave Boyle, 2009), a sleeper hit romantic comedy with lead actress Lynn Chen (Saving Face) in attendance
Ramchand Pakistani (Mehreen Jabbar, 2008), a moving story of a young Pakistani boy imprisoned for accidentally crossing the India-Pakistan border
Fruit Fly (H.P. Mendoza, 2009), the exuberant and wildly creative musical, which will also be accompanied by a “surprise” viewing
Old Partner (Lee Chung-Ryoul, 2008), South Korea’s highest grossing independent film of all-time, the heartbreaking and charming tale of an elderly man and his beloved ox
Persepolis – A bonus screening - AAAFF is bringing this Oscar nominated and Cannes Festival winner for a one-time outdoor screening on Town Lake! This captivating animated film about an Iranian girl’s journey from young punk rebel to outspoken political dissident will be accompanied by the delicious cuisines of three Austin favorites (Sushi-A-Go-Go, Satay Thai, and Get Sum Dim Sum), and will be preceded by the phenomenal Iranian band Tehranosaurus.
Other Events & Parties
Bollywood-themed party at Malverde
Concert at the Music Gym headlined by underground hip-hop superstar JenRo (showcased on VH1’s The Coolest Years and featured in the documentary Rebel Girls)
Free student screenings and discussion panels on the UT campus
For more information, interview requests, press passes and general inquiries contact us at media@aaaff.org

Click here for a complete listing of movies and events for this year.

About the Festival: Founded in 2004, the Austin Asian American Film Festival celebrates the best in Asian and Asian American independent cinema. The festival aims to highlight the complexity and vitality of Asian/Asian-American communities through cutting-edge narrative, documentary and experimental films in a world far from home. Visit our website @ http://www.aaaff.org/ for more information.

Cool.

See It Again: Come Together Home

2009-10-28T23:13:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to post up another one for filmmaker Ivy Lin that if you missed out her latest film the first time around - don't worry about it - because you can see it again if your down Portland way.

December 4th, Friday, 7pm
5th Avenue Cinema
510 SW Hall St., Portland, OR 97209
*Q&A with the director following the screening

Synopsis

Block 14 in Lone Fir Cemetery, the first Chinese burial ground in Portland—and site of as many as 1,500 burials—now stands as a fenced off void of gravel after most of the remains were exhumed and shipped back to China in 1928 & 1949.

Sixty years later, Director Ivy Lin follows the footsteps of the missing 1949 shipment in an extraordinary journey from Portland to Hong Kong.

Submit Now: Korean American Film Festival NY

2009-10-28T23:01:00.006-05:00

Got sent in some mail from the good folks down at KAFFNY, now in their 4th year, and to all the filmmakers out there - it's your time.

A little bit about the festival if you're new to it (or even if you aren't) from one of the organizers:

We are currently in our 4th year and our mission is to give Korean American and Korean communities at large an opportunity to see our ourselves and our experiences reﬂected on the big screen - to explore the range of perspectives we embody and appreciate where and how we align with others. We believe the cumulative effect of our efforts will allow us to build a stronger, more diverse, collective identity and community, and simultaneously give American and our local New York City audiences an opportunity to gain insights from our thoughts and stories.

KAFFNY 2010 will screen original feature films, short films, documentaries, and other works by artists from throughout the world. We expect to an audience of more than 1,000 during 2 days of programs. With growing media attention, including national and international coverage KAFFNY hopes to attract greater audiences who will follow the festival in New York City and throughout its possible Los Angeles and San Francisco tour.

4th KAFFNY 2010 Call for Submissions

The 4th Annual Korean American Film Festival New York (KAFFNY) is scheduled for February 27th 2010 at TheTimesCenter. KAFFNY is a New York festival screening works by emerging filmmakers. Our program features films of all genres and lengths from a variety of Korean perspectives.

New for 2010 is our Narrative Shorts Competition with Jury and Audience Awards with cash prizes. Also new are Web Screenings, submissions received and selections screened on a rolling basis year round, open to all genres, completed by any date.

The submission deadline is Nov. 30th, 2009. There is no entry fee.
More submission guidelines at: http://www.kaffny.com/

Thursday: 9500 Liberty Screening

2009-10-28T22:54:00.004-05:00

Lot of good people attached to this film including Eric Byler, Annabel Park, and Jeff Man (to name a few). Check it out if your in SF.

When

Thursday, October 29, 2009
6pm-7pm Cocktail Reception with VIPs & the Filmmakers
7pm-9pm Screening followed by Q&A

Where

Sundance Kabuki Theatre
1881 Post St.
San Francisco, CA
VIEW MAP

Prices

Reception & Screening - $25
Screening only - $10

Quick Pic: Wing Luke Museum's Mix It Up

2009-10-27T18:21:00.005-05:00

Caught a bunch of pics from the robertwadephoto blog from the Wing Luke Museum's Mix It Up reception earlier this month and wanted to re-post one of them up here. Check out the full suite of pics.

See Betty, See Betty Nguyen

2009-10-27T18:13:00.002-05:00

For all my people in Tennessee - and those who might have huge crushes on CNN news anchor Betty Nguyen - this one's for you.

CNN anchor Betty Nguyen will be visiting the UT campus Oct. 28 to speak about her experiences in broadcasting and issues within the Asian American community [...] This event is sponsored by the Asian American Association (AAA) at UT, an organization which strives to spread Asian American Awareness and diversity issues to campus. According to junior Monica Diep, AAA Secretary, sharing Betty Nguyen's experiences will expand students' eyes beyond the United States.

"The reason we have AAA is to bring awareness of Asian culture, because it is different from the American culture we live in," Diep said. "It is important to have an understanding of other cultures, because the United States is an ever-changing country." [...] In 2007, the Smithsonian Institute recognized Nguyen as the first Vietnamese-American to anchor a nationally televised broadcast in the United States. Since then, Nguyen has received numerous awards including a regional Emmy Award, the Legacy of Women Award and a place in the Philanthropy Texas Hall of Fame.

The event will be happening in Room 27 of the Alumni Memorial Building at 7 p.m. with a Q & A following.

Justin Chon, Leonardo Nam, And The Motorcycle Diaries Meets Lords Of Dogtown

2009-10-27T08:13:00.003-05:00

So what do you when your Asian, have some success, and are searching for your next role? Easy. Just write it yourself.

“It’s up to us to make something; we’ve decided that we want a movie that doesn’t [focus on our race]...that being Asian-American is just circumstantial and it doesn’t have to be the main focus point of the movie,” explained Justin, who along with another Asian-American actor is currently writing a script that they hope will explode in a similar fashion. “[Things we get offered] are like, ‘Oh, I’m Asian, how do I deal with that?’ Like “My mother, she’s like a nagging Chinese woman!’ That’s not interesting anymore, you know?”

Instead, Justin and "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants" actor Leonardo Nam are hard at work on a film that won’t go down those same tired paths. “I’m actually writing something with my friend, Leo Nam…he was in the third 'Fast and Furious,'" Justin revealed. “He’s a great actor; we’re writing a script right now.”

“What we’re writing is about a road trip down to Argentina, with three kids that grew up in Huntington; it’s a really cool story,” he explained, saying it’s part comedy, part drama. “There’s a little bit of everything. It’s like ‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ meets ‘Lords of Dogtown.’”

Nice.

More Akufuncture More Olivia Thai

2009-10-27T08:10:00.000-05:00

From The Kevin So Bulletins

2009-10-27T08:08:00.001-05:00

*** IMPORTANT TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT ***
TOUR IS EXACTLY 2 WEEKS AWAY !!! The journey begins on NOVEMBER 9th... I'm typing at the YMCA in Green Hills, Nashville, TN. Internet is down at home. Ugh.

Anyways...

Join me as I (with Monk alongside of course) make my way through the Northeast and East Coast this coming November. Yep. I'm goin' to get my scarf n' sweater for real yo, as the seasons change. It's all in storage right now, and I'm planning to bring some warmer clothes down to Nashville, my current residence.

I'll be performing a lot of new songs, too on this tour. Been writing quite a bit down here in Nashville and am looking forward to trying some things out musically, not only on the newer material, but also on some older songs. But I promise you'll recognize 'em. :) The purpose of this tour is definitely to get more acquainted with the new material in hopes of polishing them up and hitting the recording studio once again Spring/Summer of 2010. I hope you'll be able to join me in this process.

"GOIN' TO GET MY SCARF N' SWEATER TOUR"

11/10 ASIAN ARTS INITIATIVE, Philadelphia, PA 7:30p
11/11 THE BITTER END, New York, NY 8p
11/12-11/15 - NERFA, Kerhonson, NY
11/13 TRICENTRIC SHOWCASE @ NERFA, Kerkonson, NY
11/17 Interview/Performance on WUMB 91.9FM, Boston, MA 2p
11/17 JOHNNY D'S, Somerville, MA 7:30p
11/30 JAMMIN' JAVA, Vienna, VA 7p
12/1 BLUE 5 RESTAURANT, Roanoke, VA 7:30p

Because Tokyo Loves Ne-Yo And A Little Tuesday Morning Cover

2009-10-27T08:01:00.003-05:00

And just because we all need a wake up and wish it were still summer, here's a cover of the ne-yo hilson west cover "knock you down".

http://www.twitter.com/andrewagarcia
http://www.twitter.com/lilcdawg

Ann Mah And Kitchen Chinese: A Novel About Food, Family, And Finding Yourself

2009-10-27T07:57:00.005-05:00

Books + Food = Warm Goodness:

Former Viking assistant editor Ann Mah left New York for Beijing, took a job as the dining editor for the English-language magazine That’s Beijing, and wrote a novel about a young Chinese-American woman who moves to Beijing in the midst of an identity crisis. Mah spoke to PW from Paris, where she now lives, about Kitchen Chinese: A Novel about Food, Family, and Finding Yourself, which Avon will publish as a paperback original in February.

PW: What surprised you most when you moved to Beijing?

AM: I’m ethnically Chinese; I was born in the States and grew up in the States [in Huntingdon Beach, Calif.]. I thought I knew everything about Chinese food because I grew up eating it every single day. But one of the things that surprised me the most when I moved to Beijing was how different [the food] was. I realized I grew up eating a type of Chinese food from a specific region of China, and there was a whole country of regions of cuisine to discover. That’s what inspired me to start the book.

Check out the full interview here as well as Mah's blog

That's A Cute Picture

2009-10-27T07:53:00.001-05:00

h/t channelapa.com

Excessive Force: Phuong Ho And The San Jose Police

2009-10-26T06:20:00.001-05:00

The above is a video taken from a phone camera (released last week) after police came to the house of Phuong Ho and if you watch the video - and listen carefully - you'll not only see Phuong Ho getting beaten by the police - but you'll also here his screams, his crying - his pleading.

What happened earlier last month was this:

The incident occurred after a Sept. 3 encounter between Ho and roommate Jeremy Suftin that began when Suftin slopped soap on Ho's dinner steak. The two scuffled, and Ho picked up a steak knife, saying that in Vietnam, "I would kill you for this." At least some roommates laughed at the comment, as shown on a videotape of that portion of the incident. But Suftin said he took it seriously, and the police were called. At least four officers responded.

According to police reports obtained by the Mercury News, officer Kenneth Siegel could not understand Ho's accent when he confronted him in a hallway and asked his name. Ho then ignored a command to stand still after officers entered his room to check his wallet for identification.

When Ho tried to follow Siegel into his room, officer Steven Payne Jr. attempted to handcuff Ho. According to his report, Payne pushed Ho into a wall and then forced him to the hallway floor when Ho resisted being handcuffed. Ho said his glasses fell off then, and as he attempted to pick them up, the officers struck him.

Out of six experts that saw the video - even though shaky and not at a high resolution - four of them said it raised serious concerns - as it should - and one expert even went so far as to say that it took him back to the day he saw the Rodney King video on T.V.

I've Heard That Voice Before

I don't have to be an expert to tell you that the voice you hear in the video - the cop shouting at Ho - is the voice of an out of control person - someone who just snapped. If you've ever been in a situation where you've been cornered and you have nowhere to run - you know what I'm talking about. If you've ever heard that hint - that start of that voice - you know you don't want to be there. And if it's from an officer of the law - someone who's supposed to bring a situation down - not escalate it - you know the bravado and the entitlement - and you know you don't want to get caught into it because you probably won't win.

I've Heard That Other Voice Too

Like I said at the beginning of this post - when you watch the video - you can't help but notice a few things including the sound of handcuffs, Ho on the ground, and that one final baton strike - and I don't get it - I don't understand people who want to keep on beating my people down when it's clear they're not a threat.

Don't Know About You But I Can Understand Him Pretty Damn Well

It's funny to me that the officers in their report said how they couldn't really understand Ho because of is "thick accent" - and while I'll give it up that if you don't hear different languages, or anyone with an accent - ever - maybe it might be tougher for you - but gimme a break. Watch the video of Ho describing what happened down at the Mercury News (the second video) and tell me, even if you imagine him talking fast, that you wouldn't be able to understand him.

It's Tough To Turn Over When You're Getting The Shit Kicked Out Of You

Just a quick FYI. If you've been in the unfortunate position of being on the ground while someone's kicking your ass - you can't always just snap to their commands right away.

Like "Get on your stomach".

If you're getting your ass pounded - repeatedly - you don't really know what to do until it stops. You might eventually get on your stomach - but - it might take a moment.

In part because you're getting your ass kicked.

That command works better when you stop beating the shit out of someone by at least taking a breather and at the same time - if you're getting your ass kicked and you're getting a command to do something or to move your body in a different way - the first thing that really comes to your mind is "How much more am I going to get my ass kicked if I do that".

Bottom Line

These cops don't deserve their badges. They have no right to protect and serve. They saw Phuong as being something less than human.

And they treated him like it.

--Thanks for sending this in David

Q & A, The People I've Slept With, HIFF

2009-10-26T06:15:00.001-05:00

The People I've Slept With Q&A #1 from HIFF on Vimeo.

Apparently Selling Skulls Makes A Tidy Profit

2009-10-26T06:06:00.004-05:00

I really don't know the legalities of this at all - selling skulls that is - but I do think having 1,100 skulls at your own home might be a little overboard even if you can get them at 23 dollars a piece and then turn them around and sell them for a tidy profit.

I figure you should at least get a warehouse or something right?