Don't say I never do nothin' for ya.
Continue reading "Hapaness at SFIAAFF: Self-Absorbed"
Posted by Claire at 7:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Photo by John LiauContinue reading "SFIAAFF Days 1 through 3"
Posted by Melissa at 1:45 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
What might you have in common with a schizophrenic, kleptomaniacal Korean American sex addict? Probably nothing. David Choe, the subject of Harry Kim's documentary Dirty Hands, is part Jackass cast member, part street miscreant and part artistic genius. We follow him from his youth growing up in Los Angeles and formative years as a graffiti artist, his continuing wanderlust beginning in his teens, his brushes with the law, to his blowing up and eventual success as an artist -- all while dealing with inner demons, Jesus, and mounds of pornography.
Continue reading "SFIAAFF Doc: Dirty Hands"
Posted by Mic at 12:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Film adaptations of comic books are a dime a dozen in Hollywood these days, with a track record that suggests studios are pumping out more Batman Forevers than Dark Knights. But what happens when your task is to bring the words of history's most acclaimed graphic novel -- and one of Time magazine's 100 greatest novels of all time -- to the big screen?
Enter Alex Tse, a San Francisco native who is the co-screenwriter of the much-anticipated Watchmen adaptation, which opened last week to the tune of $55 million. Tse first came onto the scene as the writer of 2004's multiethnic crime drama, Sucker Free City, directed by Spike Lee. Now with the success of Watchmen, he's in demand but still making time to return to his roots. Hyphen caught up with Tse before his visit to the 2009 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival to learn about his climb from a kid in journalism camp to bona fide Hollywood screenwriter.
Read the interview in our web features area and comeback here if you have a comment. (Unfortunately, our publishing system doesn't allow commenting on articles.)
Posted by Harry at 12:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Continue reading "Yes! A Plethora of South Asian Films at SFIAAFF"
Posted by Neela at 2:35 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Ahh, short films. What can I say? Not much, besides some are great, some are eh, and some are just beyond me. I had a chance to view a few sets of short programs from this year's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, and these are the highlights:
From Is It Worth It? Lemme Work It, look for The Humberville Poetry Slam, Take 3, A Stranger in His Own Country, Excuse My Gangsta Ways and Yellow Sticky Notes.
This was the best set of short films that I watched.
Humberville is a mockumentary by Emily Chang (formerly of I Was Born With Two Tongues) and Dan De Lorenzo and is really, really funny (full disclosure: Giles Li, who plays Liberty Fu, is a friend). I like that people who are poets themselves can make fun of it. It centers around small town poets getting ready for a national competition, and you see the contestants prepare for their performance.
Continue reading "SFIAAFF Shorts to Watch"
Posted by Momo at 10:00 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Okay, okay, I'm on a roll. No, no, just let me say it:
This flick moves at the speed of life.
No, seriously, I get it: if you don't quite know how to make a movie make people feel something, then SLOW IT DOWN. Even if they don't feel something, the slow pace will convince them that there's some profundity happening.
Continue reading "Hapaness at SFIAAFF: The Speed of Life"
Posted by Claire at 10:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
The joke is so obvious, I'm almost ashamed to make it. But cut me some slack, I had to sit through two hours of this stuff:
This movie doesn't have a running time, it has a half-life.
Okay, I got it out. Now: it's not that bad.
Continue reading "Hapaness at SFIAAFF: Half Life"
Posted by Claire at 1:28 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
This year, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival has another great group of films lined up. I had the opportunity to review some of them, and for some reason, they all seemed to center on the theme of individual and community resilience:
Whatever It Takes
This film focuses on first-year principal Edward Tom of the South Bronx Center for Science and Math. The film follows Tom and his school for a year, and zooms in on one 9th grade girl in particular, Sharifea. I was really amazed at how much access first-time filmmaker Christopher Wong had to the school, Tom and Sharifea's family. All in all, it's a great documentary about the dramas of being a principal in a small urban school. There are a lot of ups and downs and a few unexpected turns. I recommend this film for everyone. It's not the only urban school documentary out there, but possibly the first that focuses on an Asian American principal. The school community and Sharifea's life eventually overshadow Tom's story, but I think that's the point: it's not one person, but a whole community that makes a school what it is.
Continue reading "SFIAAFF Films to Watch"
Posted by Momo at 9:45 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
The Asian American Film Fest in San Francisco is doing a big hapa thing this year, including launching a website they co-did with hapa hogfather Kip Fulbeck. (The site is at www.hapas.us; don't bother clicking over until after March 14, which is when it goes live.)
Continue reading "Hapaness at SFIAAFF 2009"
Posted by Claire at 5:53 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
It's already March which means you're all feverishly filling out NCAA brackets, prepping your livers for St. Patrick's Day, and of course, gearing up for the 27th Annual San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. SFIAAFF kicks off this Thursday, March 9 with its opening night screening of South Korea's My Dear Enemy at the Castro Theatre and a gala reception at the Asian Art Museum.
To whet your cinematic appetites, Hyphen will be posting reviews of some of the Asian American films screening at the festival, starting with a look at this year's Japanese American films below. Keep checking in to our blog all week for reviews of Korean, Chinese, Filipino, hapa, and South Asian American films. But don't just take our opinions as gospel. Treat yourself to a festival movie ticket or two and get exposed to some fine Asian/American cinema that you can't see everyday.
Continue reading "SFIAAFF Kick-off and Japanese American film"
Posted by Sylvie at 4:50 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Co-presenting with the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, LOCUS returns with the 2nd Annual Do-It-Yourself Music Video Premiere Night. Not quite sure what that means? Well, not long ago LOCUS played matchmaker with APA filmmakers and musicians and, after pairing them with one another, challenged each group to make a music video in two months with little to no budget. Not only could you be among the first to view the results this Friday, you will also get to see the musicians perform live! This is an event that would do Wrigley's Doublemint gum slogan proud, because it would be double the pleasure and double the fun.
So don't miss it! You can view last year's videos and vote for your favorite video from this year's batch at the CAAM website. The video with the most votes will win a spot in the coming San Francisco International Asian American Festival! Event info follows, and you can also visit our calender posting or the LOCUS website for more details.
Friday, February 20
8-11 pm (doors open at 7pm)
Root Division
3175 17th Street @ S. Van Ness
Admission: $10 suggested donation
All ages.
Posted by Pai at 11:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
1) Sam Chanse (Kearny Street Workshop's mistress of the arts)
2) Ali Wong (diminuitive, bespectacled Hyphen hoochie cover girl)
3) One of those Asian Am scene photographers
4) A member of a local indie Asian American band
5) Someone from Hyphen (possibly stoned)
Who did I leave off? Post in comments.
Posted by LisaMac at 11:54 AM | Comments (6)
Ever wonder what it's like to watch grainy 1920s silent porn in a room full of strangers?
Well, when accompanied by Professor of Asian American Studies (UC Santa Barbara) Celine Parreñas Shimizu’s accessible (and often hilarious) analysis of racialized sexual imagery and the various expressions of sexuality through performance, it's actually not that awkward.
Continue reading "A Hypersexual Afternoon Delight"
Posted by Sylvie at 10:30 PM | Comments (1)
I wanted to be the first one to to blog about the screening today -- all I have to say is: "Y2K?"
Well-played, JC, well-played. Dare I say that it will be the new "I drink your milkshake?"
Posted by LisaMac at 11:52 PM | Comments (0)
I have not seen a lot of Asian American dramas recently that really moved me, but this one did.
The Home Song Stories, directed by Australian filmmaker Tony Ayres, focuses on a single mom (played by Joan Chen) and her two kids.
Continue reading "Joan Chen at Her Best"
Posted by Momo at 3:19 PM | Comments (1)
Here's a film to watch if you're itching for some good laughs: Ping Pong Playa, directed by Jessica Yu.
The film focuses on Christopher "C-Dub" Wang, a 25-year-old slacker who would rather play video games all day and dream about starting up a t-shirt biz than get a job. Oh yeah, and he wants to play in the NBA. Jimmy Tsai, who also co-wrote the film, plays the role with good comedic timing. Among some of his character's notable traits is that he likes to school kids half his size (and age) on the basketball court.
Continue reading "Ping Pong Playa"
Posted by Momo at 2:40 PM | Comments (1)
Okay, so last year I threw a little tantrum at the end of the festival about the lack of interesting South Asian programming. I called out (the newly-named) Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) for marginalizing good South Asian film, especially when it came to the International selections.
So, I am happy to see that this year, along with the requisite Bollywood film at the Castro – which really does look awesomely over the top – viewers can also check out The Voyeurs by Bengali director Buddhadeb Dashgupta. I haven’t seen this yet, but I highly recommend this to anyone who thinks South Asian films are all about flimsy plots and dance numbers – this should change your mind.
Continue reading "All Things South Asian at SFIAAFF"
Posted by Neela at 1:24 PM | Comments (0)
Korean and Korean American filmmakers have a strong showing at this year's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, including Academy Award winner Jessica Yu's Ping Pong Playa and Cannes Film Festival prize winner Chan-wook Park's I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Okay.
I was lucky enough to get an early viewing of three cinematic offerings by emerging Korean American filmmakers that will be screening at SFIAAFF which has its opening night this Thursday.
Continue reading "Korean American Film at SFIAAFF"
Posted by Sylvie at 9:38 PM | Comments (1)
Lately there's been a lotta hype around Asians and dancing, namely that Asians can dance, despite stereotypes.
Continue reading "Benson Lee's Planet B-Boy"
Posted by Momo at 11:01 AM | Comments (5)
So, it's that time of year again when we get to finally see ourselves reflected back from the big screen: the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
Continue reading "Searching for The Great Asian American Film"
Posted by Neela at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
Calling all Bay Area film fiends.
Be the first on your block to pick up the Festival guide hot off the press, meet local filmmakers, and mix and mingle with fellow festivalgoers!
Continue reading "2008 SFIAAFF Festival Launch Party"
Posted by Lanlian at 1:55 PM | Comments (0)
I have to give Center for Asian American Media and everybody involved in the 25th SFIAAFF kudos – I think it was an amazing week.
Continue reading "Where Were All the South Asian Films at the SFIAAFF?"
Posted by Neela at 1:54 PM | Comments (8)
So I have been thinking about what to write for this blog entry for a couple of days. As a Hyphen blogger/editor and usual attendee of the film festival, I decided to watch some screeners of films from this year's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and blog about them.
Continue reading "Screening with Baby"
Posted by Momo at 11:00 AM | Comments (1)
This year's SFIAAFF features two creepshows set in the Philippines: Ang Pamana and Blackout. A fellow Hyphen staffer who had lived in the Philippines assured me one day via chat that, second to romances, horror films are plenty. "A LOT," he typed out.
Continue reading "Horror in the Philippines, Two Ways"
Posted by Rebecca at 3:48 PM | Comments (0)
I’ve always loved the shorts programs at the SFIAAFF. I think it is where they showcase the most exciting work being done by Asian American filmmakers. These are the films that make me think and inspire my own art.
Continue reading "The Story Behind the Shorts"
Posted by Neela at 11:17 PM
Released in 1961, Flower Drum Song was a revolutionary movie for its time and would be unheard of if it were attempted today--a big-studio musical with a largely Asian American cast.
Continue reading "Flower Drum Song's blooms stand test of time"
Posted by Harry at 9:24 AM | Comments (0)
MC Hammer shows his love for Asian America and Hyphen magazine at the opening gala for the 2007 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Hammer played talent agent Roy Thunders in Justin Lin's Finishing the Game which opened the festival. Photo by Bernice Yee
I’ll have to say, there’s nothing like a giant theater full of Asian Americans and a party with free Lychee Martinis to make you feel good about your community.
Continue reading "SFIAAFF = 2 Legit 2 Quit"
Posted by Neela at 11:54 AM | Comments (5)
I'm super excited to go to Saturday's panel discussion, Down and Dirty Pictures. It'll be at the Opera Plaza and starts at 1pm.
SFIAAFF is calling the featured directing trio Gregg Araki, Roddy Bogawa and Jon Moritsugu the 'original "bad boys" of Asian American cinema.' How can you resist that? I certainly couldn't.
They're to talk about their bodies of work, the role of the 'truly independent' filmmaker, and, of course, its future prospects. (What panel would be complete without a little prophesying?)
For other panel discussions, see the SFIAAFF website
Another Hyphen staffer will be going to the Ellen Kuras Master Class, which is on Sunday at 3pm, also at the Opera Plaza.
Cinematographer Ellen Kuras' laureled career has included work with Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), Rebecca Miller and Spike Lee (Summer of Sam and Bamboozled), and on films such as I Shot Andy Warhol and Jim Jarmusch's Coffee and Cigarettes. She'll talk about her cinematographic and decision-making processes, and colloborating with directors.
Posted by Rebecca at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)
I laughed, I cried, it was better than Cats...
Buy a ticket to see this one!
Year of the Fish is a sweet, sweet contemporary fairy tale adaptation set smack dab in New York City's Chinatown.
I'll update this post with a full detailing of my thoughts soon.
Continue reading "This One Goes Out to All the Lovers: 'Year of the Fish'"
Posted by Rebecca at 3:57 PM | Comments (0)
Indonesia, where the increasingly conservative Islamist government recently passed a broadly interpreted anti-pornography bill banning acts like kissing or baring the legs or shoulders in public, is curiously experiencing a resurgence in polygamy, a practice which had gone underground during President Suharto's long tenure. Some polygamists have taken additional wives in secret, made official by clerics instead of in court, without the knowledge of their first wife. For critics, polygamists are using religion to justify out-and-out sluttery.
Continue reading "Two's Company and Three's a Crowd in 'Love for Share'"
Posted by Rebecca at 4:15 PM | Comments (0)
Well, the SF International Asian American Film Fest kicks off its 25th year tomorrow. (To learn more about the festival’s history, read Jeff Yang’s column about the fest here.) Which means I pretty much disappear for the next week, sitting in theaters.
I’m dismayed to find that some of the things I wanted to see are already sold out. So, learn a lesson from me and buy your tickets in advance. Beats waiting in the rush line.
Continue reading "Film Fest Fever"
Posted by Melissa at 1:10 PM | Comments (0)
Sprawlingly ambitious, Joy Dietrich's feature film directorial debut Tie a Yellow Ribbon touches upon just about every young Asian American women's identity issue there is, the sum of it being that it pretty much sucks to be one.
Continue reading "Tie a Yellow Ribbon"
Posted by Rebecca at 3:55 PM | Comments (1)
The documentary begins by introducing us to Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani, an 80-year-old homeless artist in New York City, in the months before 9/11.
Continue reading "Cats of Mirikitani"
Posted by Momo at 8:40 AM | Comments (0)
Last chance to see TeleMongol: The Story of A-HOLE TV sketch comedy show this weekend in San Jose.
Continue reading "Stuff to Do: Telemongol, SFIAAFF"
Posted by Melissa at 1:46 PM | Comments (0)
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival.
Continue reading "Happy Birthday, SFIAAFF!"
Posted by Momo at 12:02 PM | Comments (0)
Just watched Air Guitar Nation last night at a sneak peek screening for the SF International Asian American Film Festival.
Continue reading "C-Diddy Rules"
Posted by Momo at 6:49 PM | Comments (0)
Many of the films you missed will be playing again in SJ (today and tomorrow) and Berkeley (today). Check out the complete schedule here.
Posted by Momo at 1:13 PM | Comments (0)
In non-film festival news, here's a couple stories that have grabbed my eye lately.
Continue reading "Spelling Bees and Other Controversies"
Posted by Melissa at 12:22 PM | Comments (1)
So often when you boil down a question, it becomes one of those perennial unaswerable ones: nature or nurture? heart or mind? chicken or fish? And it's so annoying, because we asked those questions in high school english and I already know that you're just in for endless debate with murky morality and rationalizations all around.
Another one of those questions came up for me last night at, where else: the SF Asian American Film Festival.
Continue reading "Blue Jeans and Ethical Dilemmas"
Posted by Jennifer at 9:29 AM | Comments (5)
Did anyone watch this film tonight? I heard the theatre was packed.
Continue reading "Colma: The Musical"
Posted by Momo at 12:45 AM | Comments (7)
...Whose Children Are These? and Dastaar are films I've seen within a 48-hour span.
So I have been watching a bunch of documentaries at the SFIAAFF. I'm not sure why I'm drawn towards documentaries, and Asian American documentaries at that. Perhaps I feel like it's my job, since Hyphen is an Asian American magazine.
Continue reading "Sentenced Home, Punching at the Sun, Grassroots Rising..."
Posted by Momo at 9:33 AM | Comments (1)
Omigosh you'll never guess who I saw yesterday! It was after a screening of 'Conventioneers' at the SFIAAF* and the filmmaker, the gorgeous Mora Mi-Ok Stephens, was talking to a guy with cheekbones out to HERE. "that guy looks totally familiar," i said. "he's someone famous," my date confirmed.
... "Daniel Dae Kim!" i said rather indiscreetly (but i didn't yell it, and of that I'm am proud). and i did feel a little giddy. a lot giddy. I have been called a starf&%cker in the past, and I can't deny it. well, I can deny it in a literal sense... but not necessarily by personal choice.
Anyway, ahem, moving right along...
That's not why i've pulled my head out of the sand to blog today, not at all.
Continue reading "Quixotic Film Shorts"
Posted by Jennifer at 11:02 AM | Comments (6)
The San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival continues with week - check out www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org for a full list of films and events in San Francisco, Berkeley and San Jose. And visit Hyphen’s SFIAAFF page!
Continue reading "[API EVENTS MARCH 20-26]"
Posted by Momo at 9:17 AM | Comments (0)
I know the festival is already in full-swing, but I just wanted to point out some awesome South Asian picks for you to attend in the next few days. And the best thing about the South Asian films is that if you miss them this weekend or this week, you can make a field trip out of it next weekend and head down to San Jose and maybe stop for some yummy South Indian food on the way.
Continue reading "The Best South Asian American Film Ever -- and other desi picks from the SFIAAFF"
Posted by Neela at 10:43 PM | Comments (5)
For those of you who came to the Opening night movie last night, here's your chance to give your opinions some air time. Again, no proper review from me. Is it that I'm just lazy? Maybe. Whatever it is, I'm jumping to the fun part: the So What'd You Think?
Continue reading "Americanese"
Posted by erin at 10:39 AM | Comments (15)
Only one day til the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival starts! I'll be at the opening night film, Americanese by Eric Byler. (Byler was the director of Charlotte Sometimes, which screened at the festival three years ago.) The film is based on Shawn Wong's novel American Knees. I'm curious to see how this novel will be translated on to the screen.
Here's a story in the Chron about our friends who run the festival: Asian American Vision Expands.
Better get your tickets now because screenings tend to sell out, especially on the weekends. That goes for me too. I've usually mapped out what I will be seeing by this point, but this year I'm behind and haven't read the catalog yet! Any recommendations? What do you plan to see?
Posted by Melissa at 11:12 AM | Comments (1)
The countdown to opening night of the film festival being only a few days now, I'm going to kick off Hyphen's SFIAAFF movie blogging -- with the closing night film.
But this is not going to be a review, the way you expect films to be reviewed. There's a fine review by Ravi Chandra (Hyphen subscriber & friend :) ) all wrapped up and ready to roll, which you can find here. No need for me to reinvent that wheel.
This is more of a meditation on what "Journey from the Fall" surfaces for me and perhaps other 2nd-generation Vietnamese Americans like me. This is a movie my parents saw before I did. This is a film they asked me to see. Because through it, they hope I will see a war I never witnessed, and have never quite known how to form my own opinion about.
Continue reading "Journey From The Fall"
Posted by erin at 2:41 PM | Comments (4)
The SF International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) launches this week, plus Philly arts events…
Continue reading "[API Events March 13-19]"
Posted by Momo at 12:11 PM | Comments (1)
So film festival season is here again -- and Hyphen is definitely in the mix.
Posted by erin at 4:24 PM | Comments (2)
This week's events: SF, Philly and NYC...!
Continue reading "[FEB. 20-26]"
Posted by Momo at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)
Continue reading "Party With Us"
Posted by Momo at 10:08 AM | Comments (6)
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