And of course it's MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA that is the huge blockbuster studio flick starring an all Asian cast including ZIYI ZHANG, GONG LI, MICHELLE YEOH, TSAI CHIN, KEN WATANABE, KARL YUNE and others.

And check this out: ANG LEE'S "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN" opened this past weekend at $547,000 on just 5 screens for an historic per screen box office average of $109,000 per screen! This is the first non-animated film to ever do this!

And MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA opened this past weekend at $682,500 on just 8 screens for an historic per screen box office average of $85,313 per screen. For an all Asian cast film - this is also monumental.

So congratulations to all of the directors and to all of us who came out supported.

So let's see what's up this week!

1. ANG LEE'S "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN" BREAKS RECORDS AND GETS NATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
2. GRACE LEE OPENS NEW YORK AT THE FILM FORUM ON DECEMBER 14 WITH "THE GRACE LEE PROJECT"
3. KARYN KUSAMA STILL RIDES HIGH WITH HER SECOND FEATURE FILM "AEON FLUX" STARRING CHARLIZE THERON
4. ALL ASIAN CAST IN THE STUDIO BLOCKBUSTER "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" BUSTS DOWN THE BOX OFFICE DOOR
5. AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY "SEOUL TRAIN" ON PBS DECEMBER 13 - DEALS WITH UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN NORTH KOREA
6. ACCLAIMED JAPANESE FILM "TONY TAKITANI" HITS DVD STREETS IN JANUARY FROM STRAND RELEASING
7. SCARY FILM FROM TAKESHI SHIMIZU - "MAREBITO" DEBUTS IN THE US FROM TARTAN FILMS
8. SUNDANCE ALERT - ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - JANUARY 22, 2006 4 PM CHINA PANDA RESTAURANT
9. FAREWELL TO PAT MORITA - SERVICES - DECEMBER 14 IN LITTLE TOKYO, LOS ANGELES
10. MORE?
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WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 2005

1. ANG LEE'S "BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN" BREAKS RECORDS AND GETS NATIONAL AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
One of the most highly anticipated films of the season lived up to the hype and broke box office records on this past opening weekend. In just 5 screens in 3 cities, Ang Lee's prolific BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN took in approximately $545,000 for an historic $109,000 per screen. All screenings for this film throughout the weekend were sold out including the matinees and the Thursday night midnight screening. Audiences were moved, as were crtics haiing the film as "breathtaking," "sweeping epic," and more. The LA FILM CRITICS chimed in on Saturday giving the film a BEST PICTURE OF 2005 award and ANG LEE the BEST DIRECTOR award. The NEW YORK FILM CRITICS named the film as BEST PICTURE and Lee as BEST DIRECTOR. This could be ANG LEE's first Oscar for both director and Best Picture. Congratulations to Ang Lee and to Focus Film for a phenomenal weekend and here's to more.

For those who have not ventured out yet or could not get tickets this past weekend, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN opens wider this week. This has got to be Ang Lee's best films to date. If you are a fan of his work, then you must put this film on your list. This film proves that he is one of our greatest storytellers ever - with Crouching Tiger we knew he could make a great film - and now with BROKEBACK he has proven to be a master. The film is beautifully shot and the actors are exceptional. Both Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal are amazing - but also are his supporting cast - Michelle Williams (Dawson's Creek), Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid and in a very small scene but takes your breath away is Roberta Maxwell as Jake Gyllenhaal's mother. Whew! This film is so powerful that it will have you thinking about long after you leave the theater and you are driving home. You can tell that Mr. Lee worked with his actors, his cinematographer, his composer and everyone to make sure that they told a good story. This is truly Ang Lee's greatest work to date. Amazing! If you are an Ang Lee fan, this must go on our list as must see. As we said before, this could be his Oscar film - and rightly so! Congratulations Ang Lee - keeping making us proud!

2. GRACE LEE OPENS NEW YORK AT THE FILM FORUM ON DECEMBER 14 WITH "THE GRACE LEE PROJECT"
And another Lee - GRACE LEE - is getting ready for this week when she opens her feature documentary "THE GRACE LEE PROJECT" exclusively in New York City at the Film Forum on December 14 for 2 weeks. THE GRACE LEE PROJECT is the film about director Grace Lee who spent the past four years meeting and looking for everyone named Grace Lee - answering the question - who are these people with my same name? Are they like me? She meets some outstanding Grace Lee's and let's us get to know them. The film is entertaining and responds to the question about how it would be if you met someone the same name as yours. LA TIMES called it FASCINATING and DAILY VARIETY hailed it as DELIGHTFUL. So, come see for yourself and meet GRACE LEE this week at the FILM FORUM in NEW YORK CITY. Here are the details:

THE GRACE LEE PROJECT
at Film Forum (New York City)
Two weeks only! Dec 14-27
209 W. Houston St., NYC
Screens Daily at 1:15, 3:15, 6;00, 8:15, 10:00
Tickets, map, trailer, and more info at
www.filmforum.org/films/gracelee.html

www.gracelee.net

Come out and support Grace Lee and meet all the other Grace Lees. And if you know any - bring em along!

3. KARYN KUSAMA STILL RIDES HIGH WITH HER SECOND FEATURE FILM "AEON FLUX" STARRING CHARLIZE THERON
Past Sundance fave KARYN KUSAMA hits it up with her action film AEON FLUX starring the phenomenal CHARLIZE THERON released by MTV FILMS and PARAMOUNT PICTURES. Kusama shows her stuff that she can work a big blockbuster budget with a big star. The film debuted two weeks ago at #2 and has brought in over $20 Million at the box office to date. Go on Karyn!

4. ALL ASIAN CAST IN THE STUDIO BLOCKBUSTER "MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA" BUSTS DOWN THE BOX OFFICE DOOR
Yes, Asians were all over the entertainment pages Sunday and Monday making history from ANG LEE getting critical acclaim and breaking box office records to the huge opening of the long awaited MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA. Brining in over $682,500 on just 8 screens, MEMOIRS will go down in history as one of the first films with an all Asian cast to bust down the opening weekend box office in limited release. Congratulations MEMOIRS!

A beautiful and lush film starring some of our own top Asian actors including ZIYI ZHANG, MICHELLE YEOH, GONG LI, TSAI CHIN, KEN WATANABE, EUGENIA YUAN, KARL YUNE, CARY-HIROYUKI TAGAWA, MAKO, ELIZABETH SUNG, KAORI MAMORI, KOJI YASHUKO and many others. The film looks great and unfolds a very intriguing story based on the best selling novel. The lead women ZIYI ZHANG, TSAI CHIN and MICHELLE YEOH turn in some great performances - but the stand outs include the ever appealing GONG LI. She just soaks up her role and every time she's on screen you pay attention. KEN WATANABE and KOJI YASHUKO are amazing as the two leading men. It was just nice to see us on the screen for the purposes of being us and doing it well. Every one of the actors was good.

While we know that some were involved in the question of casting non Japanese women in the lead roles, the impact of this film in Hollywood goes even further. This is a first for a major studio blockbuster to have an all Asian cast. Here we are on screen - and it's about two hours before the first non-Asian face hits the screen. And judging by the box office this weekend, we are hopeful that this will maintain and maybe help open doors for other films that would star all Asians at a major studio level. The last time this happened for a major studio was JOY LUCK CLUB. The question that keeps coming - is it worth seeing? Yes, it's good entertainment and the film looks good. The choreography, the music, the art direction and the costumes are brilliant and amazing. Does it reinforce stereotypes? No, it tells the story directly from the book. All in all, it's a beautiful film. And if we can show "green" at the box office - maybe we can get other all Asian cast stories greenlit in Hollywood.

Definitely worth seeing this h oliday season!

5. AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY "SEOUL TRAIN" ON PBS DECEMBER 13 - DEALS WITH UNDERGROUND RAILROAD IN NORTH KOREA
The underground railroad in North Korea is the subject of SEOUL TRAIN - an award winning festival favorite documentary which hits TV screens nationally on PBS on Tuesday December 13. Make sure to check your local listings. The film by Jim Butterworth covers stories of this "railroad"system in North Korea that helps to get people out of North Korea into China and then to South Korea. The film raises many issues about the North and South Korean politics and the role all of the world plays into this along with China's role in hunting down these refugees and trying to return them back to North Korea where these people are often tortured or murdered. For the US, this film opens up the discussion and will inspire those to find out more.

6. ACCLAIMED JAPANESE FILM "TONY TAKITANI" HITS DVD STREETS IN JANUARY FROM STRAND RELEASING
TONY TKITANI is based on the short story of the same name by Haruki Murakami, Japanís most popular writer and major figure across Asia, a novelist whose latest book, Kafka on the Shore, sold nearly half a million copies in Japan in its first two months in stores. This short story appeared in the United States in The New Yorker magazine. Written and directed for the screen by Jun Ichikawa, whose lyrical sensibilities are well suited to the source material, TonyTakitani stars Issey Ogata and Miyazawa Rie. Adding immeasurably to the aura of the film is the excellent and poignant piano score of celebrated Ryuichi Sakamoto, who won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe and a Grammy for The Last Emperor, another Golden Globe for The Sheltering Sky and a Grammy nomination for Little Buddha.

TONY TAKATANI had its North American premiere in competition at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival. Recently, the film was nominated as Best Foreign Film for the prestigious 2006 Independent Spirit Awards.

It will hit video stores on January 10 courtesy of Strand Releasing

The Strand Releasing Home Video Website: www.strandreleasing.com

7. SCARY FILM FROM TAKESHI SHIMIZU - "MAREBITO" DEBUTS IN THE US FROM TARTAN FILMS
Remember THE GRUDGE from TAKESHI SIMIZU - well, he's back with MAREBITO - another scary ass film that will keep you on the edge of your seat. TARTAN FILMS is releasing MAREBITO in major cities - so if you are a big fan - make sure you see this one. Check your local listings.

8. SUNDANCE ALERT - ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - JANUARY 22, 2006 4 PM CHINA PANDA RESTAURANT
For all you Park City fanatics - mark your calendars and join us at the 5th Annual ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - celebrating all of our Asian American and Asian Pacific international filmmakers heading up to Sundance and SlamDance. Note: SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 AT 4PM AT CHINA PANDA RESTAURANT behind THE YARROW HOTEL and next to the HOLIDAY CINEMAS in Park City. Tell all of our filmmakers and producers and actors and come hang out with us.

9. FAREWELL TO PAT MORITA - SERVICES - DECEMBER 14 IN LITTLE TOKYO, LOS ANGELES
As you are aware, one of our beloved actors - the comedian PAT MORITA passed away on Thanksgiving weekend. He was always lots of fun from playing ARNOLD on HAPPY DAYS on ABC TV to being MR. MIYAGI in the "Karate Kid" film series. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends during this time.
A special memorial service will take place in Los Angeles on Wednesday as follows:
Wednesday, Dec. 14, 7-9 pm at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo

10. MORE?
* VC FILM FEST DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS DECEMBER 16 - THIS FRIDAY! GET EM IN!

* RED DOORS - GEORGIA LEE - LOOKS TO HIT THEATRES THIS SPRING

* THE MOTEL - MICHAEL KANG - TO HIT THEATERS IN MAY

* JUSTIN LIN AND CREW ARE OVER IN JAPAN THIS MONTH FILMING "FAST AND FURIOUS 3" - WITH AN AMAZING ASIAN AMERICAN CAST INCLUDING SUNG KANG, JASON TOBIN, LEONARDO NAM, SONNY CHIBA, and more with BOW WOW, too. LOOK FOR THIS IN THEATERS IN JUNE 2006!!!!

* JUSTIN LIN'S "ANNAPOLIS" FOR TOUCHSTONE COMES OUT JANUARY 26 FEATURING JAMES FRANCO, TYRESE and ROGER FAN. Go on Roger!

* FRANK LIN'S "AMERICAN FUSION" SEEMS TO BE GATERHING HEAT FROM POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTORS AFTER WINNING AUDIENCE PRIZES AT HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - WATCH FOR THIS SLAP YOU KNEE COMEDY TO COME TO A FESTIVAL SOON - AND EVEN MAYBE TO THE CINEPLEX NEAR YOU IN 2006.

* OTHER FILMS TO WATCH FOR - not Asian American or Asian Internatonal
PARADISE NOW
TSOTSI
CACHE
SYRIANA
GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK
MRS. HENDERSON PRESENTS
TRANSAMERICA
BREAKFAST ON PLUTO
CAPOTE
WALK THE LINE

That's it for now - Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza,or just Happy Holidays! See a movie!
See you in line!

peace,

APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB