1. ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN CONTINUES ITS SUCCESSFUL BOX OFFICE AND CRITICAL ACCLAIM RIDE TO THE TOP - CAN WE SAY OSCAR?
2. JESSICA SANDERS' POWERFUL AND ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY "AFTER INNOCENCE" OPENS LA AND SACTO AND THEN SF FOLLOWING
3. WAYNE WANG JOINS FORCES WITH THE QUEEN - QUEEN LATIFAH - FOR "LAST HOLIDAY"
4. JUSTIN LIN IS GETTING READY TO PREMIERE ANNAPOLIS ON JANUARY 27 - WITH ROGER FAN (DARIC FROM BLT)
5. WARNER INDEPENDENT WILL RELEASE "LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN A MUSLIM WORLD" JANUARY 20
6. RED DOORS FROM GEORGIA LEE TO OPEN IN APRIL FROM POLYCHROME
7. SUNDANCE AND SLAM DANCE FEATURES 37 FILMS FROM ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS - WHOA!
8. INVITE TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - JANUARY 22 - COME JOIN APA FIRST WEEKEND AND OUR FILMMAKERS
9. CATCH GREY'S ANATOMY - JESSICA YU DIRECTS and SANDRA OH stars
10. OTHER STUFF
DEAR APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB:
JANUARY 14, 2006
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING JR HOLIDAY!
Print this out - it could get long!
CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONALCINEMA TODAY - GO SEE A MOVIE!
We apologize if you got this more than once. We know we are on so many different lists. Please pass this information on to other people who are interested in Asian American and Asian international cinema. We try very hard to keep you always updated as to films that are popping up in your area. Please note that you are a part of over 12,000 people who are on this list nationwide and it is published on www.asianamericanfilm.com!
Note: To subscribe - send an email that says "please subscribe" to apafirstweekend@aol.com
For those of you who are first timers here, the mission of this email newsletter blast to keep everyone aware of Asian American and Asian international films that will be coming out so that we can go out and support them.
First weekend box office receipts are very important to Hollywood and to our films because these reports will make or break a film. If the films does well on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the "first" weekend it comes out, theater owners and distributors will make their decisions on Monday mornings about a film's life.
So, we encourage each and every one of you to go out there and support our Asian American and Asian international filmmakers. It is at the box office where we can show our strength and our power for our films and and filmmakers. Even if you don't have the time to sit through the film on the first weekend - go to the theater and purchase a ticket so that we can show box office $$$ numbers. It is extremely important. At the end of the day.. the color in Hollywood is GREEN! Show up and vote for yourself at the box office!
IN THIS ISSUE: ASIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKERS ARE EVERYWHERE THIS WEEKEND!
From ANG LEE to JESSICA SANDERS to WAYNE WANG - Asian American filmmakers are everywhere. This is another historic weekend for us coming up - where we can show the wide spectrum of our own talent. Take the time this weekend and see a film by an Asian American director.
1. BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - DIRECTED BY ANG LEE
2. LAST HOLIDAY - DIRECTED BY WAYNE WANG
3. AFTER INNOCENCE - DIRECTED BY JESSICA SANDERS
Congratulations to all of our filmmakers - WE SALUTE ALL OF YOU!
Celebrate at the movies! We can see at least one Asian American filmmaker's product anywhere in the US this weekend! And wait til JUSTIN LIN's ANNAPOLIS hits screens on January 27. OK?
HERE WE GO FOR JANUARY 14:
**********************************
1. ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN CONTINUES ITS SUCCESSFUL BOX OFFICE AND CRITICAL ACCLAIM RIDE TO THE TOP - CAN WE SAY OSCAR?
2. JESSICA SANDERS' POWERFUL AND ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY "AFTER INNOCENCE" OPENS LA AND SACTO AND THEN SF FOLLOWING
3. WAYNE WANG JOINS FORCES WITH THE QUEEN - QUEEN LATIFAH - FOR "LAST HOLIDAY"
4. JUSTIN LIN IS GETTING READY TO PREMIERE ANNAPOLIS ON JANUARY 27 - WITH ROGER FAN (DARIC FROM BLT)
5. WARNER INDEPENDENT WILL RELEASE "LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN A MUSLIM WORLD" JANUARY 20
6. RED DOORS FROM GEORGIA LEE TO OPEN IN APRIL FROM POLYCHROME
7. SUNDANCE AND SLAM DANCE FEATURES 37 FILMS FROM ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS - WHOA!
8. INVITE TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - JANUARY 22 - COME JOIN APA FIRST WEEKEND AND OUR FILMMAKERS
9. CATCH GREY'S ANATOMY - JESSICA YU DIRECTS and SANDRA OH stars
10. OTHER STUFF
**********************************
1. ANG LEE'S BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN CONTINUES ITS SUCCESSFUL BOX OFFICE AND CRITICAL ACCLAIM RIDE TO THE TOP - CAN WE SAY OSCAR?
This film is continuing to wow folks at the box office, in the studios, and on the awards front. We ran into Ang Lee last Monday at the Critics Choice awards where he took home BEST DIRECTOR and the film took home BEST PICTURE. Everyone in the room was abuzz about OSCAR. We think this is ANG LEE's year for BEST DIRECTOR and BEST PICTURE. And rightly so. If you have not seen this film yet, please make sure you take the time to see this. You will see LEE's true magical artistry as one of America's foremost story tellers. It's almost like a combination of the best of his works to date rolled up into one. His actors are amazing and the story captivates you in a way that will keep you talking about it for days to come. Big props to you Mr. Lee for a job well done. Good luck to you and our fingers are crossed for the Academy Award for you this year. And for our people - go out and see the film. You may want to buy your tickets on line - because it's always sold out,. Check this out - For FANDANGO - it was the number 1 ticket seller this week - beating out KING KONG. Go see it!
2. JESSICA SANDERS' POWERFUL AND ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY "AFTER INNOCENCE" OPENS LA AND SACTO AND THEN SF FOLLOWING
Amazing, thought provoking and excellent documentary from 28 year old JESSICA SANDERS! AFTER INNOCENCE won a special jury prize at Sundance last year - and has won critics around the country, as well. It's also on the docu short list. But most important, this film is making a difference. Just this past Monday and Tuesday, they showed the film at the state capitol of Sacramento to legislators and lobbyists to help support legislation for the wrongfully accused. This was a great success and because of this film - dialogue amongst law makers is taking place. How many films can say they have made an impact like this??? And FRIDAY NIGHT in LA - the 7:30 PM screening of the film was sold out (450 seats) turning folks away at the door. The very appreciative audience gave the filmmaker and the film's subjects a huge and well deserved STANDING O!
AFTER INNOCENCE will be a film that will be used in schools and in our law makers' institutions long after it has left the theater. Brilliantly done and telling the most compelling stories about 7 different innocent men who spent time in the prison system and who were finally exonerated by DNA testing. The film talks about their lives after being freed and the adjustment and problems faced by these individuals.
Filmmaker SANDERS was featured in Giant Robot last issue - and AngryAsianMan gave it a stellar review and even a photo on his web blog.
check out the website: www.afterinnocence.com for the cities it is opening soon.
LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 13
NuArt Theater - Santa Monica and Sawtelle
SACRAMENTO - JANUARY 13
Crest Theater - Downtown - K STREET MALL
SAN FRANCISCO - JANUARY 20
Lumeire - California and Polk
BERKELEY - JANUARY 20
ACT 2 - Near Shattuck
Other dates and cities
02/03/06 MUSIC BOX Chicago, IL
02/03/06 KENDALL SQUARE Cambridge, MA
02/03/06 STARS FILM CENTER Denver, CO
02/10/06 KEN CINEMA San Diego, CA
02/10/06 EMBASSY THEATER Waltham, MA
02/10/06 VARSITY THEATER Seattle, WA
02/17/06 INWOOD THEATER Dallas, TX
02/17/06 ORIENTAL THEATER Milwaukee, WI
02/24/06 HARRIS THEATER Pittsburgh, PA
02/24/06 LAGOON CINEMA Minneapolis, MN
02/24/06 DOBIE THEATERAustin, TX
02/24/06 RIVER OAK THEATER Houston,TX
02/24/06 Indianapolis, IN
03/03/06 TOWER THEATER Salt Lake City, UT
03/03/06 THE SCREEN Santa Fe, NM
03/07-03/09/06 DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ART Detroit, MI
03/17/06 MIDTOWN ART CIMENA Atlanta, GA
03/24/06 TIVOLI THEATER St. Louis, MO
Check local listings as JESSICA SANDERS and some of the subjects from the film will be present for Q&A!
CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA SANDERS - we are proud of you!
3. WAYNE WANG JOINS FORCES WITH THE QUEEN - QUEEN LATIFAH - FOR "LAST HOLIDAY"
Give it to em Queen! We love Queen Latifah and we love us some Wayne Wang, too. Light, fun and crazy comedy with LATIFAH at her best - (much better and less stereotyped than BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE). If you are looking for that comic relief and want something that will make you smile and chuckle and feel like you had a good time and didn't waste 2 hours of your time - then check out WAYNE WANG'S "LAST HOLIDAY" starring Queen Latifah and LL COOL J. This movie is everywhere!
Go on Wayne Wang!
4. JUSTIN LIN IS GETTING READY TO PREMIERE ANNAPOLIS ON JANUARY 27 - WITH ROGER FAN (DARIC FROM BLT)
Justin Lin is going to be one of our most busiest directors this year - he's in the middle of shooting FAST AND FURIOUS 3 - TOKYO DRIFT right now - and the sets and the cars are amazing. And on JANUARY 27 - his second feature - this time from Buena Vista Pictures - entitled ANNAPOLIS hits theatres nationwide. The film stars
the ever hunky JAMES FRANCO and the beautiful TYRESE along with the stunning JORDANA BREWSTER - and our boy ROGER FAN (remember hot boy from BETTER LUCK who was the president of every club). Preview audiences have been over the moon on the film about a young man from the wrong side of the tracks who wants to get into ANNAPOLIS NAVAL ACADEMY; he does - but has to prove himself to his fellow classmates and roommates that he is worthy. Great boxing scenes and good performances from the leads make the film worth buying a ticket and a bucket of popcorn. Gents - no doubt your girlfriend will want to go- and you will like it to.
Hats off to JUSTIN LIN for casting Roger Fan and keeping his BLT character name intact - DARIC LOO. So for all you BLTeers wondering what ever happen to DARIC LOO - he went to ANNAPOLIS naval academy. Make sure you mark your calendars and go first weekend on January 27 - it will be everywhere. We think it's PG 13!
5. WARNER INDEPENDENT WILL RELEASE "LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN A MUSLIM WORLD" JANUARY 20
Laura Kim and her crew over at Warner Independent are having a great season from MARCH OF THE PENGUINS to GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK and now releasing a hilarious comedy starring Albert Brooks and Indian film star Sheetal Sheth. The trailers to this film make you want to go see it and you can on Friday, January 20 in most cities across the nation.
LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD is the hilarious story of what happens when the U.S. Government sends comedian Albert Brooks to India
and Pakistan to find out what makes the Muslims laugh. Brooks, accompanied by two state department handlers (John Carroll Lynch, Jon Tenney) and his trusted assistant (Sheetal Sheth), goes on a journey that takes him from a concert stage in New Delhi, to the Taj Mahal, to a secret location in the mountains of Pakistan.
Written and directed by Albert Brooks, LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD is a funny and insightful look at some of the issues we are dealing with in a post-9/11 world.
LOOKING FOR COMEDY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD opens in theaters on Friday,January 20, in most major cities. The official site is: http://wip.warnerbros.com/. Sheetal Sheth has starred in numerous Indian-American independent films and now stars in this Hollywood release.
6. RED DOORS FROM GEORGIA LEE TO OPEN IN APRIL FROM POLYCHROME
Georgia Lee's award winning audience favorite RED DOORS will open in New York in April. It just got picked up by POLYCHROME PICTURES who will do a limited release in major cities across the nation. We will have more information as the roll out begins. But, also just as exciting - CBS has tapped into Georgia Lee and her producing and writing team of MIA RIVERTON and JANE CHEN to pen a possible television series based on her film. So big props and congrats to Georgia, Mia and Jane. Watch here for more RED DOORS updates! Make sure RED DOORS is on your calendar this spring. We will tell you which theaters!
7. SUNDANCE AND SLAM DANCE FEATURES 37 FILMS FROM ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKERS - WHOA!
Yes, it's that time for PARK CITY madness and APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB NEWSLETTER will be up there once again reporting back all the goings on of the moviefest in the snow. This year we will celebrate 37 films from Asian American and Asia International talent. They are as follows:
S U N D A N C E
1. RAMIN BAHRANI - "MAN PUSH CART"
2. DAVID CHAI - "FUMI AND THE BAD LUCK FOOT"
3. CHO CHANG-HO - "THE PETER PAN FORMULA"
4. TANUJ CHOPRA - "PUNCHING AT THE SUN"
5. TOA FRASER - "NO. 2"
6. HIROKI RYUICHI - "IT"S ONLY TALK"
7. IAN INABA - "AMERICA BLACKOUT"
8. KIM SO YUNG - "IN BETWEEN DAYS"
9. JULIA KWAN - "EVE & THE FIREHORSE"
10. JON DANIEL LIGON - "HA HA HA AMERICA"
11. IN-AH LEE - "DON"T COME KNOCKING" (Producer)
12. MAX MAKOWSKI - "ONE LAST DANCE"
13. FREIDA LEE MOCK - "WRESTLING WITH ANGELS: PLAYWRIGHT TONY KUSHNER"
14. FIRAS MOMANI - "A HALF MAN"
15. EDWARD PARKS - "SPECIAL" (Producer)
16. LUC SCHAEDLER - "ANGRY MONK: RELFECTIONS OF TIBET"
17. AURAEUS SOLITO - "THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS"
18. SANDHYA SURI - "I IS FOR INDIA"
19. HAM TRAN - "JOURNEY FROM THE FALL"
20. YANG YONGHI - "DEAR PYONGYANG"
21. SUSAN YOUSSEF - "MARJOUN AND THE FLYING HEADSCARF"
22. HISHAM ZAMAN - "BAKWE"
23. ZHANG YUAN - "LITTLE RED FLOWERS"
S U N D A N C E / N H K F I L M M A K E R A W A R D E E S
1. FUJITA MINEHITO - "HURRICANE"
2. KENMOCHI SATOKI - "NEXT SUNDAY"
3. NAKAJIMA KANJI - "THE CLONES RETURN TO THE HOMELAND"
S L A M D A N C E
1. LEE ISAAC CHUNG - "LOS COYOTES"
2. MARYAM KESHAVARZ - "THE DAY I DIED" and "œNOT FOR SALE"
3. KIM CHANSOO - "VAUDEVILLE"
4. PATTY KIM - "ABDUCTION"
5. VANESSA LY - "HIGH WINDS"
6. PARK KEUN-PYO - "WAKE"
7. ANNIE POON - "THE BOOK OF VISIONS"
8. MICHAEL SHU - "TRIPTYCH"
9. SUH YONGCHU - "LEFT AND LEAVE"
10. MATTHEW SWANSON - "HIRO"
11. PATRICK TSAI - "NO MORE SYMPATHY"
Check the Sundance listing for times and tickets and make sure you come out and support these filmmakers. There are some gems in here that you won't want to miss: EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE, ABDUCTION, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, WRESTLING WITH ANGELS, THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS and DEAR PYONGYANG to name a few.
8. INVITE TO THE ASIAN AMERICAN FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY - JANUARY 22 - COME JOIN APA FIRST WEEKEND AND OUR FILMMAKERS
Attention all PARK CITY people coming up next week!!! Join APA FIRST WEEKEND for the 5th ANNUAL ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS RECEPTION AT PARK CITY!
WHEN: SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 - 4PM TO 6PM
WHERE: CHINA PANDA RESTAURANT - NEXT TO THE HOLIDAY CINEMAS AND GARD SPORTS AND BEHIND ALBERTSONS
WHAT: CELEBRATE OURSELVES IN PARK CITY WITH A 21 ITEM BUFFET AND A GREAT GIFT BAG
RSVP - MUST RSVP TO apafilmparkcity@yahoo.com
please indicate "Park City RSVP" in subject line.
This is OUR opportunity to meet each other and celebrate in Park City.
Brought to you by the ASIAN PACIFIC FILMMAKERS RECEPTION COMMITTEE:
Visual Communications (VC),
Center for Asian American Media (formerly NAATA),
Asian CineVision (ACV),
San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF),
Process Space Consulting,
APA First Weekend Club, and
David Magdael & Associates, Inc.
9. CATCH GREY'S ANATOMY - JESSICA YU DIRECTS and SANDRA OH stars
Oscar Winner JESSICA YU ("my dress cost more than my film...") will direct this Sunday's episode of ABC TV 's "GREY'S ANATOMY" starring one of our favorite stars SANDRA OH! It will air Sunday after DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES! CHECK YOUR LOCAL LISTINGS.
Congrats to JESSICA and SANDRA! YAY!
10. OTHER STUFF
* MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA - still in theaters - yes, worth seeing on the big screen - don't wait for the DVD - MICHELLE YEOH, GONG LI and ZIYI ZHANG along with KEN WATANABE - need we say more??? And ZIYI is n ominated for a Golden Globe. But it's GONG LI who steals the show. Why they don't nominate her?
* THE NEW WORLD - yes starring Colin Farrel - but it's all about new comer - Q'Orianka Kilcher - an amazing actress and stunningly beautiful - raised in Hawaii and she was on that new STAR SEARCH that had Arsenio has the host. She's come a long long way. Hopefully more to come from her.
* FAST AND FURIOUS 3: TOKYO DRIFT - things from Justin Lin's set are coming along. They just got back from JAPAN and are tearing up the streets of LA with some outstanding night time shots with some serious tricked out cars. And, he's got SUNG KANG, JASON TOBIN, BOBBY TEE, ALDEN VILLAVEREDE, LEONARDO NAM and SONNY CHIBA in his film with a huge Asian American extra cast. Many of our actor friends are all part of the FF3! It's spozed to hit theaters in June! Yep - fast and furious.
* THE MOTEL - looks like the release date for MICHAEL KANG's award winning film is now pushed to June going out on a platform roll. Keep your eyes peeled for the SUNG KANG and JADE WU starring film from Sundance 2005 with Miguel Arteta and Karin Chien producing.
* THE FALL OF FUJIMORI - Ellen Parry's insightful and eye brow raising documentary on the exiled Peruvian President - Alberto Fujimori will hit FILMFORUM in NEW YORK on January 18. The film was a hit at Sundance and an eye opener as Ms. Parry was the only one to capture FUJIMORI on film talking about his life as President of Peru who later was exiled to Japan only to try and come back this year 2006 to run for President again. Amazing and compeling and worth watching. FILMMAKER PARRY will be at FILM FORUM for discussion which will prove to be lively.
That's it for now - see you in line at the movies! Go out and see one ! Get out of the rain!
Congatulations to all of our artists - filmmakers, producers, writers, agents, managers, actors, publicists and executives! We are all very proud of you and what you do!
Stay strong - it's tough out there.
Peace,
APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB
