DEAR APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB:
APRIL 7, 2006
ASIAN AMERICAN ACTORS TAKE THE LEAD IN THE BOX OFFICE THIS WEEKEND!
Print this out - it could get long!
CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONALCINEMA TODAY - GO SEE A MOVIE!
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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 ACTORS ARE IN LEAD ROLES IN MAJOR HOLLYWOOD RELEASES THIS WEEKEND!
As you start off Easter Week, check out the box office films this weekend - TWO FILIPINO AMERICAN MEN and ONE CHINESE AMERICAN WOMAN star in nationwide release new films!!! Check out Filipino American actor DANTE BASCO (THE DEBUT) as he heats up the screen in TAKE THE LEAD alongside Antonio Banderas, and our girl LUCY LIU right up there giving Josh Hartnett and Morgan Freeman a run for their money in LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN. And Filipino American/Caucasian ROB SCHENIDER opens BENCHWARMERS all over the states with David Spade and Jon Heder! ANG LEE (the first non white Best Director Oscar Winner) releases BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN on DVD this week, and VC FILM FEST starts to gear up as SF ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL announces winners. Go to a movie and represent people. Here we go!
1. TAKE THE LEAD OPENS IN 3000 THEATERS STARRING ANTONIO BANDERAS AND DANTE BASCO
2. LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN OPENS ON 2000 SCREENS WITH LUCY LIU
3. ROB SCHNEIDER STARS IN THE BENCHWARMERS EVERYWHERE.
3. TIBET: ABUDDHIST TRILOGY OPENS NY AND LA
4. OSCAR WINNING BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN HITS DVD STORES THIS WEEK
5. SF ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS
6. VC FILM FEST - LA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL GETS SET FOR MAY 4 OPENING WITH JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
7. IS THAT IT?
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1. TAKE THE LEAD OPENS IN 3000 THEATERS STARRING ANTONIO BANDERAS AND DANTE BASCO
DANTE BASCO takes the lead alongside Antonio Banderas in the New Line film "TAKE THE LEAD" about the life of the New York city dance instructor MR. PIERRE from Mad Hot Ballroom (remember that great docu last year?). Fun film for the family about kids in NY City being inspired to do ballroom dancing. Go on Dante!
2. LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN OPENS ON 2000 SCREENS WITH LUCY LIU
Miss sexy hot and cool LUCY LIU steals the show in the indie film "LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN" together with Josh Hartnett. She co stars with other Tarantino veterans Bruce Willis and Robert Forster and Oscar peeps Sir Ben Kingsley and Morgan Freeman. Still am waiting for that breakout role for our girl. She's worth seeing here, though.
3. ROB SCHNEIDER STARS IN THE BENCHWARMERS EVERYWHERE.
Yes, that gigolo ROB SCHNEIDER (yes, he is half Pinoy) is back on the comedy front with David Spade and Jon Heder (NAPOLEAN DYNAMTE) in BENCHWARMERS from the director of Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy. Produced by Adam Sandler. So, you know you can bring your teenagers cuz they will have a great time. Or you can drop em off. We have not seen it - but you can get it will be silliness in a PG13 fashion.
4. TIBET: A BUDDHIST TRILOGY OPENS NY AND LA
For something more on the serious side - check out this 1979 documentary TIBET: A BUDDHIST TRILOGY which was originally four hours and now is cut and digitally restored to 2 hours portraing the Tibetan way of life as it exists in exile in Northern India. The film is divided in to three parts and gives you a great sense of this engaging culture and its people. This is playing in limited engagements mostly at art house theatres in large cities - so check your local listings.
5. OSCAR WINNING BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN HITS DVD STORES THIS WEEK
ANG LEE became the first non-white Best Director Oscar winner in March for this sweeping film about forbidden love. You've heard the jokes and probably have seen the film. Now you can own this historic piece, as well. The only drawback is there is no commentary from the actors or the director. Could there be a CRITERION release soon or a special edition. Definitely worth owning. We just can't quit you ANG!
6. SF ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES WINNERS
This had to be one of the best editions of the SF ASIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL presented by The Center for Asian American Media (formerly NAATA). Audiences were thrilled to a number of Asian American films and new directors. Very promising for our artists. Highlights included AMERICANESE, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, PUNCHING AT THE SUN, THE ACHIEVERS, DEAR PYONGYONG, and EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE among many many more.
The winners of this year's festival include:
Best Narrative Feature: PUNCHING AT THE SUN, Dir. Tanuj Chopra
Special Jury Award: COLMA: THE MUSICAL, Dir. Richard Wong
Best Documentary Feature: ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story, Dirs. Chris Sheridan & Patty Kim
Special Jury Award: CHINESE RESTAURANTS: LATIN PASSIONS, Dir. Cheuk Kwan
Comcast/AZN Audience Award, Narrative: [tie] JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, Dir. Ham Tran and WATER, Dir. Deepa Mehta
Comcast/AZN Audience Award, Documentary: SENTENCED HOME, Dirs. David Grabias & Nicole Newnham
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CENTER and to all of the filmmakers who showcased at this year's festival
7. VC FILM FEST - LA ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL GETS SET FOR MAY 4 OPENING WITH JOURNEY FROM THE FALL
Ok, so you missed the SF FEST. Make your reservations now for the VC FILM FEST - LA ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL taking place May 4 - May 11 at the
Directors Guild of America, the LAEMMLE SUNSET 5 THEATRES and the JAPAN AMERICAN THEATRE in Los Angeles. Visual Communications will present HAM TRAN'S award winning JOURNEY FROM THE FALL for opening night and ERIC BYLER'S award winning AMERICANESE for closing night. This year's centerpiece will be JULIA KWAN'S award winning "EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE." This year, the festival is touting a record number of Asian American feature film including the West Coast premiere of Kris Chin and Ron Oda's award winning ASIAN STORIES (BOOK 3) and TANUJ CHOPRA's PUNCHING AT THE SUN. Watch here for next week's official announcement of the line up which will include some great surprises. This year's panels will feature a day long cinematographer's workshop for all of you dps and emerging dps and a panel dedicated to helping emerging filmmakers figure out what to do after you got your film made!
For all of you hard working artists and audiences, this will be one festival not to miss. Check out vconline.org for more info and watch here for updates beginning next week!
8. IS THAT IT?
No, that ain't it. But that's it for this week.
Stuff to look for:
• Word has it that the Korean box office hit TYPHOON is getting ready to hit US shores - more next week.
• Also - rumor has it Paul Berges' film MISTRESS OF THE SPICES is getting ready to hit theatres in India and possibly here in the US!
• Mark your calendar's for THE PROMISE from director CHEN KAIGE opening US on May 5.
• Lots going on
See y ou at the movies,
APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB
