Daniel Yoon Gets Down to Earth at Taos

04.19 - Posted by Editor

		Daniel Yoon gets down to earth at Taos   "Post Concussion" wins the 2000 Land Grant Award at the Taos Talking Pictures Festival   Interview by Greg Pak

04.19.00 Daniel Yoon's first feature "Post Concussion" just won the prestigious Land Grand Award given by the Taos Talking Pictures Festival. AsianAmericanFilm caught up with him as he lolled in the afterglow of victory. Click here for the AAF review of "Post Concussion"     Links "Post Concussion" website   AAF review of "Post Concussion"   AAF database listing of "Post Concussion"   Post your comments on the Message Boards!   AAF   Tell us about the feel of the Taos Talking Pictures Festival. What's the feel and vibe of the place?   DY  It was very friendly and low key. Very few people decked out in completely in black. It's a wonderful festival for filmmakers - almost all of the shows were sold out or close to selling out, which is remarkable since Taos is a small town and the fest screened most films two or three times.   AAF   How was "Post Concussion" received at the screening?   DY  We had three fantastic screenings - all sold out. They were wonderful audiences.   AAF   How was the reaction from the Taos audience different from the reaction of audiences at the various Asian American film festivals which have screened the film?   DY  At Taos and other "non-Asian" film fests, audiences have loved the film, but the issue of race has never come up. Asian American audiences have enjoyed the film at least as much, but I've also noticed that Asian men in particular have identified with the film - not because Asian men have more head injuries than other groups, but simply because the lead character is an Asian man, and I think that's pretty cool.   AAF   What was your reaction to winning the Land Grant Award?   DY   I had expected Long Night's Journey Into Day to win because it had won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance this year. As they announced the winner, I was prepared to applaud Frances Reid and Deborah Hoffman, and so I was caught completely off guard. My jaw dropped. My mom and I stared at each other in shock. Then I started hyperventilating. That lasted for about 24 hours.   AAF   What exactly do you get for winning the Land Grand Award?   DY   Five acres of land just north of Taos, NM. It's at 8600 feet in the mountains and is absolutely beautiful. The Land Grant idea came from the brilliant and iconoclastic filmmaker Jeff Jackson (Death & Taxes, Postal Worker). Jeff's company - the Taos Land and Film Company (www.taoslandandfilm.com) also donated the land. You can check out pictures of the area on Jeff's website - some nearby parcels of land are still available for sale.   AAF   So are you moving to Taos now?   DY   Well, the road up the land isn't completely done yet, so it might be a year or so before anyone could build on it. But I do want to live there at some point in the not too distant future! Jeff Jackson is steadily assembling a community of filmmakers there - it's an exciting time.   AAF   How do you think winning this award will affect your efforts to get distribution for "Post Concussion"?   DY   The two previous winners - "Smoke Signals" and "La Ciudad" - both got limited but good theatrical distribution, so I'm pretty excited.   AAF   Where does "Post Concussion" go next?   DY   Post Concussion is playing this Thursday April 20 at the MInneapolis/St Paul International Film Festival. Then it's going to the USA Film Festival in Dallas. A complete listing of screenings can be found on my website at www.bluewaterfilms.com.   AAF   Any other comments?   DY   In the future I'd like to organize a retreat for Asian American filmmakers up in - you guessed it - Taos, NM. It's a good place to stop, take a breath, and have a look around...