 | FOUNDATION BLOG
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Our Blog Has Moved!
For those who found this, we apologize this doesn't direct you to our new blog. We will be figuring out the new html code for this soon.
In the meantime please visit us at:
http://sdasianfilm.blogspot.com/ | 2:53pm | Nick Cichon
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The Importance of "Vincent Who?" at USD May 6th
May 6th at 6pm will live in my mind as the moment that I began to see how much impact the San Diego Asian Film Foundation can make in the mission of connecting audiences to the human experience. "Vincent Who?", a follow up documentary to the classic doc "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" was screened at the University of San Diego's Institute for Peace and Justice to a gathering of 160 people, including students, professors, and SDAFF members.
The screening means so many things to the audience; for those who lived through the time period it reminded them of the continuing struggle for rights and acceptance for Asian-Americans. For students, the screening serves as a strong educational tool as to the importance of the tragedy that befell Vincent Chin and what impact it has on American history. For the rest of us, this documentary serves as a very real reminder that our justice system is very flawed, especially in regards to the treatment of ethnic minorities in the system.
The reception that followed the screening was lively and full of conversation and there was a sense of belonging. The audience connected on the understanding that there must be awareness about issues that affect the Asian-American community. The San Diego Asian Film Foundation is known for its beautiful and extravagant festivals, but now more than ever, the Foundation is being known for its ability to connect people year-round to the culture, issues, and themes that are reflective of the Pan Asian experience.
This event will not be forgotten any time soon.
OPS
| 11:49am | Phillip Luque
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1st Day at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival
Hello SDAFF peeps, a lot of the first day was checking in, meeting people, and getting tickets. The DGA theater on sunset is really beautiful and has so much space.
The Lammele Sunset was really cool too in that it is an indie movie house, too bad its located next to a gym (mmm...what is it with indie movie houses located next to gyms? (hello Landmark Hillcrest!))
Tomorrow I will be watching three films and blogging away....
Keep an eye out on our flickr page as there will be videos posted from my video journal!
OPS | 10:34am | Phillip Luque
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Lao New Year and "The Betrayal"
I did not know what to expect when I entered the Joe and Vi Jacobs center last Friday night. I knew that we were co-presenting "The Betrayal" with the Lao Cultural Community Center. I also knew that we were doing our mission: connecting audiences to the Pan Asian experience through the media arts.
What I did not expect, was the huge turnout for this program. I did not anticipate such a strong Lao turnout either. In hindsight, I should have known better.
San Diego is the Lao capital of the U.S.; and on Friday April 3rd, I saw first hand the strong community that this often misunderstood Asian group has. Over 200 people showed up for this event! Along with our presentation of the academy-award nominated documentary, there was an amazing exhibit by Legacies of War which showed the horrors and the stories that are tied forever to the dirty war in Laos.
Refugee Nation, a theater troupe out of L.A. presented a funny and though provoking performance tackling the dirty war, Asian-American identity issues, and was it means to be "Lao and Proud!"
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Phil presenting "The Betrayal"
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These two programs coupled with SDAFF's presentation of "The Betrayal" were indicative that the Lao Cultural Community Center wanted the Lao generations to come together to remember, to heal, and to hope for a brighter future.
I have fallen in love with these people and I will now be "Lao and Proud" every April for this new year's celebration...
To find out more about Legacies of War:
Legacies of War website
To find out more about Refugee Nation:
Refugee Nation
And, about the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center:
Jacobs Center
| 2:23pm | Phillip Luque
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The Intern Blog - Vanessa Alcaraz
By Vanessa Alcaraz
For more blogs about our intern's experiences, click on link above.
Latino Film Festival Experience
Day one with Latino Film Festival was exciting and mind-boggling. Having the rush and pressure of opening night on everyone's shoulders was crazy. The place was privately chaotic; the public had little knowledge as to how crazy it would be. As I went upstairs to the projection room, I was first introduced to all the projectionists and was given a brief tour of how things worked. Projectionist Arnold Marquez showed me the ropes and encouraged me. That first night I was mostly observing and helping where I could, though I wasn't fully getting trained on how things worked. I was happy that I could help. I completely understood that night I was more observant than anything because, it was opening night and things were on edge and needed to get done when asked. Opening night went pretty smoothly, though there were some dents here and there, but every problem that came up was quickly taken care of and the show went on.
 
Day two at Latino was pretty much the same as day one, once again I was pretty observant in the projection room and wasn't really given a position where I was doing something. So since I wasn't much use upstairs, I decided to come down stairs and see if there was anyone or anything that needed assistance. Downstairs I was given the responsibility of sound person for a performance. With this task I was asked to control the songs that needed to be played with the dancers, and to control the volume levels depending on how many people were in the lobby. Everything went well and I was proud that I was able to complete the task given to me with success.
Day three I was put into 4th gear by getting actually trained by Arnold and he gave me the chance to project some films. The films that I was projecting were all video no 35mm just yet. While in training I was taught the differences between digi-beta, DVD, 35mm and all the equipment needed to play them all in one program screening. At this point, I was a bit overwhelmed with the changing of wires that needed to go on in the limited time we had between each film. The films that I was working with were all shorts therefore giving me less time to get what needed to be changed, changed. Though through all the pressure everything ran seamlessly and I felt pretty accomplished.
Over all, working with Latino was a great experience because it introduced me to how many new opportunities open up for you when you volunteer. It has been and surely will continue to be a great learning experience, and hopefully by the end of the festival I will be able to project 35mms by myself.:)
Thanks to my mentor Phillip Luque with SDAFF and Latino Film Festival for providing me with these new opportunities and experiences.
| 2:32pm | Phillip Luque
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