Yes, that's Melissa Hung past editor in chief who did shit like a publisher of Hyphen Magazine, a non-profit Asian American magazine that's run by volunteers. It's fun some of the time meeting a fellow publisher. There are times when you have nothing to say because they're busy acting like they're blinging, too cool, or douchebags, this meeting wasn't like that. Instead we both have the same problems with our publications. Ad sales, distribution, an Asian American audience, and so forth and somehow we manage to smile in the photo. She's been through the same wars (that you can't win) as I, but she's smart enough to take herself out of it. She won't have the greys and she'll live a lot longer than me.
I'll be at the Game Over / Continue? at Giant Robot in San Francisco tomorrow. We're debuting FOUR videogames playable at the shop. It's artists meeting game makers! This will be something new. Check it out at gr-sf.com and artxgame.com.
Try saying the title like you're a tough guy. Or if you're already tough, just say it, and see what it feels like. These look good, don't they? Chocolate dipped with Strawberry, straight chocolate, red velvet, and Oreo. Not a bad way to start a day. Yes it's another cupcake shop. This cute shop is in South Pasadena. How many people think of opening a shop like this?
I wish I knew what this said or means. Peece?
Cherry Blossoms are still falling. It must be the the special weather. These flowers usually disappear much sooner. I feel like it's been well over a month.
This is serious gear. It's what you get when you do music professionally. A home recording studio with crazy equipment. I got to hear a preview of a Linkin Park song that's going to be used in a huge blockbuster film. This is how they do it. Note to the Russian fans who scour the net for anything LP, welcome.
It's like cribs. This is just the other half of one room.
Yes, I beginning to get good at this. Trick shots too
The Yogurtland experience. I don't write too much about milk products, and I don't know how so many Asians gobble down yogurt, but I can have just a tiny bit. Doing the .30 an ounze method works well for me. I got a small taste that was $2.
That's Mei Melancon, aka Psylocke from X-Men and model Jenny Shimizu comparing Blackberry notes in my kitchen. Jenny Shimizu is on the cover of GR10 and she's on Make Me a Supermodel on Bravo. A superhero and a supermodel in my house at the same time. A strange day.
Then there's Harry Kim, also a supermodel and a superhero. He actually sort of is. We did some filming of a Q and A that went super silly. I'll post that one which is for the Chicago Asian American Showcase. Dirty Hands will be opening that festival.
I always trip out on this story about an English teacher who was murdered in Japan. The person who allegedly killed her, was her student, and he's on the run. Japan is the size of California. There's plenty of people, yet, there's not that much space. How can a guy (Tatsuya Ichihashi) disappear in a country so small? How does one really just disappear? I have a stupid fascination with this, I don't know why. He can't use a credit card, can he get a job? Where does he get money? How does he interact with people? This guy went off the grid, changed his identity, and probably lives among people. Maybe he's homeless. He's either a genius or straight up lucky. Maybe this renewed effort will help.
I heard about this earlier in the week. Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two journalists were detained in North Korea! I refrained from even talking about it, since it hasn't come out in media yet, but I guess it's official. Laura's older sister is Lisa Ling, a wild newswoman and GR supporter. It's obvious Laura's on the same path of journalism. I hope they get back soon. link 1 cnn.com link 2 kcra.com
That's Harry doing a hand stand in the filmmakers lounge at the SFIAAFF. Here's what was said about the film. Special Jury Prize does mean 2nd place, but it's still a great honor.
Although only one film can be designated the “best documentary,” another work presented in competition—through sheer audacity, energy and spectacular visual presence—demands to be recognized with the 2009 SFIAAFF Special Jury Award: DIRTY HANDS.
This is a film like no other about an individual that has no comparison. And it is what every artist working with film hopes to experience and achieve: a perfect, almost sublime, match between camera and subject. Stimulating, profane and sometimes uncomfortable, both move in step with each other, screaming and dragging the audience into an insanely energized and zig-zag narrative that is impossible to separate from the artist, or his wildly kinetic art. Entirely refreshing, beneath the intoxicating pace and intensity is a noteworthy choice to frame the individual first through his work, rather than through his Asian American identity.
Dirty Hands is the result of seven years devoted by a filmmaker to understanding and participating in the life of his subject, his friend. With this in mind, it’s easy to say the film required no discipline to create and discover, and that may be true. But because it does work against every grain of objectivity and distance that is often the hallmark of documentary film, it is true to the reckless and rebellious ‘life and times of David Choe.’ In its intimate understanding, its knowledge of knowing when to pull away and when to draw focus, it paints a true and truthful image of its subject, unfinished, undone and wild. And that truth is what every good work of art strives to achieve, and the backbone of any good documentary—Asian American or otherwise.
Tokyo! Opens tomorrow (Friday) at the Nuart Theater.
Catch the March 20th 7:30 screening, there's going to be a Q and A with Ayako Fujitani in person. She's pretty laid back, but can give inciteful answers at the same time. Watch her metamorphosis! That's Ayako sitting next to a window in L.A. and you can see her trademark hair curl. She also sports a retro Megan Whitmarsh wallet. The film is one to check out. It's by Michel Gondry, Leos Carax, and Bong Joon-Ho. Two Frenchmen and a Korean.
Smithsonian Franklin Oda and the Air and Space Museum
This is Franklin Oda. He's running the Smithsonian APA Program. The Smithsonian is so huge that they need an organization to make sure everyone is playing fair. They also do events, and make sure Asian Americans get represented. I think it's worth fighting for that. If they didn't, then who would. It was great to drop in and say hello.
This is Washington DC's finest example of graffiti. I dig this. I saw more than one. It's thick road paint, and you'll see if you're on foot.
That's the Air and Space Museum. I like how it looks like cracks in the buildings. Maybe it's like giant square hangars for the planes. It looks powerful outside and inside.
That's a large pic of President Obama's face. I was next to say, "what's up?" It's amazing to see how a President's administration is reaching out just a little bit further to people in different kinds of fields. Would any previous administration do this? I don't think so. Most of the businesses / business people there are hard to figure out. Is what they do any of it of interest to me? I do love the fact that there was a restaurant owner of a pizzeria chain. There were also reps from small banks, and people in many fields that I've never heard of. Yet, Pat from RVCA and I were invited. I think we are examples of what many or most would call an edgy business, but it's still a business employing just as many employees as many of the other guests. Here's a link to the words spoken.
Me and Abe. We were there to represent the kids. Of all small businesses in the US, yes, "we" count even if it's just to be part of a small crowd, and I think this is just the start.
Pat and I. We turned around and click / flash.
Up close, he's a cool guy.
Hallway photos. I guess it's good to have family pics up.
Pretty nice view of the obelisk
This is where we sit. This is the movie theater of the White House. I guess me being of Japanese heritage, I bust out the peace sign. Pat with some tied to Hawaii goes native son with the Shaka and shell toes. Thanks much to Yosi. More coming in the magazine.
The day started off cold. The weather was tough all around. I have no idea why I took this photo. It was in Japantown right across from the Hotel Tomo. Do they look alike? This was my last full day there.
Harry getting ready. Notice the dudes just hang out, and the ladies get pretty.
Just before we're out to get out. I think Harry was nervous.
The Q and A, Harry listens to the David Choe taped message.
Strange image, but this is post screening at the Dirty Hands merch table. Harry had fans talking to him, it was great.
At the Poleng. Ok. I forget the tallest Asian girl's name. It starts with an M. That's Jean Sun on the right.
I'm on a flight to Washington DC shortly and am on my way to the White House. President Obama will be making an announcement for small businesses that should be big. If all goes well, I'll be in there.
SFIAAFF - the Matrix interviews and Directions in Sound
Starting early in the day, I walked by this sculpture in the plaza in SF's Japantown. It's by Ruth Asawa. She's a great sculptor that not enough know about. These are made of solid metal, but I like her wire sculptures best. They're pretty insane.
Shilpi Gupta, Dan DeLorenzo, and Emily Chang Humberville Poetry Slam Our interview was at a table as if we were drinking coffee.
Tse Chun who's film is called Children of Invention. We did this one on the bridge. He's a cool guy and is only 28 years old.
Jeff Adachi, a public defender has a film called You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story. He's a great guy. Late in the game of film, Jeff Adachi said that being a public defender is like being a filmmaker.
This place rocks, but it took an hour wait to get in. I usually wouldn't wait and hour, but it might have been worth it.
SFIAAFF - Directions in Sound - There was a lot going on and this group of MC's braved the cold and did their craft. This was at 111 Minna. See the Matrix in back?
You wouldn't have believed it. A concert in a hotel room. Goh Nakamura and friends played music to over 20 something folks in a room. I can't believe it didn't cause problems. They played till 3am. There's a lot to say about a room concert like this and honestly, I could never give it it's due here.
That's Goh
I didn't catch their names but they sounded great. The latter part is Goh doing Wouldn't it be Nice by the Beach Boys. When I get the names of the folks in these pics... I'll update it. (Sadie and Han from The Invisible Cities)
She was great too, and in a room so tiny, I should have caught her name, but songs were going back to back. But she was a runner up at Kollaborration. She sounded great. (Jane Lui)
Anderson Le from HIFF gets in on it and sings Rush's Tom Sawyer, using his Blackberry to get the lyrics.
This is what the room looked like. I got there at 1am, and stayed until 3am.
Yes, that's Melissa Hung past editor in chief who did shit like a publisher of Hyphen Magazine, a non-profit Asian American magazine that's run by volunteers. It's fun some of the time meeting a fellow publisher. There are times when you have nothing to say because they're busy acting like they're blinging, too cool, or douchebags, this meeting wasn't like that. Instead we both have the same problems with our publications. Ad sales, distribution, an Asian American audience, and so forth and somehow we manage to smile in the photo. She's been through the same wars (that you can't win) as I, but she's smart enough to take herself out of it. She won't have the greys and she'll live a lot longer than me.
