Of the the SDAFF 6th Day soon, but I had to post this... Started playing in my head, so I tracked it down again.

Well, it's that time of year again! I took the week off, so I could see most of the best films and documentaries. This year for the first time, there will be screenings at UCR (University of California at Riverside) Home of Daynah! :)

First night was awesome! Featuring Ping Pong Playa - an Asian-American comedy by Jessica Yu, staring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan and Smith Cho... I have pictures on my Flickr featured below.

And here are Opening Night photos from the SDAFF Staff Photographers on Flickr

University Village Cinemas
1201 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92507
map

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More HERE

Getting ready for Comic-Con tomorrow! Lots to see and do (and post!) But I know many of you like the dollies, so here is something you might be interested in:

11:00-12:30 Asian Ball Jointed Dolls 101/Collectors Meeting— Doll owners and enthusiasts discuss the world of Asian ball-jointed resin dolls from companies like Elfdoll, Volks, Cerberus Project, Customhouse, Fairyland, Angelregion, Bambicrony, and many others. Learn the basics about BJDs, and pick up tips on customizing, maintaining, and photographing these beautiful dolls. Share the beauty of your own unique doll, or just see the many dolls on display, from tiny to towering. Make new friends—both live and resin! Room 8
Categories:  Action Figures, Toys and Collectibles | Costuming | Fandom

The San Diego Asian Film Festival group is presenting a preview of a new Nickelodeon bilingual childrens show called Ni hao, Kai-lan. Even if you don't live in San Diego, you might want to keep an eye out for this show on Nick! Sounds like a great way to pick up some Mandarin. :)

Free Screening for Preschoolers on Feb 9: Ni Hao, Kai-Lan

Newly added valuable prizes from Nickelodeon!

Just in time for Chinese New Year, the San Diego Asian Film Foundation is inviting preschoolers and parents to a free screening of the new animated series on Nick Jr., NI HAO, KAI-LAN. Praised by The New York Times as "a cartoon with heart," the show features a bilingual preschooler, Kai-lan, who is always thoughtful and caring.

What: Free Screening of NI HAO, KAI-LAN

Where: UltraStar Cinemas, Hazard Center, off 163 and Friars Rd. in Mission Valley, (map)

Who: Preschoolers (ages 2-5), plus parents, friends, and siblings

Bonus: We'll have free snacks and fun crafts for the kids including decorating paper lanterns and coloring dragon masks.

Plus: Thanks to Nickelodeon, we're also giving away cool, valuable prizes*:

• Dora Digital Cameras (worth $59 each)
• Diego Digital Cameras (worth $59 each)
• Diego CD players with a Nick Jr. CD (worth $25 each)
• Wonder Pets plush sets (worth $59 each)
• A set of 4 tickets to The Backyardigan's Live Show when it comes to San Diego in October
• A set of 4 tickets to Diego Live! when it comes to San Diego in June

* Each attendee will receive a raffle ticket and we will pick winners at the end of each show.

Premiering on Nick Jr. Thursday, February 7 at 11 a.m. Print this Page Send to a friend Ni Hao, Kai-lan is a play-along, think-along series that weaves together Chinese language and culture, preschool-relatable stories, and interactivity, with Kai-lan as your intimate friend and playmate! What the Show's About "Ni hao!" That means "hi" in Chinese--and that's how Kai-lan greets you every day! Kai-lan Chow is an exuberant Chinese-American preschooler, almost 6, who wants you to come play with her and her best friends. Kai-lan's world is infused with Chinese culture and is brimming with magical sights and sounds, and everywhere you turn there's something amazing and beautiful to see. Along the way, she and her bilingual buddies speak in English and Chinese, but they always need kids' help to find creative solutions to the daily dilemmas that come their way! Meet the Characters Kai-lan Chow is a playful, adventurous preschooler with a big heart. She is almost 6, speaks both English and Mandarin Chinese, and is super excited to share her language, her culture, and her playtime--with her animal friends and children at home! YeYe is Kai-lan's grandpa. He lovingly passes on his rich and colorful world full of Chinese customs and traditions to his granddaughter. YeYe provides Kai-lan with gentle guidance, leading her to find her own answers, at her own pace. Tolee is a 5-year-old panda-loving koala who puts his friends first. He's the thinker of the group, and Kai-lan and her friends can always rely on him for good ideas and to think before he acts. At 3-years-old, Hoho the monkey is the youngest of Kai-lan's friends. He's full of boundless energy, he's super good at jumping, and loves to DJ. Nothing makes Hoho happier than being the center of attention. Rintoo is a rambunctious 5-year-old tiger who's best friends with Kai-lan. Rintoo has a thirst for adventure and thrills, but beneath the bravado he's a sweet and caring tiger who looks out for his friends. Kai-Lan's Curriculum Ni Hao, Kai-lan is the next generation of preschool television programming that introduces the psychology of biculturalism. If Dora and Diego popularized bilingualism, Kai-lan will weave together being bilingual and bicultural. Ni Hao, Kai-lan reinforces the idea that being bicultural and bilingual is being American. The show will familiarize the viewing audience with elements of Chinese and Chinese American cultures to promote multicultural understanding in the next generation and goes beyond featuring "culture" as only ethnic food and festivals. Instead, it celebrates growing up in an intergenerational family, having friends from diverse backgrounds, and "habits of the heart" that are Chinese American. These values include: Mind-body connection Typically, television portrays excitement as the good emotion to feel. In many Chinese-American communities, the good thing to feel is often calmness and contentment. Feeling excited and feeling calm can both be happy feelings, but they differ in how aroused the body is. Perspective-taking In many Chinese and other East Asian families, children are encouraged to take the perspective of others to maintain harmony in relationships with other people. Being a good member of the group Ni Hao, Kai-lan also emphasizes the Chinese and Chinese American value of being a good member of a group. Social & Emotional Goals Highlight cause-and-effect thinking about social and emotional issues germane to preschoolers and to support preschooler's social and emotional development.

I was blown away today checking out the  San Diego Reader rag out on the porch this morning. In it's pages was an article about Brenda Xu, a singer-song writer I had recently seen at the San Diego Asian Film Festival's Blowfish: Unplugged music concert.

 What was really amazing was how much her musical tastes and mine correlated. How many people list Aimee Mann, Vienna Teng and Tristan Prettyman as influences - AND mention The Economist as one of their favorite reads?! ^^

I just bought her CD It's True on CD Baby. Great place to find artists that deserve your support!

You can read the article about her in The Reader HERE

Brenda Xu

Brenda by the Sea

2 comments

Brenda's MySpace

Brenda Xu Homepage

Even if you don't agree with the picks here, it's most interesting reading! I have Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Snow Falling on Cedars, and Anna and The King. Pretty predictable, I guess. But based on these reviews, I plan to get several more on his Top 10 list...

A Top Ten Trackdown
August 2001

Film Music featuring the elaborate and distinctive touch of the Far East has thrilled music fans for years. In recent years, some of the best scores featuring the distinctive sound of the Orient have been produced.  Western composers such as John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith and Hans Zimmer, among others, have tried their hands at this type of film music and many times with unforgettable results!

With all due respect to the likes of some of the Far East's own talented composers: Zhao Jiping, Wong Fei-hung and Joe Haiashi, Tracksounds takes on the task of "tracking down" the top ten, Far East-Flavored soundtracks from the West (from 1990 to 2001).
Let the countdown begin... More HERE

San Diegans: Some good stuff coming to town!

	Become an SDAFF Member and Receive: * Special screening invitations * Festival passes * SDAFF apparel Support the SDAFF through Amazon.com A portion of every Amazon.com purchase made through this link benefits the San Diego Asian Film Foundation. News and Events The SDAFF Co-presents "Cut Sleeve Boys" at FilmOut The San Diego Asian Film Foundation is proud to co-present a film program at FilmOut San Diego 2007. The festival is April 19-22 at the Landmark Ken Cinema. For ticket information visit www.filmoutsandiego.com. (April 01, 2007) SDAFF Quarterly Screening: "Infernal Affairs" on May 1 This Hong Kong blockbuster features an all-star cast and was the inspiration for Martin Scorsese's "The Departed." Watch the trailer and read more about "Infernal Affairs." (March 30, 2007) "Journey from the Fall" Hits Theaters on April 6 Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 7th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival expands to more theaters nationwide. Inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon -- and those who were forced to stay behind, "Journey from the Fall" follows one family’s struggle for freedom. (March 28, 2007) Be Part of a China Central Television (CCTV) Documentary Palette Pictures is producing a documentary series about Chinese students in America for China Central Television (CCTV). The Los Angeles-based production company is currently searching for filmmakers to join their team. (March 25, 2007) Now Playing: Mira Nair's "The Namesake" starring Kal Penn Kal Penn stars in "The Namesake," director Mira Nair's most personal film to date. Spanning two generations, two clashing cultures and two very different ways of life that crash into each other only to become lovingly intertwined, "The Namesake" is ultimately about that imminently relevant question: what does it mean to be an American family? (March 23, 2007) More Headlines ImaginAsian Pictures Announces Call for Vietnamese Diaspora Stories (March 15, 2007) Win Tickets to Our Next Quarterly Screening! (February 20, 2007) 2007 SDAFF Call for Entries (January 02, 2007)	eNewsletter Sign-up for eNewsletter, discounts, and free film passes! HTML TEXT AOL Calendar Upcoming Events April 13 Early Entry Deadline May 1 SDAFF Quarterly Screening: "INFERNAL AFFAIRS" June 15 Final Entry Deadline October 11-18 8th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival Foundation Blog Latest Entries Michael in San Francisco -March 22, 2007 Mye @ Sundance '07 -February 23, 2007 Michael at Sundance -January 28, 2007 Mye @ AFI FEST '06 -November 07, 2006 Comic-Con with a Vengeance -July 20, 2006 Mye @ VC FilmFest 06 -May 06, 2006
all contents copyright 2007 San Diego Asian Film Foundation, all rights reserved.

realtext@sdaff.org disguised_display@sdaff.org

Update: Be sure to look at the Audio selections too - not all of them are blogged! :) Anyone interested in doing translations? That's always very popular... Thanks to those that have signed up so far! :)

I just created this group on VOX... I think a lot of people would be interested. I might not be the best person to host it, but hopefully I'll have knowledgeable help and we'll get a lot of pleasure sharing! :)

Groups you host

Asian Pop

(1 member)

I love Asian Pop! From China, Taiwan, Singapore, The Philippines, Korea, Malaysia... where ever good music is to be found. I'm no expert and don't speak any language except english, but I've found so much great music that transends the words themselves...Everyone welcome!

Group settings | Invite a friend