26 posts tagged “sdaff”
It's over! <tear> another great year!
This looks real good! Must be off to make it on time!!
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3 pictures
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Run time:
70 min.
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China
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Language:
Mandarin w/ English subtitles
film details
screenings
reviews
Against
the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and escalating
international condemnation and demonstrations over Chinese policies
from Tibet to Darfur, THE RED RACE presents a detailed insight into the
Chinese passion for gymnastics.
Shot in an observational style, the film beautifully captures the contradictions of modern China: poor families crowded into run-down, older apartment complexes while in the distance we see lights, skyscrapers, and prosperity. The Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School in Shanghai seems to
value competitive sports over academics for its kindergarten-aged
students – many of whom come from rural provinces and live with
grandparents or surrogate caretakers. Their parents hope to give them
opportunities not available in the countryside. Some children voice
hope that they will eventually become national gold medalists,
successful enough to build homes for their families who live in
poverty. Yet the path won't be easy. The trainers often “teach” by
humiliation and punishment, and reward with candy. Two girls hanging
from an overhead bar show pain and tears as a coach shouts from the
sidelines. As the film progresses, one question persists: at what price
is the New China?
The Oct. 13th free screening of THE RED RACE is sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers | |
This looks real good! Must be off to make it on time!!
|
3 pictures
|
|
|
Run time:
70 min.
|
China
|
Language:
Mandarin w/ English subtitles
film details
screenings
reviews
Against
the backdrop of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and escalating
international condemnation and demonstrations over Chinese policies
from Tibet to Darfur, THE RED RACE presents a detailed insight into the
Chinese passion for gymnastics.
Shot in an observational style, the film beautifully captures the contradictions of modern China: poor families crowded into run-down, older apartment complexes while in the distance we see lights, skyscrapers, and prosperity. The Lu Wan District Youth Athletic School in Shanghai seems to
value competitive sports over academics for its kindergarten-aged
students – many of whom come from rural provinces and live with
grandparents or surrogate caretakers. Their parents hope to give them
opportunities not available in the countryside. Some children voice
hope that they will eventually become national gold medalists,
successful enough to build homes for their families who live in
poverty. Yet the path won't be easy. The trainers often “teach” by
humiliation and punishment, and reward with candy. Two girls hanging
from an overhead bar show pain and tears as a coach shouts from the
sidelines. As the film progresses, one question persists: at what price
is the New China?
The Oct. 13th free screening of THE RED RACE is sponsored by Burkett & Wong Engineers | |
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
October 9-16, 2008 in San Diego
October 21-23, 2008 in Riverside
Got my all access tickets for the San Diego Asian Film Festival in October today! Plus, I upped my Donor level to Supporter... :) Let me know if you want to go. I get extra passes and such. Hope to see you there!
SDAFF All-Festival Pass at Hazard Center UltraStar Mission Valley on Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 4:00 PM (Tickets: 1) Delivery Method: First Class Mail Section Row Seat Type Price Sub Total General Admission GA Individual $125.00 $125.00 Donation Amount
Sub Total Supporter $250.00
$250.00 Order Processing Fee $1.00 Number of Items: 2 Total $376.00 Visa - *** $376.00 Total Paid $376.00
Who wants to go with me?? ^^ It's even my off day, for once!
[UPDATE] I went! It was good! See bottom from new pix..
Dear SDAFF Member,
We are pleased to invite you and a guest to a free screening of THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI, the new epic drama starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers with legendary Hong Kong stars Chow Yun Fat and Michelle Yeoh.
The screening is TOMORROW, THURS May 29th at 7pm, Landmark's La Jolla Village Theatre. Please find an invitation attached that you can print out and bring with you.
War-torn China in the 1930s is the setting for an epic based on true events. The drama centers on young English journalist George Hogg (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an American nurse (Radha Mitchell) and the leader of a Chinese partisan group (Chow Yun Fat) who meet in desperate and unexpected circumstances. Together they rescue 60 orphaned children, leading them on an extraordinary journey across hundreds of miles of treacherous terrain, through snow-covered mountains and an unforgiving desert. Along the way they discover the true meaning of love, responsibility and courage. Co-starring Michelle Yeoh and David Wenham. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode (Tomorrow Never Dies). www.sonyclassics.com/thechildrenofhuangshi/
This film is Rated R by the MPAA. Running time 125 minutes.
Looks like my photo from the San Diego Asian Film Festival will be in their next web guide. I would have given them a better one, if they had asked... ^^ NO, there won't be any presents given out from my winnings, 'cause they don't pay! :P
You can see the widget near the bottom on right right column....
:: Schmap California Second Edition: Photo Inclusion
Hi Mike,
I am delighted to let you know that your submitted photo
has been selected for inclusion in the newly released
second edition of our Schmap California Guide:
San Diego Asian Film Festival
http://www.schmap.com/california/events/p=340563/i=340563.jpg
If you like the guide and have a website, blog or personal
page, then please also check out the customizable
widgetized versions of our Schmap California Guide,
complete with your published photo:
http://www.schmap.com/guidewidgets/p=34544719N00/c=SG33021520
Thanks so much for letting us include your photo - please
enjoy the guide!
Best regards,
Emma Williams,
Managing Editor, Schmap Guides
Hey! Schmap did a first cut selection of my SDAFF photo! :) It isn't even a technically good shot. :( I know, not that big a deal, but at least I don't think that it's a scam! ^^
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Schmap California | |
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If you’d like to browse the first edition of our Schmap California Guide, please click here | |
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| Schmap California Guide – Photo Submission |
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| Thank you for submitting your photo(s) to our final selection phase. |
| We will send a message to your flickr account when the guide is released, to let you know whether or not your photo(s) have been included. |
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Submitted
Photos - Mike Avila
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Copyright © 2007 Schmap, Inc. All rights reserved.
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!
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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
When: Saturday, Feb 9 at 10 AM & 11:30 AM (free snacks and crafts in between shows)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.
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I saw a collection of animation last night, and Under The Honey Chestnut Tree was especially memorable - Like the classic Disney many of us where raised on.
Hyun-min Lee, creator of UNDER THE HONEY CHESTNUT TREE
Interviewed by Sam Chen, SDAFF Artistic Programmer
Hyun-min Lee is an animator from Seoul, South Korea. She came to the United States in 2000, and has earned a degree in painting from Wesleyan University and a Masters degree in animation from the California Institute of the Arts. She enjoys working in all areas of animation, but her work mainly focuses on traditional hand drawn techniques. She cites the early Disney films as an influence on her work, and has spent time training with animators Eric Goldberg and Bert Klein. Hyun-min currently resides in the Greater Los Angeles area and continues to work on various animation projects.
 Hyun-min Lee |
What inspired the story of "Under the Honey Chestnut Tree"?
Your style is so reminiscent of classic Disney animation. What is your favorite Disney animated film, and which one(s) have you learned the most from?The person who has been the biggest inspiration in my life is my mother, and since she passed away a few years ago I was left with countless memories of the times I spent with her. I thought animation was the best medium to pay tribute to those memories, for me and for my family, so as soon as I properly learned how to animate I had to make a film about all the things that I missed about her.
Tell us about Eric Goldberg's (director of Fantasia 2000's "Rhapsody In Blue") involvement with your work.It so hard to choose! One of my favorites is "Robin Hood" because I used to watch it as a kid. I also really like "Cinderella","The Three Caballeros", and "Aladdin" and a lot of the old Disney shorts that would run Sunday mornings. We'd record them and I'd watch them over and over. It's difficult to pick a favorite, because each film has such great moments and characters in them, I've learned a lot from those bits of classic animation that make you completely forget the fact that they were hand-drawn by someone. I'd like to be able to create such memorable characters for people someday.
I was able to work with Eric on some other animation projects that he was directing and it was very inspiring to see how he worked. I've always loved his animation, especially from Fantasia 2000 (Rhapsody in Blue and Carnival of the Animals), and working with him gave me the chance to learn a lot of animation skills that helped me grow as an artist. Also, he loves animation that is timed to music and he helped me make some choices about what musical accents to hit in my film.
 A hand-drawn frame from "Under the Honey Chestnut Tree" |
What would be your ultimate dream job in animation?Don Hahn helped hone the film to the finished product that it is now. He has very good advice and his guidance has been invaluable. He knows so much about the film making process, and I couldn't have finished the film as such without his input and support.
My dream would be to ultimately be a lead animator that a director could depend on to do a character right. The classic Disney animators would be given a character and the director knew they could just do it - they had total confidence in their work and ability. I would be very happy if I could reach a point where people would have that sort of confidence in me, and I hope the work I produce can be a big part of making the film an enjoyable experience for the audience.
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Where do you get your inspiration from?For the time being I'm looking forward to being part of some bigger productions, sharpening my animation skills as much as I can, and learning more about filmmaking and animation because I'm still taking my first big steps in this field. But in the future I would definitely like to make more of my own films.
Word has it that you are the first Asian woman to work in Disney's hand-drawn department as a 2D apprentice animator. Tell us more about this position and what it means to you.I like to watch a lot of films, but I also enjoy watching people around me like my family and friends and seeing their daily emotions and reactions. No person, life, or day is exactly the same as the other and the fact that animation can capture everything from the most subtle responses to the most outrageous pieces of imagination is what inspires me to continue working.
I am starting as an animation apprentice in October, which is an animator-in-training. I am very excited and honored to be chosen for this position. I have been told that I might be the first female Asian hand drawn traditional animator in the department at Disney, but there have been Asian female animators in the Computer Animation department and Asian women in other departments as well. So for me it just means that I will always do my best to work harder and make sure that my animation will be able to stand up to the great legacy that Disney has.
