By Chau Nguyen
Read more about daring acrobatic stunts, traditional Korean hanboks, Kollaboration of talent, modern retelling of classical folktales, film festivals promoting Asian heritage, and many more in this issue of News Bites
Japanese Food Festival Hits L.A.
Contribution by Ronald Tansingco
On November 1st, the Japanese Restaurant Association of Southern California presents the 2003 Japanese Food Festival. This event, held at the New Otani Hotel and Garden (120 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, CA 90012), features an opportunity to experience and explore the cuisine and culture of Japan. While sampling sushi, tempura, and yakitori, attendees will have the opportunity to witness taiko drumming, koto, and jazz. Prizes will be raffled (including a round trip ticket for two to Japan) and gift bags are available for the first 300 people in attendance.
Adult tickets are $25 (and include $30 worth of food and beverage tickets). Admission tickets are $8 and children under 10 are admitted for free. Food and drinks range from $2-10. For tickets or more information, call the JRA office at (213) 687-4055 or visit www.jrasc.com.
Also download the flyer (Adobe Reader required for PDF format).
Imperial Acrobats of China Make a Stop in Los Angeles
Combining acrobatic stunts with dance and theatrical expression, the 66-member Imperial Acrobats of China will be performing at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles from October 28 to November 2. This performance will be the last stop in their seven-city U.S.A. Friendship tour, which began in Las Vegas on August 28. The two-hour performance will feature acts with different themes ranging from Chinese folklore and mythology to childhood reminisces. A fusion of traditional techniques and modern styles, the show will allow audiences to catch a glimpse of China's rich cultural heritage.
The Imperial Acrobats of China was started in 1959. Since then, the troupe has brought the 2000-year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatics to more than 40 countries throughout the world. The Friendship Tour marks the troupe's first appearance in the United States. Through this, they hope to facilitate cultural exchanges as well as promote friendships.
For more information or to get tickets, please visit www.imperialacrobatsofchina.com.
Exploring Culture Through Fashion at the Korean Traditional Costume Fashion Show
Featuring more than 50 renowned Korean designers showcasing over 120 traditional Korean costumes, the Korean Traditional Costume Fashion Show will be held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles on November 7. The origins of these costumes range from the early 14th century to contemporary times.
The show was put on to commemorate the centennial of Korean immigration to the United States. For more information, please contact KTCFS at (213) 252-1052.
A Kollaboration of Asian American Talent
Featuring a myriad of talent, from rappers to dancers and singers, Kollaboration 2003 will be held on Saturday, October 25 at the Grand Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Kollaboration is an annual talent show that brings together young adults who wish to showcase their skills for a good cause. Stemming from Prokreation, a pioneering production company promoting entertainment in the Asian community, Kollaboration seeks to eliminate biases and stereotypes that prevent Asian Americans from obtaining their dreams of being entertainers.
Kollaboration has been a stepping stone for many breakthrough acts. For example, past performers who have now gained popularity include Paul JiSung Kim, rapper and beatboxer extraordinaire, and East Coast rapper Roy Kim, who later signed with Detonator records. The show not only features local talent, but it also includes guest appearances from Korean stars. For example, K-Pop star, J, was a judge in last year's show.
For more information or to get tickets, please visit www.kollaboration.org.
A Return to Family-Oriented Films at the Chanoma Film Festival
In contrast to the excessively violent and sexual films shown these days, the Chanoma Film Festival offered a refreshing alternative with its screenings of family-oriented films. The festival was held at the Laemmle's Fairfax Theatre in Los Angeles from October 17 to October 23. The festival showcased three of Junichi Suzuki's films which were "Sukiyaki," "Sand Castle," and "Remembering the Cosmos Flower." Through these films, the organizers hoped to provide audiences insight into Japanese culture and family structure, as well as make them think about their own families and what that means to them.
Family is often a prominent theme in many of Junichi Suzuki's works, but he doesn't always portray the ordinary family. For example, the three films shown at the festival dealt with complicated family issues such as senile dementia and epilepsy-issues rarely seen in Japanese cinema because they are considered taboo. These films have won praise internationally and are even recommended by Japan's Ministry of Education as well as many other Japanese organizations.
To find out more about the festival, please visit www.chanoma.org.
Celebrating Films of the Vietnamese Diaspora at the Vietnamese International Film Festival
An event to promote the filmmakers of the Vietnamese diaspora, the first annual Vietnamese International Film Festival (ViFF) will be held at the School of Humanities' and Film and Video Center at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) from October 31 to November 2. The event is a collaboration between the Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA), a non-profit organization, and the VietNamese Language and Culture (VNLC), a student organization at UCLA.
The festival will feature independent films such as Ham Tran's "The Anniversary," Victor Vu's "First Morning," Kim Nguyen's "The Marsh," and Teri Sforza's "Boy Monk." Also present at the festival will be reputable filmmakers such as Tran Anh Hung ("The Scent of the Green Papaya," "Cyclo"), Tony Bui ("Three Seasons"), Timothy Bui ("Green Dragon"), and Trinh Minh-Ha ("Surname Viet, Given Name Nam").
In honor of Vietnamese cinema, ViFF will also feature "Nguoi Tinh Khong Chan Dung" (Warrior: Who Are You), a classic film produced in Vietnam before 1975. This film stars Kieu Chinh ("Joy Luck Club") and it won Best War Film at the Taipei International Asian Film Festival in 1973.
In addition to the films, the festival will also feature workshops and symposiums on subjects related to the art of filmmaking. For more information, please visit www.VietFilmFest.com.
Shim Ch'ong: A Modern Retelling of an Ancient Korean Folktale
The performance of the classic Korean folktale "Shim Ch'ong" will be held at the J. Paul Getty Center on October 24 and 25. Led by renowned p'ansori artist Chan E. Park and directed by James DePaul, "Shim Ch'ong" is a story about a filial daughter who sacrifices herself to save her blind father. The story is adapted by Doug Kaback and based on Marshal Pihl's English translation of the p'ansori song. P'ansori is Korean narrative-epic music, performed to the accompaniment of a small drum.
The performance was done in partnership with the California State University - Northridge (CSUN) Department of Theatre. The show was co-sponsored by the Korean Cultural Center in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States.
For more information or to get tickets, please contact the J. Paul Getty Center at (310) 440-7300.
Muddy Robe: Exploring the Buddhist Symbol of the Lotus Flower
Combining evocative sounds, images, and body movements, "Muddy Robe" will be held at the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History on October 25 at 8:00 pm. The performance is a new collaborative work created by Buddhist Zen archer Hirokazu Kosaka, Japanese butoh dancer and choreographer Oguri, and composer/musician Nathan Birnbaum. Together, these three luminary artists explore one of Buddhism's central symbols, the lotus, which is a flower that thrives in the muddy waters of a swamp.
The performance will be held in conjunction with the opening "From the Verandah: Art, Buddhism, Presence," an exhibition on view at the museum from October 5, 2003 to January 4, 2004.
For information about the performance, please call (310) 826-8655.
The Recognition of Shakuntala at Pomona College
The famous Indian Sanskrit play, "The Recognition of Shakuntala" will be performed at Pomona College from November 20 to 22. This play is a Sanskrit romance written at the royal court over 1500 years ago by Kalidasa. The story details the love affair between King Dushyanta and the beautiful hermit maiden, Shakuntala. Regarded as the greatest figure in classical Sanskrit literature, Kalidasa was an Indian poet who lived in the period between the arrival of Alexander into India and 450 CE.
The play will be performed in the classical Natyashastra style. The Natyashastra was a book of theatrical guidelines written by the sage Bharata anywhere between 200 BC and 200 AD. It took into account every aspect of theatrical relevance, including theater architecture, costumes, make-up, dance, music, play construction, and poetic compositions. This book laid down most of the foundation of classical Sanskrit drama.
For information about the performance, please contact the Pomona College at (909) 607-4375.
Cinema Indio Festival to Showcase Filipino American Films
Charles Uy's "Waiting in the Wings" was the opening film at this year's Cinema Indio Festival, a Filipino film festival that began October 19 and will continue until November 3. The festival is being held at the Alex Theater in Glendale, Hall of Liberty in Hollywood Hills, and Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood.
The festival features over 20 films including Chito Rono's "Eskapo," Laurice Guillen's "Tanging Yaman" and Noel Izon's "An Untold Triumph." The festival will also include three new music videos by Filipino American hip-hop artists Knowa Lazarus and Christian rock group D'Angeles.
The festival was successfully launched last year in Hollywood and featured such films as "Anak" and "American Adobo." Presented by Gemarts and Communications, the festival hopes to advocate the appreciation, preservation, and restoration of film as related to the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of the international community.
For more information, please visit www.cinemaindio.com.
San Francisco's Korean American Media Arts Festival
The third annual San Francisco Korean American Media Arts festival will take place at the San Francisco State University campus from November 4 through the 9th. The opening film will be Greg Pak's "Robot Stories" and the closing film will be Chang Dong Lee's "Oasis."
The festival will also have screenings of feature films such as Sara and Cecilia Hyoun's "Score," Sung Kim's "Book of Rules," a winner of the Best Feature Film at the San Diego Asian Film Festival, and the Korean film "Memories of Murder," winner of multiple awards at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Short films and videos being showcased will include the world premiere of DongBack Seo's "Made in Korea" and Chul Heo's award-wining documentary "Between Two Worlds."
Hosted by Korea in Media Arts (KIMA), the goal of the festival is to introduce Korean aural-visual culture to the American society as well as the Korean American community.
For more information about KIMA or the festival, please visit www.mykima.com.
Promoting Asian American Artists at the Asian American Music Conference
The first Asian American Music Conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Burlingame, California on Saturday, November 15. The one-day conference will feature Asian American music professionals who will share their experience, their views on the future of music, and their ideas on how to contribute to the success of Asian American musical artists. The conference seeks to unify and empower Asian American music professionals.
Some of the topics that will be discussed at the conference include entertainment law, booking and promotions, and distribution.
For information, please go to www.asianamericanmusicconference.com.
Published: Friday, October 24, 2003
