2008 chicago asian american showcase

8/14/2019 2008 Chicago Asian American Showcase

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The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute of

Chicago and the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media

(FAAIM) present the 13th edition of Asian American Showcase,

April 11 through 24. This years theme is Lucky 13 as we celebrate

film and video production by Asian American directors through 13

Chicago-premiere programs and a Lucky 13-themed exhibition by

Asian American artists in our gallery/caf.

Our opening night film PING PONG PLAYA is the fast-paced and very

funny first comedy by Academy Award-winning documentary director

Jessica Yu (IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL). The films star/

screenwriter Jimmy Tsai will be here in person. Our closing night film is

SANTA MESA, a poignant coming-of-age drama set against the chaotic

milieu of Manila street life.

Director appearances highlight a powerhouse selection of new features.

Michael Kang (MOTEL) appears with WEST 32ND, an edgy crime

drama distinguished by superb acting. Amyn Kaderali presents his

surprising comedy KISSING COUSINS, in which a guy accustomed

to terminating relationships gets an unwelcome lesson in love. First-time directors Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn appear with PRETTY

TO THINK SO, in which three Manhattan singles become entangled

through money, love, and the past.

Feature documentaries include THE KILLING OF A CHINESE

COOKIE, a humorous but fact-filled history of that questionably

Chinese treat, and WINGS OF DEFEAT, in which surviving WWII

kamikaze pilots speak of their experiences for the first time. Chicago

director Kai-Duc Luong appears with acclaimed blues performer Vance

Kelly, one of the subjects of his journal film SOMEPLACE ELSE.

Body-image dilemmas facing the Asian American woman are explored

in NEVER PERFECT.Our selection of shorts includes a program of films by students of the

School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The 50s-themed musical DAMN

THE PAST! is a highlight of the shorts program Life, Love, and

Everything in Between.

Check our web site for additional listings of Asian American Showcase

activities and events in the coming weeks.

For their essential role in making Asian American Showcase possible,

the Gene Siskel Film Center thanks FAAIM founding members

Sooyoung Park, Ben Kim, and William Shin; festival director Tim

Hugh; the Alphawood Foundation; American Airlines; the National

Endowment for the Arts; the Illinois Arts Council, A State Agency;

and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Barbara Scharres

Wow, 13 years! It doesnt feel like its been that long ago since we first

started the Showcase, but, when you look back at some of our early years,

we were just starting to discover the talents of people like Justin Lin, Greg

Pak, Chris Chan Lee, and Michael Kang. From their student short films

to their multiple features, its been exciting to see the growth of Asian

American filmmaking. The Showcase was started and The Foundation For

Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) was formed to promote

film, video and other media by and about Asian Americans, and to

support the artists who create them. FAAIMs mission is to presents these

media in order to:

Educate communities Asian American and mainstream, local and

national about Asian American history and issues.

Introduce Asian American perspectives into the ongoing self-

definition of our multicultural society in Chicago, the Midwest,

and the United States.

Foster understanding across lines of race, ethnicity, religion, age,

and region.

Sustain growth and encourage excellence in Asian American culture,

and elevate Chicagos place within it.

Id like to thank Ben Kim, Sooyoung Park, and William Shin, along

with all the filmmakers and artists who have been a part of our festivals,

all the volunteers and staff members who have helped us along the way,

Barbara Scharres and the staff of the Gene Siskel Film Center who have

generously helped us and supported our dream, and you, our audience

who helps keep the dream alive. Hope you enjoy our Lucky 13!

Tim Hugh

The Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art

Institute, Chicagos Premier Movie Theater, is located at

164 N. State St.

Tickets to each screening are $9/general admission, $7/

students, and $5/Film Center members. All tickets may be

purchased at the Film Center Box Office; hours of operation:

5:00-9:00 pm, Monday-Friday; 2:00-9:00 pm, Saturday;

and 2:00-6:00 pm, Sunday. Only general admission tickets

are available through Ticketmaster, 312-575-8000, www.

ticketmaster.com, and at all Ticketmaster outlets.

Tickets to the Film/Lecture Series are $9/general

admission, $7/students, and $4/Film Center members.

A Film Center membership is a year-round ticket to great

movies for only $5 per screening! Memberships are $45

(Individual) and $75 (Dual). For more information, call

312-846-2600 or visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

Discounted parking is available for $14 for nine hours at

the InterPark SELF-PARK at 20 E. Randolph St. A rebate

ticket can be obtained from the Film Center Box Office.

For more information about the Film Center, call 312-

846-2800 (24-hour movie hotline) or 312-846-2600

(general information, 9:00 am-5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday),

or visit www.siskelfilmcenter.org.

Celebrating 36 years of excellent film programming,

the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art

Institute of Chicago is a wor ld-class cinematheque

dedicated to showcasing emerging artists, world cinema,

independent filmmakers and the classics. Presenting over

1,500 screenings and more than 100 visiting filmmaker

appearances annually, the Gene Siskel Film Center is

Chicagos premier movie theater.

A leader in educating artists and designers for 142 years, the

School of the Art Institute of Chicago offers undergraduate

and graduate programs to nearly 2,800 students fromaround the world. In addition to the time-honored study of

painting, sculpture, printmaking, and design, SAICs studio

programs embrace film and new media, electronic and

sound arts, and creative writing. To complement its studio

programs, SAIC offers academic degrees in disciplines from

art history to arts administration, visual and critical studies

to historic preservation. Located in the heart of Chicago,

the School promotes contemporary discourse about art and

design through venues such as the Gene Siskel Film Center,

Video Data Bank, Betty Rymer Gallery, Gallery 2, the

Division of Continuing Studies, and in conjunction with

the Poetry Center.

www.siskelfilmcenter.com www.faaim.org


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FRIDAY 11 8:30 OPENINGPING PONG PLAYA(Feature)

SATURDAY 12 5:00 LIFE, LOVE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN (Shorts Program)

8:00 KISSING COUSINS(Feature)

SUNDAY 13 3:00 NEVER PERFECT(Documentary)

MISS CHINATOWN, USA(Documentary)

5:00 WINGS OF DEFEAT(Documentary)

MONDAY 14 6:00 KISSING COUSINS(Feature)

8:00 SOMEPLACE ELSE(Documentary)

THURSDAY 17 8:15 OPTION 3(Feature)

FRIDAY 18 6:30 OPTION 3(Feature)

8:00 PRETTY TO THINK SO(Feature)

SATURDAY 19 5:30 AGAINST THE GRAIN (Documentary)

VINCENT WHO(Documentary)

8:15 WEST 32ND(Feature)

SUNDAY 20 5:15 THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE(Documentary)

MONDAY 21 6:00 SOMEPLACE ELSE(Documentary)

7:45 SAIC STUDENT SHORTS SHOWCASE (Shorts Program)

TUESDAY 22 6:15 THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE(Documentary)

7:45 PRETTY TO THINK SO(Feature)

THURSDAY 24 8:15 CLOSING SANTA MESA(Feature)

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Tim Hugh

VISUAL ARTS COORDINATOR

Larry Lee

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Vincent Chung

WEB TECH

Tony Kang, Sooyoung Park,

Favorite Medium LLC

Emily Wang

THE GENE SISKEL FILM CENTER

Jean de St. Aubin, Barbara Scharres,

Marty Rubin, Karen Cross Durham

Jim Dempsey, Brandon Doherty

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Mr. Lee and Ivan (Aloha Eats)Juli Kang

Chi-Hui Yang, Taro Goto (CAAM)

George Lin (SDAFF)

Laura Kina Aronson

Catherine Park

Apatcha Chong

Walter and Carol Hugh

Sue Anne Tae

Evan Lee

SPONSORS

Alphawood Foundation

American Airlines

The National Endowments for the Arts

The Illinois Arts Council, A State Agency

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation


4/16

11

FRIDAY

6:00pm8:30pm

LUCKY 13 OPENING RECEPTION

Gene Siskel Film Center Gallery/Caf

164 N. State St.

Free admission, April 11May 25

Triskaidekaphobia aside, this exhibit features the work of 13

artists from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, both

current and alumni, who have interpreted and drawn inspi-

ration from the number 13 in an ostentatious celebration of

the 13th anniversary of the Asian American Showcase at theGene Siskel Film Center.

Featured artists: Frances Ahn, You Ni Chae, Yu-Ling Chiu,

Hsuan-Hsiu Hung, Nancy Kim, Cheng-Yung Kuo, Mar-

quise Johnson, Alex Lee, Samia Mirza, Mitsu Okubo, Chae

Eun Rhee, Esteban Schimpf, and Mat Tom

8:30pm

OPENING NIGHT FILM!

PING PONG PLAYA

Jessica Yu | 96min | 2007 | USA

with Jimmy Tsai, Smith Cho, Roger Fan

Award-winning documentary director Jessica Yu (In the

Realms of the Unreal) brings crackling energy to her first

comedy feature while putting a new spin on some ethnic

stereotypes. Christopher C-Dub Wang (Tsai) is the jiving

motor-mouth loser in a clan of serious over-achievers. Whena freak accident renders him the temporary mainstay of

his mom and dads modest little sports franchise, this Peter

Pan-from-the-dark-side is challenged to channel his hustle

and hyperactivity into defending the family honor in the an-

nual ping pong tournament that is their claim to fame. The

character of C-Dub first appeared at our showcase in 2005,

in Jimmy Tsais short films, The Venom Sportswear

Ad Campaign. Were glad to see him back! (BS)

Actor, writer, and co-producer Jimmy Tsai will be present

for audience discussion.


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SATURDAY

5:00pm

LIFE, LOVE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

Various directors | 83min | 20078 | USA, Canada

In the course of life, you experience a vast array of emotions,

some good, some bad, some happy, some sad, some you think

about, and some you act upon. In this collection of short films,

live lessons are lived and learned.

8:00pm

KISSING COUSINS

Amyn Kaderali | 99min | 2008 | USA

with Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood

Seasoned bachelor Amir, a relationship termination specialist

by trade, crushes dreams and breaks hearts for hire so

cowardly lovers dont have to do it themselves. One day, crazy

cousin Zara, his childhood nemesis, shows up from the UK,

and he gets duped into introducing her as his girlfriend. The

game is on but the stakes are still uncertain in this sprightlycomedy with a surprise ending. Although Kissing Cousinsis

Amyns first feature film, his short, Call Center, has been seen

by over 1 million viewers on the Web. (BS)

Director Amyn Kaderali will be present on Saturday for

audience discussion.

This program will also repeat Monday, April 14, 6:00pm.

MIKES by Ted Chung

Roommates suck. Well, maybe not.

CHINESE DUMPLINGS by Michelle HungTwo younger sisters will do

anything to miss violin practice.

JUST A GAME by Leon Cu

Georgio lives for video games. Is

he ignoring reality, or teaching us a

lesson in perseverance?

EMILY, I by Dan Lee

A music video by Scrabbel

YEAR OF THE DOG by Kevin Lau

On New Years Eve, a stranger holds

a family hostage, exacting a long-

sought vengeance.

COOKIES FOR SALE by Wes Kim

A little girl tests her mettle, trying to

sell cookies to a grumpy neighbor.

SLOW MACHINES by Bernard Badion

A music video by The Gold Medalists.

A THOUSAND WORDS by Ted Chung

A train passenger forgets her camera,

or did she leave it on purpose?

DAMN THE PAST by Juli Kang

A mute auto mechanic meets his

dream girl. Can he win her over when

he can only expess himself in song?

Director Juli Kang will be present for

audience discussion.


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13

SUNDAY

3:00pm

NEVER PERFECT

Regina Park | 64min| 2007 | USA

MISS CHINATOWN, USA

Kathy Huang | 25min | 2006 | USA

Never Perfectfollows young Vietnamese American Mei Ahn

as she contemplates cosmetic surgery to widen her eyes,

just one more step in the series of life changes meant to

differentiate her from her immigrant mother. Mei Ahns

story is the centerpiece of director Parks inquiry into theopposing cultural pressures on todays Asian American

woman: to embody the virginal good-girl of her parents

ideal or the seductive commodity of Western fantasies.

Miss Chinatown, USA unreels the story of a Seattle students

decision to compete in the high-profile San Francisco beauty

pageant to please her parents. (BS)

5:00pm

WINGS OF DEFEAT

Risa Morimoto | 90min | 2007 | USA, Japan

A story never before revealed because the survivors kept their

secret out of shame, Wings of Defeatinvestigates the motives

and feelings of Japanese kamikaze pilots, the notorious suicide

bombers of WWII, through interviews and personal histories.

Director Morimoto traces the story of her own uncle to

expose the grim reality of fear and resignation experienced

by these men, many barely older than boys when forced to

volunteer for death. (BS)


7/16

14

MONDAY

6:00pm

KISSING COUSINS

Amyn Kaderali | 99min | 2008 | USA

With Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood

Seasoned bachelor Amir, a relationship termination special-

ist by trade, crushes dreams and breaks hearts for hire so

cowardly lovers dont have to do it themselves. One day,

crazy cousin Zara, his childhood nemesis, shows up from

the UK, and he gets duped into introducing her as his girl-

friend. The game is on but the stakes are still uncertain inthis sprightly comedy with a surprise ending. Although Kiss-

ing Cousinsis Amyns first feature film, his short, Call Center,

has been seen by over 1 million viewers on the web. (BS)

This program also played on Saturday, April 12 at 8:00pm.

8:00pm

SOMEPLACE ELSE

Kai-Duc Luong and Avisheh Mohsenin

70min | 2008 | USA

An engagingly informal profile of Chicago blues-soul-funk

musician Vance Kelly weaves through director Luongs film

journal, extending from his first days in Chicago as a foreign

student to his three-year struggle to find his voice as an artist

through filmmaking. Extended performance sequences of

Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band at the Chicagolandclubs pose a contrast to the personal and poetic quality of

Luongs reflections on Chicago. (BS)

Director Kai-Duc Luong, Avisheh Mohsenin, and Chicago

blues artist Vance Kelly will be present for audience discussion.

This program will also repeat Monday, April 21, 6:00pm.


8/16

17

THURSDAY

8:15pm

OPTION 3

Richard Wong | 72min | 2008 | USA

with Preston Conner, Theresa Navarro

Independent Spirit Award-nominated Richard Wong

(Colma: The Musical) takes off in a new direction with an

avant-garde chase film that begins with a young womans

disappearance from a San Francisco restaurant. A mysterious

caller directs her frantic boyfriend to a series of addresses,

each one a red herring. With tongue in cheek, the directorcouldnt resist mounting one big soulful musical number

with backup violinists. This talented Bay Area filmmaker

once again thinks outside the box with his vivid imagination

and creative approach to filmmaking. (BS)

This program will also repeat Friday, April 18, 6:30pm.

9:00pm1:00am

HIPHOPISTAN: SOUTH ASIAN HIP HOP

SHOWCASE AND AFTER PARTY

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place,

2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago

Enjoy a multi-regional hip hop show with six MCs followed

by a party with DJ Rekha spinning hip hop, bjangra, and

reggae music. Presented in conjunction with the Association

for Asian American Studies Conference.

18+ only; $2 admission; students free; cash bar in a separateroom for 21+


9/16

18

FRIDAY

6:30pm

OPTION 3

Richard Wong | 72min | 2008 | USA

with Preston Conner, Theresa Navarro

Independent Spirit Award-nominated Richard Wong

(Colma: The Musical) takes off in a new direction with an

avant-garde chase film that begins with a young womans

disappearance from a San Francisco restaurant. A mysterious

caller directs her frantic boyfriend to a series of addresses,

each one a red herring. With tongue in cheek, the directorcouldnt resist mounting one big soulful musical number

with backup violinists. This talented Bay Area filmmaker has

once again gone outside the box with his vivid imagination

and creative approach to filmmaking. (BS)

This program also played on Thursday, April 17, 8:15pm.

8:00pm

PRETTY TO THINK SO

Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn | 105min | 2008 | USA

with Pia Shah, Louis Ozawa

Sexual tension bonds three Manhattan singles in an uneasy

triangle as dotcoms crash. A link with the past threatens to

derail the relationship between an unemployed financial

analyst and her corporate lawyer boyfriend when she meets

his new client, a squeaky-clean youth minister with a

secret gambling addiction. First-time directors Hsueh andHahn prove adept at weaving the aura of Manhattan and

the flavor of yuppie watering holes into a drama rife with

primal conflict. This NYC filmmaking duo are not afraid to

take chances. Both left the corporate law world to bring us

this ground-breaking love triangle between a South Asian

women and two East Asian Men. (BS)

Co-directors Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn will be present

for audience discussion on Friday.

This program will also repeat Tuesday, April 22, 7:45pm.


10/16

19

SATURDAY

5:30pm

AGAINST THE GRAIN:

AN ARTIST SURVIVAL GUIDE TO PERU

Ann Kaneko | 64min | 2007 | USA, Peru

VINCENT WHO?

Tony Lam | 40min | 2008 | USA

Against the Grain documents the careers of Peruvian art-

activists before, during, and after the Fujimori dictatorship

through work including audacious street-actions, graphic

sculptures masquerading as religious art, mock flags, andprovocative murals that push the limits of Perus freedom of

speech. In Spanish, English, Japanese, and Quechua with

English subtitles.

Vincent Who?reviews Vincent Chins legacy more than 25

years after his shocking murder served as a catalyst for Asian

American activism. (BS)

Directors Tony Lam will be present for audience discussion.

Co-sponsored by the A/P/A Institute of NYC

8:15pm

WEST 32ND

Michael Kang | 91min | 2007 | USA

with John Cho, Jun Kim, Grace ParkThis stylish, fast-paced crime drama foregrounds ruthless

ambition in two men on opposing sides of the law: John

(Cho), a young hotshot lawyer aiming for a promotion

to partner, and Mike (Kim), a hardened Koreatown gang

member with a hair-trigger temper. The manager of a swanky

brothel is executed gangland style one night and a 14-year-old

boy is charged. John steps up to the defense pro bono for the

prize he imagines to be the kids shyly alluring sister, but no

one including John, is who they seem. Were proud to have

Michael Kang back. Its been about 10 years since we first met

Michael with his short,A Waiter Tomorrow. Then, in 2005, he

brought us his stunning feature debut, The Motel. In English

and Korean with English subtitles. (BS)

Director Michael Kang will be present for audience discussion.


11/16

20

SUNDAY

5:15pm

THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE

Eric Shimoda | 74min | 2008 | USADirector Shimoda dares ask the question at the back of

everyones mind: who invented the fortune cookie, and

where do they get those fortunes? Contrary to popular

opinion, the traditional Chinese meal doesnt conclude

with a tasteless tidbit with a scrap of paper inside. This

playful but fact-filled history highlights the prescient pastrys

disputed originsin San Francisco, the brainchild of a

Japanese restaurateur, or in Los Angeles, the invention ofthe Hong Kong Noodle Companyand the trial that was

meant to settle the rivalry. (BS)

This program will also repeat Tuesday, April 22, 6:15pm.


12/16

21

MONDAY

6:00pm

SOMEPLACE ELSE

Kai-Duc Luong and Avisheh Mohsenin

70min | 2008 | USA

An engagingly informal profile of Chicago blues-soul-funk

musician Vance Kelly weaves through director Luongs film

journal, extending from his first days in Chicago as a foreign

student to his three-year struggle to find his voice as an artist

through filmmaking. Extended performance sequences of

Kelly and his Backstreet Blues Band at the Chicagoland

clubs pose a contrast to the personal and poetic quality of

Luongs reflections on Chicago. (BS)

This program also played on Monday, April 14, at 8:00pm.

7:45pm

SAIC STUDENT SHORTS SHOWCASE

Various directors | 85min | 20058 | USA, Canada

Otherwise known as The World of Emily Wang

a selection of narrative, animated, and experimental shorts

by current and former students of the School of the Art

Institute of Chicago. Curated by Emily Wang.

CREATION

by Mi Sa Lee

RGBby Kerry Yang

BEST WISHES

by Ko Kaleng

HAIRY WORLD

by Junil Min

GOOD MORNING PEOPLE!

by Tulapop Saejaroen

PILL PHOBIA, THE MANSION,

and ALLIGATOR

by Yicky Wei-Hsuan Yen

THE ABSENCE OF YOU

by Sam Chow

LITTLE CHINAandTHE WOMAN FROM THE UNDERGROUND

by Hsin Yu Lin

THE MISSING KIDS

by Tzu-Han Wang and Ko Kaleng

CLOUD IN A SHELL

by Jiekai Liao


13/16

22

TUESDAY

6:15pm

THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE

Eric Shimoda | 74min | 2008 | USADirector Shimoda dares ask the question at the back of

everyones mind: who invented the fortune cookie, and

where do they get those fortunes? Contrary to popular

opinion, the traditional Chinese meal doesnt conclude

with a tasteless tidbit with a scrap of paper inside. This

playful but fact-filled history highlights the prescient pastrys

disputed originsin San Francisco, the brainchild of a

Japanese restaurateur, or in Los Angeles, the invention ofthe Hong Kong Noodle Companyand the trial that was

meant to settle the rivalry. (BS)

This program also played on Sunday, April 20, 5:15pm.

8:00pm

PRETTY TO THINK SO

Francis Hsueh and Steven Hahn | 105min | 2008 | USA

with Pia Shah, Louis Ozawa

Sexual tension bonds three Manhattan singles in an uneasy

triangle as dotcoms crash. A link with the past threatens to

derail the relationship between an unemployed financial

analyst and her corporate lawyer boyfriend when she meets

his new client, a squeaky-clean youth minister with a

secret gambling addiction. First-time directors Hsueh andHahn prove adept at weaving the aura of Manhattan and

the flavor of yuppie watering holes into a drama rife with

primal conflict. This NYC filmmaking duo are not afraid to

take chances. Both left the corporate law world to bring us

this ground-breaking love triangle between a South Asian

women and two East Asian Men. (BS)

This program also played on Friday, April 18, 8:00pm.


14/16

24

THURSDAY

8:15pm

Closing night film!

SANTA MESA

Ron Morales | 85min | 2008 | USA/Philippines

with Jacob Kiron Shalov, Melissa Leo

The sudden death of his mom plunges 12-year-old Filipino

American Hector into the poverty of the Manila slums to

live with the stern grandmother hes never met. Dangerous

choices loom when hes recruited by a street gang and finds

friendship with an abused girl whos one of their own. The

home invasion meant to be his gang initiation goes wrong,

and Hector faces the most dangerous choice of all. Director

Morales subtly conveys the lush beauty and colorful extremes

of Manila in all its vibrancy. The story was inspired by his

own experiences of culture shock when he spent time in

province of Bataan in the Philippines. Although this is his

feature debut, Morales carefully crafts a coming-of-age story,

bringing to life the identity of a Filipino American experience.

In English and Tagalog with English subtitles. (BS)

Director Ron Morales will be present for audience discussion.


15/16

12

SUNDAY


16/16

www.siskelfilmcenter.com www.faaim.org

2008 chicago asian american showcase

Documents