San Diego Asian Film Festival

[Eric Campos]

Hey gang! Anyone here going to the San Diego Asian Film Festival (October 2-5)? I'll be there Friday through Sunday, so if you see me stumbling around, let's get a drink and catch a flick!

[gregpak]

Hey, Eric. That's awesome that FilmThreat is covering the festival. You bet I'll be there -- the festival's closing with my film "Robot Stories." Looks like a great lineup -- I'm particularly interested in seeing "Kung Phooey!" and "Memories of Murder," both of which I've heard good things about. See ya there!

Greg
http://www.robotstories.net

[Eric Campos]

Cool! I'll be hitting "Robot Stories" Sunday night before I make my trek back to L.A.
Also looking forward to "Sumo East and West" and "Ping Pong. "

[weskimcom]

I'd also suggest the panel discussion at 10am on Saturday 10/4 about "Masters of the Pillow" (http://www.mastersofthepillow.com/), a documentary about a UC Davis professor's attempt to repair the image of Asian American male virility by producing a line of Asian American porn. Bound to be lively. Might need to get that drink aftewards, or at least smoke a post-coitus-discussion cigarette...

Oh yes, and I have my third short film, "Why It's a Good Thing," playing in the "Fight or Flight" program. (First two films are reviewed in FT - "Profiles in Science" and "Vision Test".) Unfortunately, the "Fight or Flight" program is stacked against the opening night feature "Memories of Murder." At least it's getting repeated at a couple other venues...

[usanup]

Eric,
The whole gang of TRADE OFFS (www.TradeOffs-themovie.com)will be at the fest (http://www.sdaff.org/Programs/TRADEOFFS.html) 10/5 @ 1:45pm since this is our hometown and US PREMIERE. We just had our WORLD PREMIERE in Toronto at the Filmi South Asian Film Fest (www.filmi.org).

Looking forward to seeing you there. You can check out the trailer online.

I think I ran into one of your writers today at the Silver Lake Film Fest up in LA. Didn't catch his name though.

Anup
Actor/Producer

[Eric Campos]

Ahoy -

Checked into the festival's guest lounge and found a completely friendly staff and wall to wall food and drink - and not just your average cookies, punch and goddamn jerky beef. Things were off to a great start.
Fell asleep during my first screening of the festival - "Love at 7-Eleven." I guess that's what happens when you get five hours of sleep the night before, take a two hour drive shortly after and drink four pints of Sammy right before the screening. I really liked the film, so I feel bad about missing the ending. I did see most of it, however, so watch me attempt to write about it on the site later.
Woke up nice and fresh...that's a lie - confused and groggy is more like it...for "Sumo East and West." I never knew much about sumo wrestling. Now I do. Fun film.
Grabbed some sushi and a recharge beer while listening to a couple, obviously on their first date, playfully argue over the spelling of "accomodate." My brain melted.
Ran back dowstairs and caught "Where's the Party Yaar?" Pretty funny flick about an FOB Indian college student trying to fit in with American raised Indians. Hijinks ensue.
Decided to ditch the "Boogie Night" party. The Gaslamp Quarter isn't the funnest place in the world to be driving around on a Friday night. Besides, the last time I boogied, i got so loose, I accidentally pooped my pants.
Gonna catch some shut eye. Gotta get up early tomorrow for a panel on "Masters of the Pillow" - a documentary on Asian porn. And if there's anything that will get me up early on a Saturday morning - it's porn.
I'll be checking in again later. Also, look for a full story on the fest, along with some pictures, on the site next week.

[Eric Campos]

Ahoy -

Taking a little afternoon break here with some tasty shrimp crackers and a 12-pack of Foster's.

During the first half of my day, I went from Asian American porn to white boy American cancer. The ups and downs have been emotional and physical for sure.

At 10:00 this morning, I attended a panel focusing on college professor Darrell Hamamoto's efforts to "eroticize Asian sexuality" by making porn featuring both male and female Asian American actors. James Hou was in attendance whose "Masters of the Pillow" documents Hamamoto's efforts. Wes Kim was also on the panel with Greg Pak moderating. Love or hate porn, this was a major event at this year's festival.

Followed that up with a screening of "In My Life," a film about a guy in his early twenties who is forced to tie up any loose ends throughout his various personal relationships when he is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This includes driving up to San Francisco from Orange County to tell his best friend that he loves her. An amazing film from new director Gary Chan. Remember that name. This guy pulled off what many try to and fail.

In a couple of hours I head off to the Awards Gala and Dinner. I'll report in either later tonight or tomorrow morning on who won what and what ate who...OU818.

There's also a screening of "Ping Pong" tonight at 9:15 which I'm hoping to make. Been wanting to see this one for a while. We'll see how long this shindig goes on for tonight.

[garychanchan]

eric,

thank you much for making it out to the fest and my screening and for your kind kind words. i'm glad you made the choice of going from porn to cancer.

sounds like from your write-up that you had an awesome time, which is good for everyone.

you're the man now, dog...indeed.

gary chan
www.2yuk.com/inmylife

[Rory L. Aronsky]

In April of this year, on a 10-day trip in California (before I had moved to the state from Florida), I stopped by that Madstone Theatres for the entire day. My parents and little sister decided to go to the San Diego Zoo, but I didn't bother with any monkeys or lions because that Madstone theater was showing Airplane! and that was one of the movies I wanted to see on the big screen.

I did get to the first showing of Airplane! about 15 minutes late, but no matter. I had the entire film memorized in my mind but nevertheless, it was an absolute treat to see all the antics of that fucking awesome comedy on the big screen. After that, since I had bought a ticket for the next showing of Airplane! which wasn't until later, I decided to see Bowling For Columbine which, ironically, was the next feature in the same theater that just showed Airplane!

Anyway, the point is: comfortable seats, free copies of IFC Rant, the opportunity to see a comedy classic on the big screen....it was all pure bliss. I really wish I could have made that Asian Film Festival. That sounded like a kick-ass time, judging from your write-up Eric, and quite an experience.

[Paff]

Glad to see you had such a good time Eric. I'm the guy who talked to you outside the Orgasms for Social Change seminar. Couldn't go in, since I was assigned to work the door there.

But as a volunteer, I can personally attest to how much work we all put in preparing for the festival, and it's great to see that people appreciate that work. There were certainly a few problems and SNAFUs behind the scenes, but we made sure that no one attending would have even the most minimal of problems. I put in 12-hour days sometimes, and never stopped smiling or talking to people, and I would have done even more if they needed it.

Of course, as a volunteer, it's a little harder to actually SEE the movies (I missed Double Vision and Kung Phooey due to work assignments), but I still managed to catch a few screenings. The Returner was good, if not a little unintentionally funny in some spots. If you don't well up with tears when you watch Tokyo Godfathers, you're simply not human. Some of the Robot Stories packed a good emotional punch too. And Ping Pong is everything that everyone says it is.
But one movie that I recommended to everyone who came up to the volunteer booth is the South Korean romantic comedy My Tutor Friend. I generally don't like romantic comedies, but My Tutor Friend never got sappy or too cute or too sentimental. I put it on my list of "Chick Flicks That Men Can Enjoy Too" (btw, I heartily recommend that all men go out and buy a few chick flicks that they can tolerate on DVD, so that if your date wants to watch one, you won't be stuck going to Blockbuster for some crap that you can't stand).

There were sellout crowds all weekend, which was especially cool on the same night that Bruce Campbell was attending the Bubba Ho Tep premiere just a few miles east. Can't wait for next year, and you can guarantee I'll be involved with the Festival even more.