Print this out - it could get long!
CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND ASIAN INTERNATIONALCINEMA!

We apologize if you got this more than once.  We know we are on so many different lists. 
Please pass this information on to other people who are interested in Asian American and Asian international cinema.  We try very hard to keep you always updated as to films that are popping up in your area.  Please note that you are a part of over 12,000 people who are on this list nationwide and it is published on www.asianamericanfilm.com! 

Note:  To subscribe - send an email that says "please subscribe" to apafirstweekend@...

For those of  you who are first timers here, the mission of this email newsletter blast to keep everyone aware of Asian American and Asian international films that will be coming out so that we can go out and support them.

First weekend box office receipts are very important to Hollywood and to our films because these reports will make or break a film.  If the films does well on Friday, Saturday and Sunday the "first" weekend it comes out, theater owners and distributors will make their decisions on Monday mornings about a film's life. 

So, we encourage each and every one of you to go out there and support our Asian American and Asian international filmmakers.  It is at the box office where we can show our strength and our power for our films and and filmmakers.  Even if you don't have the time to sit through the film on the first weekend - go to the theater and purchase a ticket so that we can show box office $$$ numbers.  It is extremely important.  At the end of the day.. the color in Hollywood is GREEN!  Show up and vote for yourself at the box office!

IN THIS ISSUE:
WOW!  Can you believe we are at half a year - only 6 months away from the Christmas Holidayze.  Where does time go?  So much going on and happening so fast.  Big congrats to ALICE WU for SAVING FACE - one of the new voices of Asian American cinema- and a huge congrats to veteran indie filmmaker GREGG ARAKI on his latest MYSTERIOUS SKIN - which is probably one of his best yet.  Also - on the JUSTIN LIN front - our boy is now signed on to direct FAST AND FURIOUS 3!  Woo hoo - finally an Asian American director to do a film about "street racing" and "drfiting" where most of the core participants and the originators are people like us - Asian Americans.  So, it could be exciting.  Rumor has it, they are looking to cast Asian Americans and Hapa Asians in lead roles - So all you actors out there need to get on the horn to your agent and manager and let them know you want to audition!  Don't miss this opportunity.

Also, mad props to MTV FILMS exec TROY POON on seeking out the outstanding documentary MURDERBALL.  Whew - this is a film!  POON was responsible for getting MTV FILMS and THINKFILM to distribute this film together - when you see it you will know why this film is so deserving.  Go on TROY POON.

It's been an exciting year for Asian American directors, producers, writers, actors and film festivals.  The Asian American Film Festivals have been blowing up across the nation with outstanding product both on the short film and feature film side.  The new talent has been amazing from GEORGIA LEE's RED DOORS to NEIL DE LLANA and IAN GAMAZON's CAVITE to GRACE LEE's THE GRACE LEE PROJECT to the award winning MICHAEL KANG's THE MOTEL.  If there is an Asian American Film Festival in your neighborhood - make sure you get there to see the latest in Asian American films and filmmakers.

THIS WEEK ON ASIAN AMERICAN SCREENS:

1.  ALICE WU IS STILL OUT THERE "SAVING FACE"
2.  GREGG ARAKI ROCKS THE SCREEN WITH HIS LATEST "MYSTERIOUS SKIN"
3.  "MICHAEL KANG'S THE MOTEL" WINS HUMANITAS PRIZE
4.  THE LONG AWAITED AND MAGNIFICIENT "THE WARRIOR" FROM ASIF KAPADIA HITS US SHORES ON 7/15
5.  PRODUCER GINA KWON'S "ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW" IS KICKING AT THE BOX OFFICE
6.  GEORGIA LEE'S AWARD WINNING "RED DOORS" PLAYS OUTFEST
7.  ASIAN CINEVISION'S NEW YORK ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL COMES NEXT WEEK
8.  ASIAN FILMS REPRESENTED AT THE LA FILM FESTIVAL THIS PAST JUNE
9.  MTV FILMS TROY POON BRINGS US "MURDERBALL" THIS WEEK
10.  ASIAN AMERICAN KIDS FROM BENSONHURST, BROOKLYN REPRESENT IN SLEEPER HIT "MAD HOT BALLROOM"
11.  OUTFEST IS ON IN LA NOW!
12.  GO ON IRENE CHO!!!!!!  NEW HEAD OF SUNDANCE PRESS OFFICE
13.  OTHER STUFF
****************************************************************************************
1.  ALICE WU IS STILL OUT THERE "SAVING FACE"
If you have not seen Alice Wu's "SAVING FACE" now in select release by Sony Pictures Classics, make sure you get there!  It's a great comedy about a mother and daughter, a family, life, love and the way things are.  Many have compared it to WEDDNING BANQUET - but Alice's film definitely stands on its own.  The film breaks new talented Asian American actresses MICHELLE KRUSIEC and LYNN CHEN - and partners them up with the ever outstanding JOAN CHEN (she does comedy) to make a great film.  Even your aunties will like this - ours did!!  Uber Producer TEDDY ZEE is responsible for getting this film green lit by Will Smith (Fresh Prince) and his production company.  Check your local listings... here's a note from ALICE WU:

"The good news is that Saving Face is doing well enough that we continue to roll out in theaters.  The reviews have been great (check out our
latest review in Salon: http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/review/2005/06/17/saving_face/) and the audience response fantastic.  But without any
real ad support, we are ever in jeopardy of being bumped due to competition from all the big summer movies with huge ad presence."

The film has done over $800,000 in box office receipts already.  Come see the film!

2.  GREGG ARAKI ROCKS THE SCREEN WITH HIS LATEST "MYSTERIOUS SKIN"
All we could say was WOW!!! when we saw MYSTERIOUS SKIN.  Veteran Indie director GREGG ARAKI has always been the filmmaker that pushed boundaries and senses.  And this film is  no different.  The difference here is that it is a strong complex story that unravels before your eyes.  His story telling and his work with his actors are brilliant - and this film definitely shows ARAKI at his finest.  JOSEPH GORDON LEAVITT in the lead role blows you away with his portrayal of a young boy, now a young man reflecting upon his relationship as a boy with his little league coach.  You know LEAVITT is so hapa looking.  TLA RELEASING and TARTAN FILMS has the film out in limited release - so you have to go to the big cities to see the film.  If you are one to venture to see something new and non-run of the mill HOllywood - then this is your film.  For others, the subject matter could be disturbing - but LEAVITT and the other actors are amazing.  Congrats to ARAKI.

For those of you in LA, you can meet and hear GREGG ARAKI at the CONVERSATION WITH GREGG ARAKI on JULY 9 at NOON at OUTFEST - www.outfest.org.

3.  "MICHAEL KANG'S THE MOTEL" WINS HUMANITAS PRIZE
Mike's festival favorite THE MOTEL picked up a prize from HUMANITAS Organization last week worth $10,000.  The HUMANITAS PRIZE is desinged to encourage works that entertain, engage and enrich the viewing public.  If you missed the film at SUNDANCE, at SAN FRANCISCO NAATA or CHICAGO ASIAN SHOWCASE - you have a chance to see it next week at ASIAN CINEVISIONS NEW YORK ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTED BY AZN (damn that's a mouthful) - check their website for more info at www.aaiff.org .  THE MOTEL is the "centerpiece" film for the festival.  Congratulations Michael Kang - now let's get this film sold!!!

4.  THE LONG AWAITED AND MAGNIFICIENT "THE WARRIOR" FROM ASIF KAPADIA HITS US SHORES ON 7/15
Finally, Miramax will release the briliant film from India's ASIF KAPADIA - "THE WARRIOR " on July 15 in NY and LOS ANGELES.
THE WARRIOR won 2 BAFTA awards and critical praise around the world.  Now, we have the opportunity to experience this film.

The film opens in the following theaters on July 15:
NY: Angelika Film Center
LA: Pacific Arclight in Hollywood
 
On Friday, July 29, it will open in: Chicago, SF, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Detroit, and Dallas.
Make sure to check your local listings or http://miramax.com/thewarrior/

Here's a mini synopsis
THE WARRIOR follows the visually stunning and emotionally exhilarating journey of an ancient Indian warrior who travels from the golden deserts of Rajasthan to the snowcapped peaks of the Himalaya in search of the one thing he has never known - peace - only to be chased by the forces of violence.

The debut film from acclaimed British director Asif Kapadia, THE WARRIOR features an unconventional mix of samurai-style movie action, stirring performances from largely untrained actors, sumptuous landscape photography and a mystical tale of personal redemption. Kapadia has crafted a lush and exotic, yet universal, story about the human spirit and its evolution from primal revenge to the transcendent. The film has garnered numerous awards including the Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film of the Year, the Carl Foreman Award for Best Newcomer at the BAFTAs, the Douglas Hickox Award at the British Independent Film Awards and the Best Newcomer Award from The London Evening Standard.

5.  PRODUCER GINA KWON'S "ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW" IS KICKING AT THE BOX OFFICE
Asian American women producers are kicking butt and taking names in Hollywood - and GINA KWON is one of them.  Recently, crowned ONE OF THE PRODUCERS TO WATCH  at the INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS - Kwon, is proving her point with her latest film hitting screens this month - the acclaimed "ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW" from performance artist turned director MIRANDA JULY.  The film has been getting rave reviews and box officenumbers.  Congratulations to you GINA KWON - keeping putting those films out!

6.  GEORGIA LEE'S AWARD WINNING "RED DOORS" PLAYS OUTFEST
Hot off their recent award winning accolades at the Las Vegas film festival CINEVEGAS and the TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL, filmmaker GEORGIA LEE and her all girl posse of producers are about to take over OUTFEST in LA on July 15 at 7PM at the DGA1 big theater.  Wow!  RED DOORS continues to be a huge audience favorite from their award winning "best film" world premiere at TRIBECA to their audience raving closing night LA premiere at the VC Film Festival to hitting it big at CINEVEGAS with the "best ensemble" award.   Make sure y ou get a chance to see this film and this new voice/new Asian American story teller.  TZI MA, JACQUELINE KIM, ELAINE KAO, and MIA RIVERTON are featured in this family comedy about life, moving on, and self identity.  Hmmm... something for everyone.

7.  ASIAN CINEVISION'S NEW YORK ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL COMES NEXT WEEK
Maggie Cheung, Sung Kang, Grace Lee, Curtis Choy, Ellen Perry, Leonard Retel Helmrich, Oxide Pang, Michael Kang, Francisco Aliwalis and Risa Morimoto.  Where else can you see works and projects from these outstanding filmmakers and artists in JULY?  Come to NYC - yes hop that JET BLUE or SONG AIRWAYS and get yourself to the ASIAN CINEVISIONS NEW YORK ASIAN AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - JULY 15 - 31, 2005.  A tribute to MAGGIE CHEUNG and the 72 SHOOT OUT is worth the trip alone!  Log on to http://www.aaiff.org

We can recommend for sure the following outstanding films - in no order:

• THE GRACE LEE PROJECT - see it now and meet Grace Lee, Graize Lee, Grace Lee, and Grace Lee
• SHAPE OF THE MOON - jury prize winner at SUNDANCE and the IDFA FILM FESTIVAL Amsterdam - amazing film!!
• THE MOTEL - Sung Kang in the lead role - that's worth the roundtrip airfare!
• THE FALL OF FUJIMORI (yes, exiled Peruvian President Fujimori on film)
• CLEAN -with Maggie Cheung - and you know she's worth the roundtrip airfare!
• WHAT'S WRONG WITH FRANK CHIN - wooo!
• BUTTERFLY - Yan Yan Mak's beautiful film about love between two women

See you in the Big Apple!!

8.  ASIAN FILMS REPRESENTED AT THE LA FILM FESTIVAL THIS PAST JUNE
The LOS ANGELES FILM FESTIVAL presented by TARGET and FIND came to a close last week - but not without a bang for up and coming Asian American filmmakers and Asian International films.  The biggest noise was coming from the boys from California - NEIL DELA LLANA and IAN GAMAZON sold out the houses with the ever intriguing CAVITE - imagine going from San Diego to the Philippines for a visit and when you arrive your cell phone rings only to tell you that your mother and your sister are kidnapped and held hostage and you have to follow the directions from a voice on your phone.  Gives new meaning to "can you hear me now?"  Also, LAFF brought out the west coast premiere of 2046 from our boy WONG KAR WAI; the beautiful BEAUTY REMAINS from ANN HU; the fun THE GRACE LEE PROJECT from GRACE LEE who had all of the opening night festival goers rocking name badges that stated "HI, MY NAME IS GRACE LEE" (this became a most sought after name tag through the 10 days - everyone wanted to be Grace Lee); International offerings brought KAMIKAZE GIRLS, THE SYRIAN BRIDE, and BITTER DREAM;  the amazing THE 36TH CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN; GHOST DOG with Forest Whitaker; KOREAN films R-POINT and SPYING CAM; and a whole program on early JAPANESE ANIME all made up a very rich film festivals.  Panels were abound from financing to actors to diversity to master classes.  It was a great festival full of events and films for everyone.  Make sure you make it next year.  Log on to WWW.LAFF.ORG

9.  MTV FILMS TROY POON BRINGS US "MURDERBALL" THIS WEEK
This is one of those films that will move you this summer.  No, it's not the JAMES CAAN film from the 70's.  It's the documentary about the paraplegic rugby team and their zest for living.  It was the audience favorite at SUNDANCE.  It's opening in limited release this weekend - so check your local listings.  But make sure  you get there.  Our boy at MTV FILMS has worked hard to get this film out there by partnering together with THINKFILM - and when you see the film you will know why.  It's one of the films that will be up for Oscar contenders this year.  Brilliant film.

10.  ASIAN AMERICAN KIDS FROM BENSONHURST, BROOKLYN REPRESENT IN SLEEPER HIT "MAD HOT BALLROOM"
And speaking about Oscar contenders - MAD HOT BALLROOM will definitely be on the minds of Academy voters next year.  It's that "little movie that could" with audiences dancing and cheering at every screening. Forget about WAR OF THE WORLDS, FANTASTIC 4 and those other films - if you want a rich movie going experience and one where you come out thinking you got your $10 worth, then this is your film.  First time director MARILYN AGRELO profiles 3 NYC elementary schools that are entering into the city wide ballroom dance competition.  She gives11 year old kids from Washington Heights, Tribeca and Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

The amazing fact is that the kids from BENSONHURST are mostly Asian American or Italian.  To see these little bodies hoofing, shaking and shimming their way to becoming little ladies and gentlemen is entertaining while hearing their take on life is at the same time endearing and definitively insightful.  When the three Chinese American girls from Bensonhurst, PRISCILLA, TRACY and JAI -WEN, are sitting on their stoop pontificating about life and one of them exclaims that "the strange thing about being a girl is that your hair is long and that you have to be pregnant.  You have to have a baby.  It's hard," one can only wonder where did that information come from?  Or when the girls in Washington Heights talk about what they want their ideal husband to be and they agree that "he doesn't sell any drugs and he must respect himself and he must respect me,"  this is when MAD HOT BALLROOM becomes so much more than cute kids in NYC are dancing in ballroom competition.  This is when the film makes you see the differences in life's experiences that shape each of us in America.

The film has been extremely successful with now over $4.2 million in box office receipts in just over 9 weeks on less than 200 screens and has been in the top 20 since week#3.  An amazing feat when all the other films are on 1,000 + screens.

If you can see only one film this summer - then make sure you see MAD HOT BALLROOM. It's much much more than DANCING WITH THE STARS.
Log on to www.madhotballroom.com

11.  OUTFEST IS ON IN LA NOW!
The largest GAY AND LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL in the country just opened on Thursday July 7 and goes to July 18.  Log on now to www.outfest.org for tickets and programs.  There is always something for everyone as this film celebrates work from Gay Lesiban Transgender and Bi Sexual artists.  And some are Asian American/Asian International. Check out the CONVERSATION with GREGG ARAKI or GEORGIA LEE's RED DOORS or BUTTERFLY from YAN YAN MAK or A CRIMSON MARK from KOREA's HYUN JIN PARK (beautiful short period piece) or FORMULA 17 from DJ CHEN (cute cute cute) or INDIA's THE JOURNEY from  Ligy J. Pullappally or  the PHILIPPINES short film LAST SHORT FILM from MARK REYES or the brilliant Thai film TROPICAL MALADY.  Check it out!

12.  GO ON IRENE CHO!!!!!!  NEW HEAD OF SUNDANCE PRESS OFFICE
Mad love to our girl - IRENE CHO - who is now the head of the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL PRESS OFFICE.  Cho is making history as the first Asian American to take on this very important and prestigious position.  Last year, she made history by being the first Asian American to be manager of the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL press office.  And look here she is as the HEAD PERSON IN CHARGE at one of the most important film festivals in the US and the world.  Keep reaching up!

13.  OTHER STUFF

• ****  VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS CELEBRATES 35 YEARS OF ASIAN AMERICAN FILM AND VIDEO AT THE FORD AMPHITHEATRE SEPTEMBER 29, 2005
• ****  ERIC BYLER is in post production of his film AMERICAN KNEES - watch for this next year.
• ****  FRANK LIN is in post production of his film AMERICAN FUSION - with Esai Morales and Sylvia Cheng and JASON INOUYE as the DP
• **** CHRIS CHAN LEE is in post production of his film UNDONE with Sung Kang
• **** SUNG KANG is about to begin his first film as a director - title unknown -
• **** GRACE LEE is looking at possible distribution of THE GRACE LEE PROJECT
• **** ABRAHAM LIM is currently shooting his latest film in LA - we are anxiously awaiting Abe's next project
• **** KARYN KUSAMA is currently in post on the mega film AEON FLUX with Charlize Thereon
• **** HAM TRAN is finishing up post on JOURNEY FROM THE FALL - another film we are anxioiusly awaiting
• **** DAVID MAQUILING is in pre-production on his next film
• **** HIYO MIYAZAKI'S 'HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE" - beautiful animated film is raking in the box office now!
• **** IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN "CRASH" - SEE IT WHILE ITS STILL IN THEATERS
• **** BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY with BAI LING opens This weekend
• **** BRIDE AND PREJUDICE from GURINDER CHADHA comes out on DVD this week!
• **** PAUL BERGES is in production on his next film
• **** JUSTIN LIN'S "ANNAPOLIS" is slated for early 2006 coming from Disney

That's it - Go see a movie.. You have choices!!!

Vote for you - cuz you are mad hot!

APA FIRST WEEKEND FILM CLUB