stephching

[stephching]

Gina Rodriguez Responds to #OscarsSoWhite With #MovementMondays to Celebrate Latino Talent 

I love this! I love this so much that I'm adopting it and posting my own version of Gina Rodriguez's #MovementMondays. Let’s call this a Weekly RepresentAsian. And so, every week (that I remember, let's be real, I'm not the most consistent blogger around,) I will post about an Asian (AAPI) actor or filmmaker. I invite you all to contribute to this in whatever alt way you feel.

Share a public figure of an underrepresented group. Collectively we can make a change and transform the entertainment landscape. True #OscarsSoWhite but the problem rides deeper. To quote Viola Davis in one of the most scaldingly accurate lines of any awards acceptance speech ever, 'you cannot win...for roles that are simply not there'

And to illustrate this, I'll leave this disappointing list right here. One lead actress nomination in all of Oscar history is listed here, Merle Oberon (who was part Indian/British) in The Dark Angel in 1935. This list includes anyone with any heritage tied to the Asian continent (East and South Asia and parts of the Middle East.) And the fact that there are only 3 lead actors EVER nominated, and all of mixed heritage, is maddening. So again I ask, where my AAPIs at? We exist and we deserve representation as well. This is why I love things like Angry Asian Man's Angry Reader of the Week. More of this!

So here's my MovementMonday AAPI Style. 

Today, I'm offering up, the great George Takei. (And no I promise, all posts won't be the cast of ALLEGIANCE, though would that be a bad thing really?) He is a stellar, seasoned actor with the most outspoken and varied assortment of fans (Trekkies, musical theatre goers, human rights/immigration activists, LGBT allies, the strongest legion of social media followings.) With a career that spans about 60 years, this might be a strange choice over a new up and comer, but this guy is as relevant now as ever. And this will be a varied list.

Watch him as Sulu, watch him in ALLEGIANCE (there are still about 2 weeks left of their Broadway run before the show closes on February 14th!), watch him in his documentary TO BE TAKEI, hear his soothing voice in anything and everything!

Check back, there will be more of this. Let's highlight these working Asian entertainers and storytellers! And for all you content creators out there, it starts with you! Hire the POCs and underrepresented. For you POCs, let's make the work and the roles! And most importantly support each other

[stephching]

Saw @allegiancebway with the family and loved it. Please see this musical. Not only is it timely and moving, it is simply a beautiful piece of theatre. Great sets&projections, solid acting, fun and nostalgic choreography. And seeing George Takei @georgehtakei and Broadway legend Lea Salonga @msleasalonga sing together onstage is one of the most epic and empowering experiences any Asian American can have. Seriously, hearing the singing voice of Jasmine/Mulan (/Miss Saigon herself) in real life is a childhood dream. That this play even exists is a feat. Most importantly this is a story that is painfully relevant today. Not only for people who look like us but for our entire country. Never before have certain "decision makers" been so scarily close to repeating such a shameful moment in our nation's history. We can't let that happen. More than ever we need to remember this (ugly) past and now, instead, open our doors and minds. This is a powerful story about loyalty, family, strength, love, and perspective. Please see this show, you will not regret it. #allegiance #broadway #musical #msleasalonga and her #magicalvoice

[stephching]

For Grandma

There are few people in this world whom I love as much as I loved my Grandma. She passed away recently and while I had the chance to say goodbye (over and over again during that last week) there is nothing in this world that can truly prepare you for this.

I am thankful that in these last few years, I’d been able to spend a little more time with her.  I am thankful that the week before, my mom, dad, sister, and I had one last visit with her, one last group photo; she looked so well and in such high spirits. I am thankful that in the last few minutes the family got to see her off.

In the past few days, fragments of memories rise up to remind me of how incredible a person she was and what she meant to so many people. She was the matriarch of our family and my Popo.

She lived to see the end of a war, a new life on the other side of the world, and even two beautiful great granddaughters.

She was the embodiment of strength and true to her ox nature, was extremely stubborn.

She always took care of everyone else first and never hesitated to put the needs of her friends and family before her own.

I know that she lived more than a lifetime before I ever came along and these are stories I can only imagine through her words and the words of my relatives. At the end of World War II, when the Japanese occupied Hong Kong and she was only 15 years old, she had fled on a British ship, bound for China, disguised as an old beggar, to seek safety. She ended up in Shanghai and went from babysitting to bookkeeping at a Cantonese restaurant. There she met my Grandfather, a longshoreman from America who stumbled into her restaurant, homesick for some decent Cantonese food. They eventually married and she ended up staying on the mainland for 7 years.

I heard amazing stories of her dancing in teahouses with friends until late in the night and, in earlier years, acting in plays at large theaters.

In the late 40s, when she was pregnant with my uncle and the rumblings of Communism began to spread through China, she fled once again, now to protect her new family. They ended up back in Hong Kong where my uncle and mom were born. Eventually, years later, she and her young kids came to the states to join my Grandpa.

In fact, unknowingly, she has influenced me in so many ways. I think she is why I ended up studying abroad in Shanghai, the place she first found refuge and eventually, my Grandfather. 

She is why I’ve become so fascinated by people’s origin stories and this concept of what home is. In a strange way, she is part of the reason why I even ended up here in New York, my family’s adopted home. And I most recently realized, her stories are why I became so interested in this Syrian refugee documentary project itself. I grew up hearing stories of how “Grandma fled war” but I never made the connection to her being a refugee. She was a strong woman who had to start from scratch and rebuild a life, not once, but twice in places where she didn’t know the language or have family support. But she was so much more than that.

Here in America she worked in a sewing factory; was essentially a single working mom while Grandpa was away; became a citizen; lived the dream through her children. These are incredible stories from her past, but this is also not the Grandma I knew and remember.

I remember the Grandma who played mahjong all the time and befriended people, in the neighborhood and on the subway. Not knowing the language, she would often just smile, and would open doors to what would become long held friendships. I’ve learned from her that there is so much more to communication than words.

I remember the woman who took so much care tending to the chives, melons, green beans, and tomatoes in her garden. And who, when neighborhood kids would steal her tomatoes, would turn a blind eye and just continue to nurture her plants.

I remember the woman who stood strong and would not shed a tear in public when my Grandfather passed away as her kids and grandkids wept throughout the funeral.

One of my oldest and favorite memories, perhaps half imagined after all of these years, is of my Grandma and me sitting in the backyard of her Brooklyn apartment watching the fireflies blinking through the sticky summer air and listening to her sing Chinese lullabies about roses.

I remember countless birthdays and Thanksgivings, Chinese New Years, and Christmases. I remember following her to temple over on Centre Street and kowtowing and meeting her friends after, as we ate jai perched on stools in the temple basement. I remember watching The Price is Right, the Olympics, and the Wheel of Fortune with her. I remember how much she loved her classic Canto pop stars, Wong Ming Cyun, Donny, et al. I remember how she smelled of incense and Chinese ointments and tea and face lotion. I remember that time I went to see Secret Garden with her and my mom at the local theater and discovered for the first time, light and projection and image and frame. I remember how much she loved Vietnamese coffee (instant) and how we would share McDonald’s fish filet sandwiches. I remember how, even at the end, at 90 years old, she always stood a tall 4ft10 with a back straightened by pride.

And more. There is so much more to say and yet it will never be enough.

I know this is selfish that I wish we could have spent more time together. That, now as my Cantonese was improving, that we could sit and talk more about the past and future. That she would never see this movie, which has so much of her heart and is so much inspired by her.

She rarely sat me down and told me these things but rather lead by example. From her I’ve learned:

That so much of what’s important in life is family, whether blood or forged from friendship.

That Chinese medicine is slow healing.

That “eat more fruit” and “wear a scarf” and “rest early” are other words for “I love you.”

That it’s important to keep a diary.

That there are gui yun, guardians, hidden everywhere in this world who will help you when you most need it, and often least expect it.

And so many things that might slip in when this murkiness of sorrow lessens.

There are a few close friends, for whom I know this Mother’s Day will also be difficult. Who have a lost a grandmother or mother, in the last few weeks as well. April has been a tough month. But I know that these amazing women will live on through the people they’ve left behind.

Popo would often say, through our various conversations, “chuen sai gai kong” / “the whole world is suffering” and I realize now that it’s not a statement of sadness or defeatism or even sympathy. It’s a statement of solidarity. It’s a statement of acceptance and strength and compassion.

She is the truest meaning of the word Survivor.

To Popo, I love you and I miss you. I hope you rest well.

[stephching]

For Grandma. Today we honor her 90 years of life. She was an incredible person and the embodiment of strength, perseverence, and compassion. Yau sik ha, ng sai gwa zhu la. I love you Popo and I miss you.

[stephching]

The mass protests in the Chinese territory are a landmark event. What's the background and what happens next?

It's crazy to think that a year ago, on last year's National Day, I was in HK. Going with the family to Tien Tan Big Buddha. What's happening now is extraordinary. This is, as articles keep professing, unprecedented. This isn't just about politics and government and oppression; it's about broken promises, centuries of history, and the identity of a people who are not about to just give up their freedom.

[stephching]

"A Marriage To Remember" by Banker White and Anna Fitch

An incredibly moving short film about strength and love in the face of one of the most heartbreaking and unyielding diseases there is.

Sweet and real and with so much tender kindness. One of the most honest depictions I've seen, of what it's like to slowly lose a loved one to Alzheimer's.

Today is World Alzheimer's Day. And here is a helpful and respectful list of tips on how to connect with someone who has dementia.

[stephching]

Mental Health Matters

Yesterday (Aug 12) was the UN's International Youth Day. The theme was Mental Health Matters.

Given the heartbreaking death of Robin Williams on Monday, this is even more poignant. As so many people of my generation have said, it feels like losing a piece of our childhood. From Aladdin to Mrs. Doubtfire to Jumanji to Hook. Dead Poets Society got me through High School and a belated viewing of Good Will Hunting got me through College. My sister and I still quote The Birdcage randomly (and yes I re-watched it Monday night, sob-laughing through the entire thing.) A legacy that goes on and on and on. The tributes, from family, colleagues, and fans, have been so moving and I think a lot of us are still in disbelief. He was an incredible human being and he will be so truly missed.

Mental health encompasses so many things but depression is a major part of the discussion right now. Growing up in this world can be hard and all too often people can be unkind. And tragedy has its ugly way of barreling over the gentlest of people. Obviously different situations affect different people in different ways. And someone's outward appearance may not reveal the demons and sorrow that someone is grappling with inside. But it is so important to recognize that depression and other mental health issues are real medical problems - ones that need and deserve (non-judgmental) attention and above all else, care.

It doesn't matter where you are, there are kids growing up all over the world in overpopulated cities, in refugee camps, in American suburbs, who are facing mental health issues. This is not to say that the root of diseases like depression are due purely to external circumstances, really the contrary. This affects people of all ages and backgrounds (though there are different statistics on demographics.)

Environment can be, however, a contributor and affects one of the biggest factors in all of this - access to available treatment. People do not get the care they need for so many reasons - because they don't know it is available, because it is unavailable in their community, because there are social obstacles and stigmas deterring them from asking for help. This last one especially is something we all can change.

This is an issue that should be spoken about each and every day and it's so unfortunate that it takes sad events like the passing of such a beloved artist or a specific day to bring this to the forefront. But I'm glad that this year the UN Youth Day has made this a priority.

Depression and suicide are difficult to write about (hence the disjointedness of this piece) and are issues that strike so so close to home. Rather than stress too much of the specifics, I leave with this hope that there is the opportunity for open discussion.

And again, I am urging anyone else who is struggling with depression, addiction, or any of these mental health difficulties to seek help. It is there and it is accessible. You are not alone.

This is the Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255) If you're in school, talk to a mental health counselor. Or coach. Or friend. Talk to somebody. It may be the last thing you want to do when the weight of everything feels like it's crushing you but there is help and you deserve to get it.

For everyone, be kind, be good, be well.

[stephching]

robin williams died today.

here is a list of things that robin williams was:

funny

sharp

kind

clever

and sad.

that’s important, the “and sad,” because sometimes sadness can feel like the only thing we are. it can feel all-encompassing. it can feel like the only thing anyone could possibly see, when they look at you: sad. that person is so, so, sad.

but there is always an “and.” we are never just sad. we are never only. we are always and.

we have all known people who were sad, who are sad; some of us are ourselves sad. being sad does not remove the other parts of us, though it can make them harder for us to see. when you are sad, you don’t necessarily feel like you are also funny, and sharp, and clever, and kind.

but you still are. you don’t have to feel like something to be it.

those things are written on your bones, they are woven into the fabric of your skin. sadness can feel so big, so big and overwhelming and complete, even when it is not a directed sadness. maybe especially when it is not a directed sadness, when it’s a depression that has no direct cause and nothing we can name.

sometimes the sadness is too big. people try to cut it out, or starve it out, or drink it down, or drug it silent. if this is you: i’m sorry. if this is you: you are not alone. if this is you: remember that the solution is never to give up, because you do not live in a vacuum. there are people waiting for you. there are films and songs and books and not-sadness waiting for you. i know that you don’t feel like waiting, but wait anyway.

if you need help, ask for it. here’s a link to crisis centers across the globe. if you live in the U.S., this is the national suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-273-8255.

robin williams died today, but the genie didn’t, and mrs. doubtfire didn’t, and peter pan didn’t. sean maquire didn’t, and professor philip brainard didn’t, and alan parrish didn’t. batty koda didn’t. john keating didn’t. you didn’t. 

don’t.

[stephching]

After Spring is a documentary in the making. It's the story of a Taekwondo school for Syrian refugee children at the Zaatari Camp in Jordan. Part sports movie, part inspirational story, part humanitarian social justice piece. It explores the power of sports and taekwondo. It follows the struggles of growing up in a place where it's nearly impossible not to feel lost. It shows how one person's unconventional, some may say even crazy, vision can motivate action that truly impacts people's lives. And it exemplifies how a community can be formed and is critical for survival in even the most unexpected and challenging of places.

BUT THIS FILM IS NOT YET FINISHED.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY to contribute to AFTER SPRING'S KICKSTARTER campaign! There are merely 6 HOURS LEFT and we are so close to - less than $5K shy of - our $50,000 goal.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the trailer.  I know you're inundated with Kickstarters and Indiegogos and all sorts of crowd funding asks, people running marathons and color runs and iron mans (iron men?) But take a moment to watch the trailer and see if you feel anything. If it's not your style or you're just not in the position to contribute at this time, that's ok! But if you are interested and want to help out, please consider making a contribution. We are nearly there. Either way, help us spread the word, this is how these things are made! The clock is ticking, let's cross this finish line together!!

____

For more, visit our KICKSTARTER page, check out our recent interviews with The Sports Post and The Arab American Institute Blog, or read my first blog post about our trip to Zaatari.

[stephching]

One of our DPs, Frank Weiss (photo by Brian Kang)

We’ve been getting some great coverage of After Spring. In case you missed it, check out some of the articles below!

We were featured on moosin.net (The International TKD Federation’s Blog) - Read about it HERE

We’re...

[stephching]

Has Kickstarter jumped the shark? It seems like there are some projects, currently, that aren't for art or invention or the greater good. I'm not here to talk about those today. Instead, I'm here to bring your attention to a project that is going to create a documentary that will take people inside the heart of Jordan and the Syrian refugee crisis.

Thank you for this great article Sally J. Freedman @ Persephone Magazine!

[stephching]

Please join us tonight at Wallplay to commemorate World Refugee Day!

INDOMITABLE SPIRIT: A fundraiser featuring Artwork created by Syrian Refugee Children, Photography from Zaatari and a screening of the After Spring documentary trailer.  Photographs by Directors of Photography Jason Howell and Frank Weiss.

All proceeds will help us finish the film! We were only in Zaatari for 2 weeks, there is still a lot more story to tell! 

World Refugee Day | June 20th, 2014 7p-11p At Wallplay (@wallplayground) 118 Orchard St, NYC (Between Delancey and Rivington)

Photographs, artwork, bracelets custom designed by Laurel Denise and scarves from the Zaatari Refugee Camp will be available for sale. And if you can't make it this evening, please donate online at our Kickstarter page. Every dollar makes a difference and we can't make this movie without your help!

Beer lovingly provided by @brooklynbrewery and food by Moustache Pitza.

Hope to see you there!

[stephching]

AAWMM Short Films Showcase!

Tonight only! It'd be great to see you there! (And stay tuned for a sneak preview/first screening of our trailer for After Spring)

AAWMM presents

Short Films Showcase

June 18, 2014 | 6:30pm-8:30pm

Searching for some award-winning films by Asian American women filmmakers? Starving to hear the voices and stories of Asian American women on screen? Come witness the talents of Asian American women filmmakers at AAWMM’s very first Short Films Showcase as we celebrate the achievements of these award-winning short films! Stay for a Q&A with filmmakers afterwards, and check out trailers for two upcoming films by AAWMM members Stephanie Ching and Yasmine Gomez!

Screening room at Macaulay Honors College

35 W 67th St, New York, NY 10023 

Venue info: http://www.macaulay.cuny.edu/

 Continue the conversations after the event with the filmmakers and AAWMM members at Indie Food & Wine (http://www.indiefoodandwine.com/).

144 West 65th Street

New York, NY 10023

(inside the Film Center, across from Julliard)

Full screening program after the jump

Screening Program:

  A Requiem for Herstory ( 26 minutes/ 2010) by Minji Kang

A Young Girl, a love of music, yearns for the sense of peace and identity while suffering under the oppression of mother's demands. She undergoes a strange spiritual metamorphosis.

  Shirts & Skins ( 20 minutes/ 2001) by Casper Wong

She is a young, attractive, fast-talking corporate attorney.  He is a middle –aged, nerdy, tongue-tied engineer.  Today, they find themselves standing under the same label.  Follow Anne and Michael through one inexplicable day at a diversity workshop where nothing is as it seems, and everyone sees only what they want to see.

  Sweet Corn ( 19 minutes/ 2013) by Mimi Joo Hyun Lee

Bong-Moo, an old stubborn farmer who only cares about his corn crop, disapproves of his son Young-Woong's lifestyle, working at the newly built hotel adjacent to the farm. When Bong Moo's crops become sick due to a species of invading insect, he secretly starts a new method of farming with surprising results.

  That Which Once Was ( 20 minutes / 2011) by Kimi Takesue

In 2032, an eight-year old boy, displaced by global warming, fends for himself as an "environmental refugee" in a hostile Northern metropolis. Haunted by memories of flooding that left him homeless and orphaned, the boy forms an unexpected friendship with an Inuk ice carver, who helps him remember his past.

 For more info: www.facebook.com/AAWMM

[stephching]

"Supermensch" by Mike Myers release - June 6, 2014

Today's the day! Check out this film I did a little work on for the better part of last year.

In 1991, music manager Shep Gordon held Mike Myers over a barrel a few weeks before shooting "Wayne's World" regarding an Alice Cooper song Myers wanted to use in the film. They have been close friends ever since. 22 years later, the story of Gordon's legendary life in the uber-fast lane is now told in Myers' directorial debut. And this time it's Myers who has Gordon over a barrel. Capitalist, protector, hedonist, pioneer, showman, shaman... SUPERMENSCH. Shep Gordon is the consummate Hollywood insider. Though he isn't a household name, Gordon has become a beacon in the industry, beloved by the countless stars he has encountered throughout his storied career. Gordon's unlikely story will be told by those who know him best, his pals, including Alice Cooper, Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Anne Murray, Willie Nelson, Emeril Lagasse and more.

Definitely an incredible, whirlwind, roller coaster of an experience working on this. And that's nothing compared to a day in the life of Shep Gordon! Super fun show and so much to be learned about this crazy entertainment industry. Enjoy!

[stephching]

A white girl wore a bindi at Coachella. And, then my social media feeds went berserk. Hashtagging the term “cultural appropriation” follows the outrage and seems to justify it at the same time. Except that it doesn’t. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of a specific part of one culture by another cultural group. As I (an Indian) sit here, eating my sushi dinner (Japanese) and drinking tea (Chinese), wearing denim jeans (American), and overhearing Brahm’s Lullaby (German) from the baby’s room, I can’t help but think what’s the big deal? The big deal with cultural appropriation is when the new adoption is void of the significance that it was supposed to have — it strips the religious, historical and cultural context of something and makes it mass-marketable. That’s pretty offensive. The truth is, I wouldn’t be on this side of the debate if we were talking about Native American headdresses, or tattoos of Polynesian tribal iconography, Chinese characters or Celtic bands. Why shouldn’t the bindi warrant the same kind of response as the other cultural symbols I’ve listed, you ask? Because most South Asians won’t be able to tell you the religious significance of a bindi. Of my informal survey of 50 Hindu women, not one could accurately explain it’s history, religious or spiritual significance. I had to Google it myself, and I’ve been wearing one since before I could walk. We can’t accuse non-Hindus of turning the bindi into a fashion accessory with little religious meaning because, well, we’ve already done that. We did it long before Vanessa Hudgens in Coachella 2014, long before Selena Gomez at the MTV Awards in 2013, and even before Gwen Stefani in the mid-90s. Indian statesman Rajan Zed justifies the opposing view as he explains, “[The bindi] is an auspicious religious and spiritual symbol… It is not meant to be thrown around loosely for seductive effects or as a fashion accessory…” If us Indians had preserved the sanctity and holiness of the bindi, Zed’s argument for cultural appropriation would have been airtight. But, the reality is, we haven’t. The 5,000 year old tradition of adorning my forehead with kumkum just doesn’t seem to align with the current bindi collection in my dresser — the 10-pack, crystal-encrusted, multi-colored stick-on bindis that have been designed to perfectly compliment my outfit. I didn’t happen to pick up these modern-day bindis at a hyper-hipster spot near my new home in California. No. This lot was brought from the motherland itself. And, that’s just it. Culture evolves. Indians appreciated the beauty of a bindi and brought it into the world of fashion several decades ago. The single red dot that once was, transformed into a multitude of colors and shapes embellished with all the glitz and glamor that is inherent in Bollywood. I don’t recall an uproar when Indian actress Madhuri Dixit’s bindi was no longer a traditional one. Hindus accepted the evolution of this cultural symbol then. And, as the bindi makes it’s way to the foreheads of non-South Asians, we should accept — even celebrate — the continued evolution of this cultural symbol. Not only has it managed to transcend religion and class in a sea of one-billion brown faces, it will now adorn the faces of many more races. And that’s nothing short of amazing. So, you won’t find this Hindu posting a flaming tweet accusing a white girl of #culturalappropriation. I will say that I’m glad you find this aspect of my culture beautiful. I do too.

Why a Bindi Is NOT an Example of Culture Appropriation 

by Anjali Joshi

(via breannekiele)

ugh no amanda why did u reblog this

(via nortonism)

Very interesting side to the debate. And regarding folks jumping into the twitter rampage, outrage for the sake of outrage isn't great either. Things are complex. And that's what makes being human so beautiful and fascinating.

[stephching]

Check out this documentary by filmmaker Pearl J. Park addressing some very under exposed (and all too prevalent) issues within the AA community!

Tuesday, April 29 at 7pm at Anthology Film Archives.

Can, a groundbreaking documentary that intimately portrays the experience of an Asian-American family dealing with mental illness, will screen on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 pm, as part of the New York Women in Film and Television’s Member Screening Series, held at Anthology Film Archives...

[stephching]

"Shakespeare in the Camp" courtesy of Shakespeare Zaatari.

In honor of World Theatre Day, the kids perform King Lear.