Archive for May, 2010

Help Give FORMOSA BETRAYED DVD to Members of Congress

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 31, 2010Posted in: NationalTags:
Help Give FORMOSA BETRAYED DVD to Members of Congress

Please join the Formosa Foundation’s campaign to purchase and deliver DVDs of the film FORMOSA BETRAYED to all 536 members of Congress this June.

As a follow-up to the September 2009 Congressional Screening that the Formosa Foundation hosted in Washington DC, we plan to distribute a copy of the movie FORMOSA BETRAYED to every single United States Senator and Representative.

We need your help to guarantee that each member of Congress receives a DVD of FORMOSA BETRAYED.

A small donation of $20 will pay for the purchase and shipping of one DVD. Larger donations allow us to reach more members, and all donations received prior to June 14, 2010 will be directed towards the Congressional DVD campaign.

Participants of the Formosa Foundation Ambassador Program will be heading to Washington this summer for two weeks of meetings with members of Congress. Last year the Ambassadors played a large role in encouraging representatives to attend the Congressional Screening. This year, with your generous support, the class of 2010 student Ambassadors will distribute copies of the movie to our elected leaders.

FORMOSA BETRAYED is the first American film dealing with US-Taiwan relations and exploring the issues of democracy, identity, and justice during the White Terror period in Taiwan. By using the film as a platform to open honest discussions about Taiwan and the importance of its democracy, we have a powerful tool to use in our fight to reach our goal of changing the one China policy and gaining recognition of Taiwan.

Formosa Foundation Ambassadors will hand deliver the DVD to House or Senate members to ensure that the DVD is not damaged in the rigorous mail screening which has been in place since the 2001 anthrax attacks on Congress. By joining the Congressional DVD campaign you can be assured that each member receives a copy of the DVD and that there are no duplications.

Making a donation is simple. Click the “Make a Donation” button on the Foundation home page and PayPal makes it easy and secure for you to donate with your credit card or an existing PayPal account. You can also mail a check to the Formosa Foundation.

Please join us in this important venture by donating generously to the Congressional DVD Campaign and spreading the word about this project to your friends and family.

Your support is greatly appreciated and your donation is tax deductible.

Terri J. Giles 賈泰麗
Executive Director
Formosa Foundation
350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 275. Los Angeles, CA 90071
Tel: (213) 625-1991
Fax: (213) 625-1941
www.formosafoundation.org


Through the Eyes of Designer-Director Warren Fu

By
Jessica Fu
Date: May 31, 2010Posted in: SpotlightTags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Through the Eyes of Designer-Director Warren Fu

“Sorry I’m late!” my cousin Warren apologized when he showed up for our interview. “The Jimmy Fallon taping with Julian [Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes] ran a little long.”

I wish I could have that kind of excuse whenever I’m late to an engagement. This was, however, simply another day in the life of Warren Fu, director and designer.

One of Warren’s most notable designs is of General Grievous, the villain in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.  He also designed the motorcycle terminators in Terminator Salvation. Remember the beaming effect in the recent Star Trek movie? Another look developed by Warren.  Most of his work, however, goes unnoticed by the ordinary person. As a former art director at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), a subsidiary of Lucasfilm, Warren was there to help visualize concepts for feature films.  From skeletal creatures in Pirates of the Caribbean to a futuristic cityscape for Artificial Intelligence: AI, Warren’s talent has been called upon for projects large and small.

Warren has always loved art, ever since his mom taught him how to draw Snoopy at an early age. She first noticed his talents when he started pointing out minute details in the pictures of his storybooks. “It all starts with observation. You have to be able to find things you like, and then process in your mind why it’s good.”  “By the time I started elementary school, my notebooks were filled with Star Wars, Robotech and sports car drawings. It was just a way for my friends and I to express our inner geeks.  When I got to high school, I began getting into graffiti; that was when I begin to come up with my own ideas instead of simply duplicating what I saw.”

After high school, Warren went on to attend University of California- Berkeley where he pursued a major in economics. He credits his childhood friend Christine Yamashiro for encouraging him to apply for an internship at Lucasfilm on a whim. Originally applying for a marketing internship, Warren hesitated in putting artwork in his application portfolio, especially his graffiti. After seeing his work, however, Lucasfilm recruiters immediately recommended him for the art department.  “According to David Nakabayashi [visual effects art director for Episode I: The Phantom Menace], the graffiti was what caught his eye,” Warren states. “He said that those were the pieces that set me apart from the portfolios he came across from the art school graduates.  That’s where he said he saw the potential.” After that it was a fast climb from intern to art director in the span of a mere four years.

Pretty cool, right? It still boggles my mind how differently we think. I mean, when I look at a Windex bottle, I see… a Windex bottle. When Warren looks at a Windex bottle, he sees an early concept for General Grievous, a prominent villain in one of the greatest sagas of all time.

Most people would be satisfied with the design career that Warren has had, but he continues to press ahead with another career in directing.  “Filmmaking encompasses everything I like into one art form. Music, acting, visuals, editing. All those art elements working together at once really create a stronger emotional impact. It’s an experience.”

After directing a TV commerical, based on the album cover he designed, for the late r&b/hip-hop artist Aaliyah, Warren worked with The Strokes’ Julian Casablancas as the creative director for Julian’s solo album. Warren managed all things visual from beginning to end of the promotional campaign, including sleeve art, merchandise, print ads and music videos.

His relationship with Julian began after submitting a treatment [a concept for a music video] for a song titled “You Only Live Once” by The Strokes. “The Strokes caught my ear, because their sound reminded of some of the best music from the past, but modernized.” The treatment caught Julian’s attention. Even though The Strokes had already hired a director for the music video, they got funding for Warren to direct the alternate version. “As it turns out, we [Julian and I] have very similar sensibilities. Favorite color combinations, favorite car, etc. It has made for a great collaborative relationship.”

Warren has been getting more and more offers to direct as of late. He recently signed with Partizan Films to helm a music video for Mark Ronson featuring Q-Tip.  To Warren, music videos are an opportunity to experiment. It is filmmaking without any boundaries, because you don’t necessarily have to tell a narrative story. “Anything goes, really. At the end of the day your only assignment is always to ‘make it cool.’”

Warren’s ultimate goal is to direct feature films of all genres.  He lists 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick and Cinema Paradiso, a small budget Italian film, as his two favorite movies. “Kubrick’s movies are known for being cold impersonal. 2001 is exactly that, but also philosophical and beautifully designed and shot. Cinema Paradiso is purely nostalgic, heart warming and heart breaking. I guess these films represent the wide range of interests that I have.”

“Music and graffiti was my escape from the intense studies of my AP classes. The city of Berkeley was a culture shock: potheads and homeless intertwined with the scholarly. My good friends at Lucasfilm introduced me to the artist culture in San Francisco. Collaborating with Julian and The Strokes in New York has been a refreshing change of scene.  I’m back in LA for now, but I’m still observing and gathering enough life experiences to hopefully tell some interesting stories down the line.’

Partizan Films: http://partizan.com/partizan/musicvideos/?warren_fu

For more information on Warren, please check out his website:  www.seeoutloud.com

Aaliyah Anime TV Spot for MTV and BET:  http://vimeo.com/2523140

“11th Dimension”- Julian Casablancas music video: http://vimeo.com/2523140

Taiwanese American Cultural Festival in New York: “Passport to Taiwan”

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 30, 2010Posted in: East CoastTags: , , ,

Date: Sunday, May 30, 2010
Time: 12 pm
Location: Union Square Park North, 17th Street & Broadway, New York
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=147104375252

At the “Passport to Taiwan” event each year, participants can sample local delicacies from in Taiwan, observe dough figurine makers and calligraphy masters at work in the arts & crafts area, learn about various organizations and agencies, play children’s games, learn about traditional Taiwanese toys in the interactive area, fold cranes in the kids workshop area, and learn more about Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans in the exhibition area.

Since the initiation of the “Passport to Taiwan” festival in 2002, it has become the most important event for the Taiwanese American and the Mandarin Speaking community in the New York Tri-State area. The festival has since become the largest outdoor Taiwanese event in the entire United States.

Performances this year include:
The Hsu-nami
Exit Clov
Magnetic Island
Dzian!

For more information, visit the festival website: http://p2tw.org

Alice Tong CD Release Party in San Francisco

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 29, 2010Posted in: West CoastTags:

Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time: 9:00pm
Location: Hotel Utah
Address: 500 4th St., San Francisco, CA
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117780158253353

TaiwaneseAmerican.org is proud to be a sponsor of Alice’s upcoming CD release party and tour! We’re working with TurtlistMedia to film a video for fans!

BAY AREA SINGER SONGWRITER ALICE TONG MERGES ETHNOMUSICOLOGY AND SOCIAL WORK INTO SOULFUL NEW INDIE FOLK ROCK ALBUM

Hotel Utah, 5/29/2010, CD Release Party — As a social worker, Alice Tong has provided therapy to survivors of domestic violence, rape, shootings, and stabbings. This intense direct service work has informed her development as a musician, and can be heard both in the depth of her lyrics and the sincerity of her performances. Receiving her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University, and her Bachelors of Arts in Ethnomusicology (World Music) from UCLA, Alice has used her strengths in both disciplines to co-produce an all-original indie folk rock album with Los Angeles producer/engineer Glenn Suravech. Mr. Suravech has worked with artists such as Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, and Brett Dennen. On this new album, Alice performs as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist on each song, and is backed by a host of extremely talented LA and Bay Area musicians. “Please Be Brave Before the Lions They Come,” is set to be released Sat. May 29, 9pm at San Francisco’s premiere singer-songwriter venue, Hotel Utah. Pre-sale tickets available for $10 through ticketweb at: http://tiny.cc/alicemay29ticket

Alice will be accompanied by her amazing LA band, including:
-Miles Senzaki on drums/percussion
-Patrick Taylor on bass
-Nate Lapointe on pedal steel, mandolin, and guitar
-Claire Courchene on cello and trombone
-Albert Chiang on vocals and guitar
-Mei-Ling Murray on vocals
*see http://www.alicetongmusic.com for more info

Official CD release party and tour sponsors include Hyphen Magazine (http://www.hyphenmagazine.com), Channel APA (http://www.channelapa.com), TaiwaneseAmerican.org (http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org), Rama (http://www.gostudiorama.com), Blacklava (http://www.blacklava.com), and Tuesday Night Project (http://www.tuesdaynightproject.org).

Asian Rock Fest in San Francisco Features Several Taiwanese American Bands

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 29, 2010Posted in: West CoastTags:

Date: Saturday, May 29, 2010
Time: 9:15 pm
Location: RockIt Room
Address: 406 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=116593288361311
*This show is for ages 21+

Founded in New York City in 2004, the annual Asian Rock Fest has been bringing together established Asian American artists from all over the US. It aims to celebrate the annual Asian Heritage Month of May in an in-your-face, louder-than-your-parents’-soft-jazz fashion.

The 2010 lineup includes:

9:15 pm Jack Tung
10:00 pm United High
10:45 pm Lion Riding Horses
11:30 pm Johnny Hi-Fi

Lion Riding Horses’ frontman Young Lee, Johnny Hi-Fi’s lead Eric Hsu, and musical artist Jack Tung are proud Taiwanese Americans!

For more info:
www.asianrockfest.com

Win Free APAHM Concert Tickets from TaiwaneseAmerican.org!

By
Christina
Date: May 29, 2010Posted in: NationalTags:
Win Free APAHM Concert Tickets from TaiwaneseAmerican.org!

In light of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re excited to bring you the opportunity to win free tickets to the APAHM Concert featuring Taiwanese American artists Van Ness Wu and Evonne Hsu, as well as Taiwan-based pop singer JJ Lin and Asian American DJ, Mike Relm. APAHM Concerts will be taking place in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC all this month of May!


Here’s how you can win a TaiwaneseAmerican.org sponsored free ticket to any one of these concerts!

1) Respond to this YouTube video with a video of you answering the following TWO questions:
- Why is APA Heritage Month important AND why TaiwaneseAmerican.org should sponsor me a ticket to the concert?
2) Title and tag the YouTube video as “TaiwaneseAmerican.org APAHM Concert Entry”
3) Send us an e-mail at admin@taiwaneseamerican.org with your name, address, which concert you want to go to, and a link to your entry!

By noon on the day before each concert, we’ll select up to 5 winners based on 1) best answer OR 2) most likes (thumbs up) – so think hard and tell all your friends!

Seattle Concert – Friday, May 21st (http://www.verizoninsider.com/apahm/)
New York Concert – Sunday, May 23rd (http://verizonapahm.com/main/schedule)
Washington DC Concert – Wednesday, May 26th (http://verizonapahm.com/main/schedule)
San Francisco Concert – Thursday, May 27th (http://www.verizoninsider.com/apahm/)
Los Angeles Concert - Saturday, May 29th (http://www.verizoninsider.com/apahm/)

We’re looking forward to the video responses!

Taiwanese American Producer-Director S. Leo Chiang’s “A Village Called Versailles” on PBS

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 25, 2010Posted in: NationalTags:

Taiwanese American Producer-Director S. Leo Chiang’s film, A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, premieres on Tuesday, May 25th on the award-winning PBS series, Independent Lens. For most stations, it will be on at 10p (9p in New Orleans, 11p in San Francisco Bay Area), but please click here to check your local listings.

A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES is a full-length documentary about Versailles, a community in eastern New Orleans first settled by Vietnamese refugees. After Hurricane Katrina, Versailles residents have impressively risen to the challenges by returning and rebuilding before most neighborhoods in New Orleans, only to have their homes threatened by a new government-imposed toxic landfill just two miles away. A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES will recount the empowering story of how this group of people, who has already suffered so much in their lifetime, turns a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change and a chance for a better future.

In light of the recent BP oil spill and its devastating impact on the coastal communities of New Orleans, this documentary is still quite relevant today.

This film is excellent. In this last year, A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES has been recognized with eight awards:

AUDIENCE AWARD, New Orleans Film Festival
HENRY HAMPTON AWARD, Council on Foundations Film & Video Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD, San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
CALL TO ACTION AWARD, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
BEST DOCUMENTARY, Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
BEST DOCUMENTARY, Crossroads Film Festival
THIRD EYE AWARD, DisOrient Film Festival

Watch the Independent Lens TRAILER for the film:

If you can’t catch the broadcast, DVDs are available at: http://avillagecalledversailles.com/dvd

TAP in San Diego Hosts a Panel on “Traveling Taiwan”

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 25, 2010Posted in: West CoastTags:

Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Time: 6:45pm – 7:45pm
Location: Taiwanese American Community Center
Address: 7838 Wilkerson Court, San Diego, CA
Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=121498461213726

Three members of Taiwanese American Professionals – San Diego will share their experiences traveling Taiwan. They have stories, restaurants, clubbing tips (of course), hiking/ sightseeing spots, shopping, and interesting customs to share with you. They’ll also go over some must have items to bring as well as to take back.

Some time will be left open for audience members that want to share their own experiences traveling Taiwan, or if they have any questions and specifics.

Explore Taiwan on CBS’ Eye on the Bay

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 24, 2010Posted in: NationalTags:

Local CBS 5 in the San Francisco Bay area is profiling Taiwan for their locally produced TV show “Eye on the Bay.” Episodes are being broadcast during the week of May 24 – 28, 2010. All 30 minute episodes (minus commercials) are posted online, so anyone anywhere can view them. Check it out!

Monday, May 24, 2010
“Taiwan, Part 1″

Join us as we embark on an incredible adventure to the island of Taiwan. We begin in the capital city of Taipei and explore the food, nightlife, and get a view from atop the 2nd tallest building in the world!
Video: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=65565@kpix.dayport.com

Tuesday, May 25, 2010
“Taiwan, Part 2″

Our Taiwan adventure continues as we head to the outskirts of Taipei to the port town of Danshuei to learn about it’s street markets. Then, we head off to visit the islands’ beautiful volcanic park which spawns some of the world’s most luxurious mineral baths.
Video: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=65564@kpix.dayport.com

Wednesday, May 26, 2010
“Taiwan, Part 3″

We continue our Taiwan journey by heading south east of Taipei to the east coast city of Hualien and Taiwan’s “Grand Canyon”, Taroko Gorge inside Taroko Park. Then head south on the east coast, past the Tropic of Cancer, and discover the beautiful Pacific Ocean side of the island.
Video: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=65566@kpix.dayport.com

Thursday, May 27, 2010
“Taiwan, Part 4″

Part 4 of our Taiwan adventure begins as we drive west to the historic city of Tainan. There, we visit a Confucius Temple and sample some of the areas best Street Food.
Video: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=65569@kpix.dayport.com

Friday, May 28, 2010
“Taiwan, Part 5″

Our final show from Taiwan brings us to central Taiwan to the mountainous resort region of Sun Moon Lake. We cycle and boat around Taiwan’s “Lake Tahoe” then sample tea from a working tea plantation. We finish with a ride at over 185 miles per hour on Taiwan’s High Speed Rail!
Video: http://cbs5.com/video/?id=65572@kpix.dayport.com

A C-SPAN Video: “Taiwan: The Threatened Democracy”

By
Ho Chie
Date: May 22, 2010Posted in: PerspectivesTags: , ,

This C-SPAN video is 3 yrs old, but explains so well the history & absurdity of Taiwan-US-China relations. If you don’t get it, watch this.

We never thought we’d be promoting a C-SPAN video like this… but it’s good recap through history and policy regarding Taiwan, and there is some interesting commentary about it all.

Click here to watch: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/176847

The talk itself is about 25 minutes long, but there is plenty of good Q&A afterwards.

Bruce Herschensohn talked about his book Taiwan: The Threatened Democracy, published by World Ahead Publishing. He described the conflict between Taiwan and China and the U.S. policy on Taiwan since the mid-20th century. The talk was hosted by the Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, California. Herschensohn served as deputy special assistant to President Nixon and as an adviser on Ronald Reagan’s 1980 transition team. He is the author of several books, including Hong Kong at the Handover and Across the Taiwan Strait.

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