Yes - more support!

First and foremost - from March 31st to April 13th, FAAIM and the Gene Siskel Film Center will be featuring the 11th Annual Chicago Asian American Showcase!! GO! I triple dog dare you to! You may even run into me there, filming some Q&A from directors after the viewing of their movie. If you think its me (Jonald Reyes - Writer/Director of "That Asian Thing"), please don't hesitate to say hello.



I wanted to take this time to thank the festival director, Mr. Tim Hugh, for being so cooperative during his busy schedule. Thanks Tim! Hopefully "That Asian Thing" will be a part of the Showcase next year (...it's a matter of how long it will take us to edit...).

I'd also like to thank all the filmmakers who I've contacted and who have responded back. I can only imagine how hectic it may be to promote your film, do interviews, attend viewings, and still answer all your emails. I appreciate the support that I've gotten from many of them. As compliment to my blog and to help promote their project, here are their films and links:



The 11th Annual Chicago Asian American Showcase 2006
[http://www.faaim.org]

Americanese, Written/Directed by Eric Byler
[http://www.americanesethemovie.com]

What's Wrong with Frank Chin?, Directed by Curtis Choy
[http://www.frankchin.com]

The Achievers, Directed by Abraham Lim
this is from the San Francisco Asian American Film Festival:
[http://www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/films/film_detail.php?i=6]

Asian Stories (Book III), Written/Directed by Ronald Oda
[http://www.asianstoriesmovie.com]

Purity, Directed by Nahee Ahn
[http://www.myspace.com/puritymovie]

Eve and the Fire Horse, Written/Directed by Julia Kwan
[http://www.eveandthefirehorse.com]

Red Doors, Directed by Georgia Lee
[http://www.reddoorsthemovie.com]

To you Sweetheart, Aloha, Directed by Mercedes Coats
[http://www.walking-iris.com/sweetheartaloha/]

Kieu, Directed by Vu Thu Ha
this is also from the San Fran Asian American Film Fest
[http://www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org/films/film_detail.php?i=66]

Puzzlehead, Directed by James Bai
[http://puzzleheadthemovie.com]



Buy tickets now and go!! Hopefully I'll see ya there!

We are Asian American and there's no hiding it...

Cynthia Lin (http://www.cynthialin.com) Unplugged at the Ridge Street venue was a great success! I want to personally thank Cynthia and all my friends and family for coming out to this fun evening. It rocked and so did Cynthia's performance!

After playing email tag with Cynthia about a live performance, we decided that a small set-up could be accomplished at the house I live at. With some furniture rearranging, candles, and the right lighting, I transformed our living room into our own personal, VH1 Storytellers. All our regular house guests walked in and were amazed at the "new look" for the evening. After some finger foods, mingling, and drinks, we had our first live performance.

Instead of holding a one-on-one interview with Cynthia like I've done with my past artists, I decided to give out questions to my guests and have them ask her in between songs. Something that Cynthia Lin touched upon (which I've posted in a past update) is the playing up or playing down of her "Asianess" to sell records. Her honest answer was - "Well, I'm Asian American and there's no way of hiding that..." and that's what "That Asian Thing" wants the world to know. We, including myself, are Asian American artists and in the lime light we may look different and have different tastes, but there shouldn't be an assumption that all we can do is math or science. Let our art and talent speak for ourselves and like all other artists of any race, give us the equal opportunity to let it shine.

Sorry to get so Asian American patriotic on y'all, but those simple words of not being able to hide our Asian American look made me proud. Proud to be an artist and proud to be an Asian American. Also - to keep going! We, as artists, and NOT just Asian American, need to keep trying to do what we love to do and to not listen to those naysayers that assume that we don't exist. Cause we do exist and a bunch of us are pretty damn good at what we do!



Continuing on - Cynthia talked about multiple things, such as the minimal amount of Asian American artists out there right now and how more and more are becoming apparent, how Asian parents have taught more of their children to go towards the path of better paying jobs, and how artists (like I said before) should let their art speak for themselves.



Cynthia was even cool enough to get to know her audience members more personally before signing the cd's to a name with no personality. That's a very down to earth singer and I whole heartedly applaud her.

Thanks Cynthia!

Unsung Heroes

Dr. Romeo Munoz - author of Filipino Americans: Journey from Invisibility to Empowerment. He, himself, is an example of his own book (whether he knows it or not). First I would like to say how kind and welcoming he and Mrs. Munoz was to myself and the Wayne. Dr. Munoz was very accomodating and assisted in anyway that he could - to which I greatly appreciate his help.

Thank you so much Dr. & Mrs. Munoz!

Here are some points we touched upon:

--Acceptance. To go along with my documentary and the backroot of how teenagers persuade the masses into what becomes the mainstream, there is a force of acceptance that has to be made. Acceptance in all aspects. There is the acceptance of what teenagers think is cool. The acceptance of people - to have friends and to be welcomed into a group. Then there is the acceptance of recent immigrants who want to be part of this American lifestyle in full nature. They want to be accepted by American society and to receive the same opportunities as everyone else. However, how can you be accepted as another face in the crowd without standing up for yourself through sticking out?

--Education. Dr. & Mrs. Munoz hold workshops for under privileged adults and children that are willing to learn language, history, and culture. There isn't enough Asian American history in the schools to help relieve the ignorance that grabs a hold of people when it comes to purchasing Asian American entertainment. Sadly enough, some people are just not willing enough to open their minds to different cultures and when an Asian American artist tries to nurture their unknowing mind, it becomes very difficult to overcome an invisible barrier. More Asian American education in the high schools can help children of all races get some sort of starting point or new understanding of the "rice culture." Dr. Munoz believes that there should be some sort of bill passed to alieviate this problem.

--Parenting. Dr. Munoz is a very proud parent. He is going against the grain of most Asian parents who have children born in America. He son, Stephen, is someone "That Asian Thing" knows well - he is a musician/singer. His daughter is a filmmaker. Thus, he is the father of a couple of 2nd generation Asian American artists. He and Mrs. Munoz show nothing but support, even if they worry about money matters. Of course, money is always a factor in our American culture and art gets a shaft when it comes to talented people that aren't greatly recognized for it. So I commend these parents for supporting their children and breaking that model minority myth.

I must say - these 2 people are VERY active within the filipino community. Mrs. Munoz even said that they have dinner gatherings for nurses that recently arrive to America. They teach and try to make a difference. Please applaud these two for their efforts and grace....

NEXT IN LINE: Storytellers with Cynthia Lin.