MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

A unified voice.

A unified race.

A one night show.

Be part of the concert event to be featured in "That Asian Thing" documentary. Live and experience the talent of Asian American artists!

"That Asian Thing Showcase"
Saturday, August 12, 2006
7 pm - 9 pm

Fred P. Hall Amphitheater - Palatine Park District
262 E. Palatine Road
Palatine, IL 60067

Cost: FREE!
There will be a sliding scale donation of $5-$15 to help fund the completion of "That Asian Thing" Documentary.

NOTE: This will be an outdoor event. Please bring a lawn chair, blanket, or just yourselves and enjoy the music!

More info @ http://www.thatasianthing.com

http://www.palatineparkdistrict.com/amphitheater.html




The countdown has begun! From today, July 31st @ 7 p.m. tonight will be 11 days till "That Asian Thing" Showcase. A beautiful day on grass, with friends, and good music makes for a great summer excursion AND the best part is that all these people will be part of the documentary. Not just the acts themselves, but all the people in attendance. I enjoy gaining footage of "the people" because obviously this is for "the people" and about "the people." Aren't all documentaries in some form or fashion a take on social cultures or actions? Therefore, this will witness the congregation of the masses....

Apologies for the recent lack of update as it's been VERY hectic the last couple of weeks. I'm only one person and taking an idea and working with it towards a bigger reality is hard work that makes time limited. Priority, scheduling, and time management works wonders with huge projects. Please keep that in mind for all you filmmakers starting out. I know as an "artist" it can be very easy to go with the flow and work with what comes your way. It's sorta the artistic mantra that makes it tre shiek. However, if you're really trying to make a business out of this, then you definitely have to be on top of opportunity or create it for yourself. A lil'FYI for ya! This is probably how a lot of young filmmakers get weeded out - when they have to start dealing with the business side of things - it's just not as fun as filming.

"THAT ASIAN" FILM:

We've been very busy lately and have gone out to interviews every weekend for the past 2 months. It's been great, but chaotic all at once. I do enjoy meeting new people and getting an in-depth take of their thoughts about my documentary. I would personally like to thank the following people who have sat down with us in the past couple of weeks: Mia Park, Dr. Romeo and Soly Munoz, the guys of Quartermile (Phil, Jon, Shinya, Mark, and Bruce), and Rob Biesenbach. Everyone had awesome feedback and each interview had it's own pizzazz which I thoroughly enjoyed. So here's your insight:

Mia Park rocks! Mia regularly hosts a dance show entitled Chic-A-Go-Go! but still freelances as a musician and actress. She acts with the anatomy collective and will be a few plays this summer. Go and check her out! The environment of our interview added a more lax feel during our conversation. With the Ambrosia Cafe being very accommodating to our film, we were able to get our morning caffiene and munchie. I like interviewing versatile artists because I can play my tangencies according to talent. She was able to talk about playing in Tatsu Aoki's re:ROOTED project, which I thought was a success in the rain.
Mia has experiences w/multiple bands and if you know of Tatsu Aoki's reputation within the Asian American community, it's an honor to work with him. She also told us stories of being part of the band Kim, which is an 3-women all Asian-American rock band. Some of the proposals she's been a part of from some men were pretty ridiculous.

Continuing on, Mia talked about situations she's been through concerning roles that she's played. For instance, imagine watching a play that takes place during the time of settlers and the land of America being young in development. There are many pioneers and young kin making ends meet. The children attend classes at the local school house and then.....this Korean American teacher walks in.

To some, it can be accepted as an actor playing a role, but to others, the race of this actor can add a dynamic to the perception of the scene. Sometimes art is not colorblind and for Mia, the research on her character involved reading up on how Asians made their way into America and how her character in specific made it to where she is now. This was exemplified in the small history lesson that Mia went into concerning that role. It takes lots of dedication and imagination to create a back story for characters. So I commend her on her efforts and hard work to make this character work the role.

This brings me to Rob Biesenbach, an actor/writer based out of Chicago. I've known Rob since my Writing Program stint at Second City. I've always enjoyed his works and thought it would be a great opportunity to get the take of a non-Asian American artists just trying to get more exposure. Again, working from a different atmosphere, North Park Tap had the ability to induce cool, relaxing spirits on a hot, summer day. We were able to talk about acting as a whole and then get into the hub bub of theater production. After getting the feedback from Mia, I was able to play off of that and see the difficulties in acquiring a role. Auditions are pretty crucial for actors and when a director has a specific look and feel for a character, it's up to the actor to try and hit it on the mark during that one shot. When you have that already against you and to add on the interface of being Asian American - sometimes roles are few and far between. We were also able to get into the Chicago scene and how it's a good place for actors to get their chops. Chicago is thick into the theater community and has so many well known arenas to play with that get national recognition. Biesenbach was also able to give insight on the perception of Asian Americans and how stereotypes are somehow formulated. All great feedback from someone that's been so heavily involved in this artform for only 3 years. Thanks Rob!

Speaking of dedication - Quartermile's sound and vibe certainly displayed it's effects. Thanks to Jon for setting this up and having our interview before their gig at Wise Fools Pub. What reminded me of my old college fraternity days - we held the interview in the basement of the bar. Not that it should be so lavish, but it definitely gave it that indie, rock edge to the interview. The members of Quartermile, in my opinion, can be summed up as "loyal." Although 3 members of the group are of Asian heritage and the other 2 were Caucasian, they completely look beyond that fact and stick with the brotherhood of the band. What seemed repetitive but was really an emphisis on the foundation of the group was that it didn't matter what color or culture was present (with no means of disassociation) but as long as the 5 of them are making good music and respecting each other as an individual, they can reach success in all aspects.



That's the honesty I found within this interview and that's what always shines more than the overembellished drama found in some documentaries. As for the show itself - WOW! These guys already have a following in Chicago and they played to their satisfaction. Check out their website to see future events cause they're really good and down to earth. Thanks to all the guys and my friends for coming out to watch them perform.

"THAT ASIAN" CONCERT:

Thanks to Mr. Jeff Greene on working with us per the Palatine Park District. It was a VERY rough road as not many venues would get back to me or price was over our very limited budget. Just to reiterate - this concert is FREE, WITH a sliding scale donation of $5 to $15. We were originally going to charge $15 tickets, but with the date and amount of time we have to work with, it just wouldn't fly very well. So come out and enjoy the summer weather with awesome music.

Check out the Showcase link on the main website: http://www.thatasianthing.com. Tell all your friends and family! It's itchin to be a good show!

Right now, I'm seeking some assistance with running the actual production. We're looking for about 10-15 volunteers to help behind the scenes. I've sent out emails of inquiries and have already gotten some replies. Please don't hesitate to inquire if you're interested. I appreciate all the help and support that I can get. Also - if you're looking for the "What do I get in return?" aspect - you'll get goodies on your way. Just email me to find out (asianthing@gmail.com).

And in goods sportsmanship quality - thank you to all the other venues that I called up. To all the helpful people that directed me to more accommodating places, good luck with other bookings and may your work play to your favor. I know from personal experience that setting up shows and events can be hard work (i.e. any Livingston Concert Organization stuff, AKL events, or family gathering over 20 heads, etc.etc.). Props to y'all and keep keeping it up!

We'll be plastering Palatine this weekend with flyers and posters. Keep a look out and spread the word peoples! This is all for the arts!

"THAT ASIAN" BUSINESS:

I want to personal thank my cousin, Brian Bondad, for looking out for me concerning the financial aspect of "That Asian Thing's" production company - Groovy Ghost Films, Inc. For you young filmmakers, if you know of any places that offer classes about financing a film, I suggest you take it because there's a lot of detail that goes into making movies. Even as independent and low budget as "That Asian Thing" is, there are a lot (A LOT) of things that can add up [film, equipment, paying to go to events, meals for volunteers/participants, marketing, legal set-up, etc., etc., etc.]. In order to become successful, you need to have a precise business plan and budget. Then you gotta stick with that budget and cut corners wherever applicable. Even when that's all said and done, you still need to pay the people that helped you realize this. It's all a giant game of monopoly and you are always looking to pass go.....

"THAT ASIAN THING!" :

I'm getting worn into. Nerves are becoming shot and sleep hasn't been on my side for a couple of months. Sponsorships are few, footage is overwhelming, and editing/writing will be my final challenge. This Showcase will soon be off the list of things to do. Groovy Ghost Films, Inc. will need to learn to stand on it's own two feet in order to survive. The business aspect is starting to show it's devious face to me and no...it's not pleasant.

I actually have the support of my cousin, Wayne, a.k.a. my cameraman by letting me talk a muck before each interview. These are trying times peoples....trying times....

There's still a writer in there....

“…a level playing field.”

This is what Jeff Chan wished for as an Asian American artist. He felt that if talent were up for comparison, there would be no question that his skills would carry him further. Not that there are definite answers to why or why not these talented artists haven’t excelled beyond their marks, but there are multiple conclusions and opinions. This is the reason behind “That Asian Thing.” This documentary is being made to find out why such talented artists haven’t broken over this invisible hump to be part of the lucrative star of mainstream America.

However, as Chien Yuan from Actually, Records has shared with us – sometimes it can be uncool to be in the mainstream. But the measurement of what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable is just as a mystery to why talent isn’t breaking barriers.

However, (again), as some other previously interviewed artists have mentioned – their talent should know no barriers.

So then what’s right and what’s wrong? This is something “That Asian Thing” is trying to figure out.

As I’ve been starting to write up the narrative overview for “That Asian Thing,” I’ve been getting into little twists like this. Although it can come off as a block in theory development, it’s actually been an exploration in an area that I’m sure many, many Asian American artists have faced before me.



What’s great about this, as I’m a person that welcomes awkward situations because it becomes unforgettable experiences, is that this could either unravel as a beautiful script or a giant typo. I guess we’ll never figure out all the mysteries, huh?

SHOWCASE:

We may have a new venue contender in the midst for this Showcase – Riis Park Auditorium. Now I know what you may be thinking – the park? Are you serious? Well – yes, I am serious because of the fact that you need to take those lemons and stir up those cups to sell at 25 cents a pop! Also the fact that we’re coming down to the wire and we’re down to less than a month. I’m a witness to this new arena and it can be magnificent with a little elbow grease. Once the paper work gets solidified, WATCH OUT! Marketing, ticket selling OVERLOAD! Tell your friends to save the date:

SATURDAY, AUGUST 12th from 7 to 9 pm!!!!

FUTURE:

We have a mix of interviews in the rear view mirror while the big show comes our way. The following is your informational portal:

--Miss Mia Park. We met her through the Tatsu Aoki interview. She’ll be drumming at the re:ROOTED concert (July 27th @ 6:30 pm @ Jay Pritzker Pavillion Millennium Park). She’s also part of Chic-a-go-go on the public access network. She’s probably one of the more veteran artists that we’re about to interview. Should be good times and lots of good insight.

--We’ll be doing a follow-up interview with Dr. Romeo Munoz, with his wife, Soly. If you remember, Dr. Munoz wrote the book Filipino Americans: Journey from Invisibility to Empowerment. He and his wife have been very active within the Asian community – especially to newly arrived immigrants from the Philippine Islands. They have been very generous and supportive since we’ve met them. I’m glad they agreed to do another interview.

Please check out these links of future interviews:

--Quartermile @ http://www.quartermiletheband.com/ who have a show at Wise Fools Pub on July 28th. Be there!

--Alexander Selma of the musical Wicked (Chicago)

--my ol'buddy from my Second City days - Robert Biesenbach --a fellow actor within the Chicago theater community that can give insight on the trials and tribulations of getting gigs - check out his blog to get a feel -- http://robbiesenbach.blogspot.com/

SPECIAL THANKS:

--“That Asian Thing” made a blog spot in the well known “Angry Asian Man” website. Here is a .pdf of the entry (as the site gets updated on a daily basis):

http://www.geocities.com/mrbrown19/angry-asian-plug.pdf

Look for the 2nd to first entry under the 07.13.06 date. ROCKIN!! Thanks Angry Asian Man!

KEEP IT UP:

I'd like to thank the generous people that have donated dinero to "That Asian Thing." The list is growing and I appreciate any little funding that comes this way. You'll get your thank you letters in the mail! And please make it out to "That Asian Thing" Showcase if you're in the Chicago area!!

BE GOOD!!

***NEWSFLASH***

SHOWCASE NEWS:

An occurance of a misfortunate event has caused us to relocate our venue. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Northeastern IL University has pulled out of hosting "That Asian Thing" Showcase. I repeat:

"That Asian Thing" Showcase is NOT at the Northeastern IL University Auditorium.

Since this is such a tight schedule, I've been inquiring of multiple places non-stop and, since sponsorships and donations are few and far between, I've been hunting for more economical stages. Staying within a low budget is difficult, but not far from having a show with class and style. Per the documentary, we've been able to make more of what is at our disposal. If anyone out there has an inside connection with an inexpensive stage that can accomodate to approximately 200 to 300 people, please email us and your feedback will be acknowledged.



Continuing on - I made a personal appearance at the San Pablo City Association - Chicago Chapter picnic to talk about the film and Showcase. Through donations, I was fortunate enough to acquire a small amount of money. "Hey, every dollar gained is $1 more than zero..." I would personally like to acknowledge their support and thank them for taking the time to listen. (It was also good practice pitching the concept of my movie to a larger audience.)

More emails and sponsorship packages have been emailed and mailed out. Please remember that checks can be made out to "Groovy Ghost Films, Inc."



CONCERNING THE FILM:

As you can see, we've become incorporated (just because it's the "movie thing" to do). Hopefully, Groovy Ghost Films, Inc. will be a bigger production company name in the future. Right now, it's main focus is "That Asian Thing."

This past weekend was a great interview with a big staple in the Asian American community - probably across the nation - Mr. Tatsu Aoki.

Tatsu is very well known in the jazz community as an accomplished bassist and is practically the starter of the Asian American movement in the midwest. As the Artistic Director of the Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival and re:Rooted event, he was very acknowledgable of the ins and outs of "the business." He gave such great insight regarding the community in Chicago and how there's a difference in vibe compared to the east and west coast. Aoki said that the east coast reminded him too much of where he came from (Japan) and the west coast was in the same regard as an overabundance of Asians. He felt that Chicago was just the right medium and a great opportunity to flourish Asian Americans.

Also, through question, he shed light on the struggle of the Asian American as compared to the African American, who has also faced issues of discrimination. When talking about music, he brought up the famous name of Charlie Parker and how there would be pictures of this Asian American man on the piano behind Parker. [Charlie Mingus' mother was part Chinese.]From then till now, who has gained more recognition and respect? As we know and per this documentary, Asian Americans are still few in numbers as far as mainstream knowledge.

Tatsu was also very encouraging in terms of saying how Asian American artists need to stick together to help each other out. And as we taped the re:Rooted rehearsal session, I was approached by drummer, Mia Park. "That Asian Thing" hopes to get feedback from Miss Mia soon enough. "See - don't doubt Tatsu..."


re:Rooted by "That Asian Thing"


PRIOR TO THAT:

Speaking of connections - we also have on film the thoughts of Carly Oishi and Jon Monteverde a.k.a. XYZR_KX.

Carly works with Jon as a singer. Together, they have performed live concerts and have composed good music. She was very down to earth and delightful to talk to. A comfortable interviewee helps to bring up questions that may be difficult to ask other artists.

She talked about the issues that arise from Asian American politics and how it can be overwhelming. This came from one observation that I pointed out while seeing her live at Gunther Murphy's. Her audience was very diverse and wide in range, as far as age and race was concerned. It was different to the other events I've attended as they were more or less 95% Asian American audience to Asian American performer.

In the same regard, but seperate interview, Jon also touched on the same thought of politics. He extrapolated on the thought by stating that it's important to acknowledge one's heritage and racial affairs, however, in order to understand it better one needs to explore other racial cultures. Good point!

Continuing with Carly, we also talked about the Asian American female. The obvious stereotype of excessive sexuality was brought up. She additionally went into detail on how interracial relationships can throw a whole new dynamic for ignorant people to assume. Something funny that she pointed out was the "offering of food" in households. Use to Asian customs to always offer food to guests, she was confused when there was a lack of offer at her boyfriend's home (who is Caucasian). It's all a matter of differences in culture and households...isn't that what we're learning here?

Monteverde was also a relaxing interview as we conducted it outdoors. One of the earlier questions I asked was musical influence. Since Jon has been more involved with electronica/rock music, he went through his multiple phases of who he listened to. A wide range to help develop his own sound, I ask this question to artists to see how they evolve music they know into "Asian American music."

Thank you to Carly, Jon, and Tatsu. Everyone was very accomodating and a joy to interview. I appreciate all your feedback and look forward to seeing you again...

NETWORKING:

"That Asian Thing" has met so many Asian American artists and has found so many resources on the web that it would only be right to acknowledge them. So please check "That Asian Thing" Linx as often as you check this blogsite to see how there are so many Asian Americans making differences.

Also, if you haven't noticed - this blogsite is now the "News" section of the main "Asian Thing" homepage - http://www.thatasianthing.com . SPREAD THE WORD!!