January 20th, 2009 - now a very historical date for many to remember.
Whether you're on the conservative trail, liberal end, left vs. right, or even completely independent on viewpoints - you must admit that today's inauguration of Barack Obama is "change." There is a new face of America and it's is now of minority background. And how does this relate to "That Asian Thing"? PLENTY!
There was a scene within the documentary where Laura Kina took my question of "Why is Asian-American culture important?" and moved it around to ask the question "Why is African-American art important?" Then she went into detail of when she was in school and found African-American art form fascinating and how one of her first role models was Romare Bearden. Laura then made a parallel viewpoint saying that African-American culture is important, just as Asian-American culture is too - "We just have to see it..." (Laura said).
So please take today as a moment in history when the United States of America made change happen.
EXPOSURE:
I've been getting emails and facebook messages on the Jonald Reyes article in the new issue of Rutgers Magazine. YAY! Looking over the bio, you'll learn that Jonald is a Rutgers University (New Brunswick) graduate and is also an active member of the R.U. Club of Chicago. So he definitely has the Scarlet fever! For y'all staying posted via internet, here's the article:
http://www.alumni.rutgers.edu/s/896/index.aspx?sid=896&gid=1&pgid=252&cid=1735&ecid=1735&crid=0&calpgid=497&calcid=1289
Many, many thanks to all the Rutgers Alumni Association people that made this article possible (including Lori Varga, Shannon Allen, Matt Manfra, and Adam Torrisi). The online version is a shortened version compared to the actual magazine article (as I was told), so for you Rutgers alumni, please check it out. And if you're a Rutgers alumnus that doesn't get updates/emails/magazine, check out what to do online:
http://www.alumni.rutgers.edu
ALSO - as a follow-up from our stint at the Chicago Filipino American Film Festival in November, Ed Mallilin, Director of "Brown Soup Thing," has included us in his article on the website, BakitWhy.com . Please check it out here:
http://bakitwhy.com/chicago-filipino-american-film-festival
Thanks Ed! Please check out "Brown Soup Thing" at: http://www.brownsoupthing.com
NEW PROJECT:
On a ripple from the "That Asian Thing" pebble that dropped in a pond, Jonald was contacted by a local television studio. This studio was originally purchased to accommodate to the Korean community within the Chicagoland area, and still does! However, as years have passed, more shows have been created and on-air time has been distributed to other Asian communities, which in turn has made it Chicago's Asian-American Network.
Channel 41 (on local sets) WOCH-CA, KBC-TV Chicago has been active in reaching out to more people in the Asian/Asian-American community and currently has a show entitled, AAN News (http://www.aanwoch.com). With this feisty, young crew at hand, Jonald was given the creative freedom to produce a magazine style, entertainment news show. And now....this is where he stands.
Come February 5th, "The Slant" will debut on Channel 41 KBC-TV at 6:30 pm (re-broadcast at midnight). More news will come on the website and viewing online. Stay tuned!
WRAP-UP:
If you read the Rutgers Magazine article, Jonald has already completed the Contriband music video and that will be uploaded unto his upcoming Groovy Ghost Production website which is now in the works. This will hopefully launch by April 1st (yes, April Fool's Day!). Screenplay for the new project is currently in writing mode and if plan goes accordingly, shooting can hopefully start by Fall.
"That Asian Thing" is still being entered into film festivals and is still open for various screening opportunities. Don't hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for reading up and stay warm everyone!
