April is....ASIAN AMERICAN AWARENESS MONTH!

There was a scene in Eve and the Firehorse where Eve is speaking to her sister, Karena, on their walk home from school. A girl was being ridiculed by a bunch of boys calling her "P.W.T." Eve asks her sister, "What's P.W.T.?" And Karena explains to her sister of the racial slur - "Poor White Trash." Then Eve, young and innocent in her questioning, asks, "Are we P.W.T.?" To which her sister simply replies, "Don't be stupid."

This scene can be associated with the fact that we're Asian American and that's that. We're not trying to be a different race because we're simply NOT a different race.

"That Asian Thing" was lucky enough to meet many filmmakers (producers, writers, directors) this past weekend at the Asian American Showcase. Julia Kwan's story of Eve was delivered in a heartfelt storybook fashion. The spoken word and extreme urban behavior in Punching at the Sun showed what it was like for an Indian teenager to live up to the hype of his brother's b-ball playground legacy. Red Doors hit relatable issues within a family that just happens to be Asian American - this is what I loved about the film. Georgia Lee didn't play up to the "Asian" factor but rather to the fact that they follow an American lifestyle. And Bill Tapia's story of his love for the ukulele and his close, somewhat controversial, relationship with his 24 year old manager, Alyssa in To You Sweetheart, Aloha. A documentary that puts commentary on the relationship of people and how outsiders perceive these relationships.



The Asian American Showcase also introduced events that are up and coming as April is Asian American Awareness Month. Working with Anida Esguerra in the past, I was able to get a hold of Y.A.W.P. (Young Asians With Power). Thanks to Jed Dulanas, Apple, and George for helping make this more solidified. YAWP will have an event on Friday, April 21st, called Untranslatable. Please come out and support the organization. It's for a great cause. YAWP holds workshops for teenagers who want to strengthen their voice in writing. "That Asian Thing" will be there to capture some spoken word performances.

THIS WEEKEND:



-the University of Illinois - Chicago's Indian Student Association will have it's India Night @ the North Shore Performing Arts Center in Skokie, IL. I'm excited to get more South Asian footage for my documentary. Sometimes people only associate Asians with the Chinese, Japanese, or Koreans. People tend to forget all the branches of Asia - which also leads to interracial differences. "That Asian Thing" wants to give all talented Asian Americans from different decendents their fair share. Come out and catch the show!

WE'VE GONE PUBLIC:

-If you're in the New Jersey area, please pick up a copy of Exit Weekly Magazine. There should be an article about "That Asian Thing." I'm going to post the article here, but PLEASE pick up a copy to show that you're supporting me. I'd like to personally thank Greg Pallante and Amy Kuperinsky for making this happen. THANK YOU!!

http://www.exitweekly.com/entry.php?id=137

I feel that if the magazine gets a high percentage of pick up for this particular issue because of my documentary, then it'll pick up more coverage or recognition.

PASS THE WORD TO YOUR PEOPLES!!