Connect SD holiday potluck celebration!

Hello everyone,

It's the moment we've all been waiting for... the end-of-the-year celebration of all of our participants' hard work! That's right, we'll be showcasing films about Linda Vista, including works of some of our very own participants! We encourage all class participants, community partners, and the general public to come join us in this celebration, and please bring your family and friends as well. It's a potluck, so bring some food to share if you can! The details:

WHAT: Connect SD Holiday Cultural Celebration
WHEN: Friday, Dec 17th, 6-8pm
WHERE: Bayside Community Center, 2202 Comstock St.
**check out our flyer above. you can find the Vietnamese and Spanish version online at: http://www.sdaff.org/connect/schedule.htm

Get excited! Hope to see you there tonight. =)

Bayside Champion

Hello everyone!

This is Trinh, the new Connect SD project coordinator for 2011. Although we are gearing up for our program in partnership with the Jacobs Center in the Diamond District next year, we're still in the midst of wrapping up the program at Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista.

First, some exciting news! San Diego Asian Film Foundation was recently chosen to be honored as a Bayside Champion for 2010! We were recognized alongside other community leaders and organizations "who have made significant contributions to advance the mission of [Bayside]: To empower our diverse community to improve its quality of life through service, education, and advocacy." Thanks Bayside!

Here is a picture of our very own Mike Watson with our award!

We are now working out the details for the Connect SD Holiday Cultural Celebration, to be held at Bayside Community Center on December 17th. We'll be screening films about Linda Vista, and there will be performances and food as well! More info TBA. Stay tuned!

Farewell thoughts from intern Kami

Everyone has a story, but not everyone has a voice. Enter Connect SD. Six classes into this program, not only are members of this documentary making community learning the potentials of their neighbor, they are also engaging their own talents to create platforms on which their voices can be heard. Though a new program, Connect SD is flourishing, finally shedding some long awaited light on the people of Linda Vista.

As we enter into summer, ideas are solidifying into projects. Members from various cultural backgrounds are coming together through filmmaking, struggling and learning together in hope of unearthing the overlooked stories of their home. Adding the techniques of engaged interviewing and fluid camera work to their documentarian tool belts, the class is preparing to embark on their journeys of capturing the curious characters embedded within each of their lives. It is exciting to watch this process unfold, knowing that when the film festival finally rolls around in October, the eyes of San Diego will be truly amazed as they experience the stories of the seemingly ordinary begin to creep out of the wood work, giving strength and value to the inherent beauty of Linda Vista.

Our first interview from the "Connect San Diego" project at Linda Vista Multicultural Fair is up!



Check this space in the coming days and weeks for more stories from your community. Click "subscribe" on the youtube page to be notified of new stories, or follow our RSS feed on this page!

Two Q&A's!

One of the greatest thing about going to a film festival is the director Q&A sessions. SDAFF flies in directors from around the country (and around the world!) to attend screenings of their film, then answer questions from the audience about what inspired them, and why they created their film.
Over the last few years, I've become more of a film fest aficionado. (In fact, almost the only time I enter a theater anymore is for a festival!) Director Q&A's are my 2nd favorite part of a fest (let's not forget the free food, shall we?), and I have tried to re-create that in both our summer Reel Voices programs, as well Connect San Diego.
Tonight, we screened two short films, and were able to Skype in the director for each one.
First, we watched Witness to Hiroshima, a film by Kathy Sloane. It was a very moving film about a Japanese soldier who had a compelling first-hand account of the A-bomb in Hiroshima. He chose to express his account via a series of watercolor paintings that made up the entirety of the film - there was no moving video through the entire short!
We Skyped in Kathy, and asked her a series of questions - from how she met Mr. Tsuchiya, to why the story was told in photos instead of video. Kathy was very gracious to answer all of our questions - she gave very heartfelt answers!

Next, we watched another short, Billy Cash - Live in Vegas. What a change of pace!
Director Zack McTee Skyped in from New York (at nearly midnight - Thanks, Zack!) and answered some questions about the film, his work, and how he came upon Billy. Though a much more lighthearted film, a great discussion ensued - was Billy treated fairly, and was this film an accurate portrayal of his life? Did the film need more depth, and was that possible?
We closed the night by going round-robin style around the room, with everyone giving a status update on what they want to shoot. We are not ready to disclose all the film ideas yet, but there are some *great* films in that room - just waiting to be made!

Thanks to all who made it out for class #4! Can't wait to see you June 2, to get the cameras out!

First, a bit about my past - before I joined SDAFF in an educational capacity, I'd spent the last 15 years bouncing around newsrooms - from college to small market to big markets, and even some national stints. Every day I'd cover a story, and meet and interact with new people.

Often times in a situation like this, you are thrust into someone's life at one of its turning points. Think of a family where a soldier has been killed overseas, school walkouts, union strikes, major legislation, elections, traffic accidents, etc, etc, etc.

Sometimes when you start asking personal questions to people who are in a state of emotional flux, a certain bond forms between you - and they start sharing things they might not ordinarily share with a stranger. Life story kind of things. Deep dark secret kind of things. Really, really amazing things.

Sometimes those things are much more interesting than the story you're covering. (It's just that they're not newsworthy.)

I always wanted to do a series on the story behind the people we meet every day - but the pitch never got picked up. When we got the grant for Connect, I decided I'd work it in - and so I did.


This past weekend, myself and intern Kami set up a booth at the Linda Vista Multicultural Fair and asked people to tell their stories. People of all backgrounds, all colors, old and young, even a few who didn't speak a language we spoke!




My biggest fear was that we'd come home empty handed. That we'd set up all the gear, spend all the time, the effort, the resources... and we'd hear a bunch of empty stories.

No way. Everyone delivered. From the first body in the chair to the last, we heard incredible stories all day long. Escapes from concentration camps. Escapes from segregation. Lost loves. Lost wars. Dares taken and won. Dares taken and lost. Greatest fears. Native foods. Dangerous journeys.







At the end of the day, the man sweeping trash up in the street asked what we were doing, and I told him. He asked if we'd interview him. So I did. He had a pretty good love story. (We'll feature it here in weeks to come!) At the end of the interview, I asked him his passion. He thought about it, in silence. I just let the silence sit. He looked at me, and he told me that his passion was shining shoes.

I'm going to admit to you that I was immediately disappointed. It's not what I was hoping to hear. But not one to give up so easily, I asked him why. I mean... why on earth could your passion be shining shoes?

"Well... I guess 'cause I get to do what you do. I meet lots of different people every day, and I hear their stories. And when they walk away... they got great lookin' shoes!"

If the video biz doesn't pay out for me... maybe I'll go into shining shoes.

Stay tuned on this blog and the Connect San Diego page in the days and weeks to come, to hear stories of Linda Vista from this project!

Linda Vista Multicultural Fair

From Intern Kami:

The Saturday sun rose with a promise of a glorious day, and indeed it was. The San Diego Asian Film Foundation in partnership with the Bayside Community Center set-up their Connect San Diego booth, welcoming in participants of the Linda Vista Multi-Cultural Fair to share their stories. Complete with a T.V. screen, camera, and backdrop, passers-by were able to experience a live screening of their neighbors as they revisited their roots and their journeys that have led them to the multicultural fusion that is Linda Vista. From Cambodian refugees to Puerto Rican pilots each story intertwined beautifully with the previous, revealing a diverse foundation on which the community is built.

As the most unsuspecting faces revealed how their footprints remain in the sands of Linda Vista's time, it inspires a sense of universal story. Though each individual's path may be splattered with varying colors of struggles and achievements, it is our humaness that we must never forget. As people continued to bustle along the Linda Vista Road, Connect SD was able to freeze time for a select few, capturing moments and stories that have helped shape this community now and forever.

First Connect San Diego Class

After much preparation, Connect San Diego finally opened its classroom doors to members of the Linda Vista community. Beginning with an introduction to film analysis, the students quickly began to sink their teeth into the critical factors included in the composition of each piece. In hopes of provoking and inspiring each individual to think about stories within their own lives, we screened some documentaries, including "A Hand Up" by Jodie Hammond and select entries from the "Media that Matters" Film Festival, discussing the high and low points of each one. By the end of the class, those interested and dedicated to the idea of story-making began to do some preliminary brain-storming of moments and happenings that will serve as material to their future capturings. It was incredible to see the mental wheels begin to turn as such a varied group of people began to think about filmmaking in reference to their own worlds.

Connect San Diego Screens THE ANNIVERSARY at Bayside

March 20th marked the final screening day for the Connect Linda Vista Program. The film is Ham Tran's remarkable short narrative piece, THE ANNIVERSARY. The film was well received by the excited audience.

Quan Ton and Van Tran of the Van Lang School were on hand to co-present the screening, and Adriana Gallardo joined us to talk US Census with the Vietnamese community. The film was attended predominantly by the Vietnamese community, but interestingly there was a Mexican family that came up to the screening all the way from Chula Vista, so the connections are beginning!

Don't forget Linda Vista, we are offering FREE CLASSES to the Linda Vista community starting in April!

Also, Phil Luque, Operations Director of SDAFF and Jorge Riquelme, Executive Director of Bayside Community Center were featured on VietNewsTelevision talking about Connect Linda Vista!

See you in April!

Last week, the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park extended an invitation to the Connect San Diego advisory board to come and visit the museum, and talk about potential collaborative efforts.

As luck would have it, the museum's VIVA MEXICO exhibit opened just last week, and our group was treated to a private tour of the new exhibit, as well as the incredibly beautiful Sonabi: Another way of Seeing exhibit ... all led by none other than museum director Rob Sidner.

Afterwords, we sat down for dinner and a compelling round table discussion about how the Mingei can help Linda Vista reconnect with its culture - both through Connect San Diego, and through a separate venture (also funded by the James Irvine foundation). The museum staff had much to say about what they were hoping to do, but spent a lot of time listening to the needs and wants of our advisory board, and seem truly dedicated to serving the population of Linda Vista.

Hey Linda Vista - You Got a Story?

I'm so excited that we're soon moving to the filmmaking phase of Connect in Linda Vista.

So here's the deal: we're looking for people with rich stories in Linda Vista that are interested in learning how to turn those stories into a short film! No experience needed, and we provide the equipment. If you're in high school or if you're 80 years old, we want to work with you!

Classes are FREE, two times a month on Monday nights from 6-9PM, April through July. So the only catch is that YOU must be committed to 8 classes. That's doable, right? Here's a schedule of our classes: http://sdaff.org/connect/schedule.htm

And it gets better.. We will select up to 8 film ideas for this project. And those who complete their film by August will receive a $500 artist fee!

If you're interested, let us know asap! email Phil Luque at phil@sdaff.org.

Success with Sueños

Another packed house for Sueños Binacionales on Tuesday. A big thanks to all of those from the Mixtec community who came out to see a film full of compelling stories of others in their community!

Looks like our friends from Voice of San Diego were in attendance incognito, but I was thrilled to see their article today! Two pieces of good news in there - first, that Bayside's beloved lunch program for seniors has been saved - and secondly, fans of all ages attended the Mixtec screening. I noticed the same phenomenon; as did Lee Ann Kim, our illustrious Executive Director. The thing that tickles me most is that even our incognito columnist seems amused by the toddlers running about. Just moments into the film everyone settled down, and moments after the end the toddling began again. It was a true "community center" feeling, and I was especially happy that viewers of all ages were able (and willing) to enjoy our film.

For those interested in making a film about their community, our classes start soon - contact Phil@sdaff.org to sign up now!

Mixtecs in Motion: Sueños Binacionales

Join us for our next FREE film screening of:

Sueños Binacionales
Tuesday, February 23
7PM - 7:30PM
Bayside Community Center



Sueños Binacionales tells the stories of the Mixtec people who have been immigrating to California for more than three decades and the more recent stories of the Chatinos who have been going to North Carolina for the past ten years.

Great chance to get insight about Mixtec immigrants, as there are very few films on this topic. Come join us!

Packed house for SPLIT HORN!

Two hundred members of the Hmong community in Linda Vista turned out at Bayside on Saturday for a screening of SPLIT HORN, the seventeen-year chronicle of a Hmong shaman and his family from Laos to Wisconsin. Phil Luque, Operations Director for the San Diego Asian Film Foundation welcomed the group, and introduced Steven Hadley, Chief of Staff for councilmember Donna Frye.

It was a historic day for the group, who later elected the board of the Lao Hmong Family Association of San Diego.

Thanks everyone, for coming out, making your voice heard, and enjoying a great film!

18 Years in the Making: SPLIT HORN

Our next free screening for Connect SD is taking place on Saturday, February 6 at 1PM at the Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista. It's a documentary film that spans 18 years, following the life of a Hmong shaman, trying to uphold his family traditions in Michigan. Here's the trailer:



We screened this film at the SDAFF in 2001, and I'm so glad to be able to see it again. Hope you can join us!

Q&A with director Zeus Quijano, Jr.

Lee Ann Kim interviews Zeus Quijano, Jr., director of the short documentary, POINT OF ENTRY, which screened at the 2009 San Diego Asian Film Festival. Point of Entry is screening again in San Diego on 1/22/10 as part of SDAFF’s Connect program, as well as at the 2010 Slamdance Film Festival.



LA: How did you find Carlos, and what inspired you to tell his story? Was he afraid of exposing his immigration status on camera?

ZEUS: I would go to the restaurant that Carlos works in and being that he’s an amiable person, we would talk quite a lot. We’d talk about family and he’d tell me about his life in Mexico and it would be heartbreaking to hear him reminisce about having to leave his loved ones.

Because Carlos is such a kind and caring person, I knew that I wanted to tell his story. The story of illegal immigration has been told before, but I knew that if I focused on Carlos and his family and not the issue, something more powerful would resonate. Also, what inspired me was the chance to give him and his family a voice. The media doesn’t give that opportunity out much. Illegal immigrants are unfortunately and usually relegated to negative statistics.

I was more afraid for him as far as exposing his immigration status. Carlos is very adamant about wanting to tell his story. He’d tell me over and over again that he wants to be out in the open about it. He doesn’t feel like he’s done anything wrong. He has an honest job and cares for his family. America has given him many opportunities.

LA: I've seen this story so many times before. But what really made it different was spending time with his family in Mexico, showing who he left behind. What was that experience like, and was the family reluctant in any way?

ZEUS: My wife Lisa and I had never been to Mexico, but I knew that I wanted to go there to give Carlos a chance to see his family. I knew Carlos wouldn’t be able to go and we had our reservations, but in my heart, I knew that the family that raised such a kind person in Carlos would be equally kind to us.



The family took us in and treated us like…well…family. They were wonderful and they cared about our safety and well-being. They knew that the purpose for us being there was to give them a chance to see each other and that opened up the door tremendously. They were very forthcoming and honest. It was a great experience.

LA: What kind of message do you want to share in this film?

ZEUS: It’s a simple film. It doesn’t have a huge message. It’s just a movie about a family that loves each other…they just happen to live on opposite sides of an unyielding border fence.

LA: Is there a difference between how Latino/Mexican audiences see this film and the way non Latino audience see this film? What is their reaction?

It depends. There have been non Latinos who understand the immigration and separation. There have been non Latinos who haven’t but have told me that seeing them in this light has opened their eyes to something they haven’t been exposed to.

I was fortunate to screen the film to a Latino audience, and the reaction was favorable across the board. They felt very connected to the family and that was something I was hoping for.

LA: Did Carlos and his family see the film? If so, how do they feel about it?

ZEUS: Carlos loved it. It was both painful and joyful being able to “see” his family.

LA: I read in an interview about your best friend, a Border Patrol Agent who saw the film but had no comment. Has he talked to you about the film yet? And if not, what do you attribute his silence?



ZEUS: My best friend deals with illegal immigrants on a daily basis and some of them aren’t very nice. He also knows that not all of them are bad, but it’s his job to protect the borders. We have yet to talk about the film. We’ll talk about sports, though.

LA: Please share any surprising reaction to the film - esp if someone still feels negatively towards "illegals"

ZEUS: My trailer was posted on youtube and there were a couple of people who haven’t seen the film, but felt it necessary to say that Carlos is here illegally and that he needs to go back.

I understand that it’s a difficult issue to deal with, but at the end of the day, we’re all humans. People look to better themselves and it’s a shame that a few bad people ruin it for the honest and caring people out there. I imagine that the majority of illegal immigrants are honest and hard working. It’s just a sad situation.


Official Point of Entry website: http://www.pointofentrymovie.com/
Watch the trailer of POINT OF ENTRY on Youtube, click HERE.

How to Watch Film Critically

One of the goals of our Connect San Diego program is to enhance our community's film literacy and ability to watch films critically. Not only does this make film viewing a more enjoyable experience, but it also increases our community's appreciate of film as art.

Please share this one-sheet on How to Watch Film with your family and friends.

How to Watch Film

Point of Entry - FREE FILM THIS FRIDAY

We're kicking off our Connect San Diego film series at the Bayside Community Center in Linda Vista with the film, POINT OF ENTRY, by director Zeus Quijano. This film is extremely relevant in San Diego, given all the heated debate about immigration.

POINT OF ENTRY (Free Film Screening)
Friday, Jan 22 6:30 - 7:30pm
Bayside Community Center
2202 Comstock Street
San Diego, CA 92111-6502
(858) 278-0771

Gathering the Troops

Years ago, when I first moved into San Diego, one of the first places I looked for a place to live was in Linda Vista. Home to the beautiful campus of the University of San Diego, Linda Vista holds a very special place in my heart - especially since we began our very first San Diego Asian Film Festival there in August 2000.

Now many years later, I return to Linda Vista through our partnership with the Bayside Community Center to launch a grassroots media arts program called CONNECT SAN DIEGO, where we are planning to bring together Hmong, Vietnamese, Mixtec, and Mexican residents together through film, digital storytelling, and rich discourse.

One of the best things of working with Bayside Community Center, is its passionate executive director, Jorge Riquelme, who has advocacy in his blood. I'm talkin' this brother is DOWN. And he always makes certain we're well-fed. (Gracias, compadre!)

We also invited leaders from various ethnic organizations to get their commitment to this program. I was so happy to see every group represented in this small room, and by the end of the evening, everyone seemed to agree what we proposed was a good start to connecting communities cross-culturally and inter-generationally within Linda Vista.


There are so many rich histories, languages, and cultures here, but the citizens themselves may not share them with one another because of various barriers. We hope to change that.

After our meeting of the minds, one our way to the parking lot, I was surprised to see this small group of young people at Bayside's basketball court practicing their lion dance. (It is that time of year, after all for Lucky Lion dancers). It was a nice end to a culturally enriching day.