Hello everyone,
Our first Connect SD film screening in City Heights is just around the corner! We'll be screening "Last Train Home" in celebration of the Lunar New Year. Every spring, China's cities are plunged into the world's largest human migration and chaos as 130 million migrant workers journey to their home villages for the Chinese New Year's holiday. (Mandarin w/ English subtitles)
The details!
WHEN: Friday, February 11th
TIME: 7:00PM
WHERE: City Heights Performance Annex, 3791 Fairmount Ave. San Diego, CA 92105
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Please spread the word to your family, friends, and constituencies. We hope you can join us!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Friday, December 17, 2010
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/
Get excited! Hope to see you there tonight. =)
Monday, November 29, 2010
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!
Monday, June 21, 2010
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.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
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!
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!
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