ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST
ENTERTAINMENT AT ITS BEST
BY Gerrye Wong February 27, 2020
Let’s go to the movies! Excitement is abound for movie-goers in the Asian American community in Silicon Valley as FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH will make its world premiere at the Cinequest Film Festival in March. Husband-wife team Larissa Lam and Baldwin Chiu have poured their lives and energies into the making of this 75 minute documentary about Chinese families in the Mississippi Delta and finally, those of us in the Silicon Valley and Greater San Francisco Bay Area will have a chance to see their labor of love.
This 30th Annual Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival was previously named #1 film festival by USA Today and the San Francisco Examiner named FAR EAST DEEP SOUTH one of the “top picks” to see at this year’s festival. Don’t miss this great chance to see the movie hot off the presses. Three opportunities are given for festival goers to see Baldwin’s film.
It will be shown Saturday, March 7 6:20 pm and Sunday March 8th 6:00 pm at the Century 20 Redwood City theater. On Saturday March 14 at 4pm it will be screened at The Hammer Theatre in downtown San Jose. Specially exciting is that following each film showing, there will be a Q&A with the film director Larissa Lam and producer Baldwin Chiu. The movie tells the story of Baldwin Chiu’s family search for their roots and follows he and his father on a surprising trip from California to Mississippi in search of their lost family history. While there they meet local residents of Cleveland, Mississippi who tell of the racially complex history of the early Chinese citizens who settled in the segregated South. Baldwin’s grandfather was one of those who suffered because of the exclusionary immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which separated so many families for generations. Rush to get your tickets now. Info: htttp://Cinequest.fareastdeepsouth.com. For the movie info check out Freastdeepsouth.com.
Caption: Baldwin Chiu and Larissa Lam
In addition to being a filmmaker, Larissa Lam is a TV/radio host (Utalk Radio, Top 3), award-winning dance-pop recording artist and composer. Baldwin Chiu is also a recognized rap artist who performs as Only Won who has garnered millions of fans on YouTube with clever songs about unconventional subjects like dim sum and engineering. His spots are humorous and delightful to see and I recently enjoyed seeing their young daughter joining them on a YouTube segment. Check it out to see these very talented and clever performers online.
TIME FOR A GOOD LAUGH?
As an old saying goes, “Laughter is the best medicine” and Asian American Donor Program (AADP) decided to capitalize on that to entertain and draw their sponsors together. Founder Jonathan Leong was always a believer that humor is a strong medicine for the mind and body, so it is quite fitting that LAUGH FOR LIVES will be a comedy show to benefit his Asian American Donor Program.
Caption: Joey Guila
LAUGH FOR LIVES will be held March 13, 8:00 pm at the Marines’ Memorial Theatre in San Francisco. This AADP 12th Annual Comedy Show Benefit is hosted by Nicki Sun, with Andrew Orolfo, Joey Guila, Simmone Park and Justin Lucas. As Executive Director Carol Gillespie told me, “Our primary goal of the event is not only to provide a stellar line-up of comedians for an evening of much needed laughs, but to elevate the awareness of our mission. What is our mission, you ask? It has always been to save lives of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood diseases. The evening is designed to educate and encourage individuals between the ages of 18-44 years old, who are from ethnic minority communities to register as a potential bone marrow donor.”
Caption: Crowds gather to sign up as blood donors at a AADP booth
For too many years, there was no data base of potential blood donors of Asian descent It was Leong’s vision and tenacity that the AADP came into being, and I applaud this program and the hundreds of patients it has helped in the past decades of its formation. Funding is always a need with any non-profit and this is one worthy of everyone’s support. For information on how you can help this valuable program for all Asian Americans with health needs, contact Yi-Hui at yi-hui@aadp.org.
Caption: Simmone Park
LAUGH FOR LIVES is an AADP volunteer’s idea to help bring more attention about the need for donors to individuals from diverse communities. Since 1989 AADP has been dedicated to increasing the availability of potential stem cells donors for patients with life threatening diseases curable by a stem cell transplant. So come out and enjoy Comedy Night where many performers have joined to help AADP’s cause by bringing an evening of stand-up comedy and music to supporters. Won’t you join us – see you there!
Caption: Justin Lucas
MOVIES AT MORGAN HILL FILM FEST
The Morgan Hill 2019 Poppy Jasper International Film Festival was so successful last year with over 3000 filmmakers and film buffs attending screenings in Gilroy and Morgan Hill for 5 days, the city decided to have an even better one this year by adding another three days to eight beginning April 1.Scheduled are 100 films from 40 different countries. Shanshan Whittall, who works with filmmakers in China, is scheduling an exciting addition to the Film Festival by bringing in Chinese movies and personal appearances of their directors on April 7 for CHINA DAY. As Shanshan explained, “The mission of CHINA DAY is to promote different aspects of Chinese culture through art and film. Following a day of special Chinese movies to be shown, she is planning a CELEBRATION OF CHINESE CULTURE NIGHT SHOW.
Caption: Nathan Louie in his Imperial Mandarin Costume collection
During the daytime on April 7, showing in the Granada Theater in Morgan Hill at 1:46pm will be UNNAMED JUNIOR, where the wife of an entrepreneur is poisoned and a worker disappears. In the film, the worker, boss, murderer and kidnapper tell a story in which the man who tries to frame others becomes accused himself. Following will be other short movies – PILLS AND JOY, FAMILY OF WUSHU, LEFT BEHIND CHILDREN, UNDERDOG and a documentary, GO WITH YOUR GUT .
In the evening, a panel discussion on China’s film industry, production and distribution with prominent directors and leaders of China’s filmmakers will be participate. Speaking will be President , Beijing Novo United Films. Co. Ltd Tiedong Zhou, Beijing Film Association VP Qiuping Chen, Musician composer Johnny Zhang, Ojio University Distinguished Alumni Award winner Weimin Zhang, and “Wandering Family” Director KeKe.
Caption: Chinese Historical and Cultural Project Board members model Chinese cultural costumes
Shan Shan proudly explains further that at 7:30pm the CELEBRATION OF CHINESE CULTURE will be on stage where dinner seating tables will be assembled for light refreshments and patrons enjoyment. It is a packed program for the estimated 200 guests to enjoy. Mandarin DJ of Sing Tao Chinese Radio Station Cissy Sun will Emcee the variety show.
Prior to the cultural performances, Diana Ding, Founder & CEO of Silicon Valley Innovation Channel DDTV, will be honored with the COMMUNITY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
Colorful performances will follow with a Han Dynasty Dance by Elisa Zhang, Qi Pao Show by Qi Vogue, and a selection from Chinese Opera The Drunken Beauty. A video presentation by the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project of their San Jose Museum of Chinese American History will be given by CHCP Board members, followed by a pageant of Chinese mandarin and emperor costumes from the collection of CHCP Advisory Board Member Nathan Louie.
For finale, there will be an east meets west climax with an American Jazz Song performance given by a vocalist from the two-time Grammy Award nominated Vocal Ensemble. The Cultural Heritage Choir will be led by the Legendary Linda Tillory, who most recently was selected to be the new “Voice” for the record-winning “Lost American Jazzbook” project. Congratulations to Shanshan who it seems, has assembled special Chinese movies, famed directors and filmmakers from China, as well as Chinese cultural ambassador performers to round out this CHINA DAY, a part of Morgan Hill’s Poppy Jasper International Film Festival.
Check website for Film Fest full schedule, and why don’t you make a day trip to Morgan Hill and enjoy a relaxing day to enjoy noted Chinese movies, meet award-winning Chinese filmmakers, and enjoy dinner together with a Chinese culture show of costumes, and musical entertainment.
SOUTH BAY CHINESE CLUB CELEBRATION
Caption: Maelene Wong and Lorrie Wong
Chinese New Years is always celebrated in fine style by the South Bay Chinese Club, whose members are centrally based in Fremont, CA. This year Co Chairs Lorrie Wong and Maelene Wong greeted the 150 guests with colorful tables decorated with red bagged cookie favors for all at the Grand Golden Bay Restaurant.
Caption: Garrett, Michi and Brendan Yee
Standing before a beautiful large quilted cloth banner, Randy Sabado welcomed all, and introduced the quilt designer Michi Yee.
Caption: SBCC President Anna Muh and Randy Sabado
South Bay Chinese Club President Anna Muh likewise wished the celebrants a happy Year of the Rat and the awarding of a large cache of raffle prizes sent many of the happy diners home with gifts. Assisting with the raffle prize awarding were active members Fran Gin and Mary K Lim.
Others seen enjoying the comradeship of the SBCC Chinese New Year dinner were the Joe Woos, Wilson Fongs, Steven Gees, Larry Louies, Al Low and Ginger Lai, Wanda Ching, Garrett and Maria Yee, Brandan Yee, Howard Cheungs, and John Kaos.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
San Franciscan Bette Lum celebrated her birthday in fine style as she requested all of her guests come in Roaring 20s style attire. They complied complete with fringed dresses, feather boas and the men were in spats and bow ties. Nephew Grande Lum introduced the family and showed a wonderful video of Bette’s several decades of happy living. An active lady, Bette was congratulated by members of her Dancing Club and many other organizations she is active in. Seen surrounding her were the Clifford Changs, Steven Gees, Mimi Chin, Doug Lee, and her sister Evangeline Lum,
Caption: Bette Lum surrounded by family at her recent birthday celebration in Burlingame, CA.
