SDAFF 2010: Fin

I’m so exhausted. Let’s take a nap.
Closing night went well. I got there and made my rounds and hung out for a bit before getting ready for the silent auction and reception at All American Grill. We got there around 7:30ish and started setting up the silent auction space, rearranging the tables and what not. “Make it sexy!”And sexy it was. We auctioned off quite a few DVDs, restaurant certificates, wine, PATRON, zoo tickets, Daniel Dae Kim autographed photo and LOST dvd, autographed photo of Harry Shum and a few other hot items. We also picked the winner of the Harrah’s Rincon Audience Award Raffle – Amelita Badua. Woo! Congratulations! Home Grown Blends was spinning the night away and it was a good night.
If you purchased something from either the opening or closing night auctions and have not picked up your item(s), we’ll be in touch with you.
All right friends. We’ll see you around!

SDAFF 2010: Blurring Reality

Tonight was a full house. Every screening in every theater was packed. And it’s Wednesday. What a crazy night. ANIMATION: ILLUSION OF LIFE was awesome. SDAFF is the only festival in San Diego that is screening stuff in 1080p HD. I honestly couldn’t tell you what that means other than it’s 1080 pixels in high definition, but I can tell you that it looks freakin’ AMAZING! Seriously, the program was SO vibrant and crisp, I had to remind myself to blink. And even though the program sort of froze up near the end, I didn’t even care. I was completely blown away by the graphics of the still picture it was frozen on. I really looked at everything and was like, WOW. You really appreciate the animation so much more when you see it as a still.
MEI LING looked so kick ass. I had originally watched it on my laptop, which is 3 years old and NOT HD, so when I saw it on the big screen, there was so much more I noticed and really appreciated. It definitely added a lot more depth for me because I saw a lot of details I missed the first time.
THE WONDER HOSPITAL was such a trip, especially the ending with the mirror. So crazy. I love how there were so many allusions to classical works like THE WIZARD OF OZ (the yellow brick road and the red shoes) and ALICE IN WONDERLAND (the white rabbit). Such a trip. I don’t know much about the technicalities of the film, but for all the layers of symbolisms, allusions, and themes, it’s not hard to see why this took the Jury’s award for Best Animation. Such a trip.
MOM was an absolute delight—the graphics, the sharpness of the picture, so amazing!!! I cannot believe or begin to describe to you the awesomeness of the visual appeal. Best eye candy ever!
AMAZONIA was super pretty, especially with all that color and how bright the whole film was. I’m so glad we screened this program in HD. You have no idea.
I also enjoyed RIVER IN HEAVEN, especially the style of the artwork. And I liked that the boy’s stuffed animal was a rabbit and not a bear. I think it added a little flair to the overall story.
ODE TO A POST-IT NOTE was so cute. Loved it.
Ugh, this program was so freaking AMAZING! Go see it during it’s encore screening tomorrow at 4:30pm. Get your ticket ASAP and get there early! It’s so worth it.
When I got home tonight, I was looking at my name tag and for the first time realized my name was spelled wrong! Someone completely changed my identity! Why would anyone do that? On my SDAFF badge? Geez. No wonder this reality feels so different!

SDAFF 2010: Love Films

OMG, loved, loved, loved THE TAQWACORES. I especially loved the character with the mohawk. I think it’s because he showed the most growth as a character and really got outside of his comfort zone while most of the other characters didn’t grow as much. And while Yusef did learn to be more open minded, I felt that the character with the really tried to open his mind and grappled with his faith. Personally, I think he stole the show.
And then MACHO LIKE ME was so funny. Admittedly, it turned out to be a little more serious than I anticipated. It was sort of a documentary on how guys interact with each other and how guys suppress their feelings and emotions due to societal demands. I liked how it was took on such a serious topic but kept it funny and light and ended on a good note. I’m just bummed that I didn’t get to catch the Saturday screening with Q&A with Helie Lee. Ah well. Still a great film.
Tomorrow is the ANIMATION: ILLUSISON OF LIFE program and I’m pretty stoked about it =)
And Thursday will be closing night. Get ready for it! =D

SDAFF 2010: Sunday Wind Down

Ah. What a weekend. Finally decided to catch the interpretations panel and it was great. Loved the moderator, Phil of YOMYOMF. He was very candid about how he felt and revealed a little bit about what he did the night before. They showed us an exclusive video of CAR TALK WITH SUNG KANG. I gotta say, it’s pretty funny. Then they played a few of the sample shorts that were posted on the interpretations site. It was awesome seeing it on the big screen, not going to lie. Finally, they showed us the top five finalists and dude, they were awesome! I think my favorite one was SHINE.
Then the directors and some of the INTERPRETATIONS people came up for the Q&A which went quite fabulously. My favorite question was about the budget the filmmakers were working with. Danny Pudi’s answer was awesome, but I think the director of BOTTLED UP takes the cake.
Afterwards, stopped by the Toyota booth to chat with the homies April and Pamela. Then headed over to Maria Maria’s for dinner with friends. Good times, good food and since we had an all fest pass, we scored a discount. Woo!
Then we headed back to the theater and while they went in to see IP MAN 2, I hung out for a bit before catching THE PHOTOGRAPH. It was pretty good. I loved the part where Mr. Johan said we choose which truths and lies to display in a photograph. I thought that was particularly touching and very applicable to the things going on in my life.
Tomorrow, I think I will try something new and watch THE TAQWACORES before catching MACHO LIKE ME. I’m super stoked!

SDAFF 2010: Panels vs Films

Working the gala last night was kind of nuts, not going to lie. Lee joked that with all the running around I was doing, I would earn my hiking badge tonight. But it was all good. Ran into Paul Dateh during rehearsal and got to say hi and catch up for a sec before I had to go. It was such a pleasant surprise seeing him again. I’m just kind of bummed I didn’t get to watch him perform. But while I didn’t really get to sit down and actually watch the gala, everything went very smoothly.
At the conclusion of the gala, one of our attendees sat down at the piano and started playing all kinds of jams and it was epic. People were jumping in and singing along. LOVED it.
And while I was planning on going to Blowfish, I didn’t quite make it from the ballroom to the outdoor pavilion. A group of us just spontaneously started talking about how the gala went and how the festival is going and how it compares to previous years. And we even got into tossing ideas around about how to move forward with the foundation, working with new programs and improving current ones. By the time we realized how late it was, Blowfish had already concluded and we were so exhausted from such a long day that we called it quits and went home. Sleep and vitamin C are currently my best friends.
Today, I have to give a very special thank you to Jimmy Lee, our community outreach liaison and overall awesome guy for staying up all hours of the night to work on our back up plans to the technical/equipment difficulties. You rock!
Today will be primarily a panel and film day. I’m so torn between the INTERPRETATIONS screening/panel and seeing FINDING FACE. Gah, decisions, decisions!

SDAFF 2010: Don’t this ish make a ninja wanna jump jump?!

Oh man, another crazy night at SDAFF. NINJA, ARE YOU CRAZY?! was a hit. If you missed it, you can catch it tomorrow (Sun, Oct 24 at 12:30pm). Got to catch up with some friends I haven’t seen in a while after the movie was over. And I got to kick it with some filmmakers for a bit before we headed out to Thin Bar/Onyx. That dj last night was HOTTTTTT. I approve his (or was it a her?) song choices. Definitely a good playlist to shake off the stress, but now I have Busta Rhymes’ Pass the Courvoisier (pt 2) stuck in my head. Ah well. Good times regardless. And Toyota had this flipbook making booth—coolest thing ever! You and your friends would stand in front of this blank screen and I guess they would take this speed-shutter camera and take a bunch of pictures as you do some stuff (like have a mini fight scene) and they would print all the pictures they took and collated it together to make a flip book. IN COLOR! Can I just say, that is freakin’ awesome?
Afterwards, I met one of our board members, Jeet. This guy is OG. Started volunteering for SDAFF back in 01 and after a hiatus, he’s back as a board member. Can I just say, that is some real SDAFF love. Then we kicked it at the hotel for a bit. Hung out with some more filmmakers, John and Phil, and CS Lee and they’re pretty down to earth guys. Really funny too.
Ok, I have to make a few shout outs and announcements.
Much love to our patrons for being so patient with us. We’ve been using some very new and some very old technology/equipment and are experiencing some problems. We hope you understand that this has never happened before in SDAFF history and we’re doing everything we can to make your festival experience better and sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.
Happy Birthday to Edward, one of our facilities coordinators!
Big, big, big thank you to our drivers last night. You are very appreciated!
Phil papi, we love you and we miss you. Please get better soon. SDAFF is not the same without you =(
Tonight, head on over to the Mission Valley Marriott for an evening of sights and sounds at our Blowfish Music Party. It’s a free event, presented by Toyota and Verizon and DJ ICEY ICE will be spinning. Woot.

SDAFF 2010: Opening Night

Oh man. What a crazy night. I got to the theater at 4pm to help set up the silent auction tables and it took a while figuring out how to lay everything out since we didn’t know what the layout was going to be. A lot of arranging and rearranging, but it turned out all right. And had to help our live model put on those America’s Next Top Model wings we’re auctioning off (this item will close on closing night). Oh man, this guy has abs. And EVERYONE noticed. And took pictures with him. And I think some people touched him too. Did I not tell you there’s eye candy everywhere? Then changed (really ghetto style) and took forever trying to apply eyeliner and fixing my hair (omg, mousse does amazing things to my hair). By the time I got back to the theater, the lobby was pretty packed. But it was good seeing so many people excited about films.
Then about halfway through LEGEND OF THE FIST, the film melted! Melted! I didn’t even know that was possible! But our rockstar projectionists got the whole thing fixed in 15 minutes. Do you realize how crazy it must have been to be one of the guys upstairs? Having to fix that madness knowing there are 400 patrons? Oh man, much respect.
After the silent auction was finally closed and done with, headed over to Maria Maria’s for some SDAFF love. And food. Noms. It was a lot of fun. Nothing too crazy this year, but it was nice seeing everyone and meeting new friend. Good times.
Tomorrow (well, I guess technically today), Friday, October 22, 2010 Toyota will be hosting a live film project. If you’ve ever wanted to be in a film, this is the place to do it (they’ll be there from 6pm to 8pm). No experience necessary, and it’s open to everyone.
Afterwards, come downtown with SDAFF to party it up at Thin Bar/Onyx. (852 5th Avenue, 92101).
Woo. Day one complete… I really need to get some sleep.

SDAFF 2010: Why I Love SDAFF

It's a quarter to midnight, I just got home, been up since 7am, haven't showered and I'm blogging for SDAFF. Why?
Because SDAFF is on the countdown and my body is producing more adrenaline and endorphins than I know what to do with. Because SDAFF is a week long festival with nothing but good vibes and good films. Because there's a lot of eye candy everywhere you look. Because I get to dress up and look fancy pants. Because I honestly believe that what SDAFF does is meaningful and purposeful.
But above all, it's because of the people. As customary, we had our last staff meeting pow-wow and most everyone was there. Some people skipped class to be there, some got off work early to be there, some people have been working all day at the theater and were still there. And as I look around the crowded room, I am simply amazed by each and every person. Everyone has been working collectively towards this event, towards this mission, and we are here. And it feels good. I could feel the love and energy and hard work and yes, even the stress, but I wouldn't trade this for the world.
I am blessed to know these people and I proudly call them my family.
Joseph, I miss you dearly and this festival is not the same without you, but know that this one's for you.

SDAFF 2010: Silent Auction

I’ve been working with our Silent Auction team and it’s looking good. We’ve got some really good items that may pique your interest. So stop by our table on opening and closing night and check out the goods (this is not a complete list and is presented in no particular order):

Eat, Play, Stay Package at Barona - A two night stay, golf for two, $100 dining credit, welcome fruit basket, and $25 Free Play.
Harrah's Rincon Luxury Package - One-night stay with $200 spa credit and $150 meal credit
Orchestra Nova Package - 4 VIP tickets to Orchestra Nova, includes an introduction to Mestro Jung-Ho Pak
San Diego Zoo Package - 4 best value admission tickets to SD Zoo or SD Zoo Safari Park
Netflix One-Year Subscription - 12 month subscription to Netflix for 3-DVDs-at-a-time
Boxing Club Package - 1-month membership to The Boxing Club with a set of boxing gloves, a boxing glove keychain, and wraps; also includes TWO free one-hour training sessions
Nickelodeon Animation Studios VIP Tour and Gift Basket
Mo'olelo Yellow Face Tickets
America's Next Top Model Wings & Signed Photograph - Black angel wings with signed photo by Jay from ANTM
Seaworld Package - 4 Tickets to Seaworld
Time Warner Cable Package - $500 certificate for Time Warner cable service plus a mini-duffel full of random goodies including: two sets of cards and envelopes, a mug, lens cleaner, post-it tabs, pens, picnic blanket and more.
SW Airlines Gift Certificate - Two Green Pass Tickets
Croce's restaurant certificate and book

Stop by and check it out!

SDAFF 2010: Adoption Spotlight part two

As part of SDAFF’s adoption spotlight, we’re conducting the SOLES FOR ORPHANS PROJECT. Some kids are lucky enough to get adopted into a loving, caring family. Others are not as lucky and stay in the orphanage, sometimes until they become an adult. With the holidays coming up, SDAFF has teamed up with Buckner International, an organization that distributes shoes for children in 68 countries, and we encourage patron to donate a pair of new shoes, socks and/or shoelaces. Any shoe, any color, any size—we’ll take them as long as they’re new. Make it something fun for the kids and write a letter to go along with your donation. We’ll be collecting items throughout the festival in the UltraStar theater lobby. Think how happy these kids will be when they can put on their new shoes and go play outside =)

SDAFF 2010: Adoption Spotlight part one

This year, SDAFF is focusing on the topic of adoption. With the rise of people adopting children from other ethnicities and countries, you begin to wonder what kind of effect it has on the adoptee, particularly when it comes to identity. Or maybe that’s just me. Personally, I can’t imagine how hard it must be trying to figure out who my birth parents are and why they gave me up on top of figuring out who I am.

I know that in Asian cultures, it is not uncommon to give up an unwanted child (or worse), but I don’t really hear a lot about adopting children. I know from personal experience that open-minded and compassionate families are not against adopting, but I suppose that holds true with any culture. The particular family I’m thinking of never told their son he was adopted. No one in the family ever mentioned it, but I heard that his birth parents tried to make contact with him when he was older. At any rate, when I found out that he was adopted, I never really thought any different of him. He is who he is and I accepted that. How I thought of him didn’t really change and I really hope that how he thinks of his family didn’t change too much either.

When you think about the way Asian cultures have been built, it actually makes a lot of sense that adoption rates are low among Asians. Traditionally, Asian societies have been very family based; parents do not get divorced, families don’t split up, family businesses are passed down from generation to generation, family secrets stay in the family (sometimes only with certain people in the family), and non-family members are looked at as outsiders. With this mentality, there really isn’t a lot of reason to adopt another child, especially if the fear is that the child will return to his or her birth parents or that the birth parents will try to reclaim their child (and thus stealing any family secrets).

Traditional mentality aside, I think I’m ok with adoption as long as the child is raised with love and care. Every child deserves that. But honestly, right now, I am definitely not ready to be a mom, adopted child or not.

SDAFF 2010: Movies You Should Consider part two

Tomorrow is the last day to purchase tickets online. I suggest that if there’s a movie you REALLY REALLY REALLY want to see, go buy it today. Online.

ANIMATION: THE ILLUSION OF LIFE
Let me make one thing clear: Animation is not just for kids. For example, MEI LING is not a kid’s film. As Mei Ling’s boyfriend/lover grows more and more distant, her feelings for him is somewhat transferred to the little octopus she raised. And the feeling is not one way. Screenings Sunday, Oct 24 at 2:25pm and Wednesday, Oct 27 at 7:30pm.

THE HOUSE OF SUH
THE HOUSE OF SUH is one of the best documentaries in the festival this year. Emotionally touching on so many levels, it took me by surprise. It’s not a simple retelling of a homicide from the killer’s point of view, the victim being the killer’s sister’s brother/fiancée. This film goes into meticulous detail of the familial honor and duty behind the killing of Robert O’Dubaine, as well as exploring the fact that killing someone isn’t so cut and dry in real life. You truly feel for Andrew Suh and you have to wonder, what would you have done in his position? Honestly, when you look at every perspective, did he have much choice? Screenings on Saturday, Oct 23 at 4:10pm (filmmakers scheduled to attend) and on Tuesday, Oct 26 at 7:15pm.

YOUNG AND RESTLESS
No, we are not screening episodes of the soap opera. It’s one of our shorts program, one that deals with the growing pains of being a young adult. Upon finishing JUST CURIOUS, one of the guys was impressed that someone of the opposite sex could really get inside a guy’s thoughts when he crushes on someone. Well, maybe the way we fall in love isn’t so different. Screening on Friday, Oct 22 at 5:10pm

IN THE MATTER OF CHA JUNG HEE
What if you grew up thinking you were someone you’re not? What if your identity belonged to someone else? What would you do when you found out? This is the story of a woman who lived most of her life as someone else and decides to find this other person. Find out what happens and ask Deann Borshay Liem on Friday, Oct 22 at 7:30pm.

Online ticket sales ends SUNDAY (Oct 17)!!!!

SDAFF 2010: Movies You Should Consider part one

Here are some movies you should consider watching this year. Keep in mind that online ticket sales ends SUNDAY (Oct 17)!!!!

48 HOUR FILM PROJECT SAN DIEGO
In July, SDAFF participated in the 48 Hour Film Project (48HFP) and we scripted, shot, edited, and produced a film in 48 hours using the line “I’m trying my best,” the character Doctor Rick/Rita Hernandez, and a chair. And we won the Juror’s Best Fight Choreography Award. Can you guess which film belongs to Team SDAFF? (Hey Mark, looks like my psudo-prediction last year did come true!!!) Free screening on Monday, Oct 25 at 5:10pm

SONGS FROM THE SOUTHERN SEAS
SONGS FROM THE SOUTHERN SEAS is a very beautiful film from Kazakhstan that definitely leaves you wanting more. If I’m not mistaken, this is a SDAFF first—I mean, of all places, who would have thought we would get a film from Kazakhstan? And we’d love to share this festival first with you! The film follows two family’s struggle in coming to terms with identity and discovering their family history intertwined with an old legend. Saturday, Oct 23 at 12:20pm and Monday, Oct 25 at 7:25pm.

IP MAN 2
Did anyone see IP MAN on closing night last year? Want to see what happens in the sequel? Here’s your chance. P.S. there’s an EPIC fight scene between Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung, not to mention a MAJOR homage to the old 90s Hong Kong movies (any die-hards out there?). Sunday, Oct 24 at 7pm and Wednesday, Oct 27 at 7pm.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES
BORN SWEET, part of the INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES program, is one of the most moving documentaries you’ll see this year at the festival. It follows a 15 year old boy struggling with arsenic poisoning who has dreams of becoming a karaoke star and raises the issue of arsenic poisoning in Cambodia. Screenings on Thursday, Oct 21 at 4pm (free!) and Saturday, Oct 23 at 1pm

Online ticket sales ends SUNDAY (Oct 17)!!!!

SDAFF 2010: Movies I’m Excited to See

Every year brings new films, and with new films, come a new list of movies I’m excited to see.

MACHO LIKE ME
I’m really excited to see MACHO LIKE ME. It’s a real-life experiment of a very beautiful woman (Helie Lee) who thinks guys have it easy. So she decides to live her life as a guy for about six months. Sold. Then I watched the trailer and it looks really funny. Double sold. I’m there. And Helie Lee is scheduled to attend the Saturday, Oct 23 screening (2pm) for some Q&A. If you can’t catch that screening, try the one on Tuesday, Oct 26 at 9:30pm.

THE PHOTOGRAPH
This movie looks really intense. It’s about a prostitute who is saved by a terminally ill photographer who is looking for an apprentice. Feeling indebted to his kindness, she looks after the ailing photographer and the two develop a unique relationship. Sunday, Oct 24 (8:35pm).

FINDING FACE
How do people violate women’s rights? Rape, dirty wars, genital mutilations and now acid attacks. Tat Marina was a rising star in Cambodia in 1999, but she was coerced into a relationship with Cambodia’s Undersecretary of State. Consequently, she was doused in nitric acid by the Undersecretary of State’s wife. And nothing was done about it. Until now. Skye Fitzgerald is scheduled to attend on Sunday, Oct 24 (screening at 2:50pm)

NINJA, ARE YOU CRAZY?
This is one of shorts program and it looks packed full of hilarious films. Hil-ar-i-ous. Screenings on Friday, Oct 22 (8:20pm) and Sunday, Oct 24 (12:30pm).

WAKE UP I LOVE YOU
A shorts program about the complexities of love—I really want to see YOURS TRULY and THE VISITORS. Screenings on Saturday, Oct 23 (4:45pm) and Wednesday, Oct 27 (5:15pm).

AU REVOIR TAIPEI
OMG, this looks so cute. Kai is crushed when his girlfriend takes off for Paris without him and isn’t so eager to return his phone calls. Kai tries to scrape together enough money for a trip to Paris but runs into a colorful cast of characters (literally). Filmmaker Arvin Chen scheduled to attend. Closing night film Thursday, Oct 28 at 7pm.

I can’t wait!!!

Online ticket sales ends SUNDAY (Oct 17)!!!!

SDAFF 2010: Facilities and Operations

If you’ve gone to other film festivals, you’ll notice a definite difference in the way SDAFF works. And that is because we have an awesome team for facilities and operations.
Decorating the theater?
Making sure there isn’t a fire hazard as patrons line up for/get out of a movie?
Sound checks with the projectionists?
Making sure you get seated in time for your movie?
Making sure the movie starts on time?
Making sure Q&A runs smoothly?
Making sure the Q&A doesn’t run late (which makes the next movie start late too)?
Deciding where the vendors go?
Organizing the spotlight cause event (this year it’s the shoe drive for orphans)?
Even finding a band aid for you if you accidentally cut yourself?
Our facilities and operations team does all this and then some.

SDAFF 2010: Projectionists

While it is technologically possible for someone to put their film on a USB drive, plug it into the projector and hit play, not all movies are that technologically advanced. And not all films are digital. Would you know what to do with a 35mm film? I wouldn’t. I still don’t know what to do. And this is after volunteering in the projections booth for separate film festival. It can get kinda complicated in there if you don’t know what you’re doing. Which is why projectionists rock—they make it possible for you to see the films that you enjoy. They adjust the sound you can hear the movie (and vice versa, not have your ear drums ringing after the movie). They make sure the picture is in focus. They make sure the picture isn’t squished or stretched. They make sure the right movie is playing at the right time. Pretty important stuff for a film festival, don’t you think?

SDAFF 2010: Programmers

There’s about 7 film programmers who watch all the films that SDAFF considers for the festival program and it takes all year to go through the countless film submissions as well as cultivating our international films for the festival. Then it takes about 3 months to really decide which films will fit into the festival’s program. It’s a very intense and sometimes emotional process, debating and championing films. People may think that their job is to watch film all day, but it’s not that easy.
All those bad films you don’t see in the festival? Programmers weeded them out.
Those movie descriptions in the festival bible? Programmers wrote them.
The movie one liners in the fold out pamphlet? Programmers.
The actual schedule of the films during the festival? Programmers.
Soliciting the films for the festival? And in time for the festival? Programmers.
Suggesting which filmmakers and celebrities to solicit to come to our festival? Programmers.
Not so easy now, is it? Next time you see one, tell them thank you.

SDAFF 2010: The Festival Bible

I feel so lost without my festival bible. What am I talking about? The SDAFF Festival program book aka the festival bible. The online version has been available for a while now (http://www.scribd.com/doc/38432644/SDAFF10-Program-Booklet), but it’s not quite the same as having a physical book in your hand, the smell of ink, the feel of glossy paper, the eye candy of all the pictures and descriptions of every movie and panel.

And you know what? One person puts the whole darn thing together, all 104 pages of it—Marilyn Jones, festival bible extraordinaire. She totally rocks. And she’s available for other projects too if you’re in the market for a graphic designer ;)

I am soo going to the UltraStar Theater at Hazard Center to pick up my copy tomorrow.

Thanks Marilyn!