2008 Woodie Awards
Home > News
DisOrient festival to showcase Asian-American films
Films for the third-annual festival will be screened at the Bijou Art Cinemas
by Mike O'Brien | News Reporter
After Baby, an 11-year-old Chinese boy from a broken home in East Los Angeles, witnessed a murder, the Chinese gang responsible for the killing needed to ensure his silence. Rather than murdering Baby, the gang initiated him and dragged him into its violent and dangerous lifestyle.
Baby is the titular character of "Baby," the centerpiece film of this weekend's DisOrient Asian-American Film Festival. In its third year, DisOrient consists of eight feature films and more than 50 shorts, which will be screened at Bijou Art Cinemas, located a few blocks from the University at East 13th Avenue and Ferry Street.
"We think it's a high-caliber film that should be seen," said University student Laura Fong, who did public relations for the film festival. "It just shows a different side of the Asian-American community."
Other feature films include "Ping Pong Playa," a comedy about an aspiring professional basketball player who's trapped in the suburbs giving ping pong lessons; "Tie a Yellow Ribbon," which tells the story of Jenny, a Korean girl who is adopted and raised in the Midwest; and "West 32nd," in which an ambitious lawyer gets involved with New York City's seedy Korean underworld while trying to exonerate a 14-year-old from a murder charge.
"West 32nd" is the film Fong is most excited to see.
"This film no one has seen because they're keeping such a tight lid on it," she said.
David Li, an English professor at the University, said that compared with neighboring California and Washington, Oregon has a relatively small population of Asian-Americans.
For this reason, he recommends DisOrient to University students.
"It brings in something which local people may not have immediate access to," he said. "This will be an opportunity for people to view these films and gain some perspective."
In addition to film screenings, William Lu, the director behind "ATF: Asian Task Force," will speak about the filmmaking process in a lecture hosted by the UO Cultural Forum.
Following "LGBTQ Shorts: Arranged Family Secrets," a program of six film shorts, Jessica Lee of Basic Rights Oregon and Pastor Israel Alvaron of the "In God's House" documentary will lead a panel discussion.
"(DisOrient) is just trying to bring more Asian-American filmmakers and actors to the point where they can enter the mainstream. That's the main goal," Fong said. "And to promote independent filmmakers, of course."
She said that prior to DisOrient, these films were only shown in big cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
"This is a really special opportunity for people who are interested in Asian-American films or films in general," she said. "Who cares if they're Asian-American? They're people."
mobrien@dailyemerald.com
Baby is the titular character of "Baby," the centerpiece film of this weekend's DisOrient Asian-American Film Festival. In its third year, DisOrient consists of eight feature films and more than 50 shorts, which will be screened at Bijou Art Cinemas, located a few blocks from the University at East 13th Avenue and Ferry Street.
"We think it's a high-caliber film that should be seen," said University student Laura Fong, who did public relations for the film festival. "It just shows a different side of the Asian-American community."
At a glance
| The DisOrient Asian American Film Festival will take place tomorrow through Sunday at Bijou Art Cinemas, located at 429 East 13th Ave. For prices and a complete schedule of screenings, visit disorientfilm.org. |
"West 32nd" is the film Fong is most excited to see.
"This film no one has seen because they're keeping such a tight lid on it," she said.
David Li, an English professor at the University, said that compared with neighboring California and Washington, Oregon has a relatively small population of Asian-Americans.
For this reason, he recommends DisOrient to University students.
"It brings in something which local people may not have immediate access to," he said. "This will be an opportunity for people to view these films and gain some perspective."
In addition to film screenings, William Lu, the director behind "ATF: Asian Task Force," will speak about the filmmaking process in a lecture hosted by the UO Cultural Forum.
Following "LGBTQ Shorts: Arranged Family Secrets," a program of six film shorts, Jessica Lee of Basic Rights Oregon and Pastor Israel Alvaron of the "In God's House" documentary will lead a panel discussion.
"(DisOrient) is just trying to bring more Asian-American filmmakers and actors to the point where they can enter the mainstream. That's the main goal," Fong said. "And to promote independent filmmakers, of course."
She said that prior to DisOrient, these films were only shown in big cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco.
"This is a really special opportunity for people who are interested in Asian-American films or films in general," she said. "Who cares if they're Asian-American? They're people."
mobrien@dailyemerald.com
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
John
posted 4/23/08 @ 5:49 PM PST
Too bad APASU never got behind this great event by being a main sponsor. They just completely dropped the ball. What do they do anyway?
Post a Comment