We had a great time this weekend at the San Diego Asian Film Fest! We’ll be posting photos and all the festival lowdown later this week, but in the meantime, check out the five winning finalists below.
You’ll hear more about these five films in the near future as well as some of the other entries that were singled-out by our jurors so keep an eye out for that.
Otherwise, I’m off to bed after a weekend of too much fun courtesy of Lee Ann Kim and all the SDAFF folks who know how to show their guests a great time. The fest is still going on until Thursday so go out and support if you’re in the area (info here). Here are the final five. Congrats to the finalists and everyone who participated:
SHINE
Kha Do
See Kha’s profile here
HOW TO GREET THE DEAD
Aldous Davidson
See Aldous’ profile here
STRUCK AT FIRST SIGHT
Keith Eng
See Keith’s profile here
VIEWPOINT
Andrew Oh
See Andrew’s profile here
BOTTLED UP
Joey Yee
See Joey’s profile here
Happy start of the week!
Big congratulations to all the winners and everyone who submitted! I was so impressed with the caliber and variety of shorts and was really relieved I didn’t have to judge them because I would have had a hard time narrowing it down to just 5.
I think the issue needs to be brought up, since nobody has even said anything about this particular problem at the end of the panel.
Everybody, except for one panel member, when asked about who their dream team of actors to work with has named white actors. The only exception in the panel said, after thinking it over and going around back to him at the end, to be more or less politically correct.
Don’t you folks think this is sort of problematic that the initial gut reaction is to want to work with white celebrities instead of promoting Asian-American ones?
And all this not more than two hours after the panel with DDK. =(
Also, it’s rather disappointing that there’s only one female panel member.
Was it conscious that the selected short films were all directed by males?
i think all the winners definitely deserved to win, they were all clearly fantastic pieces, but to be honest, my faith in the mission of interpretations film has faltered a bit. i thought one of the purposes of this intitative was to celebrate the amateur filmmaker. The mission statement declares the following:
For example, an “unpolished” experimental film could be honored alongside a work that is as slick as any Hollywood production. The point is to convey the message that all types of filmmaking will be embraced as long as there is an original vision behind it
all the pieces that were selected had an expert level of cinemetography, editing, resources, acting and all looked to be shot on a camera at least of the 7D caliber. i had hoped that at least one winner would have represented a realistic amateur submission.
@audience member, Ok, let’s clarify: the question the panelists were asked was who would be your dream actor to work with? The choices ranged from names like John Malkovich to Russell Crowe. Yes, those are white people, but I think you’re reading things into the choices that no one intended. Considering everyone on the panel has worked with and continue to work with Asian and Asian American actors (including DDK who has been in David’s plays) and have created or been a part of some of the most interesting work and high profile for Asian actors with projects like M. BUTTERFLY, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, COMMUNITY, etc…, I’m not sure I’d exactly call that problematic.
As for your second question, your implication is that all the jurors, including the female jurors, got together and conspired to exclude any female filmmakers from winning. Not sure how to even address that since there doesn’t seem to be any logic behind that. We also didn’t have winners who were Japanese or Hawaiian or South Asian or mixed Asian/Black or….well, could go on but it doesn’t mean any of those filmmakers were excluded either. There is an implication in the question that either the jurors had an agenda and/or the selected filmmakers were somehow undeserving and I personally find both a bit disturbing.
The reality is that selections were made based on the judging criteria and first and foremost was the quality of the work as determined by each of the jurors. Whether the work was made by a man or a woman, an Asian or a non-Asian (and there were many deserving non-Asian filmmakers who submitted as well) or whatever other criteria about who the filmmaker was is completely irrelevant.
@Ben, just to clarify the point of INTERPRETATIONS was not to celebrate the “amateur” filmmaker, it was to support the “aspiring” filmmaker and there’s a difference. One implies someone who’s doing it more for fun but not as a serious career pursuit and the other someone who is seriously pursuing it and the latter is who this was primarily geared toward.
As for your issue with the winners, whether you personally would’ve chosen them or not, I think each of the filmmakers perfectly embody what I mentioned above. They’re all aspiring filmmakers and I think it would be unfair not to mention that if you think they’re films look too “professional,” it’s because of their talent and skill not because they had access to money (most of their budgets didn’t exceed a few hundred dollars) or equipment or actors/crew that others might not have had. They used their talent and resourcefulness to make the best film they could and just because their films don’t look like they were made for nothing (even when they were) is a testament to them.
believe me philip, i agree that the winners were talented, and they definitely deserved to win, 3 of the 5 were in my top 5 and all were in my top 10. but for me it was a matter of expectations. the actual mission statement mentioned that unpolished entries would be celebrated alongside slick ones but none of the finalists were unpolished. it’s almost as if the unpolished ones actually had no chance. it would’ve been nice to see one underdog make it as a finalist. i’m really not trying to take away from the winners here, i’m just letting you know what my expectations were coming into this thing.
@Ben, maybe it might help people understand how you’re defining “unpolished” if you went ahead and posted a link to a film from your top list that you feel fits this criteria and you feel was strong enough to win.
I think you seem to be equating “unpolished” with “underdog” and that I would have to disagree with. The five are all struggling filmmakers working hard to achieve their dream against pretty big odds. If that’s not an underdog, I don’t know what is.
And just to be clear, you’re right about the mission statement explaining that “unpolished” experimental films would be celebrated alongside slicker ones, but that’s different than saying they would win. The idea is that all types of films regardless of genre or budget or whatever would be welcomed and judged equally. And that I can say unequivocally that everyone who worked on this from the jurors on down worked hard to make happen.
Thanks for your comments!
great contest. but given the amount of entries you received, it would have been a good idea to recognize more filmmakers. after all, there was a lot of time and work that each person put into their entries. It’s unfortunate that you couldn’t do more to support and recognize the vast amount of talent out there.
Philip, you have a lot of potential to empower the many aspiring film makers who participated in the contest, and I challenge you guys to really step it up and give them the credit and recognition they deserve rather than solely celebrating the expert filmmakers who won.
hey philip,
here’s an example: http://interpretationsfilm.com/members/davidnguyen/
it’s an unpolished piece, but i thought it was very well done. he’s only 17, but he’s clearly talented.
i also really liked this one: http://interpretationsfilm.com/members/yang1913/
i also had another question: i’m sure that the judges weren’t expected to sit through each of the films, and there must’ve been some sort of filtering process. how was this done? were the judges given maybe 20 of the top contendors or is there a bracket of different rounds that each film had to pass, etc?
if this is the case, i was hoping you guys would consider releasing the brackets. i’m sure everyone would love to see how their films and their favorite films fared.
thanks for addressing all the comments.
[...] not what I expected,” and “you sure.” We didn’t end up making the final five but we had fun making our film called “Sinking Feeling” and also watching other [...]
@Ben, thanks for the examples. I’m not sure I would consider those submissions any more “unpolished” than the others. You obviously chose younger filmmakers so perhaps that’s more of what you meant when you were referring to “amateur” (though one of our winners was 20 which I think can still be considered young)?
As explained before, there were two stages of judging. The first was whittling down to the initial round of films. Although it was to be a top 20, it ended up becoming a top 30 because of the large number of worthy films. The final five were chosen out of those 30 which included one of your recommendations above so that was definitely in the final running.
Obviously, we can’t reveal how the voting broke down but as we’ve said, you’ll get to see some of the other juror favorites in the coming weeks.
@ Phillip I don’t know how some of these won because they’re aren’t that good. The only one I would consider deserves that spot is Keith’s Struck at first sight, but you clearly overlooked some of the really great film’s on the site. I think the judges were really just looking over the artsy crap in which I mean experimental film. Yes of course there were similar films, but if you guys watched each of them individually as I did you could see how some films outshines others. Shine wasn’t that great, acting was okay, and some of the cinematography was okay. The story and plot narrative was dry and was too pretentious. Film’s like Love Okinawa evoked intrigue and interest in a controversial subject, but you know what? Sometimes that’s a good thing. There was this sort of awe and mystery to that film with some good acting shot’s and the habunami bros created a great atmosphere to their film. Why that wasn’t one of the winner’s I don’t know why. The whole how to greet the dead movie seemed like a bad parody of the movie with Kevin bacon and kiefer sutherland called flat liners; it follows a similar plot and i thought that movie was more interesting than HTGTD. You say for the advocation of Asians in Hollywood? Newsflash! Hollywood is dying, its become more and more a bloated corspe being picked by the vultures picking what’s left in the brain of filmmakers today. With the coming remake’s you should really turn your attention’s to Foreign countries for great films for example Kim Ki duk, who created great films like 3-iron and Real Fiction. Also one of the greatest foreign film directors right now Park chan wook who created the Vengeance trilogy and JSA movies in Korea is often considered an idol by filmmakers in Hollywood like QT and others. Don;t forget Toshiaki Toyoda who is probably one of the top leading young directors in his generation. His film list is 9 souls, Pornostar, and Blue spring. What about Asian leading men? I don’t know how about Tadanobu Asano? Song Kang-ho who is considered to be one of the greatest actors amongst his generation next to Viggo Mortensen, Daniel Day Lewis,and Shin Ha-kyun all great actors. I’m no film snob, I just love movies and making them, but there were some really good movies on the site and I think you guys were judging the movies based on how it looked and not really take it as a whole. Also judging on people’s profile page’s? How stupid is that. Stop worrying about hollywood, there are some good films coming out, but there’s a whole world of great movies out there. So what Ben is saying is all true, don’t let James Cameron budgets determine movies, because you can make a movie that looks like Shine or any of the winners for cheap and with better premise. So from all the “underdogs” from the site keep your money, we can still make better movies than this( except for Keiths, he made a really good one). These guys are the real winners good job you deserve it: Struck at first site, Love Okinawa, Yin Yang, Tainted, and I dont know.
Hi Phillip,
I’d like to thank you for enjoying my film.
While some of my favorite submissions aren’t among the winners either, I’m not going to defend nor criticize the judge’s decisions.
What I would enjoy talking about however is your opinion that we should redirect our attention to Asian film industries because of a dying Hollywood. I am familiar with all the names and titles you’ve mentioned and they are all seriously kick-ass indeed. At the same time, they mean absolutely nothing to me.
Like all of the filmmakers in this competition, I am Asian American. Hollywood may be struggling for ideas and Asians in Hollywood may be struggling even worse, but should that mean we should set our sites on Asia? If I’m told I should look to a foreign country to advocate talent of my own race, then how is that different from telling the token Asian American kid to “go back to where he came from if he want’s to be treated better”. The kid was never from there to begin with and I think he should stay to make a difference.
There are plenty of UBER awesome Asian American talent in our industry that aren’t getting opportunities. If we keep advocating to Asia for talent (like casting Rain in Ninja Assassin, or Jay Chou in Green Hornet), then home grown talent won’t ever blossom. Why does home grown talent matter? Since I was a kid, I’ve constantly wondered why the Asians representing me on tv are nothing like me. They don’t speak like me and they don’t act like me.
I think one of the big points of INTERPRETATIONS is to propel Asian American talent which seriously does need propelling. Advocating foreign talent won’t help much in this case.
@Keith, I’m assuming you’re directing your question to Jack Simon and his comment since he was expressing this opinion not me
Misread the names. my bad.
is there any way to edit comments?
@Keith I enjoy bantering with you Keith you’re are a deep and intelligent person and I would like to continue this debate by saying that I didn’t state that Asians should try to find a voice in Asia. What I am saying is that Hollywood is a dying industry filled with remakes and re interpretations of films. Yes individual people should shine, but we shouldn’t waste our talents on an industry that doesn’t care about Asians, but movies in general. If you are on the subject of stereotypes then why do all asian leading roles have to only be about martial artists or ninja’s isnt that perpetuating the stereotype you and YOMYOMF are trying to strive past. Do you see all Iranian or any middle eastern descent people getting pissed because they are getting typecasted as terrorists? no. Just cause a movie doesn’t come from hollywood doesnt mean it doesnt have much more of an impact. Thinking like that makes you more ignorant than the casting directors of the last airbender. You really want to know what I think of race? I think race is irrelavent in movies, when I go to the movies I go to be entertained, I go there to experience a story and be apart of that thrilling adventure. Yes there is racism still in this world and the typecasting is bad, but when you look at a character from a tv show or movie and ask why arent they like you? You know why theyre not like you? Because THEY ARE NOT YOU. You define who you are,by not race, not creed, and not culture. you define yourself you dont let your culture do that. Movies should be represented by the person not his ethnic background but by himself. The individual matters not the cultural background. What most of what you are saying keith is a little ethnocentric and ignorant.
Congrats to the winners! I was pretty sad when I found out we weren’t one of the finalists, but hey! That is how we competitors are suppose to feel, because anyone who worked hard on this contest should feel that way. But I also have my respects to the winners, because they deserve it. From the comments here, I see a lot of people were interested in our short film too. You don’t know how happy I am to see that people suggested we be one of the finalists. Overall, I know it is a hard decision since there was over 200 entries. It was a good experience and it was my first film contest ever, hope to see everyone next time
@Ben,
Though I’m disappointed that I wasn’t a finalist, just hearing your suggestion that I could’ve been a finalist was extremely gratifying, and more than I could ask for. I do share some of your sentiments in that it seems as if none of the “underdogs” made it to the finalists, but just being given the opportunity, as an “underdog”, to participate in a nationwide contest, free of charge, is really rewarding in itself. Though most people wouldn’t say “no” to $3000 prize money, I think the most important thing to realize is that everyone DID get a shot, and whether or not you believe the judges reviewed the submissions fairly, at least we were given the opportunity and venue to share our visions and our work. =D
@Interpretations Film
Thanks for the opportunity, it was a real thrill/experience, though I do respectively state my agreement with some of the sentiments posted. I feel as if some films, such as Mother and Yin & Yang, may have been overlooked, but regardless, fun contest!
Thanks to everyone who viewed my film =]
I don’t really know how active you are in the brown community, but I actually do see a lot of muslim, middle eastern, and south asian people getting very pissed off that they are stereotyped as terrorists. In fact they get furious.
I was talking more along the lines of representation. I wasn’t discussing stereotypes at all but I can go that route.
Race is incredibly important in movies because it is an inescapable aspect of life. The way race is depicted on screen can make or break stereotypes and if you’re like me and the millions of other minorities living in this country, you should know that you are often treated by others according to how your people are portrayed in the media. Movies can be for entertainment just as much as they can be for representation.
Race and culture is a HUGE part of defining who you are. Do you mean to say that where you grow up, live, and the color of your skin never has a factor in the kind of person you are. Hell, the color of your skin might even determine where you choose to live.
Given that, the reason most of the Asians I see in the media don’t represent me well is because they are outsourced from Asia (another culture) when they don’t have to be. There is plenty of talent here that needs harvesting which, getting back to our original point, is what INTERPRETATIONS and YOMYOMF is all about.
sorry about the name mix up earlier.
@Keith excuse me keith brown is very racist and Im offended you’d represent the middle eastern asian community like that. i am a mix of that and mongolian. Do you know Tadanobu Asano is now starting to appear in movies here like Battleship and Thor. They may be the start but I am really excited to see him in the future. I think the only way interpretations is really successful is when it helps all contestants be identified instead of only a few. BAsically what Im trying to get back to cause all this talk before is irrelevant. Is that artsy sometimes is not good. It’s about looking at a thing at a whole, movies like the ones that won.(except Keiths) had no soul to them, they were lifeless artsy movies that were more technical than actually trying to convey a story. BAsically this contest was for nothing because everyone except the big 5 wont be recognized. That’s where you failed YOMYOMF and that makes me sad.
congrats to all the winners and all the entrants. the very act of completing a film makes us all winners, believe me. as you all know, it’s no easy task and it requires dedication, perseverance, talent, and a whole lotta heart. so kudos to everybody! and thanks to the offenders for this creative opportunity and the chance to see some really terrific work from this very talented and unique community. keep it spicy, my friends.
http://interpretationsfilm.com/members/ironoxide
not sure what all the complaining is about. i thought the films that won deserved it. sure, it’s subjective, but look at the jurors. they were from various parts of the film industry spectrum. for everyone to take their time to put this thing together to the jurors that spent valuable time watching the films to the aspiring filmmakers who got off their asses to do something- i say congrats! good job everyone.
[...] Family INTERPRETATIONS Update 10-26: SDAFF RecapWhy I Hate (writing for) the Moviesself ass-kickageINTERPRETATIONS UPDATE 10-24: The Final Five Revealed!What I Learned on YOMYOMF This Week – October 17 – 23, 2010Guess Don Has a Thing for Big [...]
@Philip: You must think of me as either naive or stupid. I’m not only talking about the established panelist members, but also the winners. Take a look at the winning shorts and it’s troubling white actors are also dominating.
If all things being equal with media portrayals of Asian-Americans, then interpretations might be a mainstream contest; but I doubt that’s the point of it. Otherwise, what’s the point of this blog discussing Asian-American media issues every now and then, from the established media makers?
As far the rap sheet of Asian-American actors that’s like an after thought: it’s like the hot cheerleader giving out pity dates. The first choices named were white quarterbacks, and then you came up with a list of Asians that perforce get named in order to avoid charges of internalized racism.
But calling a spade a spade here, the first thoughts were whites and the Asian choices you’ve listed are hardly strong Asian-AMERICAN portrayals.
As for the female representation, I wasn’t alleging that there’s some sort of conspiracy against Asian females. It is rather curious that with your wording that you are READING TOO MUCH into things.
No charges are made of conspiracies, but it is rather curious females are lacking representation on this indie scale.
Phillip,
Other than information on judging criteria, determination by the
highest scores, and tie-breaker rules, I wasn’t able to find where the process of first round of judging was described before, anywhere. Could you share information on how the
first round was done in respect to possibly how the work was divided among the 26 or
27 jurors? For example, were all 238 films viewed by each of the 27
jurors during the first round of judging? Most probably not done this way, how
many groups were the 238 films and the 27 jurors divided into? For example,
possibly 3 different juror groups, each consisting of 9 jurors, could have been
assigned to three different groups of films, consisting of approximately 80
films. Or 4 different juror groups were given 4 different groups of films, (60
films per group)? Or… just curious. Thanks!
To the folks obsessed with quantifying the selection process: just give it up. Filmmaking and art are inherently subjective endeavors.
FeO got the point: simply making one is an accomplishment, and the real reward are the great times you had with friends making it.
hi everyone
i hope people don’t look at mine and say “heyyyy wtf why did he win its not in sync i’m angry”
this competition and the line of comments following it have made me thoroughly depressed
The mere fact that this Interpretations competition sparked so much in-depth debate makes it a success. Creating such dialog between participants and observers is the point of such a competition. Everyone’s comments above are totally valid, hold equal weight and it will hopefully motivate more passionate art to result from the obvious emotional charge it has created.
I’m not sure why certain people are putting all their eggs in the Interpretations basket. There are plenty of other venues for filmmakers to be recognized, not to mention the huge platform provided by the Internet. If your disapproval at the Interpretations agenda motivates you to create your own film initiative, then the Interpretations competition has also been a success in that sense as well and I’m sure that Justin Lin and the others involved in Interpretations would totally agree.
hear hear! as Truffaut said it: the best criticism of a movie is to make another movie against it.
did the winners know before any other contestants that they won so they could be there for the event?
@person, they announced on their facebook before the fest that they were contacting the finalists.
As for those on here upset their film didn’t win or your favorites didn’t win, get over it. Were all the winners ones I would’ve picked? No. But am I going to go off on how this is all a failure like some of the commenters because I don’t agree with all the choices? Of course not. I’m not deluded enough to think my opinion is the end all and hate to break it to you but neither are any of yours.
Many of my friends submitted to Interpretations and I helped on some of the films and do you know what we all agreed upon–this was one of the rare times when Asian Americans who are in a position to give something back actually did that and all we can do is whine and bitch because it didn’t turn out the way we wanted it to? We don’t need the “man” to keep us down, we’re obviously perfectly capable of doing that on our own to our own.
While I’m sad none of my buddies won, you know what, we had a great time working on this and learned a lot through the challenge of using the same script.
And as some of the commenters have said, if you don’t like it, put your money where your mouth is and do something instead of just bitching. Start your own program to support filmmakers and you can choose whoever you want to win or better yet, if you feel so strongly that the wrong films won, give $3000 to the “right” filmmakers so they can use it to make more work. Disagree all you want but don’t try to tear down those who are actually trying to do something to help.
As for me, I hope all five winners go on and have successful careers (even the ones I didn’t personally like) and hopefully because of things like this, they’ll also remember to give back to the rest of us in the community who are trying to make it. All power to them and everyone else who was a part of this!
i hope i’m not considered one of the ones who are “bitching” and “whining”. i think everyone who won deserved to win. i was just expressing my disappointment with the fact that none of the pieces which i felt were “wildcards”, or “underdogs”, or “amateur” or “unpolished” (or whichever other term philip tried to break down) won. i was hoping at least one of them would be in the winners circle.
i hope i’m allowed to convey this opinion without coming off as “bitchy” or “whiny”. if not, then i’ll just let it go.
@Ben
I really understand what u mean with what u said. And i agree with u as well. I thought as well that when they judged the films that they would take into account the one with bad cameras bad budget and no real special effects talents but the drive and burning spirit to make films. If u do look at the films that won ( and the ones that did win were amazing i knew they were going to win) they were all good camera and all. But i really do believe that if some of the other films that had a bad camera and knew how to do special effects to show there visions. They would have a better chance at winning. All im saying is that all the winners(again great job to the winners) all had amazing cameras and some kind of special effects talents. It kind of discourages the people who dont have all that because they dont have a good camera (even if they have a good vision) and no special effects skills at all. Then what’s the point of even competing because probably not going to win. I dont know my way of thinking may not be like everyone else’s and that’s ok i was just saying how i felt. No need to get mad at what ever i said. I really did enjoy all the films that won. But still yea…..
@ Peter Trying to help? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA what the films that have won are taking us in the wrong direction for film making. If you are so blind to the fact that you are the one bitching cause you’re friends didn’t win that okay bitch all you want, but what I’m saying is that out of the 4 films who won I have a hard time believing they won, because of the mediocre storytelling, nonsensical plot, and overstuffed visuals. It’s not my opinion it’s the truth, what i’m bitching is about the real filmmakers up there on that site who all worked hard on there movies who were overshadowed because they weren’t artsy enough. I applaud Ben for raising the point of the amateur’s and underdog’s who did an equal great job but were not recognized that. Sorry if I’m not part of the feel good circle of complementing everyone on their films to make everyone feel good, when I review a movie I don’t bullshit you, I tell you what’s wrong with it and how you can do better. Compliment’s are good, but constructive criticism help’s become a better filmmaker and that’s one thing i didn’t see on this contest. Also YOMYOMF if you had any integrity left in you, you would release a form on how you judged all the movies, instead of giving us a bullshit response. Now taking a page from James Carter “Why don’t yall take that badge and shove it up your ass. All up in your ass. Im LAPD”
“…or better yet, if you feel so strongly that the wrong films won, give $3000 to the “right” filmmakers so they can use it to make more work.”
peter, i think that is a FANTASTIC suggestion and if any of you guys feel my film should’ve been one of the winners i can let you know where you can send my check to. or cash is fine too.
Jack Simon writes, “…I have a hard time believing they won, because of the mediocre storytelling, nonsensical plot, and overstuffed visuals. It’s not my opinion it’s the truth…”
First of all, anyone who claims their opinion of art is truth reveals an even greater truth… that he is ignorant.
Art by nature is meant to be interpreted. If you want truth, go read about the law of gravity.
And a little word of advice. Please try to use correct grammar when posting your unintelligible ramblings for the whole world to see.
Lastly, if you had any integrity left, you would stop posting your parochial rants and get a life.
@ Audience member baby Listen baby I don’t need to use big words to make up for my lack of stupidity. Jesus you have a diaper rash or something, or did someone forget to change you. Go back into the play pen and wait till you’re about 20 year’s before you can play with the grown ups.
My point was with those four film’s that won was that they were mediocre and that those filmmakers really didn’t deserve to win. What gives you the right to call anything art or not? How are you more intelligent than I am? If it’s due to my grammar mistakes, yes I do make alot when I rant, but it’s because I’m so passionate about film.
@FEO Here’s a better idea, the only way the interpretations contest would fulfill its supposed message would be by giving everyone that made a film 3000 dollars
Yawn… more of the same from Jack Simon…
@jack simon, did you make a film? if so can you post a link so we can all see it?
YOU WANT MY MOVIE!??!?!?!? Well here it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiARsQSlzDc&feature=player_embedded
Seems like this thread has degenerated into pettiness real fast…
To the detractors regarding who won and artistic merit: go make your own awesome films and post it online.
Regardless of what happened, like Philips said: the real winner is the democratization of filmmaking in terms of giving power to more voices to be heard.
(Unfortunately, let’s see if the yomyomf founders can recognize the problematic issue of lack of decent Asian-AMERICAN representation… without APA being second best choices.)
@Audience member
There are standards in art. I am sorry you had to hear that. While it is up to interpretations, there is something to be said about coherency in a message. I did not enter anything because I am not a filmmaker, but I could not help recoiling after watching a good amount of films and seeing the ones that actually made the top five. It implies that the judges are the type of people who bought Mr. Brainwash’s hack art without even seeing any for it for tens of thousands of dollars, just based on a cheek-in-mouth anti-endorsement from Bansky, another popular hack. It is nothing but a huge circle jerk for whatever those-that-consider-themselves-elite perceived to be elite work–empty and self-parodying pieces that had humble beginnings but no longer hold meaning, just a feigned message about how they are imitating “great art”.
@JackSimon
Even though you are obviously trolling (and hats off to you, trolling is an art) and nobody should take you completely seriously, you did have some good points. I only wish they were not wrapped in intentional immaturity. If that was your aim, you have succeeded, and again, hats off to you. That video you posted made me choke on my taco and, ironically, probably would have gotten high honors by whatever standards were used here.
seriously, i’ll take 3 grand from anybody who wants to give it to me.
@FeO, haha, you’re really funny. Thanks for lightening up this thread. Somebody give FeO $3000!
@Just watching – the very definition of art is up for interpretation. So are the standards in which subjective bodies judge art. That’s the bottom line. Your standards of what art is aren’t definitive. Now that’s truth.
@1st audience member, I think you’re reading too much into the filmmaker’s choice of dream team actors. What rule requires their favorite actor to be Asian? Isn’t that some type of reverse racism or something? How can you say they must only want to work with actors that are Asian? Geez, you make it sound like a cardinal sin. I love Daniel Day Kim as much as everyone else in the Asian American community, but comparing him to Russell Crowe is like comparing Hideki Matsui to Albert Pujols. Let’s be real. You infer that the filmmakers desire to never want to work with Asian Americans or something. I think you’re wrong.
I really enjoyed watching the films, some of which were made by people I know. Did they win? No, but that’s life. They were good sports when we chatted about it. I really don’t understand why people have to make things so political all the time. It’s a friendly film competition for crying out loud! If you had fun watching them, that’s all that matters. Take a step back and look at the big picture. There are no hidden agendas, no hidden messages, no hidden angles. If you look hard enough, I’m sure you can find evidence that leads you to believe that American Idol has something against mute singers.
@ Everyone who is dogging the winners!!
Well life is life. Its Interpretations contest so guess what ITS INTERPRETATIONS RULES LOL. Who ever won deserved to win. And everyone that did not win maybe next time. Me personally even if i did not win i still came out with something. And that is experience. This was my first real competition when i got out of high school. But i am very happy for the ones that won. I hope they can go on to do better things. Everyone else just needs to move on with there life. No u did not win this time but there is always next time. The people who won wanted it more so they put more work into it and more thought (i hope lol) “underdogs” are really anyone who is not on a big budget for there film and no one knows about them. But the next competition im winning lol for sure. Ill be ready for the next one. Again congrats to the winners!
@babycheeks: reify much? strawman argument much? projection much?
Where have I made any disparaging remarks about the content of the winning shorts?
I have made the statement that it’s troubling that these “filmmakers” initial gut reactions would be to want to work with white celebrities as their dream choices. Again, it’s like the cheerleader wanting the white quarterback, but giving out a pity date to the clueless Asian chess team captain because he helped her trigonometry homework.
Asians are already marginalized, do we need more of this from “our own” media makers that they have internalized racism to put whites on a pedestal?
And that goes for you as well. If you’re going to start ad hominem attacks, then what’s with your toady sucking up? Are you a panelist or yomyomf blogger plagiarizing my username?
I’d like to also add to the analogy that it’s like the ASIAN cheerleader wanting to date the white quarterback instead of the Asian chessteam captain.
@1st audience member, the reason I’m posting as audience member is because I am also an audience member. I can’t be an audience member also?
Secondly, yeah, I’m really sure the VP of Universal is on here right now fighting off trolls. No, maybe I’m the head of MTV here to justify my decision. Uh, I don’t think they care that much. As for being one of the bloggers, I’m flattered that you think that I am, but I’m sure they have much more integrity than to pretend to be who they’re not. And I really doubt they get into arguments with posters about petty things they can’t control. I’m a graphic designer that loves movies just as much as Jack Simon. I couldn’t stand that everyone is getting flamed without valid reasons and there is no counterpoint being presented. Now that I think of it, who cares if I’m one of the bloggers or panel members? Does that change anything regarding the validity of your argument? Nope.
Finally, I don’t know what it’s going to take for you to realize that your argument is flawed big time. The Asian Cheerleader going for the White quarterback analogy doesn’t hold merit because that’s an exclusive relationship, one that is motivated by love, sex, connection, etc. That’s another argument altogether. We’re talking about making movies here, not a relationship! You must think of it as a science project for the state science contest. You want to work with the smartest guy/girl, not necessarily the Asian guy/girl. They get crap for wanting to have the smartest guy or girl on their team? Think about what you’re saying here! We are in America, aren’t we? So wanting to work with your favorite white actor makes you a bastard child of the Asian American community? I think not. By your rationale, my favorite waitress at the restaurant down the street must be Asian, my favorite Babies’R'Us worker must be Asian, and my favorite neighbor must be Asian. By liking another waitress, worker, or neighbor other than an Asian, I’m betraying my race? Nonsense!
this is way too confusing. you people are idiots!
@1st audience member: well if it means anything, if i had more time to think i probably would’ve said samuel l jackson so he could swear a lot in my movie.
@babycheeks: Just goes to show much more ignorance you have until you get life experience by growing up.
The Asian cheerleader wants an exclusive relationship? What world are you living in? Have you even gone to high school?
And filmmaking isn’t also motivated by money, sex, connection and sometimes love? Again, what world are you living in?
And filmmaking is like going to science fair? You serious?! Where are the quantitative numbers for merit for achievement? Or is it all based on nepotism and cronyism?
Lastly, I’m about to launch into some strawman arguments of mine own against you if you bring up the BS about me being a segregationist with Asians only wanting to work with Asians.
Again, all I’ve posted above is that it’s troubling that the FIRST THING THE PANELISTS SAID on who their dream actors to work with all happens to be white – except for you know who throwing out a bone to Pudi, but that still felt contrived like a pity date.
@Joey Yee: That was another point which I felt didn’t need to be brought up right now.
Why weren’t any black actors named? I was shocked that Denzel Washington, or another black actor wasn’t even on people’s minds.
And Denzel Washington is the definition of a class act, since at his Oscar speech he said that Asian-Americans should be the next people to win it.
(On a tangent, this is sort of related to the “interracial dating” controversy, people only think of whites subconsciously and then say that it’s by pure coincidence they’re married to white spouses.)
@1st audience member
Dang hahaha you are getting all into this. In a way you are telling the truth but dang! Now im pretty sure the people up on the stage meant nothing by it, but they did say how they feel.
@1st audience member: hi on a tangent my girlfriend is black/japanese. she is cool.
@Joey – I loved your film. Just wanted to let you know. It was definitely in my top 5.
@1st audience member – I pretty much said all I wanted to say. If I can’t convince you that you’re mislead in your rhetoric, maybe you yourself will see that someday when you revisit your remarks a few years from now.
@just talking: That’s exactly what I’m trying to say, it’s not even on a conscious level, but somehow they automatically just started naming white actors. And that’s disturbing like how that famous supreme court case showed little black girls subconsciously thought white dolls were more beautiful.
@everybody else who aren’t pseudo-liberal apologists: Please explain to me how race isn’t an issue in the US media?
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/10/25/daniel-dae-kim-harry-shum-jr-on-being-working-asian-actors/
Let’s just assume that the majority of JJ Abram’s writers and producers are white, now why even discuss the race of the love interest instead of just casting it truly colorblind like what all the Asian apologists here are saying? Or even better yet, dare they be real liberals and have Grace Park get with an Asian man and DDK get with a white woman?
@babycheeks: Your patronizing and condescending words are all I need to know that I’m absolutely correct on this and other issues. Now go get a diaper change, because you reek of appeasement to the status quo.
@1st audience member – your debating skills are truly a sight to behold. I mean, WOW! You must have participated in Model United Nations in high school, headed up the debate team while at Harvard, and currently practicing law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
For as long I remember I always knew that I’m a master debator.
hey folks. if you’re in LA then please come see three of the Interpretations entries on the big screen! SPICE IT UP! will be screening along with Randall Park’s hilarious WWJD and Jolene Kim’s enchanting CAFE ON A STAIRCASE. that’s 3 shorts for the price of one! Wednesday, Nov. 3, 8pm at El Cid in Silver Lake. If you’re on Facebook, here’s the event invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=170656682950715
hope to see ya there!
ok, it seems that the spirit and the point of this contest has been lost on a few. the $3,000 prize is nothing compared to the opportunity of having had your voice be heard by thousands of viewers. who cares who won? you were given an audience. and for those films you think should’ve won: if they are as deserving as you say, hundreds of others will have agreed with you.
yomyomf built the playground with no entrance fee (thank you, yomyomf). if you’re pissed off and you didn’t like the playground rules, go build your own playground with your own rules. jesus christ. some of these comments are just too irritatingly and overwhelmingly narcissistic. “it’s not my opinion, it’s the truth.” lovely.
and will somebody please give FeO $3,000? he deserves it the most.
Hey everybody! Now you have one more reason to stop by El Cid on wednesday:
Deborah Craig’s WHITE OUT will also be screening! So that’s FIVE, yes FIVE, non-winning Interpretations shorts for the price of ONE. That makes YOU the WINNER!
SPICE IT UP!
RANDALL PARKS’s WWJD
JOLENE KIM’s CAFE ON STAIRCASE
TIMOTHY TAU’s THE CASE
DEBORAH CRAIG’s WHITE OUT
Holy crap! That’s insanity!