Daily Archives: May 26, 2010

Bookie by Tran Quoc Bao


We met director Tran Quoc Bao a few weeks back at the 2010 LAAPFF. He told us about his short film Bookie. Here’s a synopsis of the short:

BOOKIE takes place in 1963 Seattle, long before gambling was accepted social behavior for Saturday nights. It tells the story of a man who learns he can’t live his life on the sidelines forever.

On the night of a wildly anticipated boxing fight, crowds pack into a raucous soul R&B nightclub for a chance at alcohol, wild music, and easy money. Word is out that the champ’s got the fight in the bag and Bookie takes down bets from all corners.

Amidst it all, he can’t help but notice the beautiful waitress Billie have a violent falling out with Jackson, her lover and Bookie’s all-controlling boss. Bookie attempts to help matters, but the odds prove far more difficult — they will have to trust each other completely to totally break free of Jackson and the nightclub.

The short was out on the festival circuit in 2008. It picked up a couple wins on the circuit. If you missed Bookie, watch it below. Look for our interview with Tran Quoc Bao coming soon.

update: Bookie sound track is now available here.

Bookie by Tran Quoc Bao (contains violence)

Blowout Sale with Danny Pudi

Blowout Sale with Danny Pudi
Here’s another great short from the Interpretations Film Initiative. Comedian Danny Pudi participates in the short Blowout Sale. You may recognize him as Abed in Community. He’s not a community college student in the short. He’s graduated to mattress salesman. (You might see him selling mattresses this Memorial Day weekend. 🙂 ) Plenty of special effects in this one. Watch this short by Timothy Kendall, Chris Marrs & Danny Pudi.

Check out other Interpretations shorts using the same script with their own twist Far East Futura, Orient Express by Wong Fu Productions and Represent by Iris Yamashita. You can participate too.

Blowout Sale with Danny Pudi

Dirty Little Secrets

Dirty Little Secrets

Move over Carrie, there’s a new woman taking Manhattan – Riley Kendrick. “Dirty Little Secret,” a new, graphic novel web series follows six of NYC’s most connected women around the Big Apple. TRESemmé, the number 1 styling brand in the U.S., is engaging with women in a whole new way; via their sponsorship of “Dirty Little Secret,” a NEW animated graphic novel web series, created in partnership with ELLE and CAA, which launched today. TRESemmé is always evolving and understands the key to success is connecting with women wherever they are ­ in store, online and in magazines.

The 10-part series, which premiered yesterday, follows the new girl in town, aspiring hairstylist Riley Kendrick and her encounters with some of the most stylish and chic women in the fashion and beauty worlds. However, her “dirty little secret,” which begins as a harmless omission, spirals out of control, leading to a web of deception. The compelling drama also features real-life TRESemmé Celebrity Stylist, Jeanie Syfu. As we all know, some of the best-kept secrets are spilled in the salon chair and Jeanie has heard some scandalous ones this season. Additionally, animator & artist Annie Wu from WildStorm, also known for her work on the upcoming comic book series “The Liberators,” has created some of the most gorgeous hair and emotive faces with “Dirty Little Secret.”

It’s great to see Asian Americans play such key roles in this web series. Celebrity Stylist Jeanie Syfu is one of the key characters in the plot. Amazing drawings/animation by Annie Wu

Dirty Little Secrets Trailer

Meet stylist Jeanie Syfu

Behind the sceens with Annie Wu

Home:Word Release Party with Magnetic North and Taiyo Na

Home:Word Release Party with Magnetic North and Taiyo Na
Recently, channelAPA.com release an interview with Magnetic North talking about their upcoming album Home:Word. The release date is just around the corner on 6.8.10. For those in NYC next Friday, you can join them and other Asian American artists for the HOME:WORD double release party (Magnetic North & Taiyo Na album release)

Magnetic North and Taiyo Na will be performing the album with…
The Home:Word House Band
Heather Park
Conchita Campos
Cynthia Lin
The Misnomer(s)
& A SPECIAL LIVE PERFORMANCE BY THE BLUE SCHOLARS

FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010
@ THE DELANCEY, 198 Delancey St, NYC
9PM – 2AM
This event is 21+, but they’ll have an all ages event soon.

$10 Door (Buy tickets online)
$20 Includes Subscription to Hyphen Magazine

PRE-SALE IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED: Buy Tickets

Home:Word album sampler

Here’s a sampler of the upcoming Home:Word album:

<a href="http://homewordsound.bandcamp.com/track/home-word-sampler">Home:Word Sampler by Magnetic North &amp; Taiyo Na</a>

Magnetic North Interview with channelAPA.com

Home:Word performance with Magnetic North x Taiyo Na x VuDoo Soul x Sam “Geunjin” Kang

update: If you’re not old enough to attend the release party, an all ages meet and greet was announced.

Magnetic North and Taiyo Na will be holding a Meet ‘n Greet at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) 215 Centre St, NY, NY this Sunday, June 6, 2010 from 2pm-4pm. You can get the album early, there will be a live acoustic performance, and (most importantly) there will be FREE CHINATOWN ICE CREAM FACTORY.

Alice Tong Album Release Party

Alice Tong Album Release Party
If you’re in the San Francisco area this weekend, go over to the Alice Tong Album Release Party. As a social worker, Alice Tong has provided therapy to survivors of domestic violence, rape, shootings, and stabbings. This intense direct service work has informed her development as a musician, and can be heard both in the depth of her lyrics and the sincerity of her performances. Receiving her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University, and her Bachelors of Arts in Ethnomusicology (World Music) from UCLA, Alice has used her strengths in both disciplines to co-produce an all-original indie folk rock album with Los Angeles producer/engineer Glenn Suravech. Mr. Suravech has worked with artists such as Ben Harper, Bob Dylan, and Brett Dennen. On this new album, Alice performs as a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist on each song, and is backed by a host of extremely talented LA and Bay Area musicians. “Please Be Brave Before the Lions They Come,” is set to be released Sat. May 29, 2010 at 9pm at San Francisco’s premiere singer-songwriter venue, Hotel Utah. Pre-sale tickets available for $10 here

Alice will be accompanied by her amazing LA band, including:
-Miles Senzaki on drums/percussion
-Patrick Taylor on bass
-Nate Lapointe on pedal steel, mandolin, and guitar
-Claire Courchene on cello and trombone
-Albert Chiang on vocals and guitar
-Mei-Ling Murray on vocals
She’ll also be touring with her band. Help fund the Alice Tong West Coast Tour.

Opening acts will include local talent Gyasi Ross, who combines hip-hop, folk, and jazz; along with L.A. favorites Andrew Figueroa Chiang and the Blazing Rays of the Sun, whose set includes soul-driven R&B and folk sounds; as well as DJ: +he Op+imist+ spinning on the decks.

Alice Tong Interview with channelAPA.com