Monthly Archives: April 2011

Adultolescence at 2011 LAAPFF

Adultolescence at 2011 LAAPFF

After the incredible response, we got from our post on Adultolescence. channelAPA.com is glad to see that the film will be screened Friday, April 29, 2011 at 9:45pm at the DGA as part of the 2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. (you can get tickets here. Here’s director/actress Vicky Shen on Adultolescence:

“Adultolescence” is about an artist suffering from post-college career ennui, who returns home to live with her parents, even though she had been previously disowned by her immigrant mother. Besides the major theme of familial disconnection, the film could also generate a cinematic forum for discussion on themes from identity politics to the economy to what it means to be a young adult today, a generation so heavily influenced by social media and voyeurism.

Using the story of stagnation for one twenty-something to reveal larger themes of the economics of emotions for post-grads, “Adultolescence” also blends the dual identity of American born children of immigrant parents. It is ultimately a story about finding peace with the parents by growing to accept them, and to find an identity beyond them despite the heaviness of parental expectations.

A visceral, thematic narrative is also woven through the film to integrate how popular culture creates a sense of isolation within the individual. “Adultolescence” speaks of today’s media-influenced generation: for the main character, Lea May is so affected by idealized fulfillment, a modern-day “Madame Bovary,” the barrier between reality and fantasy bleeds. This stylistic approach could also spark debate over the positive and negative sides of technology and how it relates to media. How can media still be a great educator and a source of energy?

Finally, “Adultolescence” is a term coined to describe a new stage of life, between that of adolescence and adulthood. Many young adults have been facing financial difficulties because of rising college costs, consumerism, graduate and professional school programs, careers of lower security, more frequent job changes, and an ongoing need for new training and education. As a response to all of the above, parents of today’s youth seem increasingly willing to extend financial support and even an invitation to live back at home well into their twenties and even into their early thirties.

This leads to another question, “How can the support adult-children receive from their parents have potential to be more crippling than helpful?” Forget the financial ramifications of post-graduates falling back on their parents for help, “Adultolescence” reveals that the tricky stages of childhood may have a lasting emotional impact, leaving adult-children without the tools to grow into maturity in their parents’ home and, ultimately, without the ability to move out with grace.

Look for the movie coming to a film festival near you.

Adultolescence trailer

Pre-Season trailer with Mike B

Pre-Season trailer with Mike B

Rapper Mike B is working on several projects. First off, he’s got a new web series coming out called “Pre-Season,” which is a documentary following the new rapper’s career. From the trailer, we’ll get to see some of his performances, his time in the studio, and hanging with his homies like dumbfoundead. “Pre-Season” begins 4/30/11. The webisodes will lead to the upcoming debut mixtape from Mike B entitled “Better Late Than Never”.

Listen to some of Mike B’s recent tracks including Be With Me and Loves Me Not.

Pre-Season trailer with Mike B

Loco Moco by I.A. x Keak Da Sneak

Loco Moco by I.A. x Keak Da Sneak

Hawaiian flavors are spreading from the islands to the San Francisco Bay Area with rappers I.A. “The Kama’aina Classic” x Keak Da Sneak in their track “Loco Moco.” The video features Osna, Kutmaster Spaz, DJ E-Tech, Caniva, Dos, Krystilez, Image, Big Fish, Tracy Acio, Fiah Brand, R-Klass, DJ Jrama, Tony Black, Flip’t Out Eats, Jesse DeRamos, and Limited Addiction. Hawaiian hip hop pouring on that extra gravy and getting hyphy. The single is off I.A.’s “Beyond Paradise” album. You can download the song FREE here or support him by getting it on Loco Moco Album Version (feat. Keak Da Sneak) - Beyond Paradise.

Loco Moco by I.A. x Keak Da Sneak

Behind the scenes of Loco Moco by I.A. x Keak Da Sneak

If I Ain’t Got You by Sonia Rao on The Voice

If I Ain't Got You by Sonia Rao on The Voice

Singer Sonia Rao was among the contestants last night competing for a spot on The Voice. Growing up in New Jersey with first-generation immigrant parents, Sonia says that her parents have challenged her decision to pursue music every step of the way (sounds similar to other Asian parents.), a process that has helped her clarify and articulate why playing music is so important to her. Since childhood, Sonia searched for a way to express herself that “felt like enough”. From painting to dancing to acting out, nothing felt like a deep enough expression of her emotions until she wrote her first song in the spring of 2010. Sonia says, “Once I wrote that first song, I spent the rest of that year in San Francisco writing in my little multicolored room, drinking insane amounts of coffee, introducing my classical violin to the blues and country, and collaborating with as many musicians as I could.”

For the show, Sonia brought her parents along for support. They seemed pretty ecstatic. During the feedback, Cee Lo Green seemed very infatuated with her too. Yesterday, he tweeted out :

@SoniaRao #heyprettygirl keep on doing what you’re doing and look good doing it. This isn’t the end for you! #TheVoice

Unfortunately, she didn’t make the cut. Don’t worry though. Sonia is planning to release her first EP entitled “Calm Her” in July 2011. Look for it this summer.

If I Ain’t Got You by Sonia Rao on The Voice

More about Sonia Rao
Artist Sonia Rao combines her soulful voice with piano, singing her original songs. Some are haunting, some are joyful, some are gritty and raw, but all feature Sonia’s incredible voice and honest lyrics. Fans are struck by how deeply personal her songs are; in listening to her lyrics, one feels they are hearing her innermost thoughts and feelings. These intimate stories, combined with Sonia’s striking voice, draw listeners to her music.

After performing throughout San Francisco at such venues as Yoshi’s and the Hotel Utah, Sonia is now starting on the next page: releasing her debut EP and moving to Los Angeles. Sonia says she is looking forward to “the newness of an unfamiliar city and the new songs and ideas that will come out of the process” and to record and release her album this summer after an amazing fundraising effort in which supporters raised thousands of dollars to help her create her album.

As she sings about in the delightful track “Here, Now,” Sonia is grateful for all of the support in her life and feels incredibly lucky to be pursuing her passion. You can hear her music on Sonia Rao and find her performing in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Olivia Munn and her Tiger Mom on the Daily Show

Olivia Munn and her Tiger Mom on the Daily Show

On the Daily Show, Olivia Munn tackled the topic of parenting from Amy Chua’s book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom“. She interviews her own mother as they reminisce about chopstick hits and a head dent in the refrigerator through tiger mom parenting. After speaking with several experts, she concludes that Tiger Mothering is the best. Tiger Mom puts the fear into Olivia Munn and made her the success she is today.

Olivia Munn on Tiger Mothering on the Daily Show

Immortals Trailer

Immortals Trailer

One of the most anticipated movies of the fall is visionary director Tarsem Singh’s (The Cell, The Fall) new Greek mythology film Immortals. While the teaser trailer for the film won’t hit theaters until the release of Thor on May 6, 2011, it’s online now. Here’s more about the film:

Eons after the Gods won their mythic struggle against the Titans, a new evil threatens the land. Mad with power, King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has declared war against humanity. Amassing a bloodthirsty army of soldiers disfigured by his own hand, Hyperion has scorched Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow, a weapon of unimaginable power forged in the heavens by Ares. Only he who possesses this bow can unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned deep within the walls of Mount Tartaros since the dawn of time and thirst for revenge. In the king’s hands, the bow would rain destruction upon mankind and annihilate the Gods. But ancient law dictates the Gods must not intervene in man’s conflict. They remain powerless to stop Hyperion…until a peasant named Theseus (Henry Cavill) comes forth as their only hope. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must save his people from Hyperion and his hordes…

Actress Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire) is in the film as Phaedra the Oracle, a priestess who joins Theseus on his quest. The film hits theaters on 11.11.11.

Immortals Trailer

Director Tarsem Singh Discusses ‘Immortals’ Teaser Trailer. He talks about his favorite shot in the trailer and his vision for the final cut of the film.