Daily Archives: July 15, 2011

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan interviews

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan interviews

This weekend Snow Flower and the Secret Fan opens to a limited engagement in select theaters across the country. Inspired by the bestselling novel by Lisa See, SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN is a timeless portrait of female friendship, set in 19th-Century China and modern day Shanghai. Wayne Wang returns to his roots telling stories about Asians/Asian Americans. Here’s a synopsis of the film:

In 19th-century China, seven-year-old girls Snow Flower and Lily are matched as laotong – or “old sames” – bound together for eternity. Isolated by their families, they furtively communicate by taking turns writing in a secret language, nu shu, between the folds of a white silk fan.

In a parallel story in present day Shanghai, the laotong’s descendants, Nina and Sophia, struggle to maintain the intimacy of their own childhood friendship in the face of demanding careers, complicated love lives, and a relentlessly evolving Shanghai. Drawing on the lessons of the past, the two modern women must understand the story of their ancestral connection, hidden from them in the folds of the antique white silk fan, or risk losing one another forever. What unfolds are two stories, generations apart, but everlasting in their universal notion of love, hope and friendship.

Listen to interviews from director Wayne Wang, producers Wendi Murdoch and Florence Sloan, and author Lisa See below.

Don’t worry if you don’t see it at a theater near you now. The film is slated to open wider in the next few weeks. You can get tickets at Fandango or movietickets.com.

Wayne Wang talks Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Wendi Murdoch talks Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Florence Sloan talks Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Lisa See talks Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

Carmageddon (Carpocalypse) in Los Angeles

Running on Empty revisited

For all our Los Angeles readers about to face “Carmageddon” or the “Carpocalypse,” this ones for you. With the shut down of the I-405 freeway cutting through the heart of Los Angeles this weekend, you can expect gridlock all over southern California from Magic Mountain to Disneyland. Ramps along the 10 mile closure will begin to be shut down as early as 7 p.m., and closure of freeway lanes will begin at 10 p.m. to ensure full freeway closure by midnight. The closure will continue until 5 a.m. Monday morning, July 18. Ramps and connectors will be reopened by 6 a.m. During this closure, the Mulholland Bridge, I-405 freeway and access ramps will be closed.

This shutdown will make Ross Ching’s Running on Empty a partial reality. For this weekend, he revisits his car-less highway video with some new music and footage. LA traffic has never been so clear. This can only happen in Hollywood.

Running on Empty revisited

The House of Suh on MSNBC

The House of Suh on MSNBC

The documentary film “The House of Suh” has been playing at film festivals across the country and picking up awards along the way. If you haven’t had the chance to see it, you can catch the broadcast premiere this weekend on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at 10 PM EST on MSNBC. Here’s more about the film:

Obligation, choice and loyalty are the values called into question in this compelling portrait of the Suhs, a Korean-American family whose quest for the American Dream would end in the tragic collapse of their household. Eloquently narrated by the family’s youngest son Andrew, The House of Suh examines the complex dynamics of the Suh family and the values embraced and rejected by Andrew and his sister Catherine, culminating in their planning and execution of a crime that shocked the Korean-American community and ignited a media frenzy. Countering the media coverage, the film instead attempts to reconstruct the elements of a family torn apart, raising questions of whether it is the options we are given or the choices we make that define who we are.

It’s an intriguing look at complex family dynamics and cultural adjustments. If you like shows like 48 Hours Mystery and Crime & Punishment, you’ll like this award-winning documentary.

The House of Suh on MSNBC

Director Iris Shim and producer Gerry Kim talk The House of Suh

Now at Last (Made in China) directed by Lawrence Chen

Now at Last (Made in China) directed by Lawrence Chen

Director Lawrence Chen created this unofficial music video for Feist’s “Now at Last”. The video is set in a beautiful rural village in China about a toy robot (made in China) who learns what it means to live. Get a peek of the this vast world from a robot’s perspective. Think Toy Story meets Wall-E. Along with a cute robot “love” story, the creators also ask viewers to think a bit more about mass production in China.

It’s a touching story with amazing cinematography.

Now at Last (Made in China) directed by Lawrence Chen

Black & White Memoirs album by AM Kidd

Black & White Memoirs album by AM Kidd

Singer AM Kidd dropped his new piano based album “Black & White Memoirs this week. The 8 track album includes fan favorites like Somebody Special”, “You Still Exist”, and more. Here’s the full tracklisting:

1 Somebody Special
2 You Still Exist
3 Electric Heart
4 I Can’t Stay
5 Paper Thin
6 Love Rain (feat. Jeff Lum)
7 Hole In My Heart
8 Invisible

He’s got his own unique style to music with his keyboard. Each track offers a special message about the highs and lows of love for one another. From the outcast track “Invisible” to the crush song “Somebody Special”, you’ll find a single that speaks to you. You can get the album on Black & White Memoirs - A.M. Kidd.

You Still Exist by AM Kidd

Right There by Nicole Scherzinger on So You Think You Can Dance

Right There by Nicole Scherzinger on So You Think You Can Dance

Last night, singer Nicole Scherzinger performed her latest single “Right There” on So You Think You Can Dance Season 8. The former Pussycat Doll member showed she’s still got it as she sang and danced for the crowd. You’ll see a lot more from this X Factor judge in the fall. She also slated to have a solo album released soon.

Right There by Nicole Scherzinger on So You Think You Can Dance