Category Archives: oregon

Putnam County Spelling Bee in Portland

Putnam County Spelling Bee in Portland

The National Spelling Bee took place yesterday. If you’re in the Portland area, check out the Putnam County Spelling Bee with Raymond J Lee (Chip) and Ka-Ling Cheung (Marcy Park) thru June 27, 2010. Here’s more about Putnam County Spelling Bee:

Six kids face off in the battle of their lives. The competition is intense. The words are outrageous. Let the spelling (and the singing) begin! Three adults adjudicate the proceedings: a nostalgic former spelling bee winner, a mildly insane Vice Principal and The Official Comfort Counselor completing his community service to the State of New York. Both tender and sardonic, this hilarious Tony Award-winning musical of overachievers angst brings you inside the spelling championship to end them all. From the author of Falsettos and A New Brain.

Get details and tickets here.

Putnam County Spelling Bee in Portland

2010 DisOrient Film Festival

2010 DisOrient Film Festival

The 2010 DisOrient Film Festival is the the fifth anniversary of the Oregon film festival. Over the past four years, DisOrient has garnered a national reputation for organizing a unique and quality film festival amongst industry and filmmaking professionals. Festival attendees can experience three days of films, workshops, parties, panels and special guests. Out of over 70 film submissions this year, the jury selected only the best new films. This year’s program has about six features and 22 short films. Some issues covered in this year’s films include transracial adoption, post-Katrina environmental activism, and resistance to the Iraq war, among other issues on Asian American identity and community.

In his feature directorial debut, Patrick Epino is scheduled to attend and show MR. SADMAN for the opening night on Friday, April 23. The late Al No’mani stars in MR. SADMAN, the story of Mounir, a sheltered Saddam Hussein body-double who loses his job and moves to Los Angeles in search of a new start. Unfortunately, Mounir doesn’t know how to be anyone else. After the film, soul/r&b singer Dawen is scheduled to perform at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum for the Opening Night reception. Los Angeles based singer/songwriter Dawen will be performing live during the Opening Night Reception. The director of this year’s centerpiece film A VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES, S. Leo Chiang, will lead a workshop on filmmaking and social justice on the University of Oregon campus before the opening night screening of MR. SADMAN. Filmmaker H.P. Mendoza (songwriter, screenwriter, “Rodel” of COLMA: THE MUSICAL) returns to DisOrient with FRUIT FLY for the Closing Night program on Sunday, April 25. Local Eugene/Springfield middle school and high school Asian American filmmakers will also premiere their work. Other films slated to be shown include Why Am I Doing This?, Operation Babylift, and Second Moon.

You can get tickets for the 2010 DisOrient Film Festival here .

2010 DisOrient Film Festival trailers

2009 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival

Yo Oregon!! Get ready for the return of the Fourth Annual DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon, a truly grassroots celebration of the art of filmmaking and community. Over the last couple of years, DisOrient has garnered a national reputation for organizing a unique and quality film festival amongst industry and filmmaking professionals.

Here’s some highlights for the 2009 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival:

Opening film – Children of Invention

Centerpiece film – Karma Calling

Closing Film – White on Rice

Vincent Who?

I am that Girl – World premiere

The film festival takes place April 17-19, 2009 at the Bijou Art Cinemas in Eugene, Oregon. More details at the 2009 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival website here.

2009 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival Trailer

2008 Taiwan Film Festival

The 2008 Taiwan Film Festival opens Thursday and Friday, October 16-17, at Fromm Hall on the beautiful campus of University of San Francisco! Fromm Hall is located just off of Parker Avenue, between Golden Gate Avenue and Fulton Street. Film Festival will continue to Stanford University, University of Washington, University of Oregon and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Here’s the tour schedule for the 2008 Taiwan Film Festival:

University of San Francisco

10/16 – 10/17

The 2008 Taiwan Film Festival will run at the University of San Francisco’s Fromm Hall October 16-17, 2008. Cheng Wen-Tang’s SUMMER’S TAIL will screen at 5:45pm on Thursday, October 16, and will be followed by a Q&A with the director and a special live musical performance by lead actress Enno Cheng. On Friday, October 17, the documentary THE GANGSTER’S GOD will be featured, with the director in attendance. TFF will also be showing films at Stanford University on Oct 17-18.

Stanford University

10/17 – 10/18

The 2008 Taiwan Film Festival will run at Stanford University (Cubberley Aud.) on Oct 17 & 18. Jay Chou’s directorial debut SECRETS will screen at 8pm on October 17. October 18th will features three films, including two documentaries: ELEPHANT BOY AND ROBOGIRL and FOR MORE SUN, as well as Lin Jing-Jie’s award winner feature THE MOST DISTANT COURSE. Filmmakers will be on hand for Q&A during Saturday’s films.

University of Washington

10/19 – 10/22

The Taiwan Film Festival (TFF) will showcase the best of the Republic of China’s contemporary films. With a focus on “Youth and Redemption,” the festival will return to the University of Washington (Seattle) from October 20-22. The festival begins Monday, October 20 with an opening reception and live musical performance from Enno Cheng. Besides starring in the first feature SUMMER’S TAIL, she is also a celebrated pop singer in Taiwan.

University of Oregon in Eugene

10/23 – 10/25

THE GANGSTER’S GOD begins this year’s Taiwan Film Festival with a live performance from Enno Cheng at the opening reception that follows. A celebrated pop singer, she also stars in SUMMER’S TAIL, the second film in the festival. The carefully selected lineup includes FOR MORE SUN, THE MOST DISTANT COURSE, ELEPHANT BOY AND ROBOGIRL, SECRET, THE LOST KINGDOM and SPIDER LILIES. Filmmakers will be present for Q&A at 4 of the 8 films.

University of Nevada Las Vegas

10/24 – 10/26

This 3 day festival begins with SECRETS and ELEPHANT BOY AND ROBOGIRL. Highlights includes a live performance by Enno Cheng, star of Cheng Wen-Tang’s SUMMER’S TAIL. A celebrated pop singer, she also stars in SUMMER’S TAIL, which starts off the three-day festival. The carefully selected line-up includes THE WALL PASSER, FOR MORE SUN, THE LOST KINGDOM, THE GANGSTER’S GOD AND THE MOST DISTANT COURSE. Filmmakers will be present for 4 of the 8 films.

Summer’s Tail Trailer

DisOrient Asian American Film Festival 2008

The DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon runs for its third year at the Bijou Art Cinemas from Thursday, April 24 to Sunday, April 27. There will be over 60 films playing over these 4 days. This is Oregon’s only Asian American Film festival. Scheduled to attend are director Michael Kang (West 32nd) and actor Roger Fan (Ping Pong Playa).

Opening Night – West 32nd

Centerpiece – Baby

Closing Night Ping Pong Playa

Watch the trailer for the 2008 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival: