A band in Shibazaki High School breaks up over "musical differences"-only days before the big Spring Festival. The band's co-founder Kei decides to cobble together a scratch band of her own (she calls it "Paran Maum") to compete in an inter-school music competition, and recruits Korean exchange student Son (the incomparable Bae Du-Na, from TAKE CARE OF MY CAT and SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE) as her new vocalist, unfazed by the fact that Son doesn't yet speak Japanese, let alone sing it. They have just three days to master a set of songs by the Blue Hearts, Japan's best-loved punk band of the 1980s ("Linda Linda" was their greatest hit) and everything that can go wrong does. Armed with a score by ex-Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha and a guest appearance by The Ramones (really?), director Yamashita Nobuhiro (HAZY LIFE, RAMBLERS) crosses the molehills of high-school rivalries with the mountains of punk belligerence to produce a joyously entertaining movie.
35mm, 115 minutes, color, narrative, in Japanese and Korean w/E.S.
PROGRAM 50 - VC Digital Posse 06 Edition
MAY 10 - 8:00 p.m. • Aratani/Japan America Theatre
Once again, Visual Communications proudly presents the latest edition of works from its pioneering emerging filmmaker program, the Armed With a Camera Fellowship. In tandem with a couple of new works from the UCLA Center for Ethnocommunications' Video Ethnography Workshop, this grouping of new works casts an eye on the social situation, and how us Asian peoples-youngsters, seniors, queer, straight, wannabes, never-were's and just about everything else in between-are making an impact on the whole big scene.
TRT: 61 minutes
GOT BOOK? AUNTIE HELEN'S GIFT OF BOOKS
(United States, 2005) Dir.: Florante Peter Ibanez
GOT BOOK? profiles Helen Agcaoili Summers Brown, founder of the Filipino American Library. Auntie Helen, as she is widely known in the Filipino Community is interviewed by one of her sons, George Brown, tracing her upbringing in the Philippines as a mestiza (half Filipino and half Caucasian American). Reputedly the first Filipina to attend UCLA, Helen married her UCLA sweetheart, Bill Brown, became a teacher and raised a family. Her collection of Philippine books from her father became the basis of her dream, the Filipino American Library.
Video, 8 minutes, color, documentary
METRO ES PARA TODOS: "Grandma" Hee Pok Kim & The Bus Riders Union
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Eurie Chung
Hee Pok Kim, an elderly Los Angeles Koreatown denizen, recounts her growing sense of political involvement as a result of her activities with the Bus Riders' Union. Interviews with Kim and other, younger, activists foreground a dynamic lady that proves that one can never be too old to get involved.
Video, 8 minutes, color, documentary, in English and Korean w/E.S.
HANG IN THERE BABY!
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Michael D. Caigoy
John is a motivational speaker. Some of those around him struggle to understand his philosophy and eliminate the root of their unhappy thoughts; others just struggle to live on the bare necessities. A surreal meditation on the fickle character of happiness.
Video, 5 minutes, color, narrative
TRANS ART
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Maricar Camaya
TRANS ART examines the role of art and performance in the lives of Dominic Madrid, a singer and performance artist, and Ryka Aoki de la Cruz, an artist and organizer of Trans/Giving, Los Angeles' only performance space for transgender, gender queer and intersex artists.
Video, 5 minutes, color, documentary
FOR TOMORROW MAY RAIN
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Sandra Chheng
Gal has grown up her entire life not knowing how to attach nor develop relationships with anyone. To fill that void she buys products that give her contentment for a period of time. She sees an advertisement for a pair of yellow rain boots; the perfect rain boots. Knowing what she wanted, but not expecting the unexpected is what she is about to learn at the store.
Video, 5 minutes, color, narrative
HONORABLE SON
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Jay Esguerra
A Filipino son has is torn by a dilemma. In reconciling his future obligations to take care of his family & mentally impaired brother, he realizes he must confront parental silence in acknowledging his gay identity at home. To do this, he opens up a dialogue with his parents.
Video, 5 minutes, color, narrative
HOOPTOWN INTERNATIONAL
(United States, 2006) Dir.: A. Gabe Pagtama
HOOPTOWN, co-produced by Abe, Gabe, and Karen Pagtama, is a documentary short about the formation of a youth basketball organization. It was created 18 years ago by a group of Filipino Americans who wanted to get kids out of trouble and learn how to be productive citizens. Hooptown has produced players playing college basketball in America and professional basketball in the Philippines.
Video, 5 minutes, color, documentary
YIGGER
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Koji Sakai, Joseph Phong Dao
Ryan thinks he's African American. He wants to be so bad that he even sees himself as one. But when he's confronted with the truth on stage, he comes to the stunning realization of who he really is: an Asian American rapper in a predominantly non-Asian American culture.
Video, 5 minutes, color, narrative
A DAY BEHIND BARS
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Apollo Victoria
At-risk youth take a day trip to visit prisoners of San Quentin as one of many activities coordinated by Rudy Corpuz of United Playaz, a non-profit youth organization based in San Francisco. The organizers, youth and prisoners give their viewpoints on the program and on prison issues.
Video, 5 minutes, color, documentary
PANDA MAN
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Rebecca Yee
A parody of documentary filmmaker Werner Herzog's GRIZZLY MAN, PANDA MAN explores the life and death of professional panda bear enthusiast Rick Yitt, who sought to liberate pandas and end panda exploitation. Rick lived with pandas for 13 years, until he and his girlfriend, Gloria Yip, were attacked and killed by the infamous giant panda, Ling-Ling.
Video, 5 minutes, color, narrative
THE DEBUTANTES OF ORANGE COUNTY
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Rhianne Paz Bergado
Orange County has hit the limelight in a mean way, but not in the way that's depicted on TV. Meet Adrian, Monica, and world of Grrl Fair. This Rock, Art, and DIY festival arms local young women with weapons of creativity. THE DEBUTANTES OF ORANGE COUNTY explores the crossroads of music, culture, and gender hidden in behind the Orange Curtain.
Video, 5 minutes, color, documentary
PROGRAM 51
MAY 10 - 9:30 p.m. • Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theatre
COLMA: THE MUSICAL
(United States, 2006) Dir.: Richard Wong
Colma: The Musical is the first Asian American musical film since Flower Drum Song in 1961 and the first made by Asian Americans. It takes the traditional musical and re-invents it into a fresh personal look into early adulthood, with catchy songs to sing along to! In the sleepy town of Colma, a suburb 5 miles south of San Francisco, best pals Rodel, Billy, and Maribel find themselves in a state of limbo; fresh out of high school, they are just beginning to explore a new world of part-time mall jobs and crashing late night college parties. As newfound revelations and romances challenge their relationships with one another and their parents, the trio must assess what to hold onto, and how to best follow their dreams. www.colmafilm.com
