After a summer of filmmaking for the Interpretations Film Initiative, a panel discussion was put together with Asian American Actors & Industry Professionals during the 2010 San Diego Asian Film Festival featuring actor Danny Pudi (NBC’s Community, Blowout Sale), David Henry Hwang (Tony Award-winning writer of M. Butterfly), and writer Iris Yamashita (Academy Award-nominated writer of Clint Eastwood’s Letters From Iwo Jima, Represent) along with some of the directors from the winning films. Among the things discussed included working with director/actor Clint Eastwood and filmmaking among the Asian American market from the director and actor perspectives. The commissioned directors/actors talk about having a budget of $1500 and how they utilized the money. The panelists also share if Los Angeles, New York, or somewhere else is the place to go get your career going. Be sure to watch the winning films from the INTERPRETATIONS Film Initiative Contest.

Interpretations Panel at 2010 SDAFF

Not everyone can win, but check out some of these other great entries: Spice It Up with Feodor Chin, Kill Joy by Steve Nguyen x Brian Tan, Doggy Style by Shane Sato, WWJD with Randall Park, Mother by John P. Raposas, The Necklace with Karin Anna Cheung, Voo Dude, Strangers in the Park, The Case, Zeist by Zero Kazama, Bathroom Battle Royale, and Above Average. Unfortunately, we couldn’t post everybody’s entry. See more shorts here.

See other shorts commissioned for Interpretations: Far East Futura, Orient Express by Wong Fu Productions, Represent by Iris Yamashita, Blowout Sale with Danny Pudi, Good Shot with Leonardo Nam, Cambodian American, I Felt My Life in Both Hands by Kenneth Bi, Rumble by Ken Leung, and Canvas with James Jean