After DJ Say left to pursue a solo career, the remaining members of the Asian boy band “At Last” (Hans Cho, Michael Lee, and Justin Fong) formed Tatum Jones. As “At Last”, the members performed on shows like “It’s Showtime at the Apollo” and NBC’s “America’s Got Talent”.
As Tatum Jones, the trio released their latest album “The Love Movement” a few months ago. Their sound is a fusion of R&B, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Pop. Watch the Ain’t No Sunshine music video from Tatum Jones:
Their latest single “U Should Know” will win over any fan of love songs. You can hear the cut on Myspace. Add Tatum Jones as your friend on Myspace.
If you want to see Tatum jones in person, they are hosting a party in Los Angeles this weekend. And next weekend they will be performing in Des Moines, Iowa.
Award-winning music video, commercial and film director Tarsem Singh aka Tarsem (The Cell) creates a moving and seamless blending of mundane life in a 1915 Los Angeles hospital with a visually sumptuous fantasy world of exotic bandits, evil tyrants, dream-like palaces and breathtaking landscapes. Shot on location in 28 countries around the world, The Fall stars Golden Globe nominated actor Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies, Infamous, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day) and Justine Waddell (Mansfield Park, Chaos) and features a breakthrough performance by first-time Romanian child actress Catinca Untaru.
Film Synopsis:
A little immigrant girl (Catinca Untaru) finds herself in a hospital recovering from a fall. She strikes up a friendship with a bedridden man (Lee Pace) who captivates her with a whimsical story that removes her far from the hospital doldrums into the exotic landscapes of her imagination. Making sure he keeps the girl interested in the story he interweaves her family and people she likes from the hospital into his tale.
Watch The Fall trailer:
This movie is in limited release in Los Angeles and New York, check your local listings for show times.
The Home Song Stories is the true story of Rose (Joan Chen), a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer, who struggles to survive in seventies Australia with two young children. Based on writer/director Tony Ayres’ own life, it is an epic tale of mothers and sons, mothers and daughters, unrequited love, betrayal and secrets.
This film has been shown at film festivals around the world and has won numerous wards including Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Tony Ayres. Joan Chen also won the Best Actress award from the Torino International Film Festival, 2007 Inside Film Awards, 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards, and 2007 Golden Horse Awards. “The Home Song Stories” was the Australian entry for nomination consideration in the Foreign Language Film category of the Oscars.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, you can catch “Home Song Stories tonite. This is the Closing night film for Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival 2008 and the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival 2008.
B-boys and B-girls have been hot over the past few months. Jabbawockeez and Kaba Modern gaining high visibility on America’s Best Dance Crew. Benson Lee’s Planet B-Boy doc that follows breakdancers around the world. Korean Gambler crew signing up for Hype Nation. If you are in the Los Angeles area, Always Be Boyz is screening tonight at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
Here’s a synopsis of Always Be Boyz:
Seven is the leader of a b-boy crew that is struggling to find corporate sponsorships. After many blow offs by the huge sports apparel company known as Make, the crew has a decision to make. Do they wear the required Make logos on their clothes for the biggest competition known as the “Battle of the Year”(owned by Make), or do they wear their own logos, relinquishing any chance of victory? The film’s message is in the title.
Always Be Boyz is director John Kwon’s first cinematic endeavor in which he spent the last six years in Korea with a group of rag tag breakdancers. The movie was shot in Korea with real b-boys playing the main roles.
Kissing Cousins has screened in San Francisco, Chicago, and now in Los Angeles. Here’s synopsis of the movie:
AMIR, 29, is a heartbreaker. Literally. As a relationship termination specialist, providing “dumping services” for disgruntled daters, Amir spends his days delivering bad news to unsuspecting lovers across Los Angeles and retrieving his clients’ belongings (underwear, CDs, photos, etc). Though Amir claims he is “just the messenger,” the job has made him hard-hearted and, as a result, he is the last bachelor in his group of friends. This becomes crystal clear on his 30th birthday, when his friend TUCKER tells Amir he can no longer be the Best Man at his upcoming wedding because he and his bride TINA want someone with better relationship karma.
When Amir returns to his family’s Bay Area home for Thanksgiving, he is reunited with ZARA, his charming and beautiful cousin from Britain who he has not seen in twenty years. The two cousins do not get along right away as Zara is still upset that Amir kissed her during a “play wedding” when they were children. With the prompting of Amir’s parents, Zara hitches a ride with Amir back to LA, only planning to stay a few days. Along the way, Amir tells her about his friends and their bachelorism and she is sympathetic. When she meets them, she surprises everyone, including Amir, by introducing herself as his “girlfriend.” Before long the scam is in full swing as Amir and Zara go on “couples outings” with his friends. She even shows him how to be more sympathetic to his “breakup victims.” Over time, Amir starts to soften from Zara’s influence and perhaps even begins to develop… feelings?
An undercurrent of sexual tension develops between them as the charade comes dangerously close to going too far. Will his friends find out the truth? Will Amir fall for his own cousin?! Or will he become one of his own “victims?”
Find out in KISSING COUSINS!!
This movie was written and directed by Amyn Kaderali. Also check out Amyn’s other short film “Call Center“.
Watch the trailer for Kissing Cousins:
Here’s part 1 of Amyn Kaderali’s interview with DesiYou:
Here’s part 2 of Amyn Kaderali’s interview with DesiYou:
Add “Kissing Cousins” as your friend on Myspace and become a fan on facebook
“Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown,” a feature documentary five years in the making, will debut at the Los Angeles Asian American Film Festival, the most prestigious festival of its kind in Southern California, on Saturday, May 3rd, at 4pm at the Director’s Guild on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood.
Set against the backdrop of glittering crowns, colorful dresses, and lively dance music in one of the oldest and biggest ethnic pageants in the United States, this documentary features the intimate stories of some unforgettable young women who vie for the title Miss Los Angeles Chinatown, while struggling to find themselves in two cultures with different values and expectations. The crown is a link to the past, while the women’s lives are a sign of the changing times.
A beautiful and poised teacher is the perfect candidate but a disappointment in her father’s eyes because her boyfriend is African American; a half White, half Chinese tomboy joins the pageant because she thinks it will make her more Chinese. Meanwhile, a Miss Chinatown imposter shows up around town – she wears a sash and gown, but sports a cigar, granny glasses, and tells bad jokes. Turns out she is really performance artist Kristina Wong, who grew up in the shadow of Miss Chinatown but found that she could never live up to this ideal image. If she couldn’t beat them, she figured she’d join them.
Documentary cameras follow the lives of these three subjects for several years, at a pivotal time as they are just starting to find out who they are as women. As the drama of their lives unfold, so do frank conversations about romantic relationships, familial dynamics, body image, mental health, career, and identity. What emerges are some of the rarely heard voices of young Asian American women at the turn of the 21st century.
Watch the trailer for “Yours Truly, Miss Chinatown”
P.S.
While you are in the Los Angeles area, check out the Pacific Islander Festival. the event celebrates the heritage, traditional culture, and the arts of the indigenous cultures of Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian communities of Los Angeles with authentic ongoing stage performances. The event will also features island villages with hands-on-demonstrations, traditional arts presentations, and ethnic food to enjoy.
WHEN: May 3 and 4, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m
SITE: Harbor Regional Park, Wilmington – Harbor City
