Adventures In New Lands
Oct 12, 01:14 AM by administrator
Program 6: Adventures In New Lands
Sat. Nov. 7th, 1:30 PM
Sometimes we don’t really realize what we are capable of until we find ourselves in a new country and forced to respond to unfamiliar circumstances. FAMILY INC. follows a young woman who discovers a surprisingly high capacity for business when she relocates to Hong Kong to fulfill a family obligation to work for her father. Preceding FAMILY INC. is, FORTUNE COOKING, a documentary about Vancouver-based Sam Lau and how his dedication to the art of cooking is tested when he must face hard business realities. Following the films will be a panel discussion on documentary filmmaking with an Asian perspective.
Family Inc.
Director/Writer/Producer: Emily Ting | Co-Director: Helen Jen | *Producer: Udy Epstein
Documentary | DigiBeta | Colour | 2008 | 55 min | Hong Kong & USA | English & Mandarin
When filmmaker Emily Ting was asked by her father to return to Asia and take over the family business, she didn’t exactly know how to say ‘no.’ Promising herself she would try it out for just one year, she traded in her friends, her filmmaking pursuits, and her love of New York for a grueling new life as CEO in training in one of Hong Kong’s most notorious toy companies. Two years later, she’s still there – with no end in sight. From picking up the slack left behind by a runaway brother to steering a sinking company on the brink of bankruptcy to competing against a 26 year old stepmom for the future reign, Emily finds herself getting more and more stuck in a life she didn’t choose for herself. But her biggest challenge yet is in trying to reconnect with an absentee father whose passion for his business far outshines his relationship with his family. In an attempt to come to terms with her new life, Emily turns the camera on herself and her family and the result is an incredibly honest and at times bittersweet family portrait that examines the price we end up paying when business and family become one.
CANADIAN PREMIERE | DIRECTORS IN ATTENDANCE
Previous Screenings/Awards: Cinequest Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Chicago Asian American Showcase, Asian Film Festival of Austin, Pacific Rim Film Festival
preceded by:
Fortune Cooking
Director/Writer/Producer: Jason Karman
Documentary | Beta SP | Colour | 2009 | 9 min | Canada
In March 2008, New York Times critic, Jennifer 8. Lee, crowns a Vancouver restaurant the Greatest Chinese Food outside of China. The news catches the local media and the owner, Sam Lau, by surprise. Can a great review save a restaurant on the verge of bankruptcy?
CANADIAN PREMIERE | DIRECTOR IN ATTENDANCE
Panel Discussion to Follow
Documentary Panel Discussion
The documentary filmmaking world has changed drastically in the past five years due to the recent mainstream acceptance of documentary films in wide release. How has this impacted funding, filmmaking techniques, and possibly influenced the tone of stories and topics? A panel comprising of documentary filmmakers will be on hand to discuss the new era of documentary filmmaking.
The Panelists
Selwyn Jacob
Selwyn Jacob joined the National Film Board in 1997. The Vancouver-based producer’s most recent productions include Baljit Sangra’s WARRIOR BOYZ, WRITING THE LAND directed by Kevin Burton, and RIVER OF LIFE directed by Werner Walcher. He also produced JENI LEGON: LIVING IN A BIG WAY, and the Leo Award-winning THE JOURNEY OF LESRA MARTIN and is currently working on a new feature documentary about Harry Jerome with director Charles Officer.
Christopher Wong
As a filmmaker, Christopher seeks to highlight minority voices and stories, revealing ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things. WHATEVER IT TAKES represents his feature-length debut as both director and producer. Recently, he was named as one of The Independent’s “10 Filmmakers to Watch in 2009”. Currently, Christopher is working on a feature-length documentary about television game show fans, and one about an Asian American pastor’s quest to reconcile his congregation with gay and lesbian Asian American Christians.
Jason Karman
As a writer and director, Jason Karman has directed two award winning short films that have screened internationally and on LogoTV (USA). Born in Indonesia, Jason draws his inspiration from his experiences as an immigrant, extensive travels abroad, and from his long-time relationship with his partner. His stories bring to light forgotten people and issues that resonate with the larger Asian community.
Emily Ting
Emily Ting, graduated from the Film/TV program at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has made several shorts including UNBOUND FEET, a finalist at the 2002 Zoie Film Festival. This was followed up with WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT? — screening at the Hamptons International Film Festival, and broadcasted on RCN cable. In 2003, Emily was a finalist in the Richard Vague Production Grant Competition for her documentary REALITY CHECK.
Helen Jen
Helen Jen graduated from the Film/TV program with a concentration in Animation at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in 2001. She worked steadily in the animation industry in New York, Taipei and Los Angeles on shows that have aired on Disney’s Playhouse, MTV, PBS, Fox and Cartoon Network. Most recently she managed preproduction for a 3D animation film celebrating the grand re-opening of The National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
Mona Mok
Moderator: Mona Mok is a member of the Programming Committee for the Vancouver Asian Film Festival.
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