Viet Nguyen
Project Catalyst Grantee
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
I lived in Austin, TX and was a starving artist — emphasis on starving. A year later, I quit my low-paying job to move to LA to work in television as a PA — an even lower paying job. I’m glad I did!
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
Six years ago, I attended a VC after party at the Far Bar and got free beer all night! Oh, and I also met my future wife there.
Can you recommend a film from this year’s festival?
I recommend you watch Linsanity this year because I haven’t. Someone needs to tell me if it’s any good.
Abraham Ferrer
Visual Communications/LAAPFF Staff
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
I was helping run the Film Festival.
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
There are way too many, but one that stands out was back in 1995, when director Wong Kar-wai arrived 45 minutes late to an overflow L.A. Premiere screening of CHUNGKING EXPRESS, leaving guest presenter Quentin Tarantino to cool his heels and sip a bottle of pinot noire with the Festival staff.
Can you recommend a film from this year’s festival?
I think people should watch all seven narrative features in Competition: ABIGIL HARM, BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, CHINK, THE HAUMANA, SAKE-BOMB, THE PLAYBACK SINGER, and SOMEONE I USED TO KNOW. The schedule is set up so that if you were crazy enough, you can actually catch all seven!
Milton Liu
Visual Communications/LAAPFF Staff
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
I was a Senior Manager for an Intellectual Property Valuation company. Or, when my parents were proud of me.
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
My favorite memory is the 2012 screening of our Armed With a Camera fellows. It was my first year advising the fellows and it was so great to see their brilliant films on the big screen.
Can you recommend a film from this year’s festival?
My recommendation is to watch the Digital Posse shorts program, that include films from this year’s Armed With a Camera Fellows. It’s amazing to see the growth of these filmmakers from last fall. Also, stay for the “Special Screening” film that follows that program.
Ten years ago, Better Luck Tomorrow had in its theatrical release in 2003.
So did you know that Audrey Magazine is celebrating their 10th year anniversary this year? We’ve got so many ways that we could celebrate the last ten years of our publication – and we’ve decided to partner up with the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (the 29th Edition!) and ask some of the filmmakers and actors to reminisce about 2003 and their favorite memories of LAAPFF. Check it out below (you should also check out their films playing in the festival too)!
Yudho Aditya
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“Midnights With Adam” | Wednesday May 8| 9pm | CGV Cinemas 3 | LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“I was 13 and making a short horror film called, The Beast, starring my sister as a carrie/hulk-esque girl monster hybrid. ”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“This is my first year attending, but so far, everyone’s been so supportive and encouraging.”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“You’ll get bang for your buck for sure. At 34 minutes it’s a pretty long short and there’s everything you’d want in a film playing at LAAPF. A hot asian lead, current heart-wrenching themes and it’s made by undergraduate students from UC Irvine!”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
Christen Hepuakoa Marquez
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“To Weave A Name” | Tuesday May 7 | 6:45pm | CGV Cinemas 2 | LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“In the winter of 2003 I was finishing up my last semester of film school at NYU. At that time I was working a lot as a camera assistant on some student films but also just starting to get paid on music videos and all kinds of weird low budget films. Which for the most part ment I was freezing my butt off in 15ʻ cube van desperately trying to warm up my hands so I could load another 16mm Aaton film magazine. Yes there were still a lot of people shooting on film in 2003 in New York!”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“I Produced another film called Two Shadows that was in LAAPFF in 2012 I met a lot of filmmakers through that festival who were still in production on their films and now it is exciting to see many of them showing their work this year in 2013. ”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“The most interesting things about my film ‘To Weave A Name’ is that I tried to delicately incorporate elements of magical realism into a documentary. I figured that I had better take advantage of the freedom to do some experimental things since this film is a first-person story. I also want to recommend that people go see the short film ‘Paulina’ which is playing as part of The Thickness of Blood & Water program at CGV cinema. The Director Caylee So won a student academy award for the film and she is definitely going places. For a must see feature film I have to recommend ‘The Haumāna’ by Keo Woolford which is playing in both LA and Long Beach. This is a landmark film because it is the first feature length narrative film that I know of about hula that is written and directed by a lifelong hula student and the cinematography is incredible!”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
Ann Kaneko
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“A Flicker in Eternity” | Tuesday May 7 | 7pm | CGV Cinemas 3| LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“I had returned from a year in Peru on a Fulbright, working on a documentary, and was screening my musical, 100% Human Hair, at festivals including LAAPFF.”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“My screening of my documentary, AGAINST THE GRAIN: An Artist’s Survival Guide to Peru, screened to a packed house. It was a fantastic gathering of friends and supporters.”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“My film tells about the Japanese American camp experience from a different POV–a first person perspective of a teenage boy caught in the middle, just like Anne Frank.”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
Diana Ling
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“The Shopgirl” | Monday May 6 | 9:30pm | CGV Cinemas 2 | LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“I was 13 years old and in seventh grade, drawing my own characters and dreaming of making my own animated film.”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“I’ve never been to LAAPFF! ”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“If you like Asian American pop culture, vinyl toys and anime, this is the film for you! ”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
Jeff Liu
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“Yellow Face” | Sunday May 5 | 5pm | Directors Guild of America 2 | LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“I worked on a short that played in the festival that year. I remember how cool it was to be part of something that got to play at the DGA. That here was a little corner of the world that was just for us.”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“Sitting at a table with a number of folks, including Linda Mabalot, everyone exhausted but exhilarated. Listening to stories about the beginnings of VC. Thinking: it takes special leaders like these… ”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“Our film is a comedic mash-up of theatre, film, and YouTube, featuring the work of possibly our best dramatist, David Henry Hwang.”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
Jon Maxwell
LAAPFF Filmmaker
“Keni” | Sunday May 5 | 7pm | Directors Guild of America 1 | LAAPFF Page
What were you doing ten years ago (2003)?
“I arrived in LA in August of 2003. I was sleeping on a friend’s couch.”
What is your favorite memory of LAAPFF?
“I met or bonded with a lot of my friends in LA at LAAPFF.”
Tell us why we should watch your film in this year’s film festival.
“Because Keni Styles is a character in the Asian community with a very unique story that needs to be told.”
Check out more answers from LAAPFF filmmakers and actors here.
