What if you were wrongfully accused for a crime you did not commit, and you have exhausted every possible means to clear your name, but to no avail? This is the story that filmmakers Marty Syjunco and Michael Collins tell in their award-winning documentary, Give Up Tomorrow, based on the story of Paco Larrañaga.
A riveting tale (no matter whose “side” you find yourself on), Give Up Tomorrow is a gloriously produced film, bringing the relatively unknown story of Paco and the Chiong sisters to light. Receiving praise from numerous film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival in New York, Give Up Tomorrow is a must-see.
Get an insight into the makings behind the film in our interview with one of the film’s makers, Marty Syjuco.
This award-winning film takes you to the lively, colorful Gujarat Kite Festival in India, where six intriguing, interconnected stories are told beautifully through the lens of director Prashant Bhargawi.
On occasion, it is not rare to arrive to work in tears. What is rare, however, is to arrive to work and be moved to tears in awe of its beauty. As fortune would have it, this was the case for 23-year-old Vanessa Hudgens on the set of the highly anticipated 3D family adventure film JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND.
Vanessa Hudgens on 'Journey 2' poster
“It was really amazing. It was paradise basically. I had a hard time prying myself away from beach and when I showed up to work, it was the most amazing scenery that I almost always showed up in tears,” Hudgens said.
Released in 3D and 2D in select theaters and IMAX® on February 10, Journey 2 was filmed on location in Oahu, Hawaii as a follow-up to the 2008 worldwide hit “Journey to the Center of the Earth”.
Audrey Magazine got the chance to interview the Filipina-Chinese American actress about her experience working on the film, her relationship with her co-stars, and the beauty and adventure that is Hawaii. Continue Reading »
Lisa See‘s bestselling novel, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, explores the complex nuances of female friendship between childhood friends Snow Flower and Lily in 19th century China. They are laotongs, “old sames,” bound together in sisterhood as tight as their own painfully bound feet through their devotional love for one another and the suffering they endure together from the woes and demands of being married women in their time. Nushu, a secret language known only to women, further cements their bond as they write to each other on the folds of fans and exchange them furtively.
In the film adaptation of the novel, out in theaters now, Snow Flower and Lily face their personal challenges with quiet strength and sacrifice and treat each other with tenderness rarely seen in any kind of relationship today, a delicate emotional balance that Chinese actress Li Bing Bing and Korean actress Gianna Jun achieved with astonishing dignity.
Cast for their contrasting appearances, Li and Jun take on the role of Lily and Snow Flower in addition to Nina and Sofia, respectively, the latter a pair of modern day women in Shanghai, which director Wayne Wang felt was a necessary addition to the story line.
Troves of star power trekked out to the Snow Flower and the Secret Fan screening at the Tribeca Grand Hotel last week. And the fashion, though tamer than, say, the Cannes Film Fest or NY fashion week, was still something to be noted.
Summer is underway and that could only mean many things for movie-lovers: popping some popcorn, sipping on soda and watching the newest films on the theater screens with free air condition. You have to get your cool air somehow, somewhere when the thermostat hits over 90 degrees so why not spend it by checking out new releases. What’s so great about this summer is we will be seeing more and more Asian American faces-whether it be in giant blockbusters or starring in small indies.
Audrey Magazine and KoreAm Journal invites you to a special advanced screening of The Hangover II on May 24th in LA.
Click here for more info and a chance to win!
Vanessa Hudgens and Jamie Chung showed their style prowess while promoting their new movie Sucker Punch, hitting the red carpet in an array of beautiful gowns and minis. What makes their red carpet moments so noteworthy is each girl’s distinct styles. Vanessa rocked the boho chic and Jaime kept it elegant and fresh. Check out Audrey‘s picks for their top three looks from their world press promotion.
Sucker Punch LA Premiere, March 23
The latest Zack Snyder (300, Sin City) action-fantasy romp, Sucker Punch premiered over the weekend and took home the number 2 title at the box office. What may have helped the film’s numbers could be the main cast’s genuine chemistry. Stars Emily Browning, Vanessa Hudgens, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone and Jamie Chung really seem to like each other! There may be lots of fighting onscreen, but don’t expect any cat fights once the camera stops rolling.
“Filming in America feels like you’re taking a vacation.” -Jay Chou
ISSUE: Winter 2010
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Janice Jann
National Hero
Before Rain and Wang Lee Hom, there was Jay Chou, the original Asian pop heartthrob. Since 2000, when the Taiwanese native came out with his debut album, Jay, the now-31-year-old has sold more than 28 million albums worldwide and racked up more than 350 singer, singer-songwriter, and producer awards in Asia. He’s bringing that star appeal to the silver screen this January in the remake of The Green Hornet, starring alongside Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz. Marking his debut to the American market, Chou plays the title character’s partner, Kato, a
role originated by none other than Bruce Lee.
