Kimchi Mamas

Let's Fund This: "Twinsters," a story of two women who may be twins who discovered each other online

Meet Samantha Futerman, a Korean adoptee living in Los Angeles.  She is an actor and budding YouTube star:

 

One day, Sam got a Facebook message from a French girl named Anais:

It turns out Anais and Sam were born on the same day in the same city, and they look exactly alike!  Oh my gosh!  It's like a Korean drama in real life!

Anyway, they are currently documenting their discovery process, including their first in-person reunion and a DNA test, and are accepting funds through Kickstarter.

I really want to help make this movie happen, it's such an amazing story!  Who's with me?

--Julie

Shout out to Angry Asian Man for the tip!  Amazing!

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Update 3/22/2013: Kimchi Mamas is proud to announce we have pledged $1000 towards the funding of this fascinating documentary!

They have a lot more to go, so please go make a pledge if you want to see this story come to fruition!

Happy Asian Pacific American History Month!

The charming men of the National Film Society recently gathered together a group of notable Asian Americans (including Kimchi brethren Phil Yu of Angry Asian Man, Randall Park, and Joy Osmanski), dubbed them "The Asian Avengers," and dished about the the cornucopia (or the lack thereof) of Asian role models they had when they were young:

You can see more of their work at their YouTube channel.

How Do White Supremacists View Asians?

Koji Steven Sakai at 8Asians.com did what many of us do not dare to do: he lurked on white supremacist discussion boards in order to see what they though of Asian people.

Sakai reported back that the feelings were in fact mixed; some white supremacists viewed Asians, especially the Japanese, as a race to respect and/or model in terms of setting up a homogeneous yet prosperous society.  Others viewed us as a yellow menace.  

The excerpts included in the article just chilled me to the bone.  I found it a fascinating read, and wanted to share with the Kimchi Mama community.  What did you guys think?

--Julie

PS: Koji Steven Sakai is currently working on "Chink," a horror movie with an Asian American protagonist.

American Revolutionary: Grace Lee Boggs Documentary

American Revolutionary - Indiegogo Pitch from American Revolutionary on Vimeo.

I was recently in the Jane Addams Hull House Museum in Chicago and saw a wonderful portrait of Grace Lee Boggs hanging on the wall. It is part of an exhibit called Americans Who Tell The Truth, containing 10 portraits from the inspiring series of the same name by Robert Shetterly. Some of you may have heard of Grace Lee Boggs through the documentary The Grace Lee Project, or you may have heard of her because she has been an activist and community organizer in Detroit for many decades. She has been an inspiration to me and one of the influences in my own personal journey of becoming politicized. At almost 96 years old, Grace Lee Boggs continues to dedicate herself to serving her beloved community, and her impact is felt not only in Detroit but throughout the world, via her writings and her mentoring of activists and justice lovers in so many places over many decades.

Because of the inspiration Grace Lee Boggs has been to many of us who contribute to Kimchi Mamas, we were excited to hear of a new documentary film project about her by the filmmaker of The Grace Lee Project, who is also named Grace Lee and is also a Kimchi Mama. The new film is titled American Revolutionary:The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs. Grace Lee wrote the following in an email a few weeks ago telling us about the new project:

"I actually started this project while I was staying home with my son who was born three years ago. I wanted  him to know about Grace Lee Boggs and her ideas of rethinking what it means to be an 'American revolutionary' -- someone who is dedicated to the ideas of social justice and the process of building community. Fellow moms I think would respond to her message as well."

Grace Lee is currently raising funds to be able to complete this project, and we at Kimchi Mamas are only too happy to help get the word out for this worthy cause. She has 12 days left to reach a goal of $12,500 to be able to receive an anonymous matching donation of another $4,500, bringing the total to $17,000. She is soooo close to that goal now at just shy of $11,000. We encourage all our fellow Kimchi Mamas and Kimchi Papas and allies to donate if they are able. No amount is too small, and I am certain that the resulting film will be a treasure and inspiration to so many, including ourselves and our children. Please go to Grace's Indigogo site to contribute.

To learn more about the work of filmmaker Grace Lee, please visit her website at gracelee.net. To learn more about the life and work of Grace Lee Boggs, please visit The Bogg Center.

~Sarah-Ji

LAAPFF Itsy Bitsy Shorts

If you and your kids find yourself in LA this weekend, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is once again having its children's program, Itsy Bitsy Shorts!  It's the third time they've done this, and this year they will show 5 kid-friendly animated shorts, two of them by Korean artists, as well as a live performance with the legendary Kristina Wong.

The event is free, you just need to reserve tickets here.  I went last year with both my kids and we had a blast!

Here is the official info:

LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL --
For our youngest festival guests comes the 3rd edition of ITSY BITSY SHORTS, the Saturday morning family program (appropriate for ages 2 and up). Enjoy an animation showcase (5 films, approx. 24 mins. total) in comfy stadium style seating, then join us for an interactive performance of "Grey Gardens for Children," featuring legendary performance artist Kristina Wong with a surprise ensemble.

Date: Saturday, May 7 · 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: CGV Cinemas - Koreatown
621 S Western Ave. (Between 6th Street and Wilshire Blvd)
Los Angeles, CA

Films: OUT ON A LIMB (by Daisy Lin). ORANGE CITY (by Qingyuan Wang). ELECTRIC CAR (by Max Porter, Ru Kuwahata aka Tiny Inventions). WHERE, THERE, HERE (by Soyeon Kim). CHERRY ON THE CAKE (by Hyebin Lee).

Ever wish you could nosh on Asian snacks at the movies? Use your savings from the FREE PROGRAM & FREE PARKING and head to CGV's cinema cafe and concession stand for taro ice cream and dried squid!

Ticket reservations and film details at http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/itsy_bitsy_shorts_2011_2011

--Julie

 

Poetry - A South Korean Film

 

There is a new Korean Film that's playing in the Bay Area. Here is synopsis.

 

Poetry

Mija (veteran actress Yun Jung-hee) is a beautiful woman in her sixties who moves gracefully through life, contemplating a trivial daily routine that is ill-suited to her refined persona. With warmth, elegance and a dash of eccentricity, Mija takes care of her ungrateful grandson Wook (Lee David) and makes a living by cleaning house for an elderly man who, though paralyzed by a stroke, still responds to her charm with bouts of drug-induced arousal. On a whim, Mija enrolls in a poetry class at the local cultural center and begins a personal quest to find the perfect words to describe her feelings. However, she’s plagued by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and struggles with new vocabulary and the challenges of the creative process. When her world is turned upside down by the discovery of a monstrous crime, it is Mija’s unique and touching poetry that allows her to continue to embrace life. A mysterious, redemptive, cathartic film. Written and directed by Lee Chang-dong (Secret Sunshine, Oasis). (Fully subtitled)

See other locations.

I think I might go see it in Berkeley. Anyone interested in joining?

- Mary

The Warrior's Way

Jang Dong Gun is starring in a Hollywood film called The Warrior's Way with Kate Bosworth! I'm a little bit excited. Are you going to see it?

He was a lead actor in two huge Korean films, TaeGukki (Brotherhood of War) and Chin-goo (Friend). He tied the knot with Go So Young, a beautiful Korean actress, earlier this year and they had a baby couple of months ago. I hope it's better than Ninja Assassin... I didn't watch that one but I heard it wasn't that good. Sorry Rain!

- Mary

Won Bin - still hot

So, three of us saw Man from Nowhere (ahjuhssi) last night and I was glad to see that Won Bin is hotter than ever.  The movie was quite violent... I overheard a random ajumma commenting to (who I guessed was) her daughter that it was violent.  But given my Korean movie experience (Old Boy anyone?), I kind of expected it so I was not too terribly shocked.

If I was not such an avid Won Bin fan and if I wasn't Korean, I think I probably would have thought that the movie was very corny... but since I am a huge Won Bin fan and all, I soaked up all the corny goodness and was totally balling my eyes out during every "sad" scene.  

Korean Movie Night: The Man From Nowhere

Hi Everyone,

Don't fall over stunned on seeing my 3rd post in a week!  This arrived in my inbox today, from a Korean Adoptee maillist I am on for the San Francisco Bay area:

To read more about the movie, click here.  I have not seen it yet, so can't offer a review, but there are some on the bottom of the page.  The short storyline here is that a man gets pulled (back?) into a drug crime situation when a neighbor and her daughter get kidnapped.  The star is Won Bin, and he is, ahem, attractive.  It sounds fairly violent, so not for the whole family.

For those like me, whose Korean is weak, the movie is subtitled in English.

The movie is actually playing in Cupertino tonight through Thursday, November 4th.  To see movie times, click here and select "AMC Independent" and the date for which you want showtimes.  The gal who sent out the email said all are welcome at the AKASF event, whether adoptees or not, so consider coming to their times.  I may try to make it, but can't commit.

Let's do this like the Book Review this summer.  I'll try to see it this week.  If you've already seen it, let us know your thoughts.  If you have not seen it, then come back and comment when you have.

Have a great weekend everyone!

--Jomama

 

Free Kids and Family Program at LA Asian Pacific Film Festival

Film festivals sound like such fun, but when you have small people tethered to your legs - small people with early bedtimes no less - they don't seem like very practical endeavors. (Especially not when the last movie you saw was that bad Heigl rom-com from how many months back now?) Now the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival has a Saturday morning short film program, and a follow up fun performance artist in the theater lobby (with the irrepressible Kristina Wong). 

Here's the program info:

Itsy Bitsy Shorts at the L.A. Asian Pacific Film Festival

Date:	Saturday, May 1, 2010
Time:	10:00am - 11:00am
Location:	Directors Guild of America, 7920 Sunset Blvd (at Hayworth, One block west of Fairfax), West Hollywood

ITSY BITSY SHORTS: “FURRY FEATHERED FRIENDS AND MORE” TRT: 30 min.

The second edition of ITSY BITSY SHORTS returns to showcase films that speak to our youngest moviegoers, bringing us up close with a cuddly hand-drawn pup, sneaky 3D birds, multilingual stop motion animals searching for home, and two island brothers who court trouble in their quest for summer shaved ice…the fun continues with a special program appearance by performance artist Kristina Wong. (Appropriate for viewers age 3 and up)

DGA parking and tickets for this event are free! (This is a FREE admission, but a ticket must be ordered to hold your seat(s).)