cinema

Hello all my friends and fans,

Yesterday in my press conference in Cannes for Chinese 12 Zodiac I said that this movie was my last big action movie.

Today I was shocked when I woke up to read all the news coverage that I was retiring from doing Action movies.

I just want to let everyone know that I am not retiring from doing action movies. What I meant to say is that I need to do less of the life risking stunts on my movies. After all these years of doing so many stunts and breaking so many bones, I need to take better care of my body so I can keep working.

I will continue to do international action movies.

And I will keep improving my English

I love all of you!

Jackie

The Bronze! This movie, Chinese Zodiacs comes out 12.12.12 and it’s supposedly Jackie’s last action movie. It’s no secret that his body is severely beat up from the years of stunts gone wrong. He’s retiring from action movies which then leaves the next question. What will he do in front of the camera? He’s already of legendary status and maybe one of the greatest on screen martial artists in history. His credentials may never be broken. What’s left? Comedy (he’s a funny man, but will it translate outside of China? His English is about the same from the 80s) Love stories (see Jackie kiss a woman correctly on screen which is something he hasn’t gotten right yet) or Drama (a tough sell when he’s as typecast as any actor can be. He can’t be taken seriously, or can he?)

Another year rolls by. The LA Asian Pacific Film Festival has run through a week of film programming. Congrats to the folks who work on this festival. It’s looking up – way up. The closing night took place at the CGV Cinemas in Koreatown. The pics don’t do the event justice, but that’s my cousin Michael Aki who starred in the film, Daylight Savings. Yes, there are better photos of him, but these are iPhone specials!

People dancing and Michael stares at who knows what. A starlet?

Then it’s beer time. Chug.

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Day of the Beast, a lesser known Japanese film originally titled Youth of the Beast by Seijun Suzuki from 1963 will be remade with John Woo. The writer is from reality TV which is a scare, but overall, if it’s sheer action, it might end up being over the top fun. John Woo made the infamous The Killer and Hardboiled before he went on to a rocky US career. Face Off might be one of his best projects state side. (Hollywood Reporter - John Woo)

Daniel Wu interviewed as part of his guest attendance at Cinema Pacific Film Festival at his alma mater, University of Oregon. Congrats Dan. (Daily Emerald – Daniel Wu)

Asian films to compete at Cannes. That’s Im Sang Soo above.

“On Thursday the festival announced its lineup, which includes director Hong Sang-soo’s “In Another Country” and “The Taste of Money” from director Im Sang-soo. Mr. Hong’s feature “Hahaha” won the Prix Un Certain Regard at Cannes two years ago.

Abbas Kiarostami, one of Iran’s most celebrated directors, will also compete for the top prize with “Like Someone in Love”. The drama, which takes place in Japan and has been getting some buzz on the Internet, focuses on the relationship between a young woman and an older man.” (WSJ – Cannes)

Yes, it’s now a co-production with someone in China. Hollywood is just reaching so hard to China, it’s getting strange. China is now the second largest film nation… so, yes, it’s obvious that chasing the money is what’s going on. (Reuters – China)

Yes it’s about to start on Thursday. Congrats on getting to 30! This is still the premier Asian American anything in the country. It’s a film festival, but it’s more than that. The films are what it’s based around, but it ends up being a huge social gathering with numerous events of all sorts. Here’s the program.

Awesome to see a trailer after a couple of years in production! Catch this film and more at the CAAM SF Asian American International Film Festival! It’s coming up.

4D movies? Leave it to creative producers to figure out how to use the term. What does it mean? Your seats will vibrate! In 4D Sex and Zen: Slayer of a Thousand from the Mysterious East – that’s what they are promising. When an orgasmic scene happens, you will feel it and hopefully it won’t arouse anything else. The best quote for it, since some said the sex scenes weren’t racy enough, “This time we will be paying more attention to that, and will be enlisting the aid of experts from Japan to direct these scenes,” Japan? Yes, that’s exactly what they need, the sexperts in racy cinema. (Channelnewsasia – Sex and Zen 4D)

The film is actually called Daylight Savings. It’s debuting at the SXSW film festival, but a day later, it’s in SF.

The tickets are available at CAAM. It’s the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. That’s Goh Nakamura (right) and Ayako Fujitani (left).

With a name that no one can pronounce? Is it like See Dick Bale? This is a not a joking matter except for when we tell it. This is the largest movie made funded by both John Woo and the Government – yes they’re becoming synonymous these days – at least by the movies he’s making. It’s epic at 24 million dollars and tells the aboriginal tale of a Taiwanese historical figure who fights against… that drum roll… the Japanese! Does he win? Just look up history and you’ll find out.

According to Montreal Gazette – “Taiwanese cinema is in the midst of a renaissance,” says Peggy Chiao, Taiwanese film critic, professor and commercial producer. “It’s a question of national identity. For 20 years, Taiwan has been searching for its own distinctive identity. People want to see films that reflect who they are,” she says.

The article does go on to explain more about Taiwan cinema, and how some of the actors are being favored in China thanks for their better Mandarin command than the Hong Kong actors. Will Seediq Bale provide any kind of cross over across the seas or across borders? Perhaps not, but it’s a start to yet another industry of entertainment aside from the internationally known films of Hou Hsiao Hsien. (Canada.com – Taiwan Movies)

Sometimes, cinema isn’t just to tell a story. It’s has no exact ending. In this case, it’s a process that’ll take longer than the duration of the making and of the showing of his film. This is a touching Story written by Andrew Ahn, a Korean American and gay filmmaker who made his project to come out to his parents. This is the story. Andrew Ahn mentions, “I did this because I knew I wouldn’t be able to say the words “I’m gay.” I’ve tried many times; to sit my parents down on the couch and tell them. But by making a film, I’d have this train, this production pushing me forward. And by casting my parents in the film, I was forcing myself off the ledge. The filmmaking process both distracted and prepared me for the inevitable – that I would eventually have to show my parents the finished film.” (HuffPost – Andrew Ahn)

At 104, it’s time to retire from TVB, his station and creation. He’s well known as a media mogul, however the indelible name of Shaw is synonymous with the 1000 movies many of which were exported in the 70s as Kung Fu flicks. He was knighted in 1977 if that gives you any idea of who he is as a Chinese man working in entertainment. His career has spanned and his legend will always continue. (Irish Times – Run Run Shaw)

It wasn’t easy to pick the 10 winners of the tickets for two to see Norwegian Wood. There were 60+ entries for the ten spots. They were picked by me based on whatever criteria I felt at the moment. There isn’t a “if I write more, I have a better chance” system. It could be how I felt at that moment and your short poetic words caught me off guard, maybe that’s how I picked. If you didn’t get in, please try again during our next giveaway. Some of your words were too generic, in a “let me in” type of way, but if you offered just a little more, you were in the running. Here’s my picks. (I left the editing part out, some probably wrote from their smart phones and some carefully crafted their words)

The 100% Perfect Girl

I’m a huge Haruki Murakami fan. I have his more recent books but unfortunately haven’t read Norwegian Wood. I loved 1Q84. I just found out about this movie a week ago and was stoked. I’d love to attend and already know “the 100% perfect girl” who would be my date, as she’s a big fan too!
Greg Wong

-Greg, you are the dark horse, there are fans of all of his books, fans of the filmmaker, and fans of the actors who aren’t getting in, but this “100% perfect girl” is intriguing. If there’s such a thing for you and you know who she is, I’m picking you just on that merit, so hurry and ask her.

Flipping!

oh, let me count the ways…

it was the first murakami book i read almost 20 years ago. and i read it in a tiny, tiny city in southeastern japan, so that made it even more special. i lived a long time in japan, and his books kept me grand company as the still do today. in fact, i just re-read norwegian wood about a month ago and it’s still a lovely little tome to me.

i’m very excited to see this movie, especially because rinko kikuchi is in it.

flipping love her!

ALSO, i speak/read/write japanese, am a member of the Japan Society here in new york, and have always loved me some Giant Robot.

so in closing:
PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME!

thanks!
Jennifer Andrews

-Jennifer, Yes, we love her too. I doubt she loves us back the same. The GR plug, a great move. Have a great time.

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Giant Robot Exclusive Outrage Clip a Movie by Beat Takeshi. Thanks to Magnolia Pictures (Magnet Releasing). OUTRAGE is available now via Magnolia On-Demand on October 28 and in theaters in starting December 2. Anyone want to see a free screening on this in Southern California? Stay Tuned for More Info Later Today!

A nice tribute to Anna May Wong, actress from the early period of cinema. It’s from a site called Clothes on Film, but really, it’s not about clothing, it’s really a bio of Anna May Wong. The photos collected look great, and the article really is timely because of the influx of Asian themes in high fashion of late. She’s one to remember since she was a pioneer and didn’t hold back on the glamor she brought to the industry. (Clothes on Film – Anna May Wong)

Who is the Asian actress from Texas who is suing Amazon IMDB (yes IMDB is owned by Amazon) for revealing her age? Probably near 40, is mad, is from Texas. Her profile began in 2003, so there’s a few clues. The woman pixelated above is not her, but if the plaintiff wins, she’ll get a cool million.

Oops. Since Isabelle Huppert is teaming up with Asian directors, and it doesn’t matter who… Filipino, Korean, name it, it’s all about Asia because it’s hot! It’s fair to say, who cares who she is at the same time. Nice Red Dress though and as what a great pose! C’mon CBS News and C’mon Huppert!

Frieda Pinto, the starlet from Slumdog Millionaire who’s also in Rise of the Apes and more looks great, is working, and getting known in the US and everywhere, but why not India? Slumdog Millionaire wasn’t loved in India, home to nearly a billion and perhaps it’s the typical situation of being loved in other places first doesn’t translate to anything in the home court. Ask the same question to the unknown Americans who are big stars in Japanese baseball, Kent Gilbert (an American early TV star in Japan), and so on. It’s happens everywhere, especially to an up and comer. Savor the moment and don’t worry. (CNNGO – Frieda Pinto)