Giant Robot Store and GR2 News
Chris Chan Lee, Justin Lin, Rea Tajiri, myself, Quentin Lee, Michael Aki. We all wrote about our ideas about 1997, our trips, our films, what it was like, and what it became. This might be one of the most important posts regarding Asian American film, ever. It’s a long read, and each of us in many ways seemed to have similar views looking back. I’m glad I’m not the only one. This was to be 2 paragraphs from each of us. I thought I was doing a disservice by writing 4 or 5. It turns out, some of the others wrote nearly a book. I’m not sure if it’s great to be lumped into this nostalgia just yet, since this is the type of stuff I used to think should just die off, but oh well. One thing that might be fun to hear is from the film festival programmers etc. I know they played major favorites to who they thought were the bigger films. Yellow, by Chris Chan Lee was considered to big one for sure. We were always given the crappier time slots and smaller theaters (yes, admit it bitches). Our film sold out at it’s premiere, plenty early, and no further screenings afterwards. At the NY Asian American festival, we were given a midnight slot in the middle of nowhere and I think 8 people were there. Black and white film = midnight? That was fucked up. For that, I give the programmer the middle finger. But overall, it’s very possible that of all of these films, ours may hold up the most because it was shot black and white and grainy, giving it a timeless feel – sort of like Strangers in Paradise by Jarmusch. It’s theme wasn’t about Asian America at all, or had a cast that existed in Asian American land. It was very prototypical, but then again, we never even considered our film to be part of any Asian American anything. Read more, at the link please. youoffendmeyouoffendmyfamily.com
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Rolan Bolan and Masakatsu Sashie. Sashie drew a nice gift for Rolan. Imagine an event that was just an idea two years ago that finally came true. Here are the words on the intro wall:Two years ago, Darren Romanelli posed the question to young contemporary Japanese artist Masakatsu Sashie, "What kind of music do you like?" Her answer "T-Rex!". This "Exhibition" spawned from that moment and worlds...
Rolan Bolan and Masakatsu Sashie. Sashie drew a nice gift for Rolan. Imagine an event that was just an idea two years ago that finally came true. Here are the words on the intro wall: Two years ago, Darren Romanelli posed the question to young contemporary Japanese artist Masakatsu Sashie, “What kind of music do you like?” Her answer “T-Rex!”. This “Exhibition” spawned from that moment and worlds began to collide. Masakatsu Sashie has shown with Eric Nakamura and Giant Robot in America, and he resides in the Japanese Sea city of Kanazawa. Somehow, T-Rex has invaded his life as well. If you’re new to T-Rex, imagine the the late 60s and early 70s, when English rock pushed every boundary. T-Rex invented a style of glam and brought it to rock n roll sharing influences and impacting almost all of his contemporaries including Bowie, Bauhaus, the Damned, and many others. Led by Marc Bolan, songs such as Bang a Gong, has reached world household status today as it’s appeared in nearly every medium. Fusing a relationship with Marc Bolan’s son Rolan, and Rolan’s mother, Gloria Jones, this event featuring the art of Masakatsu Sashie, honors the late rock star in an event that’s long overdue. Mark Bolan may have passed away on September 16, 1997, just shy of his 30th birthday, but his legacy is gaining momentum everyday. Sing a silent Happy Birthday, as you’ve actually stepped into his 62nd birthday party. Darren Romanelli and Eric Nakamura would like to thank:Light of LoveMarc Bolan School of Music and FilmFor Your ArtHysteric Glamour That’s me and Lupe Fiasco, the Superstar. He’s taller than me! I thought he was short! Wait, maybe he is. Gloria Jones Hysteric Glamour Romanelli family Joe and fans
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Rolan Bolan and Masakatsu Sashie. Sashie drew a nice gift for Rolan. Imagine an event that was just an idea two years ago that finally came true. Here are the words on the intro wall: Two years ago, Darren Romanelli posed the question to young contemporary Japanese artist Masakatsu Sashie, “What kind of music do you like?”
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David Choe rips another one... unofficial GR Biennale Flyer.
Want to see it larger? Open our flickr.