ho chie's blog: 03.2006

With Lan & Kim chillin' outside the Union at U of I. Feels like home.

Pitstop at Doreen's. Cheers!

Given that I don't work that much to begin with, I really shouldn't feel this busy, but I am. It must be the excessive sleeping, my pet projects and all the travelling...

Exhausted.

Home.

The Film Festival Closing Gala.

Loan, Julia, me, Lori, and Simon.

Inside the Palace of Fine Arts.

I didn't receive the memo about matching pants...

We be chillin'

Focus.

The Golden Gate glow.

"Yoohoo! J.Fu to the rescue!"

In the past week, I have watched thirty-three features, documentaries, and short films. I am insane, and I love it!

I love watching these Asian American independent films for so many reasons. Obviously, entertainment value and the possibility of crossing paths with "stars" is one exciting reason. Another is that the subject matter often speaks volumes in reference to my own experiences as an Asian American or that seeing an Asian face on the big screen simply validates our existence. But, what truly draws me is that there is so much heart, so much dedication put into these artistic presentations. These are true "labors of love."

When I hear stories about young independent directors borrowing on credit to create and complete a film they have dreamt about, or well-established actors who decline their usual salaries because they believe in the vision of the project, I am reminded that we all need to feel passionate about what we do in life. To quote one of the short films I saw, "there is no happy ending in life, there are only happy moments." There is no end-point in this game of life. It is the process of figuring out all the little steps along the way and enjoying the unexpected moments. Each of us must, at some point in our lives, confront the values, passions, and pressures that tug at our heart-strings. And we must hopefully be brave enough to pursue the route that makes us feel most complete and happy.

Another reason I love attending Asian American festivals, as I have for well over a decade, well, that would be the feeling of discovering a hidden gem among all the grains of sand on a beach. I felt that way again just tonight after watching films like Only the Brave, which recounts the valour of the all Japanese American 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the wonderfully warm and funny Colma: The Musical, quite possibly one of the most entertaining movie musicals I have ever seen. I even bought their CD soundtrack, and I don't even collect CDs...

I can't stop smiling right now. I'm in love with passion and heart.

Among the star-studded cast of Only the Brave:
Greg Watanabe, Jason Scott Lee, Lane Nishikawa, Tamlyn Tomita...

From the "Death By Sushi" Collection.

Chillin' at Linda's with Jessica.

Me and Nance at a film screening & panel.

With film/TV stars: Chris Tashima, Daniel Dae Kim, and Jason Scott Lee.

Nance with the "Lost" star.

I saw some amazing films, documentaries, and shorts today. My favorite was probably a feature film called American Fusion, an adorable little comedy confronting cultural and racial boundaries in relationships. The nuances of growing up with Asian values (and prejudices) were so well portrayed, I found myself laughing and teary-eyed all at once. I have a feeling it will be picked up by a major studio and come out in wide-release sometime in the near future. A definite crowd-pleaser...

Another nice surprise this evening was one of many excellent short films titled My Prince, My Angel. Throughout the film, I kept wondering why the main male lead character looked so familiar... As the credits rolled, it turned out to be Kelvin Yu, who I haven't seen in about a decade, but I remember clearly as a youthful, energetic, and creative Junior High Staffer for TAF back in the early 90's. It's nice to see that he's doing well with his acting career.

Two films down. About 11 or 12 more programs to go...

The Opening Night Gala of the Asian American Film Festival.

Lovely reception at the Asian Art Museum.

Sophia contemplates.

The grandeur of the Civic Center Plaza.

Awww... a nice little note from one of my bosses:

It is great having you work for us - people describe a calm and white cloud that comes over [the clinic] when you arrive... you are appreciated - seriously!

It's interesting that we in the medical field talk about colleagues who have "white clouds" or "black clouds" referring to our "work karma" so-to-speak. Some docs labelled as black clouds seem to have all-hell break loose as soon as they start work; the clinic becomes overloaded with angry patients, their stories become complicated social situations and complex medical dilemmas, and even the number of dreaded emergency "code blues" increases.

I, on the other hand, am known to have a white cloud in general, because nothing ever happens when I'm working.

I am boring.

I had lunch with Mengting and Tim today at a nice Cambodian place in downtown Oakland. My life revolves around lunch appointments these days. That's the main reason I get out and, sad to say, about the full extent of my social life. I'm going to go hide in my corner now...

The 24th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival starts this week! I am excited! Come join me!

Sweets.

There's snow in the hills surrounding south bay... Brrr...

as refreshing and vibrant as a ray of sunshine...

Doing my taxes has become a prickly thorn in my butt. Figuring out how to move money around so that I can actually pay the taxes is like pushing that thorn in a little deeper. I think I just have to work more so that I can pay it off, even though there's something wrong with that logic. Welcome to the real world...

Yep. A much needed webpage makeover.

Cafe chilling with Dave near Dolores Park before he heads back to New York.

Last night turned out to be a sleep-over! Nancy, Dave, Kevin, and Brendan were my guests. After Nancy left, the four of us guys went to watch Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain before the Academy Awards aired... Talk about male bonding (picture us all holding hands and crying, haha j/k). Anyways, hooray for Ang Lee's recognition as Best Director!