Tag: documentary

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ASIAN AMERICAN GROUPS HOSTED A MOVIE NIGHT TO SEE AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY

From Julie Huang, PR professional and President of Kaimen Company (and AABANY member):

On Wednesday , August 1, Asian American organizations [including AABANY] hosted a special Movie Night at the IFC Center to see Alison Klayman critically-acclaimed new documentary film, “Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry”.  Many attendees took advantage of the IFC promo code at the box office for this particular showing of the film. Others who cared more about convenience than the IFC community ticket promo bought their tickets on www.movietickets.com ahead of time.

One of the Asian American groups, Asian Cinevision, included this message, in its event announcement, “AI WEI WEI NEVER SORRY follows Ai Wei Wei, a political delinquent, who challenges the notion of freedom through his art and conceptual work. In a country that celebrates censorship, he makes us imagine possibilities beyond limitations: what does it mean to use art as a political tool? Ultimately, he puts out a call for transparency, but how will the Chinese government respond?”

Based on our count, 150 people came out. The crowd was multigenerational and multicultural with a wide range of reactions to the film. Attendees we spoke with told us they have no idea about what Ai Weiwei faced in China.  Like what Ai Weiwei said in the film, “If it is not publicized, then it is like it never happened.” So if this film was not made or if the video footage was not taken or if people have not watched this film, then how would they know what happened.  Where’s the proof, baby?  I wrote some more about this film in this blog post, "Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry – Do not Wei to see this! Ai Weiwei.“  If you are looking for a more intelligent write-up, read Sue Lain Moy’s ”No Need to Apologize: Alison Klayman’s documentary, AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRY, is a work of art and Ryan Wong’s Portrait of an Artist as a Activist | Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry.

On a yummy note, the @NesquikLiveNYC street team were nearby to hand out free bottles of Nesquik chocolate milks! Some of the moviegoers got their chocolate fix on Nesquik.  Thanks Nesquik. 

It was a wonderful night – chocolate milk and all!

Not in NYC and would like to see the film? Visit this page for listings in your area.

      julie       FeliCity

 with support from the

and special thanks to

families with children from china resized 600 asiance resized 600

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At the May 22 production of “Revisiting Vincent,” one of our Community Presenters that were present at the event was POV, the documentary program on PBS.  They kindly took the time to edit together the video footage taken at New York Law School.  For those who were there, you can relive the power and impact of the performance and the engaging talkback that followed, led by Hon. Denny Chin and Dean Frank Wu.  For those who missed it, now is your chance to see what everyone has been talking about.  Thanks to POV for making this happen!

(Source: https://player.vimeo.com/)
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“The Learning” Coming to POV

AABANY was one of the Community Partners for the screening of the documentary “The Learning” at the Asian American International Film Festival, now in its 34th year.  The seemingly endless rain did not dissuade the hearty souls who came out on a damp Sunday afternoon to see the film, showing at the Clearview Chelsea Cinema on West 23rd Street.

The film chronicles a year in the lives of four Filipino women who are recruited to teach in the schools of Inner City Baltimore.  They leave behind their entire families, friends and loved ones to pursue opportunities that are open to them in America, enduring the challenges of a different place and culture, and reaping the benefits and consequences of their choices.  The film is at once sad and funny, disturbing and enlightening. The film succeeds in drawing the viewer into the lives of each of the teachers and revealing the stark contrast of their lives here and back home in the Philippines.

If you missed the screening, make sure to catch it on POV on PBS, on September 20.  Check your local listings.