Issues

Wednesday March 1, 2006 | Author: jane kim | Category: arts

The Asian American Film Festival is coming....

Here are a list of films that I am planning on seeing or want to see at the 24th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Click on the photo for times, location and full description:

promote Asian American Film!

SENTENCED HOME tells the heartbreaking story of three young Cambodian American men entangled in an impossible web of wartime politics, cultural identity and civil rights. Formerly incarcerated, they face deportation back to Cambodia, a land they barely know.

A friend of mine represented one of the individuals in this documentary when deportation case were re-opened because new regulations were issued by the Department of Justice after 9/11. An important issue for us to learn more about and one that affected the Cambodian American community in particular.

Kieu was written, directed and produced by a group of kick ass APA women artists. Locus was proud to be a fiscal sponsor and part of this workshoping process. Taking place in San Francisco, an epic Vietnamese national poem is given a twist, with a modern day heroine who works in a Tenderloin massage parlor.

The Rules of Dating

Two teachers decide to make sex, not romance, the basis of their relationship in this explicit, surprisingly hard-hitting look at love and intimacy (and the lack thereof). A refreshingly adult take on the confusions of connection and a frank look at sexuality.

I got to support the Korean films. The story sounds cheesy, but I hear it is actually quite well done… and fun!

Americanese
Everyone has been real excited by this film for some time now. Directed by Eric Byler (who did a great job with Charlotte Sometimes), this film is based on a pretty big novel of the Asian American literature genre. Partially because there is a lot of sex in it, but also because it portrayed two Asian Americans in a real, hearty (and troublesome) relationship. (I hear there is not that much sex in the actual movie.)

Punching At The Sun
A young South Asian American teenager copes with personal and social demons during one hot summer in Queens. Examining the lives of desi youth in urban America, the film is a powerful meditation on identity, racism and redemption.

I hear this film is a must see (insider’s recommendation).

Citizen Dog
The director of TEARS OF THE BLACK TIGER returns with this fabulously bizarre combination of CHUNGKING EXPRESS and UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG. A collection of tall tales, curios and love affairs, set in a Bangkok where everyone sings and grows tails.

This is another “insider’s” recommendation. Folks have lamented about how little has come out of the Thai film industry, outside of documentaries. This should change the critic’s minds.

Only The Brave

Another film you have to support. Old timer, Lane Nisikawa produced and directed this film about less often mentioned all Japanese American 100th Battalion/442nd Brigade in WWII. Almost every “who’s who of Asian American actors that has reached any level of fame is in this movie.

Dear Pyongyang
An ethnically Korean, Japanese-raised filmmaker questions why her proud father believed in the North Korean regime so much that he “returned” his own sons to Pyongyang. With unprecedented footage of North Korean life, this moving tale cuts across the Korean diaspora, and the capitalist/communist divide.

Another Korean film. Gotta support.

The Slanted Screen
Jeff Adachi, Public Defender extraordinaire, San Francisco leader and one of THE MOST RESPECTED elected officials, hands down, is also an avid APA arts supporter ever since I first met him. He produced and wrote this documentary on the history of APA men in film. Check it out! A panel with Daniel Dae Kim and other hot APA stars will follow.

········· ∞∞∞ ·········

Thursday October 20, 2005 | Author: jane kim | Category: politics

What's on your ballot II?

So, it’s not just state elections. Every year, there are also a batch of city initiatives on the ballot. You thought it was just as simple to JUST SAY NO to the Governor. Nope! It wouldn’t be San Francisco otherwise. The following is a list of my endorsements on our local initiatives.

YES on B: “Street Resurfacing, Pedestrian Safety and Access Improvement Bond”
Proposition B authorizes the city to borrow $208 million by issuing general obligation bonds to pay for major street and sidewalk improvements and to add bike lanes.

YES on C: “Ethics Charter Amendment.”
Proposition C would give the city’s Ethics Commission, which is responsible for enforcing local campaign and lobbying laws, more independence in setting its own budget and limit the mayor’s power.

YES on D: “Dividing Appointments to the Municipal Transportation Agency’s Board of Directors between the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors.”
Another measure, Proposition D, takes a stab at mayoral authority by rescinding the mayor’s ability to appoint all seven members to the board that oversees the Municipal Railway.

YES on E: “Moving the Election Date of the Public Defender and the Assessor/Recorder.”
This moves the election of these important elections from low voter turnout June election to the following November election!

NO on F: “Fire Department Power Grab”
Alright, this one is a confusing one. This measure is backed by the politically powerful San Francisco firefighters union that would end the brownouts that closed firehouses on a rotating basis during tight budget times and require all 42 firehouses in the city to stay open. Well doesn’t sound too bad, right? We don’t want our house to burn down.

But the city controller estimated that implementing Proposition F could cost up to $6.6 million a year in firefighter salaries and benefits. That’s less money going to youth programs and so many of the other MUCH NEEDED services in San Francisco. And frankly, we cut the Fire Department budget, because they have so much FAT to begin with.

Second, if the Fire Department wants more money, it needs to lobby City Hall. This measure would REQUIRE the city to spend money on the Department and it could only be re-assessed by another PUBLIC VOTE.

Read the Chronicle Opinion- No on F

I just want to add that firefighters are my FAVORITE city service providers. Firefighters that I meet are always courteous and they do their jobs- helping citizens of our city and saving lives. I would not support a proposition that cut the salary of firefighters or laid off firefighters. I am just not supporting the increase of their budget for fire houses now, in a time of tight economics.

YES on G: “9th Avenue/MLK Jr. traffic flow into Golden Gate Park and Underground Parking Facility.”

YES on H: “Prohibiting Firearms in the City and County of San Francisco.”
Proposition H would make it illegal for city residents to possess handguns and would ban the manufacture, distribution, sale and transfer of firearms and ammunition within the city.

Opposers include surprisingly, the National Rifle Association.

If this passes, San Francisco would join Washington, D.C. and Chicago, the only cities in the country with such a ban. Listen folks, we don’t live in Texas. If you own a gun in SF, you’re probably not trying to hunt a deer to eat for dinner. Really, folks with guns in SF, only intend to shoot other humans. This won’t end the incredible violence that exists in San Francisco, primarily located in SF’s poorest neighborhoods, but it would be a step.

YES on I: “Declaration Against Military Recruiters In Public Schools.”
Under No Children Left Behind, the Bush Administration has made it mandatory for all public schools to give personal information of all of its students to give to the military for recruiting purposes. Umm… who goes to our public schools? In SF, it’s almost 90% students of color, overwhelmingly low-income and immigrant! Military recruiters get unfair access to our public school students who need other options as well.

Note: I have not taken a position on Proposition A: Community College Bond.

········· ∞∞∞ ·········

Wednesday October 5, 2005 | Author: jane kim | Category: politics

What's on your ballot?

As I mentioned in a previous blog, we do have a special election this year (at least statewide, SF has an election every year.)

Here are my endorsements for this year’s statewide initiatives:

VOTE NO
Proposition 73
Requires girls under 18 to get parental consent for abortion. If the girl feels that she is in danger (ie. come from an abusive family) or it is an emergency medical condition, she must request a waiver from a judge. Yeah, that sounds like it’s real easy to do. Even going to the DMV is full of bureaucracy, long lines and confusing rules. Read more HERE

Proposition 74: Punishing New Teachers
This measure mandates that new teachers can be fired without a hearing or cause their first FIVE years (instead of the current 2 years). This measure will discourage much needed new and YOUNG teachers into our public education system. Current law already allows for firing teachers who are not performing in the classroom.

Proposition 75: Silencing Union Workers
This measure unfairly targets teachers, nurses, firefighters, and other public employees with restrictions that don’t apply to other groups or corporations, which regularly spend shareholder money on politics without permission. Read more HERE

Proposition 76: CUTS School Funding
This measure would cut school funding by over $4 billion every year – $600 per student, leading to more overcrowded classrooms, teacher layoffs, and fewer textbooks and classroom materials. Our schools lost two billion dollars when Governor Schwarzenegger broke his promise to repay the money he took from education, and if this initiative passes, the Governor will never have to repay that money to our schools. It also overturns the voter-approved Proposition 98, which had guaranteed minimum funding for education. It also cuts funding for local government –– cutting police and firefighters, as well as local health care services that protect children and the elderly.

Proposition 77: Redistricting
Read more HERE

Proposition 78
This measure was written by drug companies that want to keep drug discounts “voluntary.” Read more HERE

VOTE YES
Proposition 79: Cheaper Prescription Drugs
This measure would provide enforceable discounts on prescription drugs and saves taxpayers money by reducing drug costs by 50% or more. Read more HERE.

Proposition 80: Affordable Energy Alternatives
Read more HERE

For more information check out Alliance for a Better California. Much props to the crew there: Nicole Derse, Robert Haaland, Amy Laitner and Levin Sy who are working hard to educate SF voters. They need volunteers to phonebank and walk precincts so that voters know what they are voting on! We should all understand what we are voting for. Tell your friends!

Added Note: In addition, I have to send props out to Asian Pacific Americans for an Informed California! I worked with this group in 2003 to successfully defeat Prop. 54 and educate the APA community on this sinister proposition. Gen Fukioka, Stephanie Ong, Luna Yasui, Dave Ho (another group of my favorite APA activists) and new organizer Cat Le Bao are holding it down!

········· ∞∞∞ ·········