From October 14-18, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) will be hosting its fall event CAAMFest FORWARD in celebration of Asian American storytelling and culture as well as CAAM’s 40th anniversary. Through drive-in experiences, on-demand films, and live screenings, CAAMFest FORWARD will be showcasing the work of Asian American filmmakers, writers, storytellers, actors, and artists.
A Radical Guide is excited to co-present California Dreaming and Culture Clash, which will both be available to watch on-demand through CAAMFest on October 14, 2020 10:00 am – October 18, 2020 11:59 pm.
On-demand passes are available here.
California Dreaming
In this evocative and touching narrative, two women from different backgrounds encounter one another at an oceanfront resort and discover a hidden bond that ties them together, allowing them to escape from their realities.
Cast: Monysak Sou and Sarita Reth
About the director: MEAS Sreylin was born in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 1989 and has worked more than ten years in the Cambodian film industry. Since 2009, she has held many roles behind the scenes: assistant director, production manager, line producer, location scouting, casting, and talent manager. She has worked on both film and television in both the local industry and for international productions shooting in Cambodia. She has worked with Anti-Archive as first assistant director for Dream Land (2015), as production manager for Turn Left Turn Right (2016), and as second assistant director and acting coach for Diamond Island (2016).
Watch: https://caamfest.com/forward/programs/global-cinema-showcase/
Culture Clash
Culture has the power to change people and in these shorts, you can see that in action.
Watch: https://caamfest.com/forward/programs/shorts-5-culture-clash/
Representation
An intimate poem that takes audiences on a journey of the misrepresenting labels of Asian Americans. Resurfacing issues the community still faces such as the stereotypes of Asian women, model minority, bamboo ceiling, and the generational loss of culture. A poem that not only expresses worries but also hopes to bring more attention to these issues.
About the director: JJ Querubin, a freelance sound designer who studied sound design for the past 4 years, and throughout her time has been working on student films and animations. JJ looks forward to working and creating more projects around subjects that touch on the adversities of the Asian community.
Becoming Eddie
In 1985 suburban America, a Korean American boy named Yong has trouble fitting in with his classmates who only see him as a foreigner. In an effort to become popular, Yong makes a wish to become his idol, the world’s most famous foul-mouthed comedian. But when his wish comes true, it brings results that are both unexpected and profane. BECOMING EDDIE is a spirited and energetic film that is brimming is humor and enough nostalgia to bring you back to the 80’s.
About the director: Lilan Bowden is an actor/comedian who plays Bex on Disney Channel’s Emmy nominated show ANDI MACK (3 seasons/winner of GLAAD/nominated for Peabody Awards). Her credits also include FUTURE MAN, LOVE, PARKS AND RECREATION, LIFELINE (YouTube Red), and I AM WATCHING YOU (Lifetime). She is a trained sketch and improv performer from Upright Citizens Brigade Theater LA. House teams include Rococo (Harold/improv) and Bonafide (Maude/sketch). Lilan has written and directed material for FUNNY OR DIE, Samsung’s MILK app, and Casting Society of America with her writing and sketch comedy partner Wilder Smith. They continue to perform live as LILAN AND WILDER.
Phony
SUNNY, a young Asian American woman with anger management issues, returns home to the San Gabriel Valley seeking respite from her recent career failures — but a simple grocery shopping trip with her mother may prove more than she can handle. In this charming short, Jessica dela Merced shines as both the star and the director. What could be a mundane trip to the store turns into a thoughtful exploration into complex family dynamics.
Cast: Jess Dela Merced, Kristina Wong, Kyle Mizono, Princess Punzalan
About the director: Jess dela Merced is a Filipino American writer/director from San Francisco. She is a director in the Disney ABC directing program and one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Film.
Atomic Cafe: The Noisiest Corner in J-Town
ATOMIC CAFE is a fascinating story that uncovers how Little Tokyo was an underground hun for LA’s punk scene in the 80’s. It’s no surprise that this love letter to Asian American musicians and underground cultural movements is brought to you by filmmaking duo Tadashi Nakamura (JAKE SHIMABUKURO: LIFE ON FOUR STRINGS) and Akira Boch (THE CRUMBLES). Be one of the first to see this dynamic and powerful documentary.
About the directors: Akira Boch is an Emmy-winning filmmaker and Director of the Watase Media Arts Center at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. He has an MFA in Film Directing from UCLA Film School, and has made dozens of documentaries, short films and music videos. His award-winning feature film, The Crumbles, went on a nationwide tour of theaters, festivals and universities.
Emmy-winning filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura was named one of CNN’s “Young People Who Rock” for being the youngest filmmaker at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and listed as one of the “Top Rising Asian American Directors” on IMDb. The fourth-generation Japanese American recently completed Mele Murals, a documentary on the transformative power of modern graffiti art and ancient Hawaiian culture for a new generation of Native Hawaiians. Mele Murals was broadcasted on PBS and Al Jazeera, and was nominated for an Emmy in 2018. His previous film Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings was broadcasted nationally on PBS and went on to win the 2013 Gotham Independent Film Audience Award.
Nakamura’s trilogy of documentary films on the Japanese American experience, Yellow Brotherhood (2003), Pilgrimage (2007) and A Song for Ourselves (2009) have garnered over 20 awards. Nakamura has a M.A. in Social Documentation from UC Santa Cruz, a B.A. in Asian American Studies from UCLA where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.
