As a woman working in the entertainment industry, I always like to support the efforts of my fellow artists and there's a great blog out called "Women and Hollywood". It is one of the most respected sites for issues related to women and film as well as other areas of pop culture. I signed up for their weekly newsletter and get updates on the latest films releasing this week that are directed by women, what's releasing soon and what's currently playing. Check it out!
That's right kids, for you Angelenos...allow me to announce that this is the first year for the Korean American Film Festival (KAFFLA) to take place in Los Angeles. I'm actually really excited because I'm going to be covering this for KoreAm and giving my two cents on a few of the films.
When is it you ask? The festivities begin on Thursday, August 9th through Saturday, August 11th at the Korean Cultural Center, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles. The 2012 KAFFLA will showcase four feature-length narrative and documentary films and thirteen short films in non-competitive programs. So that means - everyone's a winner!
Veteran filmmakers Dai Sil Kim-Gibson and Charles Burnett (from 2011 KAFFNY) will be presenting a special Los Angeles Riots 2012 program marking the 20th anniversary. Five documentaries will be presented which reflect the voices of the Korean American community, the second generation, including those whose parents' businesses were burned down in the riots.
Well, well, well...it's time for a bit of self-promotion. What can I say? I've been a busy girl so get ready for some more self PR. Why else would I have a blog? LOL Here I am hosting a course for the Wushu Shaolin Kung Fu Online School. This particular segment covers Tong Bi Quan. I had the honor of working with Shifu Sal Redner who also runs Wushu Shaolin Productions. Enjoy and sign up!
I went to a screening tonight, thanks to LA Magazine. I'm a sucker for entering any type of contest and LA Mag. constantly has them for screenings to luxurious trips. As you can see, I'm the screenings girl, as I have yet to land that fabulous trip. Now, I normally would not have opted to see this in the theatre and would have waited to watch it on cable. But as I said, it was a screening and I love Meryl Streep so I thought - why not? Plus the David Frankel directed "Hope Springs" and if you recall, he also directed Mrs. Streep in "The Devil Wears Prada". It looks like Frankel also favors working with SJP as he directed "Miami Rhapsody" and quite a few episodes of "Sex and the City".
This is a cute, charming film about a couple who has been together for over thirty years and seem to have lost that pizzazz in their relationship. They go to a therapist played by Steve Carell and try to work things out. It gives you hope for relationships and marriage and you definitely see a different side to Tommy Lee Jones. He's still a mean bully but he also has some tender moments. So, go see it and if all else fails, take your parents - they'll get a senior discount and have a laugh about it!
I don't care what you say - I still and will always love Woody Allen. That being said and considering my name "Soonhee" is similar to his er, adopted-asian-daughter-turned-wife, I don't mean this in a creepy way. I respect him as a filmmaker and totally get his style. So without further adieu, allow me to introduce the trailer of his newest film, "To Rome With Love" starring himself, Judy Davis, Flavio Parenti (if you saw Tilda Swinton's "I Am Love", he plays her son), Penelope Cruz, "Life is Beautiful's" Roberto Benigni, Alison Pill, Alec Baldwin, Jesse Eisenberg, Ellen Page and Greta Gerwig. I love his big ensemble casts and romantic locations like in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and "Midnight in Paris". They're magical, dramatic, steamy and mysterious. The film is already out nationwide so go see it - and I will, too!
In the era of remakes (is it a sign of us aging? say it ain't so!), it's hard to find that original idea anymore. Nonetheless, I could sit here and complain or just tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed watching the latest version of the remake "Total Recall" starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston and Bokeem Woodbine. The original version starred our ex-Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Michael Ironside (ummm, duh, he played Jester in "Top Gun") came out in 1990 although I can hardly remember watching the original film. The updated version was directed by Len Wiseman so naturally Kate Beckinsale is in it as it would be his husbandly duty. A bit of trivia: this is the first film that these two have worked on that is not "Underworld" related.
I love a good action, sci-fi flick so this was filled with loads of great special effects and a lot of strormtrooper action, you'll see what I mean when you see it. And a lot of great cameos who may surprise you John Cho, Bill Nighy and Will Yun Lee. As a film buff, I'm always curious about where they end up filming as it's often not where we think. This film was set in The Colony (Australia) and the UK but it was pretty much all shot in Toronto. Cheaper production costs! So there you go. Enjoy!
I was recently in New York and was asked by Audrey magazine to interview the lovely and beautiful actress Freida Pinto. (Unfortunately the press conference was cancelled.) But I was able to attend a screening of "Trishna", which I highly recommend. Pinto plays the title character, "Trishna", who comes upon a wealthy man who ends up hiring her at his father's resort, also to keep a better eye on her. He eventually wins her over but the relationship and story takes a bit of a twist. No spoiler alerts from me.
Director Michael Winterbottom has taken this adaptation from the novel, "Tess of the D'ubervilles" which is a 180 degree turn from the comedy TV series and film he directed, "The Trip" starring Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon. But who is this very handsome indian man who plays Pinto's boyfriend? Riz Ahmed. Little tidbit about Riz - This London bloke is also known by his hip-hop alias Riz MC. He released his first hip-hop
single in 2006, Post 9/11 Blues: a controversial satire that was
temporarily banned from British airplay. Oh...you didn't know that, did you? Well, maybe you did if you read imdb like I do. Enjoy!
Oh summer days...where have I been you ask? Everywhere! It seems I've taken another hiatus from my blog. In May, for the first time (other than being born there), I went to Seoul. Wow, what an amazing city! I'm now fully motivated to learn my mother tongue. I've since then started working on educating myself on more k-pop. Now that's a whole 'nother world, my friends.
The latest buzz that has now over 10 million hits on youtube is korean rapper, Psy, with his video for the single, "Gangnam Style". Now, I have no idea what he's saying but according to CNN, "Gangnam is a very affluent part of Seoul in South Korea, and PSY's
basically singing his praise for the women of this era, because even
though they are prim and proper during the day, they're really wild and
crazy at night." He's even generated twitter buzz from the likes of T-Pain, Josh Groban, Robbie Williams and Scooter Braun. So there you go! His horse dancing is addictive so watch out.
