Behind the Scenes of Census 2010: Write in “Taiwanese” | Passion Project
It's been a week since the Census 2010: Write in "Taiwanese" video debuted on YouTube, and it's already garnered over 120,000 views. Produced by Slideshow Pictures in conjunction with at least seven Taiwanese American organizations, the public service announcement is part of a larger campaign to get Taiwanese Americans to self-identify on the US Census by checking "Other Asian" and writing in "Taiwanese."
If you know me well, you may know that I love being behind the scenes of all sorts of projects and productions. So I was very lucky to find myself a last-minute addition to this project. Five days beforehand, we worked it out for me to fly down to Los Angeles for a day and a half, just to help out a tiny bit. Let's be honest-- I basically had an very fun day just hanging out with the various cast and crew members, but my official capacity was to serve as the behind-the-scenes photographer on set of the video production. Later, I pulled my own weight by designing the accompanying website for the video campaign (http://taiwaneseamerican.org/census2010). But now I get to bring you behind the scenes with me!
We got an early start on the day, rolling out of bed around 6am and heading over to the studio in Alhambra.
Three Slideshow Pictures producers and a makeup artist relaxing a bit before shooting begins: Jon Lee (CEO, Slideshow Pictures), makeup artist Yuriko Bondies, Alex Yang (Slideshow Picture), and Howard Chen (Slideshow Pictures). Jon has been working in Hollywood for a couple years now. He was an associate producer on Formosa Betrayed. So between him and director Karen Lin, they were able to make this a first-class production with sound, photography, and editing professionals up and down the production chain.
Byron Werner and his crew sets up the backdrop, lighting, and camera.
They test the setup on Howard. Looking good in both frames.
Jon Lee with Alex Wen, owner of KCW studios.
The famous "Taiwanese" Census 2010 shirts. Order yours today from TACL!
Harrison and Haley are third generation hapa Taiwanese Americans. Adorable! Harrison just kept on munching away at his fruit while he was waiting, and Haley was a natural star, delivering lines flawlessly!
Love the giant pencil. Love.
Politician and lawyer Ted Lieu gets some pointers from director Karen Lin.
Two sets of sisters! We had a few really great families who came to the shoot. On the left are Japanese-Taiwanese American Muramoto sisters. On the right, Agnes Hsiao and Elena Ling.
If you've been following me or Taiwanese American news, you might recognize these two as the killers from Formosa Betrayed: actors Henry M. Chu and Adam Wang (links to previous shoots with me). Keep an eye out. You'll be seeing them more in the near future!
You may recognize actress Michelle Krusiec from Saving Face, amongst other projects. And on the right, a 96-year-old a-ma, Mrs. Ray-Yun Tsai Huang.
There were many, many more interesting people who participated in the video, but I don't have space to show all of them here, so head on over to the Census 2010: Write in "Taiwanese" website to meet all of the other cast and crew members.
Singer-songwriter Alice Tong fills out some information for me-- my other job that day was to collect bio information from everyone.
Director Karen Lin wraps the shoot at the end of the day-- 8am to 5pm. A full day's work.
Alex works on the giant pencil.
Breaking everything down-- the scene outside.
A wider view of KCW studio.
I don't know what they're thinking! You tell me.
Lastly, a word about the campaign-- I could launch into an argument about history and politics validating a Taiwanese identity. But for me, it's also about upholding the right to identify ourselves rather than be defined by others.
So share the YouTube video and the website. Tweet this. Go after one of the many other ways to take action. And tell every Taiwanese American person in the United States about the campaign.
But as Ho Chie says, no matter how you identify, whether Taiwanese or not, be sure to represent your own identity and community. This is important for all of us as Americans, and this is our only chance this decade.
Be Counted. Be Recognized.
Above, my latest web creation. Their bios display on hover! You can also learn more about the campaign and ways to help by visiting the website.
Formosa Betrayed, Now Opening
Five years ago, in 2005, it was just an idea. A passion project being born.
Starting today, February 26, 2010, the feature film Formosa Betrayed is playing in select theaters across the country. The Taiwanese American community has done an amazing job emphasizing the importance of this weekend (everyone and their mother should go see it-- twice-- bringing friends each time), but I'm zooming out a bit further to describe what the journey has been like in the last five years-- from my perspective as someone only loosely tied to the production but very strongly supportive of it. If you don't know much about the film, scroll to the bottom for a better synopsis and links to more information. And if you're in a major city, take it upon yourself to GO AND SEE IT TODAY!
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Back in 2005, Politician-turned producer/writer/actor Will Tiao wanted to bring Taiwan's story to the big screen via a Hollywood feature film. And so he began traveling around the country to drum up support in the Taiwanese American community.I remember my initial excitement (and skepticism) hearing him speak at the 2006 ITASA conference at Illinois. The initial synopsis that he circulated went something like this:
Inspired by the murders of Professor Chen Wen-Chen and journalist Henry Liu, as well as countless other Taiwanese democracy and independence activists and their struggles during the "White Terror" period, Will Tiao with his team of Hollywood screenwriters created a fictional story based on the real events.
Synopsis:
In 1983, during a routine small-town murder investigation of a Taiwanese professor, a disenfranchised cop – suffering from an identity crisis and a loss of faith in the justice system – slowly unearths a spiderweb of international secrets that has been thriving within college campuses across America for decades. With the help of the outspoken widow and a Taiwanese spy, he finds himself on a head-on collision not only with his own personal demons, but also with the U.S. State Department, the Chinese Mafia, and ultimately to the highest levels of the Nationalist Chinese Government in Taiwan.
My initial reactions are mixed. If this guy can actually pull it off, well, the possibilities are amazing. On the other hand, he could be full of idealistic fervor, and this could turn out to be a sad little movie that no one wants to watch.
But in the next several months, Will hits fundraising hard. Before you know it, he's raised over $6 Million for the project. It's starting to look like this will really happen.
Early 2007, one of my good friends Jon Lee embarks on being an assistant to Will for the project. All possibilities still ahead of him, Jon reflects on doing something for the love, and the potential he has for making an impact.
I am actually very excited for this job. I look at it as an immensely satisfying opportunity to do what I want to do and staying true to myself while being paid for it and hopefully keeping the parents happy.
While working on commercials in Hollywood has been a great experience, the final product of my work lacks the positive impact on humankind that I wish my work to have... I remembered that one night and promptly wrote a post-it note on my desktop saying, "stay in california until formosa betrayed gets made." And as fortune would have it, I ran into Will at a Taiwanese event that weekend, and we spoke about the possibility of me helping the project, and here I am now.
Over the next year, production gets underway. We (those of us on the outside) aren't holding our breaths so much any more, but getting involved tangentially and keeping an ear on what's happening with the film. Actual filming begins in Chicago and later, Thailand. We learn that the lead is James Van Der Beek. Dawson? Yes, Dawson.
Fast forward to last year, 2009. Word is, the movie has been cut. It exists! And critics are saying it's actually pretty good. I get myself invited to the cast/crew/investors-only premiere in Los Angeles as an official photographer. It's timed to coincide with the historically significant date February 28, known as 228.
Click to view my posting from last year.
It's pretty surreal to be mixing and mingling with the cast on the red carpet: Wendy Crewson, James Van Der Beek, and Leslie Hope.
The audience settles in to view this passion project as it comes to fruition. For me, it was a mixture of awe and relief seeing the movie for the first time and realizing it's actually good. Words cannot describe what it was like to see this story, so near and dear to my heart, projected on the screen.
And afterwards, with producer/actor Will Tiao, director Adam Kane, myself, and actor James Van Der Beek.
As amazing as the premiere was, and as gratifying as it was to see the movie, it was never made just for people like me who already know the story of Taiwan. The goal has always been to bring the story to mainstream America, and so here we are now.
2010. After buzzworthy attention at several major film festivals, Formosa Betrayed got picked up by distributor Screen Media Films and set out to get into theaters nationwide. Again timed for the weekend of February 28 (228), the film's opening day was set for February 26, 2010.
Cast and crew set out to promote the film around the country. Last month, they were in the Bay Area for a Lunar New Year event cosponsored by TaiwaneseAmerican.org.
Actor Tzi Ma speaks about the film as Will Tiao looks on.
Two Taiwanese American actors in the film, Adam Wang and Henry M. Chu, play the killers.
Apparently, Adam is a very funny guy!
Again, I am the one tangentially involved as official photographer, and this time, I get to spend a bit of time with all of the cast and crew at the event: Adam Kane, Tzi Ma, and Will Tiao.
Adding in Ho Chie Tsai, creator of TaiwaneseAmerican.org, sporting Census 2010 shirts.
Ok, so it's been a really long journey. But now, it's the main event. From one man's passion project to an amazing, collaborative production, this film has huge potential. From Will Tiao himself:
The Taiwanese people have suffered at the hands of many over the last century, but these stories have rarely been told or heard. As a second generation Taiwanese American, I feel it is my duty to educate my generation, as well as the world, about the struggles and suffering of the Taiwanese. We cannot allow our country's history and our people's hardships to be forgotten. Once that happens, it only becomes a matter of time before it is repeated. This is precisely why I spent the last five years of my life working on Formosa Betrayed.
As the turbulent reaction to President Obama's recent arms sale to Taiwan shows, US-China-Taiwan relations are still a hot button topic that is greeted by fleeting interest, faint support, or --worst of all-- indifference by the American media. I am hoping the release of Formosa Betrayed will help spur greater awareness and wider discussion about these important matters in the United States and abroad. The Taiwanese people deserve to have an equal voice in affairs related to our country's future. We cannot sit quietly and allow others to decide our fate. This is why I am urging you to see Formosa Betrayed with your children, family and friends...
No one else is going to do this for us. We must do this ourselves and we must do this now.
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Formosa Betrayed is out in select theaters today, February 26, 2010. It is a "political thriller" about Taiwan's democracy movement in the '70s and '80s based on actual events. The film stars James Van der Beek (aka Dawson of Dawson's Creek), an FBI agent who investigates a murder in the U.S. that leads him to Taiwan and a deeper understanding of the political turmoil there. It's incredibly important for independent films to have a strong showing in their opening weekend, and with your help, we're aiming to top the box offices for indy films this weekend. View the full list of theaters here (NY, NJ, Bay Area, LA, Orange County).
More information, visit the Official Website of Formosa Betrayed
View the official trailer here (Note: Rated R for "some violence").
Formosa Betrayed also featured in San Jose Mercury News (backstory), New York Times (Arts section), ABC News (interview with "Dawson" - recommended); MTV, (same).
Ang Lee
ang lee defies categorization and baffles critics. the taiwanese/american filmmaker has created movies as divergent as sense and sensibility, eat drink man woman, the ice storm, and crouching tiger, hidden dragon, but he's probably best known as the academy award-winning director of brokeback mountain.
yesterday, i got to see ang lee in person as part of a special screening & talk at berkeley. it was co-presented by taiwaneseamerican.org, TAP-SF, and the SF international asian american film festival.
first, after a great introduction by berkeley academic linda williams, we got to view ang lee's latest film, lust, caution. unfortunately, the film earned itself an NC-17 rating because of its graphic, extended sex scenes. i say unfortunately because an NC-17 rating is "the commercial kiss of death," as williams put it. the film had a typical art house run, but never had wide distribution. it's a pity, because the film is captivating across all 2.5+ hours. and it's the kind of film that lingers long after its close.
i was so excited to see ang lee that i would have been happy even if the movie was terrible and the talk was superficial. but my shoddy expectations were blown away. actually, the most impressive part of the night was ang lee's talk. how many times have i heard artists give their evasive and superficial responses-- 'oh, it is whatever you think it is'? to the contrary, ang lee was candid, open, passionate, and revealing with his depth of thought behind his film.
some highlights:
lee described the film as his thesis on the performing arts and his work as a filmmaker. 'sometimes i have more faith in fake things, like movies, than i have in real things.' in the film, a young woman puts her performance to the test as she seduces a man she's trying to help her friends assassinate.
'excuse my language, but i think this may be the most profound question: 'does she come?''
ang lee characterized shooting the sex scenes as tremendously frightening-- like being in hell. he described himself going kind of crazy, as he got to a point during shooting where he began shaking all over, and lead actor tony leung had to come over and comfort him: 'we're just actors baring our skin. we'll be fine. you have to take care of yourself.'
during the q & a session, taiwanese american author shawna yang ryan lined up to ask ang lee, 'clearly, you don't shy away from provocative subjects...' 'when do you plan to bring the story of taiwan to the screen?' his answer was simply that when he found the right story, he would film it. he added, 'i hope i don't disappoint you.'
well, we'll keep right on waiting.
go check out other films and events in the SF international asian american film festival.
Published
my photo of will tiao has been published in liberty times.
http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2009/new/mar/8/today-fo5-2.htm
if you happen to read chinese, you can even read what it says.
of course, it's not actually credited to me, but still, pretty cool.
Formosa Betrayed
my conversation with will tiao, producer of formosa betrayed, last week at duke:
will: so, what are you doing next weekend?
me: oh nothing.
will: want to come be a second photographer for the premiere?
me. uh, YES.
and that's how i made my way to the exclusive cast-crew-investors-only screening of the newly finished film.
click to read ho chie & shawna's awesome spotlight article on the event at taiwaneseamerican.org.
here's my photographic rendition of how the night went down:
ho chie shows off his invite to the exclusive weekend of investors' events. investors dinner, red carpet, screening, reception, afterparty, brunch. i got to tag along to all of it.
saturday, 228. after picking up the movie reels, we arrive early to the WGA theater, just in time for the red carpet setup.
i decide to sneak a preview as they run the reels to make sure the whole film will play properly. i love the feel of an empty pre-show venue.
raul and i fired some test shots, and then people started trickling in through our red carpet entrance. by around 7, the cast members are making appearances. pictured, leslie hope and wendy crewson.
wendy and james van der beek, the movie leads, greet each other
a very excited audience gets settled in the theater.
james van der beek, with wendy crewson in the background.
rapt.
this one took a bit of convincing and a lot of patience, trying to corral a bunch of movie stars over to the same wall for a photo.
by 11:30, i finally hitch a ride with will tiao over to the afterparty at the aptly named formosa cafe.
wrapping up the night with producer will tiao, director adam kane, and of course, dawson.
for more on the movie, visit formosathemovie.com.
and again, check out the awesome spotlight article at taiwaneseamerican.org.