East West Players theatre company (EWP) is moving its warehouse location, and is needing to unload much of its inventory. Come out and support the theatre this weekend, and get a deal in return.

Many will know that EWP, just completing its 43rd season, is where I got my start and much of my training. It is also where I learned to accept and celebrate my identity, as an Asian American actor. In addition to performing I have understudied, directed, stage managed, designed sets, run lights and sound, and many other tasks. EWP has provided me with more opportunities than I can count, and has done so for many, many other AA performers, writers, directors and designers. Our community of theatre artists would not be what it is or where it is, without this company.

In a small effort of payback, I ask anyone in Southern California to come out this weekend, and maybe take a piece of history home with you.

EWP warehouse/parking lot sale

Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28
9 am to 5 pm

EWP Warehouse (old location)
2338 East 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90021

Items available: costumes/clothing, shoes, hats, furniture, office equipment, weird props, fabric, sewing machines, carpets... ALL KINDS OF STUFF!

Thanks for reading
—CT

We are spoiled, living in LA. Having been around as long as I have, I sometimes find it remarkable how much is going on in the Asian American artists' community.

There was a time when our numbers were smaller, our role-models were fewer, our community's interest in the arts seemed less impassioned, and, well, we struggled more. Maybe not more, but on a different scale, within a smaller scope. Today, we are much greater in numbers, we stand upon the shoulders of those upon shoulders, generations have been able to reach higher, dream bigger, and shine brighter. We don't struggle just to be heard, but to be understood. Not just to be seen, but to be respected. Not just to be equal among the masses, but to step forward and lead.

These are changing times, and it is the arts which will tell future generations what it felt like to be here, what our struggle was, and is. And it is the next generation of artists who will keep the struggle going. Or at least, an emotional record of it.

I am grateful to have a community which has built the Japanese American National Museum, here in downtown LA's Little Tokyo, and grateful that this museum has recognized the importance of the arts, and organized the "Imagined Futures" forum, taking place next month (see announcement below). Young artists, be seen! Be heard! Lead!

One of many things going on here in town. I love LA.

Thanks for reading,
—CT

ps: Thanks, Marilyn, for the post

* * *

IMAGINED FUTURES

Just a reminder, we are a few weeks away from our first API young artists conference here at the Japanese American National Museum... If you're interested in coming, please be sure to register now. More information about the conference below:

"Imagined Futures" a special one day free conference, from 1 to 5pm on Saturday May 2, 2009 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo. This conference will teach as well as inspire young Japanese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans to future artistic and cultural production through an innovative conference format.

Following a special dance performance by U.C.L.A.'s Nikkei Student Union, participants will hear from keynote speakers: Eric Nakamura, publisher of Giant Robot, and George Takei, actor. Then participants will have the opportunity to take a two hour workshop from leaders in the fields of: Filmmaking, Anime/Comics, Blogs/New Media, Spoken Word/Hip Hop, Fiction, and the Art and Business of Clothing. Following the workshops, participants are invited to join the workshop leaders for a closing reception with light refreshments.

• Filmmaking with director/writer/producer Quentin Lee
• Anime/Comics with the author of the biweekly column "Asian Pop" for the San Francisco Chronicle, Jeff Yang
• Blogs/New Media with Phil Yu of Angry Asian Man
• Spoken Word/Hip Hop with LA hip-hop sensation Shin-B
• Fiction with award winning writer, Naomi Hirahara
• The Art and Business of Clothing with Ryan Suda of Blacklava

Through the generous support of the Aratani Endowment at the University of California at Los Angeles and the Japanese American National Museum, the conference is offered free of charge. Registration is required in order to ensure a place in the workshops.

To find out more information and to register for the workshops, participants can visit the Imagined Futures group on Facebook, email ImaginedFutures2009@gmail.com, or call the Japanese American National Museum at 213-625-0414.

To All Screen Actors Guild Members in Los Angeles:

The SAG Affirmative Action and Diversity Department has scheduled these monthly information seminars on gender, ethnic minority, age and ADA discrimination issues, and how they affect under-employment and under-representation in film and TV. See announcement below for more information. Knowledge is power and it is up to us to stay informed, know our rights, and to continue to make efforts to educate the industry about these important issues. This series of seminars is entitled "New Member Orientation Seminars," but if you have not attended any in the past, these are valued for all members, new or not new.

Thanks for reading,
—CT

* * *

SAG Affirmative Action & Diversity Department presents…

“Know Your Rights!” New Member Orientation Seminars:
What EVERY Member Should Know to Empower and Protect Yourself in the Workplace and Entertainment Industry

Pursuing a career in the entertainment industry is often rewarding… and sometimes difficult. Especially when faced with discrimination, sexual harassment, pre-employment inquiries, predatory producers and issues of underemployment and underrepresentation.

New (and existing!) members are invited to attend these monthly seminars to learn about:

• Workplace rights in the entertainment industry
• How to recognize and report workplace harassment and discrimination
• Guild resources available to empower and protect you
• Member-led diversity and equal employment opportunities committees

All members are welcome to attend any seminar but please be advised that each seminar will have a specialized focus to address the unique challenges that face particular populations of SAG’s membership.

When: See 2009 seminar schedule below

April 22, 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
Topic: Racism & Race Discrimination

May 20, 2-4 p.m.
Topic: ADA/Reasonable Accommodations & Disability Discrimination

June 17, 2-4 p.m.
Topic: Homophobia & Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination

July 15, 2-4 p.m.
Topic: Ageism & Age Discrimination

August 12, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Topic: Sexism & Sexual Harassment

September 23, 2-4 p.m.
Topic: Racism & Race Discrimination

October 21, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Topic: ADA/Reasonable Accommodations & Disability Discrimination

October 22, 2-4 p.m.
Topic: Homophobia & Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Discrimination

November 18, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Topic: Ageism & Age Discrimination

Where: James Cagney Board Room
5757 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Parking will be validated.

To RSVP or for more information please contact us at diversity@sag.org or (323) 549-6644.

For special accommodations, please contact the Affirmative Action & Diversity Department at least one week prior to the seminar.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

At the beginning of this year I was elected co-chair of the Asian American Committee at the Directors Guild of America (DGA). I will be serving a two-year term, with co-chairs, Ron Dempsey and Babu Subramaniam. Our first big event will be happening early next month: A special pre-release screening of "Dragonball Evolution" followed by Q&A with director James Wong. This event will be open to non-DGA members, so if you are in Los Angeles, come out and hear director James Wong discuss the making of this big-budget studio flick. The film opens in the U.S. April 8 so this will be a sneak preview, in addition to a chance to hear from the director.



DRAGONBALL EVOLUTION

A special presentation by the DGA Asian American Committee

Monday, April 6 • 7:30 PM
Directors Guild of America • Theater 1

Screening will be followed by a discussion with Director James Wong, moderated by DGA Director Sandy Tung

Children under the age of 16 may attend the screening
This event is open to non-DGA members, but RSVP is required
RSVP list has reached capacity




Thanks for reading.
—CT

"BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST"
Elephant Eye Theatrical and Broadway Asia will produce this new musical for the 2010-2011 Broadway season.

Music and lyrics by David Yazbek,
Book by David Henry Hwang,
Directed by Bartlett Sher
Casting by Tara Rubin Casting

Bruce Lee: Journey to the West follows the martial arts legend's difficult road to success, as he's guided by a powerful ally: The Monkey King, a beloved and playful warrior god from Chinese mythology. In a show fusing sources as diverse as martial arts, Chinese Opera, modern dance, and pop music from the 1950's to the present day, Bruce and Monkey struggle to master their skills and purify their spirits, on their quest to unite East and West.

Seeking:

ADULT BRUCE: Asian. 20’s-30’s, muscular, handsome, charismatic. Actor must sing well and move spectacularly, training in martial arts is a plus.

JUN FAN (YOUNG BRUCE): Asian. Actor 15-20 to play 15. Skinny, gawky, perhaps even a bit nerdy-looking, but able to project fierce intelligence, unbridled energy and boundless self-confidence. Must be able to sing well and move, though dance requirements for this role are less demanding than for Adult Bruce. (Please note if the actor is under 18.)

EPA & OPEN AUDITION in LA

THURSDAY, MARCH 19th, 2009
EPA - 9:30AM (details at actorsequity.org)
OPEN CALL for all performers - 2:00PM sign-up

Debbie Reynolds Studios
(6514 Lankershim Blvd., N. Hollywood 91606)

Please be prepared to sing a rock or pop/rock song. An accompanist will be provided.
Please bring a picture and resume.

Please send submissions via US Mail/messenger to:

TARA RUBIN CASTING
ATTN: BRUCE LEE search
570 7th Avenue, Suite 401
NYC, NY 10018

Or email BruceLeeCasting@gmail.com

Re-post from Cedar Grove OnStage:


At the beginning of each year, Southern California theatre critics from the trade publication Back Stage, issue their list of "Best of" (in performance, play writing & musical composition, directing, choreography, design, and production) from plays they reviewed from the previous year. Artists who get mentioned on three or more individual critics' lists receive a "Garland Award" from Back Stage. So what does it mean if you receive less than three "votes"? Are you a "Nominee"? Is it an "Honorable Mention"? Whatever it is, we congratulate the following individuals, who have been listed this year by Back Stage critic Jennie Webb, in recognition of their extraordinary artistry on display in our production of Dan Kwong's BE LIKE WATER at East West Players:

CHOREOGRAPHY
Ron Balicki, Diana Lee Inosanto and Blythe Matsui

SOUND DESIGN
Dave Iwataki

Congratulations also to these friends of Cedar Grove OnStage who have received mentions on Garland's Critics List 2009: Darrell Kunitomi in Song of Extinction; West Liang in Porcelain; Emily Kuroda in The Joy Luck Club; Kimberly-Rose Wolter in Pugilist Specialist; and Jose Lopez for The Sequence (LIGHTING DESIGN).

[click here to view full Garland's Critics List]

[click here to view Garland Winners 2009]

I am often asked if winning an Oscar changed my life, to which I usually answer, "No, but it changed the life of my film."

Ten years after receiving the Academy Award for Live Action Short Film, "Visas and Virtue" is still receiving invitations to screen at film festivals around the world. We recently screened, for the first time, in Lithuania (the country where the incident of Sugiahra issuing transit visas to Polish Jews fleeing the impending Holocaust took place), and at the end of the month, will screen in India.



I am honored that my Academy Award-winning short film, "Visas and Virtue" has been selected to screen in Mumbai, India, at the 7Islands International Film Festival, on Closing Night, January 30, 2009.

The 7Islands, in its 4th Edition, has a mission of Non-Violent Resistance, Global Disarmament, Human Rights & Peace.

My film will screen following the Closing Ceremony, with the feature film, "Seven Days Sunday," by Niels Laupert. Screening begins at 6:30 pm. Here are details:

4th 7Islands International Film Festival

"Visas and Virtue"
showing with
"Seven Days Sunday"

6:30 pm to 8:16 pm
Friday, January 30, 2009
S.P.JAIN AUDITORIUM
BHAVAN'S COMPLEX
ANDHERI (W)
MUMBAI, INDIA

For full festival schedule, [click here] (www.7islands.in)

If you happen to be in that part of the world, around that time, or know anyone who will be, please help spread the word.

Thanks for reading,

–CT