A night at THE ASIAN POSTER gallery.

"TAG" screened at this art gallery in Santa Monica. It was a small, cozy gallery with about 100 chairs set up in front of a small drop down movie screen. The turn out was decent and the hand picked films ranged from documentary & experimental to dramatic narative and comedy.

Walking around the Gallery prior to the screening I was able to look at the many Asian Poster on display. I took pictures of some of my favorites. Unfortunately, the low light situation didn't bode well for photography, and using a flash would cause a glare as each poster had a plastic protective cover.

I adjusted the exposure as best as I could.







After the screening there was a brief question and answer session. That's Dale up front.



After the screening, Dale, his wife and I headed up to Hollywood and stopped by my favorite Thai restaurant. "Chuan Chim".





The dinner was...
Chicken skewars
Hot and Sour soup with chicken.
Yellow curry chicken.
Prik King with beef (green beans)
Chinese Brocoli with chicken

OH MY GOD! It was so good!

-glenn

TAG screening on Friday June 24 ($5.00)

TRACK 16 NIGHTS
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
“THE ASIAN POSTER”

"The Asian Poster" Film screening at Track 16 Gallery Friday, June 24, 8:00 P.M. RSVP, $5

Visual Communications presents a screening of new Asian American film at Track 16 Gallery in conjunction with the exhibition, "The Asian Poster" on view through July 23, 2005. The screening includes: HOMECOMING by Vivian Wong; TOKYO EQUINOX by Yuri Makino; TROLLEY by Derek Shimoda; DASTAAR: DEFENDING SIKH IDENTITY by Kevin Lee; FRIENDSHIP BREAD by Michelle Banta; TAG by Dale Fabrigar; and CALL CENTER by Amyn Kaderali. Many of the film makers will be in attendance and will be available to answer questions. (www.track16.com)

MORE INFO

Movie Reviews: Batman Begins & Dawn of the Dead

Batman Begins(2005) My Rating: 9/10

As a Batman fan I'd have to say this movie ROCKED! This is what everyone else is saying - the Batman we've been waiting for. Yes, there were holes in the movie but I'm letting that go. It's a comic book.

But there were no flashy stars or comedic characters, just bare-bones Dark Knight and the dark villians he has to deal with played by awesome actors.

Christian Bale is by far the best actor to play the part of Batman. But the best thing about the movie was the use of great names to play these character parts - even the small ones.

Michael Caine was excellent, Morgan Freeman was absolutely great as usual, Gary Oldman awesome, Liam Neeson was spectaular, Tom Wilkinson was totally convincing, Rutger Hauer was magnificent and Ken Watanabe was a special treat!

I mean, look at all these great names that didn't get bigger than the story, film or the role they played. They just did their job.

And the noname actor in Cillian Murphy was just brilliant. The next James Spader in my opinion.

But the least important character in the movie was... Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes.

Rachel Dawes was a character with no impact to the overall movie. Some may say they like the 'strength' of a good female character. She was strong, but that strength came from nowhere. Where's the depth? All we know of her was her relationship with Wayne as kids. That's it. That's all. Where's the depth and drive to be who she is or do what she's doing?

Mary Jane Watson in Spiderman was both strong - doing desperately what she wanted to do - model/actress, and also had depth. She had history behind her. An abusive household, a teenager desperately wanting something more and going for it by herself, and having that hidden love for Peter Parker. Rachel Dawes... she just wanted to bring people to justice. What was she really motivated by?

She doesn't need to be in the next movie. Her acting was flat and the scenes she was in were flat. And from what I hear I'm not the only one sharing this sentiment. Let's bring in someone like Jessica Alba!

I do highly recommend this movie to those who want some action, a good comic book storyline and especially those frustrated with the later releases of the Batman franchise. This one is a hit. And just like I felt with the Star Wars episodes I had to say to myself... "Finally!"

Dawn of the Dead (2004) My Rating: 8/10

I really, really, really was entertained by this movie. I felt there were a few questionable scenes, one that I might thing was irresponsible film-making, but at the end of it all, no way. YOU HAD TO DO IT.

Slick photography, good actors, enough conflict, butting heads, and good directing! To me, nothing was overly done as I may have thought in a Zombie film.

This isn't a 'scary' movie per se. For movies like that watch "The Sixth Sense", "The Ring" or something like that. This is pure horror fun! Just be prepared for some very gruesome scenes. As a Zombie film, this was what I would say is a damn good movie and exceptionally fun. And I mean that. EXCEPTIONALLY FUN!

Ebert took the words out of my mouth...

I haven't seen it, but Ebert's response at the end of his "Batman Begins" review is exactly what I've wanted from Batman for years.

I said this is the Batman movie I've been waiting for; more correctly, this is the movie I did not realize I was waiting for, because I didn't realize that more emphasis on story and character and less emphasis on high-tech action was just what was needed. The movie works dramatically in addition to being an entertainment. There's something to it.
Ebert on "Batman Begins"

Full review: RogerEbert.com

I can't wait to watch the film!

Glenn

THE ASIAN POSTER

"TAG" was asked to be part of the screening of works connected with the exhibit, "The Asian Poster".

THE ASIAN POSTER is a survey of contemporary posters from Japan, Korea, China, Hong
Kong, Taiwan and Malaysia.

The Event:
TRACK 16 NIGHTS
FRIDAY, 24 June: screening 7:30 PM
Track 16 Gallery, 2525 Michigan Avenue, Bldg. C-1, Santa Monica, 90404
(FYI: this is the location of the Bergamont Station, home to the Music Center Annex and assorted art galleries)
www.track16.com

This is the first show of the exhibit after its opening on June 18;
The gallery itself is quite large, so plese spread the word to your friends and family who are interested. The show itself will be projected onto a screen.

Once there is clarification of whether there is an admissions price for the screening I will update here.

From the website:

The Asian Poster

June 18 through July 23, 2005
Opening reception on June 18, from 6 to 9 P.M.

Track 16 Gallery is pleased to present The Asian Poster, a comprehensive survey of contemporary graphics from Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Korea, and Japan. Curated by Beverly Walton, Director of Global Graphics, and Mr. Leslie Chan Wing Kei, an award-winning Hong Kong designer now working in Taipei, this exhibition will be on view from June 18 through July 23, 2005, with an opening reception on June 18, 2005, from 6 to 9 P.M. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

The recent Asian graphic design explosion fueled by China’s boom economy, along with the independence of Hong Kong, and the proliferation of museum exhibitions such as Super Flat and Little Boy in the U.S., has inspired Track 16 Gallery to present the public with an unique opportunity to view contemporary Asian art and design trends. The exhibition features over one hundred works by more than forty artists and graphic designers. Among the designers included are Tadanori Yokoo, considered the godfather of Japan’s graphic revolution, Kashiwa Sato, Katsumi Asaba, Norito Shinmura, Jianping He, Kan Tai-Keung, Freeman Lau, Tommy Li, Wang Xu, and Wang Yue Fei, Eric Chan, and Joseph Foo. Representing Korea are Sang-Soo Ahn, Kumnan Baik, Sang-Soo Ahn, Sungil Hong, and Kim Doo-Sup, among others.

The survey presents a broad spectrum of artists, from leading female graphic designers like Nagi Noda,Yasmin Ahmad, and Cao Fang, to a new generation of young, witty, irreverent artists like Colan Ho, Benny Au, Huang Yang, and the Luo Brothers.

In conjunction with the exhibition, the gallery will host Track 16 Nights, a Friday night series of panel discussions and other cultural events. Please refer to www.track16.com for updated information about these events. We will have a wide array of Asian posters (new and vintage), postcards, puzzles, fans, Mao pins, and Hong Kong sci-fi Rocket Club books and action figures in LIMITED QUANTITIES available for purchase in our store.

The Asian Poster is produced by Global Graphics in conjunction with the Center for the Study of Political Graphics. Global Graphics also produced the critically acclaimed exhibition, The Cuban Poster, which was on view at Track 16 Gallery in 2004, and is currently being shown at the MAK Center in Vienna.

For images, exhibition previews, and interviews, please contact Beverly Walton at the telephone number above. For any other questions, contact Track 16 Gallery, or refer to gallery website at www.track16.com.

Holly Shorts Film Festival Deadline Approaching

The Holly Shorts Film Festival submission deadline is quickly approaching. All entries must be postmarked before July 1, 2005.

Get the official call for entries form on their website.

Holly Shorts Film Festival
c/o Theo Dumont/ Dan Sol
3640 S. Sepulveda Blvd #113
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Should you have any questions, please call us at 818-760-9897. Thank you.

Theo Dumont
www.hollyshortsfilmfestival.blogspot.com
Holly Hotline: 818-760-9897