Recorded live at Reel Asian 27 in November 2023, Imran J. Khan, director of the feature film "Mustache" and Nedda Sarshar director of the short film "Unibrow" discuss filmmaking and facial hair while snacking on classic Canadian butter tarts. Reel Asian's own Samir Ballou is their guide.

*please excuse our tech difficulties, so if you're watching on video, it'll be old school B&W...

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Recorded live at Reel Asian 27 in November 2023. Filmmakers from our S-Express showcase of Southeast Asian short films (try to) talk about film while tasting DQ (Dairy Queen) treats for the first time.

Featuring Mickey Lai (dir. A Worm, Whatever Will Be, Will Be), the team from "Ms. Pontianak" Alina Wong JinKei (director), Raja Adam Iskandar (producer), and Sheldon Chong (editor Cruel), and Reel Asian's own Kelly Lui and Christine Vu.

MS. PONTIANAK - IG: @ms.pontianak, @rajaadamisk, CRUEL - IG: @shel.dunnn A WORM... - Mickey - IG: @mickeylai23

Minikino Film Festival Bali - @minifilmfestival

*please excuse our tech difficulties, so if you're watching on video, it'll be old school B&W...

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Recorded live at Reel Asian 27 in November 2023, culture critic and author Jeff Yang discusses his new book "The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America" with Madelyn Chung, Founder and Editor in Chief at the RepresentAsian Project.

In this episode they discuss the trajectories of Jeff's career tracking Asian American popular culture from early print magazines to the rise of a new generation of Asian American mainstream films.

Look to buy "The Golden Screen: The Movies That Made Asian America" anywhere you buy books!

Jeff Yang

@originalspin

Madelyn Chung, RepresentAsian Project

@representasianproject

*please excuse our tech difficulties, so if you're watching on video, it'll be old school B&W...

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RA26 Film BIG FIGHT IN LITTLE CHINATOWN director Karen Cho sits down with RA programmer Vidhya Elango and Friends of Chinatown TO member Alex Hong to discuss the film's sprawling but intimate look at Chinatowns across North America. Karen, Alex, and Vidhya expand on joy and struggle and how these Chinatowns hold a special place in our cities and communities.

In the second half, Karen, Alex, and Vidhya collaborate to scarf down some cheung fun/rice rolls in our "Come Eat With Me" segment.

For more information about Friends of Chinatown Toronto and the Toronto Chinatown Land Trust go to https://www.instagram.com/friendsofchinatownto/ and https://bit.ly/TCLTLaunch

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Mulholland”, King Canyon
• "Keep On Movin'", King Canyon

Edited by Aram Collier

Recorded and live mixed by Joseph Chung

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Backstory returns after a post-festival hiatus to usher in the launch of the fourth edition of TACLA’s Youth Critics Initiative (YCI), an annual incubator that guides emerging writers over the course of six months to produce critical works in a variety of formats in conversation with Reel Asian’s festival programming. Recorded in October during preparation for the 26th edition of the festival and fourth edition of YCI, co-editor Jasmine Gui joins Kelly and Aram to chew on all things critical and reflect on the program’s evolution over the years.

On the menu: hamster facts, authorizing oneself and the process of scrutiny, what to do with absence and erasure, the origins of haterism, and why you should be on Team Rice.

Links: 

• “Critique as Care” by Mayanthi Fernando, discussed at 9:50: https://read.dukeupress.edu/critical-times/article/2/1/13/139235/Critique-as-Care

• YCI IV Editors’ Letter by Jasmine Gui and Grayson Lee: https://medium.com/taclanese/yci-iv-letter-from-the-editors-6dc06ff5e15a

• Find all the YCI pieces in Taclanese: https://medium.com/taclanese

• For more on TACLA: https://tacla.ca/ 

• For more on Reel Asian’s special projects: https://rarara.ca 

• Anthologies mentioned: “(re)Rites of Passages: Asian Canada in Motion”— https://www.reelasian.com/store/rites-of-passage-asian-canada-in-motion-anthology/ and “Reel Asian: Asian Canada on Screen”—https://www.reelasian.com/store/reel-asian-asian-canada-on-screen/

• For more on Reel Asian’s special projects: https://rarara.ca 

This episode uses the following samples and sources:

• “Lost the way”, Horthy Kristóf

• “Say Good Night”, Joakim Karud  

• “Morpho Diana”, Rachel Collier

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To celebrate the launch of his inaugural Kalabaw Bursary for Filipinx filmmakers, long time filmmaker, musician, and do-it-all maestro Romeo Candido reflects on his career in this candid conversation with the also-super-talented writer/producer Amanda Parris. The conversation was recorded prior to the 2022 Reel Asian Film Festival where Romeo was honoured as the festival's Canadian Spotlight Artist. Romeo talks about the old days that weren't so good, how BIPOC film communities supported him when nobody else did, his creative approaches to film and TV writing and show-running, and what he hopes for the future.

More information on the Kalabaw Bursary guidelines and deadlines.

Episode recorded live by Joseph Chung and Jennifer Su

Edited by Haaris Qadri

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RA26 Film UNIDENTIFIED finds Jude Chun unraveling some of the mysteries behind his indie sci-fi feature, trojan horses in genre films, his round about journey to filmmaking, and how to plan and execute a globe-trotting set piece finale.

In the second half, Jude joins Aram for "Come Eat With Me" where Jude is reminded of a Toronto specialty of days past. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Cloud Atlas dir. Lana Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, Lilly Wachowski (2012)

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Mulholland”, King Canyon
• "Keep On Movin'", King Canyon

Edited by Aram Collier

Recorded and live mixed by Joseph Chung

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RA26 Centrepiece Film THE GRIZZLIE TRUTH continues Kat Jayme's quixotic quest to keep the memory of the Vancouver Grizzlies alive. Reel Asian's Aram Siu Wai Collier is joined by Kat to get behind the scenes on the making of the film, the many characters met in her journeys (including "Swole Bibby"), her NBA analog, and possibly the quickest answer to our carb questionnaire. ***Conversation contains spoilers***

In the second half, Kat joins Aram for "Come Eat With Me" where Kat dishes over some dishes of tenuously related Grizzlie (and Raptors) snacks. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Stories We Tell dir. Sarah Polley (2012)
• Cutie and the Boxer dir. Zachary Heinzerling (2013)
• "The Fab Five" - ESPN 30 for 30
• "Friends" (you know, the TV Show)

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Mulholland”, King Canyon
• "Keep On Movin'", King Canyon

Edited by Aram Collier

Recorded and live mixed by Joseph Chung

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RA26 Opening Night Film RICEBOY SLEEPS has been collecting awards on the festival circuit. Reel Asian's Aram is joined by writer/director Anthony Shim and lead actress Seung-yoon Choi to get behind the scenes on the making of the film, their inspirations, their guilty pleasures, and the eternal battle of whether rice is superior to noodles. 

Anthony and Seung-yoon are the first Backstory guests to engage in a new segment called "Come Eat With Me" where our guests and host share a meal and talk shop with their mouths full, family style. 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Peppermint Candy dir. Lee Chang-dong (1999)
• City of Angels dir. Brad Silberling (1998)
• Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
• Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker / Rosas
• G.O.D. - Dear Mother

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Mulholland”, King Canyon
• "Keep On Movin'", King Canyon

Edited by Aram Collier

Recorded and live mixed by Joseph Chung

Thumbnail photo: ALEX LUPUL / THE CANADIAN PRESS

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Trick or treat? Kelly and Aram review each other’s favourite and most-loathed nostalgic Halloween candies, after sharing their memorable horror film watching experiences. Plus, some ASMR.

Happy Halloween from the Backspooky team!

Mentioned in this episode:

• No Question: Unico Is The Most Horrifying Children's Movie Ever Made

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Say Good Night”, Joakim Karud
• “Morpho Diana”, Rachel Collier

Episode cover art by Kelly Lui.

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Backstory hits up the west coast on this edition of the Road Trip series, joining Brian Hu, Artistic Director of San Diego Asian Film Festival, to discuss the long history of Asian American cinema, the importance of film criticism in a world of takes, and the future of Asian American filmmaking beyond Hollywood.

San Diego Asian Film Festival is hosted by Pacific Arts Movement. Follow them on social media @pacartsmovement.

Mentioned in this episode (get your Letterboxd ready):

• Brian’s article for the LA Times: "The 20 best Asian American films of the last 20 years"
• Asian American Filmmaking 2000–2009 - The Criterion Channel
• Saturday School podcast, hosted by Brian Hu and Ada Tseng, specifically season 8 on Asian-American sci-fi
• My Sight Is Lined with Visions: 1990s Asian American Film & Video, curated by Keisha Knight and Abby Sun, and its accompanying Criterion Channel collection
• Brian’s essay for My Sight Is Lined with Visions: "They Were Asian American, But…"

More from the Road Trip series:

• Part 1 with Selena Yip (Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival)
• Part 2 with with Melissa Bisagni (Washington DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival)

This episode uses or mentions the following multimedia samples and sources:

• “Sailing” by Telecasted
• “Anything You Can Dream” by The Whole Other

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