Author: againstthegrainproductions

Going Against the Grain: Chloe Dao

ATG is proud to highlight Chloe Dao, a talented designer and winner of  Project Runway Season 2,  who  won the hearts of America with her mild honest demeanor and judges’ votes with her consistent display of technical skills, business savvy and creative talent.   Not only is she a successful entrepreneur, she has a wonderful dedication to her family.

Chloe’s modest immigrant upbringing has kept her grounded, despite her new found celebrity status. She emigrated from Pakse, Laos in 1979 with her parents, Thu Thien Dao and Hue Thuc Luong, and her 7 sisters to the U.S. and settled in Houston, Texas. All the sisters were encouraged to study hard and pursue careers in medicine or law, although Chloe was never interested in either. Her passion for design and fashion were sparked at the age of 10 when she saw her first episode of CNN’s Style with Elsa Klensch. The passion grew into a career choice, and years later, she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a patternmaking degree.
 
Even with the win of PR2, Chloe continues to develop and grow her boutique’s business in Houston. In March 2008, she launched her Dao Chloe Dao wholesale line with showrooms in New York and Dallas. Her collection is available nationwide and through www.lot8online.com. 
 
Don’t miss your chance to meet Chloe and catch her collection at this year’s Fashion for a Passion charity event on September 25th! 
 
Full Name
Chloe Dao
 
Hometown
Pakse, Laos
 
Current City
Houston, TX
 
Ethnicity
Vietnamese
 
What does it mean to you to  “Go Against The Grain?”
Follow your dreams…by your own rules, but also be respectful of family and history.

 

What made you decide to pursue a career in the fashion?
My love for fashion is innately in me. I always felt it pursuaded me. There is nothing else I want to do.

 

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?  
I think the challenges I faced have never been about race. Maybe I am being naïve, but I think in fashion, it is all about balancing creativity with commerce. One cannot survive without the other.

 

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?
My boutique. It is what I always wanted, ever since I was 19. I made it happen when I was 28. Lot 8 boutique just celebrated 10 years in business.

Austin Film Society announces OPERATION BABYLIFT as recipient of 2010 Travel Fund Grant

Austin Film Society Grants $111,000 To Texas Filmmakers

http://www.persistenceofvision.org/2010/08/austin-film-society-grants-111000-to-texas-filmmakers/

Agnes Varnum | Aug 30, 2010

The Austin Film Society is very proud to announce the recipients of its 2010 Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund (TFPF) and Travel Grant programs, which this year gave away a total of $111,000 in cash and goods and services to 33 projects from emerging Texas filmmakers. AFS has now given out over $1.1 million to 293 film and video projects since the program began in 1996.

Cash grants totaling $93,000 and $6,000 worth of Kodak film stock and $5,000 in in-kind services from Seattle-based Alpha Cine Labs will be dispersed to 24 projects to recipients of the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund, adding to cash grants totaling $7,000 in stipends already dispersed to 10 Texas filmmakers via the Travel Grant program. The largest grant this year went to Ausinite Patrick Bresnan’s documentary feature VIETNAM APPRECIATION DAY, about a subculture of Vietnam War reenactors in suburban Pennsylvania. He received a $9,000 post-production grant for the film.

“The Austin Film Society is humbled by the hundreds of individuals and companies that contributed to make this year’s Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund possible,” said Rebecca Campbell, executive director of the Austin Film Society. “It goes to show how committed our community is to independent, diverse voices in filmmaking.”

Three Austin filmmakers who made award-winning first features received $7,000 grants to help complete their second films. Bob Byington will follow up the festival darling comedy HARMONY AND ME with SEVEN CHINESE BROTHERS, set to star Patton Oswalt (RATATOUILLE, BIG FAN). Kyle Henry received a grant to complete the 4th and final segment of his omnibus feature FOURPLAY, which began an innovative festival-and-digital-download release earlier this summer. And, Chris Eska, winner of the John Cassavetes Award at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards for his debut AUGUST EVENING, received a grant for the Civil War-set drama SEPTEMBER MORNING.

Two feature documentaries also received $7,000 grants – Ruth Villatoro’s THE CANTINERA, which follows the daily lives of three “cantineras” in Houston – women hired by Latin bars to drink with their male clients; and Susanne Mason’s RETURN TO SENDER which examines the difficult transition faced by prisoners after they are released.

Projects from outside of Austin also fared well this year. Four filmmakers from Houston received grants – Villatoro’s THE CANTINERA, Roberto Minervini’s narrative feature MARFA RED, Jenalia Moreno & Nancy Sarnoff’s documentary STITCHED and Mary Magsamen & Stephan Hillerbrand’s experimental short FOUR PLACE SETTING. 
Two projects by El Paso filmmakers received grants – Elvira Carrizal-Dukes’ narrative feature OCHOA and Mikey Reyes & Carlos Corral’s narrative short RED SANDS. San Antonio filmmaker Will Shipley received a grant for his narrative short MENTIROSO and Laredo filmmaker Marcela Moran received a grant for her documentary short JORNALEROS.

AFS raises funds for TFPF through the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame
and major premieres like ME AND ORSON WELLES, PREDATORS and MACHETE.
AFS also successfully raised $40,000 for TFPF through online donation
and direct mail campaigns this summer. The final grant decisions were made by a panel of three acclaimed filmmakers from outside of the state – Sam Green, the Oscar-nominated director of the documentary THE WEATHER UNDERGROUND; Emily Hubley, director of many award-winning animated shorts and the feature THE TOE TACTIC which premiered at SXSW in 2008; and Alex Rivera, director of the sci-fi feature SLEEP DEALER, winner of two awards at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

AFS Director of Artist Services Bryan Poyser administered the 2010 TFPF and he was assisted by TFPF coordinators Elin Dunigan and Emily Robinson.

Special thanks to the sponsors of the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund: the Texas Commission on the Arts, the City of Austin Cultural Funding Program, Alpha Cine Labs, Kodak, the Four Seasons Hotel, Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas and The Mohawk.

Photos (300 dpi) available upon request.

2010 Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund Recipients

59 SECONDS
Angela Torres Camarena
15 min narrative
$3,500 production, post-production & distribution

BIG BOY
Thomas Hackett
90 min narrative
$3,000 post-production

THE CANTINERA
Ruth Villatoro
80 min documentary
$7,000 for production

DEAD TO RIGHTS: THE WILLINGHAM CASE
Stephen Mims & Joe Bailey
90 min documentary
$3,000 production

FOUR PLACE SETTING
Mary Magsamen & Stephan Hillerbrand
14 min experimental
$1,000 post-production & distribution
$1,000 Alpha Cine Labs services

FOURPLAY
Kyle Henry
85 min experimental narrative
$7,000 post-production

THE GLIDERS OF ARCOSANTI
Jaime Cano
28 min narrative
$2,000 production & post-production

THE HAPPY POET
Paul Gordon & David Hartstein
85 min narrative
$2,000 distribution

JORNALEROS
Marcela Moran
30 min documentary
$1,000 production & post-production

JUST BETWEEN US 
Karen Skloss
7 min experimental narrative
$1,000 production & post-production
$4,000 Alpha Cine Labs services

MARFA RED
Roberto Minervini
85 min narrative
$7,000 post-production & distribution

MENTIROSO
Wilfred Shipley
10 min narrative
$2,000 production

OCHOA 
Elvira Carrizal-Dukes
90 min narrative
$2,000 post-production

PARENTS BEHAVING BADLY AT AN 8TH GRADE BASKETBALL GAME
Scott Meyers
90 min narrative
$4,000 post-production

RED SANDS
Mikey Reyes & Carlos Corral
18 min narrative
$2,000 post-production

RETURN TO SENDER
Susanne Mason
60 min documentary
$7,000 production

SAY HELLO TO MR. GO: AN ELEGY FOR SOUTH LOUISIANA
Don Howard
57 min documentary
$3,000 production
$3,000 Kodak film stock

SEPTEMBER MORNING
Chris Eska
85 min narrative
$7,000 production

SEVEN CHINESE BROTHERS
Bob Byington
90 min narrative
$7,000 production

STITCHED 
Jenalia Moreno & Nancy Sarnoff
60 min documentary
$1,500 production

UNTITLED GAY RETIREE DOCUMENTARY
PJ Raval
90 min documentary
$5,000 post-production

UNTITLED ZAYTUNA PROJECT 
Maryam Kashani
70 min experimental documentary
$3,000 production
$3,000 Kodak film stock

VIETNAM APPRECIATION DAY
Patrick Xavier Bresnan
90 min documentary
$9,000 post-production

WAR STORIES
Ricardo Ainslie
90 min documentary
$3,000 production & post-production

2010 Travel Grant Recipients (To Date)

David Modigliani
61 BULLETS
IFP Project Forum

Tammy Nguyen Lee
OPERATION BABYLIFT: THE LOST CHILDREN OF VIETNAM
San Diego Asian Film Festival

Michel O. Scott
THE HORSE BOY
International Documentary Festival Amsterdam

David Lowery
ST. NICK
Thessaloniki Film Festival

Amy Grappell
QUADRANGLE
Sundance Film Festival
Rotterdam Film Festival

Sam Douglas
CITIZEN ARCHITECT
Hot Docs

Kyle Henry
FOURPLAY: SAN FRANCISCO
Outfest

Clay Liford
EARTHLING
Outfest

Chris Ohlson
MELVIN
IFP Rough Cuts Labs

Paul Gordon
THE HAPPY POET
Traverse City Film Festival

Austin Film Society promotes the appreciation of film and supports creative filmmaking by screening rarely seen films, giving grants and other support to emerging filmmakers, and providing access and education about film to youth and the public. Through Austin Studios, which AFS opened in 2000 in partnership with the City of Austin, AFS helps attract film development and production to Austin and Texas. Gala film premieres and the annual Texas Film Hall of Fame Awards raise funds as well as awareness of the impact of film on economy and community. The Austin Film Society is ranked among the top film centers in the country and recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and Directors Guild of America. For more information on Austin Film Society, visit www.austinfilm.org.

ATG President/Founder to receive 2010 SMU Emerging Leader Award

Congratulations to ATG President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee, who will receive the prestigious SMU Distinguished Alumni Emerging Leader Award at this year’s SMU Homecoming Festivities.

The award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has graduated within the last fifteen years and has distinguished himself or herself as an emerging leader in a particular discipline, organization, or cause that has brought distinction to the University. The Selection Committee of the Alumni Board convenes each year to consider nominees submitted by alumni throughout the country, and her nomination was unanimously approved.

The black-tie Distinguished Alumni Dinner and Presentation will take place on Thursday, October 21st at the Fairmont Hotel in Dallas, TX.  Tickets to the event are available here.

A screening of her award-winning documentary, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, along with Q&A and reception is also planned for Friday, October 22nd on the SMU campus. More details TBA.

Tammy will also participate in the Homecoming Parade and attend the SMU Football Game (Mustangs vs. Houston Cougars at Ford Stadium) on Saturday, October 23rd.

Culture Meets Fashion at 2010 Fashion for a Passion

Fashion designers come together for charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages

Fashion For a Passion LogoDallas-based non-profit organization ATG Against The Grain Productions will host the 2nd Annual 2010 Fashion for a Passion charity event, uniting the diverse talents of designers of different Asian ethnicities to showcase their collections. The event’s mission is to raise funds for international orphanages and ATG’s community outreach programs and scholarship fund.  The 2nd annual event combines fashion, philanthropy, art, music and food and takes place from 7-10 pm on Saturday, September 25th at LandCo/7 Senses located at 1202 N. Riverfront (formerly Industrial) in the Dallas Design District.

ATG is an innovative resource that gives voice to significant, relevant and untold stories in the Asian community and was founded to produce media, events and programs that promote awareness and unity of Asian American culture and identity.  ATG President and Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee said, “We are so proud to host this fun event. It’s amazing to see how one night can bring together people from all walks of life – designers, photographers, stylists, models, artists, musicians, community leaders and philanthropists – who volunteer their abilities and support for a common cause. It’s another way for us to tell our rich story and celebrate.”

Project Runway Season 2 winner Chloe Dao, is a designer of Vietnamese ancestry born in Laos who lives in Houston and founded family business Lot 8 in Houston. “Being Asian American, I know how lucky I am to be here, and most of all, to have my family with me. I was delighted to be invited to be a part of Fashion for a Passion to help raise money for others not as fortunate,” said Dao. “As a designer, I love fashion as much as anyone else or more. The more talented designers and more diverse ethnicities, the better. We all have a different point of view, and I get to enjoy their work and vice versa.”

For Chinese American designer Judy Yang, who also lives in Houston, her goal is not only to raise funds, but also to give and find inspiration. “It means a great deal to me to that I am able to share my love for what I do and help a great cause at the same time.  As an Asian American designer, I hope that my designs will uplift and inspire different people and designers of different backgrounds around the world,” said Yang.

Dallas-based South Asian designer Prashi Shah added, “As a designer, being able to utilize fashion design to bring awareness and raise funds for children internationally is something I strive to do in my own work. Fashion has the ability to translate the different cultures in the world and bring us all closer.”

Fashion for a Passion event tickets range from $45-$50 and can be purchased exclusively online.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. Their premiere documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit http://mnt.32c.myftpupload.comor www.TheBabylift.com.

PinkMemo: 2010 Fashion for a Passion

2010 FASHION FOR A PASSION

POSTED BY Nadia Dabbakeh | 08.17.2010 | 04:01 PM

Click here for original blog.

The 2nd Annual Fashion for a Passion charity event isn’t till September 25th, but we’re already excited – and the tickets are up for sale now!

Benefitting ATG Against The Grain Productions’ supported orphanages and educational outreach programs, the night will include a fashion show from emerging Asian American designers, who will each auction off a signature look. These will include Season 2 winner of Project Runway Chloe Dao, Khanh Nguyen of Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig of Cykochik Custom Handbagsfeaturing Freedom Parc, Prashi Shah of Prashe, Judy Yang, Cac Lam of 2FeMale, and Sumie Tachibana. More live auction pieces will also be provided by Lyly Thanh, CC Couture, Dolly Pearl,Lizzi London and Ann Hoang.

kaitlin copy
The “Kaitlin” one shoulder moire dress with chiffon drape detail by Chloe Dao

Join emcees actress/model and She’s Got The Look Season 2 Finalist LeeAnne Locken andBagsnob.com blogger Tina Craig for the show, as well as musical entertainment, an art exhibition, tunes by DJ Prada G and Lisa Le, signature cocktails, and light bites.

Nha Khanh
The “Milace” dress from Khanh Nguyen of Nhã Khan’s Black Velvet Collection

That’s not all. Guests will be welcome to join the after party, hosted by Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen at 3407 McKinney Avenue for complimentary cocktails, drink specials and a live DJ – what a night!

When: Saturday, September 25th, 7 to 10 pm

Where: LandCo/7 Senses, 1202 N. Riverside (formerly Industrial) at Howell Street, Dallas Design District

Tickets: $40 – $50

Purchase: www.againstthegrainproductions.com

Vietnam Culture Camp — Unforgettable

ATG’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Aivy Nguyen, returned for another summer volunteering as camp counselor for Catalyst Foundation‘s Vietnamese Culture Camp. Here is her recap of her weekends.

“Two weekends. Two cities. One sad ATG’er who’s sad another year of camp is over.

Yet another wonderful year of camp has passed with more memories and stories with the kids, parents counselors and staff at Catalyst Culture Camps in Northfield, MN and New Haven, CT. With two camps back to back, my culturally fused weekend was a blur of kids, play-time, snack-time, arts, crafts, circle painting and the infamous never-ending piggy back rides.

Midwest Catalyst Culture Camp
East Coast Catalyst Culture Camp

This year, I was lucky enough to be chosen as camp counselor for both the Midwest and East Coast camps. Double the fun. Double the excitement. Double the amounts of lost sleep. All the while, it was very much worth every minute, because each Vietnamese adoptee I meet is a reminder of why I love doing what I do for ATG — providing ways to help raise funds for the orphans still in Vietnam so that they can hopefully one day have the same opportunities as the children I meet at Catalyst.

Day one of Minnesota camp is always a joy, as it gives the opportunity for many of the campers and parents to meet and get to know the counselors on a more one-to-one level. They also have their chance to dunk their favorite counselors during the Catalyst Carnival.

This year also reunited myself, Jack Nguyen and our incredible improv emcee skills for the counselor talent show. I was very impressed to see such an array of skills in acting, dancing, fiddle-playing and most impressively — song writing. Catalyst Culture Camp finally got its theme song, thanks to the counselors from Group 4 who re-wrote the lyrics to Katy Perry’s “California Girls” for culture camp. To see/hear a real treat, visit the Catalyst Foundation Fan Page.

The addition of Circle Painting and Vovinam also brought different cultural learning lessons to camp. The kids learned how to build onto each other’s creativity with painting, as well as the great art of martial arts and self-defense with Vovinam.

With more activities that filled the day than I could imagine, the best of all of them was getting to bond with the kids. Each one with their own story, their own history, their own personalities and ability to adapt. Every year I return, I grow more impressed and attached, not only with the kids, but the parents who have given a piece of themselves to share their lives and love. To the parents and kids, I thank you again for another great summer.

To see more of Aivy’s camp adventures, be sure to visit our ATG Fan Page and check out our photo albums!

Going Against the Grain: Cykochik's Nikki Duong Koenig

Cykochik Custom Handbags Founder/Designer Nikki Duong Koenig

We love handbag designer Nikki Duong Koenig for her creativity in not only her work, but the process and thought behind how she does it. We are thrilled to get to premiere her latest collection at this year’s upcoming Fashion for a Passion!

Cykochik Custom-Handbags was first conceived in Nikki’s small Southern Methodist University dorm room. While living in Dallas and working on her BA in Advertising and Fine Art, she naturally combined her passion for fashion and art to produce an innovative line of custom handbags.

With Cykochik earning its position as a booming handbag label, Nikki then jetted off to New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). While there, she was able to hone her design and business skills in the CEO program.

Much of Nikki’s vibrant aesthetic is drawn from her experiences in NYC, photography, art, nature and her Vietnamese heritage. When it comes to fashion, she follows her own instincts instead of trends, since styles/trends are in a constant state of reinvention. As is everything in life, hence the “cycle” in the name Cykochik.

Nikki is a fervent believer in individualism and the freedom to express it, without endangering others in the process. She works only with animal & eco-friendly vinyls and is dedicated to quality craftsmanship, creativity and customization.

Cykochik Vanguard Bot Bag

Full name:

Nikki Duong Koenig

Hometown:

Dallas, TX

Current City:

Dallas, TX

Ethnicity:

Vietnamese American

What does it mean for you to “Go Against The Grain?”

It’s a state-of-mind, being able to trust/follow my instincts and not second-guessing myself despite external obstacles or influences. We should all “Go Against the Grain,” so that there is no grain to have to go against.

What made you decide to pursue a career in the fashion/handbag industry?

Like most designers, I was immersed in fashion and creativity growing up. So it was both nature and nurture that brought me into two very creative industries, fashion and advertising. The latter was a conscious decision to study at SMU, while handbag designing occurred more organically as I was pursuing a career in advertising.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?

I try to look at challenges as opportunities to learn valuable lessons and grow. It’s something I face two-folds as an Asian American woman in the very competitive fashion and advertising industries. I guess I share the same blessing/curse as most Asian American women in looking much younger than they really are. So it’s a minor challenge to get the initial respect I need in a corporate setting, but I’ve learned to establish/prove my experience very early on.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

Getting to do what I love and being able to support myself and others while doing it.

What do you hope to achieve?

I hope to inspire others and to make a positive impact with my art/designs.

Who inspires you?

My family. Their strength and courage in leaving Vietnam to brave a whole new world is a constant inspiration for me to pursue my dreams.

What is the most important lesson/advice you would give?

“Just Do It” like Nike, because nothing will happen unless you start it.

What’s up next?

Working with six amazing artists on the second Artist Series Collection, which will be debuting at Fashion For A Passion Sept. 25th!

Booklist Reviews OPERATION BABYLIFT

Thank you to Booklist for the wonderful review on our award-winning documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam. The review will be sent out nationally in their online  September 2010 e-newsletter.  

Commemorating Operation Babylift, a U.S. relief effort that rescued more than 2,500 orphans out of Vietnam in 1975, this update is an informative and passionate look at the aftermath of war and the innocent children lostin the chaos of battle. Filmmaker Tammy Nguyen Lee combines archival black-and white film footage of bombings, evacuations, orphaned babies, and more with interviews with parents, volunteers, and rescued Vietnamese adoptees (now adults) who tell their stories with honesty and poignancy. Camera close-ups help intensify adoptees’ recollections of growing up in the U.S., where antiwar sentiments precipitated some racist behaviors. Efforts to discover their own identities vary from attending adoptees reunions (first organized in 2000) and visiting Vietnam to attempting to adopt a Vietnamese orphan (one of the most emotional stories). One interviewee shares that only when his child was born did he experience the feeling of his own flesh and blood. Extras include further discussions with adoptees and additional footage.  — Edie Ching

2010 Fashion For a Passion Adds Extra Edge to Lineup

Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages

Fashion For a Passion LogoDALLAS, TX – The 2nd Annual Fashion For a Passion (FFAP) hosted by Dallas nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions will feature a diverse lineup of local and national Asian American fashion designers united to raise money for charity.  This year’s event will feature the collection of Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner of Project Runway), Khanh Nguyen for Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags featuring Freedom Parc, Prashi Shah for Prashe and Judy Yang. Newly added to edge up the roster are local designer Cac Lam for 2FeMale and New York-based designer Sumie Tachibana, as well as LeeAnne Locken (actress/model and finalist from She’s Got the Look) who joins fashion blogger Tina Craig of Bagsnob.com to emcee. The charity event takes places from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th at LandCo/7 Senses located at 1202 N. Riverfront (formerly Industrial) in Dallas, Texas.

The night’s festivities feature musical entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a silent auction and a fashion show of sneak-peeks, followed by a live auction of select pieces from each presenting designer’s collection and other exclusive pieces donated by Asian American designers around the country. The proceeds of the evening go to benefit orphanages in Vietnam and ATG’s community outreach initiatives. Against The Grain President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, said, “This is an exciting showcase of the talents of our community for a worthy cause, and we are particularly proud to collaborate with and showcase this diverse talent who truly represent the boldness and spirit of what it means to go ‘against the grain.’”

2Female Sumie Tachibana

Designer Cac Lam, who studied at the Art Institute of Dallas and whose aesthetic is wild and crazy, said, “It’s rare that we get the opportunity to step back from the glitz and glamour of our craft to lend our hearts and hands to those who need them, so I jumped at the chance to participate.” Added Lam, “To go against the grain for me means to bring a style and uniqueness to my work that is from the soul, not society. I am the only me, so if I give the world work that is from my mind, my heart and my core, it will always be against the grain.”

Designer Sumie Tachibana, whose style is bold and edgy, studied at the University of Texas at Austin and the famed Parsons School of Design in New York. “It’s a great honor to be invited to do a show with this very talented group of designers.” Added Tachibana, “I truly appreciate and embrace being different. I design non-trend driven clothing for women and men that appreciate the beauty of being independent.”

LeeAnne LockenLeeAnne Locken, a feisty model/actress who became even more well-known as a finalist on Season 2 of She’s Got The Look, said, “I am very happy to be on board for this wonderful event. Fashion is in my blood, and I think of great pieces of clothing as literal works of art.” Continued Locken, “I strive to be unique…in speaking my mind and always trying to have fun. Going against the grain means doing whatever it takes to be successful. I am not a big ‘go with the flow’ kind of person. I am the ‘get out the way, here she comes’ kind of person.”

FFAP event tickets range from $40-$50, and sales for the event begin on August 11th online, click here to purchase.

ATG Against The Grain Productions, a Dallas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, promotes Asian-American cultural awareness through compelling media projects and raises funds for international orphanages. Their premiere documentary feature, Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam, has received the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film at the Vietnamese International Film Festival and the Documentary Audience Choice Award from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. For more information, visit http://mnt.32c.myftpupload.com or http://www.TheBabylift.com

Newsday: Nassau Woman Keeps Memory of "Operation Babylift" Alive

Updated: Jul 17, 2010 05:38 PM
By BART JONES
It was the final days of the Vietnam War in April 1975 as Saigon was falling, and the United States launched one last massive effort: To airlift as many orphans as possible out of the country.
In the three weeks before the last helicopter lifted off from the roof of the U.S. Embassy, some 2,548 babies and children were flown out. Most ended up in the United States, including about 100 on Long Island.
Now, at the 35th anniversary of the end of the war, “Operation Babylift” is gaining renewed attention, partially because of a Nassau County woman who led the humanitarian effort and adoption campaign on Long Island.
Lana Noone, of Franklin Square , adopted two of the infants and was a main organizer of local families who took in children from Babylift. She helped send supplies, such as baby formula, to Vietnam before the children’s arrival to the United States and then organized outings, cross-cultural events and parties as they grew up.
Next week Noone will speak about Operation Babylift as part of a retrospective program on the Vietnam War hosted by the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts museum. The event will be held at the site of the 1969 Woodstock concert.
Her appearance follows the release of a documentary that opened nationwide this year.
Last year, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., hosted, for the first time, an event to mark Operation Babylift. “Finally, after the 35th anniversary, we’ve gotten this recognition,” said Noone, 63, who appeared at the Smithsonian.
The first sickly infant she adopted, Heather, died a month after arriving on Long Island , and Noone says she vowed to dedicate the rest of her life “to make sure no one would forget there was a Vietnam babylift and her short life would not be in vain.”
Noone’s other adopted daughter, Jennifer, was found wrapped in a blanket in a garbage can in a Saigon market, a common practice by Vietnamese mothers who hoped their babies would be found and placed in a good orphanage. Jennifer Noone, now 35, is a social worker in Manhattan.
Lana Noone says her daughter Jennifer became a cheerleader at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square , a class vice president and a member of the National Honor Society. She went on to graduate with honors from Drew University before attending Columbia University , where she earned her master’s degree.
“I don’t have a day where I don’t think of these birth parents,” Noone said. “My life is full. But it is over their tragedy.”
Jared Rehberg, one of the adoptees who now lives in Queens , helped produce the documentary “Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam ,” and says Babylift lasted just a few weeks “but it changed a lot of lives.”
He still does not know what day he was born, or how he ended up at an orphanage in Vietnam. “It’s kind of a mystery,” he said, adding that he returned to Vietnam in 2005 as part of a group of 21 adoptees who visited for several days.
“It was a little closure for me,” he said.
Today, Lana Noone runs a group and website, vietnambabylift.org, that tries to keep alive the memory of what some call one of the largest humanitarian missions in history. She often receives e-mails from Babylift adoptees trying to track down their birth parents, or from birth parents – including U.S. veterans – trying to track down their children born in Vietnam.
Operation Babylift was criticized by some as a cynical attempt by the United States to generate good public relations amid the debacle of the end of the war. But Noone says she thinks there was little choice.
“I sincerely feel it was the only thing that could have been done,” she said. “They were in harm’s way. There was a war. With all the chaos that was going on, they weren’t on the top of anyone’s list.”