Category: News

Notes From the Road by Jared Rehberg

by Jared Rehberg, ATG Board member

As I write this I can’t believe it’s almost 2011. Here’s a quick look back at a few events from 2010 where I proudly represented ATG.

It was an honor to appear as guest speaker at Asia Society’s weekly webcast. Author Dana Sachs shared her stories and research of the Babylift and I gave an adoptee’s perspective, sharing my life work over the past 10 years since the first reunion in 2000.

March 27th was named Betty Tisdale Day in Columbus. I joined 50 An Lac orphanage adoptees to pay tribute to Betty. One stop was nearby at the cemetery to pay respects to Madame Vu Ngai. It was surreal to visit the grave of Madam Vu Ngai. She was a woman I never met, but probably found me and welcomed me to the orphanage as a baby. I always look forward to seeing Betty, the angel of Saigon, or as she calls herself, “Mom number 2.”

As an Asian American artist in New York City it was a dream to be art of an event at the Asian American Writers Workshop. This is a well respected organization in NYC and APA community. They came to my Queens neighborhood for an adoptee artist night. I was honored.

Fellow APA artist Taiyo Na invited me to appear on PBS affiliated show Asian America. I think the title of the show was “Asian Americans Who Are Making It in Entertainment.” Yes, I chuckled. Fellow adoptee Kevin Maes and I showed up at 2:30 in the afternoon to represent ATG and our film. We talked about Tammy & George, our adoptee volunteer work and my music performance. It was entertaining. I even ended up performing a song and hit a bad chord in the end. Nobody is perfect. 🙂

I closed the year with a trip to Toronto and Ottawa. Children’s Bridge invited me up to perform my music and take part in an adoptee panel.
I joined a Filipino, Indian and Korean adoptee. It was nice to swap stories and experiences. I was reminded of how diverse we are.

Peace in every step,
Jared

Join the 2011 ATG Board

Want to get more involved in the arts and give back to you community? Want to grow your leadership experience and potential? Want to work with some pretty awesome people and help make a difference? ATG is seeking strong, energetic  and passionate leaders to join our 2011 ATG Board!
 
Open positions:
 
* Vice President –  1. Is a member of the Board  2. Performs President responsibilities when the President cannot be available (see President Job Description)   3. Reports to the Board’s President . 4. Works closely with the President and other Board members.  5. Participates closely with the President to develop and implement officer transition plans.  6. Performs other responsibilities as assigned by the Board.
 
* Treasurer – 1. Is a member of the Board  2. Manages finances of the organization  3. Administrates fiscal matters of the organization, including audit and tax filing.  4. Provides annual budget to the board for members’ approval.  5. Ensures development and board review of financial policies and procedures. 6. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
 
* Director of Community Outreach – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Plans programs and presentations that will translate the organization’s mission to the community. 3. Provide organization linkage to other organizations. 4. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.  5. Maintains a database of organizations and leadership connections for possible partnership opportunities.  6. Serve on Scholarship committee to review applicants and determines a final recipient. 7. Participates in fundraising for the organization
 
* Director of Public Relations/Marketing – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Creates and implements appropriate strategic vision and marketing campaigns. 3. Writes news stories and press releases 4. Creates and maintains website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Blog). 5. Creates printed marketing and promotional materials including postcards, pamphlets, brochures and e-campaigns 6. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.  7. Maintains active relations with national/local press and media and keeps press and newsletter databases updated. 8. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
 
* Director of Fundraising – 1. Is a member of the Board. 2. Strategizes and leads fundraising campaign to search for funds through grants and public solicitation. Organizes fundraising campaigns in tandem with the Public Relations/Marketing and Community Outreach Teams  3. Is an active participant in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.  4. Participates in fundraising for the organization.
 
Download the 2010 ATG Board of Directors Application and return it along with a cover letter and resume by Tues, November 30th to info@againstthegrainproductions.com.

SMU Presents Tammy Nguyen Lee with Emerging Leader Award

(l. to r.) Ken Malcolmson, president of SMU's Alumni Board of Directors; George W. Bramblett Jr.; Stephen Mulholland; Tammy Nguyen Lee; Gary Crum; and R. Gerald Turner, president of SMU.

Tammy Nguyen Lee, a graduate of SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts, will receive the 2010 Southern Methodist University Emerging Leader Award on Thursday, October 21. SMU President R. Gerald Turner will present the award at the Distinguished Alumni Awards black-tie celebration at the Fairmont Hotel in Downtown Dallas.

Dr. Turner wrote, “The Emerging Leader 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.” Arlene Manthey, SMU Associate Director of Development for Student Affairs, said, “Tammy was a student leader who made a real impact on not only her peers but others, like me, who had a chance to work with her as a staff advisor.” Continued Manthey, “She has continued to be a bright and shining star using her talents that were honed as a student leader and has become a change agent through the film and entertainment industry. Tammy…is inspirational, visionary, courageous, focused, accomplished, and always willing to step up to the plate and make a difference.”

“This has been an incredible year, full of many personal and professional landmarks and milestones,” said Lee. “It is very validating to be honored by my mentors and peers in this way. What a wonderful gift, especially during a 10- year reunion. I am very humbled and appreciative of those who have helped me along the way.”

Lee was an active student leader and honors graduate from Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts in 2000, during which time she was leader with Program Council and East Asian Student Association, voted 1st runner-up Homecoming Queen and served as Miss Asian American Texas from 1999-2001. She has experience as an actress/model, with credits spanning across movies, television, commercials, industrials and national campaigns. After graduating from SMU, Lee received a Master of Fine Arts from the elite UCLA Producers Program in 2004. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships, leadership and service awards, volunteered with various community organizations and  served on the Board of Directors of Women in Film.Dallas. She is President and Founder of ATG Against The Grain Productions, a nonprofit organization that promotes Asian American cultural awareness through outreach programs and raises money for aid to orphanages in Asia. She currently is the Director of Development for Original Programming at AMS Pictures, one of the largest production companies in the southwest, where she oversees the development of a heavy slate of projects that she has successfully developed and sold to WE tv, HGTV and truTV (Girl Meets Gown, Ma’s Roadhouse).

Lee will also speak on a symposium panel for “The Art of Entrepreneurship” at 8 a.m. on Friday, October 22, hosted by the SMU Cinema-Television (CTV) division. Later that day, SMU CTV hosts a free encore community screening of Lee’s award-winning feature documentary Operation Babylift: The Lost Children of Vietnam from 3-5 p.m. in the SMU Owens Arts Center in the Greer Garson Screening Room 3531. Lee’s directorial debut depicts the historic effort that airlifted over 2,500 orphans out of Vietnam during the last days of the Vietnam War and these adoptees’ complex journey to make peace with their controversial past. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Operation Babylift. A Q&A will follow with Lee and two local Babylift adoptees. Finally, Lee will serve as one of the Homecoming Parade dignitaries on Saturday, October 23 and will attend the Homecoming football game as a guest of President Turner.

To attend the SMU Operation Babylift screening, RSVP to trevinot@smu.edu or call 214-768-2129. For more information on ATG Against the Grain Productions, please visit www.AgainstTheGrainproductions.com

Going Against The Grain: Twisted Optiks

ATG is excited to bring to your consciousness Twisted Optiks (aka Ronnie Chea), a talented hip hop musical artist who performed at our recent Fashion for a Passion event.

“I’m just a humbled emcee blessed with a God-given talent to rock the mic. It’s been a long journey to get where I am and I wouldn’t change it for a thing. Twisted Optiks – see things in a different perspective; cross-eyed or as I see it ‘Eyes on the Cross.'”

Full Name
Ronnie Saroun Chea

Hometown
Wichita, Kansas/ Fort Worth, Texas

Current City
Carrollton, Texas

Ethnicity
Cambodian

What does it mean to you to  “Go Against The Grain?”
I believe that going against the grain means to seek alternate paths of life other than the norm. Being Asian and working with hip hop sets me apart from the norm. Where I stand out is that I want my music to make an impact in people’s lives and give them inspiration to also go against the grain and follow their dreams and ambitions, and not just live a life with regrets.

What made you decide to pursue a career in music, specifically this type of genre?
My parents loved music, either in singing it or making it. Of course my music is not necessarily similar to my parents’ music, but the ambition to let our musical talents shine is definitely apparent. I fell in love with the hip hop culture and the use of the English language to create poetry upon music. I went from writing poetry at age 16, to producing music, to surrounding my life around music. I currently instruct audio engineering to probation students in South Dallas, and it is a blessing to be a part of making a positive impact in the lives of my students.

 Well to sum up what my style is, I love lyrical, underground hip hop that appreciates the culture, life and the need to make a change in the mess on the radio that people assumes is hip hop. I always loved how a picture can be painted from words and loved creating rhymes that reflect reality, my life and what I face each day.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in a very competitive industry?
As an Asian American, I realize that this path I chose is quite narrow and people being successful in my field are few and far between. I realize that there are many who strive to make a name for themselves in the talents they have and even when they give their all, are rarely acknowledged for it. I spent a great deal of time finding out who I was in the hip hop scene before I came to the understanding of who I am today.

I chose not to follow the trends, as I realize that it can be a big risk for me. I realize that what I have to offer is not your “usual” and may be less likely to catch much recognition or fame. But my greatest aspiration is to give the world an “alternative” to the lukewarm, uninspiring, and demoralizing sounds we call “radio hip hop.” Not all songs are bad, but what I hear now a days is built solely for commercial use and offers no benefit or motivation for the listeners other than promiscuity and violence. I’ve seen the ups and downs of the industry, but I realize that what I get out of life is what I put in. My aim is to reach that single person that needed the music at that very moment to encourage them to face life’s struggles and to overcome them with victory.

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?
My greatest accomplishment, in all honestly, is that I am alive. And I don’t just mean breathing and being able to function. I mean that I am actually living my life with a purpose and a mission. I’m not a doctor, lawyer, computer science or business major, but I am one who decided to go the road less traveled. If this path wasn’t for me, it would have fizzled out a long time ago. But I am still going strong and growing each day more. Each day I am honing my skills and perfecting my craft. God’s got me here for a reason and I will do all I can to share my message of love through music.

What’s up next?
I am currently working on finishing a new album and possibly a music video. No set dates as of yet but I will try to get things done as soon as possible!

Visit the Twisted Optiks Facebook Page.

Pink Memo: Fashion for a Passion

Nini Nguyen and Alex Tran at 2010 Fashion for a Passion

Dallas based non-profit ATG Against The Grain Productions turned the Design District’s LandCo/7 Senses venue into a fashion extravaganza for its 2nd-annual Fashion For a Passion event – and the stylish certainly came out to play. Approximately 300 volunteers, philanthropists, and fashion fans joined to support the cause. The centerpiece of the event, emceed by bagsnob.com blogger Tina Craig and actress/model LeeAnne Locken, was the fashion show featuring designers Chloe Dao (season 2 winner of Project Runway); Khanh Nguyen for Nha Khanh; Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags; Prashi Shah for Prashe; Judy Yang; Cac Lam for 2FeMale; and Susie Tachibana. Each designer donated looks for a live auction benefiting ATG. With plenty of party frocks, cocktails, and musical guests such as Mina Chang and Houston-based JR Kim, the fashionistas defintely had fun. And the best part: the evening’s proceeds will benefit orphanages in Asia and ATG’s community outreach initiatives, designed to aid Asian American students pursuing degrees in the arts.

Click here to read the original event coverage and photos.

Packed House at 2010 Fashion for a Passion Charity Event

Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages

Dallas-based nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions held the 2nd Annual Fashion for a Passion (FFAP) this past Saturday night at LandCo/7 Senses in the Dallas Design District. It was a packed house with nearly 300 volunteers and philanthropists who joined to raise $10,000 for ATG’s supported orphanages in Asia, the newly started Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship to support Asian American students pursuing a degree in the arts and year-round community outreach programs.

FFAP Emcees Tina Craig and LeeAnne Locken - Photo courtesy of Loc Truong Photography

“I was very impressed by the hard work that the ATG team put into the event. The FFAP show was such a high-quality and well-run event, and I’m sure that’s a direct reflection of the outstanding leadership and effort from ATG,” said Milton Lai, representing Hotels.com, a Producer Level Sponsor. “I think the partnership with ATG was exceptional, and I’m glad we could play a part in supporting the event and such a worthy cause. [It was] definitely a great night, great fashion, and great work for the orphanages.”

The centerpiece of the event featured a knock-out fashion show with a live auction of select pieces from each presenting designer’s collection and other exclusive pieces from designers around the world. Presenting designer collections were showcased by Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner of Project Runway), Khanh Nguyen for Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags featuring Freedom Parc, Prashe, Judy Yang, Cac Lam for 2FeMale and New York-based designer Sumie Tachibana. Additional fashion pieces were provided for the live auction from Ann Hoang, CC Couture, Dolly Pearl, Lizzi London, and Lyly Thanh.
Melissa Brown (Page Parkes) modeling Sumie Tachibana - photo courtesy of David Loi (Infini Studios)
Kamille Carlisle (Campbell Wagner) modeling Cykochik Custom Handbags by Nikki Duong Koenig - Photo courtesy of David Loi (Infini Studios)
Keegan Wheeler (Page Parkes) modeling 2 Female by Cac Lam - Photo courtesy of Loc Truong

The event featured artistic, musical and design talents within the Asian American community. Event highlights include dynamic musical performances by Houston based JR Kim, Xuan Nguyen and Miles Machon, hip hop performer Twisted Optiks and a surprise performance by Mina Chang.  The Live Auction of designer pieces hosted by beautiful and witty emcees  LeeAnne Locken (actress/model, She’s Got the Look) and Tina Craig (Bagsnob.com, former MTV Asia veejay)  provided many memorable moments throughout the evening.

“We are so thrilled that this year’s Fashion for a Passion was a huge success and continues to not only promote awareness for our social cause overseas, but also the profiles of emerging designers and artists in our community,” said Against The Grain President/Founder Tammy Nguyen Lee. “ATG brings together a volunteer base with a lot of heart, soul and passion. Saturday’s turnout makes all the hard work so rewarding, and we are humbled and honored by the overwhelming support. We doubled the amount raised from last year’s event, a huge accomplishment, and are looking forward to growing what we can do globally.”

To see photos from the event, please visit the ATG Flickr Site.

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 www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com or www.TheBabylift.com.

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Rave Reviews for 2010 Fashion for a Passion

Nikki Duong Koenig, Chloe Dao, Nini Nguyen, Khanh Nguyen - Photo courtesy of Quoc 'QC' Cong (XO Photography)

Thank you to everyone who contributed your talents to the 2010 Fashion for a Passion charity event. With your help, we were able to have one heckuva show and raise $10,000 (a 200% increase from last year) for our supported orphanages, new ATG Artistic Scholarship fund and year-round community outreach programs. Thank you so much!

Read below all the wonderful comments that are coming in:

What the Designers had to say:

“It was wonderful event. It was pleasure to be in such well organized and successful event. Honestly, it was really nice to see the Asian community, young and old, come out and support  the cause. I am game for next year if you need.”

–          Chloe Dao (Designer, DAO Chloe Dao)

 

“Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of this event…”

–          Vi Hoang (Designer, Dolly Pearl)

 

“Thank you so much for letting me be a part of the show. I had a great time and enjoyed it very much. Thank you for working so hard to put up the show.”

–          Cac Lam (Designer, 2FeMale)

 

“Great job! I had a blast! My first “real show,” thanks to you!”

 –          Lyly Koenig (Designer, Lyly Thanh)

“…It was such a fabulous event, thank you for letting me be a part of it all. It was a pleasure working with you and the ATG crew – you guys are just amazing. I’m definitely a fan and would love to help out with future ATG events/initiatives.”

–          Nikki Duong Koenig (Designer, Cykochik Custom Handbags)

 

“… Fashion for a Passion was such a huge success! Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful cause again!”

–          Khanh Nguyen (Designer, Nhã Khanh)

“Thank you so much for planning a fabulous event and allowing me to participate. Everyone was so welcoming, helpful, and truly sweet. You have a great team of people!”

–          Sumie Tachibana

“I am so honored to be part of this event and get to meet so many great people. The night was a great success and would love to part of FFAP again next time.”

–          Judy Yang (JudYang)

What the Sponsors/Guests had to say:

“I was very impressed by the hard work that the ATG team put into the event.  The FFAP show was such a high-quality and well-run event, and I’m sure that’s a direct reflection of the outstanding leadership and effort from ATG. I think the partnership with ATG was exceptional, and I’m glad we could play a part in supporting the event and such a worthy cause.  Definitely a great night, great fashion, and great work for the orphanages.”

–        Milton Lai (Hotels.com)

“It was great to see everything come together.  We definitely had a good time and [were] very happy about the turnout at Lumi.  I would love to work with you on future events with ATG.”

–          Susie Bui (Lumi Empanada & Dumpling Kitchen)

“What a great party and show…it all turned out great, and I am so happy to have been able to work with you and would love to continue help out however we can in the future.”

–          Damaris Grogan (Page Parkes Management)

“The second annual Against The Grain Fashion for a Passion event on September 25 was one of the most inspiring I’ve attended in a long time.”

–          Haley Schultheis (Pink Memo)

“My friend and I had a total blast!  I’m more than happy to help for such a great cause… You guys totally rocked in organizing the event!”

–          Joie Chau Pham (Luxe Petals)

“It is our pleasure to be part of your event, and we are thrilled that it was a great success…”

–          Michelle Byrd (Ben E. Keith)

“Thank you again for allowing us to be a part of Fashion For A Passion. We were thrilled to be there and found the evening to be wildly successful!”

–      Ryan Glenn (Subjective Media/The Photo Stand)

“Last night was a great event. Very well organized. Great Job!”

–      Steve Peris (Guest)

“I had a blast… Thanks so much to everyone who participated.”

–      Arienne Cartier (Guest)

“Great job…Your event was beautiful and very organized and energetic.”

–      Mina Chang (Musical Performer)

What the Volunteers had to say:

“Good cause, good fun and a whole lot of fashion at the second annual charity event Fashion for a Passion to benefit world orphanage. Against the Grain did an amazing job at promoting, producing and organizing such a fantastic event to raise awareness and supports for their humble cause. Great job to everyone.”

–      Quoc Cong “QC” (Volunteer, XO Photography)

 

“It was a great night. You did a fabulous job of pulling it together!”

–      Tina Craig (Emcee, Bagsnob.com)

“Thank you, Tammy, for including me as a part of such an amazing event!! YOU are inspiring & amazing!!! Much love.”

–      LeeAnne Locken (Actress/Model, She’s Got the Look)

“It was an honor to be invited to work for such a great cause again…Congrats goes to ATG, sponsors and volunteers for making it happen.”

–      David Loi (Volunteer, Infini Studios)

“We had a blast…Great job on your end, too.  Very well done.”

–      Trevor Hyslop (Volunteer, Day 18)

“Tammy, you and your team were absolutely wonderful. Anytime you need anything, please do not hesitate to ask. I have to say, in all of the years that I have done events, yours was by far the best put together most calm and just fun event I have done.. Please pass along our gratitude for such a fun and pleasant group!”

–      Dianne Gomez (Toni & Guy)

 

“Thank you, Tam and George, for the opportunity! It was a lot of fun!”

–      Keisha Murrell (Volunteer, FFAP Show Coordinator)

“I was honored to be a part of Against the Grain this year…I really appreciate and admire people like the two of you with such big hearts reaching out to help others and having an organization that allows us to be a part of it. Great hearts are contagious, and you guys totally inspire me.”

–      Nini Nguyen (Volunteer, FFAP Show Coordinator)

“You all did an excellent job, and I really respect you and George for your generosity for the cause…”

– Cuong Nguyen (Volunteer)

“It was a great event…”

–      Travis Petty (Volunteer, Frozen Fire Films)

“I’m so glad i was able to make it to the event and help out with my small bit for such a wonderful cause…Keep up the great work!”

–      Alex Tran (Volunteer, Miss Vietnam Global)

“Had a blast…”

–      Chi Tran (Volunteer, Infini Studios)

“Against The Grain did an amazing job at promoting, producing and organizing such a fantastic event to raise awareness and support for their humble cause. Great job to everyone…It was a pleasure to participate.”

–      Loc Truong (Volunteer, Loc Truong Photography)

Diverse Talents Unite for 2010 Fashion for a Passion

Proceeds from charity fashion show to benefit international orphanages

Fashion For a Passion Logo

Dallas-based nonprofit ATG Against The Grain Productions will host the 2nd Annual Fashion For a Passion (FFAP) with the purpose to join the talents and abilities of artists and philanthropists to raise funds for international orphanages and ATG’s community outreach programs and scholarship fund. The event takes places from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, September 25th at LandCo/7 Senses located at 1202 N. Riverfront (formerly Industrial) in the Dallas Design District. 

The night’s festivities include music, art, food, cocktails, a silent auction and fashion show, followed by a live auction of select pieces from each presenting designer’s collection and other exclusive pieces donated from designers around the country. The evening will be emceed by actress/model LeeAnne Locken (She’s Got the Look) and fashion blogger Tina Craig (Bagsnob.com).

Presenting designers include Chloe Dao (Season 2 winner of Project Runway), Khanh Nguyen for Nhã Khanh, Nikki Duong Koenig for Cykochik Custom Handbags featuring Freedom Parc, Prashe, Judy Yang, Cac Lam for 2FeMale and New York-based designer Sumie Tachibana.

Musical artists include JR Kim, Xuan Nguyen and Miles Machon from Houston, plus Twisted Optiks and Mina Chang from the Dallas area.

Xuan Nguyen

Vietnamese singer-songwriter Xuan Nguyen said, “FFAP is a chance to be able to use my passion for music to help improve the lives of others, but it means even more to me because this event is to help children. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to unite with other talented artists in other industries to help those in need. Being able to sing and give back at the same time is wonderful.”

Twisted Optiks aka Ronnie Chea

Cambodian hip hop artist Twisted Optiks, also known as Ronnie Chea, said, “To be in an event such as FFAP gives people opportunities to not only network, connect and build relationships with others with the same mindset, it also gives us a moment to let our talents shine and be either be heard or seen. We can take part in an environment that appreciates our gifts and influence us to continue pursuing our particular dreams and ideas.”

Photographer Sam Sieng, who is of Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese descent, said, “It is refreshing to see up- and-coming designers get recognized for their vision, dedication and work ethic. I am honored to be invited to participate in an event that showcases individual talent and also promotes new artists as a collective from various avenues of artistic media. The fact that it is a charitable event makes it even more worthwhile.”

FFAP general admission tickets are $45-50 and can be purchased at www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com/events or at the door as available.

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 www.AgainstTheGrainProductions.com/events or www.TheBabylift.com.

 

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.