This week, DeepFocus Productions celebrates the work of acclaimed filmmaker Arthur Dong with the release of a new DVD box set Stories From Chinese America: The Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2, a film anthology spanning over twenty-five years and showcasing Dong's focus on Chinese Americans at crossroads with Hollywood, pop culture, tradition, and immigration.The 4-disc, 6-film set features over eight hours of material, including the collector's edition of Dong's two feature documentaries, Hollywood Chinese and Forbidden City, U.S.A., as well as three earlier short films comprising The Toisan Trilogy (Sewing Woman, Lotus, and Living Music for Golden Mountains).
In addition to the full-length versions of each film, the collection also premieres the newly scored and restored 1916 film, The Curse of Quon Gwon, the earliest known Chinese American feature film, discovered during Dong's work on Hollywood Chinese.
To celebrate the DVD launch, they'll be presenting release events in San Francisco and Los Angeles, which will include a premiere screening of the newly restored and scored The Curse of Quon Gwon. Here's some more information about each screening/reception, according to the press release:
For further details about this weekend's Los Angeles launch event, go to the Visual Communications website here. For more info on the San Francisco event, go to the SFSU AAS website here. And for more information about the Stories From Chinese America DVD, go to the DeepFocus Productions website here.
LOS ANGELES DVD LAUNCH PARTY
November 6, 3pm
Visual Communications hosts a celebration for the release of Stories from Chinese America: the Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2. Headlining the event will be the world premiere of the newly scored and restored 1916 film, The Curse of Quon Gwon, the earliest known Chinese American feature film. Dong will be on hand to give a tour of the many hours of extra archival and interview footage that comes with his new DVD anthology. A reception and DVD signing follows. Saturday, November 6, 3PM @ The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy, Little Tokyo. Tickets: (213) 680-4462, ext. 32, or www.vconline.org.
SAN FRANCISCO DVD LAUNCH PARTY
November 13, 12 noon
San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department presents a celebration for the release of Stories from Chinese America: the Arthur Dong Collection, Vol. 2. Headlining the event will be the Bay Area premiere of the newly scored and restored 1916 film, The Curse of Quon Gwon, the earliest known Chinese American feature film. Dong will be on hand to give a tour of the many hours of extra archival and interview footage that comes with his new DVD anthology. The party includes a guest appearance by the Grant Avenue Follies and a reception with door prizes. Proceeds support SFSU’s Asian American Studies programs and students. Nov. 13, Saturday, 12 noon @ the Four Star Theatre. Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets or the Four Star Theatre box office. More info: www.sfsu.edu/~aas.