Late last week I got the opportunity to interview the producers of feature film "Chains" ("working title"). I've been fortunate enough to be casted as "Anna" - Australian-Vietnamese girl and her trials and tribulations between her mother and her "Non-Asian" boyfriend, as well as getting involved in the "Behind-the-scenes" commentary with Billy Marshall Stone King and Iranian filmmaker Amin Palangi.
I don't want to reveal too much but here are some of the highlight transcript snippets of the documentary.
Billy Marshall Stone King: "..watching what non actors can bring to a part - beyond craft - beyond the kind of formalistic trainings that more experienced actors would have, that was all incredibly refreshing..."
"Working with a writer that never written anything before, maybe this person has written some stories before, but they have never written for film. And also some of the off the wall ideas and imaginations that are available to people untrained, seemingly untrained is so refreshing..."
"...Australia, at lot of times, in its acting, and its filmmaking and the rest of it, trains inspiration out of it creators. And that what we need to do is to find what is precious, and valuable, and rich, and alive that already exists within the person, already as a natural given.."
"The bottom line must be, not to damage that essential inspiration, or passion, or purity...that child-likeness that is capable of wonder must be preserved in some way. And if you can't teach them to make films without damaging that, then don't teach them films. Just give them a camera and let them go and make mistakes and bore themselves to death until they either give it up entirely or find a way of doing it that works for them..."
My comments: I must admit, this interview was so profound that it touch the core within me to go do film the way I want it, devoid of fear of failure, whether or not it gets the backing of the mainstream.
Billy makes me rethink that "film" can be such as powerful medium and the outcomes are always a direct link to the inners of the creator themselves. Recently, I've been bombarded with indie, promised filled filmmakers who what to make the latest horror flick, action film, one scene - one person film etc....that is all great that the "market" is heading that way, but I now want to a much deeper "why" the film is being made and particularly the "kind" of person that is on board. To me, my pursuit into films and acting isn't for reasons to reach "fame and fortune" but to be able to influence the world in creating change within themselves.
Back to Quest for Jackie Chan, I've got 53 days left till my Australia-wide trip. Still not a cent of support, almost all the mainstream corporates in Australia have knocked my call for support or have simply scoffed my ludicrious ideas of meeting Jackie Chan and that I should focus on bigger things such as "World Peace".
So hence the "Quest" is still on, I'm still alone, but I think the journey hasn't ended, but its just the beginning and already I've learnt so much on the way.
Chao!
Some try to interpret him:
"You can tell he is all about Image."
"So, daddy bought little chongy a Beemer or he’s a drug runner for the triads?"
Some are even part time policing his movements:
"Hahaha, it’s his real plate; I’ve seen this kid driving around the ANU."
"Even the footage if it didn’t have the rego you could deduct well enough that he lives in one of the newest suburbs in Canberra, take a pick of roughly 3 that are developed to the stage seen in the video."
"From memory I’ve seen this car pull into a house in Franklin"
"I’ve seen this guy around too. He nearly took me out on the Barton a while ago!"
Some are even connected to him:
I’m best mates with him… we go out racing on a few occasions… Canberra has the best roads.
I have seen this idiot around, and will be taking this footage to my colleagues.
Some critiqued his final alternative media engagements:
lol I’d be ashamed in posting a vid like that, … if you are going to do it, do it properly and nail it!!
Ok...what freakier...is that Canberrian detective work is linking CHONG to Vietlish! Hilarity!
The “Chong” mobile makes an appearance at ANU.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9klkRN0rqHs8UqBvIE8VCZLQoT8O5dGW1dZP3Xwx0IO2WTMDbcuVC2ilv96rT_poqxFUSvaDQWSsIvmiIPtMqHl73ITSH7vQXnNa33kTbuWIPaPKmSp_ARV37Aa_XtapeMyT4U7Y47I/s400/Joseph+Hieu+Dinh+BMW.jpg
http://mariatran.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/internet-ii-alternative-media-team-vietlishs-lecture-at-australian-national-university-canberra/
There’s some pearls on that web reference from zig:
Chong is apparently Vietnamese for ‘husband’ – as in let me be your husband.
He has his own website:
http://www.josephdinh.com/
Chong’s profile includes this gem: Bankstown Local Government 2009 Citizen of the Year!
I think Joseph just posed in front of the lame Choung mobile. The driver of the Beemer is much younger.
OYM said :
I don’t think Dinh == Chong. Dinh just happened to take a photo of the same car we’re talking about.
OYM said :
I’m reluctant to post the results of the “whois” lookup for that domain… I might get into trouble for posting Josephs physical address, phone number and email addressOYM said :
I’m reluctant to post the results of the “whois” lookup for that domain… I might get into trouble for posting Josephs physical address, phone number and email addressFar out! Canberrian vilgilantes do go along way! A post that was made two days ago (10 Nov) has involved in 67 posts (probably counting!) CHONG's friends and haters and the police! Currently Vietlish is under sucpicion that it links to Vietlish! Hilarity! Poor Joseph Mr Australian-Vietnamese of the Year 2009, a guy who's hasn't had a girlfriend before is now a suspect! One great idea of taking a photo with a funny looking number plate can really land you under suspicion.
I've been to Canberra a couple of times in my life and I must say, its a really peaceful and quiet place. Not much happens in regards to community activities that involve that culturally diverse (people from Non-English Speaking backgrounds) and a lot of "youngies" have really detailed it as a place where "nothing happens".
People work and do the same thing over and over again, go to parties on the weeken ds or leave for Sydney. So when a little "Asian nippy gook" goes around doing something like MR CHONG it must definitely cause an outrage to society. But, then again, what else is in Canberra?
I've just recently finished a Asian-Australian Kung Fu Film based on Western Sydney (apparently the ghettos to the media) and this just demostrates that when a community supports that grassroots, great things can happen! Check out "Maximum Choppage: Round 2".
Canberrians interested in hosting a free community screening? maria.tran@rumblepictures.com.au
Canberrians looking for working more with culturally diverse communities? Check out Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE)
To other news, for MR CHONG, friends & haters...my workplace will be in town for the National Arab Film Festival:
I'll be at the 7.00pm Sat 14 Nov Captain Abu Raed session (I've seen this film before and loved it! This is a must for Canberrians!) but I'd love to catch up with you all for a coffee chat.