Neighboring Chinatown is not just for food and tourism. There is a thriving art scene there as well. HT Chen has been running his acclaimed modern dance company and school out of the Chen Dance Center in the heart of Chinatown on Mulberry Street for over 30 years. The Museum of Chinese in America, on Centre Street, has been the national home for the diverse Chinese American communities since 1988, and strives to be a model among interactive museums. Its innovative exhibitions, educational and cultural programs continually bring 160 years of Chinese American history to life.
Lately, China has been on the mind of Hollywood bigwigs who have been plane-hopping over there to try to figure out ways to tap this potential audience—one of the world’s biggest. Of course, the Asian Pacific filmmakers are way ahead of them. They’ve been setting their stories in the “New China” for years.
To showcase this breadth of talent, the Museum has partnered with the 35th Asian American International Film Festival(AAIFF) for “When West Meets East: Making your film in China,” a panel discussion and short film program, this Thursday at 4pm, with the director and the producer of AAIFF’s opening night film Shanghai Calling, Daniel Hsia and Janet Yang, and the writer/actor of centerpiece film $upercapatilist, Derek Ting. (You can catch Shanghai Calling Wednesday night at the Asia Society on Park Avenue. Films will also be screened at Clearview Chelsea Cinemas.)
Oh, and if you must eat on the way, stop in at San Francisco transplant Mission Chinese at 154 Orchard Street @ Rivington, or a bit further into Chinatown on Pell Street, Joe Shanghai’s dumplings can’t be beat. And thanks to Target, my favorite “box-store to the arts,” this program is free and open to the public. RSVP required to programs@mocanyc.org. Presented by Asian CineVision (ACV) and co-sponsored by Museum of Chinese in America.
35th Asian American International Film Festival / July 25 – August 5
