Touring is hard. So during our roadtrek to Chicago we snoozed when/wherever we could. Aram was mostly behind the wheel & Reel Asian’s online-whiz, Mike Tjioe, navigated (in addition to documenting the jam with our guest, XYZR_KX). Highway highlights included a McDonald’s EVERY 10 MILES. It’s not like those $4.99 (USD) 20-packs of McNuggets were gonna eat themselves. <zzzzzMCNUGGET COMAzzzzzzz>
Just before piling into the car for FAAIM Chicago’s Asian American Film Showcase 2012 with special musical guest XYZR_KX (“scissor kicks”), we pack a few things that say “Hi” (“Eh”).
After the rowdy outdoor performance in Guangzhou, we did a cozy performance at the OCT Art & Design’s salon space in the bustling Shenzhen art district, Nanshan.
Guangzhou is a place for great sights & tastes. Siya Chen, mighty friend of Reel Asian and SSC’s champion/guide/translator/MC/wonder gal, ensured we had time for the latter. Clockwise from top left: pork liver* wrapped with rice noodle, empty carton previously filled with beef (internal) goodies, requisite chilli oil, chicken & chive wrapped with rice noodle.
* foes of liver fear not. This stuff tasted like a soft pork chop in velvety, noodle-y goodness!
Times Museum (Guangzhou) made sure Zen Lu & Arthur weren’t swept away in the local day-long Valentine’s festivities. During soundcheck, the Times’ Koolhaas-designed configuration towered 14 floors above us in the residential courtyard performance space, while young visitors dropped by for quality control/balloon inspection. Passed with flying colours.
Suite Suite Chinatown goes to China! Arthur is super pumped for a dragon team, sonic match-up with avant-garde audiomeister Zen Lu (Shenzhen, China) for the following Chinese dates:
Sunday, Feb 5 | Times Museum, Guangzhou…
Suite Suite Chinatown screening with Live music performance
Friday, Feb 10 | OCT Art & Design Gallery, Shenzhen…
Suite Suite Chinatown screening with Live music performance
…and stay tuned. Reel Asian staff alum Siya Chen’s been kicking butt as our fine, fine girl on the ground in the Motherland.
Some days, you just wanna talk box but you don’t actually have a talk box, right? Well, go trash talk box instead. YEAH!
For the record, all the eating in Philly was good. But, for kicks, here’s the hearty apple dumpling & scrapple that was recommended by Aram. Made for great breakfast at Dutch Eating Place in Reading Terminal Market prior to rehearsal. Not pictured: Bobby’s Burger Palace potato chip burger; fried chicken/mac-n-cheese/collard greens soul attack from a food truck; verbal abuse at Pat’s after asking for awesome Philly cheesesteak (“whiz with onions & mushrooms”) to be cut in half at 3am
The musical rig used in Philly we used with guest musician Jason Min. And yes, we put Xmas Lights on our rider.
Philly Asian American Film Fest knows how to party. Philly-based, guest musician Jason Min & Arthur clown around on the red carpet.
The NYC performers (left - right): John Poon (musical guest), Lillian, Joyce, Serena, Leslie, Arthur & Aram
The Big Apple edition at AAIFF featured amazing vocal & musical talents of SSC’s own intrepid filmmakers. Lesley Loski Chan (above, right), Lillian Chan, Serena Lee & Aram Collier (howlin’ on harmonica, above) all pitched in with Arthur & musical beast John Poon.
Howie Shia (left) expounds at a post-screening discussion during AmerAsia Film Festival. Aram Collier (right) steps up to Montreal fashion with this salmon-coloured doozie.
The Suite Suite Chinatown tour is in its second leg after really great screenings in Montreal and San Francisco.
This time it’ll be playing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, home of Guy Maddin, high concentration of artists and the prodigal Jets (nee Thrashers but details details…).
Definitely looking forward to the show and the city, I hear a lot of good things (as well as stories of prehistoric sized mosquitoes…). And while I’m no huge hockey fan I’m looking to ride some Jets-related euphoria and get a t-shirt or something. Their logo was always really neat and growing up playing video game hockey it was cool to select jerseys of then-defunct Canadian teams (eg. Nordiques). Honestly, as an American that was one way I learned about my future home of Canada, its cities/geography and its sport.
The Jets are back. Now only if these Jets came back too!
Suite Suite Chinatown Winnipeg:
Thursday, July 7th, 7:00pm
Winnipeg Film Group Cinematheque (100 Arthur St.)
The official Suite Suite Chinatown trailer. Book now, it’s never too late.
And that’s the Power of Collaboration. Or, maybe this is it.
