Pre-SDAFF

Get excited because the San Diego Asian Film Festival kicks off in 24 hours! Never in my wildest dreams would I have seen myself sitting here and blogging for SDAFF. I participated in a film review competition where the winning entry would be published in the San Diego Union-Tribune, and the writer would be awarded an all-access pass to SDAFF, a ticket to the gala, and a $500 scholarship. My Asian Studies professor, Miguel Llora, was the one who informed my class about this competition and I figured that I would try it out just for kicks. My prior film reviewing experience is pretty much nonexistent, but I do have some journalism experience from high school, so I didn't think that I would be a good candidate to win. Imagine my surprise when Lee Ann Kim called to tell me that I've won the contest! All I did while writing my review of American Pastime was letting the words flow out of my finger tips and just going with what felt natural. A natural flow of words can really take you a long way.

My original intent for SDAFF this year was to watch one or two movies during the festival in order fulfill a requirement for my Asian Studies class, but now I am planning on being as active as I can with the festival. Hopefully, I can hop into a movie or two each day of the festival and attend all the panels. At the same time, I don't know what to expect because this is the first time that I am playing a role in SDAFF, and only the second Asian Film Festival that I am attending in my lifetime. [I remember taking a field trip to the San Francisco Asian Film Festival in high school to watch Face. I got to meet Bai Ling!] Despite it all, I am really excited and thankful for the opportunity to actively participate in SDAFF! I anticipate that this next week will be an incredible eye-opening and inspiring experience.

And while I'm still here, this Friday, October 12, Justin Lin, Roger Fan, Leonardo Nam, Sung Kang, and Lee Ann Kim will be coming to my school! This event is co-sponsored by my sorority Sigma Phi Omega, as well as the other Asian-American interest organizations at SDSU. If you have the time, come check it out!