“Robot Stories” producer Karin Chien and star Tamlyn Tomita headline SFIAAFF filmmaking panel

By Greg Pak
Two of my favorite people, “Robot Stories” and “Mister Green” producer Karin Chien and “Robot Stories” star Tamlyn Tomita, will be part of a workshop entitled “Up Close and Personal with the Asian American Film Industry” at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. Karin and Tamlyn are both incredibly sharp, funny, and totally committed to great independent filmmaking. Sounds like a great program — highly recommended! Here’s more from the SFIAAFF:

Karin Chien, producer of THE EXPLODING GIRL and SANTA MESA, received the Piaget Producers Award at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Award!! Here’s your chance to come hear her advice on how you could become an award-winning producer/ director of your own! Check out our workshop at SFIAFF this Saturday 1-3pm Get your tickets now, more info below.
Up Close And Personal with the Asian American Film Industry
Special Live Events (90 mins)
SAT 03/13 1:00pm,
VIZ Cinema, $8

This workshop presents a rare opportunity to interface directly with leading Asian American filmmakers and industry professionals. Led by producer Karin Chien (THE MOTEL, UNDOING, ROBOT STORIES) and featuring acclaimed editor and documentary filmmaker Ruby Yang (BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT), and celebrated actress Tamlyn Tomita (THE JOY LUCK CLUB) this intimate session will create an interactive mentoring environment where the focus will be on guiding participants through individual and project specific challenges. Mentors will reveal how they started out in the business and talk honestly about the daily realities of working in the industry. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions about their own projects, whether they are related to financing, distribution, production, or even problems in the edit. Both narrative and documentary projects will be discussed. Filmmakers, professionals of all levels and the general public are welcome to attend and participate in this insider’s view of how independent films are made. This workshop is part of a new mentoring initiative designed to grow the Asian American industry from within and is funded in part by the Academy Foundation. Filmmakers interested in having their projects workshopped and discussed at this session should send:
1. One-sentence bi of themselves
2. One-paragraph description of their project
3. Up to three questions related to their project
4. Email and phone contact information
to: mentorworkshop@asianamericanmedia.org.
http://filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org/tixSYS/2010/xslguide/eventnote.php?EventNumber=1112