Article: Film Lab Announces the Theme of the 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition!

PRLog - June 4, 2015 - MANHATTAN, N.Y. -- At exactly 8:00pm EST, the Asian American Film Lab ("Film Lab") announced the theme of the 11^th annual 72 Hour Shootout ("Shootout") -- TWO FACES - filmmaking competition to a spellbound audience at a live launch party at The Korea Society and a global audience who tuned in to the live stream. The Korea Society hosted Film Lab Launch Party for the second year in a row at a party that included live music by formidable drummer Brian Chase and saxophonist Chris Pitsiokos. Guests enjoyed food and beverages from sponsors Tiger Beer, Campari and wines from Bouchon Brooklyn. Prizes and silent auction items included Reiki massages from Master Reiki therapist Jan Mizushima, which one Shootout competitor noted would come in very handy after the next 72 hours of non-stop filmmaking; a Shootout embossed bottle of Johnny Walker donated by Diageo, a Las Vegas hotel package donated by Alex Ong, and a fabulous Gotham Archery party package!

The Shootout is a worldwide filmmaking competition celebrating gender and ethnic diversity in film in which filmmaking teams are given a common theme at the start and have 72 hours to write, shoot, edit, and complete short films up to five minutes in length. Teams promote gender and ethnic diversity in media and compete for cash and prizes and the chance to have their films screened at the prestigious Asian American International Film Festival, the only festival of its kind on the East Coast, as well as at the Asians on Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. Judges include Emmy nominated director Rodrigo Garcia, ABC Executive Director of Casting Marci Phillips, playwright David Henry Hwang, agent David Elliott, stuntman Lane Leavitt, and director Bertha Bay-Sa Pan. Several of the judges were in attendance at the Launch Party to witness the start of the competition and wish the filmmakers luck.

Actor and Film Lab President Jennifer Betit Yen gave what viewers called an "inspiring" speech about societal ideals of beauty and their corresponding history of racial and gender oppression. She challenged filmmakers to create worlds in their films that celebrated beauty made up characteristics such as kindness and compassion and to celebrate the beauty of multi-racial, disabled and other people not often highlighted by mainstream media. Betit Yen was followed by videographer and Shootout Coordinator Youn Jung Kim, who thanked the many sponsors of the Shootout for ensuring voices too often silenced by mainstream media would be heard. Sponsors include Adorama, Blue Michael Cosmetics, aLanguage Bank, Executive Wear NY, MyJennyBook, and many others. The speeches of both women will be available on AAFLTV at youtube.com/asamfilmlab and on the Film Lab website at www.film-lab.org, along with a complete list of Shootout sponsors.

About The Korea Society

THE KOREA SOCIETY is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.

About the Asian American Film Lab

The Film Lab is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that promotes ethnic and gender diversity through outreach, education and production. The Film Lab provides free or low cost programming ranging from screenwriting workshops to panels to seminars to screenings. The Film Lab produces the television series "Film Lab Presents" and a wide variety of online content on AAFL TV. The Film Lab management team consists of Jennifer Betit Yen (President and Board Member, founder of AAFL TV Production Arm), Huseina Sulaimanee (Treasurer and Volunteer), Daryl King (Secretary and Board Member), Cecilia Mejia (Unfinished Works), Youn Jung Kim (2015 72 Hour Shootout Coordinator), Nick Sakai (Industry Spotlight), along with a dedicated Board, interns and event volunteers. Board members include James Kyson, Ed Wong and Aaron Woolfolk, among others.