Doin’ Good celebrates the creative depth and diversity from some of Canada’s contemporary Asian film and video artists. Focusing on insightful works that touch upon a range of subjects such as identity, intergenerational conflict and spirituality; this cinema from the Asian disapora pays tribute to the eclecticism or our community. From the hilarious performance video exploring childhood goals (Do Good) to a glorious 16mm film shot at 75 frames per second showcasing running subjects not to mention a 3D animated tribute to Guns N’ Roses. This cinema allows for joyful, lighthearted reflection. – Leslie Supnet
P, dir. Yuri A, 1999, Canada, 6 min
P explores a single theme: excrements: Babies, worms and flies, guide us through a compilation of facts and theories, approaching a theme often regarded as disgusting in a meaningful and humorous way.
Do Good, dir. Alison Kobayashi, 2009, Canada, 10 min
I catalogued my family’s home video collection. Animation and personal testimony weave together to craft an intimate and profound portrait of one person’s experience of police brutality.
Ladder Climb, dir. Jon Saski, 2006, Canada, 2 min
The artist’s fairly unsuccessful attempts at climbing an unsupported ladder. Exhibited as a single channel endless loop, the piece suggests both the desire for self improvement and the futility of the task.A young man’s secret fuels a twisted vendetta for revenge in this powerful examination of intolerance.
The Others, dir. Aram Collier, 2008, Canada, 9 min
The Others features found footage of Phillips numerous ethnic characters and places them in a dialog with each other, literally by employing classic Hollywood editing style and storytelling tropes.
Cock Mountain, dir.Vinh Truong, 2005 Canada, 5 min
An epic tribute to Guns N’ Roses.
A Bad Hair Day, dir.Meeso Lee, 2010, Canada, 7 min
I was born and raised in Canada, but a few years ago my parents sold the house and moved back to Korea, I went to visit them there and recorded our difference of opinion about my haircut.
A+, dir.Nobu Adilman 2012,Canada, 6 min
Cinema finds its accounts in an uncommon ledger whose lines and tabulations conceal the greatest love of all.
Semi Auto Colours, dir.Isiah Medina, 2011, Canada, 6 min
Kids in the west end of Winnipeg learn to count to one.
Look At Them Run, Why Are They Running?, dir. Brian Lye, 2008, 5 mins
Brian Lye’s gloriously shot thesis film at Sydney Film School, with 10 minutes of film stock shot at 75fps.
Prayer Beads, dir. Han Han Li, 2012, Canada, 8 min
Chaos and peace, darkness and light, life and death among the dualites cycling through the dynamic animation of 108 prayer beads.
Doin’ Good: New Contemporary Asian Shorts has been generously sponsored by the Film Worlds Research Cluster, the University of Manitoba and the Asian Heritage Society
