by Hoc Poeng on December 12th, 2007

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by Hoc Poeng on November 20th, 2007

RED EIGHT invites you to join us for an evening with Sung Kang, producer Karin Chien, and executive producer Phil Lam to celebrate the opening weekend of UNDOING. After the reception, take a short walk to the Pioneer Theater and see the movie. Q+A sessions with Sung Kang and the producers after the screening are being planned.

UNDOING, a film by Chris Chan Lee, is making its New York theatrical debut exclusively at The Pioneer Theater on Wednesday, December 5, 2007!

Starring Sung Kang, Kelly Hu, Russell Wong, and Tom Bower

Written and directed by Chris Chan Lee

Synopsis
One year after the death of his best friend, SAM returns to Los Angeles determined to find redemption from the past. His mentor and only friend, DON, is a retired gangster with a parallel desire to leave the former world behind. But as Sam tries to balance revenge with reconciliation, he is drawn into the shadowy world he had left behind. Can Sam undo his mistakes before losing what he came back to save?

“It’s been 10 years since Lee made his last film, “Yellow,” which showed to acclaim at the 1997 festival. His new film is an energetic, visually stunning and absorbing neo noir about a Korean American gangster (the excellent Sung Kang) who returns to L.A. after a mysterious absence determined to rectify the past. Yup, it’s got one of those typically pretzel-like film noir plots, but the film works best as a character study of redemption, and Lee’s direction is confident, bold and just a bit messy and reckless (that’s a good thing).” - G. Allen Johnson, SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Tickets available online:
http://www.twoboots.com/pioneer/#Undoing

Website:
http://www.undoingmovie.com

MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/undoingmovie

Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5154952083

Stills:

by Hoc Poeng on November 8th, 2007

Jade Wu is a cross-industry hyphenate spanning the business, literary, acting, filmmaking and non-profit arenas. A previous incarnations includes a twenty year stint as an advertising and marketing executive, leading a 22-person staff in her own company servicing clients such as HBO International, Chase Manhattan Bank, Bank of New York, The American Health Foundation and Merck.

As a professional actor, Jade won a Best Actress Nomination at the Edinburgh Fetival for her role as Medea. She has worked with veteran award-winning stage directors, Joanne Akalaitis, George C. Wolfe, Alan Schneider, Gerald Gutierrez, Blanka Zizka, Lisa Wolpe and famed film directors, Spike Lee, Tony Scott, Bronwyn Hughes, Michael Kang and Miguel Arteta. On stage, Jade was last seen in Central Park’s celebrity and award-winning cast and crew production of award-winning playwright Tony Kusher’s Mother Courage with Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Austin Pendleton directed by George C. Wolfe. Her most recent film credit was in the lead role as Ahma Chin in the Sundance pedigree film, THE MOTEL which won the Humanitas Prize and an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

Prior, Jade’s work in Urban Stages’ acclaimed production of COMFORT WOMEN brought to fore the historical atrocities of sex slavery during World War II. Concurrent with that production, she had begun to collaborate with the award-winning author, Iris Chang (THE RAPE OF NANKING), on a stage play about the evolution of the Chinese in America. Tragically, Iris Chang committed suicide before the project had a chance to move forward, however, Jade narrated the audio book of Iris’ last 492-page novel, THE CHINESE IN AMERICA: A NARRATIVE HISTORY produced by Recorded Books. Jade also garnered attention for the tortures of a Peking Opera singer during China’s Cultural Revolution in Chay Yew’s award-winning stage play, RED, at Philadelphia’s Wilma Theatre and received critical acclaim in the prized lead role of Mother God Damn in the New York revival of the 1920’s scandalous Broadway hit, THE SHANGHAI GESTURE.

In television, Jade has acted in recurring acting roles on LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, THE JURY, and HOMICIDE working with acclaimed producer/directors Barry Levinson, Ule Edel, Clark Johnson, Tom Fontana, and Frank Prinzi.

To provide a viable conduit for necessary socio-cultural literary, film, stage and new media works, in 2002, Jade founded a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, Golden Phoenix Productions, which nurtures and supports work with themes dealing with human rights, cultural and social awareness.

As a filmmaker, Jade wrote, directed, produced and is currently in post-production for two feature documentaries, IN SEARCH OF GOLDEN PHOENIX: THE INVISIBLE LEGACY about an illiterate Chinese-Burmese octogenarian who maintained sanity from 50 years of domestic abuse by creating her own hieroglyphic language in daily journals and JESUS OF BURMA, a personal experience of being detained by Myanmar’s Junta government for several weeks. Her work has been official selections in the IFP Market, Sundance Producers Conference Workshop, the Asian American International Film Festival and the Anthology Film Archives Emerging Filmmaker Series. Her films have received financial support from the Jerome Foundation, New York Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and Film/Video Arts. She has earned Filmmaking Fellowships from Film/Video Arts and IFP.

Jade has also served four years as an International Emmy Awards Juror for the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and three years as a Jury Panelist for NYSCA’s Individual Artist Grants and has been a guest panelist at the Asian American International Film Festival and the PBS syndicated television show, ASIAN AMERICA.

In the literary world, Jade was recently awarded the Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship and is a semi-finalist for the acclaimed PEN USA’s literary Emerging Voices Writing Fellowship.

She is currently writing a novel, JESUS OF BURMA, the companion non-fiction book to her film, and just finished penning a feature film script and television pilot in addition to developing a cross platform media project that integrates traditional broadcast and new media with simultaneous international audience interaction.

by Hoc Poeng on October 29th, 2007

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by Hoc Poeng on October 27th, 2007

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by Hoc Poeng on October 24th, 2007

The Entrepreneur: Kara Paik’s professional background includes strategy and operations consulting for McKinsey & Company NYO; structured equity derivative sales for BNP Paribas (a French investment bank), and residential mortgage finance at a boutique New York City mortgage brokerage brokerage currently owned by Deutsche Bank AG. She now owns a real estate services company called instant NEW YORKER with 3 current, profitable business units, and 2 in market testing phase. Kara started instant NEW YORKER 4 years ago, and self-funded all business units.

At McKinsey, Kara led and worked in small teams of consultants and senior clients creating new businesses. She specialized in developing marketing and sales strategies for financial services and other companies. Project highlights include:

In addition to working on client consulting projects, Kara was appointed to lead McKinsey’s national law school recruiting effort. She and her team delivered a record number of successful hires for the Firm. For the first time in the history of McKinsey’s effort to recruit strategy consultants from among the ranks of Top 10 US law schools, more McKinsey offers were accepted at these schools than from all other non-legal, on-campus recruiters combined.

Kara’s talent lies in connecting with a broad range of individual investors and clients to create value through strategic marketing and deliver results through effective sales. Her passion for people and her love of real estate led Kara to create her own company, instant NEW YORKER, in 2004. iNYer (pronounced “i New Yorker”) is an integrated property management and real estate advisory company. The Recruiting Group of McKinsey & Company’s New York Office, the New York human resources group of Google are among the company’s largest corporate clients.

A graduate of Yale Law School (J.D.) and The George Washington University (B.A. Economics, B.A. English), Kara was elected by her peers as Co-Editor-in-Chief of Yale Journal on Regulation, a student-edited, academic business journal for legal and economic analysis. She is a founding board member of the Asian American Alumni of Yale Association, currently serving as chair of its Professional Development Committee.

The Pitch: instant NEW YORKER is a luxury destination lifestyle brand Kara Paik started four years ago. She is starting her fifth year in business as a sole proprietor.

instant NEW YORKER is also a business machine that Kara designed to accelerate passive cash flow from five engines (independent P&L centers or Business Units), that are distinct and separable, but operate synergistically.

The Purpose of her machine is to capture as much share of wallet over the lifetime of as many target customers as possible, at the lowest cost possible.

Website: www.instantnewyorker.com

Recent Buzz:

by Hoc Poeng on October 21st, 2007

The Entrepreneur: Elizabeth Kressel has over 15 years experience in the media/entertainment space formulating and leading strategic initiatives for both global and domestic operations. She is currently the Founder and CEO of Collectors’ Quest (CQ), a digital media brand focused on collectors (comics, pez, coins, stamps). CQ’s model combines broadband video, social networking and targeted ecommerce. Prior to founding CQ, Liz worked at MTV Networks licensing and syndicating rights for all programming and intellectual property, including television,film, magazines, books, photos and music. Before that, at PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Liz worked on developing potential strategies for ad sponsorships and cross promotional revenue opportunities for Viacom, Sony and Time Warner. While there she realized $300M in savings and spurred $200M in investment for her clients.

However, Liz’s first exposure to collectibles was at Time Warner through working on continuity clubs which focused on the Americana and Folk Art segments. This was where Liz got to see the passionate collector base firsthand. While there at Warner, Liz led strategic analysis for a $4B division in annual sales where she tested P&L viability for new product rollouts, conducted segmentation and brand building derived from consumer purchasing patterns. Elizabeth is an active participant in the video and television industries and serves on the Board of Directors for Women in Cable & Telecommunications in NY. Elizabeth holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University. Elizabeth’s own personal collections include: Depression Era furniture, slide puzzles and stone eggs.

The Pitch: Collectors’ Quest (CQ) is a digital media brand targeting the collectors’ community and advertisers seeking access to this high-value group. CQ combines a mix of high-quality broadband video, social networking and ecommerce to address a passionate community already online, spending significant time and money on collecting interests. CQ is focused on entertaining, informing and harnessing the passion of collectors.

No one is focused on delivering and harnessing benefits of quality, entertaining content about collecting, particularly video. Quality content is inconsistent, dispersed and dry. There is no branded presence. At Collectors’ Quest, we will make collecting easier and more fun for the 73M Americans who define themselves as Collectors. Using engaging and informative content (video, blogs, etc.) to drive traffic, we will provide Collectors with individually-tailored commerce offerings and the opportunity to connect with others who share their passion.

Employee Count: 6 – 3 Full and 3 Part-Time

Website: www.collectorsquest.com

Seeking Funding: Yes

Number of Founders: 1, Elizabeth Kressel.

Date Started: Website was launched in February 2006

Competitors: While industry players have touched upon the collectibles sector, no one is positioned as THE destination source for the collector. Competition includes: lifestyle programming as seen on TLC, BBC America and HGTV; sales-focused commerce channels such as HSN and QVC; Treasure HD on VOOM; several retail-focused collectible sales websites. We will not directly compete with eBay as it focuses primarily on the secondary market for collectibles.

Launch dates:
Website – February – 2006
Blog – March 2006
Video – Sept 2006
Cataloging Collections – March 2007
Social Networking – June 2007
Facebook Application – Oct 2007
Commerce – Oct 2007

Team Members:

Martin Mateev, Chief Technology Officer, combines passion for technology and research with 10 years of Open-Source experience, focusing on a wide range of topics such as video publishing, web environments, scalable architectures and platforms as well as cutting edge technologies. His wide experience and technical background have helped many media and tech companies in utilizing new and emerging technologies in their business model. As a consultant he has directed and implemented online video technologies and Voice-over-IP implementations. In addition, he has advised clients on security and intrusion detection-systems.

Doug Kneeland, Chief Commerce Officer, brings a lifetime of collectibles industry knowledge and professional expertise to the Collectors’ Quest team. Doug has most recently worked on developing a technology-driven direct marketing strategy for CheckerBee Publishing, a leading publisher of guide books on popular collectibles. Under Doug’s visionary leadership the company saw an increase of 700% in one year in its direct-to-consumer sales strategy. Doug was also instrumental in pursuing licensing arrangements, developing new products, and creating an electronic fulfillment model that enabled the company increase direct-to-consumer sales while decreasing the in-house fulfillment staff by half.

Current Needs:
Seeking $1M to be used for Content Production, Marketing and PR, Technology Buildout and Management Salaries.

Promo Video:
http://www.collectorsquest.com/videos/promo.html

Contact Info:
Elizabeth Kressel, Founder & CEO
Collectors’ Quest, Inc.
4 East 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
ekressel@collectorsquest.com
212-354-1019

by Hoc Poeng on October 21st, 2007

The Entrepreneur: Conlyn Chan, Founder of MEI, was trained at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she studied and mastered the elements of art (line and space, shape, proportion, scale, color and texture), the design of art, and the science of art (image consulting).

Conlyn has organized several high-profile fashion events, including New York Fashion Week, the L Magazine Fashion Show, and fashion show for Italian designer Angie. Her work is inspired by her appreciation of contemporary art and her travel to Paris, London, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Santorini, Dublin, Brunei, Seoul, and Kota Kinabalu.

The Pitch: MEI is a leader and visionary in “integrated personal branding”. The first of its kind in New York to provide individuals with imaging and communication tools to effectively build their own unique brands. Leveraging the company’s expertise in the art and science of beauty, MEI is able to help its clients build strong personal brands with meticulous execution.

MEI stands for Modern, eclectic and inspiring. With MEI, clients gain that crucial extra edge to “ace the style game” with panache, giving them the boost to achieve their goals.

MEI is expanding its presence into Asia and is seeking growth opportunities therein. We would be happy to share the specifics with angel investors.

Product and Service Offerings:

1. Integrated Personal Branding - MEI helps clients to maximize the impact of that crucial first impression/first encounter that determines people’s perception of the clients and subsequently helps clients to maintain that strong personal brand. MEI has created the innovative concept of “integrated personal branding” by combining personal branding with integrated marketing communications, which is the most effective way to reach and influence your audience. MEI has built strong personal brands for bankers, traders, executives, lawyers, doctors, architects, artist, models, socialites, Mr. Socialites, and TV hosts.

3. Film/TV/Magazine Styling - MEI is a styling provider and resource center to televisions, films, magazine editorials and individuals. MEI works closely with the writer/director to develop a visual image for each cast member, creating the appropriate visual mood for the film. As a result, MEI styles the cast with an outward image true to the spirit of the script to help the actor/actress to deliver his/her best performance.

Website: www.meiic.com

Team Members:
Conlyn Chan, Founder
Edward Bennett, Advisor
Gloria Lee, Business Strategy
Dani Chou, Business Development and Marketing
Conyee Chan, Designer

Number of Founders: 1, Conlyn Chan

Date Started: September 2005

Launch Date: January 2006

Competitors: New York Image Consulting, Reach

Funding to Date: Founder’s own capital

Seeking Funding: $0.5m to $1.0m

Current Needs:
Capital to fuel growth in PR, technology, manufacturing and expanding MEI’s operation domestically and abroad.

PR partner to continue to reach out to fashion magazines and the industry that MEI is the leader in integrated personal branding.

Technology partner to foster communication with clients, members, and the industry.

Recent Buzz:
Participated in The Asian American International Film Festival at Asia Society and 72 Hour Shoot Out.

Supported various charities and non-profit organizations: Red Eight Circle, Water Partners, CityArts, Hedge Fund Cares, Project by Project, NAAAP, The New York Chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma, and APEX.

Founder featured in PBS’s “Asian America” as a successful young Asian entrepreneur.

by Hoc Poeng on October 15th, 2007

Julie Azuma started Different Roads to Learning in 1995. The company sells learning products for children diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities including Asperger’s Syndrome. In 1999, she created DRL Books Inc. a publishing company for books and manuals that were missing in the repertoire of books available to parents and teachers of these children. In August of 2005, she began the Mind and Memory Store which is dedicated to older adults with memory issues, developmental disabilities and to those in the varying stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The three companies provide service to over 30,000 customers.

Julie received a BFA in Apparel Design from Washington University in St. Louis. She had a thirty-year career in the apparel industry as a designer and merchandiser working at corporations including; Givenchy Sport, Collegetown, Jordache and Mast Industries, a division of The Limited.

In 1994, when her older daughter, Miranda, was diagnosed with autism at the age of six, Julie left the apparel industry to begin a niche business. At the time, there were limited resources to help autistic children. Therapists were constantly requesting materials and tools that were unavailable to most parents. Julie was able to find a core group of products that would help children with language and help parents shape their behaviors.

In February 2005, Julie was featured on CNBC on the Autism Epidemic. In April of the same year, she was named one of Inc. Magazine’s 26 Favorite Entrepreneurs, and was featured on the MSN version of Road Trip Nation in the summer of 2006.

She has been honored for her involvement in the Asian American Community and has received various rewards, including being given the Martin Luther King Jr.: I Have a Dream Award by Governor George Pataki. She has been honored but the Public Advocate’s office for Community Service. In 2005 she was honored by the Organization of Chinese Americans for Community Service and in May of 2006 she received the US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, Asian Business Leadership Award. She received a grant from the Mayor’s Commission on Women’s Issues Award in 2006. In November of 2006, she received a community service award from Eden II, an agency that supports individuals with autism. In April of 2007, she was honored with the Lotus Award given by the Coalition of Asian Pacific Association. Summer 2007, she was featured in Professional Women’s Magazine. In February 2008, she will be honored by the New York Families for Autistic Children.

For 25 years, Julie has been actively involved in the Asian American community. She is currently the chairperson on the board of Asian Women in Business, The Foundation Board at Eden II, an agency that works to educate and serve individuals diagnosed with Autism, and is on the board of the Japanese American Association. She is a past member of the board at the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families and has served on the local board of the Japanese America Citizens League, Asian Americans for Equality, Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. She has also served on the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, Day of Remembrance Committee and the Justice for Vincent Chin Committee.

Companies:
Different Roads to Learning, Inc.
DRL Books, Inc.
Mind and Memory Store, Inc.

Headlines:
Inc Magazine’s 26 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs: Julie Azuma, Leading Your Company

by Hoc Poeng on October 9th, 2007

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Jade Ly, Christina Seid, David Hou, Alice Hsieh, Katherine Seid

Photo courtesy of Christina Seid of Chinatown Ice Cream Factory