The Other Finalists:

1. Not Just Asians by Ryan Tran

Judges' Comments:

RF: This video inter-cuts a series of interviews to illustrate the complexity of Asian identities. Highlighting differences within a group is often used by filmmakers to challenge monolithic stereotypes: all Asians are…; all queer folks are…This is the structure, for instance, of the very first feature length documentary on gay and lesbian people made by gay and lesbian filmmakers: Word is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives, (1977), by Peter Adair and the Mariposa Film Collective. The approach in Not Just Asian is familiar, but the fast cutting and charming, charismatic interview subjects give the tape energy. I also find the recitation of everyone’s tangled linguistic roots fascinating. This work could have been more technically polished, though its roughness doesn’t actually bother me.

JSA: This is an interesting series of short questions posed to young Asian people in Canada.

I think this video has a lot of potential but could have been more imaginative in its’ delivery.

I would encourage the filmmaker to keep following your creative ideas and learn some technical video skills like how to use an external microphone with your camcorder to get better sound, how to use a tripod to steady your image, and how to use simple lighting techniques. Overall, I enjoyed learning about the backgrounds of the different speakers in the video.  Thank you for your work and I wish you well on your future projects!

2. The Night I was Crying by J. Yeh

Judges' Comments:

RF: This intimate tape exploits video’s capacity to capture the most personal moments. It brings to mind Shigeko Kubota’s 1975 performance tape, My Father, which consists of a single shot of the artist crying in her apartment in New York, mourning the death of her father in Japan. Kubota is a pioneer media artist and was married to the father of video art, the late Nam June Paik.

In spite of its confessional tone and seeming spontaneity, The Night I Was Crying is thoughtfully structured with effective use of on-screen text and good narrative closure. Where I would make suggestions is in terms of clarity. Especially because the competition context is ACAS, AIDS and Pride, I would have liked to have a better sense of what is actually being described and what is at stake: are AIDS-phobia, racism, sexism, lesbophobia, xenophobia implicated? Group think, bad decision-making, rumours, blackmail and bullying are all referenced as ways of interpreting the incident or incidents. Sometimes one does not know if a bad expeience is based on discrimination or not, but I’m not given enough detail to know what went on. I’m therefore not able to make up my own mind.

JSA: This video captured my attention right away with its’ simple close up of a person crying and talking into the camera.  I was curious to hear their story.  That is an effective technique you have chosen.  However, the more I watched, the more I became unsure of the video’s purpose or its’ relevance to ACAS’ work and values.

The confessional narrative talks about the impact of harassment and “GroupThink” bullying and then the video ends with the date and the assertion that ‘this is the last time I will let this happen’.  Is the person considering suicide, violence, or revenge?  

I think you have an interesting idea that can further developed, j yeh. Thank you for your creative ideas and keep making videos!

We like to thank all volunteers who made this happened.

BAMBOO SHOOT is produced by ACAS Media & Arts Group.