SAG-AFTRA and The Asian American Film Lab Enter Into Agreement to Promote Diversity in Film

NEW YORK - May 23, 2013 - PRLog -- SAG-AFTRA and The Asian American Film Lab™ (“Film Lab”) are pleased to announce an agreement enabling SAG-AFTRA members to more easily participate in the 2013 72 Hour Shootout™ competition (the “Shootout”), a worldwide filmmaking competition (http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.org/72-Hour-Shootout.html).  The Shootout, now in its ninth year, has inspired hundreds of diverse filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career.  The Film Lab management, many of whom are members of SAG-AFTRA themselves, expressed gratitude to SAG-AFTRA for “helping pave the way for diverse talent to gain recognition and exposure in the Shootout while maintaining protection and support for the actors.”   A complete list of requirements can be found on the Shootout page of the Film Lab website:  www.asianamericanfilmlab.org.  For a recent overview of the Shootout, please check out Backstage Magazine at http://www.backstage.com/news/asian-americans-given-film-...

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents more than 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters, journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. With offices in Los Angeles, New York, and nationwide, SAG-AFTRA members work together to secure the strongest protections for media artists into the 21st century and beyond.

http://www.sagaftra.org

About Asian American Film Lab and the 72 Hour Shootout

The Film Lab began in 1998 as collaborative of New York-based filmmakers whose goals were to hone their craft and to share their knowledge, experience and resources. The membership has grown to comprise professionals, artists and other talented individuals who all share the common goal of creating great film and promoting Asian American filmmakers and the visibility of their stories and characters in film and television.  The Lab now runs monthly programs to promote gender and ethnic diversity in film and television.

The Film Lab is run under the direction of President Jennifer Betit Yen.  Board members include Aaron Woolfolk, James Kyson Lee, Bea Soong, Erik Lu, Peyton Worley, Eric Lin, and John Woo.   T

The Film Lab’s programming includes filmmaking workshops with industry professionals, screenwriting contests, and film competitions, including the annual 72 Hour Film Shootout (the “Shootout”).  This annual competition, now in its ninth year, has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career.

The Shootout is a high-profile worldwide short film competition where filmmaking teams have 72 hours to write, shoot, edit, and produce short digital films up to five minutes in length and based on a common theme. The Shootout theme will be announced May 31, 2013, at a launch party in New York City and simultaneously on the internet.  The Shootout will culminate on July 27, 2013, with a theatrical screening of the top ten finalists, an awards presentation, and a wrap party.  2013 will be the 9th year Asian CineVision will partner with FilmLab to promote the Shootout at the 36th annual Asian American International Film Festival (“AAIFF”).  AAIFF is New York’s leading festival for independent Asian and Asian American film and video, and the first and longest-running U.S. festival of its kind.

As an integral part of AAIFF, the Shootout celebrates the creativity and genius of the directors, their casts and crews as they share stories by, about and for Asian Americans and other filmmakers of color with the world.  AAIFF has played a vital role in discovering and nurturing such acclaimed talent as Wayne Wang (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Mira Nair (THE NAMESAKE), Zhang Yimou (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), Christine Choy (WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?), Steven Okazaki (THE MUSHROOM CLUB), Jessica Yu (PING PONG PLAYA), and Justin Lin (FAST FIVE).

The Asian American Film Lab is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.org

info@film-lab.org