David Henry Hwang Joins Judging Panel for the Film Lab's 72 Hour Shootout Competition

NEW YORK - April 29, 2014 - PRLog -- Playwright David Henry Hwang will be returning to The Asian American Film Lab (“Film Lab”)’s judging panel for the Tenth Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout (“Shootout”), which will take place this year June 6-9, 2014. The Shootout is a worldwide filmmaking competition where 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 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.  Hwang joins fellow Shootout judges Producer Teddy Zee, ABC Executive Director of Casting Marci Phillips, NYCMedia Director Mike McKenna, House of Cards Staff Writer Kenneth Lin, Wedding Palace Writer Christine Yoo, All My Children writer Celena Cipriaso, Agent David Elliott, Asians on Film Festival programmer Scott Eriksson, and Visual Communications Director of Programs Milton Liu as Film Lab President and actor Jennifer Betit Yen and Shootout Coordinator and filmmaker Justin C. Lee kick off the 2014 Shootout.

Teams will also have an extended time period within which to submit a television version of their Shootout film for possible televised showcase by the Film Lab’s new production arm AAFL TV (the Film Lab’s television series, Film Lab Presents, hosted by Jennifer Betit Yen, airs on NYCLife, Wednesday nights at 10pm EST).

The Shootout creates opportunities for filmmakers of color, particularly Asian Americans, to demonstrate their talent, gain exposure in the entertainment industry and create positive significant impact on the visibility of Asian and Asian American stories and characters in film and television.  One of the Shootout requirements is that at least one key production member (e.g., director, producer or writer) and a principal actor from each team must be of Asian descent.

The 10th Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout begins on June 6, 2014. The competition theme will be announced at the New York City launch party at 8:00PM EST and simultaneously posted on the internet at http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.com/72-hour-shootout/ and https://www.facebook.com/72hrshootout.

The top ten finalists will screen at this year’s esteemed New York Asian American International Film Festival organized by Asian CineVision in New York City and at the Asians on Film Festival in Los Angeles, California with a chance for televised broadcast as well.

About David Henry Hwang

DAVID HENRY HWANG was awarded the 1988 TonyÓ, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and John Gassner Awards for his Broadway debut, M. Butterfly, which was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His play Golden Child, which premiered at South Coast Repertory, received a 1998 TonyÓ nomination and a 1997 OBIE Award.  His new book for Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song earned him his third TonyÓ nomination in 2003.  Yellow Face won a 2008 OBIE Award for Playwriting and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His most recent work, Chinglish, won a 2011 Chicago Jeff Award before moving to Broadway, where it received a 2012 Drama Desk Nomination.  Other plays include FOB (1981 OBIE Award), The Dance and the Railroad (1982 Drama Desk Nomination), Family Devotions (1982 Drama Desk Nomination), The Sound of a Voice and Bondage.  He co-authored the book for Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, which ran almost five years on Broadway, and was the bookwriter of Disney’s Tarzan, with songs by Phil Collins.  As America’s most-produced living opera librettist, he has written four works with composer Philip Glass, as well as Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar (two 2007 Grammy Awards), Bright Sheng’s The Silver River (1997), and Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland (2007 “World Premiere of the Year” by Opernwelt Magazine). Hwang penned the feature films M. Butterfly, Golden Gate, and Possession (co-writer), and co-wrote the song "Solo" with composer/performer Prince.  He won the 2011 PEN/Laura Pels Award for a Master American Dramatist, the 2012 Inge Award for Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre, the 2012 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award, and is a 2013 US Artists Donnelly Fellow. He is currently the Residency One playwright at New York’s Signature Theatre Company, which has recently revived two of his earlier plays, and premiered the acclaimed Kung Fu this past year.

About the Asian American Film Lab

The Film Lab is a non-profit 501(c)(3) headquartered in New York City that provides free or low cost programming to promote and support ethnic and gender diversity in film and television.  Its programs and newest production arm, AAFL TV, have been featured most recently on CUNY TV (http://youtu.be/NwHXHD00YIM).  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 other filmmakers of color, and the visibility of their stories and characters in film and television.  Film Lab’s programming includes the Industry Spotlight program, in which established industry professionals share their knowledge, expertise and advice via filmmaking workshops, screenings and more.  Other Film Lab programs include Unfinished Works, a program for aspiring writers in which selected writers have their pieces performed by Film Lab Actor Directory members in a public table read, followed by a workshop moderated by Film Lab Unfinished Works Coordinator Lorna Nowve.  The Film Lab also holds film competitions including the annual 72 Hour Shootout®, which has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career.  The Film Lab management team consists of Jennifer Betit Yen (President and Board Member, founder of AAFL TV Production Arm), Aurora Betson (Treasurer and Board Member), Daryl King (Secretary and Board Member), Lorna Nowve (Unfinished Works), Justin Lee (2014 72 Hour Shootout Coordinator), along with a dedicated Board, interns and event volunteers. Board members include James Kyson and Aaron Woolfolk, among others.  Joanna Shen, who edited the trailer for the 2013 72 hour Shootout, conducted the final editing for Season 1 of Film Lab Presents with the help of filmmaker Justin C. Lee. For more information, please visit the Film Lab’s website at http://www.asianamericanfilmlab.com/