Stories in Action

Two immigrant communities in Los Angeles — Ethiopian and Armenian — are the subjects of a new exhibit of photographs by Ara Oshagan at the Los Angeles Center for Experimental Art & Architecture. The exhibit is an outgrowth of Oshagan’s work on two separate California Story Fund projects. “The photos invite the reader to consider questions like, what is identity? What is community? And how the two are related,” Oshagan said. The exhibit runs from September 26 to October 17, 2008. An opening reception will be held on Friday, September 26 from 7 to 10 pm.

As part of the Council’s How I See It: Youth Digital Filmmakers program, a group of San Francisco East Bay teens from Ally Action, which works to insure schools are safe for youth regardless of sexual orientation, created a film about the absence of LGBTQ history in California schools. Their 30-minute film, “Don’t Erase My History,” already screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival, will have its Bay Area premiere at a benefit event at the Metreon, San Francisco, on October 11, 2008. Funds raised will help complete and distribute the film. Find out more.

Inspired by the landmark book by David Reyes and Tom Waldman, Land of a Thousand Dances, CHICANO ROCK! The Sounds of East L.A. is the history of Chicano Rock ‘n’ Roll, a biography of generations of artists and audiences, and the story of the Latin community. The lively ninety-minute television documentary by Jon Wilkman demonstrates how Chicano Rock was a dialogue in two languages, as well as one of two cultures. Learn more at the special pre-premiere screening at the L.A. Latino International Film Festival on September 17, 5.30 pm, Chinese Mann Cinemas, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, or watch national PBS on Sunday, December 14. Check your local stations for air time.

“Hollywood Chinese,” Arthur Dong’s fast-paced delightful film about the portrayal of Chinese people in American feature films, is back to California for a screening. It will be playing in Pasadena on September 11, 8 pm at the Pacific Asia Museum. Triple Sundance award-winning filmmaker Dong shows cinema history through the lens of the Chinese American experience. Dong will discuss the film in person after the screening. Watch a film clip and read the reviews.

“Local 909er,” Enid Baxter Blader’s Council-supported documentary film about the rapidly growing Inland Empire, will be screened through September 14 as part of Signals: A Video Showcase at the Orange Lounge of the Orange Country Museum of Art, South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear Street # 303, Costa Mesa. More.

You can also catch Bader’s film at the Riverside Public Library, 3581 Mission Inn Avenue. on Saturday, November 22 at 1 pm.