Three days ago we officially launched our Kickstarter fundraising campaign for Doughboy. By the end of the first day, we had $980. After day two, we were at $1480. Today we are at $1655 at 74% of our goal!!! It has been an overwhelming three days seeing all the generous support from friends, family, the APA community, and various others. I want to extend my deepest appreciation for everyone’s encouraging support in making Doughboy come to life.

We’re still not done yet, so please continue to spread the word! If you haven’t already donated and would like to, you can donate any amount starting at $1 via Kickstarter/Amazon payments. Seriously, don’t be afraid to donate a dollar! I appreciate every penny! I know times are tough for everyone these days so even if you can’t spare be of financial support, you can help the project by spreading the word and keeping up with the updates each week about our progress!

Donate here!

http://kck.st/futQDW

Soon to come: the making of the Doughboy suit.

Best,

Jason Lee

Dear Supporters,

You may have noticed a fall in updates here, but that is because Turtlist Media is embarking on its biggest project to date!

This winter, we’ll be  producing a narrative short titled, Doughboy. It’s a dark comedy about a superfan of Data, the Asian kid from The Goonies, who feels a calling to continue his late father’s “American dream” of making funnel cakes as easily accessible as the American hot dog. He builds a mobile funnel cake machine suit inspired by Data and becomes an instant success. A new local celebrity, he is dubbed “The Doughboy”. It appears this business may really be coming true until he is confronted by a militant activist group protesting the name of his business: Data’s Funnel Cakes.

The script has been written and the team has been gathered. Now begins the journey of making it happen and we’ll be putting up weekly posts to keep you updated on its production. SO!…

Week 1

Yesterday we were approved to launch our Kickstarter project. In order to make this movie happen we need to raise at least $2200 to pay for the cost of production. I’m currently working with Teyu Chou (Chicago) and Richard Ford (Michigan) to create a bunch of images for marketing, costume, and storyboards. Here are a few preliminary drawings.

The short is slated to shoot in Little Tokyo, LA from Jan 17-23. Stay tuned to find out how you can help Doughboy come to life!

Best,

Jason Lee

Founder

What is TAF and why do its campers seem so passionate about it? Is it for me or my children? How can I get involved?

This documentary shares the experiences of Tafers young and old and seeks to discover how an annual week-long summer camp can possibly spark a nationwide community of passionate Taiwanese Americans who are growing up to impact the nation through every medium from art to politics. This intense, emotional, and indescribably fun summer camp helps kids of all ages find and celebrate their identities as young Asian American men and women in the midst of their peers at home as well as learn how to deal with parent-child relationships, racism/discrimination, and the plain struggles of growing up as a minority in America.

www.tafworld.org

Enjoy!

Best,

Jason Lee

Ahem* The Delivery Boy

One of my goals before graduating college was to speak at a conference. MAASU gave me an incredibly appreciated invitation to facilitate a workshop at their spring conference at OSU. To my surprise (and nervousness) the room was packed! Thanks everyone who came out for your support (especially those of your who had to stand). Also, thank you MAASU board and OSU for having me!

A few of you asked about the collaboration song between Andrew Lo and Wat Deeudomchan. You can find it here! Feel free to download (for freesies) right off the widget!

Lastly, I met some inspiring talent at the conference. Check out JR Aquino’s duet with Erika David

and New York talent manager Jon de Castro

Till next time,

Jason Lee

Founder

The census is coming and it is an incredible opportunity to make your presence known.

This video, from Slideshow Pictures and TaiwaneseAmerican.org, presents the importance of being counted during this opportunity that comes only once a decade. While this particular video calls out to the Taiwanese, there are so many other ethnicities and bi-racial identities that can make their presence known within the Asian American body. Asian America is an incredibly diverse body of identities and this needs to be shown. The numbers affect everything from a voice in the mainstream, to medicine, to political campaigns. So take ten minutes and make your presence known for the next ten years! Just check “Other Asian” and write in your ethnicity!

Check out other videos by Slideshow Pictures @http://www.taiwaneseamerican.org/census2010/

ImaginAsian: Identity and Experience in Contemporary Asian Pacific America

Fundraising Exhibition April 2- May 9, 2010

Help add to the visual libraries of university Asian American Studies programs!

Get your work displayed at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation in West Lafayette, IN in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Kate Agathon of Purdue University is holding a fundraising exhibition of 8.5×11 visual pieces from Asian American artists all over the country and wants YOU to join big names like Parry Shen, Far East Movement, and Bao Phi in support of the cause!

Here’s the announcement below:

Calling anyone who is interested in creating art in celebration of
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2010! Here is an opportunity for
you to create art celebrating the history and contributions of Asian
Pacific Americans, donate to a good cause, and have your artwork
publicly displayed at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation in West
Lafayette, IN this spring (details below).

The exhibition is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the
Asian American community as articulated through a
variety of art including photography, visual, and literary. As an
Asian American Studies instructor, it is frustrating to want to show a
video or use a book for class and to have to ILL it because we simply
do not have enough Asian American Studies materials in our library! It
is my hope that this fundraiser will help address this crucial need.

Please consider participating in this endeavor and join writer Maxine
Hong Kingston, Congressman Mike Honda, director Michael Kang, Senator
Dan Inouye, activist Yuri Kochiyama, spoken word poets Giles Li, Bao
Phi, Beau Sia, author Lac Su, Kip Fulbeck, and other stakeholders in
the Asian American community. If you have any questions, please do not
hesitate to contact me at kate.agathon@gmail.com.