Capital Campaign::Multi Arts Complex

Asian Media Access hosted its 2nd annual Lunar New Year Gala on Sunday, March 4th, at the splendid Varsity Theater in dinkytown, Minneapolis to a great success. The Lunar New Year Gala celebrated the Asian lunar new year traditions across Asian Pacific ethnicities, raised profile for Pan Asian media works, and finally fundraising for the Multi Arts Complex.

The event drew over 200 attendees with a special focus on Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) professionals. Program highlighted the Asian-Pacific media through the best of film trailers and television commercials, showing the strong and vibrant entertainment industry of Asia, along with Asian New Year traditions that featured varieties of Asian cuisine, and hosting of a silent auction.

Beautifully decorated in RED and with New Year lucky symbols, the Varsity Theater was transformed into a warm, intimate gathering space for the event.

The event was emceed by two young AAPI professionals, Eric James and Diane Tran, wearing traditional costumes and greeted the audience in their native tongues. Both welcomed AMA's Board Chair Hartono Halim onto the stage.

Hart then took the opportunity to introduce AMA's programs and achievement. Then the youth shared the stage with the Executive Director Ange Hwang. Along with a surprise announcement that the youth group received the Governor's 2006 Best Practices Award as part of Governor's Council on Faith and Community Service Initiatives, the youth voiced out their concerns of not having a permanent meeting and production space, always having to rely on the hospitality of others. They were really looking forward to having their own youth center, to network with others, and to create important media arts with computer lab and media equipment.

Their emotional appeal led to Ange's revealing of the new blue print for the Multi Arts Complex at 2412-2418 Plymouth Ave. N., Minneapolis.

At the end of her speech, Ange shared a written piece from one of the girls, "I’m really self-confident. I feel very confident about my goals in life. Because I want to be the President of the United States. And I want to be the first Tongan/Pacific Islander president – woman. I just want things to change. That’s what I want to do. And I feel confident that I will succeed in life, no matter what.” She closed it with an emotional appeal to urge people to give generously and support this girl to be the President of the United States.

The climaxes of the event were 2 sets of media works from Asia. One is a 48-minute long compilation of Asian movie trailers, including films from all over Asia and local filmmaker's creations. Local filmmaker Paul Creager's "Resonance: The Odysseys of the Bells" was highlighted as a documentary piece that retraces the past of century old Japanese temple bells that survived the scrape metal drive of WWII, then as war trophies by the US military.

The big hit came with the Best Asian Television Commercials with many funny pieces. The Audience laughed so hard. There were many creative works from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korean, Thailand, and Turkey, and from different industries such as insurance & banking institutions, beverages & drinks, cars, restaurants & food items, beauty products, airlines, newspapers, clothing, etc.

There was one using Japanese scary movie technique to sell deeply discounted merchandise that will "SHOCK" you. With an "Appreciate Little Things Come in Life" slogan, the beer commercial featured people rejoicing

on the street just for getting a parking spot, or getting the last crab leg, or even just because it is a Friday. The best one went to Turkey's bank commercial that used people to form various shapes and objects of expensive jewelry and gifts. The creativity and the quality of the commercials won many "Ahhhhhhh" and "Haaaaaaa".

The fun experience led to the final plea from a group of articulate young girls, once again asked for audience support of the Complex, and successfully closed the fun and memorable afternoon event.

The 2nd Annual Lunar New Year Gala was a great success! Thanks to all who helped out in providing and picking up food, picking up supplies, decorated, volunteered, and thank you for all those who attended and supported the event and made a donation.

We have some highlights in photos,

and highlights from the best Asian television commercials.