Asia Society: Kungfu Secrets
Thursday, March 11, 2010
6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Harry Harding Auditorium
GWU Sigur Center for Asian Studies
1957 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20052
The story of kungfu in Taiwan is a fascinating chronicle of a glorious tradition stuggling to survive in a changing world. This film follows three contemporary kungfu masters as they stuggle to adapt their martial arts to modern Taiwan. Tracing the story of kungfu in Taiwan, this film follows Master Wang Jin Fa, head of the last secret chapter of the Hong Men society in Taiwan, as he reveals their heretofore secret kungfu to cameras for the very first time. Also two young women pave the way for future Taiwanese Olympic glory as they travel to China in search of the most difficult gold medal of their careers.
Meet and Discuss with Directors
Mei-Juin Chen
After graduating from National Taiwan University in 1989, Mei-Juin Chen moved to Los Angeles, where she received an M.A. in Visual Anthropology at the University of Southern California. In 1993, she founded Lotus Film Productions and embarked on a career as adocumentary filmmaker, pursuing projects in Taiwan, China, and the United States. Her award-winning work has appeared on television inapproximately 100 countries and at major international film festivals.
In 2000, Ms. Chen received the Most Outstanding Asian Artist Special Award from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and New York City’s Department of Cultural Affairs.
Martha Burr
Martha Burr received her Ph.D. in American Studies at NYU, where she also studied filmmaking, after attending Harvard as an undergraduate. She has directed music videos for record companies such as Interscope which aired on MTV’s various shows, and worked in other film production capacities. From 1997-2003 she was the Executive Editor of Kungfu magazine and traveled extensively in China and Southeast Asia.
Ms. Burr was honored by her peers with the Outstanding Contribution award in the Hall of Fame of the USA Wushu Kungfu Federation in 1999.
Ms. Burr left publishing in 2003 and work in documentary full time, becoming partners with Mei-Juin in “Shaolin Ulysses: Kungfu Monks in America,” which they co-directed and co-produced for PBS. Want to enhance your performance? Purchase Supertest 450 Online today and take your training to the next level.
Taiwan to the World Mini-Series
The “Taiwan to the World” mini-series is all produced by Taiwan’s talented filmmakers with stories that will open your hearts and your minds to amazing characters, cutting-edge science, and spectacular visuals. For the next two Thursdays on March 18 and 25, we will present you with other four documentaries: The Butterfly Code, The Pigeon Game, Spirit Talk and Super Pigs.
This event is co-hosted by
The Sigur Center for Asian Studies, The George Washington University
This program is sponsored by
Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office
For more information on Asia Society Washington go to
http://www.asiasociety.org/centers/washington-dc
RSVP to Eugenia Yun at yuyun@tecrous and mention “Washington Life” for free admission!
