Alex Azmi called in to KUCI 88.9fm to talk about “To Climb a Gold Mountain,” an inspiring documentary about the Chinese immigrant experience in early California.

DOCUMENTARY “TO CLIMB A GOLD MOUNTAIN”
SCREENED AT THE LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

WATCH THE TRAILER:
https://vimeo.com/108225231

If you missed Alex Azmi on today's show, listen to our conversation here.

“To Climb a Gold Mountain,” an inspiring documentary about
the Chinese immigrant experience in early California, screened as part of the LA Femme
InterCHINESE national Film Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22. 

Directed by Alex Azmi and Rebecca Hu, written by David Fulmer, music composed by Ilsik
Byun and executive produced by Alex Azmi and Raymond Bell, "To Climb a Gold Mountain"
traces the lives of four women of Asian descent who lived in America from the 1850s to the present
day. The women came from different backgrounds and lived dramatically different lives. Each
woman’s story represents a distinct theme of struggle and triumph, and ushers in the succeeding story
leading up to the present time. The film relates both the tragic and the triumphant, and traces the
lives of these heroines that made the Chinese American community in California what it is
today.

The screening will be at Laemmle’s Music Hall Theatre, Venue 2, 9036 Wilshire Blvd on,
Saturday Oct. 22 at Noon, in Beverly Hills. Tickets are available online at
www.lafemme.org/festival.


ABOUT THE FILM
‘To Climb a Gold Mountain’ tells the stories of four women of Asian descent who lived in America from the 1850s to the present day. The women came from different backgrounds and lived dramatically different lives. Some of the women featured in the film, such as Anna May Wong, have reached success and fame. Still others, like Sing Ye, who lived in the 1800s and fought for freedom, are all but forgotten.

Each woman’s story represents a distinct theme of struggle and triumph, and ushers in the succeeding story leading up to the present time. Through these stories, the film tracks the progression, evolution and legacy of the immigrants in America as they integrate into the fabric of America.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Alex Azmi is a filmmaker with interest in documentaries that deals with social and cultural issues. Alex’s is currently involved in several projects including short films and other feature-length documentaries. The current active documentary is Man and Machine, which is about the impact of technology on humans.


And here are the links to the film and trailers:
Website: www.GoldMountainMovie.com
Teaser: https://vimeo.com/159199205
Trailer: https://vimeo.com/159201537

Michael Matteo Rossi joins me at 9:15am PST to talk about his powerful show VENGEANCE!

A Los Angeles native, Michael is no stranger to the film industry. In his early teens, Michael acted in stage plays, but it was his last year of High School when he realized he wanted to shift towards writing and directing. In his sophomore year at San Diego State, Michael decided to round up a talented and hungry group of actors and crew and make his first short film. It was a success and screened at the L.A. Shorts Fest. Michael felt it was his calling with the great reception the film got and how impressed people were at his age.

During the years to come, Michael directed and wrote several other short films, including The Last Wish, which screened at a number of festivals in the United States and received several awards, including the Sierra Nevada Award at the 2012 Mountain Film Awards. After making a few other short films that ran a great festival circuit, Michael realized it was time for him to direct and produce his first feature film. Right when he turned 26, he directed "Misogynist" where he won "Best Narrative Feature" at the LA underground film festival and “Best Director” at the IndieFest Awards.

The film was soon after picked up by Midnight releasing, one of the leading distributors of independent cult, thriller and horror films, for worldwide distribution and was released early 2015. Later that year, Michael completed his most recent feature, “Sable”, which is in the process of being signed by a distributor.

9:00am PST Monday, tune-in to KUCI 88.9fm and hear Sister Judy Bisignano, a Dominican nun, talk about her documentary “Sister Jaguar’s Journey."

If you missed Sister Jaguar on today's show, listen here.

“SISTER JAGUAR’S JOURNEY”, a documentary film about a nun who travels to Ecuador’s rainforest, takes part in a ayahuasca plant medicine ceremony, and finds God, was screened this past SUnday, 10/23 at the LSA Femme International Film Festival.

“Sister Jaguar’s Journey” tells the story of Sister Judy Bisignano, a Dominican nun, who spent sixty-eight years looking for God in all the wrong places. A lifetime of prayer and public service as a fierce and renowned educator failed to bring her the peace and divine connection she had always sought.

Over the years she started several unique and very successful alternative schools in Tucson, Arizona. Yet, after the Cesar Chavez Learning Community, a school in the Mexican-American community, closed she was forced to confront the devastating effects of her lifelong anger about her life, her work, and those around her.

Divine intervention comes in the form of Sandra Morse, a friend and professional communication philosopher, who invites Sister Judy to visit the Achuar community in the Ecuador’s Amazon rainforest; this trip forever changes Sister Judy’s life, launching her onto a path toward reconciliation with her turbulent, abusive, and angry past. There she eventually found the peace and forgiveness she sought through native plant medicine of the gentle Achuar people.

They encouraged her to turn to “Pachamama” - Earth Mother - and participate in the Achuar ayahuasca plant medicine ceremony to heal her soul. Her decision to take part in the ceremony was a pivotal moment for her, and offered a new beginning. Yes, a Dominican nun drinking ayahuasca - and it changed everything.

There on the banks of the Pastaza River with the Achuar, she found her true self. While sitting alone in a canoe along the river bank, she and two Achuar guides witnessed a black jaguar devour a white bird. According to the Achuar shaman, seeing a black jaguar in the Amazon jungle is a good omen, one that empowered Sister Judy to experience a series of cultural, environmental and spiritual shifts that ultimately transformed her life. It also gave her the nickname ““Hermana Otorango” or “Sister Jaguar”.

The film was directed and produced by Sande Zeig, written and edited by Melody London, and executive produced by Sandra Morse, the 20 minute documentary stars Sister Judy Bisignano and was shot on location in both the US and Ecuador. Since its initial release, the documentary has been an Official Selection on the festival circuit including the Illuminate Festival in Sedona, the Arizona International Film Festival, the Bisbee Film Festival, and the Female Eye Film Festival, in addition to the LaFemme International Film Festival.

There is an accompanying book with the same title written by Sister Judy and Sandra Morse; Sister Judy also does book signings around the country, and publishes a blog on her website http://www.sisterjaguarsjourney.com.

UCI Libraries to Host Second UCI Zinefest in Partnership with UCI Illuminations, Cross Cultural Center and LGBT Resource Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Irvine, California, October 19, 2016 – The University of California, Irvine (UCI) Libraries will host its second Zinefest, during International Open Access Week October 26, 2016 on the Orange County campus. In partnership with UCI Illuminations: The Chancellor’s Arts and Culture Initiative, Cross-Cultural Center and LGBT Resource Center, the Zinefest will encourage students, faculty, staff and community members to engage in creative expression through magazine making.

During the event, from noon to 4 p.m., Orange County zinester duo, ZebraPizza will be on-site to help guests create zines. Completed zines can be contributed to the UCI Libraries Special Collections and Archives or kept for personal use. “Irvine is a college/business town that could really use some more zine flavor. As a former KUCI DJ (#DJZibaZ 2000-13) I see a real need to document music and student culture,” states Ziba of ZebraPizza Zine.

Special presentations will also be given by Emilee Mathews, Research Librarian for Visual Arts and Jeanne Scheper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies. “I love to use Zine and “DIY” [do-it-yourself] practices in the classroom - students are savvy consumers in our image-driven ‘society of the spectacle,’ but zine-making allows them to also be inventive cultural critics. They make their own images and project new ideas into a world they invent — one that is often driven by social justice, community-building, and the playful imagination of possibility, and not just profit,” says Professor Scheper.

Additionally, library curators will highlight zines from the growing collection in Special Collection and Archives. This display will include newly created zines donated to the UCI Libraries from the annual Orange County Zinefest held this past August in Santa Ana, California.

A zine is defined as a small circulation of self-published work of original or appropriated texts and images usually reproduced via photocopier. The primary intent of publication is usually not for profit and instead serves as a communication vehicle for various subcultures or social justice movements, which draw inspiration from a "do-it-yourself" philosophy.



About UCI Libraries:

As one of the founding academic units on campus, the UCI Libraries connect users—faculty, researchers, scholars, students, staff or community members—to information resources, facilitating the creation, preservation, and sharing of knowledge in all disciplines. The Libraries support the research needs of UCI and the community through the Libraries’ website and at four library facilities: the Jack Langson Library, the Francisco J. Ayala Science Library, and the Libraries Gateway Study Center on the UCI campus, and the Forest J. Grunigen Medical Library in Orange. For more information on the UCI Libraries, visit http://www.lib.uci.edu/





About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

BRIANA GALLO’S SHORT DOCUMENTARY “THE BEE KEEPER” TO PREMIERE AT 12TH ANNUAL LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL OCT. 21

Good buzz generated for this new documentary about the curative power of bees


BEVERLY HILLS, OCT 4 2016 -- “The BEE KEEPER”, a documentary short film by director Briana Gallo, will make its festival debut as part of the 12th Annual LA Femme International Film Festival in Beverly Hills on Friday, October 21, 2016.

“The BEE KEEPER” tells the story of Ed “Doc” Ziegler, a retired dentist living in a small town in New England. 35 years ago, he discovered apitherapy - the power of bees to heal - both physically and mentally. He now devotes his life to beekeeping and shares the curative powers of bee venom with his community. His neighbors and friends recount their own recovery stories and loving thoughts about this kind and humble man who, at the age of 97, is still tending to the needs of his ‘patients.’

First time filmmaker Briana Gallo is a fine art photographer and philanthropist. She believes in the power of photography to inspire hope and understanding, and to connect people around the world, as well as in our local communities. She has travelled to places like Honduras and Ethiopia, using her photography to support non-profits working to improve local lives. Briana uses her photography to open doors around the world, pull viewers outside their comfort zones, elicit tears and smiles, and make people say "I never knew."

The 13 minute documentary will be shown on Fri. Oct. 21 at the Laemmle’s Music Hall Theater, Venue 2 at 10 am. The theater is located at 9036 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills.

The film can only be seen as part of the festival, however tickets to the Festival include all screenings and can be purchased online at www.lafemme.org/festival.

For more information on the film or to schedule an interview with Briana Gallo, please contact Deborah Gilels, LA Media Consultants at 818- email to ddgilels@prodigy.net.

Featured Writer-Director Cevin Soling and his highly anticipated documentary, The Gilligan Manifesto at 9:30am PST today!

“THE GILLIGAN MANIFESTO” WILL DEBUT AT 12TH ANNUAL
LA FEMME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, SATURDAY OCT. 22

Writer-Director Cevin Soling’s highly anticipated documentary, The Gilligan Manifesto, will be the Saturday night presentation at the La Femme International Film Festival on Oct. 22 at 6 pm at Laemmle’s Music Hall Theater Venue 2 in Beverly Hills.

If you missed Cevin Soling on today's show, listen here!

Just one year after the Cuban Missile Crisis, radio and television writer Sherwood Schwartz began filming his comedy classic Gilligan's Island, which depicts seven Americans shipwrecked on a deserted island.

Soling’s film reveals that this seemingly innocuous sitcom was actually an analogue for a post-apocalyptic world where survivors had to rebuild civilization as this was a major concern during the Cold War where many families had fallout shelters in their homes. What is even more shocking is that the society the castaways create is founded on Marxist Communism. Soling’s revelation was published in the prestigious academic journal, Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture.

To convert his article into a feature documentary, Soling interviewed creator Sherwood Schwartz. He also spoke with Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells, who played the Professor and Mary Ann, and several professors from Harvard.

“Sherwood Schwartz often noted that he conceived Gilligan’s Island as a social microcosm where people from all walks of life would have to figure out how to get along,” Soling said, “but he confessed to me, in his last interview, that the show was deliberately designed as lowbrow humor in order to conceal its political message. For this reason, American audiences never realized that the show celebrates Marxism and lampoons Western capitalism and democratic governance.”

“The most transgressive message conveyed by Gilligan’s Island is that it shows how much better off people are in under true communism – not the dictatorship government the Soviets and McCarthyites called communism. The characters that represent the pinnacle of success in capitalist society – the millionaire and the movie star, become whole people and establish social bonds that they never could have otherwise. On the island, their lives cease to be empty.”

La Femme board member Deborah Gilels served as associate producer on the documentary which was edited by Joe Davenport and narrated by Rennie Davis, who, along with Abbie Hoffman was a member of the Chicago Seven. David Jackson’s Showcase Entertainment is selling the worldwide rights.

Cevin Soling produced and directed the first theatrically released documentary on education, The War on Kids, which was honored as the best educational documentary at the New York Independent Film and Video Festival and has been broadcast on The Documentary Channel and The Sundance Channel.


Soling wrote, produced, and directed Ikland, which documented his efforts to rediscover the lost Ik tribe of northern Uganda, who were famously disparaged in the early 1970s as the worst people in the world. The film won Best Documentary Content at the Boston International Film Festival and was heralded by the NY Times and other major media outlets. Last year, he completed Mr. Cevin & the Cargo Cult, a documentary about a tribe in Vanuatu who worship America, and is currently working on The Summer of Hate, a documentary on the Beatles’ controversial observations on religion and racism during their tour of America in 1966.

ABOUT THE FILM
At the height of the Cold War, Gilligan's Island depicted seven Americans living in an analogue of a post-apocalyptic world where the survivors have to rebuild civilization. Remarkably, the society they create is pure communist. Interviews with the show's creator and some of the surviving actors, as well from professors from Harvard, reveal that Gilligan's Island was deliberately designed to be dismissed as low brow comedy in order to celebrate Marxism and lampoon Western democratic constructs.

Briana Gallo joined me at 9:15am to talk about her film “The Bee Keeper."

If you missed Briana Gallo on today's show, listen here!

Briana Gallo’s “The Bee Keeper” tells the story of Ed “Doc” Ziegler, a retired dentist living in a small town in New England. 35 years ago, he discovered apitherapy - the power of bees to heal - both physically and mentally. He now devotes his life to beekeeping and shares the curative powers of bee venom with his community. His neighbors and friends recount their own recovery stories and loving thoughts about this kind and humble man who, at the age of 97, is still tending to the needs of his ‘patients.

WATCH the trailer here.

ABOUT BRIANA GALLO

"Courage is the power to let go of the familiar."

Briana Gallo is a Fine Art Photographer as well as a Photo Philanthropist. She currently lives and works in La Jolla, CA. She believes in the power of Photo Philanthropy to inspire hope and understanding, and to connect people around the world, as well as in our local communities. She visually articulates the mission of non-profit organizations in a compelling manner through Fine Art Photography. She believes in people’s interest in knowing more, in understanding better, in seeing the story, which can then lead to action and involvement.

In 2011, her travels took her to Honduras to work with Shoulder to Shoulder and the town of Guachipilincito. In 2012, she traveled to Cuba, where she captured the stories of the Cuban people and their vibrancy of life. 2013 she worked on a piece for Make It Right, a non-profit in the Lower Nine area of New Orleans focusing on housing for Katrina Victims. She is currently working on a number of projects in heart of the Omo Valley, Ethiopia. Each experience has inspired her to search for those communities where there is a story to be told. Briana forges real connections with communities when she shoots turning her lens into a bridge rather than a wall.

She is currently a member of the New Hampshire Art Association. She has had juried pieces in the PhotoPlace Gallery in Vermont. She has attended two juried Fine Art shows – The Foundry in Pawtucket, RI and the Mystic Art Festival in Mystic, Connecticut. She also has pieces published in the PhotoPlace Gallery Books–Self Portrait, City Streets & Country Roads, Portraiture: Expression & Gesture, The Golden hours Dawn and Dusk, The Art of Travel Photography. Briana was featured in Omo Magazine in 2014. Her Cuban series is currently in the Emerald C Gallery, Coronado, CA.

Briana uses her photography to help people see through a variety of lenses. To open doors to what is surrounding us, both locally and abroad. The emotion she captures in her photography pulls viewers out of their comfort zones, provokes questions, brings smiles to ones face, tears to ones eyes, and makes one say, “I never knew.”