AMMY AWARDS 2000
 

FILMMAKERS’ JOURNAL, AMMY AWARDS, Oct. 7, 2000

Imagine my surprise when I was told that “Much Adobo About Nothing” got nominated for best independent film by aMagazine.  Of course, it was way too late to let people know about voting for it; otherwise, we could’ve stuffed the ballot.

But being nominated alongside “Three Seasons,” “Catfish in Black Bean Sauce” and “Life Tastes Good” you know you’re in good company.  Doubtful we’ll win, but we took aMedia’s free invite to the show anyways and enjoy ourselves and maybe even get some free grub in the meantime.

6 pm: “Are all these people in line really VIPs?”
We got to the Hilton at Universal Studios and it was a zoo!  Of course it didn’t help that they were two Chinese weddings and a convention going on at the same time.  The Ammys were sold out; over 1200 people attended.

 6:30 pm: “Is this the food line?”
Janice D. Tanaka’s film “When You’re Smiling: The Deadly Legacy of Internment” was up for best doc, which I thought would be a shoo-in.  Here Tanaka (l) and her long-time best buddy (and mine) Linda Mabalot from Visual Communications were waiting in line for food. The food lines were way too long for me, so I went straight to the bar, which I had all to myself.

6:45 pm: (l-r) Dom , Saachiko, filmmaker V.V. Dachin Hsu and me.  VV’s film, “My American Vacation” was in the same category as “Much Adobo”  (neither of us won). 

Though we got nominated, there was no mention of either of our films on aMedia’s website.  (But at least they announced Much Adobo at the ceremony and when they did, we got a big laugh for our title. I’m thinking: if they think our title’s funny, wait until they see the movie!)

6:50 pm: “Hey, aren’t you that Oscar-winning guy?” Chris Tashima (Visas and Virtue, first love) with Saachiko and Dom.   Chris and I are working on two very different features on the JA internment: ours is Jive Bomber, his is on baseball leagues in camp. He said we could use his camp sets after he’s done. Cool.  (But I hope we finish ours first. Idea: Chris Tashima as one of the 442 guys in Jive Bomber.  He looked good in uniform for first love, so why not?)

7:30 pm: “How many Republicans are out there?” Master of Ceremonies Dustin Nguyen and Tamlyn Tomita made the best hosts, really moved things along (better than Whoopi or Billy Crystal).  They kept changing outfits, but it seemed like Dustin dusted Tamlyn in this category.  More fun than the pre-Oscar shows.

8:30 pm: (r) Charlie's Angel Lucy Liu (Ally McBeal) congratulating the award winners for Best Doc.  (Sorry, Tanaka.)

We were sitting on the third row, Dom and Saachi chatting up with actors Clyde Kusatsu (Ally McBeal, West Wing) and Tzi Ma (Rush Hour, Martial Law) next to them.   Dante Basco (Hook, The Debut) is sitting in front of me, Garrett Wang (Star Trek Voyager) saying his hellos, and Christine Toy Johnson (One Life to Live) even waves to us. I met Christine at the AAJA convention back in August. 
(Note to myself: Get Christine and Garrett for the Jive Bomber film.  She’s been on Broadway, she can sing and dance.  Garrett could play one of the 442 guys, maybe the part of Colonel Kim?)
Dom and Saachi actually knows all these people from way back.  I feel like I’m just tagging along, riding on their coattails.  Sometimes I wonder what the hell I’m doing here. 

 9:00 pm: David Magdael getting his Corporate Leadership Award.  He’s tight with Linda and VC and did the PR for their film festival. (He talked me into being on a panel.)

 10:00 pm: “Philip Ahn, Keye Luke, Yuki Shimoda and Anna May Wong… we all worked around the same time…”
Highlight of the evening: Legendary actor and crooner James Shigeta (Flower Drum Song, Crimson Kimono) getting his Lifetime Achievement Award.  It’s about frickin’ time.  Of course he got a standing ovation.  (Brainstorm: A James Shigeta Retrospective, show all his films and do a national tour so that all the younger generation and the general American public will know who the hell he is and what he’s done for us.)

10:25 pm: Actress Tsai Chin (The Joy Luck Club) introduced James Shigeta for his Lifetime award. Classy lady. Just read her autobiography. Inspiring.

10:30 pm: Dom and Saachi with MC Tamlyn and actor Jack Ong. Jack received his award for speaking out for hiring Asian Pacific Americans in front of and behind the screen. Right on, Jack! 

(Brainstorm: Get Tamlyn in the Jive Bomber’s film.  Maybe she could play Aki’s wife?)

10:35 pm: “In the presence of greatness.”  Legendary screen actor James Shigeta and a wannabe.  Damn, I hope I look this good when I get to his age.  (I wish I looked this good now.)  One day, I’m gonna work with this guy.

Here’s the complete list of Best Indie Feature nominees and their directors:

Splendor (Gregg Araki)
Post Concussion (Daniel Yoon)
Life Tastes Good (Phillip Kan Gotanda)
Karma Local (Darshan Bhargat)
Freshmen (Tom Huang)
Girlfight (Karyn Kusama)
My American Vacation (V.V. Dachin Hsu)
Much Adobo About Nothing (Stann Nakazono and Dom Magwili)
Catfish in Blackbean Sauce (Chi-Muoi Lo)
Restless (Julie Gilfillan)
Three Seasons (Tony Bui)
Cupid’s Mistake (Young Man Kang)
The Dreamcatcher (Ed Radtke)

Oh yeah, “Three Seasons” won the Best Independent category.  You know, when we were doing VanDance last year, this film was the darling of Sundance. Yet, despite the fact it sweeped all the awards there, it still didn’t get the PR or marketing push that it so rightfully deserved.  Goes to show they still don’t know how to market our movies.  (Note to myself: market the damn film yourself.)