Monday, May 21, 2012

Archiving Lucky Cat Series 1 on Mixcloud

Here's Episode 2 of my first ever series. Still on the lookout for episode 1, hope to add that soon. For the playlist and info see my original post from 2005.

Monday, May 07, 2012

China in Britain: Myths and Realities

Dr Anne Witchard at the University of Westminster is curating a number of events for the series China in Britain: Myths and Realities. An AHRC-funded research network project which investigates changing conceptions of China and Chineseness in Britain. The series hopes to connect up the important yet disparate work being done by cultural historians, literary critics, curators, archivists, contemporary artists, film makers and Sino-British organisations. The first event is China in Britain: #1. Film on Thursday May 10th, 2012 @ Brunei Gallery, SOAS, Thornhaugh St., Russell Square, London WC1H OXG Places are free but strictly limited so it is essential to register with the project’s Principal Investigator, Anne Witchard, at: anne@translatingchina.info

The Film programme includes:
  • Peking at the Pictures: Early Cinema, the Boxer Rebellion, and Anglo-American Perspectives on China, Ross Forman (University of Warwick). The Chinese presence in British cinema dates from James Williamson's 1900 'documentary' film, Attack on a China Mission, a recreation of that year's “Boxer rebellion” in which nationalist militants attempted to expel Christian missionaries and other foreigners from China. It was actually filmed in Brighton and Williamson had never visited China. Ross Forman’s book China and the Victorian Imagination: Empires Entwined is forthcoming with Cambridge University Press.
  • Po-chih Leong, Britain's Forgotten Filmmaker, Felicia Chan (University of Manchester) and Andy Willis (University of Salford). In the early 1980s British Asian filmmakers began to make inroads into the British film industry. The the first truly British Chinese feature, Ping Pong reached the screen in 1986. British-born director Po-Chi Leong (b. 1939) had already directed several features in Hong Kong. A survey of Leong’s career spanning 40 years across different commercial industries, national cinemas and diverse genres.
  • Jo Ho’s Spirit Warriors Jo Ho created the hit BBC television show Spirit Warriors, the first British series to star a predominantly East Asian cast. Jo is currently working on several feature films.
  • Xiaolu Guo, author and filmmaker will introduce a screening of her film She, A Chinese, followed by a Q and A.

For more detailed info go to translatingchina.info.
I will be giving a talk at China in Britain: #3 Theatre and Music on July 18th. More details soon!

Thursday, May 03, 2012

London International Ska Festival this weekend!

The London International Ska Festival starts today and takes place across a variety of venues this year. The lovely Megumi Mesaku who was on my show earlier this year is playing with her band Ska Cubano. There are many great acts appearing including the Ska and Rocksteady legend Dandy Livingstone who has come out of retirement and is returning to the stage! Information on all the acts and how to get tickets can be found here: www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/ or on Facebook:>http://www.facebook.com/londonskafestival My mate Jean-Paul, who is an excellent DJ, will be spinning Ska vinyl at the after party on Sat 5th May @ Islington Metalworks. More on the musical releases in collaboration with the Festival soon.........