Category Archives: News

  1. Autumn Gem Article in the World Journal

    We have a new article from David Wang about Autumn Gem, our screening tomorrow at the Chinese Culture Center, and our new iPad textbook, in the World Journal today: 自2007年開始籌畫研究，2009年自費開拍「秋瑾」紀錄片的華裔第二代張蕊（Rae Chang）與先生曹健鏗（Adam Tow），日前完成「秋瑾」（Autumn Gem）電子書，已在蘋果iBook上架。內容不但有文字，還有圖片及電影片段，是一本「多媒體電子書」。「秋瑾」目前在舊金山中華文化中心展出，張蕊和曹健鏗將於本周六，17日上午11時，在中心講解電影及示範電子書。 「秋瑾電子書是我們在開拍電影時，就考慮這麼做的，」曹健鏗表示，拍「秋瑾」前，他回母校史丹福大學的東亞圖書館收集資料；張蕊則回母校柏克萊加大東亞圖書館研究，兩人還訪問過美國的專家學者，以及秋瑾的後代，「無數文字和圖片內容，再加上電影片段，成為今天這本電子書。」 張蕊指出，出版電子書是希望藉著影音、照片、文字綜合起來的多媒體，造就一種新的教育形式，「比如說書中談到秋瑾的時代背景，就可以按書中的連結，去看背景資料，或是電影中的片段。」張蕊表示，未來的教材將會朝向多媒體的方向進行。 張蕊和曹健鏗的中文程度不太好，但因為看了一本介紹「鑑湖女俠」秋瑾（1875-1907）生平的書，兩人不但放下工作，還投資了6萬元拍電影，「想把這位少為人知的中國女權運動先驅者，介紹給西方世界」。 「秋瑾是位非常特別的人物，」張蕊指出，婦女在清朝是沒有地位的，裹小腳、不能讀太多書，「而秋瑾不但追求婦女解放，爭取男女平等，還立志推翻封建王朝，是中國婦女運動的先驅。」張蕊今年6月看到中國第一位上太空的女太空人劉洋，她第一個反應是：「劉洋是現代的秋瑾！」 張蕊和曹健鏗今年3月到現在，跑遍灣區所有圖書館，放映「秋瑾」並舉行座談，向大家介紹秋瑾，「很多老僑說看到他們的上一代；而年輕一代則反應對這段歷史有更多的瞭解。」張蕊表示，「秋瑾」放映總共超過120多場，灣區放映之前，曾在加拿大、夏威夷、澳洲、香港放映過，下個月還將到日本去放映。 「秋瑾」電影及電子書詳情：autumn-gem.com。

    Posted on November 16, 2012 in General, Interviews, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  2. Autumn Gem Textbook Now Available for iBooks 2

    We are excited to announce the release of AUTUMN GEM: The Story of Modern China’s First Feminist for the Apple iPad! This interactive book features Qiu Jin’s writings in Chinese with English translations, photo galleries, and selected video clips from the documentary. It is available to purchase for $4.99 from Apple’s iBookstore. For more information [...]

    Posted on August 23, 2012 in News | No comments

  3. World Journal Article on History Park San Jose Screening

    Here is the World Journal newspaper’s coverage of our screening at History Park San Jose on April 29. 張蕊與夫 戲說秋瑾傳奇 記者王金城聖荷西報導 影片「秋瑾」製作人曹健鏗、張蕊夫婦29日在聖荷西歷史公園的太平洋旅館向南灣觀眾介紹他們費時多年，精心製作的這部歷史教育記錄片。兩人講解鑑湖女俠秋瑾的生平與歷史背景，以及在中國、灣區等地拍攝的情形。放映會場上也展示「秋瑾」的影碟與相關歷史資訊。 張蕊的父母來自台灣，大學時期對自己的家世背景與中國歷史展生興趣，知道了近代中國推翻滿清帝制時出現秋瑾這麼一位女中豪傑。 她說，這個發現令她非常興奮，因為秋瑾不只是革命先烈，也是女權運動先驅，早在100多年前就挺身而出，爭取男女平等，是非常進步的思想。 張蕊和曹健鏗於2007年開始籌畫製作這部影片，準備工作花了五個月，拍攝時並到秋瑾故鄉紹興實地製作，訪問當地學者。曹健鏗表示，「秋瑾」可為第一代華裔與在美國成長華裔之間的橋梁，因為兩岸三地很多來美的移民都知道秋瑾的故事，可是在美國生長的華裔並不知道。這部影片成為不同世代華裔相互溝通的管道。 「秋瑾」由張蕊編演，曹健鏗製片，是他們完成的第一部自製自導紀錄長片。張蕊畢業於柏克萊加大、主修藝術與人類學。曹健鏗則畢業於史丹福大學，從事電腦與網路工作，也是專業攝影師。 http://sf.worldjournal.com/view/full_sfnews/18406326/article-張蕊與夫-戲說秋瑾傳奇?

    Posted on April 30, 2012 in General, Interviews, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  4. Santa Clara and Hayward Public Libraries Screening Recap

    We’re just hours away from boarding a plane to Hong Kong for our final screenings for 2011. Last week, we had two screenings in public libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area. We showed the film at the Santa Clara City Library and the Hayward Public Library. Though I’m writing this as I’m furiously packing, [...]

    Posted on October 12, 2011 in General, News, Screenings | No comments

  5. Southern California Fall 2011 Tour Recap

    It’s been two years since we had our first Autumn Gem screening in Southern California at the Pacific Asia Museum. Since then, we’ve had over one hundred screenings around the world, including stops in Australia, Canada, Texas, the Southwest, the Midwest, and the East Coast. This past week, we returned to Southern California for a [...]

    Posted on October 1, 2011 in Media, News, Screenings, Travel | No comments

  6. Hong Kong Feature Film on Qiu Jin to be Released

    A new feature film on Qiu Jin called “The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake” is opening this week in Hong Kong. It’s directed by Herman Yau and stars Huang Yi as Qiu Jin and veteran actor Anthony Wong as a Qing Dynasty official. Check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJzyEBvQNEM And here’s our version: Somehow I [...]

    Posted on August 21, 2011 in General, News, Screenings, Travel | 7 comments

  7. Autumn Gem in the Epoch Times

    The Epoch Times attended our screening at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum in Downtown San Diego last weekend. The newspaper just posted its review of the screening. 曹健鏗與張蕊在影片放映後舉行的招待會上和聖地亞哥中華歷史博物館館長莊紹文合影（攝影: 楊婕／大紀元） 加州華裔後代拍「秋瑾」巡演百場 【簡體版】 【不顯現/顯現圖片】 【大紀元2011年06月03日訊】（大紀元記者楊婕美國聖地亞哥報導）值辛亥革命成功、中華民國建國百年，來自北加州的華裔後代曹健鏗和張蕊夫婦再次攜帶兩人合拍的「秋瑾」記錄片回到聖地亞哥，於5月28日在中華歷史博物館放映，自3年半前完成該片來在各地巡迴放映已過百場。 張蕊畢業於加州大學柏克利分校藝術系，喜愛舞蹈和傳統繪畫。她介紹說，幾年前讀到一本秋瑾傳記，深受感動，因為很多西方人，以及像她這樣在美國長大的華裔從來沒有聽說過秋瑾。秋瑾作為一個性格剛烈的女性民族英雄，給她留下很深的印象。她想，如果能拍一部秋瑾生平事跡的記錄片，讓更多的人，尤其是西方人知道，應該是很有意義的事。 張蕊的想法得到先生的支持。雖然曹健鏗畢業於史丹福大學計算機軟件專業，他也是專業攝影師，對藝術的興趣不亞於太太，兩人也希望有機會成為獨立電影製片人。張蕊於是辭去職位，為拍片全力以赴。 夫婦倆介紹，他們自籌資金，花了兩年多的時間拍片。期間他們到多家圖書館、博物館查找資料， 並到中國參觀了紹興的「秋瑾紀念館」，訪問了秋氏後人，還錄製了美國漢學專家對秋瑾的評價。影片以豐富的史料為主線，加入一些表演鏡頭，由前中國女子武術冠軍、好萊塢華裔女演員李靜飾演秋瑾，使記錄片內容更加全面、更容易讓沒有中國歷史背景的觀眾看懂。 自該片2009年在曹健鏗的母校，聖地亞哥私立學校「La Jolla Country Day School」首映以來，一年多的時間裏，這對年輕的夫婦足跡從美西到美東，並到加拿大。他們除了向公眾放映，還應邀到學校做教學介紹。所到之處，很多人對影片表現出極大興趣。今年十月他們將到香港介紹他們的作品。 張蕊和曹健鏗說，在製作過程中，雙方父母都給予很多幫助和支持，比如他們會幫忙把一些中文資料翻成英文等。這次在中華歷史博物館的放映，也靠曹健鏗的父母，聖地亞哥華裔畫家梁潔貞和先生曹進美牽線搭橋。 2011-06-03 14:47:30【萬年曆】

    Posted on June 4, 2011 in Interviews, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  8. San Diego Chinese Historical Museum Screening Recap

    Two years ago in May 2009, we held our first major public screening at Adam’s alma mater La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego. Over 100 screenings later, we’ve returned to Adam’s hometown for another event at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum. Early on in our project we had contacted the museum to [...]

    Posted on June 3, 2011 in News, Screenings, Travel | No comments

  9. Monterey Park Public Library Screening Recap

    Rounding out our Southern California tour was an event at the Monterey Park Public Library. Monterey Park was where we filmed the scene of Qiu Jin training with her cousin (who is played by Rae’s real cousin Hans), so it was great returning to one of our shooting locations. Our actress Li Jing attended the [...]

    Posted on March 16, 2011 in General, News, Screenings | No comments

  10. Autumn Gem Coming To University of Texas, San Antonio

    Autumn Gem is featured in UTSA Today, the online newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio. We’ll be screening there on Sunday, November 13, 2010 from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. Here’s the article, copied below. UTSA East Asia Institute to screen documentary on China’s first feminist By Kris Rodriguez Public Affairs Specialist [...]

    Posted on November 11, 2010 in General, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  11. Women in Asia Conference Screening Recap

    Our final screening1 while in Australia was held at the Tenth International Women in Asia Conference at The Australian National University in the capital city of Canberra. The theme of this year’s conference was Crisis, Agency, and Change, certainly apt descriptors for the time that Qiu Jin lived at the turn of the last century. [...]

    Posted on October 6, 2010 in News, Screenings, Travel | No comments

  12. Deakin University Screening Recap

    On Tuesdsay, we took the Metlink Tram to Burwood where one of the campuses of Deakin University is located. Deakin is a relatively new university, having only been established 25 years ago. It has campuses in several locations, including Geelong, the site of the 2010 Worlds Cycling Championship happening this week. Had we more time, [...]

    Posted on September 29, 2010 in News, Screenings, Travel | No comments

  13. RMIT University Screening Recap

    On Monday, we had a screening at RMIT University in downtown Melbourne. The city features a wide range of architectural styles, and the RMIT student center was definitely a unique example. One of the buildings looked like it was covered with green slime! Our screening was organized by Professor Lisa French in conjunction with her [...]

    Posted on September 29, 2010 in News, Screenings, Travel | 1 comment

  14. Autumn Gem Preview for the iPad, New and Noteworthy on the App Store

    Our Autumn Gem Preview app for the iPad made Apple’s New and Noteworthy list on Apple’s App Store. Check it out! Thanks to Ivan at XBureau, the developers of the app, for catching this!

    Posted on June 28, 2010 in General, News | No comments

  15. World Journal Article About 5/2 Saratoga Screening

    Autumn Gem was featured in an article in today’s World Journal, San Francisco, newspaper. Check it out!

    Posted on April 28, 2010 in General, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  16. Autumn Gem for the iPad Wins The Future of Publishing Award at iPadDevCamp!

    Autumn Gem for the iPad wins the Future of Publishing Award at the inaugural iPadDevCamp! Autumn Gem for the iPad introduces the incredible story of Modern China’s first feminist, Qiu Jin. Drawing on the innovative and interactive features of the iPad, users can learn about Qiu Jin’s efforts in the Women’s Movement in China and [...]

    Posted on April 18, 2010 in Awards, General, Media, News | No comments

  17. Interview on ICEPN Television

    During our screening at Kean University, Rae and I were interviewed by Lili Greene from ICEPN Television in New Jersey. Check it out!

    Posted on April 17, 2010 in General, Interviews, Media, News, Screenings | No comments

  18. World Journal Coverage of Autumn Gem

    We’ve had a number of articles written about Autumn Gem in recent weeks as part of our Spring 2010 marketing. Check out the articles below (in Chinese): April 3 – Recap of University of Maryland, College Park, screening on March 30 Coverage of our upcoming Boston-area screenings Las Vegas Chinese Cultural Center announcement of supporting [...]

    Posted on March 31, 2010 in General, Media, News, Screenings | 1 comment

  19. Web Site Refresh

    This week, we updated the look and feel of the Autumn Gem web site. The original site was blog-centric and was appropriate when we were in production and post-production. With the film complete, we’re switching the web site to focus on the finished product. You can learn about the film, attend one of our upcoming [...]

    Posted on March 7, 2010 in General, News | No comments

  20. Oldfields School Screening Recap and Photos

    On the morning of October 15, 2009, we drove north of Baltimore to Oldfields School, Maryland’s oldest girls’ boarding school. The theme for Oldfields this year is, “Women Who Dare,” so it was an ideal fit for our documentary. Thanks to Maria and the rest of the Oldfields staff for having us! And, big kudos [...]

    Posted on October 15, 2009 in News, Screenings, Travel | 2 comments

  21. Southern California Screening of AUTUMN GEM

    Join us for a special outdoor screening of AUTUMN GEM at the Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena! Enjoy the warm summer night and mingle with filmmakers Rae Chang and Adam Tow and star Li Jing in the museum’s beautiful courtyard garden. Free with museum admission. Thursday, August 20 8:00 pm Pacific Asia Museum 46 North [...]

    Posted on August 9, 2009 in General, News, Screenings | No comments

  22. Li Jing in China Daily News

    Li Jing, the actress who plays Qiu Jin in Autumn Gem, was featured this past weekend in the Southern California edition of the China Daily News in an article titled, “Hollywood actress, Li Jing, is Qiu Jin, China’s Celebrated Hero.” 華裔武打女星李靜扮演秋瑾一角　期讓更多主流人士認識秋瑾 http://news.sina.com 2009年07月12日 00:09 中國日報 （記者蔡宜礽╱洛杉磯縣報導）中國武打女星李靜擔任一紀錄片「秋瑾」中的女主角，希望讓更多西方的主流人士了解秋瑾，這位奇女子的英勇事跡。 「秋瑾」一片是由一對華裔曹氏夫妻集資而拍攝而成的，當初曹氏夫婦看到秋瑾的故事，相當感動，因此有了將「秋瑾」拍攝成紀錄片的想法，但礙於經費有限，所有的拍攝場景都是在很克難的情形之下完成，而當中飾演秋瑾的演員，名為李靜，從小在中國北京的武術學院學功夫，是中國知名的功夫明星李連杰的學妹。李靜表示，希望能透過不同的管道，讓更多人看到「秋瑾」這部紀錄片，進而有興趣，將它改拍成電影，讓更多人知道秋瑾32年短暫而燦爛的一生。 李靜表示，到美國約有十年之久，最早在加州柏克萊大學進行武術教學，她認為弘揚中國的武術，透過教學的效果最大，一個班級幾十個人，畢業之後都可以成為推廣中國武術的種子。後來大約五年前，李靜因緣際會進入好萊塢電影圈發展，華裔女子一人支身在電影圈闖蕩已經很不容易，更何況是在武打的領域，艱辛可想而知。 身為武打演員的李靜表示，拍攝武打片受傷是免不了的，不過在好萊塢拍片，能夠透過大量的彩排，減少受傷的機會。另外李靜還表示，由於武打片需要的人力、場景的工程都較為浩大，這也是為什麼武打片的拍片成本都較龐大的原因。 如今民衆常常可以在各大好萊塢的電影中，看到李靜的武打身影，例如尖峰時刻三、東京甩尾、千機變等電影作品，最近李靜才剛殺青一部名為「The Last Air Bender」的好萊塢電影。李靜的官方網站為www.jingaction.com。 Until we [...]

    Posted on July 15, 2009 in General, Interviews, Media, News | No comments

  23. Interview on BoomTown

    The other day, Kara Swisher from AllThingsD.com interviewed us about Autumn Gem and making documentaries in the digital age. We talk about the genesis of the film, the production schedule, and provide hints at where we see the film being distributed in the future. Check it out!

    Posted on June 15, 2009 in General, Interviews, Media, News | No comments

  24. New Autumn Gem Trailer

    Here’s our revised trailer for Autumn Gem. When we first filmed the teaser trailer, we hadn’t shot any footage from the actual documentary. This version of the trailer keeps the dramatic narration but adds scenes from our filming in China and the Bay Area. Enjoy! Click here to see it in HD or watch the [...]

    Posted on June 14, 2009 in News | No comments

  25. Autumn Gem Screening at D7 Conference

    Rae and I are minutes away from the Autumn Gem screening at the D7 Conference at the Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad, California. We’re excited to show the film in glorious 1080p. The dual projectors produce an absolutely fabulous picture… it’s the film as it was meant to be seen! D7 attendees all received a [...]

    Posted on May 27, 2009 in News, Screenings | No comments