Category Archives: News

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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: And here’s our version: Somehow I think [...]

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. Cast and Crew Screening Party Photos

    Here are some photos from Timothy Chang from the cast and crew screening party held over the weekend. Thanks to the Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale for hosting and everyone who were able to take time out of their Sundays to come out! It’s now onward and upward with marketing and business development for the film.

    Posted on March 11, 2009 in General, News, Photography, Screenings | No comments

24. The Qiu Jin Project is now Autumn Gem

    Well, it’s finally time to make it official! We’re transitioning away from our working title The Qiu Jin Project in favor of Autumn Gem as the official name of the project. The domain names have been purchased, email has been set up, and the redirects are now working. You can still reach the website by [...]

    Posted on December 16, 2008 in General, News | No comments