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。

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 and to view a free preview, visit:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/autumn-gem/id551197955?mt=13

Check out the screenshots below:

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?

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, it was nice to have some local screenings for a change. The Santa Clara library is five minutes from our house and is the library that we personally go to. Both screenings had very enthusiastic crowds who posed many questions when the lights came back up. We’ve been showing a version of the film that has Chinese subtitles during the spoken English sections. We’ve been working on this version for the past several months in anticipation of our Hong Kong trip.

We’ll be scheduling more screenings at local libraries around the Bay Area in 2012. Check our screenings page for a full list or join our mailing list to get quarterly updates.

And now for some photos from Santa Clara and Hayward.

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 week of screenings at the Cerritos Library, West Covina Library, San Marino Chinese School, Fullerton Library, Diamond Bar Library and Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.

As I’ve stated numerous times one of the benefits of traveling with our film is the opportunity to visit with friends and family. In-between screenings, we were hosted by Dave and Audrey and by Rae’s aunt and uncle. We also met up with Rae’s cousin Hans (who played the role of Qiu Jin’s cousin in Autumn Gem), my cousin King-Ming, along with his fiancée Aimee, and Rae’s college friends Ben and Christine in Sherman Oaks.

Following a radio interview at EDI Media in West Covina, we paid a visit to our actress, Li Jing, at her new Wushu Action Star Academy in Temple City. At the San Marino screening, one of Li Jing’s acting colleagues, Peter Kwong, was in attendance. Rae and I remember him as the villainous Rain in Big Trouble in Little China, one of our favorite movies growing up!

Here are photos from our Southern California Fall 2011 screening tour. Our next stop is this Monday and Wednesday at the Santa Clara Library and Hayward Library. Then, we’re off to Hong Kong for several screenings in my parents’ hometown!

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 they had a bigger budget. I thought it’d be fun to compare stills from their version with ours. What do you think – any similarities?

Qiu Jin – The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake

Portrayed by Huang Yi (left) and Li Jing (right):

Qiu Jin with sword

Gender Bender

Male attire suits her well.

Qiu Jin in man's suit

Wedding Woes

Qiu Jin isn’t too happy with her arranged marriage.

Qiu Jin in arranged marriage

Family Portrait

At least her husband and kids look like they’re having fun on the left.

Qiu Jin and family

A Talented Writer

Writing was central to Qiu Jin’s life and I’m glad to see this element depicted in the new film. I noticed they include a voice-over of her poetry in the trailer, as we do in ours.

Qiu Jin writing

Stirring up Revolutionary Fires in Japan

Qiu Jin in Japan

Arrest Qiu Jin!

Arrest Qiu Jin

Qiu Jin Makes Her Final Stand

I think their budget could afford more than our four soldiers for the final battle scene:

Qiu Jin Resisting Arrest

“The Woman Knight of Mirror Lake” opens on August 25 in Hong Kong. We’ll be showing AUTUMN GEM in Hong Kong as well October 24-28 – check out the full list of screenings here. We’re looking forward to watching the feature film while we’re there – it’ll be interesting to see their version of Qiu Jin!

Autumn Gem in the Epoch Times

Epoch Times article on Autumn Gem

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】

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 do background research and also film some historical artifacts. Museum director Dr. Alexander Chuang and his staff were very generous in sharing their knowledge and support for our project. It was great to come back with the finished film and have a showing at the museum’s Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall.

We had a fantastic turnout with a full house of 100 people, who all managed to fit inside the cozy auditorium. Some audience members had attended our first screening two years ago, and noticed the difference between our earlier version and the latest cut (we’re up to Cut #21 now!).

Many thanks to Dr. Chuang and the terrific museum staff for hosting us and organizing a wonderful reception afterwards.

Here are photos from our screening at the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum.

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 screening, and we had a nice chat with one of her wushu friends from China, who currently does stuntwork in Hollywood as well. We also got excellent advice and feedback from several audience members who are active in the arts and film community in Southern California.

Our friend Rafael posed a great question about the reception of gender equality in current repressive regimes. Adam pointed out a recent article about the ongoing Egyptian protests, in which women participating in a march on International Women’s Day were harassed by men and told to “go home where they belong.” Women throughout history have been fighting for their rights and engaging in political activism, but oftentimes they’ve faced resistance from men who accuse them of impinging on “their” revolution. It’s inspiring to see the struggle for equality continue with the women in Egypt, who share the same spirit as Qiu Jin.

Many thanks go out to Senior Librarian Cindy Costales for helping us set up and managing a full house, and the Friends of the Library for providing the delicious refreshments.

Here are photos from our Monterey Park Public Library screening.

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

(Nov. 10, 2010)–As part of UTSA Diversity Month, the UTSA East Asia Institute will host a free screening of the documentary “Autumn Gem: The Story of China’s First Feminist” at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 14 in the University Center Retama Auditorium (2.02.02) on the UTSA Main Campus. Directors Rae Chang and Adam Tow will attend the screening to meet the public and discuss their project.

The film is about Qui Jin, a Joan of Arc-style character, who defied tradition to become the leader of a revolutionary army fighting against the corrupt Qing dynasty. The radical women’s-rights activist challenged traditional gender roles and emerged as a national heroine celebrated in China today.
Jin envisioned a future where women would free themselves from the confines of tradition and arise as strong and active citizens of a new and modern nation. She spoke out against foot binding and other oppressive practices and demanded equal education for girls.

Chang graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in art and anthropology. Her short films have been presented at APAture Film Night in 2003 and the Women of Color Film Festival in 2004.

Tow is a digital media producer and Web consultant who graduated from Stanford University in 1997 with a degree in symbolic systems. An accomplished photographer, his work has been published in the New York Times, Stanford magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle.

The UTSA East Asia Institute promotes appreciation and understanding of East Asian societies and cultures through research, outreach, networking, education, student-faculty exchange, and business development and cooperation. The institute organizes seminars, workshops, lectures, conferences, film festivals and art exhibitions as well as bringing in performing art groups from China, Japan, Korea and other Asian nations. The institute encourages faculty research collaborations within UTSA and with participating East Asian university researchers. For more information, call 210-458-4943 or e-mail eai@utsa.edu.

Autumn Gem

A Documentary on Modern China's First Feminist