MESSAGES FROM OUR FRIENDS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAATA!

"Born in the year of the Monkey, you've marshaled your predestined talents—clever with a bit of genius, curious, creative, generous, and (as countless NAATA parties have proven) fanatical about food—to nurture a media community that blossomed and grew under your wing. Over 25 years we've seen you toddle through the early years with Jim's and Janice's boundless energies; survive your teens with Deann's grace and wisdom, and stride competently into adulthood under Eddie's inspirational leadership. Your hairstyles may have changed (for the better), you speak in bits and bytes instead of analogue, but you've stayed constant and relevant throughout. Thanks to you, Asian American children are able to see their history and faces reflected back from the screen; they know not only that their ancestors have been a vital part of the American fabric, but also that they themselves have essential roles to play in defining its future. Congrats on a job well done—you may be 25 but you're really 100 in media-arts-center years! Otanjoubi omedetou!"

—Lise Yasui

Lise Yasui is a former NAATA board member and an award-winning filmmaker. Her short documentary A FAMILY GATHERING was nominated for an Academy Award in 1988.

"In 1996 NAATA was showcasing my thesis film SPIRITS RISING. Right after the screening, Jan Sakamoto, who passed away in 2002 but who was then head of the Media Fund, asked what I was working on next. Thinking it was another one of those perfunctory questions, I said what I always said, 'a film on Imelda Marcos, and she's going to be in it.' To my astonishment a few weeks later, Jan followed up our conversation with a phone call and an invitation to lunch. That lunch date was followed by many many more conversations on the phone and in person on the mechanics of proposal writing and budgeting. Later that year, NAATA gave me seed money to start IMELDA (and funded me two other times in the ensuing years).

I will always be grateful that Jan Sakamoto, on behalf of NAATA, took a chance on me. Although Jan is gone, I believe that the impulse to nurture emerging filmmakers and truly believe in their vision is still very much alive at NAATA. We filmmakers are lucky to have them on our side. Here's to another 25 years!"

—Ramona Diaz

Ramona Diaz' IMELDA screened at the Sundance Film Festival and was the Closing Night film at the 2004 SFIAAFF.

"Congratulations on your 25th anniversary NAATA! Being your elder, usually I would recommend that at your age you start thinking about settling down and raising a family, but then of course you already have one. A loving one, made up of the most diverse and opinionated individuals, held together and nurtured by your support. A dysfunctional self-centered lot we are, like drunken family members at holiday parties going on and on about ourselves and our ideas. But with a matronly spirit, you just smile and nod, glancing up at the clock as we bicker and laugh a bit too loud, waiting for us to leave so you can clean up and go to bed. Well, your dysfunctional uncle Abe wants to take this opportunity to thank you for giving me the one place where I can roil and rant, a place that renews my exhausted spirit when I need it most; the only place that accepts my successes and failures, and gives me the dearly appreciated ability to continue making them. The one place I have learned to call home.

I love you man!!! Now get your uncle another scotch."

—Abraham Lim

Abraham Lim is a successful editor and filmmaker whose debut feature ROADS AND BRIDGES was executive produced by Robert Altman and screened at the 2001 SFIAAFF.

"A memorable NAATA film festival moment: Victor Wong making an appearance at Renee Tajima-Peña's MY AMERICA... (OR HONK IF YOU LOVE BUDDHA) after just having suffered a stoke. He could barely walk, barely talk, but he didn't give a shit, wasn't self-conscious at all as he slowly trudged his way to the mic and gave this garbled, barely-able-to-understand speech. But that was Victor—he was always on—no matter what. Which was what made Victor such an incredible actor. There was always this fearlessness about his performances that made bad films watchable, good films great, and great films unforgettable."

—Spencer Nakasako

Spencer Nakasako is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His films include A.K.A. DON BONUS, KELLY LOVES TONY and REFUGEE.