CANCELED: Screen Asia: The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
VIEW EVENT DETAILSThis program has been cancelled. Please contact Patron Services with questions at 713.496.9901.
Join us as we celebrate the centennial anniversary of The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West. The special screening will be followed by a Q & A with Dr. Gregory Mark of California State University, Sacramento.
About the Film: “The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West” started production in 1915 and was completed in 1916. It is the earliest known Asian American feature film, conceived by a 20-year-old Chinese American woman named Marion Evelyn Wong, aka Wong Nui Hi. Wong was the driving force behind the creation of this pioneering film: she wrote the script, was the executive producer, recruited financial backers, co-produced, directed, and even acted as the villainess. Despite its focus on Chinese and Chinese American themes, this black-and-white silent film was produced for mainstream American audiences.
In 2004, the Motion Picture Academy restored the film and digitized it into DVD format. In 2006, “The Curse of Quon Gwon” had the distinct honor of being placed on the United States National Film Registry’s Library of Congress’ list of the nation’s most treasured films. The following year, the 35 minute pioneering feature premiered in Oakland as part of the Center for Asian American Media's (CAAM) International Asian American Film Festival. The film had its Hollywood debut five days later at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where Wong’s oldest living relative was in attendance.
Related Links
KQED: Made in Oakland in 1916, First Asian American Film Still Inspires
Schedule
7:00 pm | Screening of The Curse of Quon Gwon: When the Far East Mingles with the West
7:45 pm | Q&A with Dr. Gregory Mark, California State University, Sacramento
About the Speaker
Dr. Gregory Yee Mark is a Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University, Sacramento; Director of the Asian American Studies Program, Director of the 65th Street Community Collaborative Project, and Director of the Wayne Maeda Asian American Studies Archive, and the former Chair of the Department of Ethnic Studies.
Bank of America is the presenting sponsor of performing arts and cultural programs, with generous support from the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, the Hearst Foundations, and Mickey Rosenau & Dr. Ellen Gritz. Lead support is provided by the Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, The Clayton Fund, the Favrot Fund, and the Wortham Foundation. Support is also provided by Friends of Performing Arts & Culture, a premier group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming to Houston.
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Event Details
1370 Southmore Blvd. Houston, TX 77004 713.496.9901