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| Truly CA: Our State, Our Stories: "Mighty Warriors of Comedy" Press Release |
A New Documentary from Truly CA on KQED Public Television 9
Film Premieres Sunday, June 25 at 6pm
Special Live Performances Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24
June 12, 2006, San Francisco, CA -- The newest documentary in KQED's Truly CA series (www.kqed.org/trulyca), Mighty Warriors of Comedy is a rousing introduction to one of the most devastatingly funny comedy troupes of the past decade, the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors. An audacious Asian-American sketch comedy troupe hailing from San Francisco, the group is now trying to break into TV and movies in LA. Mighty Warriors of Comedy highlights the struggle to take their comedy to the next level and premieres Sunday, June 25 at 6pm on KQED 9.
Before the premiere, audiences will have the chance to see the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors perform their material live at two local performances. The group will perform "Asian Bird Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest" at the Project Artaud Theater on Friday, June 23 and Saturday, June 24 at 8pm. The show opened in Los Angeles to rave reviews; now the group brings it to the Bay Area community that supported them from the beginning. There will be a sneak preview of the documentary, Mighty Warriors of Comedy, before and after the show.
The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors are actually made up of nine members who have been performing together for over 15 years. Their individual voices combine together to create magic on stage, tackling socio-political issues with a hilarious combination of irreverence and seriousness. Since their premiere production, the Warriors have written and produced a dozen feature shows, performed numerous workshop productions and benefits around the greater Bay Area, and toured nationally and internationally at colleges, universities, arts festivals and theatrical venues.
With so much success everywhere they go, why have most people in mainstream America never heard of them?
Why haven't they enjoyed break-out success beyond the confines of their San Francisco base, or outside of their primarily Asian-American fan base? Is their brand of humor not accessible to a mainstream American audience? Is it that the current Hollywood machine would never give an Asian-American troupe the big break they need, to see if they could in fact cross over? Or are Asian-Americans just not that funny?
Mighty Warriors of Comedy allows you to judge for yourself. The documentary not only provides an entertaining glimpse into the world of the Warriors, but also an eye-opening exploration of why a troupe like the Warriors, no matter how funny, may never have the mainstream popularity they deserve. Utilizing a combination of personal interviews and live concert footage, the documentary traces the struggle that the fringe artist faces, and how that battle is complicated further by issues of cultural identification.
Mighty Warriors of Comedy is directed by Sung H. Kim, produced by Kibi Anderson, Sung H. Kim and KQED Public Television, and presented in association with the Center for Asian American Media.
About Truly CA
Truly CA is KQED's series of independent documentaries about life in the Golden State. It airs monthly on Sundays at 6pm on KQED 9. Truly CA is a KQED production presented in association with the Bay Area Video Coalition and Film Arts Foundation. Funding for Truly CA is provided by the KQED Campaign for the Future Program Venture Fund and The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation. Rachel Raney is the series producer; Sue Ellen McCann is the executive producer.
About KQED
KQED Public Broadcasting operates KQED Public Television 9, one of the nation's most-watched public television stations during prime-time, and KQED's digital television channels, which include KQED HD, KQED Encore, KQED World, KQED Life and KQED Kids; KQED Public Radio, the most-listened-to public radio station in the nation with an award-winning news and public affairs program service (88.5 FM in San Francisco and 89.3 FM in Sacramento); KQED.org, one of the most visited station sites in Public Broadcasting; and KQED Education Network, which brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and media professionals through workshops, seminars and resources.
About BAVC
The Bay Area Video Coalition is the nation's largest noncommercial media arts center dedicated to providing access to media, education and technology. BAVC is a production facility, an affordable training center, a pioneer in technology-based workforce development and a critical resource for independent filmmakers.
About Film Arts Foundation
Film Arts Foundation supports the creation and success of independent film and video makers by providing education, comprehensive information, state of the art facilities and equipment, financial support and exhibition opportunities. Film Arts Foundation is a catalyst and advocate for the diverse voices of the independent film community on the West Coast and nationally.
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