Film Lab Receives Grant from The Nielsen Foundation

MANHATTAN, N.Y. - Nov. 13, 2017 - PRLog -- The Nielsen Foundation awarded a grant to the Asian American Film Lab ("Film Lab") for a screening, workshop and reading series about gender-based bias and violence.  The project aims to raise awareness about and combat sexual violence through the use of media entertainment.

The Film Lab will use a project just produced by actor Jennifer Betit Yen for the series, with a working title of "Mirror Mirror," currently being edited by award winning filmmaker Jatin Chhugani and sound designer Ray Lanuza.  "Mirror Mirror" addresses gender bias through the lens of a comedy sitcom.  "Film Lab's entertainment seeks to effectuate positive social change through entertainment," Betit Yen stated.  "This comedic sitcom allows the very complicated issue of gender-based violence to become accessible and understandable.  We are so grateful to the Nielsen Foundation for their support."

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt7471912

About the Film Lab, Film Lab Presents and AAFL TV

The Film Lab is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which began working to promote diversity in media in 1998.  AAFL TV, founded in August 2013, addresses an explosion of interest in diverse, original creative content along with a corresponding rising level of dissatisfaction with mainstream programming for a lack of diversity and/or perpetuation of racial stereotypes.  AAFL TV's mission is to provide innovative, contemporary, original content by, for and about diverse Americans - content that accurately reflects our heterogeneous country both in front of and behind the camera.  One of the ideas behind inviting submissions from all over the globe is to empower creatives by providing a platform for diverse filmmakers to present unique and independent content and to be part of something bigger, showing the world that diverse talent is not only present, but powerful, with a voice and a stage on which to see and hear it.  AAFL TV launched its first pilots as web series in September 2013 and then partnered with NYCMedia, New York City's flagship media station, to begin airing a television series entitled "Film Lab Presents," consisting of 30 minute episodes of racially diverse original contemporary entertainment content in January 2014.  AAFL TV currently airs across the country on CrossingsTV (Time Warner Cable, Xfinity).

The Film Lab's other programming includes filmmaking workshops with industry professionals, screenwriting contests, and film competitions, including the annual 72 Hour Film Shootout (the "Shootout").  This annual competition has inspired hundreds of filmmakers by helping nascent talent take brave steps towards a filmmaking career. Asian CineVision partners with Film Lab to promote the Shootout at the Asian American International Film Festival ("AAIFF").  AAIFF is New York's leading festival for independent Asian and Asian American film and video, and the first and longest-running U.S. festival of its kind.  As an integral part of AAIFF, the Shootout celebrates the creativity and genius of the directors, their casts and crews as they share stories by, about and for Asian Americans and other filmmakers of color with the world.  AAIFF has played a vital role in discovering and nurturing such acclaimed talent as Wayne Wang (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), Ang Lee (CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), Mira Nair (THE NAMESAKE), Zhang Yimou (HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS), Christine Choy (WHO KILLED VINCENT CHIN?), Steven Okazaki (THE MUSHROOM CLUB), Jessica Yu (PING PONG PLAYA), and Justin Lin (FAST FIVE).