 | 
Lee Ann Kim, Executive Director
Despite her uncanny ability to remember random lyrics to cheesy 80s songs, Lee Ann turned in her hydrogen-peroxided mullet for an anchor helmet at KGTV, the ABC station in San Diego. When she's not chasing after murderers, crooks, and breaking news, she's chasing her two boys, Weston and Samuel, down Sorrento Valley Boulevard. A fierce fighter for Asian America (and big hair), Lee Ann's passion also lies within the people of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, which she considers her extended family (cue sappy Air Supply song here). Astrological signs: Dog, Virgo Myers-Briggs Personality: ESFJ |
Mye Hoang, Associate Director
A "Vietnamese-Texan," Mye is the founder of the Asian Film Festival of Dallas where she was born and raised. After living in New York, where she was mugged and loved by many, Mye decided to settle down in San Diego in pursuit of a more mellow life and an even tan. She has a soft spot for sweets, boba, Hello Kitty, The Smiths, cute boys and fast cars. She is also an aspiring filmmaker, artist and Asian film aficionado. Mye may be tiny in stature, but her knowledge and passion for film is GIANT. Astrological signs: Scorpio/Dragon (So watch out!) Myers-Briggs Personality: INFJ |
George Lin, Program & External Events Director
George was originally from the East Coast where he co-founded and served as executive director of the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival. While in Washington, DC, he worked as a mad scientist for the military. He cannot disclose what exactly what he did there, but it had something to with genetics and cloning. This has led to rumors that the San Diego George may actually be a clone, as he has been spotted in at least two places at the same time. Among the reported sightings, George has been seen as a community activist, artist's agent, and a film producer. More interestingly, George once described himself as "banana" (which he blames on his Ohio roots). Why is the San Diego George the diametric opposite of a "banana?" Is San Diego George the original or the clone? Whichever version he is, George is now a proud San Diegan pursuing his passions in community activism, APA issues, and the media arts. Astrological signs: Boar, Leo |
Gene Huh, Programmer
Gene is yet another member of the SDAFF staff who made
the move out to San Diego from Washington, DC. In DC,
Gene worked as an IT consultant and the Director of
Programming for the DC Asian Pacific American Film
Festival. Now that he is finally free of life "inside
the Beltway," toiling away on never-ending government
projects, Gene seeks to spend his free time enjoying
the beautiful weather in SD, watching a lot of film,
and continuing his martial arts training. Astrological signs: Boar, Scorpio |
Sam Chen, Artistic & Animation Programmer
Sam Chen started his misguided young adulthood by majoring in Computer Science and Engineering at UCLA. Since then, he has had 3 successful lobotomies to reverse the extensive damage done from years of technical lectures. Now, he can't solve a differential equation to save his own hide. He has since traded in his HP scientific calculator for a beret and fake mustache in order to more effectively pursue his passion for filmmaking, art, music, photography, and animation. For now, he's masquerading as an indie filmmaker/animator working on highbrow projects about obscure modern artists. To see his latest disillusionment, click here. Astrological signs: Aquarius, Monkey |
Michael Chen, Programmer
A good ol' Midwestern boy, Michael Chen traded in his Cheesehead hat in Packerland for a speedo. While his blood has thinned, he still enjoys paper snowflakes, cheese curds, country music, and Miller beer. In other words, he's in dire need of rediscovering his heritage. Michael works as a reporter for KGTV (starring as Lee Ann's long-lost brother on Sunday nights), and willfully joins the programming team in exchange for shrimp chips. Warning: he's tragic on the karaoke mic. Astrological signs: Cancer, Tiger |
Steve Lukas, Technology Director
Steve was bitten by a radioactive rabbit and has since gained the proportionate luck of a hare. Ask why he has three TV's in his living room or what it's like to stay a weekend at the Playboy Mansion to get an idea. His name is Lukas and he used to live on the second floor. A former artist and web designer, Steve now tests his Luk developing software. In real life he scales indoor rock walls and makes ice cream, in that order. Astrological signs: Pisces, Rabbit Myers-Briggs Personality: ESFP |
Duke Tran, Community Outreach Coordinator
Duke has a career in biotech, but lives out his dream of working in the film industry by serving as the SDAFF Community Outreach Coordinator in his spare time. When not working or traveling, he can often be found fishing on Shelter Island, or watching a foreign or independent film at a local theater. In case you were wondering, he wasn't named after John Wayne. If you belong to a community organization, or have events or programs that you would like the SDAFF to know about, please feel free to contact Duke. Astrological signs: Wood Tiger, Libra Myers-Briggs Personality: INFJ |
Jennifer Lo, Entry & Traffic Coordinator
This Jenny from the Block claims to be the real "J-Lo." Following the gigantic footsteps of her cousin Yao, she moved to the U.S. to become the next WNBA player. When she realized there wasn't as much money in women's sports, she decided to pursue a career in the lucrative field of bowling. She still remains active in amateur basketball leagues around San Diego, proving that "Chinese Women Can Jump." In the meantime, J-Lo is finishing her linguistics degree at SDSU and testing her organizational skills as the new Entry and Trafficking Coordinator at the SDAFF. Astrological signs: Cancer, Dog |
Catherine C. Jaravata, Guest Services Coordinator
This movie loving Pinay is in her sixth year with the stupendous SDAFF. Applauded for her Guest Services skills and hospitality, she takes on a new and improved meaning to social butterfly. Always referred to as a sweet and down to earth gal, Catherine is passionate about Asian American issues that she instills daily to her high school students, of whom she teaches the Filipino language and/or advises. Catherine is married to her longtime love of 12.5 years, Ashley (whom she also recruited to SDAFF). Most importantly, Catherine and Ashley are parents to their BebeGirl, Nakia Jordan and Kyan Xander. Astrological signs: Tiger, Cancer |
Chris Paffendorf, Production Coordinator
Despite his round eyes and pale skin, Paff's a refreshing and diversifying addition to our cult - uh, festival posse. His appreciation and knowledge of Asian cinema and film in general make him a good adoptive match with our SDAFF programming family. (Now if we could only get him to enjoy sushi.) When he's not working as an electronics technician, or trying to sell Lee Ann and Arnold on the merits of Asian horror flicks, you can find him ardently cheering on the New Jersey Devils, "sampling" microbrews, or desperately trying to stay on key in his Japanese chorus. Astrological signs: Sheep, Gemini Myers-Briggs Personality: ISTP |
Emil Ayoubkhan, Volunteer Co-Coordinator
After volunteering for SDAFF for two years, Emil got hooked on the
festival's coconut cookies, temporary tattoos, and boba tea. So he
decided to sow his Iranian roots into the organization as SDAFF's new
Volunteer Coordinator where he plans to recruit the masses. To balance
his life, Emil spends his days in a small office getting paid to play
video games. You can also find him on weekends in his
garage/recording studio, telling himself that listening to music is
also a career. Astrological signs: Goat, Capricorn |
Megan Lam, Volunteer Co-Coordinator
Once a Cantonese pop star in the late '80s, Megan succumbed to life in the fast lane. In a comeback attempt in the 21st century, she re-identified herself as the twin sister of Utada Hikaru and went double platinum, thrice. Despite her popularity, Megan was able settle down and participated actively in many organizations at UCSD as well as organizing a few events. After being bossed around as a volunteer for two years at the SDAFF, she decided she wanted the sadistic pleasure of cracking the whip. You can find her these days working with Emil on getting the volunteers together to do all the work. |
Daniel Matthews, Street Team Coordinator
Daniel Matthews is a current senior at San Diego State University. He is majoring in Hospitality and Tourism Management with an emphasis in event planning. Through the San Diego Asian Film Foundation, his passion for Asian American entertainment and awareness has been fulfilled. Although his plans for the future are some what hazy as of right now, he eventually sees himself being involved with Asian American media or entertainment of some kind. Either that or a spaceman. Please contact him if you would like to help out with the Street Team in anyway. Astrological signs: Gemini |
Chris Lee, Graphics Genius & Korean Cinema Correspondent
Our graphics guru, Chris Lee, has an extensive and impressive history for establishing logo and design campaigns for big companies in Korea and the U.S., including Qualcomm and Samsung. Astrological signs: Sagittarius, Sheep |
Diana & Vince Martinez, Graphic/Web Design/Festival Newsletter Team
This trendy, hip, South Bay couple, is the Dynamic Design Duo for SDAFF. VINCE is a San Diego native professionally trained in the art of graphic design. All seemed well, until he developed a nervous habit of caressing everything made of paper and pointing at every sign he sees, while yelling out random typefaces. DIANA is in charge of our festival newsletter bootcamp called "Reel Deal," molding high school and college misfits into tight deadline hitting writers for 4 straight days. Yes, she's just evil that way. Diana may make her recruits shed blood, sweat and tears, but by festival's end, they always ask, "Can we do that again?" |
Ryan Wong, Web Content Coordinator
After four years of studying supply and demand at UCSD, Ryan Wong emerged as the only economist incapable of balancing a checkbook—a distinction unbeknownst to his current employer. He earns a living designing investment pitch books, creating indecipherable financial charts and testing the limits of acceptable business casual attire. Astrological signs: Sheep, Gemini |
| | Staff | | |
|
