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A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... (Nike: Art of Speed)

Monday, Nov 9, 2009 11:20AM / Members only

A friend mentioned the other day that he had randomly come across a short film that I was in, thanks to a friend of his passing along the link. I always find it amusing when someone I know happens to stumble across a project that I worked on and they note having to do a double-take because they're not sure if the visage staring at them from the screen is the same one they see on a regular basis.

With this particular project, however, there was no question: my name is clearly in the film and credits, and it was the first film shoot I had done since moving to New York. It also remains one of the more creative endeavors that I have embarked on to date, a mockumentary meets reality show meets improv meets short film. The film speaks for itself as far as the gist of the competition, a.k.a. "The Shortest Race," is concerned, and was featured at the Niketown store as well as in a DVD promoting Nike's "Art of Speed" campaign. Without further adieu:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RecJmzsRXig

This is probably the third version I've seen. This particular mix is a bit more like a jingle, but I preferred the original, which was longer and the music increasingly dramatic to the point of over-the-top comedic. I'll be posting more videos down the road, as it's just fun to take a trip down Memory Lane (and also because it can be challenging to keep track of all the final products, as some of you artists well know!).

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Thanks + NYC casting call (male models and hairstylist)

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 9:46AM / Members only

Just a short note to thank everyone for welcoming me as an Official Artist to AnD. The support has been tremendous and it has been really inspiring to learn about fellow artists' respective paths in this business.

You'll note that one of my roles is as a "magazine editor" -- I run an online magazine and our team is currently looking for talent in New York City for an editorial shoot on Saturday (yes, Halloween, but we hope to get everyone out in time for all the costume parties). Please look at the forum links below and submit your information to the e-mail address in the postings. Good luck!

Male models casting call: http://www.alivenotdead.com/bbs/thread-23989-1-1.html

Hairstylist casting call: http://www.alivenotdead.com/bbs/thread-23988-1-1.html

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First voiceover

Friday, Oct 16, 2009 10:54AM / Members only

One area that I always thought would be fun to go into was voiceovers -- a previously unexplored area that has been suggested to me more than once over the years. Until now, I never really had the chance to do so.

Well, since I happen to run an online arts and entertainment magazine, I finally decided to take matters into my own hands by recording my own! Last weekend, one of my photographers and I attended a couple of events at the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. Somehow, in the middle of chowing down tons of great food, I managed to take enough mental notes in order to write and record my own voiceover. Since the dimensions of the audio slide show are too big for this blog layout, I've included the link here:

"Food Network Festival guests satisfy sweet tooth" (Oct. 12, 2009 - Meniscus Magazine)

Just be sure not to drool all over your keyboard when you see all the photos of those desserts :)

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Glad to be here + 72 Hour Film Shootout!

Thursday, Jul 30, 2009 12:14PM / Members only

So, a couple of years after my friend Wayne Chang invites me to sign up, I am finally here on "alive not dead!" This is a great way for Asian artists to stay connected, and it solves the problem on how I should manage an online portfolio!

I recently participated in the Asian CineVision/AAFilmLab's 72-Hour Film Shootout, an annual competition where the Top 10 films -- five minutes or less, all based on a theme announced at the start of the time period -- premiere at the Asian American International Film Festival in New York City. I teamed up with one of my friends/2007 teammates, and we along with two of his friends came up with a short called "Speed Mentoring":

Much like a short-term project for a client at a corporation, one must wear a variety of hats to pull off a production like this. In this case, I scouted locations in advance, burned the midnight oil to help develop a script, copy edited between university lectures and was one of the two leads, among other tasks. It's a multi-hyphenated role, but one that comes with immense satisfaction, having invested in a project from start to finish. Although we didn't make the Top 10, we were happy with the completed product.
My younger brother, on the other hand, was on a competing team and DID make the Top 10 in addition to being a finalist for the "Most Original Use of Theme" category. Check out their film, "Time After Time":

Hint: You can see him, but you can't see his face This film makes me crack up every time I watch it. I am one very proud big sister!

Finally, I mentioned the year 2007, the only other time I entered. Our team was much bigger for this one ("The Encounter") and included Chung Tsang, now based in Hong Kong:

Thanks to the quartet of Conroy, Andrew, Daniel and Terence for creating this site. I look forward to networking and meeting fellow artists as we continue to "represent!"

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latindragon2009
posted on Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 8:53AM [Report]

tell me what do you think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sNeYZUG9Fg
ching388
posted on Monday, Nov 2, 2009 1:48AM [Report]

I know Bon Jovi will have a concert this year!
are u going to be a part of it?

Thanks for sharing keep the nice job , i like hismusic ,too very classisy almost like bruce springsteen but it is different, bono seems getting too serious!
do u speak Chinese?nice to stop by!
anne20
posted on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009 2:33PM [Report]

woah!!!
bon jovi !!! he is cool!!!!
ohhhhhh
i love him^^♥♥♥
Aisha89
posted on Friday, Oct 23, 2009 12:54AM [Report]

Welcome to AnD!
Hope u enjoy it here as much as we do!
take care n all the best! :)
Jayson Li
posted on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 8:47PM [Report]

Welcome to AnD!
Joe Fiorello
posted on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 10:51AM [Report]

Welcome to AnD! Say hi to my old hometown, NYC.
Belkie
posted on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 2:49AM [Report]

Welcome to AnD !!! :)
rottendoubt
posted on Tuesday, Oct 20, 2009 2:03AM [Report]

welcome to alivenotdead.com! =D
Francis Ko
posted on Monday, Oct 19, 2009 1:40PM [Report]

Yuan-Kwan welcome to AnD...good luck on everything....my best.
Boon
posted on Monday, Oct 19, 2009 12:18PM [Report]

Welcome!!
Wayne Chang
posted on Thursday, Oct 15, 2009 9:46PM [Report]

Ah, I've decided to continue to work with Makalina. I'm just one-person kind of guy. I did sent out a Thank You card to that Manager, and thanking her for the offer.
Wayne Chang
posted on Sunday, Aug 2, 2009 12:47AM [Report]

Heh, good job guys!!! Time after Time - really good concept and funny :) I felt sorr for Rita, maybe it's in her destiny to have accident one way or the other :)

Yuan-Kwan Chan

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Born and raised in Washington, D.C...
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Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Yuan-Kwan Chan first made her foray into the performing arts as a classically-trained pianist, winning competitions at the local, national and international levels, as well as studying at the Moscow (Russia) Conservatory and Interlochen Center for the Arts, over a span of 13 years.

Since then, Yuan-Kwan has segued into other areas of the industry. She has acted in numerous films and television shows for Nike, MTV, Sony Pictures and NBC, among other credits. Her on-camera appearances have recently expanded to work behind the scenes, most notably with screenwriting for two editions of the "72 Hour Film Shootout" competition associated with the Asian American International Film Festival in New York.

A former Miss Chicago Chinatown and Miss Chinatown USA fourth runner-up, Yuan-Kwan was a featured "Q Confidential" Model of the Week in the Queens (N.Y.) Tribune newspaper, and was the New York City winner and a Top 10 North American finalist in the Fresh Face of LUSH Cosmetics contest. She has also served as a spokesmodel for a number of major companies, including McDonald's, Nestle, Dove and Nivea. Print modeling credits include Neighborhoodies, Metro Newspapers and the New York City Department of Transportation. One of her most memorable experiences was as a live window display model for Japanese tea company ITO EN. Wearing fashion by Chinese designer Han Feng, a passerby noticed the clothes that she was wearing and decided to buy them right off her back. That passerby was Yoko Ono.

Yuan-Kwan holds a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University, and a bachelor's degree in business administration and music from the College of William & Mary.
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Occupation: Actor , Model , Magazine Editor
Gender: Female
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