The Hammer is a 4-Day Vote Center, Nov 2–5. See hours

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Screenings UCLA Film & TV Archive

Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture and Beyond / Chungking Express

  • This is a past program

Presented by the UCLA Film & Television Archive.

Part of the UCLA Film & Television Archive screening series A Film Series for You: Celebrating Giant Robot’s 30th Anniversary. Learn more at cinema.ucla.edu.

In-person: Q&A with Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura, magazine co-editor Martin Wong, co-director Dylan Robertson, actor Tamlyn Tomita (schedule permitting), actor-filmmaker Daniel Wu. A book signing for Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture will begin at 6 p.m.

Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture and Beyond (2022)

An episode of PBS SoCal’s Emmy Award-winning series Artbound, “Giant Robot: Asian Pop Culture and Beyond” is an insider look at the history and influence of the magazine from its earliest days. Interviews with founder Eric Nakamura along with Martin Wong (co-editor), Margaret Cho, Daniel Wu, David Choe, Claudine Ko (culture editor) and Wendy Lau (graphic designer) capture the DIY, punk-infused spirit that fueled its coverage of Asian and Asian American alternative culture as well as its distinctive, innovate look. Insightful and inspiring, the episode will be followed by an in-person conversation with many of its subjects. 

DCP, color, 57 min. Directors: Dennis Nishi, Dylan Robertson.

Chungking Express (1994)

Wong Kar-wai’s masterpiece of Hong Kong cool came out the same year Giant Robot debuted as a zine, a fateful coincidence that, along with the premiere of Margaret Cho’s All-American Girl, makes 1994 a pretty good year in the rise of Asian and Asian American culture. Reviewed in GR issue #3 where it was ranked third in a top 10 of Hong Kong movies (behind Drunken Master II and The Lovers), Wong’s “quirky little gem” with “a very avant-garde, experimental feel to it” is a swirled reverie of action, romance, longing and mystery featuring Christopher Doyle’s dazzling cinematography and iconic performances from its entire cast. 

DCP, color, in Cantonese with English subtitles, 103 min. Director: Wong Kar-wai. Screenwriter: Wong Kar-wai. With: Takeshi Kaneshiro, Brigitte Lin, Tony Leung Chiu-wai.

ATTENDING THIS PROGRAM?

Ticketing: Admission to Archive screenings at the Hammer is free. Your seat will be assigned to you when you pick up your ticket at the box office. Seats are assigned on a first come, first served basis. Box office opens one hour before the event. Questions should be directed to the Archive at programming@cinema.ucla.edu or 310-206-8013.

Member Benefit: Subject to availability, Hammer Members can choose their preferred seats. Members receive priority ticketing until 15 minutes before the program. Learn more about membership.

Parking: Valet parking is available on Lindbrook Drive for $15 cash only. Self-parking is available under the museum. Rates are $8 for the first three hours with museum validation, and $3 for each additional 20 minutes, with a $22 daily maximum. There is an $8 flat rate after 5 p.m. on weekdays, and all day on weekends.

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