FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Ming Lai: 626-372-1301, minglai@pawnsoftheking.com
Michael Blair: 310-909-3548, mike@mikeblair.com

“PAWNS OF THE KING” WINS “BEST NARRATIVE SHORT”
AT THE ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL OF DALLAS

Los Angeles, CA, June 4, 2005—“Pawns of the King,” a short film by Ming Lai (Producer/Writer/ Director) and Michael Blair (Producer/Director of Photography/Editor), won the “Best Narrative Short” award at the Asian Film Festival of Dallas Short Film Festival, which was held from May 28, 2005 to May 29, 2005 at the Dallas Museum of Art.

In “Pawns of the King” (pawnsoftheking.com), a World War II Zero fighter pilot (Sab Shimono), haunted by the past, is forced to confront his fears when he meets an old enemy, a U.S. Army 442nd soldier (Michael Yama), and plays a fateful game of chess. Imperial Japanese Navy Zero fighter pilots are legendary for their battles in the Pacific. The U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team is the most decorated unit in U.S. military history and composed almost entirely of Japanese Americans. (Super 16mm/Color/Running Time: 17 Minutes)

The Asian Film Festival of Dallas (affd.org) is a non-profit organization devoted to promoting an understanding of Asian culture and to supporting and advancing the work of Asian-American artists.

“We’re deeply honored by this Best Narrative Short award,” says Lai. “And we would like to thank the Asian Film Festival of Dallas for their vision and commitment in showcasing Asian American filmmakers and their work. The award is a wonderful tribute to the talent and hard work of our cast and crew.”

The filmmakers created an ensemble cast with distinguished actors Sab Shimono, Michael Yama, Jim Ishida, Rodney Kageyama, Emily Kuroda, and Ken Takemoto. They also teamed up with a powerful crew, including respected camera/steadicam operator Rick Drapkin and composer Scott Nagatani, who scored “Visas and Virtue,” which won the 1997 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

The filmmakers received a prestigious New Filmmaker Program grant from Panavision based on the strength of their project. Blair explains, “Our film wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Panavision and Kodak and many other companies, organizations, and individuals, including East West Players, Go For Broke Educational Foundation, House Foods America/Curry House, and Yoshinoya West.”

“Pawns of the King” has been selected to screen at the upcoming Asian American International Film Festival in New York: Tuesday, July 19, 2005, 6:30 p.m., The Asia Society, asiancinevision.org/festival.html.

ABOUT FILMMAKERS MING LAI AND MICHAEL BLAIR:

Ming Lai is a Producer/Writer/Director, and Michael Blair is a Producer/Director of Photography/Editor. “Pawns of the King” is Lai and Blair’s second film together. In 2003, they produced “Driving Blind,” a short film that explores the state of race relations between Caucasians and African Americans. Currently, Lai and Blair are developing a feature-length film.