MEDIA RELEASE: Hit Girls officially selected for the Action On Film Fest

MEDIA RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, 7 August 2013

HIT GIRLS OFFICIALLY SELECTED FOR THE

ACTION ON FILM FEST

We are pleased to announce that short film comedy by multifaceted Maria Tran (Writer, Producer & Co-director) has been officially selected to be part of the 2013 Action On Film International Festival, now in it's ninth year, which runs from August 17-25, 2013 in Monrovia, California.

Maria has been a long time guerrilla filmmaker of the action film genre in Australia and Hit Girls was a guerrilla international collaboration with Hong Kong action actress, Juju Chan.  The film was shot on the RED camera and in 4 days.

Maria Tran said: “Whilst being rejected by several film festivals in Australia, I’m glad to know that there is an appreciation of the action film genre abroad. I want to make films with an international appeal and I think the action genre does it”.

The collaboration of Hit Girls in late 2012 paved way for Maria and the fight choreographer, Trung Ly onto working on a Roger Corman movie made in China called “Fist of The Dragon”, starring US MMA fighter, Josh “The Punk” Thomson early in January this year.

Maria Tran and Trung Ly will be flying to the states from the 20-30 August for not only to attend the festival, but also collaborate on another independent martial arts action film genred movie called “The Gathering”, directed by the prince of piracy, Johnnyray Gasca.

They are both keen to connect with as many independent and industry filmmakers who are keen to collaborate.

ABOUT HIT GIRLS

Genre: Action comedy
Duration: 16 mins 
Setting: Sydney, Australia

Two mismatched killer assassins, sexy elite barbie Pixie Ho (Juju Chan) and hot-tempered, tomboy partner Charlie Vu (Maria Tran) are reaching breaking point in their tag team partnership. The mismatched duo must look past their differences when they take on an unusual undercover school girl assignment and take down son of multi millionaire, playboy Michael Huang - their former primary school crush. But will this be their last assignment?

SCREENING

Hit Girls is scheduled to be screened at 8pm at the Krikorian 12, 410 South Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia, California 91016. Tickets are $8 online and $10 at the Box Office and they can be purchased online www.aoffest.com of phone 626-325-3406.

Maria Tran and Trung Ly (fight choreographer) will be there in attendance.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Requests for interviews and further information should be directed to:

Kim Nguyen

Media Personnel

kim.v.nguyen@live.com

Behind-the-scenes/ Vlog - Q4JC - "Who Am I" Scene | Maria Tran vs Chris Pang

Chris Pang vs Maria Tran. "Like" the Quest for Jackie Chan! on Facebook! 

Time: 7.00am-1pm
Date: Sunday, 13th of November, 2011
Location: Melbourne

I must have had the dragon on my side because it didn't rain during my shoot! After choreographing some of the fight movements in Sydney and practicing it on fellow filmmaker, Adrian Castro, Thuy Ng and Alan La, finally we took it down to Melbourne.

It was a tightly scheduled day but we just had to get the shots (and we did). I would like to extend my special thanks to Somchay Phakonkham (DOP/ Camera - Reinvent Productions), Rob Hammad (Powderman and production assistant), Andy Minh Trieu (Assistant fight choreography), Jack Ngu (Camera Assistant), Quan Tran (Stills Photography) &; Christopher Pang (a.k.a "Tomorrow When The War Began" & "Citizen Jia Li") + Desmond.

Currently, it has been edited and now handed over to Adrian Castro for the sound design. Looking forward to seeing this one in the movie. Please 'like' our page!

Jack, Desmond, Somchay, Maria, Chris, Andy, Rob (red clipboard) & Peter

Mini blog account by Melbourne-based graphic designer - Peter Dang: 

Hi Guys,

Just taking this opportunity to say thanks for having me onboard the 4JC (Melb shoot) It was a very different & fun experience for me personally. I never realise how much effort and love is involved in such a small yet large project.

You guys each have unique qualities which sums up an awesome team. I am more than happy to part take or help out whenever I can, so let's not be strangers ey 

I love the closeness and down to earth personalities you guys posess! I reckon you guys will succeed in whatever you put your mind to. So, In summary I'll like to give you guys my overview on how I see each person I met on the day.

Maria: There is no surprise with you, strong, extroverted and very confident, you've got a lot of balls for a chick! Kick ass personality.. nice seeing you speak @ panel, very lively and engaging with the audience! good stuff!

Somchay: Small world, I've seen your work before but never knew the master mind behind it (because of you vid - youcake)

Flipped out when I saw you spin the camera on one of the fighting scenes, awesome technique and cool personality.

From all the panel speakers on Sunday, I like your style the most.. Keeping it real and say it how it is.

Quan: if I could describe you in one word "Deep" you speak from the heart, I respect this quality about you.

Pang: lol, comedian ...it's good to be working with comedians, it's always nice to have fun in everything we do. Haven't seen your TWTWE yet, but will definitely let you know my thoughts when I do get around to it.

Jack: Jack, a 'strange' character, you make me laugh man.. you also make me question about your sexuality? (do you get this often? lol)

Rob: The secret philosopher, Love @ first site with you.. I throughly enjoyed our conversations and do look forward to seeing your Anchovies movie once it's all ready to go. PS: Sorry, but I filmed your ass crack (BTS) just had to! lol lol lol

And Finally Andy, Hmmm.. pretty boy  love the martial arts; pretty boy perhaps just the coverup, when you were doing the cherography, You were really zoned into your character. Gl with the kids 

Well; Once again thank you Maria for the opportunity, and it was nice meeting you all. Looking forward to more future fun with you guys. All the best ^^

Peter

SHORT DOCO - Vietnamese Mosaic - Directed by Maria Tran - Sydney, Australia

Check out the video here

My latest work. Thank you for all the helpers and contributors (interviews and music) in making this one happen. For my personal commentaries on the development of this concept, click here.

"Vietnamese Mosaic" is a short experimental documentary film about the perspectives of the Vietnamese generations in Australia.

This is about the Vietnamese people living in Sydney, NSW -- The untold stories and comments about their journeys, family, food and hope for the future.

"Người Việt Nam Mosaic là một bộ phim ngắn về các thế hệ người Việt tại Úc. Điều này là về người Việt Nam sống tại Sydney, NSW -  những câu chuyện về cuộc sống, gia đình, thực phẩm và hy vọng của cộng đồng người Việt tại Úc.

Directed/ Edited By | đạo diển/ ghép phim: Maria Trần
Camera Operator | Người quay Máy ảnh: Thuy Ng, David Minh Tâm Nguyễn & Quan Trần

Music by | Sản xuất âm nhạc:
"Twefan"
"Dream"
"Precious Times"
"Free Spirit"
Performed & Produced by Tony T Nguyễn
www.tonytmusic.com

'Lòng Mẹ'
Performed by Stef Dawson, Produced by Thai Nguyen

Main Interviewees | Phỏng vấn chính: Linh Trinh, Lê Hoàng, Barton Williams & Johnny Nguyễn

Cast | Diễn viên: Khanh Hồng Vũ, Anh Nguyễn, Sean Nguyễn, Hoa Thị Trần, Tuyết  Thị Trần, Việt Trần, Lisa Nguyễn, Jack Ngũ, Thái Quốc Nguyễn.

This is a non-funded project produced and directed by Maria Tran with the collaboration of many other people in the community. For all other comments, please email maria.tran85@gmail.com.

20th March, 2011 - TEST FIGHT - Maria Tran & Natalie Tran

Another D.I.Y dodgy looking fight sequence as provided by me. This weekend I got the chance to do some fight chorie with a newbie - Natalie Tran. I feel her pain and teen angst as she shares her name with THE NATALIE TRAN Ms Community Channel. But hey, won't it be fun to hypothetically, one day, have a fight sequence with with my fan adored long lost sister?

I'm still on the "Quest for Jackie Chan!" and in the meantime, time to get inspired and into "action" with a quick clip.

Camera operator: Quan Tran

Editor: Maria Tran

Choreography by: Maria Tran

Actor: Maria Tran & Natalie Tran

Equipment: Dragon Vision Productions

Vietnamese Theatre Project

Vietnamese theatre project
• Through Vietnamese Story Exchange in 2009, Fairfield’s Vietnamese community shared their personal stories. This new theatre project aims to build on these stories and skills by drawing deeper into Vietnamese folklore and proverbs, movement and song, to explore cultural values and behaviors across three generations of Vietnamese-Australians.
• For countless centuries, folklore has been used by cultures around the world to create common stories that bind a community, a people, as one. Common to many of the tales in Vietnamese folklore, is an emphasis on the value of family relationships. This project will emphasise that young or old, everyone has stories, experience and knowledge to share, and to learn; and aims to enhance understanding between generations.
• The Vietnamese Theatre project begins with a series of Community Discussion Forums, open to the Vietnamese community, to share stories and ideas that can be explored through theatre. The Forums will be lead by local artists Kim Huong Nguyen, Anh Linh Pham and and Maria Tran, exploring different themes.
• The stories and ideas shared at the discussion forums, will help create short plays that will be performed at the Cabramatta Moon Festival in September. This is a great opportunity for the Vietnamese Community to share their culture and traditions with our local community at the Cabramatta Moon Festival, our city’s biggest festival.

• The dates and themes for the community forums are:
o 27 June: Youth and Family – lead by Kim Huong Nguyen and Anh Linh Pham
o 4 July: Gen 2.0 – Power of Performance in the Vietnamese Diaspora – lead by Logie Award winner Maria Tran
o 11 July: Folklore and Daily Life – lead by Kim Huong Nguyen

• Forums begin this Sunday 27 June 10am-12pm at the Whitlam Library (Gough Room), Cnr Railway Pde & McBurney Rd, Cabramatta. They are open to the Vietnamese community and families are especially encouraged to come along.

• And then if you’re really keen, register for the FREE theatre workshops during
July-August where you will learn skills in acting, movement and comedy, and produce short plays for the Cabramatta Moon Festival in September.
You will be taught by professionals; so no acting experience is necessary!

• Directing the theatre project is film, television and theatre director, Lex Marinos, whose works include the theatre production ‘The Wound’ and television series ‘A Country Practice’.