Jason Karman is a Vancouver filmmaker, whose star has been rising on account of a few different film projects, and he needs your vote – like NOW. His 2009 short documentary, Fortune Cooking is competing with two other films in WNET (New York’s PBS affiliate) Reel 13 competition.
For Canuks who, like me, aren’t familiar with Reel 13, it’s a weekly American short film competition where viewers cast an online vote for their favourite film. Fortunately for us Canadians, Reel 13 is open to the international filmmaking community and presents a rare opportunity for Canadian shorts to be broadcast on American TV. It’s pretty fantastic and right now Jason and Fortune Cooking need your vote.
Vote now and view a five-minute trailer of Fortune Cooking.
Please vote as soon as you have six minutes to spare because voting closes at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, September 28.
The film with the most votes will be aired on WNET Public Television in New York on Saturday, October 1, 2011.
Fortune Cooking takes you into chef Sam Lau’s kitchen. In an age of glamorous celebrity chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, Sam modestly reveals the everyday challenges of owning a successful restaurant and profitable business. High expectations and low prices make an unfortunate combination but determination and passion outweigh the risks.
Heralded as the greatest Chinese restaurant outside of China you should definitely make plans to check out Zen Fine Chinese Cusine located in Richmond, BC.
But the first step is to vote in support of great Canadian films and filmmakers – please do it now!
P.S: Earlier this year, Fortune Cooking was programmed as part of the NSI Online Short Film Festival. Watch the film in its entirety on the NSI site.
I think it’s important to support Canadian independent film because it supports Canadian culture, one that is being usurped by American culture. Of the three films, I think Jason’s film presents a honest, personal story. It is real. I’m tired of films that are sensational or gimmicky. I want the real goods… personal stories from the heart. Fortune Cooking does that.