CAAMFest is back in San Jose, and kicking off the program last night was two episodes of Fresh Off the Boat and special guest Melvin Mar, executive producer of the hit ABC family comedy. Fresh Off the Boat is the first Asian American family sitcom to have been renewed for a second season. Attendees got to see the last episode of Season 1 and to preview the Season 2 premiere before it airs on TV Tuesday, September 22.
The evening started with CAAM Executive Director Stephen Gong thanking the many sponsors, community partners, volunteers and co-presenters that makes CAAMFest San Jose possible. This year’s CAAMFest San Jose marks the 13th year CAAM has been in San Jose, home to the third largest Asian American population. About a third of the county’s residents are Asian Americans. .
Following the screening, Festival & Exhibitions Director Masashi Niwano kicked off the Q&A with Mar before fielding some questions from the audience. Mar enlightened the crowd about his background as well as the origin of the show. He described how Season 2 will further develop the Grandma’s character (Lucille Soong), in part because of feedback from his own mother.
Mar also noted that the show has a diverse staff; most of the episodes from Season 1 were directed by women and the writing staff includes Chinese American, Vietnamese-Chinese American, Indian American and other ethnicities.
The program was followed by the Opening Night Party at the San Jose Museum of Art, where Richie Menchavez of TRAKTIVIST.COM spun 90s tunes for the crowd.
Check out photos from Thursday’s party and Friday’s Opening Night program and party.
CAAMFest San Jose continues through Sunday with plenty of films, events and special programs: today’s screening of the documentary In Football We Trust at 12:30pm, Baby Steps at 2:30pm, Chinese Couplets at 6pm, the Centerpiece Party at Nomikai 8pm, and Hollow at 8:30pm. Sunday’s programs include Lucky Chow at 11:30am, Spotlight on artist Greg Pak at 2:30pm, Someone Else at 4:30pm, and Closing Night film Queen at 7pm.
