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SOAP
GIRL (2003, USA) 86 min. Drama
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 ONE OF THE 10 BEST UNSEEN FILMS OF 2002 |
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WINNER
Audience Award 2002 Big Bear Lake Int'l Film Festival |
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Drama
/ 86 min / 35mm Dolby SR / Color / 2002 / USA / Language: English / Location:
Los Angeles
A
Young Man Kang Film
Written
by Tony T.L. Young
Starring
Luciano Saber
Kerry Liu
Tomiko Lee
Gina Hiraizumi
Kate Holliday
Mari Tanaka
Hiromi Nishiyama
Dennis James Lee
ABOUT
SOAP GIRL
For the first
time in Hollywood, Soap Girl is an independent character driven drama
led by a female Asian American ensemble. Young Man Kang's fourth feature
film Soap Girl is written by Tony T.L. Young in his first feature film
and stars award-winning actor Luciano Saber with cinematography by award-winning
D.P. Henryk Cymerman. Soap Girl is the second feature film produced by
Dennis James Lee and Tomiko Lee.
SYNOPSIS
Maya, an Asian girl applies for work in a seedy Hollywood Massage Parlor
and is suddenly lured into the corrupt world of prostitution – or
is she? As her true motivation is slowly revealed, Maya falls in love
with a customer, a virgin poet who steals her heart.
ABOUT MAYA
Maya takes her name from the Indian Goddess of illusion. Maya awakes us
from our illusions into reality, and in waking brings us clarity.
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Luciano Saber (Harry) has had his professional acting career in the Chicago theater. In 1996, he started his own film production company, producing his first autobiographical feature, Placebo Effect, for which he won Best Feature, Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography at the New York Int'l Film Festival. Since then, he has starred in Scared and "1st Testament" |
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Kerry Liu (Maya) most recently appeared in supporting roles on ER and General Hospital. She graduated from UCSD with a degree in communications, having also attended Stirling University in Scotland as an undergrad. Kerry studied acting under Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse and most recently starred in feature films, "Bloodsisters," "Rampart," and "Terrortoons." |
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Gina
Hiraizumi (Asia) is a singer, dancer and actress
from Gardena, California. She has appeared in NBC City Guys and MTV
soap opera Spyder Games. Also appeared on "Baywatch Hawaii"
and "She's All That". She currently booked a job on 'Port
Charles'. |
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Kate Holliday (Sammy) arrived in L.A. from her native Florida intent on starring in feature films. She has starred opposite Samuel L. Jackson in a spoof for ESPN. She made her feature film debut in Killing Time.” |
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Mari Tanaka (Yuko) was trained at the Actor Edge Studio. Fluent in both Farsi and Japanese, Soap Girl marks her first feature film. |
AND ALSO STARRING
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TOMIKO LEE (Mamasan) a Veteran of film television and stage, Tomiko has over 40 years in the entertainment industry ranging from starring roles from "Hawaii Fighting 2" , "Magnum P.I.", "Byrds of Paradise", "Hawaii 5-O" and many stage shows which also include top honors in ballroom dancing. She is also a black belt in Karate. |
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director:
Young Man Kang
Young
Man Kang studied fine arts at Hong-ik University in Seoul, Korea. In 1994,
Kang moved to New York City where he studied film at The New School. In
1996, Kang moved to Los Angeles and continued his film career working
as a director for a television commercial production company. In addition
to his fifty-plus commercial credits, Young's 1999 claymation short entitled
'Image of Korea' was distributed by Big Film Shorts and released on DVD
by Quickband/Warner Brothers.
In September 2000, 'Cupid's Mistake' marked his feature film directorial debut at the Laemmle's Sunset 5 Theater in Los Angeles followed by a second screening at the Pioneer Theater in New York City in August 2001. 'Cupid's Mistake' set the record in the Guinness World Records for least expensive feature film at $980.00.
Mr. Kang's short film, 'Toilet Lesson' was the Official Selection at Tromadance 2001. Both of Young's next films, his second feature film 'First Testament: CIA Vengeance' and the documentary, 'Haitian Slave Children' premiered in Los Angeles 2001.
'First Testament: CIA Vengeance' won the Special B-Movie Achievement Award and 3 Nominations at The 2002 B-Movie Film Festival in New York and released on DVD in 2004.
'Haitian Slave Children' received 'Best Effort Documentary' at the 2001 Jamerican International Film Festival and took the Silver Remi Award in the WorldFest Houston 2002.
Mr. Kang's third feature is the sexy romantic comedy 'Soap Girl'(2002). This third effort won the Audience Award at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. 'Soap Girl' also received notice as the Official Selection at the Riverside International Film Festival 2003 and The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. 'Soap Girl' opened in Hollywood at the Fairfax Laemmle Theater and Gardena in December 2002.
On tour, 'Soap Girl' heads for the Lone Star State in January appearing at the Border Theater in Mission, Texas, January 18. The sexy comedy then sails all the way out to Hawaii to appear at the Wallace Theater in Honolulu, February 14, 2003.
'Soap Girl' was rated one of the '10 BEST UNSEEN FILMS OF 2002' and received Five Stars in 'Film Threat.' More than any other film to date, 'Soap Girl' has created internet controversy and debate.
Young's fourth feature was the supernatural mystery 'Death Valley Diary'(2004).
An epic film
entitled "The Last Eve", Mr. Kang's fifth feature, has won the
"Best Action Feature Film Award" at the 2005 New York International
Independent Film and Video Festival.
"The Last Eve" is an epic film consisting of three different
short films using Adam and Eve from the Bible as motifs.
Writer: Tony T. L. Young
Tony T. L. Young graduated from the University of Hawaii
with a double major in English and Theater. His short stories have been
published in literary magazines such as Hawaii Review and Naturally. In
1996, he won the Kumu Kahua Playwriting Award for One Act Plays, Division
One. As an actor in Hawaii, he has co-starred in a cable access series
called, Sleepless. He currently runs an online bookstore and is self-publishing
his first poetry book, Wanna Be A High Priced Slut.”
Producer: Dennis James Lee
As
President and Co-founder of Manoa Entertainment, a Motion Picture Production
and Entertainment Corporation, Dennis has in the last five years developed
many business relationships in the Hollywood film industry. He is actively
involved in film production, packaging, and structuring of finance deals
with foreign investors in Japan, India, Korea and Los Angeles.
He is currently producing Mist with director Young Man Kang and "The
Stamp Collector" starring Julie Christie to be shot in India. He
is also packaging a dozen feature films for the international market.
He is also co-owner of Leapfrog Entertainment in Honolulu, Hawaii music
and Multimedia Corporation. A native of Hawaii, he has studied dramatic
arts at the University of Hawaii and film financing, distribution and
directing at UCLA.
Executive Producer: Tomiko Lee
Tomiko Lee has been producing feature films and shorts
for twenty years. She is co-owner of Leap Frog Productions and currently
resides in Hawaii. She is also involved in the recording industry in Hawaii,
having produced several contemporary pop CD. She has been a professional
actress for thirty years, having appeared on the television series, Hawai
Five-O” and Magnum P.I.
Executive
Producer: Edwin A. Santos
The year, 1993, marked a successful debut
for Chicago native, Edwin A. Santos.
He graduated from California-State University, Northridge with a Bachelor
of
Arts degree in Radio/Television/Film as well as receiving both the Catherine
Clymer Scholarship Award from American Women in Radio and Television and
the
Educational Equity Award for Outstanding Service from the School of
Communications at CSUN. He began his career as a production assistant
on
Real Stories of the Highway Patrol.; After that, he went on to direct
the
video short Honor, Duty, Loyalty, about the effects of war and gangbanging
for the Los Angeles Video & Arts Festival.
By day, Edwin is the Pre-Mastering Supervisor in Optical Media at Crest
National
Digital Media Complex, one of Hollywood's leading post-production companies.
Director of Photography: Henryk Cymerman
A native of Poland with a distinguished career in the
Israeli fine art, Henryk Cymerman began his career shooting and directing
commercials then segued into feature film cinematography. His previous
credits include, Scared, To The Limit, and Placebo Effect, which won the
cinematography award at the New York Film Festival.
Locations:
Special Thanks to
Andorra Cafe
Nazareth Clinic
Natural Therapeutic Spa
CAST
Luciano Saber Harry Gomes
Kerry Liu Maya
Tomiko Lee Mamasan
Gina Hiraizumi Asia
Kate Holliday Sammy
Hiromi Nishiyama Jenna
Mari Tanaka Yuko
Dennis James Lee Teddy Song
Roscoe Karzas Fat Man
Jake Chiu First Customer
Justin Born Mr. Jones
Titu Married Man
Edwin A. Santos Frustrated Boyfriend
Jesse Pate Effeminate Man
Tommy Le Bartender
Lea Downey Karin
Jasmine Jong Ok Kang Sooki
Jin-Hee Kalani
Julie Della Ripa Janis
Kazumi Aihara Kimi
Erin Marie Moore Sofia
Aiko Takaoka Mayumi
Jung O. Chung Not a Cop
Derek D. Kim Undercover Cop
and
Tony T.L. Young The Poetry Host
CREW
Director Young Man Kang
Production Manager/Coordinator Edwin A. Santos
First Assistant Director Derek D. Kim
Director of Photography Henryk Tzvi Cymerman
Assistant Camera Dave Hirschmann
Gaffer David Thornton
Key Grip Leon Samuelson
Swing Tony Pulice
Sound Mixer/Boom Operator Torin K. Middleton
Production Design Supervisor Tony T.L. Young
Maya' Apartment Paintings Kristy Roberts
Sexual Healing Book Cover Art David K. Wong
Tea Room Design James Nam, Suk Hoon
Teddy Song Tatto Drawing Young Man Kang
First Key Makeup/Special Makeup FX Coco Yuon
Makeup Assistants Hwang Jung Park, Mayumi Kondo, Aiko Takaoka
Wardrobe Supervisor Natalie Lander
Script Consultant Hiromi Nishiyama
Massage Consultant Milcah White
Set/Still Photographer Julian Chan
Publicity Photographer
Production Assistants Jake Chiu, Davis Choh, Dorian Martin, Janis Matsumoto
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Natural Therapeutic Spa
Nazareth Clinic
Andorra Café & Restaurant
Tracey Lee, Shane Wall, Darin Sodetani
Julie Kusano
Kristy Roberts
Cinema Secrets, Inc.
James Nam, Suk Hoon
Management and Tenants of Park La Brea
Luciano Saber & The Lot
Enterprise Rent-a-Car
Mole-Richardson, Inc.
VDI Multimedia, Inc.
Editing Equipment provided by Steve Shine, Dearfilm
Gregory Hatanaka
Dong Po Kim
Justin Han
asiancast.com
alpha printing
Actor Mine
Pioneer Theater
Laemmle's Theater
Gardena Theater
Filmthreat
Opencity Communications
Cult Movies Magazine
The Korea Times
The Korean Central Daily
Mike Seros LATV, KJLA
Some Entermedia
&
Korean Motion Picture Association of America
REVIEWS
SOAP GIRL
2002, Un-rated, 86min, Leapfrog Productions (5/15/2002)
Young Man Kang is the immensely talented Korean-American filmmaker with
a remarkable gift for cross-jumping genres. His first dramatic feature
"Cupid's Mistake" (2000), made for a teeny $850, offered a Cassavetes-style
glide across the sharp edges of a love quadrangle, while his second feature
"1st Testament: CIA Vengeance" (2001) invaded classic B-Movie
territory with an adrenaline rush of non-stop action. His latest feature
is "Soap Girl" and this time around Kang moves into the world
of the so-called grrl power with a delightfully entertaining drama about
life in a Hollywood massage parlor and the surprising young ladies employed
therein.
"Soap Girl" focuses on Maya (Kerry Liu), who arrives one night at the door of a massage parlor seeking employment. Maya looks every inch the tragic case: disheveled clothing, no visible means of support, and a halting command of English. The parlor's owner is Mamasan (Tomiko Lee) who foregoes the job interview process and hires Maya on the spot, providing food and shelter and a fashionably slutty new wardrobe. The other girls at the parlor are initially wary of Maya, who is visibly uncomfortable with a few aspects of her work...especially the prerequisite "happy ending" that most of the customers expect (this is not the place where one seeks out a therapeutic Swedish massage). With uncommon speed, Maya acquires the skills to make herself one of the most sought-after girls in the establishment, and a chance meeting with a thirtysomething poet who never lost his virginity (Luciano Saber) brings Maya the opportunity to come to terms with a dark secret which long obscured her chances to find happiness.
Okay, so "Soap Girl" is not the most intellectually challenging film around. If you want an intellectual challenge, then go watch an old Stanley Kubrick film. But if you want pure, undiluted, 100% guaranteed entertainment, "Soap Girl" is the film to enjoy. This film is a wonderful work of fun, with a marvelous ensemble cast who have more energy, sex-appeal and charm than any group to strut and vamp across the camera in recent memory. "Soap Girl" has the most beautiful group of big-screen massage therapists (nudge nudge) to grace the screen, with special mention deserving of Gina Hiraizumi as the flippant self-described bitch with the inevitable heart of gold, Kate Holliday as the slick chick who can't decide whether to stay blonde or brunette, Hiromi Nishiyama as a voice of calm and reason, and Mari Tanaka as the vulnerable pack member. And as the dignified matron, Tomiko Lee provides a vision of dignified grace and mature beauty as the good-hearted Mamasan.
"Soap Girl" is ultimately a soap opera, but this is some soap opera! What can you say about a film where the massage parlor employees decide to shut down an extortion racket by giving a group rubdown to a mobster which climaxes when the ladies suddenly whip out frying pans for a series of fatal head-whacks? Or when an effeminate man, after initially admitting during his massage that he's been attracted to other men for the course of his sexual existence, abruptly announces his desire to see how the other 90% are getting it off after Maya gives him a few tugs on his tight shoulders? There is the prerequisite corrupt cop on the take (thank you, LAPD), the oversized doofus customer who bangs his forehead on a low-hanging chandelier, the married man bemoaning the disastrous state of his wedding ring imprisonment, and even a dastardly literary agent who pesters the virginal poet about a technical manual he is writing as a for-hire job. But the poet and Maya enjoy the ultimate high-kitsch moment when, after he is newly deflowered and she is newly liberated, they soak together in a bathroom decorated with so many candles that it is a minor miracle the smoke detector doesn't go berserk.
And speaking of the somewhat overage virgin whom Maya inspires in so many way, Luciano Saber takes what might have been a thoroughly thankless role and turns into a wonderfully comic and warm-hearted character. Although it would seem he is physically ill-suited for the role (his buff physique looks at odds with his uber-geek character), Saber deftly makes this unlikely figure come to life. With nervous gestures and guffawing mannerisms that may recall the bashful buzzard from the Bugs Bunny cartoons, the character is comical without being idiotic. Coupled with the gifted Kerry Liu as Maya, the actors bring a genuine sweetness and humanity to the proceedings.
For all the camp fun, "Soap Girl" is noteworthy for some of the most strikingly beautiful cinematography around. Polish-Israeli cinematographer Henryk Tzvi Cymerman captures stunning imagery throughout the film, from the garish decor of the massage parlor halls to the Fauvist hues of a Pacific sunset. Cymerman's camera takes what was obviously a low-budget effort and makes it (and its stars) look like a million bucks.
There has been some minor controversy (mostly from cranky people tacking
up messages in online forums) about the depiction of Asian-American women
in "Soap Girl." The main problem is the film's alleged continuation
of the stereotype of the Asian female as a docile sexual plaything. Whoever
made these comments clearly never saw "Soap Girl." Yes, the
film takes place in a somewhat dubious setting and, yes, babes here are
made-up to look a bit on the slutty side. But the girls also come with
equipped with 21st century brain-power, will-power and (yes) grrl-power.
Rather than perpetuate stereotypes, "Soap Girl" and its take-charge/take-no-crap
attitude that it happily demolishes stereotypes. If anything, the audience
will find itself shouting "You go, Soap Girl!"
by Phil Hall
SOAP GIRL
Director Kang has been all over the indie/low-budget map. Girl may grant
him larger success, or at least a touch of controversy. Seems some people
are all up in arms with his portrayal of Asian women as comely lovecats,
though from what we've seen, it looks like a winning combo of beauty and
brains.
Honolulu
Advertiser
'Soap Girl' a candid, honest drama
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
"Soap Girl," an indie film about massage-parlor
workers in Korea Town, Los Angeles, is a well-intentioned cross-cultural
view of life behind the rubs and suds.
Its makers, from Hawai'i, contend that life in the massage parlors parallel
the pulse in hostess bars here, where young women provide a particular
service to eager and willing men.
"Soap Girl" proceeds to imply that women get into this kind of work for a variety of reasons, with a multitude of expectations and, yes, different outcomes.
Maya (Kerry Liu), the principal character, walks into a massage parlor with emotional baggage. We're not sure at the outset why, but it becomes evident: She has no means of support, she has undergone a bad relationship, she has lost a child. She is alone, she needs a family to tide her over.
A massage parlor is hardly the logical place a lost soul would wind up at, but "Soap Girl" maintains that its slice-of-life depiction, where desperation can result in dignity, is the stuff of dreams.
Mama-san (Tomiko Lee) suspects Maya is a decent girl, behind the tragic facade, so Maya finds her place in the gallery of workers. It turns out that she is a quick study, becomes popular, but succumbs to something that's an in-house no-no: She falls in love with a thirtysomething writer (Luciano Saber), a virgin who cannot understand why there is a cloud in her skies.
With candor and honesty, director Young Man Kang has assembled a stylish ensemble that predictably includes stereotypes: the somewhat flippant and bitchy pro who has a soft heart, a voice of reason and sensibility, a hip chick whose big question is whether to remain blond or brunette, a victim of physical abuse. And yes, a geeky nice guy who also is a knight without the shining armor.
There is a dark side to the operation, too, with an extortionist (Dennis James Lee, one of the film's producers and the real-life son of Tomiko Lee, a one-time Korean hostess bar worker and club owner) who expects more than money in lording over the operations.
Essentially a melodrama, "Soap Girl" has moments of sweetness, instances of titillation, attempts at redemption, and, yes, ripples of liberation. The film dwells on the stereotypical view of Asian women working to please men, but also depicts these women as challengers who won't let a hothead get his way, brandishing pots and pans to halt the extortionist.
It's also a love story ? soap opera, even ? wherein the leading lady ultimately finds her way to happiness, however contrived. She to him: "You have a girlfriend?" He to her: "No." It's not exactly a dynamic story with crisp lines, but it does get beneath the skin and into the heartbeat of a cultural milieu.
There is nudity, mostly focusing on bare butts, and lots of suds. Acceptance of the film may depend on the generation ? younger and hip audiences will find some enlightenment; older viewers may find offense in the subject matter.
For nostalgia fans, the main theme song, "You Are Beginning to Grow
on Me," provides a nice surprise. It was composed by Teddy Randazzo,
who has Island ties; he's penned a lion's share of golden oldies in his
time, including "Goin' Out of My Head," "Hurt So Bad,"
and "The Way of a Clown."
Massage girl and geeky
client find unlikely romance
By John Berger
A mysterious woman takes a job in a Hollywood massage parlor -- is she
seeking refuge, revenge or some combination of both? But, to be honest,
by the end of "Soap Girl," it doesn't really matter due to the
fine performances of Luciano Saber and Kerry Liu.
Liu plays Maya, the neophyte parlor worker, and Saber is Harry, a preternaturally
geeky writer who meets Maya as a customer after his friend and agent discovers
that the 30-something Harry is still a virgin. Naturally -- for this film
anyway -- they hit it off, and a romance blossoms even though Maya is
dealing with the sexual demands of other customers and Harry is struggling
to finish writing a technical manual when he would much rather be writing
poetry about Maya.
The love story is so engaging that viewers are likely to suspend their knowledge of life and love in the real-life "floating world" and hope that the unlikely couple will beat the odds against them. While some of the secondary story lines add depth, others seemed to have been placed primarily to showcase the supporting cast, which include Gina Hiraizumi as the gorgeous and "exotic" Asia and Tomiko Lee, who does a perfect turn as the parlor's mama-san.
But it's Saber and Liu that make "Soap Girl" more appealing as a love story than a message or slice-of-life movie.
Soap Girl Film Review
By Nicole A. De Jesus, TuningIn.com
A talented Cast, a touching love-story, and a creative team is what makes
a
great film. A breakthrough to what Asian stereotypes have been perceived
as,
Soap Girl is realistic and not afraid to show it. This film will not only
touch you, but will give you an insight to the meaning of humanity which
many
people have been blocked of this opportunity, due to ignorance.
Because of the diversity in cultures, stunning performance,
and an extreme
personal choice in dialogue, this film gives itself a presence where it
will
make its audience leave its own world and into theirs, (the movie) Soap
Girl
is a mix of tears, fun, and friendship. This is definitely not one to
miss.
THE
DOG PILE
Soap Girl
by Sue Catalano
Posted November 5, 2002
Rating: 7 out of 10 stars
The premise of this story is nothing new. Girl has a troubled past and turns to prostitution for financial reasons and security. What makes this film special is the casting of Kerry Liu in the lead role of Maya. Liu absolutely carries Soap Girl. She is sweet, believable, and giving to her character. Liu makes Maya a hook for the viewer. It's the playing out of this trite script through Maya's eyes that makes it all worthwhile.
What director Young Man Kang and writer Tony T. L. Young have produced in Soap Girl is a story already told. Maya has a tough past and becomes suicidal with despair. At the last moment, she pulls herself together and decides to look for work and a future. Maya stops at the first "help wanted" sign she finds. Unfortunately it is hanging at a seedy Hollywood massage parlor run by Mamasan (played winningly by Tomiko Lee). This particular massage parlor is the trite part. Of course, Mamasan is beholden to the mob for her financial follies, and of course, there is a ton of young, smart, pretty girls who also could not find work anywhere else in the entire state of California except for this dive.
Maya is different from the other girls and Kerry Liu makes that clear with her performance rather than the writer accomplishing this through the script. Liu is different. Maya is sullen, drab, washed over with some unknown, but very well hinted at grief. Liu sets Maya's gloom and innocence into play right from the start. Maya is inexperienced and just wants to work and forget about her past. Maya has no intention of this dirty work becoming her life, does she? It's a spot where she's stopped at, not where she's finally stopping. The other girls, well, they are all stereotypical. There is the sarcastic Asia, the sweet Sammy, and the hardened Jenna. There's even a silly "angel whore" with wings no less. There is a lot of bitching and many heart to heart talks among the girls, which do work well. There is a good mix of competition and solidarity presented in the subplot.
Enter Harry. This time the token virgin is male. Harry is suffering from writer's block. He writes technical books and his agent Eric is upset that his client's deadline is looming and Harry appears unlikely to deliver. Eric treats Harry to a "massage" to loosen him up. Director Young Man Kang cast Luciano Saber has Harry. Saber is good looking, nice, sweet, and unassuming. But he is also a very bad actor. He overplays the thirty-five year-old male virgin to the point of comedic, which cannot be where Kang was headed. Saber's performance was so blatantly overdone, shame on Kang for allowing it. Does a naive and good man have to be portrayed as stupid and brain-deficient?
Maya's luck appears to continue as she lands dorky, shy Harry as her client. She takes this dear sweet writer and decides to gently welcome him into manhood. Harry nods his head shyly to the left like a silly little four year-old boy throughout the entire film, even after he gets laid. Saber has Harry nod and grin and hide his penis like a fool and not like someone sweet the viewer could cheer on to be "saved" by Maya. The poor directing of Harry allows for the loss of an intentional hook in the plot. Liu offsets some of this by pulling off that Maya "gets" Harry and sincerely wishes to be kind to him.
Once Maya becomes one of the girls, Liu allows for a wonderful transformation. Maya adds makeup for her massage therapist workday. Through this Liu gives the viewer a different Maya altogether. Maya becomes quite beautiful. She's unstressed, relaxed, and settled with her present lot in life. Kerry Liu does beautifully with this switch for the character.
A great technique used especially well in Soap Girl is the replaying of sequences from the opening dramatic scene, where hints of Maya's troubled past are presented throughout the film. These scenes were well placed and keep the viewer interested in what happened to Maya to drive her to this sordid place in her life. Her past is revealed at the end of the film, although very abruptly considering for all the hype.
Some of the technical strengths in Soap Girl were the editing, the music overlays, and the lighting. All were true to the spirit of the film. When the scene was pornographic, porn music was played, which was somewhat manipulative but allowable. The dramatic opening scene had a great score. There were some technical problems. The subtitles, thankfully used sparingly in this film, were too small. The length of the opening scene was not supported by the story, but this is only realized at the very end of the film. Many shots appeared to focus on the feet of the characters, and it is not apparent why. Switching shots from room to room, revealing each girl's hard day at work was done seamlessly. In one scene, a client bangs his head on an overhead light. How about a retake for this poor man?
There are two unnecessary scenes. In one, Maya pulls a knife on a customer. Even Liu seems uncomfortable and less giving to this awkward and unbelievable scene. It doesn't fit. It should have been cut. The other is when Maya and Harry go on a date and Harry offers Maya money afterwards. It's been done over and over, the good girl misunderstood. It should have not been written. Maya has become his muse and tries to develop a relationship with Harry. It would be nice to see that play out for once without being tainted by a man's stupidity.
Harry does go on to write the great American novel about the massage parlor and his emergence as a man. He interviews all the girls. This scene is done extremely well and is free flowing and relaxed. The girls are all very forthcoming as actors in this scene.
By the way, the sex does cure Harry's writer's block but not his annoying head bobbing. In the end Maya does leave Harry, but we never know if it's because of the bad memories or simply because Harry doesn't evolve.
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PRESS
The Korea Central Daily
April 17th, 2002
The Korean Community Section, Los Angeles
"Soap Girl": The Making of a Controversial
Film
Korean independent filmmaker Young Man Kang has been very active in the hollywood industry for many years, an industry traditionally closed to outsiders. At 36, Young is already a veteran director of a pair of low budget films and has just completed his third, most powerful film based on Los Angeles stories.
The subject of shampoo & massage parlors has long been a taboo subject among many Asian Americans, who find the subject matter reprehensible. According to director Kang, "I cautiously approached the subject matter in a sensitive manner, hoping not to offend anyone, but with the intent of revealing the true nature of a profession, or rather a 'subculture' most people have never seen."
"Soap Girl" is the story of an Asian girl who, betrayed by her lover and applies for work at a massage parlor, which she blames for breaking up her relationship. There she bonds with the women who work there and falls in love with an unlikely patron. It is a story about passion, revenge and healing.
So far the reactions from the community have ranged from critical to passionate. According to Young's website's message board, a woman has said, "I will boycott this film" to "Don't you think it's too early to make assumptions before even seeing the film" and "Can't wait to see the babes"
From the early stages of development, director Kang focused on developing the major characters which was difficult to do, since owners of massage parlors are not too willing to discuss the subject of illegal prostitution that may or may not be occurring within.
Working from the script, Kang mentioned he had to eliminate elements and 'gag' lines that would offend a female audience. The resulting film blended the seedy reality of Los Angeles's underground with part gangster drama and part romance between two unlikely people in a most unlikely place.
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THE KOREA TIMES
June 15, 2002
Korean American independent filmmaker Young Man Kang has done it again in another yet controversial film titled "Soap Girl". The story is set in the notorious red-light district of Korea town in the city of Los Angeles.
The central theme of the feature film centers around a young girl named Maya who joins a group of seasoned massage medians who a unaware of her plans of revenge. Intertwined in the plot is a sentimental love story between our heroine Maya and a Thirty year old virgin poet named Harry.
This is the fourth film for Young Man Kang who graduated from the prestige's Hong-ik University in Korea and studied film in New York City. His previous films include 'Cupid's Mistake', 'Death Valley Diary" and "1st Testament".
Also Korean American, Actress / Producer Tomiko Lee plays the tough, wise Mamasan.
Honolulu
Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, January 31, 2003
'Soap' based on Hawai'i hostess bar experience
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
Actresses Kerry Liu, Ginni Ramos and Gina Hiraizumi with
director Young Man Kang
learn about hostess bars from Tomiko Lee.
Tomiko Lee worked inside the Korean hostess bars in Honolulu as a young
woman, and eventually came to own one. Fifteen years later, she serves
as executive producer of "Soap Girl," a movie about massage
parlor workers in Los Angeles.
The independent film, inspired in part by Lee's experience in the hostess
bars, premieres in Hawai'i next week at The Art House at Restaurant Row.
Lee used profits from her bar earnings to help finance the film.
Her son Dennis James Lee, also a producer, plays an extortionist in the
movie. Followers of Hawai'i's TV and stage scenes may recognize him from
his performing credits in "Magnum, P.I.," "Hawai'i Five-O,"
"Dreamgirls" at the Hawai'i Theatre and "Evita" at
Diamond Head Theatre.
After producing indie films in Hollywood for about four years, Dennis Lee says he had a plan: to make a movie with independent spirit and cultural ties, attracting enough notice to get him into big-budget films.
"I met the director, Young Man Kang, and we talked about stuff we wanted to do," he said. His mother suggested a story about massage parlor girls of Los Angeles "because not everybody knows their story, that these people are human beings, just like the Korean hostess bar girls."
The director bit, and the Lees had themselves a movie.
The LeapFrog Productions film, budgeted at $1 million and shot in the Korea Town area of Fairfax in Los Angeles, could as easily have been set along Ke'eaumoku Street or Kapi'olani Boulevard, an area Tomiko Lee knows from within. She says some of the setups in "Soap Girl" came from her familiarity with the hostess bar scene in Hawai'i.
"When I first came to the U.S. from Korea I was 18 and a vulnerable young girl, just like Maya in the movie," said Tomiko Lee. "I was in Denver, Colorado, for three years before coming to Hawai'i, and like Maya, I was idealistic, falling in love easily, and experienced losing someone I loved. I was alone in a merciless word, without a trade or career skills. I ended up at a hostess bar.
"I earned my way up to be a bar owner and many years later, maybe 25 years, I had my own nightclub and bar, but I also was an entrepreneur ? so I got out, 15 years ago."
The central character in "Soap Girl," Maya, is a drifter who finds employment, camaraderie and eventual love in the massage salon after suffering a personal tragedy. The film includes a backstory on organized crime in Korea Town.
Dennis Lee said the "scrub down, rub down" business shown ? customers are soaped and showered before getting a body massage ? is typical in existing massage operations. Some are fronts for illegal prostitution.
"What's interesting is that what used to be only in Korea Town now has spread out west, to Beverly Hills," he said. "And there's an underlying tension between Koreans, blacks and Hispanics now."
Kang, the director, who also worked on the movie's script, "knows a few girls who worked in the parlors," he said. "Some elements are taken from Korean bars, which have the same kind of hierarchy, a mama-san working with girl hostesses, and some gangster types; my character is a combination of Korean and Vietnamese gangland types."
Kerry Liu, who plays Maya, said the movie "should shed light on an interesting story never told before."
Though in the film Maya is attacked and forced into situations Liu does not approve of, the actor doesn't think the part demeans women.
"The movie shows Asian Americans have problems like any other race," said Liu, who lives in Los Angeles but has relatives in Hawai'i. "I would say that Maya isn't just any Asian female, and she has integrity. ... Koreans are not even on the radar, so the movie brings it all out."
Dennis Lee said the depiction of an underground Korean mafia in "Soap
Girl" is realistic, as is the cross-cultural massage crew.
"There are 'good' girls, like Maya, and others who would do more
than massage," he said. "And there are extortionists out there,
too.
As for reaction from those in the massage parlors, "in general, those in the biz haven't responded to our film," Dennis Lee said. "They don't want the recognition."
"Soap Girl" has stirred up some buzz in other places, though. It earned the 2002 Audience Award at the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival (along with Best Feature Award in the festival's Asian American Showcase).
The movie has also earned criticism from those who think it perpetuates a racial stereotype.
"I feel in order to stop stereotyping, we need to head straight on into the controversy, and show the humanistic side of life," Dennis Lee said. "Of course, this depends on the viewer. Some Asians are offended, wanting to push this film under. Others are happy to see a real story told."
The production boasts a number of Hawai'i ties. Dennis Lee attended Hawai'i
Baptist Academy, graduated in 1982 from McKinley High School, and studied
voice with Fred Lam and Eunice De Mello. Tony Young, who wrote the screenplay,
attended the University of Hawai'i. Actress Ginnie Ramos attended Punahou
School. Another actress, Gina Hiraizumi, has relatives in 'Aiea.
Wallace Theater,
Hawaii premiere.
Jan 30. 2003
Star
Bulletin
Feb 14, 2003
Stars savor
breakthrough roles
'Soap' girls say the film
transcends its setting
By John Berger
When Kerry Liu and Gina Hiraizumi met us on a brisk and chilly Thursday afternoon in Manoa to talk about their roles in the independent film "Soap Girl," which opens today, it looked like they could still be in character.
Hiraizumi, who plays Asia, the "bad girl with attitude," was decked out to turn heads from any angle -- perhaps as Asia would on her day off as the head girl and "resident trainer" in a Los Angeles massage parlor. Liu, who stars in the title role as a mysterious woman who takes a job in the parlor for enigmatic reasons, was low-key, opting for the layered look and a cap that seemed to distance herself from her screen character.
Liu said, "We're really proud of 'Soap Girl' because I think it's like an actor's dream role for me as an artist. It's not overly shocking, but you're supposed to do something different, something out there. That's why you become an actor, to create something new."
While the film's scenario of "Asian woman in seedy job gets involved with Caucasian man" is not a particularly new one (i.e., "The World of Suzie Wong" and "Miss Saigon"), Hiraizumi says she's gotten an earful from people who apparently feel that "Soap Girl" presents a negative picture about today's Asian-American woman.
"I've gotten a lot of criticism (from Asian-American activists), saying that I'm not staying true to what Asian-American women really are -- but who's to say Asian-American women are one way? They're the same people who are complaining that Asian roles are so stereotypical," she said.
Another hot-button issue in the film is the interracial romance between Liu's character, Maya, and a sensitive if introspective Caucasian man.
"I can understand how people can be upset about that," Hiraizumi said. "A lot of Asian-American activists have complained, 'Why is it always a Caucasian man rescuing the poor Asian woman?' But he's not really rescuing her -- and he's such a dork!"
Liu mentioned that while some may choose to take offense at the massage parlor setting, "Soap Girl" is not just about sex.
"People already have a preconceived notion that it's all about sex and prostitution, but our movie puts a twist on it and puts a different light on the lifestyle," she explained.
A FEW minutes into the conversation, we're joined by Tomiko Lee, the movie's executive producer, who also plays the mama-san of the massage parlor and plays a similar real-life role by watching over the two actresses during their stay in Honolulu. Her son, actor-producer Dennis James Lee, also appears in the film as an extortionist who collects protection money from the business and takes an interest in Maya.
Lee describes "Soap Girl" as depicting a struggle for survival similar in some ways to her own experiences. She came the United States from Korea when she was 18, and lived in Denver for three years before coming to Hawaii. Alone and without formal job training or career skills, she became a bar hostess and saved her money until she could buy a bar of her own. She eventually owned a nightclub as well, but decided to move on to other endeavors and got out of the bar business 15 years ago.
"People talk negatively about Asian massage parlors, but when you look at it, a job is a job. It's just like a women's shelter: They're not going to stay there forever. We all have hopes and dreams. This movie will tell you that," she said.
There are, in fact, scenes where the women talk about their lives. Some have long-range career plans. Some are romantics. Most view men in general as pigs, geeks or jerks -- and most of their customers as pathetic losers.
"So much of our own personalities came out (in those scenes) ... and prior to shooting, we went to massage parlors and just sat around and watched the women. The real massage parlor girls are very, very close to what you see onscreen."
Concerning the male characters, Liu said she applauded the decision to cast an Asian male in the role of the intimidating gangster.
And what about Harry, the male lead who is a romantic but quirky 30-something writer who's still a virgin?
"You'd have to know the writer, Tony Young," Liu said. "He really was adamant -- 'I want my story told, this is what I went through,'" further explaining that Young himself eventually went to a massage parlor "partly as research and partly because he was frustrated about his own experience.
"Harry is an interesting character, and the actor, Luciano Saber, got that. That's why he did the role, because he watched Tony for a long time. ... It was so weird the way he dressed, and people sometimes think it's so surreal the way Luciano acts in the film, but there is a guy in real life that he's portraying: Tony Young."
DESPITE some of the negative comments about the film, Hiraizumi and Liu emphatically described it as a positive experience for them as Asian-American actors.
"I've had roles in studio films before -- the token Asian girl in a predominantly Caucasian or black film -- so I was happy to be able to play a co-starring role," Hiraizumi said. "It definitely opens a lot of doors. People see that you can act, and, through 'Soap Girl' ... I know I can sell myself as the 'bad girl with the attitude' and that's working for me."
Because of the exposure provided through the film, Hiraizumi started work this week on a UPN pilot, "All Mixed Up," and has the lead role in a Japanese film production about a Japanese singer in Los Angeles who becomes involved in the hip-hop scene; "two months' worth of work in March and April," with shooting in both Tokyo and L.A.
Liu will be going to Rome for work in a film in which she'll play an angel -- "but you don't know if it's a boy or a girl." She also has a second project on the horizon.
There has also been talk of a "Soap Girl" series perhaps in the style of HBO's "Six Feet Under."
"The question is, Can an Asian-American ensemble cast carry a series?" Hiraizumi said. "It all comes down to the race thing again, and that upsets me, 'cause why can't we? Because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean that it's not going to sell."
Whatever the future holds for the film's cast, Liu says they'll be back.
"I have a feeling that you'll be hearing from us again because we love what we do, and I don't think any of us can do anything else. This is our life."
THE
MONITOR
Friday, January 17, 2003 8:35 am
Director offering screening of independent film
at Mission¡¯s Border Theatre
By Brandice J. O¡¯Brien
MISSION - Close your eyes and retreat back to the days when anything was possible? before there were responsibilities including rent or a mortgage, car payments, insurance, and other bills.
Remember when you wanted to be an actor, rock star, or a model.
At 12:15 p.m. on Jan. 18 and 19, at the Border Theatre in Mission, your destiny may be reflecting off of the silver screen.
Director Young Man Kang and producer Dennis James Lee of Soap Girl, an independent film ? from Leap Frog Productions ? will be present for the screening and available to speak with local talent.
¡°Come to the movie, bring your resume and head shot,¡± Kang said in a phone interview from California. ¡°I¡¯m always looking for good local artists.¡±
Kang and Lee will also scout out locations for upcoming projects. Future endeavors are expected to take off in the summer when Soap Girl¡¯s tour ends.
¡°It¡¯s a short time? a few days ? and I want to see what¡¯s going on down there ... what¡¯s interesting for filming down there,¡± Kang said.
Kang and Lee also want to be there to get feedback about the movie.
¡°One reason for (me to be at) my film showing is, I want to see the audience¡¯s reaction,¡± Kang said.
Soap Girl features primarily an Asian cast and is about a woman who works at shabby massage parlor. She is uncomfortable in the seedy environment but becomes one of the most requested women in the parlor.
¡°The clients keep coming back but they don¡¯t know why,¡± said Luis Rodriguez, a local promoter for Soap Girl.
Despite its questionable synopsis, Kang assures audiences that the movie is appropriate for mainstream viewers.
¡°Everyone might think it¡¯s an erotic or sexual kind of film, but it focuses on the love story in an unusual (place),¡± Kang said. ¡°There are not many Asian films in the United States, especially films made about our stories in the United States. We made this kind of film to tell our story in the United States and to show the public and audience and share our life and what we¡¯re about.¡±
Tickets for the screening are $3.
For more information, call 585-4122.
Honolulu
News On-Line, Volume 4, Number 3, March, 2003
Having a clean time with the cast of Soap Girl
by Albert Lanier
It's a strange job sometimes, being a freelance journalist. On a particular day, I may be on the phone extracting information from a local politician; another day may find me chatting face to face with an average sort of person who has gained a little recognition due to winning an award.
The morning of Friday, January 31st found me in Waikiki conducting interviews with three lovely actresses: Kerry Liu, Gina Hiraizumi and Jin-Hee Ramos, who all star in the independent feature film Soap Girl.
Like I said, it's a strange job, but not unfulfilling.
Liu, Hiraizumi and Ramos all flew in town to attend Soap Girl's Honolulu press screening at Wallace's Art House Theaters in Restaurant Row on Thursday, January 30th, as well as to promote the film's Oahu run which began on Friday, February 14th at the Art House Theaters.
Soap Girl is a romantic drama about a depressed and distraught woman named Maya who is taken in by the proprietor of a massage parlor. A subplot of the film centers on the shaky condition of the massage parlor, which is in the crosshairs of underworld goon Teddy Song (played by the film's producer Dennis James Lee), who constantly demands payoffs for protection.
Maya meets and falls in love with a client named Harry (played by actor Luciano Saber), a dopey would-be poet and writer of technical manuals. The romance goes through a couple of rocky reefs and shoals of hardship before a wordless reconciliation of sorts happens at the very end of the film.
The fourth feature film directed by L.A. based Korean filmmaker Young Man Kang (whose past films include Cupid's Mistake and 1st Testament CIA Vengeance and who was also in town for the press screening), Soap Girl was shot on digital video in three weeks in January of 2002, mostly in West L.A., and had a production budget of less than $1 million.
The Soap Girl cast members were only in Honolulu for a couple of days this past January but managed to find time to sit down for interviews with Honolulu News.
Actress Kerry Liu, who plays the lead role of Maya in Soap Girl, is a relative newcomer to acting and has only been performing for a couple of years. Before starring in Soap Girl, Liu landed parts on the ABC soap opera "General Hospital" and the NBC drama "E.R." She also has done TV commercials for Pontiac and Mercedes Benz (the Mercedes commercial was directed by Michael Mann and featured Oscar-winner Benicio Del Toro) and has starred in at least two previous films - Terrortoons and Bloodsisters.
The part of Maya was actually cast with another actress, but as the film was about to go into production, this performer backed out of the role, according to Liu.
On Soap Girl's first day of shooting, Liu said she was contacted by the film's producer Dennis James Lee, who asked her to take over the role of Maya.
Liu said she agreed to do the part, not only because she was conversant with Soap Girl's story and knew the film's producers, but because this gave her another chance to indulge in what she called "guerrilla filmmaking."
"Guerrilla filmmaking" in Liu's lexicon is defined as her ability to adapt to the low-budget rigors and obstacles of independent filmmaking. "I was used to just getting a script and working that same day," she stated, "and not having the rehearsal time, yet being able to improvise, and budget constraints."
Liu said she enjoys acting in independent films and shouldering more responsibility for playing a role, despite the lack of perks, amenities and resources.
True to her roots as a "guerrilla" actress, Liu was frank in admitting that she detested the character of Maya as a person. "The whole movie I was like, 'I cannot stand this girl,' and it was my dread to be like this girl and so weak. I think she's manipulative, and she's deceptive, and she's everything that I don't want to be." It came as no surprise then that Liu called her work in Soap Girl "the hardest thing I've ever done as far as acting is concerned."
However, Liu actually broke into the film industry by taking a different path - initially working in development departments at production companies after gaining a Bachelor's degree in Communications. "I never wanted to be an actor - I wanted to move in the industry (by) writing scripts and then being a script reader," she stated. "So, my whole intention in the film industry was to become a writer, and then maybe produce stuff." Liu acknowledged that she didn't have the "temperament" to stick it out as a screenwriter, but decided to shift into acting. Liu noted that "acting is a challenge, and it is something that is not as boring, and you kind of become addicted to having a leading role because you want to shape the film, and (acting) becomes addicting."
Gina Hiraizumi and Jin-Hee Ramos, who respectively play massage parlor workers Asia and Kalani, also chimed in with their appraisals of Soap Girl as well as their individual parts.
Hiraizumi started acting while in high school. As an adult, she has acted in student films and appeared on the ABC soap "Port Charles" as well as the teen-oriented NBC show "City Guys" and MTV's "Spyder Games." Hiraizumi has also done one-day work on films such as She's All That and Trippin.'
Director Young Man Kang got in touch with Hiraizumi, telling her that she was the only actress he had in mind for the role of the tart-tongued, assertive Asia. Hiraizumi said, "I read the script, and I loved it because I was able to add this element of feistiness and tough-Asian-girl kind of thing."
The low-budget production required discipline and restraint for the cast and crew as a whole. "It's definitely harder because you're on a lower budget with less money, and that means that everybody has to work together and sacrifice."
Hiraizumi especially had to maintain focus due to the fact that for a couple of days she had to work on Soap Girl and then report to the set of a Jennifer Lopez video in which she was appearing as one of the singer/actress's girlfriends. "It was insane," she admitted about bouncing from one job to another. "It was long hours," Hiraizumi said about working on Soap Girl. "It was a lot of staying up late (drinking) a lot of coffee."
Jin-Hee Ramos hails from Hawaii and caught the acting bug while working as an extra on the TV shows "Baywatch Hawaii" and "Pacific Blue" when they were filming episodes in the Islands. Ramos said her interest in acting grew while doing extra work because she took stock of the toil and effort needed to put a television show together.
Ramos observed the various jobs being done on set and was "getting a look at what goes on behind the scenes - like the camera work, the people involved - just the work that goes into producing a show. It was much bigger than I thought," she said. "So, (acting) was something that I wanted to get to know - just have more information about."
Stoked with a newfound interest in acting, Ramos took acting classes and acquired an agent before deciding to move to L.A. and become a working actress.
An L.A. resident for two years, Ramos has done a lot of extra work, including appearing in the hit film The Fast and the Furious as well as working on the TV shows "Popular" and "The Tick."
Ramos has also worked in theater and has performed in several plays produced by the Lodestone Theater Ensemble, an Asian-American theatrical company. However, Ramos maintains a pragmatic and sobering mindset when it comes to the film industry. "The industry is just very hard," she observed. "I can say that Hollywood is closed minded in a lot of ways."
Soap Girl's screenwriter Tony Young had met Ramos and asked her to come in to audition for a role in the film. Ramos auditioned and was given the supporting part of Kalani, one of the employees at the massage parlor.
"I think it's a good story," Ramos stated about Soap Girl. "I think it has a lot of subjects that everyone can identify with - love, trying to find your place in life, trying to deal with loss, sadness, pain and just trying to be happy and find happiness. I think it deals with all of those things in a nice, eloquent way. It's shot very nicely; the characters are played wonderfully - it's a good film."
Soap Girl has been screened at the Big Bear Lake and Riverside International
Film Festivals. The feature film has played in theaters in L.A. and Gardena,
California as well as Mission, Texas.
***** COALITION OF ASIAN PACIFICS IN ENTERTAINMENT
(CAPE) *****
Friday, 4 January 2002
===============================================================
ASIAN ENTERTAINMENT GNUS AND GNOTES
===============================================================
http://www.capeusa.orgWelcome to another year of "Asian Entertainment
Gnus And Gnotes,"
*****************************************************************
YOUNG MAN DELIVERS "SOAP GIRL"
Filmmaker Young Man Kang's third feature, "Soap Girl"
(http://www.youngmankang.com/soapgirl.htm) is an independent,
character-driven drama led by a female Asian American ensemble. Written
by Tony T.L. Young, "Soap Girl" tells the story of a young Korean
immigrant in a seedy Hollywood Massage Parlor who falls in love with a
a
virgin poet. It stars award-winning actor Luciano Saber, Kerry Liu,
Tomiko Lee, Gina Hiraizumi, Kate Holliday, Mari Tanaka, Hiromi Nishiyama
and Dennis James Lee.
*****************************************************************
Notes From Hollywood Founder Nicholas Snow with the folks
behind one of the festival's big winners, SOAP GIRL, including Tony Young,
Edwin A. Santos, Tomiko Lee and Young Man Kang.
In the category for the Asian-American Showcase, the Audience Award
for Best Feature Film goes to "Soap Girl."
At last Saturday night's Closing Ceremonies of the 2002 Big Bear Lake
International Film Festival (September 13-15, 2002), director Young
Man Kang's romantic drama, "Soap Girl" wins that category's
Audience
Award as presented by fellow award winner, actor Dana Lee. Actress
JoBeth Williams ("The Big Chill," "Adam," "The
Day After") wins an
award as well.
For more information of about the
winners, log onto
http://www.soapgirlfilm.com
http://www.bigbearlakefilmfestival.com
http://www.notesfromhollywood.com
Weekend BALITA
Leading Filipino Newspaper
in the USA
Sep. 28-Oct. 4, 2002
(From left: Young Man Kang, Tomiko Lee, Edwin A. Santos
and Tony T.L. Young.)
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
The romantic drama "Soap Girl" recently bagged the Audience
Award for Best Feature Film at the 2002 Big Bear Lake International Film
Festival. The romantic drama "Soap Girl," executively produced
by Filipino-American Edwin Santos, bagged the the Audience Award for Best
Feature Film. Santos co-produced the film with Korean-American Tomiko
Lee. Tony T.L. Young, a Chinese-American, wrote the movie's screenplay.
Now on its third year, the festival held Sept 13-15, 2002, showcased the
creative talents of the Asian-American community.
"Soap Girl" is Korean American Director Young Man Kang's fourth
feature film, he was also involved in the critically-acclaimed documentary
"Haitian Slave Children".
KOREA MAJOR PRESS & NEWSPAPERS
10/07/2002
Young Man Kang's "Soap Girl"
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE FILM
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YONHAP NEWS |
THE KOREA TIMES
10.07.2002 |
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JOONGANG TIMES
10.07.2002 |
SEGYE TIMES
10.07.2002 |
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GOOD DAY
10.07.2002 |
CHOSUN TIMES
10.07.2002 |
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THE ELECTRONIC TIMES
10.08.2002 |
THE KOREA ECONOMIC DAILY
10.07.2002 |
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YAHOO! KOREA NEWS
|
DAUM NEWS
10.07.2002 |
Korea Daily Hawaii
Feb 1, 2003
The Korea Times Hawaii
Feb 1, 2003
THE KOREA CENTRAL DAILY
Sep 18, 2002
"Soap Girl" won the Audience Award in the best feature film
Soundtrack available www.leapfrogprod.com
copyrights 2002 Leapfrog Productions