Superman’s Villain Kal Penn Speaks Out
NEW YORK — Comedic actor Kal Penn is showing his villainous side in one of next year’s most eagerly anticipated films, Superman Returns.
“Stanford is one of Lex Luthor’s henchmen,” explains Penn, 28. That places him in the employ of Kevin Spacey’s 21st-century update on Superman’s arch-enemy. “I play the bad guy.”
The chance to embrace his inner super-villain, coupled with a rare opportunity for the Indian American actor to take on a role that ignored his ethnicity, resulted in a high-profile movie that provided more freedom than many of his indies. “This is one of those great roles that is an example of when incredible directors and writers can think outside the box,” Penn beamed. “They write characters for characters, not for what they look like.”
“It was incredible,” Penn remembered of the film’s epic shoot, rumored to be one of the most expensive of all time. “It was like nothing I’ve ever seen.”
Yo-Yo Ma Reunites with Williams for ‘Geisha’ Score
NEW YORK — The mix of cultures behind the movie Memoirs of a Geisha carries over to its musical score, wtih composer-conductor John Williams, bringing in Masayo Ishigure, koto player; Masakazu Yoshizawa, shakuhachi player; Itzhak Perlman, violinist; and Yo-Yo Ma as cellist.
“Early on [Williams] was thinking somehow in the recesses of his mind [about] the possibility of setting the book to music,” says Ma, who adds that Williams mailed him a copy of the novel years ago.
“He made a score that in some ways is very spare, which fits with the period that is represented in the film, which is actually a unique period in Japanese history because it was a period of transition,” said Ma. “Hence, you have all these instruments in transition as well.”
“I think it’s pretty rare to have the opportunity to work with so many people that I admire in one project,” said Ma, the score’s featured performer.
Free Movie Screening
EVENT: Free screening of Korean film Arahan
BACKGROUND: Brothers Ryoo Scung-wan and Ryoo Seung-bum meet again as director and star.
INTERESTING: The brothers previously collaborated for their independent debut film Die Bad.
DETAILS: Free, Dec. 29, 7 p.m., Korean Cultural Center, Ari Hall, 5505 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 936-7141.
Talk Story
EVENT: Talk Story: An American Family
BACKGROUND: Flo Oy Wong’s installation features monoprints, artist books, drawings and her signature embellished rice sacks.
INTERESTING: Bilingual, aimed at engaging both English- and Chinese-speaking families by sharing family stories.
DETAILS: Free-$3, opens Jan. 10, Chinese Historical Society of America Museum and Learning Center, 965 Clay St., San Francisco, www.chsa.org.
‘Mistress of Spices’
EVENT: One City, One Book kick off event
BACKGROUND: Since 1998, communities nationwide have embraced the idea of creating civic unity through reading and discussion of a common book. The Mistress of Spices by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni will be the first in a series of One City, One Book programs in Oakland.
INTERESTING: A variety of different events will take place January through February following the theme of the book, including dance performances, readings, games and other activities.
DETAILS: Jan. 7 – Feb. 27, various Oakland locations, www.oaklandlibrary.org.
Learn to Make Mochi
EVENT: Mochitsuki! Mochi Pounding Party
BACKGROUND: Mochi is a glutinous steamed rice that is pounded into sweet, soft cakes.
INTERESTING: Kagami Kai presents the tradition of mochi pounding with music, dance and costumes. Sample freshly made mochi after the performance.
DETAILS: Free - $10, Jan. 1, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Francisco, (415) 581-3712, www.asianart.org.