A world of films comes to Rolling Hills

A Chinese lantern

Lynn Tang produces movies and runs the Universe Multicultural Film Festival

by Bondo Wyszpolski

After working hard for many years, establishing her own company and then selling it, Lynn Tang decided to retire and just relax. That didn’t last very long, because soon after she was contacted by a Chinese filmmaker who thought she might help him find a film festival in the States that would showcase his movie.

“I had no knowledge about anything related to film,” Tang says, as we sit across from one another in her office, located atop Rancho Palos Verdes with a fine view of the ocean. Nonetheless, she volunteered to help, and located a film festival that accepted the picture.

“So that was the start,” Tang continues, and she began to learn what was involved in promoting a film as she went along. It was a journey of discovery that she found enjoyably challenging.

Lynn Tang has lived in Lunada Bay for 31 years, and her home is only five minutes from where we’re sitting. She came to the U.S. from China in 1987, attended school, and majored in electrical engineering. Before she moved to the Peninsula she lived in Beverly Hills.

Perhaps the filmmaker who first approached her for help with his movie realized or knew in advance that Tang was a woman who got things done. Before too long, more Chinese filmmakers were contacting her. She gradually learned the ropes and gained the necessary confidence. But that was only the beginning.

From the camera to the big screen

Eventually Tang decided to organize her own film festival, and in 2013 the Universe Multicultural Film Festival premiered at the Promenade in Rolling Hills Estates. Except for a brief period when it moved over to Hesse Park, it’s been held at Peninsula Center ever since. This past year, for example, 42 official selections from 32 countries were featured, and often the participants show up in ethnic costumes. The event is festive, and many people dress to the nines.

Now, under the umbrella of the Maeya Culture Exchange Group, of which Tang is the founder and chairperson, she oversees three film festival each year — the Universe Multicultural Film Festival here, in the spring; the San Diego International Kids Film Festival, actually in Carlsbad, in September; and the Epic Animation Comic and Game Fest, held in Mountain View each November.

The company’s main purpose is to promote and distribute family-friendly films in the U.S. and in China. As of this past year, Maeya held the distribution rights to over 60 Chinese films. A subsidiary of the Maeya Culture Exchange Group is Maeya Films, which provides filmmakers with services ranging from development and pre-production to talent representation and casting for multicultural films and television programs.

Maeya’s film festivals are clearly not on the same level as those at Cannes or Venice, Toronto or Telluride, but they are juried and judged and awards are handed out. These include the Grand Jury Prize for Best Feature and the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film, plus awards for directing, acting, cinematography and screenplay.

There are thousands and thousands of films being shot each year, and if a film can pick up awards at the many less-prestigious festivals it may eventually earn enough attention to secure wider distribution. In other words, a film festival can be a stepping stone if the work is acclaimed, or perhaps the end of the line if it is not.

Maeya’s goal, which “is to increase understanding and appreciation between people from different cultures,” isn’t only focused on underrepresented countries with little-known or unknown names attached to them. Tang’s first Hollywood production was “Senior Entourage” (2020), and it featured, among others, Ed Asner, Mark Rydell, and Helen Reddy. Notably, it was shot in Palos Verdes.

Anyone who’s sat through the end credits of a “Star Wars,” Jurassic Park,” or Marvel Superhero movie knows that literally hundreds of people are involved behind the scenes. That’s why these and similar films cost millions of dollars to produce even before they roll out the door and into your local theater. Of course it’s possible to make an excellent movie on a small budget, but then it needs to be promoted and noticed — and someone needs to put up the big bucks.

Tibetan romance

Lynn Tang has also produced feature films, in particular “On Matriarchy Lake” and “Tibetan Hearts,” which highlight Chinese minority groups, the Mosuo and Tibetans, respectively. The Mosuo are a matrilineal society, which traces kinship through the female line, and they also have a tradition of “walking marriages” where the men visit their women at night but live elsewhere. Be that as it may, “On Matriarchy Lake” is a romantic drama set in, or based on, real events in the 1970s. “Tibetan Hearts” is also a love story, characterized as a Tibetan “Romeo and Juliet.”

Because Tang has produced and is promoting these films, she’d like to see them earn awards at film festivals to enhance their saleability. “Tibetan Hearts” has already received some recognition — for Best Cinematography at the Riverside International Film Festival and the Silicon Beach Film Festival, as well as additional awards that include Outstanding Screenplay at the Abuja International Film Festival in Nigeria. Known as “Nollywood,” the Nigerian film industry is second only to “Bollywood” in India and, yes, both of them surpass Hollywood in the number of movies they turn out (or churn out) each year.

Therefore Tang seems to be nurturing “Tibetan Hearts” quite carefully, trying to make sure the right people see it. That’s why, when we met, she was preparing to embark for India. “They have a buyer there,” she says, “who wants to meet me. Bollywood is a huge market, so I’ve got to go.”

“Tibetan Hearts” was not only filmed in Tibet, but because of COVID, not to mention rigid governmental rules and regulations, it could only be made with a Tibetan cast and crew, and thus it was produced remotely. “Tibet is a very sensitive topic,” Tang says. “We’re human beings; we’re having all these politics for what?”

While getting the film made was not so easy, the extra work and effort seems to have paid off. The premiere for “Tibetan Hearts” took place at the historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now sadly called the TCL Chinese Theatre) in Hollywood. “The first time I saw this movie on a big screen it was phenomenal,” Tang says. “It’s better and it’s beautiful. Every shot is like a painting. That’s why it got lots of awards, because of the music and cinematography.”

She also points out that the reception and success of this film has given her “much more confidence to produce a better movie… I have a couple of other projects I’m going to try [to make]. It’s all very encouraging.” One of them is “Tibetan Horse,” currently in production.

Tang also had a hand in producing the Chinese Yu opera, “Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan,” which was staged at Studio 54 in New York, at the Warner Grand in San Pedro, and even the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Yu (or Yugu) opera, also known as Henan bangzi, is one of several styles of Chinese opera, others being Peking, Yue, Huangmei, and Pingju. Since it premiered in 2013, “Cheng Ying Rescues the Orphan” has had over 2,000 shows worldwide, Tang says,with performances in 20 countries.

The world at our fingertips

The next incarnation of the Universe Multicultural Film Festival is set for April, and for better or worse the festivals in the past have drawn more people from Los Angeles and Hollywood than from the South Bay or the Peninsula. I don’t think that’s entirely the fault of the local community, because it seems that Tang has been more focused on cultivating good relations with the Hollywood film market and industry, let alone with her Chinese contacts. That said, she’s urging those of us who live close by to look into attending at least a couple of the events.

She mentions the panel discussions, the opportunities to meet with and speak to the filmmakers, and of course the red carpet, the gala reception, and the award ceremonies. She stresses the education aspect, especially for the young who may not have had much exposure to cultures outside of their own. After all, Tang says, these filmmakers have, in many cases, flown a thousand miles to come to Palos Verdes, whereas we only need to travel two, three miles or maybe ten. It’s pretty hard to argue with her reasoning.

“We really want the local community to come and enjoy and support the event,” Tang says. “It’s already been 11 years (since the festival began) and now it’s very solid. It’s very good for the area, for youngsters, for the elders, for everyone. It’s very local.”

She notes that local businesses will benefit and, unlike driving to a show in L.A. or Hollywood, there’s plenty of free parking. Tang laughs as she emphasizes this last point, which of course is just the cherry on the topping. Judging from the hundreds of photographs that have been posted from past film festivals, those of us who haven’t gone to, or haven’t known about, the Universe Multicultural Film Festival have been missing out. This year we won’t be able to use that as an excuse. It’s taking place from April 12-14, and they’re currently accepting films that showcase diversity and cultural heritage.

And one more thing. In 2020 Lynn Tang was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award that she received from the White House, signed by President Biden. We should be paying more attention and recognizing her achievements as well, don’t you agree?

For more information, call (310) 940-2598, visit maeya.org, or facebook.com/UMFFestival. PEN