Modern-Day Cinderella Tale YEAR OF THE FISH Splashes onto DVD on February 8th
“Imagination, Charm, Fantastical Delights” - Jeanette Catsoulis, New York Times
From the Producer of “The Joy Luck Club”
魚 年
YEAR OF THE FISH
Featuring Rotoscoped Digital Painting
Debuts on DVD February 8, 2011 from Gigantic Pictures
Bonus Materials Include Audio Commentaries and Exclusive Footage
OVERVIEW: YEAR OF THE FISH is a modern-day adaptation of Cinderella based on a 9th Century Chinese variant of the folk-tale, the oldest known version of the story, recorded some 800 years before the better-known European versions. Hailed by critics as “magical,” “refreshing,” and “shouldn’t be missed,” this award-winning independent feature film was written and directed by first time feature filmmaker David Kaplan and shot entirely on location in New York City’s Chinatown. Using a cutting-edge digital painting technique that transforms live-action video into a beautiful, evocative movie with an animated look and giving the aesthetic effect of a painting brought to life, this unforgettable film was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival and winner of several festival awards coast to coast. The DVD, which also features an inside look into the advanced algorithmic digital painting technology called “rotoscoping,” before and after rotoscoping imagery and director and actor commentaries, is priced at $24.98 SRP. The Pre-order close is December 11, 2010. Kaplan’s second feature film, Today’s Special, is currently playing in theatres.
SYNOPSIS
In a new twist to the classic tale, a lovely young girl named Ye Xian (An Nguyen) travels alone to New York City to try to make some money for her sick father back home in China. There, she is employed by Mrs. Su (Tsai Chin), who runs a massage parlor in the heart of Chinatown. But in exchange for her transportation to America, Ye Xian owes a debt to Mrs. Su that will not be easy to repay. When Ye Xian refuses to do the requisite sex work, she is made into a lowly servant who must do all the laundry, cleaning, shopping and cooking. Her only comforts are an enchanted fish given to her by the strange hunchback Auntie Yaga (Randall Duk Kim) and her fleeting encounters with handsome Johnny (Ken Leung), a struggling jazz musician. Hope remains, however, as magic begins to happen on the day of the New Year.
BONUS FEATURES
· Audio Commentaries - Go behind the scenes with filmmaker David Kaplan and actors An Nguyen and Hettienne Park with these exclusive audio commentaries that take you inside the making of the film.
· Exclusive Scenes – Take an inside tour of the rotoscoping technique and view early rotoscoping tests and before and after rotoscoping images.
· Trailer – The Director’s Cut trailer of the film.
CAST AND FILMMAKERS
Cast: Tsai Chin, Randall Duk Kim, Hettienne Park, Lee Wong, Corrine Wu, Lori Tan Chinn, with Ken Leung as Johnny, and introducing An Nguyen as Ye Xian
Directed By: David Kaplan
Written By: David Kaplan
Executive Producer: Janet Yang
Co- Producer: Jason Orans
Produced By: Rocco Caruso
Director of Photography: Adam Silver
Production Designer: Mylene Santos
Editor: David Kaplan and Frank Keraudren
Costume Design By: Mattie Ullrich
Music By: Paul Cantelon
Casting By: David Caparelliotis
TECHNICAL INFORMATION – DVD
Street Date: February 8, 2011
Pre-Order Close: December 11, 2010
Copyright: © 2007 Funny Cry Happy LLC / Gigantic Pictures / Malaprop Productions. All Rights Reserved.
Consumer Retail Price: $24.98
Catalog Number: UPC 88450141252
Running Time: 96 minutes
Layers: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 widescreen
Rating: NOT RATED - for Mature Audiences
Technical Info: English, Color, Dolby Digital Stereo, NTSC 1