"Art Recession" to Celebrate World Premiere at the Newport Beach Film Festival

Los Angeles, CA. April 1, 2012 — "Art Recession," a powerful documentary by Ming Lai of Humanist Films about the importance of art education, will be celebrating its world premiere at the prestigious Newport Beach Film Festival.

"Art Recession" will be screening in the Newport Beach Film Festival's celebrated Art, Architecture + Design Film Series at the new state-of-the-art Island Cinema luxury theater:
Wednesday, May 2, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Island Cinema
Fashion Island
999 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/2012/
http://newportbeach.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/artrecession_minglai_newportbeach2012/

"We're deeply honored to hold the world premiere of 'Art Recession' at the respected Newport Beach Film Festival," states producer/writer/director, Ming Lai. "We'd like to thank the festival for selecting our documentary about the importance of art education and helping us to raise awareness about this important issue."

The Newport Beach Film Festival takes place on luxurious Fashion Island in picturesque Newport Beach, CA, just south of Los Angeles. Lai says, "We're thrilled to hold the world premiere of 'Art Recession' in southern California, where we shot our documentary, so we can share it with the thriving film, art, and education communities here."

Lai credits the entire filmmaking team for the success of the project. "We'd like to thank all our insightful interviewees for their generous assistance in making this documentary possible," comments Lai. "We're also indebted to our talented crew for their hard work on this film, including producers Brian Damitz, Ming Ong, and Edwin Ushiro, director of photography Nate Lipp, editor & colorist Matt Steinauer, composer Timo Chen, sound supervisor Jeff Hutchins, and re-recording mixer Gordon Hookailo.

Despite its huge impact, art education is often one of the first programs to be cut, especially when the economy is hard hit. "Art Recession" explores the importance of art education, showing how it teaches us to communicate, develops our critical thinking skills, helps us to learn other subjects, expresses our individualism, enriches our culture, builds our society, and ultimately conveys our humanity. This documentary then offers powerful ways to save it.

The documentary interviews the art world about this timely subject—from visionary artists and respected art curators to inspiring teachers and knowledgable museum educators to involved parents and promising art students. These thought-provoking interviews include Gary Baseman, Gary Blackwell, Michelle Borok, Denise Gray, Jason Holley, Brooke Kent, Monica Magana, Rachel Matos, Karol Heinecken Mora, Eric Nakamura, Paige Oden, Ming Ong, Ralph Opacic, Aaron Smith, Brian Stoebe, Courtney Stoebe, Tiffany Stoebe, Edwin Ushiro, Tianyi Wang, and P. Williams.

According to the festival's mission statement, "The Newport Beach Film Festival seeks to bring to Orange County the best of classic and contemporary filmmaking from around the world. Committed to enlightening the public with a first-class international film program as well as providing a forum for cultural understanding and enriching educational opportunities, the Festival focuses on showcasing a diverse collection of both studio and independent film. The Festival supports the creation and advancement of innovative and artistic cinematic works from both emerging and seasoned filmmakers and proudly embraces the passion, vision, and independent spirit of these talented artists."

Lai was inspired to make "Art Recession" by The Mini Show, a group art exhibition to raise money for the Mini Lai Scholarship Fund, which honors the memory of his sister, Mini Lai, and benefits Art Center College of Design illustration students. The fund is managed by the respected California Community Foundation. Mini Lai is a proud alumna of Art Center's prestigious illustration program.

The Mini Show showcased artwork by Art Center illustration alumni, including Mark Ryden, the Clayton Brothers, and many other respected artists. The fundraiser was extremely successful in raising money for the Mini Lai Scholarship Fund. Lai explains, "With 'Art Recession,' we hope to make an even greater impact, helping to raise awareness about the importance of art education and save invaluable art programs."

To learn more about the documentary, visit:
artrecession.com
facebook.com/artrecessiondocumentary
twitter.com/humanistfilms
minilai.com

For screening information and ticket sales, visit:
newportbeachfilmfest.com
http://newportbeach.festivalgenius.com/2012/films/artrecession_minglai_newportbeach2012

ABOUT MING LAI AND HUMANIST FILMS, LLC

Humanist Films, LLC is an emerging film and commercial production company, based in Los Angeles, CA. Founded by producer/writer/director, Ming Lai, Humanist Films is less of a traditional production company than an innovative think tank, gathering the brightest minds to research, plan, create, and change.

To learn more about Humanist Films, visit:
humanistfilms.com