Disqus - Latest Comments for Dan_Burrello

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:44:15 -0000

Perhaps some Asian Americans...And some African Americans, and some Anglos, and some fundamentalist Christians, and some Jewish Americans...and an Inuit or two and maybe even the Pope. If any creative artist (Mel Brooks, The Wayan Brothers, and in their day, George Carlin, Bruce Lee, Bill Hicks, etc...) spent all day worrying about what fringe group within any culture would misunderstand and be offended about anything they write or do... nothing could even be created.

I know my motivation. And I am secure with my tolerance and inclusion of other cultures and views...including yours. I am, truly sorry that the packaging hurt you. I am not being sarcastic here. I hate that anyone would become so completely sensitive that they are actually this hurt and angry over something so pointlessly silly.

I realize that you represent an very small group of hypersensitive individuals within a vastly more savvy, tolerant, creative and beloved culture. I recognize your rights to be offended, if that is what you enjoy. I recognize and as a disabled vet, have fought for, your rights to say what you feel about this or any other film. I would die for your right to continue to be free to say what you have said.

But, it shall not impinge upon what I create, nor what read, write, watch, say or do.

I believe that we may have to agree to disagree here.

And, incidentally, (beyond this argument) I enjoy your site. It's actually quite well written and I hope everyone will read some of these blogs.

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:24:24 -0000

thx!

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:20:38 -0000

I loved haunted Highway. I'm a horror writer so...I dig that stuff. Impressive work!

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:32:13 -0000

I must agree here. This is over the line for sure.

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:25:49 -0000

My sincerest of apologies that you were offended. I knew full well what I was doing, and would most certainly do it again. I would love to hear any discussion about this work after all the parties who claim to be offended have actually seen it. Until then, I have no further comments that can be of any use, as no amount of explanation can bring you to my understanding of the film or the director. I do respect your point of view. I cannot see how it applies here, as I have both seen this film developed and the finished product. I look forward to hearing from you after you have seen it.

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 20:20:36 -0000

No, I am a college instructor living here in Asheville. I would that I could live in LA, and will probably do so at some point. Actors belong where the action is.! haha! In any event, thanks for your kind words and I wish you all good things with your film career!
Dan B

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:51:33 -0000

Thank you, Sir. And I have been reading your other blogs...this site may just be one of my new favs!
Have a great week...
Dan b

Re: Slant Eye For The Round Eye: Big Pile Of Shit: Golden Blade III

Dan_Burrello — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:27:58 -0000

First: I respect your opinion. Asian Americans, from the days of railroad slavery to the union riots and into the internment camps of WWII, have earned the respect they now have. As a subset of American culture, they have endured and come out strong, brilliant and successful in every way.

In addition, please do not lump all defenders of this film into the same category. I have nothing at all to do with the angry folks above me. And the comment about restaurants and such, now that is offensive, and is a good example of what you may want to actually look for.

I would hate to throw gas on this fire. But, I am in the film. I'm Dan Burrello.
I am a 35 year martial arts veteran and former regional sparring and forms champion. I also hold two masters degrees, one of which is in counseling psychology, in which I was lucky enough to have had a battery of classes about the subject of racism in America, and the Social Psychology inherent within the institutions. One of my co-stars, Chuck Blackburn is also a psychology instructor, and understands very well what is and is not racist.
In addition, I was practically reared by my martial instructors who were fathers to me, and both were Korean Americans. I love ALL my Asian and Asian-American friends. All of whom seem to really love the film, as does the Action-On film festival.

In discourse such as this, to bring out the "R" word is the equivalent to bringing out the "N" word. It is the intellectually lazy path toward some kind of instant legitimacy. It entrenched one into a position, and it is designed to stop all discourse about a subject. But it no longer works. Legitimacy, comes from educated argument. Stating that something has no merit without seeing it, is very similar to Joseph McCarthy's arguments, or even the whole censorship mess that brought us the Comics Code back in the sixties. It is the argument of the fundamentalist: "I believe it. That settles it." the mind has closed, and no further information can enter.

If anyone remembers, "A Fistful of Yen" the featurette in Kentucky Fried Movie with Evan Kim, Grandmaster Bong So Han and Grandmaster He Il Cho (Who presided over my first ATA Black Belt Test in the seventies), it made fun of the genre as well, hilariously. Many Non-Asians were also in that film. It was not long after Bruce Lee had died and all of us in the martial arts community were still grieving. The film gave us a chance to laugh at ourselves, at the genre that we adored, and by it's silliness, give poinancy to the actual article. The memory of Bruce Lee and his philosophy was not harmed by the parody.

I have a Black Belt under Chuck Norris' United Fighting arts Federation as well. I know him and he is a wonderfully strong and driven individual, but I...and even he, loves the ridiculous jokes that have been circulating for the past five years. Knowing how to laugh at ourselves leads to self-awareness and tolerance. Dropping the nuclear bomb (the word "Racist"), is not appropriate here.

"A Fistful of Yen" was hilarious, and could NOT have been hilarious if the public hadn't adored Bruce, or Kung-Fu films. Parody is an American artform that points to our most revered institutions and helps us to not idolize them, but appreciate them for what they are.

I know TJ. I have had MANY long conversations with him. He is the furthest from being racist as any director could be. Please see the film. We worked very hard, with no budget, lots of martial artists, loving their arts, but not so hung-up that they can't see the humor in the way it is sometimes presented in film. If any culture is being sent-up in a bad way, it is the Mainstream American Culture, who will watch a foreign film and trust that what the actors are saying is showing up on the subtitles.

Please believe me, this film is a work of love, not hate.

I wish you well, but do not hope to change your mind.