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Maria Tran
Western Sydney
http://www.questforjackiechan.com
Maria Tran, 25 years old (born Jan, 1985) is an Australian-based gungho filmmaker, actress and dynamic social media personality based in Sydney’s south-west.
She is about to take Jackie Chan fandom to a new level by embracing all things creative and digital to connect, engage and interact with anyone, any place, anything related to the Jackie Chan phenomena via her recent project Quest for Jackie!
Since Dec 09, Maria on the search high and low throughout Australia, knocking on doors, jumping fences and wearing rabbit suits to drum up attention that this cause is a serious one – one of epic proportions.
"Anything is possible"
HER RANTS
Australia’s film industry is a painfully awkward one. One that is quite difficult to break in if you are of Asian descent, young and female. We haven’t had a serious one since the 1970s with the Man From Hong Kong and since then Jackie Chan made his two movies in Australia First Strike and Mr Nice Guy but since then? Who knows? But I’m here to find out. We all have a soft spot for Kung Fu action and comedy here in Australia then why the bloody hell aren’t we making some!
HER SELF ASSESSMENT
After struggling to complete her Psychology university degree (Nov, 2007), plunged into unemployment and the participating in a free community filmmaking course (2008), this is where her guerilla film making tactics were incubated and developed that led to the completion of Australia’s first urban action comedy “Maximum Choppage: Round 2” (www.mc2movie.com) (Nov,2008)
This ultra shoe string budget feature film has several screenings all over Australia and overseas in Hollywood and led into the making of Ninja micro TV series “Downtown Rumble” which was aired on Australia national TV ABC/JTV in late 2008.
Now, her team has completed pre-production for TV series “Rumble High” and interchangably developing concepts for feature films “The Gangstars” (to be shot in July 2010), her hopes are to break beyond the “ceiling effect” of the Australian film industry and invigorate the martial arts/ action-adventure genre initiated by young people from culturally divese backgrounds in Australia.
Now, in the midst and struggles came “Quest for Jackie!” – a project that may be the last attempt to connect Australia-wide and to fans of Jackie Chan and also to the film genre he has successfully endeavoured decade after decade.
QUEST FOR JACKIE! PROJECT UPDATE (as of Mar, 2010)
Maria is planning and negotiating her way around Australia (Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Brisbane & Sydney on the prowl to look for Jackie Chan “hot spots” (places of high density of Jackie Fans) to meet up, workshop, blog, vlog and hand over any outstanding fan mail to her to deliver to Jackie Chan at a later date.
She has faces many many knock backs and set backs, but at the same time, interesting and quirky Jackie Chan fans of Australia are emerging and coming forth to share their stories with the rest of the country.
Her deadline is to organise her back packing trip in August, 2010 and is desperately seeking help to make this a reality.
THE "OTHER" DETAILS...
Maria Tran juggles between project coordination at community arts and digital technology organisation Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE), martial arts choreography, guerrilla filmmaking and engaging with digital and multimedia platforms.
She is also very passionate in her own Vietnamese heritage and in particular to bridging the gap between the younger and older generations. Her past Vietnam projects include the “Dust of Life” project, in which she initiated free English/ Arts based workshops for local orphans from Mai Am Tan Binh.
Currently she is writing further episodes for VietlishTV/Downtown Rumble II and also managing a project called “Vietnamese Stories.”
AS A WORKSHOP FACILITATOR
Maria Tran, a youth activist and an experienced workshop facilitator who have run workshops interstate on themes of leadership, digital arts, creativity, youth empowerment, youth activism & community development. She has a strong advocate for a positive can do attitude, that anything is possible, and its up to the individual to develop self awareness and create their own opportunities. Currently she is working at community arts organisation, Information & Cultural Exchange (ICE) as a Youth Digital Cultures Project Coordinator. Maria loves travelling and eating ice cream!
She has designed workshops to be very fun, kinetic, highly interactive, challenging and motivating. She designs tailor made program focuses on developing personal character and a sense of value, identity and purpose, while also enhancing leadership and interpersonal skills.
A girl wearing many different hats to make a difference!
Created Projects
