“Lumina,” an online-only series produced with Hollywood-level quality by an Asian American, Asian Canadian and plain ol’ Asian cast and crew in Hong Kong, is set to debut on the Web on Tuesday, September 8 with a double-episode, and I for one can’t wait to check it out.
In case you haven’t heard about it, here’s an earlier post about “Lumina.”
The series is written and directed by Jennifer Thym, an Asian American who’s a longtime expat, living in Hong Kong. From what I’ve seen of her vision, I think “Lumina” has the cross-cultural potential to make a splash on the international filmmaking scene. Who knows, maybe the webcast will lead to a major studio production. That would be a new way for a filmmaker to break into the Hollywood ranks.
Here’s what Thym says in a press release about the debut:
NEW THRILLER WEB SERIES LUMINA DEBUTS SEPTEMBER 8
Hong Kong, SAR, China (Monday, August 31, 2009). Creating worlds is a passion and one that writer and director Jennifer Thym enjoys. When she entered the film world in July 2008, the investment banker turned filmmaker decided to take a novel approach to reaching her audience. “With LUMINA we wanted to go beyond the conventional format of short film,†says Jennifer Thym, “and create an online fantasy series with wonderful potential for interactivity with its viewers.†As theatrical and DVD sales fall around the world, viewers are increasingly turning to the web for entertainment. “The online audience is already there. To me, it’s about connecting to them with an engaging and beautifully told story.†“LUMINA will open your minds cinematically, and the story will open your hearts to the impossible,†says producer Sommer Nguyen.
LUMINA stars actress and model JuJu Chan, who also stars in the new RTHK reality show on poverty and is the winner of Miss United Nation International Ambassador 2009, Miss United Nation China, Miss Congeniality and Miss TVB People’s Choice for Miss Chinatown USA Pageant 2009. Michael Chan, star of the viral hit Wall Street Fighter IV, and Vince Matthew Chung, winner of The Amazing Race Asia 3, co-star.
The series features music from around the world, including songs from groundbreaking music collective The Enigmatic Army, American college circuit favorite Tim Be Told and China Global Battle of the Bands winner Killer Soap. “Good music is integral to drawing viewers into the story, and I’m honored to have collaborated with such talented musicians,†says Jennifer Thym.
LUMINA the Web Series premieres with a double webisode release on Tuesday, September 8, 2009.
The first season consists of nine webisodes, four to eight minutes each, and will be available free to view on the website
www.luminaseries.com. A new webisode will be released every Tuesday.
Here’s the trailer for “Lumina”:
