Daily Archives: May 8, 2009

John Cho in Star Trek



Isn’t it interesting that Paramount Pictures can cast John Cho as Sulu in Star Trek, but whitewash the The Last Airbender? Also interesting to note Zero Kazama tried out for the role of Sulu as well. Anyways, here’s the synopsis for Star Trek.

The greatest adventure of all time begins with “Star Trek,” the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. In the midst of an incredible journey full of optimism, intrigue, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.

The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals born worlds apart. One, James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine), a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy, a natural-born leader in search of a cause. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), grows up on the planet Vulcan, an outcast due to his half-human background, which makes him susceptible to the volatile emotions that Vulcans have long lived without, and yet an ingenious, determined student, who will become the first of his kind accepted into the Starfleet Academy.



Kirk and Spock could not be more different. Yet, in their quest to figure out who they really are and what they have to give to the world, they soon become competitive cadets-in-training. With their drastically opposite styles, one driven by fiery passion, the other by rigorous logic, they also become defiant, contentious adversaries, each equally unimpressed with the other, each going all out to be among the special few chosen to join the crew of the most advanced starship ever created, the U.S.S. Enterprise.



The crew is headed by Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). Joining him are the ship’s Medical Officer Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban); the man who will become the ship’s Chief Engineer, Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (Simon Pegg); Communications Officer Uhura (Zoë Saldana); experienced Helmsman Sulu (John Cho); and the 17-year-old whiz kid Chekov (Anton Yelchin). All will face a harrowing first test that will set in motion the loyalty, camaraderie, daring and good humor that will bind them forever.

In the midst of it all, Kirk and Spock will come face-to-face with an undeniable destiny: a need to forge an unlikely but powerful partnership, enabling them to lead their crew to boldly go where no one has gone before.



John Cho on Jimmy Kimmel Live (they also discuss Harold and Kumar 3)

John Cho interview

More about John Cho:

JOHN CHO (Sulu) continues to prove himself as one of today’s most gifted actors, delivering compelling performances in both comedy and drama. Cho first caught the public’s attention in the 1999 breakthrough hit comedy “American Pie,” in which he popularized the slang term “MILF.” In 2004, Cho starred as Harold Lee opposite Kal Penn in the cult comedy “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” for New Line Cinema. In April 2008, Cho reprised his role for the highly anticipated follow-up “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay,” a film hailed by Daily Variety as “‘Animal House’ meets ‘Dr. Strangelove’ … one of the ballsiest comedies to come out of Hollywood in a long time.”



Cho has appeared in numerous films, including the Weitz brothers’ “American Dreamz” starring alongside Willem Dafoe and Hugh Grant, Margaret Cho’s feature comedy “Bam Bam and Celeste,” “Better Luck Tomorrow,” the “American Pie” series, “Pavilion of Women,” Steven Soderbergh’s “Solaris” and 2000’s Best Picture Oscar(r) winner “American Beauty.” In addition to numerous guest roles on television, he was a series regular on the Weitz brothers’ “Off Centre” for the WB and had a recurring role on last season’s “Kitchen Confidential” for FOX.

Born in Seoul, Korea, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Cho began acting while studying English literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He toured across the country with his first show, an adaptation of the renowned memoir by Maxine Hong Kingston, “The Woman Warrior.” Other stage roles include Laertes in Singapore Repertory Theater’s production of “Hamlet” and a variety of shows for East West Players. Cho is also the lead singer for the band Left of Zed.

2009 Silk Screen Festival in Pittsburgh

Los Angeles just finished up its Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (25th Anniversary). Pittsburgh, it’s your turn to represent for APA Heritage Month.

Pittsburgh’s 4th Annual Silk Screen: Asian-American Film Festival is coming, May 8-17, 2009. Films will be screened at Regent Square Theater, Harris Theater, and Melwood Screening Room. More details here.

Here’s some of the highlights:

Opening Film – My Dear Enemy

Sita Sings the Blues and White on Rice on the buzz list

Children of Invention – getting great reviews and collecting awards

2009 Silk Screen Festival Trailer

Flower Drum Song in Vancouver

Hey Vancouver readers!! You are getting a special presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG from May 29 to June 14, 2009 put on by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre. Continuing to celebrate 10 successful years as the city’s premiere Asian Canadian theatre company, Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre (VACT) is excited to announce that it will be staging Rodgers & Hammerstein’s FLOWER DRUM SONG at The Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island.

This is the very first time that this Tony award-winning Broadway musical will be presented in Vancouver as a full production, during this, the 50th anniversary of the play. Another milestone for Vancouver theatre will be the all-Asian-Canadian cast, along with an Asian Canadian production team. Check out the cast and crew here.

Do you enjoy being a girl? Teaser for Flower Drum Song

Chop Suey at VACT Teaser

Somethigns Cooking at VACT Teaser