10 year old Filipino-American boy crowned World Sport Stacking champion
Ten-year-old Steve Purugganan from Longmeadow, Massachusetts set two new world records at the World Sport Stacking Championships. The Filipino-American boy became this year’s World Sport Stacking champion by clocking 1.86 seconds for the Individual 3-3-3 Stack Division and also clocking 6.21 seconds for the Individual Cycle Stack Division. The previous record holder for both events was himself.
Sport stacking is formerly known as cup stacking and commonly known as speed stacking.Here's the two events that Steve Purugganan set records on:
3-3-3
StackCups are “up stacked” and “down stacked” from left to right or right to left (individual preference) in three stacks made up of three cups in each stack (3-3-3).
Cycle Stack
A sequence of stacks combining a 3-6-3 stack, a 6-6 stack, and a 1-10-1 stack, in that order. Stackers conclude the Cycle stack with cups in a 3-6-3 “down stacked” position.
A powerful, emotional and relevant reminder of the heartbreaking toll war takes on the innocent, Nanking tells the story of the Japanese invasion of Nanking, China, in the early days of World War II. As part of a campaign to conquer all of China, the Japanese subjected Nanking – which was then China’s capital – to months of aerial bombardment, and when the city fell, the Japanese army unleashed murder and rape on a horrifying scale. In the midst of the rampage, a small group of Westerners banded together to establish a Safety Zone where over 200,000 Chinese found refuge. Unarmed, these missionaries, university professors, doctors and businessmen – including a Nazi named John Rabe – bored witness to the events, while risking their own lives to protect civilians from slaughter.
The story is told through deeply moving interviews with Chinese survivors, chilling archival footage and photos of the events, and testimonies of former Japanese soldiers. At the heart of Nanking is a filmed stage reading of the Westerners’ letters and diaries, featuring Woody Harrelson, Mariel Hemingway and Jurgen Prochnow. Through its interweave of archival images, testimonies of survivors, and readings of first hand accounts, the film puts the viewer on the streets of Nanking and brings the forgotten past to startling life.
Nanking is a testament to the courage and conviction of individuals who were determined to act in the face of evil and a powerful tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people – a gripping account of light in the darkest of times.
This film has also won several awards:
Winner, Best Cinematography Award, Chicago International Documentary Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Humanitarian Award, Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Crystal Heart Award, Heartland Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Audience Favorite Award, Hot Docs International Documentary Festival, 2007
Winner, Director's Choice Award, Sedona International Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Best Documentary Film, Sedona International Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Excellence in Filmmaking Award, Sedona International Film Festival, 2007
Winner, Best Documentary Editing, Sundance Film Festival, 2007
And nominated for other awards
Nominated, Grand Jury Prize, Sundance Film Festival, 2007
Nominated, Documentary Screenplay Award, Writers Guild of America, 2008
Bobby Jindal was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Monday. Who is he you may ask? Piyush "Bobby" Jindal was elected governor of Louisiana on October 20, 2007. He won a four-way race with 54% of the vote. At age 36, Bobby Jindal became the youngest current governor in the United States. He also became the first elected Indian-American governor in U.S. history, as well as the second Asian-American governor to serve in the continental United States after Gary Locke of Washington. Rumors are floating around that Bobby Jindal may become John McCain's running mate.
Kristi Yamaguchi waltzes and cha-cha-chas on Dancing with the Stars
Kristi Yamaguchi danced twice this week on "Dancing with the Stars." First the Viennese Waltz and then the Cha-Cha-Cha. Although the dance partners did not do as well as the previous weeks. They still ranked high.
Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas doing the Viennese Waltz:
Cha-cha-cha with Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas:
Join Margaret Cho and her friends at San Francisco City Hall, as Mayor Gavin Newsom proclaims Wednesday, April 30th 2008, Margaret Cho Day!
The live event will be taped for use in Margaret's new show, "The Cho Show," which will air on VH1 this summer. The proclamation is open to the public, welcoming family, friends and fans of all ages. All attendees will be required to sign a release allowing the use of their image on television.
Here's the info if you want to attend Margaret Cho's big day:
When: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Time: Please arrive promptly at 4:00pm
Where: San Francisco City Hall
The South Light Court
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett PL.
San Francisco, CA 94102
Watch Margaret Cho interview on "The Hour" with George Stroumboulopoulos:
The Cho Show starts airing in summer 2008. More info on The Cho Show below:
THE CHO SHOW (7 Episodes - 30 Minutes)
Thirteen years after her catastrophic foray into television, Margaret Cho is triumphantly returning to television in a new reality-sitcom on VH1 in "The Cho Show." This time it's on her own terms.
Margaret burst onto the scene in 1994 with her sitcom "All American Girl" and her struggles with the network over that show are legendary. After the show was canceled, Margaret channeled all of that negative energy from her network experience into a wealth of comedy material that fueled her rise as one of the hottest comics in the business.
This VH1 series will follow the irrepressible Margaret Cho and her eccentric entourage as she fights to be herself in an industry that in the past wanted her to be something other than herself. The series will touch upon all aspects of Margaret's "anything goes" lifestyle, from the strained and awkward moments provided by her somewhat traditional Korean parents to the more irreverent and outrageous moments shared with her colorful cast of friends and colleagues.
Come and join the celebration of National Asian Pacific American Heritage Month at AsiaFest Austin 2008 on May 3, 2008 with fun, food and entertainment. AsiaFest Austin 2008, hosted by the Network of Asian American Organizations (NAAO) with the support of City of Austin, Austin Parks & Recreation Department, and Capital Metro, is part of the National Asian Pacific American Heritage month.
The event will be held from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm at the future home of Austin Asian American Resource Center at 8401, Cameron Road, Austin, TX 78754. Admission to Asia Fest Austin 2008 is FREE.
AsiaFest Austin 2008 will have a number of activities, including:
Cultural Activities - Live music, dance and cultural performances, and a mini Asian Film Festival showcasing a variety of Asian cultures.
Educational Activities – Workshops and instruction on Asian arts & crafts (face painting, henna, origami, etc.); and basic Asian language skills (learn 20 common words and phrases).
Children’s Activities – Sudoku contests; games; and Reading corner.
Food - Pan-Asian Cuisine featuring traditional Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian dishes.
Movies at the mini film-fest include Michael Kang’s wry teen comedy “The Motel,” the local premiere of Derek Shimoda’s “Killing of a Chinese Cookie” and Juli Kang’s musical “Damn the Past!” The film portion is sponsored by the Austin Asian American Film Foundation, which is hosting the Austin Asian America Film Festival in the fall.
Lots of protests the past few weekends at CNN locations all over the US. Thousands have protested Los Angeles, Chicago, and Atlanta (CNN headquarters) over statements made by Jack Cafferty that were broadcast on "The Situation Room" back on April 9, 2008. Here's the quote in question:
“We continue to import their junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food and export, you know, jobs to places where you can pay workers a dollar a month to turn out the stuff that we’re buying from Wal-Mart. So I think our relationship with China has certainly changed. I think they’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years.”
Listen the the controversial statements by Jack Cafferty:
CNN Protest in Atlanta (CNN headquarters)
CNN Protest in San Francisco
CNN Protest in Los Angeles
CNN Protest in Chicago
Although CNN had offered an apology, the Chinese government rejected it as inadequate. CNN Beijing bureau chief Jaime FlorCruz was summoned to a meeting at the Chinese Foreign Ministry with with Liu Jianchao, director general of the Foreign Ministry information department. The situation looks bad for CNN and Jack Cafferty. Looks like a lot less coverage for the Beijing Olympics for CNN.
Also a Beijing-based primary school teacher Li Lilan and a New York-based beauty therapist Liang Shubing are filing in a law suit for $1.3 billion against CNN for slander. The $1.3 billion equates to $1 per person in China.
"Jon and Kate plus 8" is an awesome show about the Gosselins, who have a set of twins and a set of sextuplets. That's 8 kids total. Each kids has their own unique personality and they are all cute. On yesterday's show, the whole family goes on "Oprah". The footage was originally taped on February 22. 2008 for "Oprah".
BTW - Your eyes are not deceiving you, Jon is Asian. Actually, Jon is half Korean, which makes all the kids a quarter Korean. It's great to see an Asian male as a strong father figure in the family. If you have never seen it, new episodes of "Jon & Kate Plus 8" airs on TLC on Mondays at 9/8c. Check your local listings.
Here's the promo for their Oprah episode:
Here's the Oprah promo back in February:
Apparently, the couple will also has a book coming out toward the end of the year. The book is entitled "Multiple Blessings: Surviving to Thriving With Twins and Sextuplets".
You can buy a copy here.
Over the weekend, lots were drawn in Beijing to determine the preliminary round groupings for basketball tournaments during the Olympics. On the men's side, Iran, Lithuania, Argentina, Russia, Australia, and one qualifier to be determined from Olympic qualifying tournaments were selected to play in group A; China, Angola, Spain, USA, and two qualifiers from Olympic qualifying tournaments were selected to play in Group B. The Olympic basketball tournament will run from August 9-24. The group matches are in a round robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the knock-out stage.
China will face off with the USA's NBA stars on August 10. China's basketball team is expected to be led by Houston Rocket center Yao Ming.
UPDATE:
If you missed USA vs China round 1 Olympic basketball action, go here to watch it.
Today, Erik Spoelstra was named the successor to Pat Riley as Head Coach of the Miami Heat. Currently, he is the youngest coach in the NBA. Spoelstra also becomes the sixth head coach in the Heat's franchise.
Spoelstra just completed his 13th season as a member of the HEAT staff and his seventh in the role of Assistant Coach/Director of Scouting where he had the primary role of developing game plans for upcoming opponents. Spoelstra was responsible for coordinating the video staff and advance scouts while also overseeing the development of scouting reports and videos. He has been in charge of the HEAT’s Individual Player Development Program and has served as the head coach of the HEAT’s summer league squad each of the past three summers.
He's got a lot of work ahead of him. We congratulate Erik on his promotion and wish him success next season.
Great prediction by "Balitang America" a year ago about Erik Spoelstra as head coach:
BTW - Erik Spoelstra is half-Filipino, a quarter Dutch, and a quarter Irish.
Jackie Chan had a very busy weekend. On Friday, Jackie Chan fired his agent at CAA and joined the William Morris agency. Hopefully, we will see William Morris get some great roles for Jackie Chan. "Forbidden Kingdom" is still holding strong at the box office.
Also Jackie was in India over the weekend for launch of the soundtrack of Tamil film "Dasavathaaram". News organizations all over India are also reporting that Jackie Chan is interested in making a Bollywood film. India is the world's biggest market for movies with about a thousand movies made a year. It would definitely be interesting for Jackie Chan to be in a Bollywood film.
Although the quality is low, here's a clip of Jackie Chan's speech in India:
API: S.M.A.S.H., which stands for (Supporting Music, Art, Soul, & Heritage) takes place today at:
San Francisco State University
Cesar Chavez Student Center
Jack Adams Hall
1600 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA
Doors Open at 5:30pm
This year the event is a collaboration between the San Francisco State University Asian Student Union (SFSU ASU) along with Manalo Movement. It is SFSU ASU's big event for the Spring semester. The event is filled with performances and artworks by Asian & Pacific Island American. Performers at API: S.M.A.S.H include Passion, Gabe Bondoc, Mud (API Rock band from SF), Disco Dynamic, Jocelyn De Leon of 8th Wonder, Gookstaz, Infinity Funk Project, Rhapsodistas, and much more!! Also, we are also showcasing painting, sculpture and many different kind of visual art by various Asian American artists, such as Mike Luat (from LFS), Leah (Lady Bird SF), Mia, Jason, Viet Thi, and much more! This will be a awesome event which not only about showcasing the amazing talents of many of these up-and-coming Asian American musicians and artists, but also for a good cause for the Asian community.
Weekend Box Office results - Harold and Kumar 2 and Forbidden Kingdom
"Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" debuted at No. 2 with $14.6 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The sequel cost only $12 million to make and is close to beating the theatrical take of $18.2 million for the first "Harold & Kumar" movie. In its second week of release, "Forbidden Kingdom" held on to 3rd place in box office receipts. However, the film debut at #1 in China this past weekend.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "Baby Mama," $18.3 million.
2. "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay," $14.6 million.
3. "The Forbidden Kingdom," $11.2 million.
4. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," $11 million.
5. "Nim's Island," $4.5 million.
6. "Prom Night," $4.4 million.
7. "21," $4 million.
8. "88 Minutes," $3.6 million.
9. "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!", $2.4 million.
10. "Deception," $2.2 million.
Also important to note are that both "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" and "Forbidden Kingdom" were not produced by major studios. Hopefully, Hollywood executives recognize these box office results and will start producing more films with Asian and Asian Americans in the main roles. Asian faces on the big screen can draw. We hope the upcoming movie "The Mummy: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor" will yield similar esults.
Where did the funding come from? Forbidden Kingdom
Casey Silver Productions (US)
Relativity Media (US)
Huayi Brothers (China)
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Mandate Pictures
Kingsgate Films
New Line Cinema
If you want to see more Asian Americans on the big screen, keep voting with your dollars by watching these films. Vote for Harold and Kumar!
29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
The Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans, a nonprofit organization based in New York City announces its 29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival with free outdoor music and dance featuring the most exciting traditional and contemporary Asian American artists. The festival is the largest Pan-Asian event on the East Coast. The Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival features music and dance showcases, arts & crafts, martial arts demonstrations, children's fair programs and Asian delicacies. The event will be on Saturday, May 10th from 12-6 p.m. at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on East 47th Street and 2nd Avenue just steps away from the United Nations and Grand Central Station.
This year's festival will be co-hosted by the following:
Ti-Hua Chang - Investigative Reporter, WWOR/My9
Nina Pineda - Reporter, Eyewitness News Team
Michelle Yu - Sports Reporter, NY1 News
Minya Oh - News Director, Hot 97
Eliot Chang - Comedian
The festival features performances by Soh Daiko, C. Eule Dance, DVL Dance, Misnomer(S), Taiyo Na, Hsunami, Makalina's Hawaiian Express, Yosakoi Dance Project and Bollywood Axion.
Event: 29th Annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival
Date & Time: Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 12-6 p.m.
Place: Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, East 47th Street & 2nd Avenue, New York
Brenda Song, star of Disney’s Suite Life of Zack & Cody, was pictured in an escort ad in the back of LA Weekly last week. A Disney rep told TMZ that "This is an unauthorized use of Brenda Song's image and her personal attorney has issued a cease and desist to the advertiser." Here's the ad:
The ad clearly tarnishes Brenda Song's image and the person that put the ad together can't spell. For the record, Brenda Song is not Hawaiian. She's half Hmong and half Thai.
As of Friday, Brenda Song has filed a lawsuit against Vibe Media for "illegally and shamelessly" using her picture for an escort service ad. She’s asking for $100,000 in damages. See the lawsuit at TMZ.com. We think Brenda should sue for more!!!
Here's Brenda Song as London Tipton on "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody" :
Newport Beach Film Festival Asian American Entertainment Panels
ALTRA Magazine has teamed up with the Newport Beach Film Festival to kick off their “Asian Films Cinema” showcase, by hosting two separate discussion panels to honor successful Asian American Media and Entertainment professionals in the US. All Seminars are FREE and seated on a first come, first served basis. Attend them today if you are in the area.
The first panel is the post screening Q&A of the film West 32nd, scheduled to take place at 3:15pm. Director Michael Kang, Producer Teddy Zee, and cast members including Hans Kim will be in attendance. This session will allow audiences to interact with the filmmakers in order to gain a better understanding of the film and its portrayal of New York City’s Korean American community.
1st Panel Location:
Edwards Island Cinemas - Screen 6
999 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
The second panel "Insights from Asian American Entertainment and Media Professionals" will feature both successful and rising Asian American professionals in the Entertainment and Media industries with the following speakers:
Bill Imada – Chairman & CEO of IW Group Inc.
Janet Yang – Producer, Dark Matter, The Joy Luck Club, The People vs. Larry Flynt
Camille Mana – Actress, Smart People, Equal Opportunity
Simon Yin – Actor, VJ of the channel formerly known as MTV Chi
Ron Oda – Writer/Director, Asian Stories Book
2nd Panel Location:
Edwards Island Cinemas - Screen 1
999 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Watch the trailer for the Newport Beach Film Festival:
The festival’s Asian Films Showcase will start on Monday, April 28th at 7pm, featuring renowned films from Asia and the US. The post-screening celebration will be held from 10:30pm - 1:30am, at Fury lounge. Here's a list of Asian films playing during the festival:
Korea
Hellcats (Ddeugeoun geotsi joa)
4/28/08 - 7:30PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
West 32nd
4/27/08 - 2:00 p.m. Edwards Islands Cinemas- Fashion Island
Road to Holland (short film - 16 min)
4/28/08 - 5:15PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
(Within “Expect the Unexpected Shorts” Program)
China
Slam (China)
4/30/08 - 4:00PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
Up the Yangtze (China)
4/28/08 - 8:00PM - Edwards Island Cinemas -Fashion Island
Japan
Accuracy of Death
4/25/08 - 2:30PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
4/28/08 - 3:30PM - Lido Theater - Newport Beach
Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 (Always Zoku San-Chome No Yuhi)
4/28/08 - 7:00PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
5/1/08 - 12:30PM - Lido Theater - Newport Beach
Big Man Japan (Dai-Nippenjin)
4/26/08 - 3:45PM - Lido Theater - Newport Beach
Love My Life
4/29/08 - 3:30PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
5/1/08 - 1:45PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
India
Before the Rains
4/29/08 - 6:00PM - Lido Theater - Newport Beach
Amal
4/30/08 - 8:30PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
5/01/08 - 8:30PM - Edwards Island Cinemas - Fashion Island
According to Hollywood Reporter, Lucy Liu may be leaving "Cashmere Mafia" for 'Dirty Sexy Money'. "Cashmere Mafia" may not be renewed for a second season due to low ratings. The show was also one of the very few with an Asian couple. Where does this leave Jack Yang, who played Jason Chun, Lucy Liu's love interest on Cashmere Mafia? Stay tuned.
See the one of the much talked about kiss between Lucy Liu and Jack Yang toward the end of the clip:
Lucy Liu also did an arc on "Ugly Betty." She will also be the voice of Master Viper in the upcoming film "Kung Fu Panda" this summer.
The DisOrient Asian American Film Festival is screening "Baby" as its Centerpiece film. Last year the film was the Official Selection the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Los Angeles VC Film Festival, Chicago Asian American Showcase, and the San Diego Asian Film Festival. At the Los Angeles VC Film Festival, the film also won the SPECIAL JURY PRIZE BEST EMERGING ACTOR: DAVID HUYNH and SPECIAL JURY PRIZE BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE: BABY. If you are in the Eugene, Oregon area, check out this film.
Movie Synopsis
Baby is the tragic tale of an Asian youth trapped in the world of East Los Angeles gang life. Our story winds through the streets of Monterey Park and Alhambra and the seedy, dead end worlds of hostess bars, pool halls and drug dens.
Baby is a motherless, poverty stricken teenager with only an alcoholic father left to raise him. Things get worse when he gets mixed up with a pack of older gangsters who live next door. At the age of eleven he gets convicted of manslaughter and spends the next six years in Juvenile Hall.
Once released from prison, Baby struggles to fit into a society that rejects him. He soon finds his way back to a lifestyle of drugs, murder and street gangs. A lost love and a best friend are his last hopes to turn his life around before it is too late.
Harold and Kumar 2 interview with John Cho, Kal Penn, and Neil Patrick Harris. Interesting topic toward the middle and of this interview about independent films and Asian lead roles. Good points by John Cho, Kal Penn,and NPH:
In 2007, Rain beat out Stephen Colbert by over 100,000 votes for the Time 100, the list of the 100 most influential people of the year. The battle continues between Rain and Stephen Colbert in 2008. Significantly more votes have been cast this year. Rain already has well over 1 million votes, while Stephen Colbert have about 750k vote. You can vote for Rain in the Time 100 poll.
Here's a clip from the April 23rd airing on Comedy Central challenging Rain:
To prove he's more influential than Korean pop star Rain, Stephen made his own Korean pop video in 2007 :
BTW - Rain is scheduled to appear tonite at the Los Angeles ImaginAsian Center's Special Advance Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures' SPEED RACER. He is scheduled to walk the red carpet at 7:00pm. Rain stars in the film as Taejo Togokahn, a rival driver to Speed Racer.
ImaginAsian Center
251 South Main Street
Los Angeles, CA
As a fixture of the San Francisco music scene since 2001, Mud has developed a strong loyal following of fans addicted to the band's heavy guitar riffs, infectious melodies and collection of high energy pop songs, that draw comparisons to successful crossover bands like Blondie, Green Day, and Jimmy Eat World. Signing with San Francisco indie label Talking House Records in Fall of 2006, Mud spent most of 2007 developing material and crafting the perfect sound for the first full length album "Yearbook". The ability to spend time recording with music producer Paul Ruxton has made their upcoming release something to truly look forward to. Fans old and new will be surprised and pleased with Mud's new sound -- they will definitely have something to sing about.You can also add Mud as your friend on Myspace.
Here's the band members
Nikki Aclaro - lead vocals, guitar
Alan Kao - guitar
Ralph Blas - bass, vocals
Jared Cruz - drums, vocals
Aris Nicholas - keyboards, vocals
Watch MUD'S new music video for "Should've Known":
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, drop by Slim's tonite for their CD release show. Also playing will ne "Cast of Thousands"
"Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" marks the triumphant return of these two hilarious, slacker anti-heroes. The movie stars John Cho (Star Trek, American Pie) as Harold and Kal Penn (The Namesake, House, Van Wilder) as Kumar, two stoners who can't seem to get a break. Their last adventure found them traveling across country to find a White Castle hamburger in order to satisfy a weed-induced case of "the munchies."
This time, the boys get themselves in trouble trying to sneak a bong onboard a flight to Amsterdam. Now, being suspected of terrorism, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence. What follows is an irreverent and epic journey of deep thoughts, deeper inhaling and a wild trip around the world that is as "un-PC" as it gets. The movie will be released today April 25, 2008.
Watch the trailer:
Here's a clip of Harold and Kumar being interrogated:
Here's a clip of Tia Carrere performing at the Asian Excellence Awards:
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards will air on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and will be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7.
Here's a clip of Russell Peters performing at the Asian Excellence Awards
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards will air on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and will be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7.
Here's a clip of JabbaWockeeZ performing at the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards.
Roscoe Umali with JabbaWockeeZ:
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards will air on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and will be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7.
Here's a clip of Kaba Modern performing at the 2008 Kaba Modern
Here's another angle:
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards will air on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and will be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7.
The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards(R) was held at UCLA's Royce Hall yesterday, attracting some of the hottest stars in film and television. Hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars) and Bobby Lee (MADtv), Hollywood players came out in force to honor Asian and Asian Americans' accomplishments in the arts and entertainment, sports and business. The 2008 Asian Excellence Awards will air on E! Entertainment Television on May 1 at 6 p.m. ET/PT, 5 p.m. CT and will be available on Comcast on Demand, beginning May 7.
Here are all the winners of the 2008 Asian Excellence Awards(R):
OUTSTANDING FILM - Lust, Caution - Director, Ang Lee
OUTSTANDING FILM ACTOR - Tony Leung, Lust, Caution
OUTSTANDING FILM ACTRESS - Sharon Leal, This Christmas
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION ACTOR - B.D. Wong, Law & Order, SVU (NBC)
OUTSTANDING TELEVISION ACTRESS - Lindsay Price, Lipstick Jungle (NBC)
SUPPORTING TELEVISION ACTRESS - Sonja Sohn, The Wire (HBO)
SUPPORTING TELEVISION ACTOR - Rex Lee, Entourage (HBO)
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY - Cheryl Burke, Dancing with the Stars (ABC)
FAVORITE REALITY STAR - JabbaWockeeZ, America's Best Dance Crew (MTV)
In addition, the Asian Excellence Awards presented two honorary awards. YouTube co-founder Steve Chen was presented with the Pioneer Award and Olympic Figure-Skating Champion Kristi Yamaguchi received the special Inspiration Award. Quentin Tarrantino presented a special tongue-in-cheek "Half Asian Award" to actor/comedian Rob Schneider.
Live performances during the event included JabbaWockeeZ, an all-male dance crew that gained fame by appearing on America's Got Talent and then went on to win the MTV hip hop dance reality series America's Best Dance Crew earlier this year. Also, the street dance group KABA Modern, a top finalist in America's Best Dance Crew show, and rapper Roscoe performed. In addition, internationally known actress and singer Tia Carrere sang two songs from her 2008 Grammy-nominated Hawaiian music album Hawaiiana.
The Asian Excellence Awards also included such celebrity presenters and attendees as Steven Seagal, Quentin Tarantino, Kelly Hu, Lindsay Price, Sonja Sohn, Verne Troyer, B.D. Wong, Andre Royo, Ian Ziering, Carrie Ann Inaba, Bobby Lee, Jack Yang, Rob Schneider, Daisy Fuentes, Roger Fan, Russell Peters, Devon Aoki, Sharon Leal, Tamlyn Tomita, Bai Ling, Cheryl Burke, Cristian de la Fuente, Se7en, Will Yun Lee, Michelle Krusiec, Michael Yo, Brenda Song, Rex Lee, Navi Rawat, Jack Yang, Michaela Conlin, James Saito, and Teresa Cheung.
Here's a clip of winner for the Viewer's Choice for Favorite Reality Stars:
The 51st San Francisco International Film Festival runs April 24–May 8, 2008 at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, the Castro Theatre and Landmark’s Clay Theatre in San Francisco; and the Pacific Film Archive Theater in Berkeley. Held each spring for 15 days, the San Francisco International Film Festival is an extraordinary showcase of cinematic discovery and innovation in the country’s most beautiful city, featuring 25 awards, 200 films and live events with upwards of 100 participating filmmakers and diverse audiences of 80,000+ people.
Here's a list of Asian and Asian american films screening over the next couple of weeks:
Big Man Japan, Hitoshi Matsumoto, Japan
Black Belt, Shunichi Nagasaki, Japan
Brick Lane, Sarah Gavron, England
Calcutta My Love, Goutam Ghose, India
Flower in the Pocket, Liew Seng Tat, Malaysia
Frozen, Shivajee Chandrabhushan, India
Glasses, Naoko Ogigami, Japan
Huling Balyan Ng Buhi (or The Woven Stories of the Other), Sherad Anthony Sanchez, Philippines
Linger, Johnnie To, Hong Kong
Mongol, Sergei Bodrov, Germany/China/Mongolia/Kazakhstan
Orz Boyz, Gillies Ya-che Yang, Taiwan
Pool, Chris Chong Chan Fui, Indonesia (short)
Secret, Jay Chou, Taiwan
Shadows in the Palace, Kim Meejeung, South Korea
Still Life, Jia Zhangke, Hong Kong/China
10 + 4, Mania Akbari, Iran
Umbrella, Du Haibin, China
Up the Yangtze, Yung Chang, Canada
The Warlords, Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Hong Kong
WING, the fish that talked back, Ricky Rijneke, Netherlands (short)
Wonderful Town, Aditya Assarat, Thailand
Calavera Highway, Renee Tajima-Peña, USA/Mexico
Since You’ve Been Ong, Frank Yeean Chan, USA (short)
Watch the trailer for the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival
The DisOrient Asian American Film Festival of Oregon runs for its third year at the Bijou Art Cinemas from Thursday, April 24 to Sunday, April 27. There will be over 60 films playing over these 4 days. This is Oregon's only Asian American Film festival. Scheduled to attend are director Michael Kang (West 32nd) and actor Roger Fan (Ping Pong Playa).
Opening Night - West 32nd
Centerpiece - Baby
Closing Night Ping Pong Playa
Watch the trailer for the 2008 DisOrient Asian American Film Festival:
Karen David has both music and movies releaseing in 2008. This week was her release of her latest album "The Live Sessions". Her music fuses Eastern and Western music. Listen to some of her music and add Karen David as your Myspace friend.
The stylish singer, songwriter and actress may be this year’s hottest new thing, but Karen is no stranger to the world of showbiz. Handpicked by Bill Cosby to star alongside him in a TV commercial for Jell-O at the age of six, the multi-talented 26-year-old has spent her whole life doing what she does best: putting on dazzling performances to win admirers wherever she goes. Born in Shillong, at the foot of the Himalayas and raised in Toronto, Canada, by a half Chinese/Khasi mother and a father from Chennai, the ever-alluring Karen was never one to be confined by the expected boundaries.
You can catch her in "Batman Begins", she plays Court Reporter #1. She will also be in the upcoming film "The Scorpion King: Rise of the Akkadian". Congrats to Karen David on her new release and new movies. BTW - April 15th was her birthday. Happy belated birthday, Karen David.
Here's the music video for "Alive", the theme song for last year's film "Provoked". The song was compsed by AR Rahman and sung by Karen David. Karen also had a small role in the film with Aishwarya Rai.
The rice shortage has spread from Asia to the US. In the San Francisco Bay Area, local Costcos are trying to limit the amount of rice that is purchased by customers. Over the past year, the price of rice has more than doubled from $7.25 to $17.
See this clip from CNBC:
Asian Excellence Awards take place tonite at UCLA's Royce Hall. The event will be hosted by Bobby Lee (MADtv) and Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars). YouTube founder Steve Chen will be presented with the Pioneer Award and Olympic Figure-Skating Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will receive the special Inspiration Award. (BTW - Kristi Yamaaguchi just got a perfect score on Dancing with the Stars a few nights ago.) Some other high profile guests and performers include Jabbawockeez, KABA Modern, DJ Shy, Tia Carrere, Roscoe Umali, and many more
Our previous post about online voting is here. We think the winners of the online votes will be:
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY
Padma Lakshmi -- Top Chef, Bravo
FAVORITE REALITY STAR
JabbaWockeeZ -- America’s Best Dance Crew, MTV
Watch the tailer for the Asian Excellence Awards:
The Asian Excellence Awards is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday, May 1 at 6pm ET/PT on E! and on Comcast on Demand starting May 7.
Kristi Yamaguchi jumped jived all over the competition on "Dancing with the Stars." Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas got the first perfect score this season.
Queens Theatre in the Park celebrates Asian cultures from April 23-27. Scheduled to perform are Dulsori, Kung Eun IL& Haegumplus, Henry Cho, Seriously, Kevin So, Kristina Wong, Christine Toy Johnson, Ragamala Music & Dance Theater. Join the celebration.
Asian Cultural Festival
April 23-27
Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing, NYC
See the commercial for the Asian Cultural Festival :
Lyrics Born's much anticipated new album, "EVERYWHERE AT ONCE", hits shelves everywhere today. Featuring 18 slammin' tracks, the record has gotten great reviews and comments from critics and fans alike. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out Lyrics Born live at the following locations:
6pm - Rasputin Music exclusive in-store performance
Don't miss this free in-store at Rasputin Music in Berkeley, CA. Get your copy of the new record autographed by LB himself!!!
Rasputin Music
2403 Telegraph Ave
Berkeley, CA
10pm - Lyrics Born 'Everywhere At Once' album release party!
The party to end all parties -- the Icon Lounge in San Francisco is ground zero for the biggest bash of the millennium!!! With a who's who of Bay Area artists in the building, this event will be talked about for a loooooong time to come.
"Pretty To Think So" will also be playing at the Chicago Asian American Showcase. This film world premiered at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival. And is the Official Selection for both the Chicago Asian American Showcase and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. If you miss the film is Chicago, the next stop for this film is the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.
"The Killing of a Chinese Cookie" will be playing at the Chicago Asian American Showcase. This is your second chance to check the film out in Chicago. Next stop for this film is the DisOrient Asian American Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon.
For nearly a century, people have turned to this prophetic dessert for advice, inspiration and even winning lottery combinations. While the fortune cookie has been a source of fascination and a Chinese cuisine staple in North America, it remains nearly non-existent in China. THE KILLING OF A CHINESE COOKIE examines the heated debate over the true origin of the fortune cookie, the mixing of eastern and western cultures that produced it, and the cookie’s rise from a simple pastry to a pop culture phenomenon.
Watch the tailer for "The Killing of a Chinese Cookie"
APCW is celebrating its' 35th birthday!! Come attend events throughout the week to celebrate the Asian Pacific/American community and heritage! Since its inception in 1973, APCW has been providing the UC Davis campus and members of local communities, ranging from Yolo County to the Bay Area, with cultural programs that foster awareness and understanding of the Asian Pacific American culture and experiences through communication, education, and self-affirmation.You can find a full list of events at Asian Pacific Culture Week. Events and panels run April 21 - 25, 2008.
Here's promo video for the event:
This trailer was just released online. The festival runs from May 1-8, 2008.
Look for the following films at the festival:
HIGHLIGHTED PROGRAMS
• OPENING NIGHT - Thursday, May 1 – DGA
PING PONG PLAYA - A Film by Jessica Yu - The Los Angeles premiere of PING PONG PLAYA marks filmmaker Yu’s comedy narrative feature debut starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan, Elizabeth Sung, Smith Cho, Andrew Vo, Khary Payton, Javin Reid, Scott Lowell and Peter Paige
• CENTERPIECE FILM - Sunday, May 4 - DGA
KISSING COUSINS - A Film by Amyn Kaderali - Filmmaker Kaderali brings his debut feature film to this year’s festival starring Samrat Chakrabarti, Rebecca Hazlewood, Gerry Bednob, Zack Ward, Jaleel White and David Alan Grier
• CLOSING NIGHT - Thursday, May 8 - Aratani/Japan America Theatre
THE HOME SONG STORIES - A Film by Tony Ayres – Australian based director Ayres brings a personal story starring the amazing Joan Chen in one of her most powerful performances as a glamorous Shanghai nightclub singer and a mother of two who migrates to Australia and tries to begin a life for her family.
"Forbidden Kingdom" debuted at No. 1 with $20.9 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Look for more #1 debuts this weekend as "Forbidden Kingdom" opens worldwide.
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Forbidden Kingdom," $20.9 million.
2. "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," $17.3 million.
3. "Prom Night," $9.1 million.
4. "88 Minutes," $6.8 million.
5. "Nim's Island," $5.7 million.
6. "21," $5.5 million.
7. "Street Kings," $4 million.
8. "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!", $3.5 million.
9. "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," $3.1 million.
10. "Leatherheads," $3 million.
See some behind the scenes footage from The Forbidden Kingdom:
Today is the Grand Parade for the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival in San Francisco. This will be the 41st year that the event is held. Each year, over 200,000 people attend this event showcasing the Japanese culture and the diversity of the Japanese American Community.
The parade begins at the Civic Center at 1:00p.m., proceeding up Polk to Post Street, and ending in Japantown at Post and Fillmore streets. A number of performers from Japan will also grace us with their presence. Japanese classical (Buyo) and folk dance (Minyo) groups representing the Bay Area will perform throughout the parade route like a myriad of floating butterflies.
World renowned San Francisco Taiko Dojo will keep the parade upbeat with the thundering sound of the taiko, and this year's Queen and her Court will cascade their way to Japantown. Anchoring the parade is the exciting Taru Mikoshi, that will be hoisted by over one hundred strong individuals from throughout the Bay Area. It is a spectacle not to be missed.
Dark Matter, the feature film debut of renowned opera and theater director Chen Shi-Zheng, delves into the world of Liu Xing (Chinese for “Shooting Star”), a Chinese science student pursuing a Ph.D. in the United States in the early 1990s. Driven by ambition, yet unable to navigate academic politics, Liu Xing is inexorably pushed to the margins of American life, until he loses his way. The cast includes Liu Ye, Meryl Streep, and Aidan Quinn.
Dark Matter is loosely based on the 1991 University of Iowa school shootings. With the Virginia Tech shootings a year ago, the film's release was delayed. Controversy has surround the timing of the new release date, which was around the 1 year anniversary of the VA Tech shooting.
Despite the controversy, we need to find better ways to communicate. Both International and American students need to bridge the cultural divide and encourage mutual respect. With the rise in school campus violence in recent years, we need to foster better communication among students, parents, teachers, and administrators.
See the trailer for "Dark Matter" here:
The film won the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize when screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. The award is given each year to a feature film that either focuses on science or technology or depicts a scientist, engineer, or mathematician as the main character.
Playing today at the "Asian American Showcase" in Chicago are two great films: "Vincent Who?" and "West 32nd". If you are in the area, be sure to check them out.
A documentary on Vincent Chin presented by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress in association with Tony Lam Films:
The other film is "West 32nd" by Michael Kang. When John Kim, an ambitious young lawyer, takes on a pro bono case to exonerate a fourteen-year-old boy from a first degree murder charge, he finds a world he never knew existed in the underbelly of Manhattan - the Korean underworld.
Visit the "West 32nd" movie site. This film is also slated to be the opening night film for the "Disorient Asian American Film Festival" on April 24 in Eugene, OR.
Here's a few more "Forbidden Kingdom" interview clips with Crystal Liu Yifei (Golden Sparrow), Collin Chou (Jade Warlord), and Jackie Chan (on "The Late Late show with Craig Ferguson").
Crystal Liu Yifei talks about working with Jackie Chan and Jet Li.
Collin Chou talks about working with action choreographer Woo Ping Yuen.
Jackie Chan on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". Originally aired on Wednesday night, April 16, 2008.
San Diego State University's
Asian Pacific Student Alliance
Proudly Presents:
FLASHING LIGHTS : 2008 Fashion Talent Show
Friday April 18th, 2008 @ 6PM
On Friday, April 18th 2008 in Montezuma Hall, located at San Diego State University’s Aztec Center, we are holding our annual Fashion Talent Show. The show’s purpose is to showcase Asian American and Pacific Islander’s place in society and how we contribute to the community with our talent and taste in fashion. The event will feature fashions from prominent designers in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. There will be various talent and exhibition acts from all over the Southern California region, including dance troupes and musical artists competing for this year’s title of “Fashion Talent Show’s Best Act.”
Music artists on the list include Roscoe Umali and Tatum Jones.
Roscoe Umali brings together all elements of the term "Emcee" in a way that has not been seen since the Golden Era of Hip Hop. In the short span of a year he has redefined the meaning of hustle by collaborating with hip-hop legends such as E-40, Raekwon the Chef, Smif N Wessun, Talib Kweli, and Westcoast Kam. Roscoe is also slated to perform at the "Asian Excellence Awards".
Los Angeles-based R&B group formed in February 2007 by Asian-American singer/songwriters Hans Cho, Justin Fong and Michael Lee. Under the moniker of their former band name, At Last, the three have appeared on TV shows such as, "America's Got Talent," "Showtime at the Apollo," and "The Wayne Brady Show" and have shared the stage with the likes of Boyz II Men, The Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake. See their latest music video "Ain't No Sunshine":
"Forbidden Kingdom" is the first time that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have worked together on the same film. Also behind the scenes is renowned action choreographer Woo-Ping who created the fight sequences, and the director of photography is Peter Pau. This East meets West version of the Monkey King open today. Check your local theatre for showtimes.
Jackie Chan talks about working with Jet Li on the set of "Forbidden Kingdom":
Kristi Yamaguchi has been tearing up the dance floor on "Dancing with the Stars." With her dance partner Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas has "Rumba" their way to a score of 29 out of 30.
See them in action:
You can watch Kristi Yamaguchi on "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC Monday 8/7c.
The Olympic Figure-Skating Gold Medalist is also slated to receive the special Inspiration Award at the Asian Excellence Award.
Looks like votes are still being accepted for the "Asian Excellence Award". Although the press release stated that polls would close on April 16. They are still open. You can vote by going to Asian Excellence Award VIEWER'S CHOICE ONLINE VOTING
Fans can vote for their Favorite TV Personality and Favorite Reality TV Star.
Nominees for the “viewer’s choice” categories are:
FAVORITE TV PERSONALITY
Cheryl Burke -- Dancing with the Stars, ABC
Julie Chen -- Big Brother, CBS
Mark Dacascos -- Iron Chef America-“The Chairman”, Food Network
Padma Lakshmi -- Top Chef, Bravo
Tila Tequila -- A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila, MTV
Vern Yip -- Deserving Spaces, HGTV
Carrie Ann Inaba -- Dance Wars: Bruno Vs. Carrie Ann, ABC
Kimora Lee Simmons -- Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane, The Style Network
FAVORITE REALITY STAR
Ronald & Christina -- The Amazing Race, CBS
Yau-Man Chan -- Survivor: Fans vs. Favorites, CBS
Victorya Hong -- Project Runway, Bravo
Hung Hyunh -- Top Chef, Bravo
JabbaWockeeZ -- America’s Best Dance Crew, MTV
Kaba Modern -- America’s Best Dance Crew, MTV
Ramiele Malubay -- American Idol, FOX
Nicole Niestemski -- Your Mama Don’t Dance, Lifetime
Jonathan Silva -- Your Mama Don’t Dance, Lifetime
Voting is underway and runs through April 16. The winners will be announced during the telecast.
Vote wile you still can. Also YouTube founder Steve Chen will be presented with the Pioneer Award and Olympic Figure-Skating Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will receive the special Inspiration Award.The show, which is being hosted by Carrie Ann Inaba (Dancing with the Stars) and Bobby Lee (Madtv), will also feature performances by dance troops JabaWockeeZ and KABA Modern, as well as Grammy® nominated singer/actress Tia Carrere. Comedian Russell Peters will serve as backstage host, providing the voice and comic relief. See the 2008 Asian Excellence Award teaser:
CALL FOR EXTRAS! Have you ever wanted to be in the movies? If you have, you can be an extra in the upcoming musical "Fruit Fly".
We're seeking extras for our musical feature, Fruit
Fly, by the makers of Colma: the Musical.
We're shooting this Saturday and Sunday - doing a song called "Public Transit" appropriately enough on Muni one day and BART the other day. We're looking for extras to play commuters on their way to work in the city. However, the fun part is that our extras actually get to be part of the performance - with some minor lip-syncing to the song and basic choreographed movement (not dance). So it's a chance to really perform in the film.
The shoot times are Saturday 4/19 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Muni downtown, or Sunday 4/20 from noon to 4 pm on BART.
Anyone interested can email our Associate Producer Krystel at krystelgapasin@yahoo.com. If possible, send a photo, contact number and day available.
Once you email Krystel more info will be emailed to you about the shoot.
Ming Tsai was spotted in last week's episode of Bravo's Top Chef. He was the celebrity guest judge. The episode's theme was The Elements, where teams worked on dishes based on Earth, Water, Fire, or Air.
If you are in Wellesley, MA, drop my Ming Tsai's restaurant "Blue Ginger".
Today is the last game of the season for the Golden State Warriors. They play the Seattle Supersonics at 7:30PM PST. If you can't catch the game, you can watch Baron David and Kevjumba challenge each other to a game of "basketball".
Speaking of basketball, have you seen Kobe Byrant jump over an Ashton Martin?:
Secret Standup with Bobby Lee in Hawaii
Free Admission. 18 & up. First Come, first serves
where:
Laugh Factory @ Manao Grand Ballroom
Honolulu, HI
when:
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Doors open at 7pm
Show starts at 8pm
For free admission, bring a copy of your Myspace profile with Secret Standup in your Top 8.
Here's a clip of Bobby Lee performing standup:
You can add Bobby Lee as your friend on myspace. According to his myspace page, this will be bobby's 7th and final season. Catch him on MADtv while you still can.
David Choi is a songwriter/producer/singer/remixer from the Los Angeles area. After getting accepted into ASCAP’s Lester Sill Workshop run by Brendan Okrent, Judy Stakee and Keith Emrick, it has led him to sign with Judy Stakee at Warner Chappell Publishing as a staff songwriter/producer as of April, 2006. David is currently working with various artists and writers. While he makes Youtube videos to entertain, educate, and inform, he is also one of the Most Subscribed Musicians (All Time) on Youtube. Mr. Choi is not known to smile in any of his videos.
Below is David Choi's video entry into the Turbo Tax Rap Contest. Although he didn't win, he still won a "Viewers Choice Award":
You only have a few hours left to file your taxes.
While researching "Kissing Cousins", we found that director Amyn Kaderali has posted his short film "Call Center" on youtube. The hilarious short film on outsourcing has been seen by over 2 million viewers. (see the official website). The youtube version is preceded by the trailer for "Kissing Cousins". Due to length, the short film has been split in two parts, so don't forget to check out part II. You can watch the short below:
If you missed "Kissing Cousins" over the weekend, you can catch it again tonite at the "Asian American Showcase"
Here's audience reactions after the "Kissing Cousins" world premiere screening at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival last month:
Wong Kar-wai is known for such films as "Chungking Express", "Ashes of Time", and "In the mood for Love". "My Blueberry Nights' is Wong Kar-Wai's first English language feature. This film was the opening film for the 2007 Cannes Film Festival. Currently, the film is in very limited release. Check local listings to see if the film is playing in your area.
Watch the trailer
Director Wong Kar-wai sought after singer Norah Jones to be a part of the film. Wong Kar-wai talks about his film in this clip.
Norah Jones talks about her experience on "My Blueberry Nights." Also of note is that Norah is part Bengali.
If you are in the Chicago Area, drop by the 13th edition of “Asian American Showcase”. The showcase runs from April 11 through 24. This year’s theme is “Lucky 13”. They will celebrate film and video production by Asian American directors through 13 Chicago-premiere programs and a “Lucky 13”-themed exhibition by Asian American artists in their gallery/café.
Details:
April 11-24, 2008
Gene Siskel Film Center
164 North State Street
Chicago Il 60601
Here's some of the films in the lineup:
Opening Night - Ping Pong Playa
Closing Night - Santa Mesa
Other films of note include "Vincent Who?" and "West 32nd"
Directors scheduled to appear include Michael Kang (West 32nd), Amyn Kaderali (Kissing Cousins), and Frances Hsueh and Steven Hahn (Pretty to Think So)
Playing tonight is "Kissing Cousins". Watch the trailer below.
2nd Annual New York City Asian American Student Conference
The New York City Asian American Student Conference is an annual gathering dedicated to promoting awareness of APA issues and history among college students.
This year, their theme is "Redefine", which explores the evolution of the APA community, highlighting its past, present and future.
Details:
Saturday, April 12th
9:30am - 9:30pm
New York University Kimmel Center
60 Washington Square South
NY, NY
Planet B-boy is still circulating around the country. So far this film has earned about $140,860. His Planet B-boy videos were also featured on Youtube last week. Here's director Benson Lee talking about his film:
Jin's myspace page looks like is going in to reconstruction, but here's Jin freestylin' to his latest track. His next album release is expected sometime this year.
Star Trek star George Takei performed "On the Road Again" on national television this week. Take a look at the clip:
No matter what you thought of Mr. Sulu's singing. It's one and done for the show "Secret Talents of the Stars". After only one airing, the show was canceled.
Since its release on March 28th, 2008, '21' has been at the top of the U.S box office for the past 2 weeks and raked in over $46MM. This weekend will probably see '21' get dethroned as #1 in the box office. The main controversy for this film has been the "white-washing" of the lead roles.
"The main characters of Bringing Down the House are Jeff Ma and Mike Aponte, former real-life MIT students who are both Asian American men. Jeff Ma is played by Jim Sturgess, Mike Aponte is played by Jacob Pitts, and John Chang is played by Kevin Spacey."
Follow the controversy on this facebook page - Boycott 21
Here's a clip of the real life Jeff Ma:
In this video, Jeff answers the question "They cast a white actor for your part... doesn't that make you a race traitor?"
Here's a clip of the real life Mike "MIT Mike" Aponte
Another interesting group has also landed on facebook - Asians Not Brain-Washed By Media. The list of officers in this group reads like a who's who of Asian American entertainment. Join the group and spread the word.
Yesterday, the Olympics torch went through the only North American destination, San Francisco. Pro-China and pro-Tibet demonstrators lined up along the supposed torch route. However, last minute changes had the torch running a different route bypassing protesters and catching everyone off guard including the media. The torch's next stop is Argentina.
Here's another video
Here's some of the Asian Americans that were selected to carry the Olympic torch in San Francisco:
Chris Chui, 16 Alameda
Chris was stricken with infantile paralysis at age three. Track and field became Chris’ motivation to overcome his physical disabilities. He eventually became Captain of his high school team, he received the award for Most Outstanding Freshman/Sophomore Sprinter, and he went on to became a captain of a team-Relay For Life raising fund for American Cancer Society. Just as Chris’s grandfather brought a jar of soil to America from China, so Chris will carry the torch for all Chinese Americans and for all children with physical disabilities.
Anni Chung, 57 San Francisco
Anni has been the President & CEO of Self-Help for the Elderly since 1981 where she oversees and manages a community-based organization that provides a comprehensive range of health, educational, social and recreational services to over 25,000 seniors a year in San Francisco. Anni is participating on behalf of all of her clients and seniors throughout the Bay Area and across the country.
Edwin Lee, 55 San Francisco
As City Administrator, Ed has his hands on all the programs that make San Francisco a great symbol of diversity and strength to the world at large. Ed proudly represents all outstanding services and employees of this unique city, and he hopes that the Torch Relay will show off San Francisco at its very best.
Robin Luo, 21 San Leandro
For Robin, the Olympic torch represents hope. In 2006, she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer and left school to get radiation and chemotherapy. Throughout her ordeal though, Robin always believed she would make it. And she did. She graduated from college a semester early. Every weekday, she runs 2 miles in the morning. She wants to bring hope to others. She wants to show them what a cancer survivor can accomplish.
Raj Mathai, 37 San Carlos
Two-time Emmy award winning Raj Mathai serves as sports director for NBC11. In 2004, the Associated Press honored him for Outstanding Sports Segment. He's also been awarded regional Emmys for Outstanding Sports Program in 2002 and 1998. Raj has reported on-location from the Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, Athens, Greece and Salt Lake City, Utah. Raj and his family contribute to cancer research, the Leukemia Society and various other Bay Area charities.
Rachel Tsao, 16 Moraga
Rachel is a high school student, who is making the world more sustainable by learning environmental science and applying what she has learned to make a difference. She has led a campaign to encourage used of compact fluorescent light bulbs in her neighborhood and her community. Rachel also has started a "Full Tire" program where volunteers fill up under inflated car tires on cars that stop at the local gas stations to improve gas mileage. By being an active environmentalist, Rachel speaks for the youth of her generation that will carry on the torch to a more sustainable Earth.
Helen Zia, 55 Oakland
Helen is a journalist and scholar who has covered Asian American communities and social and political movements for decades. Zia is former Executive Editor of Ms. Magazine. Her articles, essays and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, books and anthologies. A Magazine named her one of the most influential Asian Americans of the decade. She is the author of “Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People”, a finalist for the prestigious Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize. She was married to Lia Shigemura in San Francisco in 2004.
Here's why journalist and human rights activist Helen Zia wanted to carry the Olympic torch
Comcast's AZN Television - The Network for Asian America sends its last broadcast signal at 12pm today. AZN R.I.P. (March 28, 2005 - April 9, 2008)
Although AZN is shutting down, channelAPA believes a market still exists to broadcast Asian American Entertainment. We are launching the same time the AZN is closing. This site is as an experiment building an Asian American "channel". While we don't have a huge war chest of funds (this site was started with less than $60), we can uncover new and exciting Asian American talent across the country with the help of the viewers of this site. In recent weeks, we have seen JabbaWockeeZ become America's Best Dance Crew and Cung Le become the Strikeforce middleweight champion. The time to build this "channel" is now. Strike while the iron is hot!
The concept is simple: every day we will try to post a video of interest to Asian Americans such as music, movies, and comedy. If you know of a video or have a video you want to promote, let us know. Email us at webmaster@channelapa.com
We got some motivation watching Guy Kawasaki's "Art of the Start" video
As we continue to grow, we hope to "make meaning" and "niche ourselves."
