04.30.04
This housing case out of Chicago is another unfortunate result of that cursed "model minority" stereotype: Misconceptions harm Asian-Americans
04.30.04
Asians are projected to be the fastest-growing major population category over the next half-century, outpacing blacks, whites and Hispanics in the United States. Recent Census Bureau projections show the Asian population could grow by a third, to 14 million, by 2010 and more than triple to 33 million in 2050: Asian Population Surging Across America. Surging? Wow. That's right, we're movin' on up, baby. AND WE AIN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
04.30.04
The team behind the Fusion Series have launched Mixed Media Watch, a blog that will monitor how people of mixed race are represented in the media. Interesting stuff, so check it out.
04.30.04
Mean Girls opens in theaters today. Judging from trailers, I presume it's a comedy about popularity and the cruelty of high school cliques. I don't plan on seeing it, but I've been getting some mail from folks who've seen preview screenings... So, in this movie high school world, there are different kinds of cliques runnin' the halls.... including the group known as the "Cool Asians," who speak Vietnamese amongst themselves. One of the girls is identified as "Trang Pak," some kind of weird Korean/Vietnamese amalgam name... Overall, people have been telling me mixed things. Again, I haven't seen it, but I wouldn't necessarily call the "Cool Asians" an inaccurate portrayal—I've known girls like this. I should add that nerdy Asians are also in the movie, part of the "Mathletes." Had to happen, I guess. Anyway, just letting you know.
04.30.04
Asian American Theater Company's production of The Importance of Being Earnest opens today in San Francisco. A modern, Asian American take on Oscar Wilde's classic, absurdist comedy. The play runs through May 29.
04.30.04
Interview with the ever-controversial, crazy, hilarious Margaret Cho: 'There Are No Limits'
04.30.04
Last night on The Tonight Show, in Jay Leno's opening monologue, he mentioned how porn is being outsourced to other nations... then he cracked, "At least we don't have to worry about Asian guys takin our jobs in that industry!" Leno obviously hasn't seen Masters of the Pillow.
04.29.04
Archie Kao guest starred on ER tonight (he was on last week too). Daniel Dae Kim was also back in his recurring role as social worker Ken Sung. We already know Daniel's in the pilot for a new J.J. Abrams series. I'm telling you, it's only a matter of time before Archie gets cast in something big... watch out for this guy. Call it a hunch.
Alas, Shii Ann was eliminated from Survivor: All-Stars, as many expected. Badass 'till the end. It was good while it lasted.
And hey, some love to Jasmine Trias, who's still holdin' it down strong on American Idol. All the way, baby.
04.29.04
Reminder: VC Filmfest 2004 - The Visual Communications Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Festival begins tonight. It's on!
04.29.04
Hey, all you Trading Spaces fans. Vern's getting his own show: 'Trading's' Yip says he's leaving. He'll start production on NBC's Design Intervention in June. Go Vern.
04.28.04
Aw geez. People were writing/calling/messaging me about tonight's Law & Order before it even aired on the west coast. Lots of Asians in this one! From the NBC website:
A VIOLENT ROBBERY ISN'T AS CLEAR CUT AS IT SEEMS -- When a female Japanese tourist is gunned down while seeing the sights with her husband, Detectives Briscoe (Jerry Orbach) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) utilize the description of the attacker provided by the grieving spouse, to scour for a suspect. However, when they arrest of the suspect uncovers an alleged conspiracy plot, they focus their suspicions on the victim's husband as the mastermind behind this murder. Sam Waterston, Elisabeth Rohm, Fred Thompson and S.Epatha Merkerson also star. TV-14
It's much worse than it sounds. I'm writing this as I watch it. The episode, entitled "Gaijin," opens with a frantic 911 call. The emergency operator can't understand the caller, who has a thick Japanese accent. "I can't understand! His accent!" I'm not kidding. But it gets worse. A lot worse.
Normally unaccented Will Yun Lee plays the grieving husband, who claims he and his wife was assaulted and robbed by a black man. But get this, there is no black man, he made it up—it's the Yakuza! The episode pretty much just spirals into the most racist, stereotypical crap you can imagine, complete with Japanese gangsters and bad BAD accents. Not to mention the HUGE racial implications of blaming the fictitious black suspect—the exploitation of racial division. Can't believe this garbage. That's racist!
I'm so angry. The episode's still on as I write this, just getting worse and worse. I want to throw my TV out the window. I can't write anything rational anymore... Read this coverage of the show over at Banana-Coconut Magazine: Fancy A Kick In The Beanbag Or In Your Pearly Whites? (while you're at it, check out the rest of Banana-Coconut—they've got good stuff).
It's over now. I can't believe they fit that much racist crap into one episode.
04.28.04
So maybe you've seen commercials for that Olsen Twins movie, New York Minute. Like the rest of America, I was all pumped to see it—but now I'm not down. Why? Got this from Mike Kang's blog:
I was watching Letterman and Andy Richter was on promoting the new Olsen Twins movie that he's in. It turns out that he plays a white guy who is the adopted son of a Chinatown mob boss. On top of being a bad kung-fu artist a la "Beverly Hills Ninja" and playing the inscrutable treacherous villain, he's got a friggin' CHINESE CHING CHONG ACCENT! Maaaan! I like Andy. Moreover, I think he knows how bad it is. He even gave a nod to how fucked up it was at the end of the interview calling out for the protest letters. I know everyone has to make a buck, but Andy? Why Andy? Why?
Aw man. Mary Kate and Ashley, you rocked so much on Full House. I dug all your sing-along videos. And I never miss a single issue of your magazine. But this time you've let me down, allowing this kind of crap in your movie. You've lost a fan. That's racist!
04.28.04
In case you haven't seen it, this is the form response Fairchild Publications is sending out regarding the "Gay or Asian?" feature:
Thank you for your letter regarding the "Gay or Asian" article which ran
in the April issue of Details. As a company, Fairchild Publications
takes this issue very seriously and we are working toward a positive
resolution.
Details Editor-in-Chief Daniel Peres has issued a statement of apology
for the article.††In addition, we are meeting with leaders from the Gay
and Asian communities over the next week. Mr. Peres will address this
matter in the June/July issue of the magazine.
Below is a copy of Mr. Peres' statement of regret.
Over the past three weeks, I have received an unprecedented number of
letters regarding the "Gay or Asian?" piece, which ran in the April
issue of Details.
It has been made abundantly clear to me that this story, which is part
of an ongoing series challenging male cultural stereotypes, was
insensitive, hurtful, and in poor taste - an obvious point that I regret
not recognizing prior to publication.
There's a line that should never be crossed in any satirical humor, and
Details crossed it. I, on behalf of the magazine, deeply regret this
misstep, and apologize to those who were offended.
Sincerely,
Daniel Peres
Editor-in-Chief, Details
Again, thank you for contacting us. We want to assure you we are taking
measures to address your concerns.
Sincerely,
Andrea Kaplan
Vice President,
Corporate Communications
Fairchild Publications, Inc.
Speak up, and they will hear you.
Forgot to mention this, but here's ac2004's take on the "Gay or Asian?" piece, an ode to Ms. McNally: Whitney McNally: Racist or Idiot?
04.28.04
The guy who directed Chan Is Missing and Joy Luck Club also directed Maid In Manhattan and Anywhere But Here. And now, perhaps Last Holiday with Queen Latifah: Wang Eyeing 'Holiday' Stay for Queen Latifah
04.28.04
If you're like me, when you think of Yo-Yo Ma, you think, asskicker: Yo-Yo Ma to Perform on PBS Show
04.28.04
The FBI has increased its monitoring of hate groups' Web sites since the conviction of white supremacist Matthew Hale on charges he sought to have a judge murdered: FBI Steps Up Watching Web Hate Groups. I know there are people out there who think my website is a pain in the ass. I'm okay with that. You can think whatever you want, as long as you respect my right to publish it. And I'll respect yours. But there's definitely a line between protected free speech and advocating violence. The web's a scary, powerful tool, and I guess we sometimes do need to keep it in check.
04.28.04
Meet Xuan Wen Li. Semiconductor firm AXT, Inc. poisoned him with arsenic, then fired him —along with about 500 other Chinese immigrants: The AXT Way. A lengthy but important article about real immigrant worker exploitation. That's racist!
04.28.04
New guy in the majors... The Cleveland Indians recently called up Kazuhito Tadano to the majors from Class AAA Buffalo. The 24-year-old Japanese
right-hander made his first appearance this week against
the Chicago White Sox: Ready or not, Tadano joins the pen
04.28.04
Washington Post article on the new museum at the Manzanar War Relocation Center: New Museum Revives Painful Memories for Internees
04.28.04
According to Korean press, U.S. Marine Brad Shuder, 21, Lance Corporal, was killed during a battle this month near the town of Fallujah: First Korean American Casualty in Iraq
04.28.04
Law & Order: SVU's B.D. Wong will be making his feature directorial debut with Social Grace, an independent romantic comedy about "the cultural complications that occur when an Asian American woman realizes her Cinderella fantasy by dating one of [New York's] most eligible blue-blood bachelors." Wong will also have a supporting role.
Wong says, "It has the potential to be a very commercial mainstream comedy with an Asian American point of view that is honest and fresh. Growing up with the assumption that being Cinderella is what makes a girl happy is a loaded prospect when you're an Asian girl who gets to a juncture where it's
not clear whether it's the guy or his world that she's fallen in love with."
(from Daily Variety)
04.28.04
Hey, San Francisco. If you don't know about manja, you don't know nothin'. Manja is an independent online guide to Asian American arts events going on in the San Francisco Bay Area. Very cool. So... looking for something to do? Check the events listing, and I'll see you around. Support Asian American arts!
04.27.04
Website for upcoming movie: Alone in the Dark. Based on the video game. Couple of Asian actors in the cast. Don't know how big their roles are, or if their roles are even any good. But there you go.
In other movie news, check out this article: Action flick turns ugly. It's about the recent production of Stealth, an action/adventure flick running into problems with environmentalists on location. Yeah, yeah, I could really care less. What sucks is the sequence described in the article, actress Jessica Biel being chased on foot "by actors playing Korean soldiers." Just great. More faceless Korean thugs. That's racist! Also note director Rob Cohen's remark about the "average Japanese tourist." Yes, this movie is brought to you by the genius director of The Fast and the Furious and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." It all makes sense.
04.27.04
Strip Search, an HBO film airing tonight, sounds kind of interesting, but this review says it smells like poo-poo-ooo: When the Nation Is at Risk, Did You Say Civil Rights?. With Ken Leung!
04.27.04
This is ridiculous, from San Jose State's paper: Asians not football fans, some say. People are blaming lack of support for SJSU's football program on the school's large Asian population? The argument is that being a more recent immigrant community, Asians aren't into football. That's a load of crap. People don't go to Spartan games because the Spartans suck. If you have a winning football team, people will come out to the games—it's as simple as that. Don't blame it on the Asians.
If the Spartans were playing good football, with a sellout crowd every game, I highly doubt people would specifically credit Asian students for their loyal support.
04.27.04
Jackie Chan takes on a new role: Chan Is Named U.N. Goodwill Ambassador
04.27.04
Yo, Yao Ming has a posse. It's Club Yao, the official fan club of Yao Ming. Join today!
04.26.04
The very awesome Ishle Park has been named poet laureate of Queens, NYC: The new people's poet. Dude, she even beat out former Run-DMC frontman Joseph Simmons (Rev. Run). How cool is that? That's cool. So if you haven't checked out her stuff, you oughta.
04.26.04
ImaginAsian Entertainment has announced that it will be launching a new Asian American art-house theater and cultural center in New York early this summer. The ImaginAsian will be the only theater in New York City dedicated to first-run Asian and Asian-American films. The venue, located at 239 East 59th Street (between Second and Third Avenues), will offer 300 seats for the screening of feature films, music performances, satellite-fed events and exhibitions. They've even signed the 27th Asian-American International Film Festival (July 16-24) as its first event. This is pretty cool...
04.26.04
Interview with filmmaker Justin Lin: Just In-credible. Interesting insights on filmmaking, the industry, post-BLT success and future projects.
04.26.04
For my people in LA, it's coming, and it's big: VC Filmfest 2004 - 20th Anniversary Edition Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film and Video Festival, April 29 - May 6. Featuring the biggest and best of Asian and Asian American film. Opening Night kicks off with a newly restored print screening of Wayne Wang's Chan Is Missing—the old school classic that jumpstarted Asian American indie film. Twenty years ago! The festival also features a retrospective of Wayne Wang's earlier films, along with a wide array of the latest and greatest Asian/Asian American films and videos. Closing Night film is the LA premiere of Takeshi Kitano's Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman. Sweet. All starting this week, presented by Visual Communications. So if you don't know, now you know.
04.26.04
MANAA (Media Action Network for Asian Americans) reports on two potential new pilot shows for the Fall 2004 season with Asian Americans as series regulars, The Men's Room and Hawaii Blue: Pilots Featuring Asian Pacific Americans in Contention for the Fall 2004. Voice your opinion to execs at NBC, and let them know you stand behind this kind of diversity in casting. The good folks at Asian Media Watchdog have started up a support campaign, complete with petitions and contact info.
My goodness—Cary Hiroyuki-Tagawa as a good guy? I didn't know you could do that.
04.25.04
Japanese American internees from World War II got their first look at the new National Park Service museum in Manzanar, CA: Finally, Sharing Manzanar's Bitter Tale
04.24.04
From the Sun-Times... Asian American contractors will no longer be automatically included in Chicago's construction set-aside program —essentially, they're no longer considered a "presumptively socially disadvantaged": Asians bumped from set-aside plan. What's up with that?
04.24.04
Movie asskicker Mark Dacascos is the new host of Iron Chef America, which premiered last night on the Food Network.
04.24.04
Some major recent developments in the protest against Details, reported by Asian Media Watchdog. This week, they (with representatives from other groups) met with Details/Fairchild Publications to outline their demands over the matter. Here's an overview of the meeting (with proposed demands and outcomes). They've also got a letter to Details from Peter Kim, the model who posed for the "Gay or Asian?" feature—without knowledge of how the picture would be used.Understandably, he's pissed. They've also got photos from last week's protest in NYC. Check it out, be informed.
04.23.04
Hey! Truck Was Stuck, the new album from singer Annie Lin, is now available at CD Baby. Houston-based Annie is "a 5'4 guitar-toting pixie who plays quirky, acoustic pop." Check it out.
04.23.04
Calling your attention to this very cool-looking event going on at UC Davis this weekend: Broken English, an APIA arts and activism conference. The even includes "Bombs and Butterflies," a massive spoken word showcase featuring the likes of Mango Tribe and 8th Wonder. Presented by Ill-Literacy. Awesome.
04.23.04
Some key findings from Children Now's annual Prime Time Diversity Report. During the Fall 2003-04 season, a youth watching prime time on any of the six major television networks would most likely see...
The number of Latino characters has increased to more than six percent of the 2003-04 prime-time population, up from 4% in 2001-02. Among opening credits characters, the percentage increased threefold, from two percent to six percent. More than half of all prime time shows now include at least one Latino character.
- The percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander characters has not changed over the past five years, and the percentage of Asian "opening credits" characters actually declined, from two percent in 1999-2000 to one percent this season.
- Nearly two-thirds of all characters were male (65%) while one-third were female (35%), a proportion unchanged in five years.
- Female characters were younger than male characters: females were more likely to be aged 19-29 than any other age group, while males were more likely to be 30-39. Older women were difficult to find on prime-time television.
- Nearly half of Arab/Middle Eastern characters (46%) were criminals. Both Latinos and Middle Easterners were more likely to be criminals than to have a professional job such as a doctor or a judge.
- There were no Native American characters in any episode in the study's sample.
- The 8 o'clock hour, when children are most likely to watch television, is the least diverse hour on prime time.
- Sitcoms, children's favorite program genre, are the least diverse shows in prime time.
Frustrating, sad news... yet no real surprise, right?
04.22.04
This article argues that Carradine was the better choice (over Bruce Lee) for Kung Fu, and that "the rationale that actors shouldn't play characters of different nationalities is thin as rice paper." Load of crap: Yes, master, 'Kung Fu' is out on DVD
04.22.04
"Do you think they respect Chinese movies?" Hong Kong actor Andy Lau ain't takin' no jive. You won't be seeing him settle for Hollywood's crappy stereotypical roles for Asians anytime soon: Chinese Actor Andy Lau Shuns Hollywood
04.22.04
I too, see "a continued pattern of minimal progress in diversifying the news media workforce." These guys mean business: Joint Statement by UNITY, AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ and NAJA on the Annual American Society of Newspaper Editors Newsroom Census
04.22.04
Heads up. It's coming soon: ImaginAsian TV
04.22.04
CraigsList post from a photographer in New York looking for subjects for a portrait project, specifically Asian men and their non-Asian girlfriend/wife/partners: Photo Project: Asian Men with Non-Asian Partners
04.22.04
Oliver Wang has something to say to all the William Hung Haters: Full Circle; No false idol
The protests against him can be so overstated - one pundit called him an Asian Sambo - you have to wonder if some male critics aren't dealing with their own self-image issues, ironic given that Hung seems so unburdened by his own. Far from the simpering, passive stereotype of Asian masculinity he's supposed to represent, Hung has shown little fear in boldly taking to the stage, and not as some shuckin' and jivin' act.
He enters the media spotlight and lets it all hang out. His earnestness, call it naivete if you insist, can be painful to watch, but it's also what Hung contributes. Far from the one-dimensional cartoon his critics paint him as, Hung comes off instead as vulnerable, confused, optimistic, and joyful, all at once. "It's good to be Hung," because to be Hung means admitting to your limitations, knowing that some will laugh at you, but boldly striding onto the stage anyway. It's as complex and inspiring a portrait of humanity as one could hope for, and truly, when was the last time we've seen that in any American idol, Asian or otherwise?
I'm not a fan of William, but one thing I've found problematic are arguments that he should give it a rest, because doesn't positively represent Asian Americans... His detractors say he's an Asian geek, the image of everything we've been fighting against. Yes, it sucks that he's currently the most famous Asian in America. The problem is, William is just being William—it's not an act. How can you fault him for being who he is? That's like saying, "Get off the stage! You're not cool enough to represent me!" If anything, he should give it a rest because he's simply a godawful singer.
But is William popular/funny to America because he's Asian? You bet your ass. It's America that's racist. I really hope William understands that a significant factor in his popularity is his goofy Asian-ness—and people are laughing at him. From there, he can decide screw them, because all he really wants to do is sing, to all and any who will listen. Hate the game, not the player.
It's long overdue, but his fifteen minutes will eventually be up.
Oh, here's Entertainment Weekly's review of Inspiration. It gets a big fat F.
04.21.04
Simple, to the point: F*ck Details Magazine. Courtesy of Nemo. A "Rock The Vote" event, April 22 at The Roxy in W. Hollywood.
04.21.04
Blacklava, proprietor of kick-ass t-shirts, shoots back at Details mag with a response to the "Gay or Asian" matter: Details Assails. Very clever. So buy one and wear it. Then, if some dude stops you on the street and asks what the heck is your t-shirt is about, you can tell them about this whole racist thing that happened with Details. Maybe you can even bust out a copy of the "Gay or Asian" article you've got folded up in your back pocket. So you explain it, get angry, and there you go, one more person knows what's up. And of course, knowing is half the battle.
04.21.04
The new president of San Jose State is an Asian guy: Paul Yu of New York Named New San JosÈ State University President
04.21.04
Robot Stories had a really good run in the Bay Area over the weekend—the film's biggest opening weekend thus far, and apparently the fourth highest grossing per screen average in the nation. Not too shabby for a self-distributed little indie film. As a result, Robot Stories' run has been extended in the Bay Area for another week. As for the rest of the country, it'll be rolling out in a whole mess of cities over the next month, so check www.robotstories.net for the complete schedule.
04.21.04
Check out this article, on the results from a psychology study on emotion and prejudice: Hard-Wired for Prejudice? Experts Examine Human Response to Outsiders. Psychologists are finding that it's only a short step from feeling angry to feeling angry at someone, especially if that person is of a different social group, sex or ethnicity. Read the reactions to the "Juan Garcia" and "Julie Goldberg" cases, in particular—it's fascinating and disturbing.
04.21.04
The TIME 100—TIME Magazine's list of the most influential people in the world today. Features many notable Asians, including Yao Ming, Norah Jones, Aishwarya Rai, Wu Yi, Hideo Nakata, Tiger Woods and Ken Kutaragi, among others. Heck, Kim Jong Il is even on the list...
04.20.04
Here's a casting call for Eric Byler's new film American Knees, spotted yesterday on CraigsList: Asian American Actor needed for Romantic Lead. Let us really meditate on that last sentence. Asian American Actor needed for Romantic Lead. Wow. Can you dig that?
04.20.04
Emil G. with some more hatin' on William Hung: Hung As Buckwheat. Ouch.
04.20.04
Filipino American funnyman Rex Navarette: We are what we laugh at
04.20.04
You bet your ass: South Korea's Got Seoul
04.20.04
The percentage of black college graduates majoring in engineering fields has increased from less than 2% to more than 12% in the past 30 years, according a report by the U.S. Department of Education: Percentage of black students graduating in engineering is rising. Meanwhile, among Asians, 10.1% in the class of 1972 majored in engineering fields; that figure doubled to 20.2% in 1982 but dropped back to 10.8% for 1992. This is good news or bad news, depending on who you are, and how you look at it. Personally, I think it's encouraging... we can and will do other things besides the nerdy subjects!
04.20.04
Some interesting Asian American film articles:
Ethnically--Chinese-Vietnamese-American
San Diego Film Teacher Inspires Hmong Writer
Women and Asian American
Read 'em all.
04.20.04
The trials and tribulations of getting your indie film out there: Tales of Self-Distribution. Greg Pak's Robot Stories gets profiled in there.
04.20.04
Interesting essay on interracial dating and marriage, by Rev. Sequoyah Ade: The Passions of Suzie Wong revisited
04.19.04
Spotted Daniel Dae Kim was 24 last night, back as Agent Baker. Brief, but very cool and badass.
On the other hand, last night on Alias, Sydney gunned down a whole mess of nameless Asian thugs. It was just about the most un-subtle thing she's ever done as a spy. Not even attempted hand-to-hand asskicking. She's just mowed them all down with a machine gun. That's racist!
04.19.04
An editorial on Capt. James Yee in the Washington Post: Capt. Yee's Muzzle
04.19.04
This article reports that Details Editor-In-Chief Daniel Peres has offered an apology for the "Gay or Asian?" piece:
Over the past three weeks, I have received an unprecedented number of letters regarding the "Gay or Asian?" piece, which ran in the April issue of Details.
It has been made abundantly clear to me that this story, which is part of an ongoing series challenging male cultural stereotypes, was insensitive, hurtful, and in poor taste - an obvious point that I regret not recognizing prior to publication.
There's a line that should never be crossed in any satirical humor, and Details crossed it. I, on behalf of the magazine, deeply regret this misstep, and apologize to those who were offended.
Sincerely,
Daniel Peres
Oh, so NOW it's an "obvious point" that the piece was "insensitive, hurtful, and in poor taste"?
04.19.04
A little late after its theatrical release, but here's an interesting critical analysis of Japanese Story: The sacrificial Asian in Australian film
04.19.04
Commando Films' X. Dean Lim gets to do some ranting: "Yellow Truth" Director's Update
04.19.04
No doubt inspired by the surprise stardom of American Idol reject William Hung, we now have Superstar USA, a competition showcasing the worst American musical talent: The WB's Anti-"Idol". It's a sad, sad world we live in.
04.19.04
Everyone can name an Asian American news reporter. You might even have one in your local newscast. Heck, in my market I can name at least five. But chances are, these reporters are mostly women. Am I right? Where are all the Asian American men in news? It's problematic. The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) are trying to do something about this, having researched and documented the lack Asian American men representing us in the news, and have a produced a video—"The Men of AAJA: DVD Showcase" highlights the work of more than sixty Asian American men from network and local TV stations all around the country. Hopefully, that's sixty Asian American men that news executives around the country are now aware of. Here's an article: A Few Good (Asian-American) Men. There's a brief clip of the video in the article's sidebar. I really wish they used a better choice for music for the intro...
04.18.04
Way too often, people write to me and I have no idea what the hell they're talking about:
Hi my name is ____________ and I am from San Fransico in California, currently 11th grade at ____________. I found out about the angryman web site from the Stir group. Well, what can i say about the Asian "racism" issue is,you can never aware of that. Because when people do not accept each other...that is the issue...and yet, i should say sometimes Asian people races the Black people (African American) too. Why? I do not know! But that is not fair to them either!!! Do you think so?
Haha~I like your web site and I like the format! hmm~better than mine!!~ yea
I want to ask about the information about the oprea thing that locates at UC Berkeley...what is it? Did you write that story??
What?
04.16.04
Don't forget the protest against Details is today, 11:30am - 1:30pm, at 7 West 34th Street (at 5th Avenue) in New York. Show up, bring a sign, and tell those racists fools what's up.
04.16.04
This isn't Asian American-related, but it's a racial justice issue... There's currently a sit-in in progress on the University of Illinois campus. A group of forty activists have locked the administration out of their office building and have blockaded the doors in protest of the school's Native American mascot, Chief Illiniwek: Protesters sit in at Swanlund. Drastic measures against an apathetic, inactive administration. Supporters might claim that the Chief is designed to "honor" Native Americans, but the fact of the matter is, he's a white guy dressed in a fake Indian suit, dancing around at basketball games. What the hell is that? That's racist!
04.16.04
In other movie news, Jimmy Lee's Close Call premieres theatrically in Los Angeles. I haven't seen this film, don't know anything about it. All I know is, it's about a teenager with a nose ring, who gets involved with some very bad things. Yeah, I'm no help. That's why we look to the movie's website:
Close Call is a coming of age awakening heartfelt story about a teenage girl trapped in a downward spiral of promiscuous sex, drugs, alcohol use, and criminality. Brutally honest in its depiction of the damage wrought by the breakdown of the family in contemporary America, Close Call adds another theme to the story: The ever-widening gap between first generation parents and the generation Y children. Close Call focuses on sixteen-year-old Jenny Kim, born and raised in corrupt Los Angeles. Family problems lead to a divorce causing Jenny to suffer from intense feelings of alienation and abandonment. Ignorant of her native culture and unsure of her place in American society, Jenny finds herself vulnerable to the evil influences and temptations surrounding her from friends, raves, boys and other mishaps. While her mother loses control of her, it is her father, David, who reunites with Jenny and leads the teenager to redemption. Never losing his all-consuming love for Jenny, David proves willing to make any sacrifice to save her. It is the intense psychological interplay between father and daughter in two different worlds that forms the heart and soul of Close Call.
Made by and starring Asian Americans: www.closecallmovie.com
04.16.04
Bay Area, represent! Greg Pak's Robot Stories opens theatrically today in San Francisco and Berkeley. As I've said many times before, this is a great little indie sci-fi flick that needs your help getting the word out and filling those theater seats. This is huge: the better Robot Stories does in the Bay Area, the easier it will be for it to get booked in other cities like Seattle, San Diego, Honolulu, and everywhere else. So get out to the theaters this weekend, and go see this film.
Here's the skinny on Bay Area opening weekend festivities:
San Francisco Screenings
Director Greg Pak in person for Q&As at all shows Friday in San Francisco
Co-Producer Karin Chien in person Saturday in San Francisco
Opera Plaza Theatre, 601 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, (415) 267-4893
Friday-Sunday: 2:15, 4:45, 7:30, 9:50
Monday - Thursday: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00
Buy your tickets online now!
Berkeley Screenings
Co-Producer Karin Chien in person Friday in Berkeley
Director Greg Pak in person for Q&As at all shows Saturday in Berkeley
Act I & II, 2128 Center Street, just east of Shattuck, Berkeley, (510) 464-5980
Friday, 7:30, 9:30
Saturday - Sunday, 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 7:30, 9:30
Monday - Thursday, 7:30, 9:30
Buy your tickets online now!
Robot Stories Opening Night Party
Hosted by NAATA, manja.org, Hyphen
Special Guests include Director Greg Pak, Co-Producer Karin Chien
Actors Tamlyn Tomita, Sab Shimono, and Eisa Davis!
Friday, April 16, 10pm - 2am
Free!
The Flow Bar, 1704 Post St., San Francisco
*Drink Discounts with Robot Stories Ticket Stub
(21+ over)
Everything you need to know about this film is available at www.robotstories.net. See you there.
04.15.04
Hilarious piece from yesterday's online edition of McSweeney's: JOHN HUGHES, HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELOR By Christopher Pacetta. Here's an excerpt:
The following is a transcript from the office of Newark High School's guidance counselor, John Hughes.
MONDAY JANUARY 4, 1:19 p.m.
Xio Xiang (sophomore): Mr. Hughes, you have to help me.
John Hughes (guidance counselor): Slow down, son. What can I do for you?
XX: I don't know how long I have. I'm being harassed and pummeled everyday by the other students and I'm scared I'm going to do something drastic.
JH: Like getting drunk at a wild party, then jumping out of a tree onto your face and waking up by the curb covered in dog piss.
XX: I was thinking more about using the shotguns I got from Wal-Mart and the homemade C-4 I fashioned from a recipe off the internet.
JH: Now I don't think that's going to make you any more popular. But I can help you. First, let's start with the nameãXio Xiang. That has no comic cache.
XX: It was my grandfather's name. He was a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who uncovered the illegal slave trade in China. God rest his soul.
JH: That's sweet, but I don't think your grandfather could've rocked Newark High School. I was thinking of changing your name to something with more punch, like Phuk Yeu Long or Bang Mi Dong.
XX: Actually, I was hoping that you could show me how to communicate better with the other students so that they won't savagely beat me everyday.
JH: Well, there's the way you speak. Your diction is all wrong.
XX: I speak perfect English.
JH: That's the problem. Where are the hilariously mispronounced words and double entendres? Where's the accent of your homeland?
XX: I was born in Hoboken.
JH: Is that near Hong Kong?
XX: I think my only option is home schooling.
JH: I don't see how that's going to solve your problem. I mean, no one's going to find you funny there.
Someone show this to Gedde Watanabe. The rest of it is funny too, but this part was obviously the most relevant.
04.15.04
Mulim army chaplain Capt. James Yee has been given a clean slate, and cleared of ALL charges: Army clears record of Muslim chaplain it once suspected of spying. Now, I think the man is owed an apology.
04.15.04
Without hesitation or objection, the San Francisco Police Commission made history Wednesday evening, unanimously approving Mayor Gavin Newsom's appointment of Heather Fong as chief of police. This is HUGE. She's the first woman to lead the San Francisco Police Department, and the first Asian American woman to head a big-city police force: It's final: Fong made police chief
04.15.04
Commando Films, the filmmakers behind the ingenious Hollywood satire The Yellow Truth (watch it, or you ain't my friend), have updated their website and commenced with the next phase of their do-it-yourself, guerilla-style brand of filmmaking. Check out the music video, Love Supreme, shot over one weekend with a scant budget of $690. Also check out Sushi, a nicely made 30-second public service announcement encouraging Asian Americans to vote. Finally, view the trailer for Ming T. Lo's directorial debut, Pax IMPORTi MODELluS, a mocumentary on the import car/model world. Looks funny as hell. Along with all that, the site is full of useful production notes and commentary on their craft. Take a look: www.commandofilms.com/
04.15.04
The Los Angeles Dodgers called up Chin-Feng Chen from Triple-A this week, in order to replace injured outfielder Jayson Werth. Chen is the first player from Taiwan in the Major League.
04.14.04
Kelly Hu has been cast in WB's new Dark Shadows pilot. She'll play Dr. Julia Hoffman, a physician who soon discovers that Barnabas Collins is a vampire. The show is a remake of the classic '60s vampire soap opera...
04.14.04
Lots of stuff going on this week. The big event of course is the Details protest on Friday in New York. Here's all the info you need:
Protest Against Racist Magazine Feature
Friday, April 16, 11:30am ≠ 1:30pm
7 West 34th Street (at 5th Avenue)
New York, NY 10001
Join other Asian American activists and anti-racism activists in a protest at the offices of Details magazine at 7 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 (at 5th Avenue) at 11:30am on Friday, April 16, 2004. What the heck is the controversy all about? Details' April 2004 issue included an offensive, racist feature entitled "Gay or Asian?" Visit
www.asianmediawatchdog.com to view a scan of the page.
Make and bring signs against racism, against homophobia, against Details magazine and against the author of the piece, Whitney McNally. New York City law prohibits signs on wooden sticks, but you can bring hand-held signs or signs on cardboard tubes. If you can help publicize this protest, please email Doris ASAP at dlin@asianmediawatchdog.com with your snail mail address, and they'll hook you up with some flyers you can post in local stores or around college campuses.
The protest is co-sponsored by Asian Media Watchdog and Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men of New York (GAPIMNY). Asian Media Watchdog advocates a fair and balanced portrayal of Asians and Asian Americans in the media. GAPIMNY provides a safe and supportive social, political, and educational forum for gay, bisexual, and questioning Asian and Pacific Islander men or transgendered people in the New York City area.
Also:
Sign-Making Party and Volunteer Meeting
Wednesday, April 14
6:00 ≠ 7:30 Sign-making Party
7:30 ≠ 9:00 Volunteer Meeting
Project Reach
1 Orchard Street, 2nd Floor
East Chinatown
New York, NY 10002
And:
Volunteers Needed For Phone Banking
Thursday, April 15, 3:00pm - 9:00pm
Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund
99 Hudson St., 12th floor
between Franklin and Worth Streets, TriBeCa, Manhattan
Come volunteer at the AALDEF office for 2 or 3 hours to turn people out for Friday's protest at Details magazine!
To help, please contact Glenn at gmagpantay@aaldef.org or call 917-439-3158.
For everything you need to know on the protest against Details, and all the latest updates, check out Asian Media Watchdog, the good folks spearheading this effort. Now let's do this.
04.14.04
Season's so far so good for Hee Seop Choi: Big Choi off to fast start with Marlins
04.14.04
Yes, the rumors are true. I'll be appearing on Stir this week, interviewed by very cool host Jeannie Mai. The show airs Wednesday nights at 8:00pm on the International Channel, and Saturday nights at 6:30pm here in the Bay Area on KTSF. I'm PRAYING I don't look or sound too dorky...
04.13.04
Lots of music related posts. Just got Virtuosity, the debut solo album from Chops ("the Magnificent Butcher") of the famed Mountain Brothers. Good stuff, featuring the likes of Raekwon, Kanye West, Talib Kweli, and Planet Asia, among others. Available in stores everywhere. It's hot, so check it out.
04.13.04
Q & A with Lang Lang, apparently the "hottest classical musician in the world": Classical crowd-pleaser. I've been hearing a lot about this guy—they either love him or hate him. Some say he's crazy talented, others just say he's full of himself. Maybe it's a bit of both. I have no idea myself, but that photo sure is dorky.
04.13.04
ChopBlock's got an interview with Rakaa (aka Iriscience) from Dilated Peoples: In The Mix. Their new album Neighborhood Watch dropped last week.
04.13.04
"I read it and re-read it and scratched my head in confusion. What does it mean? At least I got the joke with Abercrombie & Fitch's infamous Two Wongs Can Make it White campaign. But what the hell is taking it General Tso-style?" A gay, Asian man's take on Details' "Gay or Asian" feature: Devil in the Details
04.12.04
Now hear this! After a three-month stint as SFPD's "Acting" Police Chief, Heather Fong has gotten the official job: San Francisco police vet named department's first female chief
04.12.04
Not too long ago, I mentioned a story about Korean American U.S. citizens being drafted into the Korean army. Call it foreign bureacracy or personal ignorance, but it happened to this guy: U.S. teacher is drafted by Korean army. This guy from Seattle didn't know he had dual citizenship in Korean and the United States! Lesson learned: know the law, and know your citizenship.
04.12.04
Mr. Sulu, aka George Takei, wants to make a movie on the infamous "Tokyo Rose." Read on: Man on a Mission. Sounds pretty interesting. I'd watch it.
04.12.04
Korean guy got beat up on The Sopranos last night. Mr. Kim, played by Harry Yuk. And he got beat up. With a two-by-four. Maaaaaan.
04.11.04
Another new project for the writer/director behind Better Luck Tomorrow: Justin Lin Developing Disney's Annapolis
04.11.04
Check out Asia Pacific Arts, published by the UCLA Asia Institute. It's good stuff.
04.10.04
Ah, spring. The baseball season has begun. And according to AsianAthlete.com, Friday was a Good day for Asians in the Major Leauges.
04.10.04
The second installment of SuChin Pak's series on bi-cultural identity airs on MTV today: My Life (Translated). This episode focuses on body image and cultural definitions of beauty, and specifically follows a young Asian American woman seriously contemplating getting eyelid surgery. Check out SuChin's Journal for more info. This could be interesting. To me, it's a complex, controversial issue, and I hope they handle it well...
04.10.04
Once again, another plug for the fine apparel at Blacklava. In a world of so many racist t-shirts out there, Blacklava's gear is empowering and refreshing. Support them, buy a shirt or two, wear it proudly. Ladies, tell those suckas I WILL NOT LOVE YOU LONG TIME.
04.09.04
An interesting report: Poll Finds Improved U.S. Race Relations. But the headline is definitely misleading. Of COURSE things have improved to some degree since the civil rights era. However, racism certainly still exists on a significant level in this country. Everything ain't okay in the USA. 49 percent of blacks said they had experienced some form of discrimination in the month preceding the poll and 62 percent believe they are treated somewhat or very unfairly. What really makes me angry though, is this line at the end of the article: "The pollsters did not interview enough Asian Americans to draw any statistically valid conclusions about their attitudes." Why do we see this disclaimer so often in polls like these? Once again, Asian Americans are excluded from a significant discussion of race in America. Are we really that hard to find? Or just not worth it to find? That's racist!
04.09.04
Opening in theaters today... The Girl Next Door. Spotted Sung Hi Lee in the trailer playing a porn actress. Way to go. I'm told there's also some running joke about a Cambodian exchange student/math genius (two stereotypes in one!) character, the object of typical xenophobic ridicule. Great. That's racist!
Parminder Nagra and Jimi Mistry are in Ella Enchanted.
I'm pretty sure there are no Asians in The Alamo.
Greg Pak's Robot Stories has made its way to Pittsburgh. It'll play at the Harris Theater, April 9-15. You've read all about it, so check it out, and support this film!
04.09.04
Someone has created a very humorous "homage" to Whitney McNally, author of the Details "Gay or Asian?" piece: www.whitneymcnally.com. If this site has its way, from now on "Whitney McNally" shall be synonymous with the continuation and proliferation of Asian stereotypes. The sayings at the bottom are hilarious...
04.08.04
It seems this freakin' phrase will never die: Me Love You Long Time. Available on a t-shirt, of course—at twenty bucks a pop. Someone, kill it. Please.
Luckily, we've also got Blacklava's I Will Not Love You Long Time t-shirt. Ladies, buy this one instead.
04.08.04
Another article on Details: Details mag regrets gay/Asian spoof. The protest is still on for next week, April 16. Download a campaign flyer and disseminate.
And for a laugh, check out Secret Asian Man's comic take on the situation: Ignorant or White?
04.08.04
It sort of fell off the radar for a few months, with other hot-button items grabbing the attention of Asian America lately (namely, Details magazine and William Hung), but the Chink's Steaks controversy is still alive and kicking.
For more info, visit these links:
Race and a Restaurant
Chink's Steaks = RACISM
PERIL
And read these articles:
Only 21, she's leading steak-shop fight
Name-change fight now includes barbershop
04.07.04
"It's a horrible CD.... A lot of people think it's funny. But even as a comic novelty album, you still have to listen to it. I couldn't make it past the third track."—Steve Lee, Manager, Rasputin Records, Berkeley
I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell I'm buying Will Hung's CD: 'American Idol' reject's new CD moving very slowly off shelves
04.07.04
Performing this month at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in NYC: 7- Eleven FRANCHISED, a series of seven 11-minute plays set in a convenience store. According to the website, the plays "challenge and redefine the traditional stereotypes of immigrant convenience store employees and explore the diversity of the South and Asian Pacific American cultures and experiences." Sounds pretty interesting. But does 7-11 get a cut?
04.07.04
Stir TV presents the Pepsi Stir Music Challenge, a sort of season-long "battle of the bands." Each week on Stir, a new band is showcased, and the audience has the opportunity to see the band, listen to their songs, and then visit the website and rank the band on a ten-point scale. On the season finale, the three highest-rated bands will return for an in-studio performance to vie for the coveted Pepsi Stir crown (gasp!). Sure, the "Pepsi Stir Music Challenge" is a very corporate, unwieldly-sounding name, but it's also a great opportunity for indie musicians to get some exposure... So take a look, check it out.
04.07.04
So is William Hung too famous for interviews? My reporter pal Marian (who regularly interviews bona fide "stars") tried getting some face time with the guy, and he could barely concede five minutes. I suppose that's a lot for someone who's only got the proverbial fifteen to go on. Fame might be going to William's head: Will power
04.07.04
Another video game being made into a movie: John Woo Bringing Metroid to the Big Screen. Somehow, I can already tell that this will suck.
04.06.04
You better know what you're getting into... Here's another article on ignorant folks getting tattoos of Asian symbols—and not knowing what they really mean: Japanese tattoos don't always mean what their wearers think they do. I like the one where the guy wanted "Timothy" in kanji characters, but instead got "unreliable delivery service." Hilarious.
04.06.04
Emil Guillermo is not down with everyone's favorite American Idol reject: William Hung: Racism, Or Magic?
And here's a Village Voice article touching on similar themes: Hung Out to Dry. It also references the Details article.
Oh yeah, William will be performing during halftime at the Warriors/Rockets game tonight: He Bangs and Bangs and... Not only does his album Inspiration drop today, Yao Ming is also in town. Let's hope William doesn't experience any wardrobe malfuctions.
04.05.04
The Details story has been picked up by the New York Daily News: 'Gay or Asian' - or racist. I say racist.
04.05.04
Kaz Matsui is pictured on the front page of the New York Daily News. Why? Because he's one of the hunks of summer.
04.05.04
One of my favorite working actors, Daniel Dae Kim, will be in the cast of a new fall pilot, Lost, created by J.J. Abrams (Alias). The series is being described as a "castaway drama" —after a plane crashes on a deserted island, the survivors must learn to live together despite their inevitably disparate backgrounds. Kinda like Gilligan's Island? Sounds interesting. Stay tuned...
04.05.04
Maybe you've already heard that Kevin Smith is currently helming the movie remake of The Green Hornet. I guess I can dig that. Of course, this means they're gonna need a Kato—and he better kick ass. So who's gonna play him? Jet Li's name has been thrown around for years, for about as long as I can remember. And he does seem like the most obvious choice for the role.... You just hope they handle it right. However, this little bit comes from Smith's NewsAskew site:
Kevin has been immersing himself in "chop-socky" films to prep for Hornet.
He went into a few things he liked, and how he detests the dialogue in those
films. He dropped a couple hints, confirming the rumor that Jet Li is being
saught for Kato, but surprisingly went off on loving, excuse me, fucking
loving Zhang Ziyi. Someone in the crowd yelled "Zhang Ziyi as Kato" and
Kevin got a big grin and "zipped" his lip...hmmm, interesting, no?
Zhang Ziyi as Kato? No. No. I don't want to see it. I'm a fan of ZZ. I like her. She's cool. But I do not want to see her play Kato. Kato's sister, cousin, maybe. But please, not Kato. I don't know... I just see the role as an opportunity to really modernize and asskicker-ize this classic character that Bruce Lee made famous. A strong, formidable Asian male hero. Yeah, yeah, it's another martial arts role... But come on, when you think of Green Hornet, who really thinks of Green Hornet? It's Kato you remember.
I really hope this Zhang Ziyi info is just speculation.
04.05.04
A Details update. If you're a little late arriving to the party, see here, and get angry. Now, I've just heard through the grapevine that today has been designated (by who, I don't know) a national call-in day to Details to protest the racist, homophobic "Gay or Asian?" feature. So here are a few telephone numbers:
Daniel Peres (editor-in-chief) - 212.630.4000
Whitney McNally (the article's writer) - 212.630.3850
Callers have reportedly been getting mixed results... If you do happen to reach someone on the other end, be sure to tell them what you think. And don't just cuss them out—give them something to think about.
Oh, and sign this petition, if you feel inclined: To:† Advertisers in Details Magazine
By the way, this whole debacle actually made the headlines of Saturday Night Live's latest "Weekend Update," reported by Jimmy Fallon. And believe it or not, no cheap shots directed towards Asians. Angelica Huston did not fare quite as well...
04.05.04
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center has published the memoirs of renowned human rights activist Yuri Kochiyama. Passing It On - A Memoir is the account of her extraordinary life—an Asian American woman who spoke out and fought shoulder-to-shoulder with African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and whites for social justice, civil rights, and prisoner and women's rights in the United States and internationally for more than half a century. She is a true inspiration: Passing It On - A Memoir
04.05.04
Dear readers, if you're going to write an angry message to someone (say, Bill Maher), please use your own name and email address. Not mine. That's not cool. I like to speak my mind, and compose my own emails. Don't you? Empower yourself.
04.05.04
Ugh. MGM will release "The Charlie Chan Chanthology," a 6-disc DVD set on July 6 (SRP $69.96). The set will include the films The Chinese Cat, Charlie Chan in the Secret Service, The Jade Mask, Meeting at Midnight, The Shanghai Cobra and The Scarlet Clue, all of which will also be available separately for $14.95 each. I'd consider getting my hands on a set, simply for archival value... But I just can't. I'm keeping my money, and I ain't supporting it. That's racist!
04.04.04
Nifty article on Giant Robot in the San Francisco Chronicle: Not just giant robots and tofu-head dolls
04.03.04
This is some disturbing news out of New Zealand: Asian students falling prey to violent racists. Reminds me of similar reports of violence against Asians happening in Ireland. What the hell is going on?
04.03.04
For what seems like a few years now, I've been receiving a forwarded racist email allegedly from radio talk show host Art Bell, expressing his apparent hatred for Filipinos. Let's set the record straight here: this email is fake. Art Bell did not write this email. I don't know who actually wrote it, or why it was attributed to Bell, but it's not real. The fact that people are still forwarding it to me indicates that it's still being circulated. So this is my effort to help lay it to rest: Don't buy into it. It's hoax, an urban legend, and it's been around for years...
04.03.04
Comedian/talk show host Bill Maher has created series of wartime posters "encouraging" other countries to join in on the United States' effort to rebuild Iraq. Including this one: HEY KOREA! YOU HAVE A DOG IN THIS FIGHT... COME AND EAT IT! Not only is the dog-eating joke tired and offensive, look at the way the Korean soldiers are caricatured—cloned, indistinct from one another, almost inhuman. That's racist! It sucks, because I find some of the other ones kind of funny... View the rest here.
04.03.04
Check out Teabag Open Mic in NYC's Chinatown, every Friday night. New York's only weekly venue featuring (though not limited to) Asian/Asian American musicians, poets, comics, etc. They're trying to create opportunities for APA artists and establish a place where people can find them. Sounds very cool, so check it out.
04.03.04
The Korean American Coalition (KAC) weighs in on the Details' "Gay or Asian?" feature: KAC-DC Denoucnes Details Magazine For Racial and Sexual Orientation Stereotyping, Calls For The Dismissal of the Author
04.02.04
The 9th Chicago Asian American Showcase kicks off tonight! (Already up to nine years!?) Lots of events, including the best in features, shorts, documentaries, all that good stuff. So you ought to check it out. April 2-11 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Here's an article: Asian films from up-and-comers at Siskel
04.02.04
Asian Americans make up about 4% of the US population, but the percentage of seats they hold on the boards of top companies represents only about one-fourth of that number: 'Asia not represented in Fortune 500'.
04.02.04
Two Asian American American Idol contestants still remain in the Top 10! I'm talking about Jasmine Trias and Camile Velasco: Shining stars: Asian-Americans proud of 'Idol' survivors. Whatever you think about Idol, this is still no small feat. This is representation—two Asian Americans on the most watched show on American television.
Well, sort of. Strangely, the REAL breakout star of American Idol this season seems to be William Hung... His CD comes out on Tuesday: Hung on the radio
04.02.04
The Asia Society, founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller III to foster understanding of Asia, has a new president, Vishakha N. Desai, the first woman and the first Asian American to head the organization: Asia Society Appoints Art Historian as President
04.02.04
St. Louis: it's your turn. Greg Pak's Robot Stories opens today at the Tivoli Theatre in University City, and runs through April 8. Writer/Director/Robot Greg Pak will be in attendance for Q & A following all Friday and Saturday screenings this weekend. This is a special kind of indie effort that needs your support. See what everyone has been talking about!
04.02.04
At long last! Stephen Chow's Shaolin Soccer gets theatrical release in select cities today. Though the average moviegoer wouldn't know it, would they? I've seen limited posters here and there, and not a single TV ad. Where's the marketing push? We all know Miramax treats its Asian movie distribution like garbage, and this is no exception. Frankly, they dropped the ball on this. Shaolin Soccer is a fun, mass appeal kind of movie, and I really think America could dig it. I've seen Miramax's cut of the film—there are a few time and language-related edits, but for the most part, it stays intact. And best of all, it's subtitled. It could fly. But of course, after sitting on it for crazy long, Miramax is too chicken to give it a chance. Despite the fact that it was a HUUUGE hit in Asia nearly two years ago. (You don't see this happening with Miramax's theatrical distribution of other untested indie and foreign films.) While everyone who cares has already secured their DVD copy via eBay, Miramax now releases it with a whimper, and it'll die a quick death on the big screen over the weekend. Another one bites the dust.
But if you should be so lucky to have Shaolin Soccer playing in your city this weekend, go check it out, and give it a chance!
Here's a great editorial on the matter: What America Thinks of 'Shaolin Soccer'
04.02.04
If you had the choice for your team now, would you pick Shaquille O'Neal or Yao Ming? Yao's the better building block
04.02.04
Like a slap in the face... Details is apparently throwing a party in Los Angeles tonight, celebrating their April issue. Don't know if anyone in So. Cal is organizing a protest effort...
DETAILS + DKNY JEANS
Celebrate the DETAILS April 2004 Issue &†NEXT HOLLYWOOD
Portfolio of Emerging Talent
Time: 9pm - Midnight
Date: April 2, 2004
Location: Chateau Marmont
Address: 8821 W. Sunset Blvd.
Please RSVP to 866.352.8590
It would be interesting to see someone show up a raise a stink. Sounds fun, doesn't it?
04.02.04
Organization of Chinese Americans' (OCA) reaction to the "Gay or Asian?" article: OCA Rebukes Blatant Racial Stereotyping in Details Magazine Article. And here's OCA's reaction to Details' reaction to OCA's reaction to the "Gay or Asian?" article: Editor-In-Chief of Details Responds to OCA's Rebuke of "Gay or Asian?" Article. And yeah, the Details response is crap.
Keep sending letters to those suckas at Details.
Meanwhile, the protest is on. Friday, April 16 from noon to 1pm. In front of the Fairchild Building, 7W34th Street in Manhattan (between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue). Right in front of the Empire State Building. The organizers have full cooperation from NYPD, but they need to know how many people to expect so that they can block the traffic if they need to. If you're planning on being there, write to contact@asianmediawatchdog.com and let them know.
04.01.04
Another article on Yes Dear's 'Chinaman' comment from a few weeks back: No to 'Yes, Dear'. That's racist!
04.01.04
Article on the rapid expansion of Chinese media in Canada: A growing Chinese voice in Vancouver
04.01.04
I've heard it through the grapevine that the guy who modeled for the Details piece had no idea what he was getting into when he shot the photo, and he is not happy. Damn right.
Oh, here's the text from Details' lame excuse for an apology:
The "Gay or Asian?" item in our April issue was part of a continuing feature that is intended as a humorous swipe at social stereotypes. Details has a wide readership—male, female, straight, gay—from all cultures, and we value all of them. We appreciate the substantial feedback on this item that we have received, and we will certainly keep those concerns in mind as we move forward. We regret that anyone was offended by the article, as that was not our intention.
Oh, come on now. Here's what you can tell them: That's Not Good Enough, Details Magazine! Just sign, add a comment, and send it out. It'll get sent to all the necessary parties at Details and Fairchild.