What's up, people? It is time again to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Julie Zhan, self-described dreamer and doer.Who are you?
1 part dreamer, 2 parts doer, a splash of creativity, and a boatload of passion. 99% of the time, I let feeling trump rationalizing. I laugh often and loud - wall-piercingly-loud. Oh yeah, and I've got a soft spot for old people and chubby kids.
What are you?
I always take on too much because I have a fascination with so many different worlds. I went into college undecided, switched to dance, then two years of aerospace engineering, and finally business. So what am I? I am a girl who has secretly had one dream her whole life, and am finally armed with the courage to pursue it. I am an aspiring actress.
Where are you?
Most likely sitting in traffic. Good 'ol LA.
Where are you from?
Guangzhou, China—born and raised. I immigrated to the U.S. at age 8 to a strange new world of sit-down toilets, cheese, English, and sarcasm. Yep, still working on the sarcasm part...
What do you do?
Oh boy... I wish I could give a one-worded answer here, but bear with me. By day, I have a full time job as a marketing specialist at a production company. By night, I can be found all over town: 1) researching or interviewing incredible people for TheOtherAsians.com, an online magazine I co-founded with my partners Melly Lee and Benny Luo with the mission to showcase talented Asian Americans pursuing their dreams; 2) training in acting; 3) training in dance; 4) editing films. On the weekends, 1) I may have a mic in my hands, doing coverage of premieres, Asian American events, and dance shows with Pacific Rim Video; 2) speeding to San Diego to act and make films with my talented crew, The Panda Five. Somehow, these brilliant individuals put up with my crazy shenanigans and last minute dance-for-film ideas (like Welcome Home Remix - thanks for mentioning it, Phil!)
What are you all about?
I am all about passion: acknowledging it, pursuing it, and most importantly, sharing it. Whatever can give you that electrifying, intoxicating, unstoppable enthusiasm to live life, you owe it to the world to master it and contribute to it. Everyone has a story to tell. My passion and mission in life is to help tell these stories through acting, dancing, and film; to inspire and connect people via the arts.
What makes you angry?
People who only talk to you if they need something from you, and those who don't give you the time of day unless you're "famous" and "important." Julia Child, my culinary hero, talked to every single member of the kitchen when she visited restaurants, right down to the dishwasher. In fact, she often had longer conversations with the dishwasher than the head chef. We can all learn from her. Also, close-mindedness - the evil center of intolerance. Every single person has an incredible story and a unique perspective. We can all afford to take more time to listen.
