This weekend, Visual Communications, the nation's premier Asian American media arts organization, presents Community Visionaries, a very special program celebrating the organization's founding members. There will be a reception and screening of newly restored prints of classic works. It's happening Sunday, December 4 at the Downtown Independent in Los Angeles. Here are some more details:
Growing up, my grandmother lived with us. My parents, us kids, and my grandmother. And that was the family portrait. I never really thought it was out of the ordinary -- for some reason, most of the other Asian families I knew also had grandmothers living with them (it was always grandmothers). It didn't occur to me that might be an Asian thing.
Hyphen has put the call out looking for Asian American households with three or four generations living under one roof to participate in a photo project for the magazine's upcoming "Generations" issue: Hyphen Seeks Multi-Generational Households for Photo Project.
I like this. Here's another video from Justin Park, aka Azuré, up to no good and dropping some rhymes on the Duke Westlake Cypher, coming at you from somewhere around Oakland. The video's not much to look at, but I always enjoy how this guy flows. Take a listen, take a look:
Sickening. If you can find any kind positive outcome from the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, it's that talking about it has opened the door for other victims to come forward. But man, it's still hard to hear about. Like this sicko: Babysitter Arrested After Mom Tells Son About Penn State Scandal.
In Southern California, a man is accused of molesting two young boys he was hired to babysit. 19-year-old Jordan Liu was arrested last week on sexual assault charges, accused of molesting 8-year-old and 3-year-old brothers in Glendale.
Liu had been babysitting for these kids for past eight months. The allegations were finally brought up when the children's mother talked about the ongoing Penn State scandal with them:
Fans of Akira, you should really just ignore every bit of information we get about the live action remake, because none of it is good. This latest one's a big kick in the nuts. A recent casting call that went out for extras and stand-ins reveals an overview of the basic plot summary and the movie's transplanted, new westernized setting: Live-Action Akira Film's Plot Listed by Casting Call.
This week, recently retired basketball star Yao Ming launched his latest business venture: wine. The eight-time NBA All-Star has started his very own Napa Valley wine company, Yao Family Wines: Yao Ming Starts Napa Valley Wine Company.
Retired at 31, I guess he's got some time on his hands, and he's getting a jump start on putting those college classes to good use (he also owns the Shanghai Sharks pro basketball team). So... now you can enjoy a glass of Yao-branded Cabernet Sauvignon:
You better believe Mumbai knows how to flash mob. Seen this video? Oh it's just a couple of hundred strangers busting out some moves in the middle of Mumbai's historic Chhatrapati Shivaji Station, to the tune of "Rang De Basanti." I've read that the dance was a commemoration of the third anniversary of the November 26, 2008 terror attacks. Take a look:
UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who submitted for the internship. The application deadline is now closed.
Can you help me out? I'm looking to bring on an Angry Asian Intern for ten weeks, starting in January 2012, to assist with various tasks that include but are not limited to writing, editing and research for the blog.
I'm looking for a mature, progressive, pop-culture savvy, responsible, detail-oriented and hard-working individual with the following qualifications:
Kickass writing and editing skills
Experience publishing with blogging platforms (Blogger, Wordpress, etc.)
Strong familiarity with social media tools (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
Basic understanding of HTML
Ability to work independently and meet deadlines
Passion for Asian American issues/arts/current events
Good sense of humor
Not an asshole
A tiny little stipend might be available. This is not a full-time job, but I am looking someone reliable and committed to the work. I would strongly prefer an intern in the Southern California area, but I'm open to working with a qualified person located elsewhere in the United States. This is the internet, after all.
Interested? Send a cover letter, your resume and a 25-words-or-less answer to the question, "What makes you angry?" to intern@angryasianman.com. I have an aversion to large email attachments, so please try to include all of that info within the body of the message. The deadline to apply is December 16 (but it's best to submit as early as possible). Thanks. Stay Angry.
Just want to help get the word out about the concert to Save Sessions LA, a music writing, production, recording, and DJ program for youth and young adults in Los Angeles. The program is in desperate need of funding, so they've been asking for the community's help to keep it going.
The concert, featuring performances from Thurz, Mystic, Jahili and more, is this Saturday, December 3 at SIPA in Los Angeles. Here are some more details:
I recently heard from our friend, screenwriter Koji Steven Sakai, who is teaming up producer Quentin Lee for another feature film. The two previously collaborated on the sexy indie romantic comedy The People I've Slept With, but this time they're getting mixed up with something completely different: Chink, "the first Asian American serial killer movie."
And with a title like that, you know they're wading into some pretty provocative waters. Chink is about an Asian American man who has internalized the racism he felt as a child and turned it into a hatred of all Asian -- including himself. His anger and his desire to be like his hero, Ted Bundy, leads him to violence and ultimately to his dream of becoming the greatest serial killer in history.
Here's some more information, straight from the filmmakers:
Saw this last week on screenwriter Jon Hurwitz's Twitter last week. I know that A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I there is apparently a massive boycott movement against the movie, and it is in full effect. Just look at this photo from a recent protest:
This week, President Obama announced his intention to appoint several individuals to key administration posts, including scientist Arun Majumdar, nominee for Under Secretary of Energy: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts.
For fans who have worn out their copies of Magnetic North & Taiyo Na's Home:Word, you should check out the all-new, fully remastered, repackaged Deluxe Edition. The album recently got an official label release in Japan, which gave MN&TN the chance to go back and go deluxe. View the track listing and sample the album below:
Nominations for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which recognize excellence across the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking, were announced today. While the list is predictably populated with a lot of year's most buzzed indie films, there are also a couple of unexpected nominations...
For me, the biggest surprise is the inclusion of writer/director Patrick Wang's In the Family, nominated for Best First Feature. I've raved about it at length. It was self-distributed, received relatively little exposure, and so far has only enjoyed a short theatrical run, but it definitely deserves a place alongside some of the year's most impressive debuts like Margin Call, Another Earth and Martha Marcy May Marlene.
If you tuned in to Conan last night, you might have been treated to the television debut of Brooklyn alternative hip hop trio Das Racist, performing their single "Michael Jackson." The whole thing was a crazy-ass trip that included stream-of-conscious rap, flashing lights, cymbals, and most notably, the eerie resurrection of the King of Pop himself. See for yourself:
Several folks sent this my way... At the risk of giving this project more attention than it deserves, take a look at this casting call for the indie feature Mouthpiece, which is looking an actor to play "Chang," an Asian character who "MUST HAVE AN EXTREMELY SMALL PENIS." Yup. I'm not lying. That's exactly what it says, straight-up:
This is for my people in the Bay Area... South Bay First Thursdays invites you to a special Movie Mini-Fest featuring short works by various Asian Pacific Islander filmmakers. It's happening this Thursday, December 1 at BlueLight Cinemas in Cupertino. Here's a trailer for the screening:
Looking for an internship? The Asian American Writers' Workshop, a literary arts non-profit based in New York City, is looking for some smart, passionate folks to serve as Spring 2012 Interns. Maybe that's you!
Contribute twelve hours a week, meet new friends and learn about Asian American literature and arts non-profit management. Here's some more information:
Check out this cool commercial for Monster Energy Drink, featuring b-boy Chuck Maa of ABDC's Instant Noodles crew. In hopes of impressing a cute girl, this guy busts some move -- but breaks the only rule at an underground hip hop dance club. Take a look:
In Seattle, homicide detectives are investigating the fatal beating of a Danny Vega, a 58-year-old hairdresser who was attacked two weeks ago while on an evening walk. Over the weekend, he died of his injuries: Hairdresser Danny Vega's fatal beating a mystery.
Vega, a prominent member of Seattle's Filipino American community, was attacked on November 15 in a parking lot near his home. Three assailants apparently jumped him, screamed at him, punched and kicked him before taking his cellphone and keys. Those close to Vega, who was gay, believe the attack was a hate crime:
This week, get your hands on the latest record from The Shanghai Restoration Project, Little Dragon Tales, a collection of twelve classic Chinese children's songs with a modern twist. The album features the adorable kids of Yip's Children's Choir Canada and provides a fun, accessible way for audiences of all ages to experience these famous, traditional tunes. And here's a fun video of said adorable kids doing their thing:
More movie remake news... Earlier this year, Fox Searchlight picked up the worldwide remake rights to The Bengali Detective, a documentary that follows an overweight dance-obsessed private investigator through the criminal underbelly of Kolkata. I just read that Stephen Frears has signed on to direct the adaptation: Frears to helm 'Bengali Detective'
I don't know what's up with the youngsters these days with all the dancing and the people and the proposing... but since folks can't seem to get enough of these, here's video of another elaborate proposal -- with choreography and the whole nine yards -- that went down earlier this month at CSU Long Beach, when Charles asked Valerie to marry him:
Last month, I wrote about the Army's investigation into the non-combat related death of 19-year-old Private Danny Chen, originally from Manhattan's Chinatown, who died in Afghanistan after being subjected to "racially charged bullying." The Army has yet to reveal an official cause of death.
The circumstances behind Pvt. Chen's death still remain a mystery, and community leaders, family and friends are demanding a fair, thorough and transparent investigation. Here's a short video created by OCA-NY, calling attention to the their cause: What Happened to Private Danny Chen?
The Life of a Photo: The Pepper-Spraying Policeman: The Atlantic interviews Brian Nguyen, the student photojournalist who took the now-infamous picture of Lt. Pike unloading a can of pepper spray on Occupy protestors at UC Davis.
Jean Quan and the Death of Asian America: "Quan's involvement in the decisions of October 25 prompted international condemation, as well as ridicule by the likes of Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann. But perhaps the most damning criticism came from a group of Asian American Oakland residents who were just as excited about her election as I was."
Growing numbers of Asian Americans run for Congress: A record number of Asian Americans are running for Congress next year, reflecting population gains and a growing sense of the need to flex political muscle.
Did a Novel Foreshadow The Liu Fundraiser Scandal? Jeff Yang's Speakeasy column points out the eerie similarities between the current scandal plaguing New York City comptroller John Liu and the basic plot of Chang-Rae Lee's 1995 debut novel Native Speaker.
Sorrow lingers after soldier's death: Nearly a year later, Tam and Amy Nguyen continue to mourn the loss of their son, 21-year-old Marine Cpl. Tevan Nguyen, who was killed last December in Afghanistan.
Asian American Entrepreneurship: An Asset to the Nation's Economy: "November is National Entrepreneurship Month. Asian American entrepreneurs can lay claim to a track record of achievement, innovation, and value creation -- entrepreneurship is core to the Asian American experience. It is the most celebrated and cherished ethos of this fastest growing community in the U.S."
All dogs originated in one tiny part of East Asia: If man evolved in Africa, where did man's best friend come from? Scientists thought the first dogs came from the Middle East, but a new study of dog genetics suggests they actually come from one small region of modern China.
The Hangover Part III: A GQ writer tagged along with comedian Aziz Ansari, top chef David Chang, and LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy as they partied through Tokyo, "the drunk-karaoke capital" of the world.
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Chinglish With Johnny Wu: Johnny Wu, who takes on multiple roles in the Broadway production of David Henry Hwang's new comedy Chinglish, offers Playbill.com readers an exclusive look at a recent two-show day, from morning wakeup to final journey home.
Original Offenders: Larry Shinoda: Philip of YOMYOMF pays tribute pioneering Japanese American automobile designer Larry Shinoda, who is responsible for iconic looks of the 1963 Corvette Stingray, Mako Shark I and II, the Boss 302 and 429 Mustangs, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Corvair Super Spyder.
If you're getting your post-Thanksgiving shopping on, please consider supporting small businesses... like our friends at the Giant Robot Stores, who are offering some excellent opportunities for shoppers who want to avoid the malls this weekend. We're talking about deals at both the Los Angeles stores and online. Lots of cool goodies to get your hands on. For more information, go here.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which protects and promotes the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education, is looking for some qualified undergraduate, graduate and law students. Spring internships are available in the following program areas (open to all unless otherwise noted):
Remember that terrible-looking Asian American-themed sitcom, The Chin Chens? The ass-awful trailer was really all I had to see -- we'd all be better off if that thing never saw the light of day. That said, there's reportedly been some drama behind the scenes: Three charged with fraud involving Norcross studio.
Three people at the studio behind the sitcom, Bright Ideas Entertainment, have been charged with multiple counts of securities fraud in a scheme that allegedly cost investors more than $2 million. They apparently made some pretty hefty promises about their productions and are now in quite a bit of trouble with the Georgia Secretary of State's Office:
A few days early, but here we go! It's time 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 Bhurin Sead.
Seems like Watanabe has become Warner Brothers' go-to actor when they need an Asian guy up in there. Then again, he was their second choice for the role. But he does feel like a perfect fit for The Colonel.
By now, you've seen this. In the less than a week, this photo/video of police officer Lt. John Pike pepper spraying demonstrators at UC Davis has arguably become the most iconic image on the internet. What always strikes me is how casually he does it, like he's dispensing air freshener or something. I swear, I've seen people use Cheez Whiz with more caution.
So who the hell is this guy? To a lot of people, he's just a thug in riot gear, and they want his ass fired. In addition to the current controversy, you might be interested (but not surprised) to know that Lt. Pike also has a history of expressing anti-gay and racist attitudes -- against a fellow officer: John Pike, U.C. Davis Pepper-Spraying Police Officer, Previously Honored .
You gotta love it. CBS affiliate WCCO-TV finally breaks the silence on that idiotic news story they ran about a Chinatown meat market selling dog meat. Turns out, it was just a tiny misunderstanding with interviewee's accent: "duck" meat.
Over three weeks after the initial story -- which was subsequently hidden then removed from the station's website -- WCCO has quietly posted an Editor's Note finally stating that it did indeed run a story on dog breeder. And that's it. It neither apologizes nor even acknowledges that the station did anything wrong:
Heads up, shoppers. Our friend, artist/illustrator Martin Hsu is having a huge Thanksgiving Sale beginning this Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28. He's offering 40% off selected tees, plus an original sketch to the first 50 customers as a token of his appreciation.
On top of all that, 10% of all proceeds go to the World Wildlife Foundation. Martin's a really talented artist, and has some extremely cool designs, so here's a chance to rock something hot at a discounted price. For more information, head over to The Martin Hsu Big Thank You Thanksgiving Sale 2011.
The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, an organization that provides services to API survivors of domestic violence in the Washington DC area, and educates the larger community about the problem of domestic violence, is looking for a part-time Program Coordinator to work with survivors of domestic violence. Here are some more details:
This is kind of cool. Check out Oak & Gorski's music video for "New York," which was shot on the RED Epic camera and edited on Adobe CS 5.5 -- all produced by kids aged 9-15 as part of a summer camp project. Whaaaat?
Ken and Ed were asked to take part in Camp RED/Cake Live at RED Studios in Hollywood this summer. Kids were given those ridiculously expensive RED cameras and told to shoot and edit music videos for several bands, including Oak & Gorski. Here's what the kids came up with:
Wow. Want to know how you and your crew can win big at the casino? It will require cheating. This surveillance video shows how a group of scammers took a San Diego casino for millions with an elaborate, multi-person card cheating operation: Video Reveals Methods Of Casino Cheating Ring.
The nostalgic sci-fi mystery adventure Super 8, from director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg, is out on Blu-ray/DVD this week. The movie, set in small town Ohio circa 1979, has approximately zero Asian faces on screen -- which is fine. It's a fun movie with really nice performances from the kid actors.
But I do want to spotlight a key figure working behind the camera: cinematographer Larry Fong, whose credits include Lost, 300, Watchmen and other awesome-looking movies. He's a long-time friend/collaborator with J.J. Abrams and producer Brian Burk, and there's a great Blu-ray bonus feature on the three of them working together (and getting to work with their hero Steven Spielberg).
The storyboards outline a pretty kickass action/chase scene, though as far as I can remember, nothing like this actually happens in the book (though it's definitely been a while since I've read it). To see more art, check out Dan Fraga's website here.
Grace Lee Boggs is the truth! And when she speaks, you listen. Just wanted to share this awesome image of philosopher/activist Grace Lee Boggs and her inspiring words, created by Kenji Liu and posted to Facebook.
To view video of Grace Lee Boggs' message to the 99%, go here. And for more information about Grace Lee's upcoming documentary, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, go to the film's website here.
Whoa. I had nearly forgotten about this story. Long time readers and Bay Area residents might remember the 2001 death of San Jose college student Patrick Hsu, who was killed in a bomb blast rigged to a robot dog. The toy was in a package intended for his sister, sent by her estranged husband, Anthony Chang.
Last week, authorities apprehended Chang in Venezuela, where he had been hiding out for years after the killing. He's now expected to face extradition back to federal court in San Jose, where he'll face a number of charges, including mailing explosives that caused death: Suspect wanted in 2001 bombing that killed San Jose student is arrested in Venezuela:
If you're in Los Angeles, and looking to kick off your Thanksgiving holiday with a good time, grab some friends and get down at "Dance For a Cause," a benefit for Culture Shock Los Angeles, presented by our friends at My Ninja! x The Blended Group. It's happening Wednesday, November 23 at the Conga Room at LA Live. Here are some more details:
The Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building leadership and public policy knowledge within the APA community, is looking to hire its first Program Manager/CAPAL Public Service Fellow to support an all-volunteer Board of Directors in Washington D.C. Here are some more details on the job's key responsiblities:
Get it through your thick skulls. There is no iPhone 5. A short sketch by Cherry Bomb comedy, written by Genevieve Lee, and starring Tom Choi, Genevieve Lee and Amanda Nix: SPEAKING METEORICALLY - Where is my iPhone 5?
Asians behaving badly... bus masturbation edition! Over weekend, a man was arrested for allegedly pleasuring himself on a Chinatown bus. Gross, man. But I'll admit, this New York Post headline kind of wins: Passenger pulls his cord on C'town bus.
Um, how funny is that photo of the cop? 39-year-old Genrong Zhang was arested and charged with public lewdness after fellow passengers complained that he was masturbating, right there on the bus from Philadelphia to New York.
Exit Clov is a NY/DC-based indie rock band fronted by twin sisters Emily and Susan Hsu. They describe their sound as "kaleidoscopic pop noir." I don't exactly know what that means, but I do like it. Their music is pretty darn great, and they're recording a new album. Here's a video of Emily and Susan explaining a little something about the upcoming record:
One of the men was 21-year-old Jeffrey Lee of Cerritos, CA, a senior nursing and business student at the University of Pennsylvania, who reportedly collapsed at the finish line after running the half marathon course.
Friends and loved ones are wondering how a seemingly healthy young man could die so suddenly:
Saw this one last week on io9... This is, believe it or not, concept art for the recently aborted remake of The Crow that would have starred Bradley Cooper. It's, um, interesting. I'm posting it only because it reminds me of how amazing Brandon Lee looked in the original 1994 Crow.
Growing up, my grandmother lived with us. My parents, us kids, and my grandmother. And that was the family portrait. I never really thought it was out of the ordinary -- for some reason, most of the other Asian families I knew also had grandmothers living with them (it was always grandmothers). It didn't occur to me that might be an Asian thing.
Sickening. If you can find any kind positive outcome from the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, it's that talking about it has opened the door for other victims to come forward. But man, it's still hard to hear about. Like this sicko: Babysitter Arrested After Mom Tells Son About Penn State Scandal.
This week, recently retired basketball star Yao Ming launched his latest business venture: wine. The eight-time NBA All-Star has started his very own Napa Valley wine company, Yao Family Wines: Yao Ming Starts Napa Valley Wine Company. 
UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who submitted for the internship. The application deadline is now closed.
I recently heard from our friend, screenwriter Koji Steven Sakai, who is teaming up producer Quentin Lee for another feature film. The two previously collaborated on the sexy indie romantic comedy The People I've Slept With, but this time they're getting mixed up with something completely different: Chink, "the first Asian American serial killer movie." 
This week, President Obama announced his intention to appoint several individuals to key administration posts, including scientist Arun Majumdar, nominee for Under Secretary of Energy: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts.
Nominations for the 2012 Film Independent Spirit Awards, which recognize excellence across the broad spectrum of independent filmmaking, were announced today. While the list is predictably populated with a lot of year's most buzzed indie films, there are also a couple of unexpected nominations...
Looking for an internship? The Asian American Writers' Workshop, a literary arts non-profit based in New York City, is looking for some smart, passionate folks to serve as Spring 2012 Interns. Maybe that's you! 
In Seattle, homicide detectives are investigating the fatal beating of a Danny Vega, a 58-year-old hairdresser who was attacked two weeks ago while on an evening walk. Over the weekend, he died of his injuries: Hairdresser Danny Vega's fatal beating a mystery.
The Hangover Part III: A GQ writer tagged along with comedian Aziz Ansari, top chef David Chang, and LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy as they partied through Tokyo, "the drunk-karaoke capital" of the world.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, which protects and promotes the legal rights of Asian Americans through litigation, legal advocacy, and community education, is looking for some qualified undergraduate, graduate and law students. Spring internships are available in the following program areas (open to all unless otherwise noted):
Remember that terrible-looking Asian American-themed sitcom, The Chin Chens? The ass-awful trailer was really all I had to see -- we'd all be better off if that thing never saw the light of day. That said, there's reportedly been some drama behind the scenes: Three charged with fraud involving Norcross studio.
This news might not matter much to folks who have all but given up on the live-action Akira remake... 
The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project, an organization that provides services to API survivors of domestic violence in the Washington DC area, and educates the larger community about the problem of domestic violence, is looking for a part-time Program Coordinator to work with survivors of domestic violence. Here are some more details:
, from director J.J. Abrams and producer Steven Spielberg, is out on Blu-ray/DVD this week. The movie, set in small town Ohio circa 1979, has approximately zero Asian faces on screen -- which is fine. It's a fun movie with really nice performances from the kid actors.
Whoa. I had nearly forgotten about this story. Long time readers and Bay Area residents might remember the 2001 death of San Jose college student Patrick Hsu, who was killed in a bomb blast rigged to a robot dog. The toy was in a package intended for his sister, sent by her estranged husband, Anthony Chang.
Asians behaving badly... bus masturbation edition! Over weekend, a man was arrested for allegedly pleasuring himself on a Chinatown bus. Gross, man. But I'll admit, this New York Post headline kind of wins: Passenger pulls his cord on C'town bus.
Some terrible, tragic news out of Philadelphia, where two men died of apparent heart attacks Sunday while running in the Philadelphia Marathon: Cerritos, Calif. Man Dies After Running Philadelphia Marathon.
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