All right, folks. It's about time we do this thing we call 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 Yasmine Gomez.
Who are you?
Yasmine Gomez. Not Jasmine. You pronounce the Y and it sounds like "mean." I was born angry!
What are you?
I answered this question 10 years ago for Kip Fulbeck's Part Asian, 100% Hapa book. He approached me at one of their photo exhibits and said I was a finalist but didn't make it into the book. I bet he tells everyone that! Short answer: My mom's Chinese and my dad's half Filipino, half Spanish. Mix that together and you get the tallest Filipina you know (5'9").
Where are you?
I'm in the guest room of my college RA's condo in Oakland, where he is generously letting me crash while I work on a commercial producing job in San Francisco. My old college roommate also lives here. We are reliving our UC Berkeley dorm experience, except now I get to light as many candles as I want. Go Bears! In a few weeks I move back to reality in New York City.
Where are you from?
Valencia, California, aka "Awesometown" according to some real estate marketing campaign. Our only landmark is Six Flags Magic Mountain, and I hear they are tearing down their famous wooden roller coaster Colossus on my birthday. So not awesome.
What do you do?
I'm a freelance producer, which means I hustle! One day I'm working with doctors on a green screen set, another day I'm interviewing hip hop artists for Complex Media's documentary web series Magnum Opus, and this weekend I'm attending the theatrical premiere of the indie film I produced, A Picture of You, at the AMC Loews Village 7 in New York City. Come join us!
I am also a director, which one day might take over the producing part. One day...
What are you all about?
Making a living by doing what I love to do -- telling good stories. Coaching basketball to NY Chinatown kids through Apex for Youth. Surrounding myself with positive people. My Traveling Totoro photo series. And karaoke.
What makes you angry?
Fake people.
Disloyal people.
Successful people who are rewarded for misbehaving and stepping on others.
Inconsiderate people, like the guy who tried to steal my taxi. I held the door open and cursed my head off like a crazy person until he got out. He did.
And speaking of crazy, Anti-Vaxxers. It's one thing when your crazy beliefs just affect you. It's another thing when they might give me the measles. I believe in science.