Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.
What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. (Almost) each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.
100! On this episode, the first half of our two-part "cent-episode," we welcome filmmaker Bao Nguyen, director of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Be Water, which explores -- from a decidedly Asian American perspective -- the groundbreaking journey of martial arts icon (and this podcast's namesake) Bruce Lee.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
GOP Senators Introduce Bill to Deny Chinese Nationals Student Visas
What a great way to close out AAPI Heritage Month! On Wednesday, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) unveiled the Secure Campus Act, incredibly xenophobic, destructive legislation that would prohibit Chinese nationals from receiving visas to the United States for graduate or post-graduate studies in STEM fields. The bill would also place restrictions on participants in Chinese foreign talent-recruitment programs. Do I have remind folks that student visas are how so many Asian American families' immigration stories began?
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A YouTuber Placed Her Autistic Adopted Son From China With A New Family — After Making Content With Him For Years
This is beyond fucked. A YouTuber with hundreds of thousands of followers who has shared her family's experience of adopting a toddler from China recently announced that she and her husband had permanently placed their child with another family after unspecified behavioral issues. This kid, who had absolutely no say in being a prop in an "influencer's" content stream, has been re-homed like a difficult puppy.
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He was part of Amazon’s coronavirus hiring spree. Two weeks later he was dead.
"Thousands of businesses have had to close and more than 38 million Americans have lost their jobs since the lockdowns began. But Amazon is hiring. The company has put new measures in place to make its warehouses safer for employees, but the number of cases at its facilities keeps rising. As consumers continue to minimize their own risk by shopping from their couches, workers have to decide: Is working for Amazon a lifeline, or a life-threatening risk?"
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Be Water
Check it. Here's the official trailer for ESPN's Be Water, a 30 for 30 documentary that intimately chronicles Bruce Lee's life and complex journey, directed by Bao Nguyen. The film premieres June 7 on ESPN.
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Spelling the Dream
The new documentary Spelling the Dream explores Indian Americans' decades-long success at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, chronicling of the ups and downs of four students as they compete to realize their dream of winning the iconic tournament. The film premieres June 3 on Netflix.
5.20.2020
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
Dear Racist
"I'm sorry that when you are faced with the unfamiliar, you can only shut down in terror instead of opening up in curiosity. You see, I won't be afraid to go out into the world for much longer. But you will always be. Xenophobia is, by definition, fear. And phobias cripple those affected."
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Late Night’s Karen Chee on Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month
As you may know, or perhaps did not know, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, as officially decreed by the United States of America. In observance of the occasion, Late Night with Seth Meyers writer Karen Chee shares the ways she is celebrating her heritage during AAPI Heritage Month.
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First Look at ESPN's "30 For 30" Be Water
Take a sneak peek at Be Water, the upcoming "30 for 30" documentary about the life of martial arts trailblazer Bruce Lee, directed by Bao Nguyen. The films debuts Sunday, June 7 on ESPN.
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So What Now?!
Hosted by Anthony Ma and Roxy Shih, So What Now?! is "a quarantine talk show for creatives who have nothing else better to do on a Saturday afternoon." So quarantine has you feeling isolated, depleted and a little bit crazy. Fear not! Anthony and Roxy are here to bring you a one hour, interactive variety show that features guests to help you remove that block. Join in on the fun live on Saturdays on Facebook and YouTube.
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And... I guess we're writing a book? I am pleased to announce that I'm co-authoring a book with They Call Us Bruce co-host Jeff Yang and Wong Fu Productions co-founder Philip Wang tentatively titled RISE: Asian America from the 1990s to Now, "a visual history of how generations of Asian Americans powered through stereotypes and mainstream exclusion to push their community into the spotlight and make their culture irresistibly cool," according to this blurb from Publisher's Marketplace. They say it's not official until you share an unsightly screenshot from the trade announcement, so here you go.
Be Water
I can't make it to the Sundance Film Festival this year, but one of the films I'm dying to see is the premiere of the Bruce Lee documentary Be Water, directed Bao Nguyen. The film focuses on the legendary martial artist's rise to superstardom in the years before his death. Rejected by Hollywood, Lee returned to Hong Kong to complete four films. Charting his struggles in two worlds, Be Water explores questions of identity and representation through rare archive, intimate interviews, and his writings.
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Over 140 Prominent AAPIs Endorse Elizabeth Warren
More than 140 prominent Asian American and Pacific Islanders -- creatives, activists and academics -- announced their support Thursday for Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The collective, which includes the likes of Constance Wu, Celeste Ng, Rabia Chaudry and Ellen Pao -- cites Warren's stance on a number of issues important to the Asian American community, including immigration, education and investment in entrepreneurship among the reasons for its support.
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To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Trailer
Netflix has dropped a new trailer for the hit romantic comedy sequel To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You, which premieres next month. Starring Lana Condor and based on the bestselling young adult novel by Jenny Han, the new movie follows the next phase for Lara Jean and Peter, who have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture.
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A24 re-teams with "Daniels" for Everything Everywhere All At Once
I'm pretty excited about this. A24 is re-teaming with filmmaker duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert ("Daniels") for the sci-fi adventure comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once, which begins production in Los Angeles this week. It stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, Jonathan Ke Quan(!) and Jamie Lee Curtis. There's no word on the plot, but this is the team behind the farting corpse movie Swiss Army Man, and the masterpiece of a music video for "Turn Down For What." So yeah, I'm in.
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Parasite Live to Picture, January 26
This is just cool as hell. On Sunday, January 26, the Academy Award nominated film Parasite will have its score performed live to picture at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Featuring 37 musicians, the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by Parasite composer, Jung Jaeil. Featuring an introduction by Oscar-nominated director Bong Joon Ho.
"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless -- like water."
Way excited about this new Be Water, My Friend t-shirt design that just dropped from HOMAGE. Featuring the master himself, and one of his most famous quotes, it's an inspired shirt for any Bruce fan.
The design is okay, but I'm mainly hyped because it's Homage. I'm a fan. The company usually specializes in vintage-style sports-themed shirts (with a lot of love for Ohio), but they sometimes also delve into pop culture icons like Bruce. No joke, I own like seven Homage shirts. They're quality, comfortable, and look awesome.
See Bruce punch, kick and philosophize in this rad video remix.
Thirty-nine years ago today, Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee premiered at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. It was and is an awesome movie. To commemorate the occasion, I share this rad video tribute by Melodysheep, created from various clips of Bruce punching, kicking and philosophizing.
