They Call Us Bruce 148: They Call Us Dante Basco

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.

In this episode, we welcome the one and only Dante Basco. He talks about his directorial debut The Fabulous Filipino Brothers, making a movie with his family -- his entire family -- growing up in Hollywood, and being perpetually linked to iconic characters, including Prince Zuko and, of course, RUFIO.

Dante Basco to direct 'The Fabulous Filipino Brothers'

'Hook' and 'Avatar' star will make his directorial debut in the dark romantic comedy.



Dante Basco, best known for his role as Rufio in Steven Spielberg's Hook and as the voice of Prince Zuko in Avatar: The Last Airbender, will make his directorial debut in The Fabulous Filipino Brothers. And it looks like he's bringing his whole family along for the ride.

Set in Basco's hometown of Pittsburg, California, and starring Dante and his brothers -- Darion, Dionysio and Derek -- the dark romantic comedy weaves together four vignettes, narrated by their sister, Arianna Basco.

The story follows the brothers and their shenanigans. One of them ventures off to a cockfight for reciprocity while one flies to old Manila where an old flame is rekindled. Another brother delves into the hidden sensuality of Filipino cuisine, while the last brother, struggles to heal deep wounds and finds love in an unexpected package. All this, leading to a shotgun wedding in the backyard of the family house.

More here: Dante Basco To Make Directorial Debut With 'The Fabulous Filipino Brothers'

Midnight Makeout Session: A Play by Dante Basco

December 3 & 10 at The Study in Hollywood



If you're in Los Angeles, Dante Basco and Beau Sia invite you to a Midnight Makeout Session. The play, that is. Midnight Makeout Session is an original play that will take you back to romance with the help of hip hop, poetry and slow jams. Two shows a night, happening December 3 and 10 at The Study in Hollywood.

Here are some more details:

Giveaway: Win a 2016 Haikus With Hotties Calendar

A perfect holiday gift for those who need more Asian American male hotties in their lives.



Fans of hot Asian men! This one's for you. A few months ago, I posted about a Very Important Kickstarter campaign: the 2016 Haikus With Hotties Calendar project based on Audrey Magazine's non-award-winning poetry series "Haikus With Hotties," in which they asked hot Asian American men to exchange poetry with them.

Here's the Kickstarter video with Ada Tseng, Professor of Hotness, who explained the important need for this calendar:

Bad Guys Are Awesome, Especially Asian Ones

Character poster gallery features the stars of 'Awesome Asian Bad Guys'



National Film Society's long-awaited action/comedy Awesome Asian Bad Guys finally gets its digital release tomorrow, June 23. The movie will be released by FilmBuff on all major video-on-demand platforms including the film's website, powered by VHX, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and Xbox Video.

To get you sufficiently pumped for the release, here's a gallery of some dope character posters featuring the stars of Awesome Asian Bad Guys: Randall Park, Al Leong, Dante Basco, Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto, George Cheung, Aaron Takahashi, Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco.

Check it out:

'Awesome Asian Bad Guys' to be Released on June 23

National Film Society's action/comedy webseries will be available on all major VOD platforms.



Mark your calendars, film fans. Awesome Asian Bad Guys are coming to get you! The webseries-turned-feature action/comedy Awesome Asian Bad Guys, from Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino, aka National Film Society, will be released by FilmBuff on June 23 on all major video-on-demand platforms including the film's website, powered by VHX, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and Xbox Video.

In Awesome Asian Bad Guys, a pair of down-on-their-luck filmmakers must assemble a ragtag group of Asian "bad guy" actors in a deadly mission to take down LA's most nefarious crime boss. The cast includes Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat, The Interview), Al Leong (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon), Dante Basco (Hook), Tamlyn Tomita (The Karate Kid Part II, Joy Luck Club), George Cheung (Rambo: First Blood Part II) and Aaron Takahashi (The Wedding Ringer). Full disclosure: I served as executive producer on the project.

The film is an irreverent homage to the nameless, expendable Asian villains of '80s and '90s action flicks. "These legendary performers have spent their careers in the background, and this project finally gives them their due," says Patrick. "It places them front and center where they belong."

Here's Patrick and Stephen with the big announcement, explaining how they pulled it off:

Awesome Asian Bad Guys kick ass at LAAPFF

Encore festival screening on Friday, May 8 at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum in Little Tokyo



I am still reeling from Saturday night's amazing Los Angeles premiere of National Film Society's Awesome Asian Bad Guys at the 30th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. It was, yes, awesome.

Directors Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino were joined by stars of the action/comedy webseries -- including Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto, George Cheung, Randall Park, Aaron Takahashi and Dante Basco -- as well as a fantastic, energetic crowd. As executive producer, on behalf of the whole team, thank you to everyone who came out and supported the project. It was soooo much fun.

Here are some photos from the evening, courtesy of Joseph Dypiangco:

Awesome Asian Bad Guys at the Asian American Showcase

Sunday, April 5 at the Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago



Chicago! This is an invitation to be awesome with the Awesome Asian Bad Guys.

National Film Society's action/comedy web series is screening this weekend as part of FAAIM's 19th annual Asian American Showcase. This is your chance to see Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco's affectionate homage to the iconic yet nameless Asian movies villains of yesteryear. It's happening Sunday, April 5 at 5:00pm at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Here are some details about the screening:

Watch the teaser trailer for Awesome Asian Bad Guys!

Action comedy web series unites badass villains from Rambo II, Die Hard, The Karate Kid Part II and more.



Awesome! Friends, it's my pleasure to present the teaser trailer premiere for Awesome Asian Bad Guys, the upcoming action comedy web series from Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino, aka National Film Society.

The series is a celebration of some of our favorite cult movie personalities of yesteryear who were always relegated to bad guy background status, from The Karate Kid Part II to Lethal Weapon and Rambo II. Awesome Asian Bad Guys puts them in the spotlight and in the center of the action -- where they belong.

Starring Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, Aaron Takahashi, Dante Basco and more, the story follows a motley crew of washed up Asian bad guy actors who join forces to take down Los Angeles' most nefarious mob boss. Here's your very first look at the series, coming in 2014:

Unmasking Boba Fett

Guest Post by Dante Basco



Hey, folks! I'm on vacation, taking a much-needed blog break. Some batteries need recharging. But don't worry -- I've enlisted the generous help of some great guest bloggers to keep things fresh around here while I'm gone. Here's actor Dante Basco, aka Rufio, on carving out our little corner in popular culture.

I'm here today at Comic Con, checking out the madness, rolling around and just enjoying the sights -- the crazy cosplay costumes, the amazing exhibits and the advertising displays. All of this has got me thinking about this blog post.

First off, I'm Dante Basco. I'm an actor, writer, poet and producer, but I'm known and remembered through the fandom worlds for two characters I played... Rufio, the leader of the Lost Boys in Steven Spielberg's Hook and Prince Zuko in Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender. So here I am at the biggest fandom event in the world... just geekin' out with all the geeks.

The Awesome Asian Cast of Awesome Asian Bad Guys

Behold, the awesome cast of National Film Society's upcoming webseries Awesome Asian Bad Guys. That's Yuji Okumoto, Patrick Epino, Stephen Dypiangco, Aaron Takahashi, Randall Park, Dante Basco, George Chung, Jasmin Currey, Tamlyn Tomita and the indestructible Al Leong.

Production on the action comedy webseries begins this week, and I just wanted to remind everybody that the team is putting the call out for extras. We need your help! If you're in Los Angeles, and free on Saturday, June 22 and Monday, June 24, you're invited to join in the fun as an extra in a big scene we're shooting downtown.

If you're interested in hanging out as an extra and watching the Awesome Asian Bad Guys in action, email awesomeasianbadguys@gmail.com. Hope you can join and be Awesome with us.

Midnight Makeout Session: A Play by Dante Basco, March 13

Short notice, but if you're in Los Angeles, you might want to check this out... Our friend Beau Sia directs Midnight Makeout Session, a new play by Dante Basco. They've been hard at work at this thing and are ready to share it with a few folks. It's Wednesday, March 13 at Art Share LA. For one night only! Here's some more information, in Dante's own words:

Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 7: Dante Basco

Hello, angry podcast listeners! It's a new year and a new season of Sound and Fury: The Angry Asian Podcast. Thanks to everyone who's downloaded and listened to the first six episodes, available here. To get them all delivered to your device as soon as they're released, be sure to subscribe.

So here's episode seven. Bangarang! This extended edition features a cool conversation with none other than Rufio himself, actor Dante Basco. I think you'll really dig it:

Kevin Wu and Dante Basco star in Hang Loose

KevJumba fans will get a kick out of this one... The indie feature film Hang Loose, starring popular Youtube personality Kevin Wu and Dante Basco, was recently released online exclusively as a digital download.

The comedy, directed by Ryan Kawamoto, is about a straight-laced guy who finds himself trying to survive the craziest night of his life when he visits Hawaii for his sister's wedding. Here's the official trailer, introduced by Kev and Dante:

national film society goes to dante basco's house

Rufio fans will get a kick out of this... Our friends Patrick and Stephen of National Film Society recently did a Cribs-style visit to the home of none other than actor Dante Basco, who pretty much lives in the lair of awesomeness you might expect. It's highly entertaining. Check it out: