Silent River Speaks: Getting into the Present with Chris Chan Lee

Guest Post by Jacqueline (Jae) Kim



It's September 2021, year two of the Coronavirus pandemic -- and the world premiere of Silent River at Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (otherwise known as 'VC'). Among many of my friends, I haven't seen the director, Chris Chan Lee, in quite a while. After the film, I avoid the crowd and slip out but send Chris an email asking if he'd like to talk about his latest work via Zoom? I feel pretty sure the conversation will be something to document. Five months later, the film has been gaining critical momentum, earning its recent award at the Paris International Film Festival. Here's an excerpt:

Jae: Okay, so -- when I started getting involved with making my own films and eventually my own art projects, I started to see the processes and the results as self-diagnosis.

Chris Chan Lee: Mm.

Jae: How does that sit with you with regards to Silent River?

CCL: Well, you know, when I sit down to write, I never first think about the thematic content. I just think about, like telling the story, right? But I definitely notice a pattern with everything that I do that's not necessarily intentional: it's always about dealing with past and like regret and stuff like that. So that's always inherent in my work.

"All and None of Those Places"

A Conversation Between Fantasy Authors Fonda Lee and K.S. Villoso


Photo: Elena Rose Photography / Mikhail Villoso
In The Wolf of Oren-Yaro, the new debut epic fantasy novel from K.S. Villoso, a queen of a divided land must unite her people. Jade City and Jade War -- now out in paperback -- are the first two volumes of Fonda Lee's "Green Bone Saga," an epic trilogy about family, honor, and those who live and die by the ancient laws of blood and jade. The two authors recently chatted with one another about their respective narrative approaches, creating Asian-inspired fantasy worlds, and Asian representation in publishing.

Interview with Jacqueline Kim: Artist, Actress, Asian American Geek Girl Icon

Guest Post by Sarah Kuhn



In 2015, I wrote my very first piece for Angry Asian Man -- The Final Frontier: Captain Demora Sulu. The piece was all about how I've been obsessed with Demora, Starfleet ensign and daughter of Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), ever since she appeared in Star Trek: Generations, and how I felt like it was finally possible to dream of a future where an Asian lady captains her own starship. (And hey, that future came true! Big, beautiful shout-out to Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou!)

Four years later, thanks to LA's extremely interconnected Asian American creative community, Jacqueline Kim -- the actress who brought Demora to life so memorably -- read my piece. (Yes, I died.) And then we met in person. (Yes, I died all over again.)

It's hard to put into words what it means to sit across from the woman who played two of the most iconic Asian female characters in the geeky franchises of my youth. In addition to embodying Demora, Kim made a big impression in the epic Xena: Warrior Princess two-parter "The Debt" as Lao Ma -- the ruler, telekinetic, and general badass who becomes Xena's mentor. More recently, she delved into an indie brand of sci-fi with Advantageous, a Sundance hit about a woman contemplating transferring her consciousness into a younger body in order to give her daughter a better life.

But when I tell her I truly believe she inspired a generation of Asian American geek girls, she seems surprised.

"What an amazing thing," she muses. "I totally identify with being a geek girl."

Kim doesn't do much acting anymore -- these days, she's a multi-disciplinary artist with a wide range of passions that she speaks about with thoughtful eloquence. But next week, she'll be returning to her roots as a guest of the Official 2019 Star Trek Las Vegas Convention -- only her second Trek con ever.

In honor of this momentous occasion, she sat down with me to talk about Demora's legacy, Asian moms, and how she expresses her own geekiness.

Trust the Process: An Interview Poet Bao Phi

Award-winning poet opens up about his latest collection 'Thousand Star Hotel.' By tk lê.


Photo Credit: Anna Min
Bao Phi is a performance poet and writer based in Minneapolis. His second poetry collection, Thousand Star Hotel skillfully weaves a range of topics -- police brutality, Asian American representation, masculinity, fatherhood, and his immigrant experience growing up in Minnesota, to name just a few. In this interview, Bao talks in-depth about what the process of writing this book has been for him and elaborates on some of the heavier subject matter. Also, kittens.

Adapt or Die: Navigating the Worlds of Dinh Thai's 'Monday'

An interview with Dinh Thai, writer/director of the HBO award-winning short film.



Writer/director Dinh Thai's film Monday, first place winner of the HBO's inaugural Asian Pacific American Visionaries short film competition, started as a funny idea about a guy who could transform himself into different individuals and adapt his language and behavior, depending on the situation. It eventually evolved into a dramatic short about Kwan (Kevin David Lin), a young hustler who navigates through various Los Angeles cliques while facing racism, danger, and a moral struggle with his illicit occupation.

Monday is currently available for viewing on HBO platforms throughout this month, along with the other winning films, Tiffanie Hsu's Wonderland and Jingyi Shao's Toenail. I recently chatted with Dinh about the origins of Monday, the art of code-switching in film and real life, and one of the major creative influences on his film.

Gene Luen Yang is the hardest working guy in comics

Award-winning creator talks about making comic books for Panda Express and Fresh Off The Boat.



If there's a comic book creator who's at the center of Asian American pop culture, it's Gene Luen Yang.

He recently partnered with Panda Express for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to revisit his brilliant re-imagining of the obscure Golden Age superhero The Green Turtle, with artist Sonny Liew, in Shadow Hero Comics #1 (available with the purchase of a kid's meal).

Gene also penned the Fresh Off The Boat tie-in comic book, with artist Jorge Corona, featured on this week's episode of the popular ABC sitcom, available in comic shops May 6 as part of "Free Comic Book Day."

In addition to regular writing duties on DC Comics' New Super-Man, he also serves as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature for the Library of Congress. Oh, and did I mention that he's a MacArthur "Genius"?

Plus, he's the nicest guy.

I recently caught up with Gene, who's on the road for his numerous school visits and speaking engagements. He talked about his collaborations with Panda Express and Fresh Off The Boat, possible future adventures for The Green Turtle, and his efforts to get people to read outside their comfort zones.

Q & A with Power Rangers' Ludi Lin

Chinese Canadian Ludi Lin powers up as Zack the Black Ranger. Interview by Jes Vu.



Power Rangers fans -- the wait is almost over! The new Power Rangers movie finally arrives in theaters this weekend. This film prides itself on its diversity of characters from race to sexuality; there's even a character on the autistic spectrum.

Among them, Chinese-born Canadian actor Ludi Lin is the "sex symbol" of the Power Rangers cast, no doubt about it. Taking on the mantle of bad boy Zack, the Black Power Ranger, Ludi is not just one, but one of two Asian actors in the main cast (the other being British Indian actor Naomi Scott who plays Kimberly the Pink Power Ranger). Fortunately, we had a chance to talk to Ludi about his unique upbringing and what it was like working on this iconic franchise.

Q & A with The OA's Ian Alexander

Trans teen actor debuts in the mysterious new Netflix series. Guest Post by Jes Vu.



In a time where representation is such a hot topic in Hollywood, Netflix's The OA does something few have done: cast an actual Asian transgender teenage boy as an Asian transgender teenage boy. Vietnamese-American teen Ian Alexander is one of multiple Asian actors in The OA's main cast alongside Filipino/Puerto Rican-American Brandon Perea and British Pakistani Riz Ahmed (in a recurring role). Continuing the spotlight from his response to a viral anti-trans photo, Ian makes his on-screen acting debut as Buck Vu in the newly-released show having been cast from an online open casting call in 2015.

Growing up in places including Japan, Hawai'i, and D.C. have helped shape Ian. The fifteen-year-old high school junior has had more experiences than most teenagers his age, and his passion knows no bounds. He's politically-vocal, a huge admirer of actors and filmmakers like Jen Richards (Her Story) and Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) and relentless as a Marvel fanboy (he's "Team Bucky" for those who are curious). Ian had time to sit down and talk about his upbringing and the show (don't worry, there are no spoilers here).

Q & A with SPA NIGHT Director Andrew Ahn

By tk Lê.'


Joe Seo in Spa Night
What comes to mind when you think of the spa? Luxury, relaxation, cleansing, discomfort, family, sex, adventure, the Korean death scrub? And while we're at it, is the spa a gay thing, a Korean thing, or a Korean American thing? For Andrew Ahn, the director of Spa Night, it is all of the things, all at the same time. It's a place where the main character, David Cho, bonds with his family, keeps his parents safe, and explores his sexuality.

I sat with Andrew Ahn to chat about Koreatown, queerness, and the pitfalls of authenticity. The interview has been edited for clarity. [Warning! This interview is full of spoilers.]

Jim Lee is giving away 50 sketches at Comic-Con

Fifty lucky attendees will get a drawing by the legendary comic book artist


Today kicks off the massive annual celebration of geekdom known as San Diego Comic-Con. For four days, sweaty legions of thousands of eager fans -- costumed and non-costumed alike -- will descend upon the pop culture mecca. Heads up: if you're headed to the San Diego Convention Center, and you're extremely lucky, you might walk away with a rare free sketch by legendary artist Jim Lee.

Lee, the Co-Publisher of DC Entertainment, is celebrating his upcoming 50th birthday (August 11) by giving away 50 sketches of various characters at his Comic-Con spotlight panel on Sunday. Lee's Batman art -- commemorating the character's 75th anniversary -- also graces the cover of the convention's souvenir book.

Check out this great interview with the comic book industry icon:

Jeremy Lin talks to the guy who wrote "The Linsanity Sham"

Also... Jeremy keeps it real with the kids!



Jeremy Lin recently visited HuffPost Live to talk about Linsanity, leaving the New York Knicks, and his charity work. The Houston Rocket guard admitted that he wasn't altogether comfortable with all the attention he received during the period that became known as "Linsanity," and acknowledged that he was hurt by the way the Knicks let him go at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Here's the full interview:

Run River North on Last Call with Carson Daly

So Cal "gangster-folk" band shares their story



Check out one of my favorite bands, Run River North -- self-proclaimed makers of "gangster folk oriental music -- getting profiled on NBC's Last Call with Carson Daly. Get a little glimpse into how the six-member band came together, how they craft their unique sound, and how they're chasing that yo yo guy who defeated them at Kollaboration. Glad they stuck together after that.

Watch Kristina Wong in the most awesome TV interview ever

"Suck it, white ladies!"



Oh, what's this? It's our friend Kristina Wong being ridiculously awesome. Our favorite comedian/performance artist recently appeared on a segment for Fusion's Alicia Menendez Tonight, talking about dating website data that says -- yaaaaawn -- Asian women are preferred by men of almost every race. This topic bores the hell out of me, but this clip is incredible, thanks to Kristina's craaaaazy awesome antics. Check it out:

One-on-One with The Walking Dead's Steven Yeun

Talking "Dead" with your favorite Asian American zombie apocalypse survivor



The walkers have spoken. The fourth season of The Walking Dead premiered last Sunday to a massive, record-breaking 20.2 million viewers, making it the most watched nonsports broadcast in cable history.

With the big return of the hit AMC horror drama, I thought it would be good to revisit my podcast conversation with actor Steven Yeun, who plays your favorite Asian American zombie apocalypse survivor, recorded earlier this year. He talks about getting the gig, his responsibility as an Asian American actor, and love in the land of the undead. Here are some cuts from our conversation...

Daniel Dae Kim is a Jeremy Lin fan too

Hawaii Five-0 star narrates the feature documentary Linsanity.



You know I am a fan of actor Daniel Dae Kim, star of Hawaii Five-0 and Lost. But do you know who Daniel is a fan of? Jeremy Lin, of course. DDK caught the Linsanity too, and even bought a Knicks jersey to prove it. He also lent his voice as narrator of Evan Jackson Leong's feature documentary Linsanity, now in theaters.

But even long before Jeremy was a household name, Daniel was down with the Lin. Check out this interview where he talks about Linsanity, being a fan, and the first time he ever heard about this kid named Jeremy Lin:

Still Breathing: Spoken Word Artist G Yamazawa

Angry Asian Intern™ Cara Van Le interviews award-winning poet and performer George "G" Yamazawa.



Born and raised by Japanese immigrants in Durham, North Carolina, George Masao Yamazawa, Jr., or "G" for short, didn't always have it easy growing up. Other kids made fun of the shape of his eyes or called him Chinese, even after he corrected them. His relationship with his strict father wasn't always easy. It was, at times, abusive. His best friend passed away when he was in junior high. At 16, he was expelled from from school, and that's when G began to explore his family's religion, Buddhism, more deeply to fight his depression.

"Buddhism is basically what kept me afloat and invigorated me to find a passion that gave my life worth," he says. "That's when I found my love for poetry and the use of my voice."

One-on-One with Linsanity director Evan Jackson Leong

Behind-the-scenes documentary tells the amazing underdog story of Jeremy Lin



The weekend box office was good to the Linsanity team. The indie documentary feature scored big, earning $103,000 on just nine screens, with a per-screen average of $11,444 -- second only to overall box office winner Gravity, which averaged $15,538 on 3,575 screens. I'd say that's a big win: Specialty Box Office: 'A Touch Of Sin' Capitalizes On New York Film Festival Buzz, 'Linsanity' Docu Solid.

I thought this might be a good opportunity to repost my Sound and Fury podcast conversation with Evan Jackson Leong, director of Linsanity. He drops some interesting details on forging a relationship with Jeremy Lin, getting the inside track on "Linsanity" and the long, patient road to making the documentary. Here are some cuts from our conversation...

Q & A with Asian Harry Potter

You may have seen the Asian Harry Potter on Conan last week. He's the guy whose Harry Potter costume pretty much stopped Conan O'Brien mid-monologue, due to its awesomeness. It was a pretty fun moment.

Well, with the help of a reader (thanks, John) we have tracked down Asian Harry Potter. He is 27-year-old art student Larry Quach, who is indeed a Harry Potter fan and an even bigger Conan O'Brien fan. He kindly answered a few questions about his crazy encounter with Conan...

q & a with planet b-boy director benson lee

The fantastic documentary Planet B-Boy is now playing in select theaters. It's a great film, a real crowd-pleaser, telling the story of international B-boy crews competing for the coveted title of champion at the Battle of Year. I can't recommend it enough. Read my review here. To learn more about the film, go here.

I recently got to chat with director Benson Lee about making the film, examining the culture and politics of b-boys, and hanging onto passion for your art. He had some pretty cool things to say. Check it: