Happy AAPI Heritage Month From Donald Fucking Trump

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Trump Claims Asian Americans Are Angry at 'What China Has Done' to U.S.
Having somehow spoken to every Asian person in the United States of America, Donald Trump claims that Asian Americans are angry at China for its handling of the pandemic. "Asian Americans are VERY angry at what China has done to our Country, and the World," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Chinese Americans are the most angry of all. I don't blame them!" No, we blame you. I can barely form words to express how angry this tweet makes me. I can say that, yes, Asian Americans are angry. We are angry at the steady stream of bullshit and incompetence coming from Trump and the White House and we've had enough.

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Singer Bryan Adams Blames 'Bat Eating' People for Coronavirus
In other social media nonsense, singer Bryan Adams is under fire for posting a bizarre rant in which he blamed "bat eating" people for the coronavirus. "Tonight was supposed to be the beginning of a tenancy of gigs at the @royalalberthall, but thanks to some fucking bat eating, wet market animal selling, virus making greedy bastards, the whole world is now on hold, not to mention the thousands that have suffered or died from this virus," Adams wrote on Instagram and Twitter Tuesday, alongside a video of him performing his song "Cuts Like a Knife." He has since deleted the posts. But we will remember this, Bryan, like the summer of '69.

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Small Plane Pulling Banner with "Chinese Virus" Flies Over San Antonio
Some people take their racism to new heights. On Monday, a small plane pulling a banner that read "Say Chinese Virus.com" was seen flying over the skies of San Antonio. Good ol' San Antonio, where a group gathered to protest a resolution unanimously approved by the San Antonio City Council last week condemning racism and hate speech and the use of words like "Chinese virus" to describe COVID-19. Because some people thinking aggressively calling it the "Chinese virus" is really going to stick it to China.

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Kung Fu Reboot Moves Forward with Series Order at The CW
The CW has given a series order to the modern day, gender-swapped reboot of Kung Fu, starring Olivia Liang. "A quarter-life crisis causes a young Chinese-American woman (Liang) to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to find her hometown overrun with crime and corruption, she uses her martial arts skills and Shaolin values to protect her community and bring criminals to justice...all while searching for the assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her."

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2nd Annual AAPI Day Against Bullying + Hate, May 18
Act To Change is rallying the nation around the 2nd annual Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying + Hate. It's more important now than ever that we stand up to xenophobia and racism. Act 2 Change's virtual program, UNITED WE STAND, will commemorate this day with special guests and performances. It's happening Monday, May 18 at 1-2:30PM PT / 4-5:30PM ET. For more information, go here

Coronavirus Racism is Spreading Faster Than Coronavirus

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



What's spreading faster than coronavirus in the US? Racist assaults and ignorant attacks against Asians
Rampant ignorance and misinformation about the novel coronavirus, experts say, has led to racist and xenophobic attacks against fellow Americans or anyone in the U.S. who looks East Asian.

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A 'Fresh Off the Boat' Producer Recounts the ABC Comedy's Path to History
In a guest column for The Hollywood Reporter, ahead of Fresh Off The Boat's series finale, producer Melvin Mar reflects on six seasons of the show that helped usher in a new era of inclusion on the small screen.

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Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang & Eddie Liu To Co-Star in 'Kung Fu' Reboot
Jon Prasida, Shannon Dang and Eddie Liu have been cast as series regulars in the CW pilot Kung Fu, a reimagining with a female lead of the 1970s David Carradine-starring TV series. Prasida will play Ryan Chen, a quick-witted medical student who has to deal with the sudden return of his estranged older sister, Nicky. Dang will portray Althea Chen, Nicky’s larger-than-life older sister who’s newly engaged and on her way to planning her dream Chinese wedding. Liu will play Henry Chu, a martial arts instructor and Chinese art history buff who has instant chemistry with Nicky.

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H.E.R. Talks Black Music Icons & Cooks Authentic Filipino Dishes
Rising R&B star H.E.R. sits down for an in-depth interview to talk about her music, her career, and her Bay Area upbringing in a Black and Filipino household -- all while enjoying Filipino food at Kabayan Authentic in Queens.

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Los Angeles Roar Story Slam 2020
KoreanAmericanStory.org's ROAR Story Slam is a live storytelling competition where 6 finalists perform on stage presenting their unique, creative, and authentic Korean American story. Each finalist has six minutes to tell their stories, without the use of scripts nor props. It's happening Friday, February 28 at Dynasty Typewriter. I have the privilege of being one of the evening's judges. Hope to see you there!

Han Lives! Sung Kang Returns in 'Fast & Furious 9'

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



'Fast & Furious 9' Trailer: Sung Kang on Justice For Han
Justice for Han! The new trailer has dropped for Fast & Furious 9, the latest installment in what is now officially being referred to as "The Fast Saga," and holy shit, it is on. Not only has Justin Lin returned to the director's chair, F9 gives us the shocking return of Sung Kang as fan-favorite character Han. To everyone's apparent surprise, Han did not die in a fiery wreck on the streets of Tokyo, but was apparently just chilling and sitting out the franchise for two movies. He is alive and in good health. And let's be honest: Han's resurrection is nowhere close to the craziest thing to happen in this franchise, or even in this trailer. Watch it here.

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Could this be the chink in Trump’s armour?
This is an actual headline regarding Andrew Yang's run for president. There's a disclaimer at the end of the piece explaining that author, columnist June H.L. Wong, is well aware of the term "chink" and its derogatory associations, even in the context of this specific idiom. Basically, she knows that the headline can and will offend, and is okay with it, in an attempt to "own" the word. Its placement is deliberate. And I am tired.

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Census 2020 & Beyond: New AAPI Mapping Tool
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the country, yet apparently are the least familiar with the U.S. Census, and are the most reluctant to participate. Ensuring a complete count among AAPIs is crucial, which is why AAPI Data has launched a new research tool showing census-tract level maps for the 20 largest AAPI metro areas. The hope is to help journalists, decision-makers, and community organizations better understand the diversity and geographic settlement patterns of AAPIs.

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'Kung Fu' Reboot Gets Pilot Pickup from CW
The CW has ordered a pilot for Kung Fu, a reboot of the cult 1970s martial arts western. You may remember that show starred David Carradine, who is very much not Asian at all. This time around, the show is a contemporary take that centers on a Chinese American woman, with Christina M. Kim attached to write and executive produce. According to Variety, "a quarter-life crisis causes a young Chinese-American woman to drop out of college and go on a life-changing journey to an isolated monastery in China. But when she returns to find her hometown overrun with crime and corruption, she uses her martial arts skills and Shaolin values to protect her community and bring criminals to justice, all while searching for the assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor and is now targeting her." Let us hope for the best.

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Constance Wu Stars in the Sci-Fi Short Nine Minutes
Constance Wu stars as an marooned space explorer in the sci-fi short Nine Minutes, written and directed by Ernie Gilbert. In the near future, an experienced astronaut, Lilian, and her A.I. explore a newly discovered planet. After weeks of research, a malfunction during the return launch forces Lilian to choose between survival and completing the mission. Watch the 12-minute film here.

"Ching Chang Chong": Piers Morgan Mocks Chinese on Live TV

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Piers Morgan's response to royal's Chinese ad sparks outcry
Hey look! It's Piers Morgan being a racist asshole on live TV! The Good Morning Britain host was talking about Peter Phillips (I just learned that this is Queen Elizabeth's grandson) starring in a Chinese commercial for Jersey Fresh Milk, when he mocked the ad's Mandarin voiceover, saying -- you guessed it! -- "ching chong chang," or something to that effect. Just couldn't help himself with that shit. I'm just surprised he didn't pull his eyes back.

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Green Lantern: Legacy
The new graphic novel Green Lantern: Legacy, written by Minh Le and illustrated by Andie Tong, offers a new twist on the emerald ring-wielding DC Comics superhero. When 13-year-old Tai Pham inherits his grandmother's jade ring, he soon finds out it's more than just a piece of jewelry. Suddenly he's inducted into a group of space cops known as the Green Lanterns. He is about to learn that being a superhero takes more than just a ring. Does Tai have the willpower and the imagination to uphold his ba's legacy?

Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Apple Books


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"I'm plus-sized and Asian..." A Comic by Tenzing Lhamo Dorjee
"I'm so grateful to be living during the body-positive movement. I follow a ton of plus-sized women on social media. Any time I want a pick-me-up, I can look to them for inspiration. Some days, I look at myself in the mirror and wink at myself and say, 'Dang, you look good."=' There are times when people tell me: 'You're perfect sized!' 'You don't look fat!' 'Stop worrying!' This is sometimes hard to accept, having grown up in an Asian community."


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Missing: 16-year-old Yuping Guo, last seen in Hesperia
In Southern California, authorities are asking for the public's help locating a 16-year-old student visiting from China who has been missing since last week. Yuping Guo, who was traveling with a group for a four-day trip to the United States, was last seen leaving a host family's home in Hesperia on January 17. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding Guo’s whereabouts to contact Detective J. LaDuke or Deputy J. Garay at (760)947-1526 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760)956-5001.


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'Kung Fu' Movie Remake Set At Universal
Universal Pictures has optioned the rights to the 1972 TV series Kung Fu for a contemporary-set action movie that will be directed by David Leitch, the co-director of John Wick and director of Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde. The original Kung Fu infamously starred David Carradine, who is not Asian, as a Chinese martial arts master. Legend has it, the show was conceived by Bruce Lee, who didn't get the role because the network believed America wasn't quite ready to see an Oriental man star in his own TV show. Here's my question: is anybody really clamoring for a Kung Fu remake?

When You Gotta Avenge Your Master, But You've Got Day Jobs

Bao Tran's indie feature 'The Paper Tigers' is an underdog story about three out-of-shape kung fu fighters.



This one's for the underdogs. The Paper Tigers is an upcoming martial arts action movie about three out-of-shape kung fu fighters who have to avenge their master... except they've got day jobs and kids to feed. The debut feature from writer/director Bao Tran, this cool-looking indie project is currently raising production funds.

A dead-beat dad, an insurance scammer, and an MMA coach find themselves in the middle of a gang war when they must avenge their kung fu master's death. But first... they need to call in sick at their 9-to-5 jobs. This is a story about family, both born into and adopted, and what you owe to keep those families together.

"Imagine Bruce Lee in his 40s, out of shape and divorced, estranged from his kids, trying to figure out his place in the world," Tran says. "Then imagine that same Bruce Lee's comeback. Family, career, and life might have consumed us, but there will always be a part of us that is dying to do a few spin kicks in the backyard. This movie is dedicated to those who are one kick away from pulling their hamstrings... one lap away from a smoke break."

Here's Bao and producer Al'n Duong with the more information about the film::

Young Bruce Lee biopic to begin shooting this summer

'Little Dragon,' directed by Shekhar Kapur, will examine the legendary martial artist's teenage years.



Little Dragon, a new movie about the early life of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, is set to start shooting this summer. Directed and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, backed by Chinese investors, and authorized by Bruce Lee's family, the biopic will examine Lee's tumultuous teenage years in 1950s Hong Kong.

Young Bruce Lee Film 'Little Dragon' to Begin Shooting This Summer

According to producers, the film will follow a young Lee as he contends with "his family's disappointment, young love, true friendship, betrayal, racism, deep hardship and the inner fire that threatens to unravel his destiny."

An official U.S.-China co-production, Little Dragon be co-written and produced by Lee's daughter, Shannon Lee, who says the film will offer a look at the formative, early years that shaped her father's life before he became a movie star, international icon and arguably the most famous martial arts practitioner of all time.

"I always thought that a film about how my father's life was shaped in his early years in Hong Kong would be a worthwhile story to share so we could better understand him as a human being and a warrior," Shannon Lee said in a statement.

Asians! Fighting! Sharp objects! It's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny'

Watch the trailer for Netflix's martial arts sequel.



Check it, martial arts movie fans. Netflix has dropped the first trailer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword Of Destiny, the upcoming sequel to Ang Lee's 2000 martial arts epic. Michelle Yeoh reprises her role as Yu Shu-Lien, now tasked with protecting the legendary Green Destiny sword against an evil warlord.

Directed by legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping, and written by John Fusco, the film is based on the wuxia novel Iron Knight, Silver Vase (Book 5 in Wang Dulu's Crane-Iron Pentalogy). Sword of Destiny also stars Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Harry Shum Jr., Roger Yuan and Eugenia Yuan.

Take a look:

Watch the kickass action short 'The Challenger'

A rad little slice of kung fu flick badassery, directed Tran Quoc Bao.



Actions fans, check this out. The short film The Challenger, written and directed Tran Quoc Bao, is a rad little slice of kung fu flick badassery. With solid visuals and some kickass choregraphy, the eight-minute short is about a kung fu fighter who, eager to make a name for himself, challenges his hero in an underground match. It stars Martial Club's Andy Le and Ken Quitigua of ZeroGravity Stunts.

Check it out:

Giveaway: Win 'Kung Fu Killer on DVD

Donnie Yen stars in the kickass critically-acclaimed martial arts action thriller.



The kickass critically-acclaimed martial arts action thriller Kung Fu Killer, starring legendary Hong Kong superstar Donnie Yen, is now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Download from Well Go USA Entertainment. To celebrate, I'm giving away some free DVDs. Who wants one? Scroll down for details...

In Kung Fu Killer, when a vicious serial killer targets top martial arts masters, convicted criminal and kung fu master Hahou (Donnie Yen) is the only one with the skills to stop him. Released from jail and into police custody, they soon have their doubts about Hahou's true allegiance, causing Hahou to be hunted by an unstoppable killer (Wang Baoqiang) and the entire police force.

Here's the trailer:

See badass kung fu kids in GENER8ION & M.I.A.'s new music video

"The New International Sound Pt. II," starring the students of Shaolin Tagou



How awesome is this video? The incredible new music video for "The New International Sound Pt. II" by GENER8ION and M.I.A., was shot at the famed Shaolin Temple Tagou Martial Arts School, the largest kung fu academy in China. It features a few of the school's 36,000 students in various stages of kicking, punching, sweating and training to be more badass than you and I will ever be.

Check it out:

New Music: "Running in Circles" by POP ETC

Music video inspired by old school kung fu flicks



Dig this kung fu flick-flavored music video for "Running in Circles," the supercool new song from Brooklyn indie pop/rock band POP ETC. Starring wushu master Sifu Chen Ying, the video was inspired -- complete with aging film grain -- by the opening title sequences from all those old school Shaw Brothers movies.

Check it out:

Harry Shum Jr. joins 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' sequel

Martial arts drama also stars Michelle Yeoh and Donnie Yen



Harry Shum Jr., whose moves (and abs) you know and love from Glee, has been cast as one of the leads in the sequel to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon which started production this week.

'Glee's' Harry Shum Jr. Joins 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' Sequel

Yes, there is Crouching Tiger sequel in the works. Directed by master action choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping, the movie is set twenty years after the events of Ang Lee's award-winning martial arts drama. The sequel's cast includes Donnie Yen and Michelle Yeoh, reprising her role Yu Shu-lien.

Bruce Lee never thought about the guy with the Groupon

Comedian Ian Edwards asks the hard questions about 'Fists of Fury' and 'Enter the Dragon'



Fellow Bruce fans, have you ever watched a Bruce Lee fight scene and felt a little sorry for one of the many guys whose ass got kicked? I have. So has this guy. Check out this hilarious short, animated by Dilara Karabas, in which comedian Ian Edwards asks some of the hard questions about Fists of Fury and Enter the Dragon:

Pacific Arts Movement presents King Hu in Taiwan, June 5-7

First-Ever San Diego Retrospective of the Greatest of All Martial Arts Directors



For all you film fans in the San Diego area, make plans for some old school classic kung fu... Our friends at Pacific Arts Movement present the first-ever San Diego retrospective screening series honoring the legendary King Hu, one of the greatest martial arts directors of all time. They'll be showing Dragon Inn, A Touch of Zen and The Valiant Ones, June 5-7 at the Museum of Photographic Arts.

Here are some more details about the series:

Baz Luhrmann in talks to direct movie adaptation of 'Kung Fu'

But who will play Kwai Chang Caine?



Dude. No. Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, the guy behind The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge, is reportedly in talks to direct a big screen adaptation of the 1970s martial arts western television show Kung Fu.

Baz Luhrmann in Talks to Direct 'Kung Fu' for Legendary

The hit show, which aired on ABC from 1972 to 1975, followed the adventures of Kwai Chang Chaine, a biracial Shaolin monk who roamed the American west in search of his half brother, righting wrongs along the way.

For many, Kung Fu will likely be remembered as the show originally conceived as a star vehicle for Bruce Lee, only to see him replaced for a more audience-friendly Caucasian lead actor. How freaking cool would it have been to see Bruce in that role? Alas, all this show gave us was the bitter legacy of yellowface.

This movie script has apparently moved the story to China, with Caine in search of his father.

Giveaway: The Grandmaster on DVD

Enter to win Wong Kar-wai's martial arts drama The Grandmaster on DVD



Check it. If you like your action flicks with a touch of class, then you must see Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi in The Grandmaster, available this week on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as On Demand and Digital Download.

Presented by Martin Scorsese, the latest film from acclaimed auteur Wong Kar-wai is a visually-stunning period martial arts drama inspired by the life of legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man -- teacher to Bruce Lee -- who survived the turmoil of 1930s China to change the world of martial arts forever.

The Grandmaster is an art house kung fu flick, equal parts gorgeous and kickass. Tony Leung is awesome as usual, but it's Zhang Ziyi who really steals the movie. She embodies the spirit of the movie, both stunning and fierce -- the real grandmaster we follow through Wong's saga of love, honor and vengeance.

Want to win a copy of The Grandmaster? I'm giving away some DVDs. Scroll down to the bottom for details on how to enter. But first, here's the trailer for The Grandmaster:

Moves like Bruce

See Cole Horibe as Bruce Lee in new photos from David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu



Last week, I had the privilege of seeing David Henry Hwang's latest play Kung Fu, now playing off-Broadway at the Signature Theatre. The premiere production blends dance, Chinese opera, martial arts and drama to tell the story of international icon Bruce Lee, and his journey from troubled Hong Kong youth to martial arts legend. As a Bruce fan, you know I had to see it, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Reviews are on lock until the officially opening on February 24, but here's a cool New York Times article on Kung Fu's unique choreography, and breakdowns of some of the show's elaborate combat/dance sequences:

Fighting (and Dancing) Like Bruce Lee

And while we're at it, check out these cool photos from Kung Fu:

Justin Lin to direct remake of The Shaolin Temple

Fast & Furious director to take on a 3D Mandarin-language blockbuster for the Chinese market



Whoa. The busiest man in Hollywood just added another project to his to-do list. Justin Lin, who recently wrapped up duties on the wildly successful Fast & Furious franchise and got handed the next movie in the Bourne series, is set to direct a 3D remake of the 1982 kung fu classic The Shaolin Temple.

Justin Lin To Direct Chinese-Language 3D Remake Of 'The Shaolin Temple'

There's no start date yet, and it doesn't even look like they have a script. But the film will be produced as a collaboration between Lin's Perfect Storm Entertainment, Beijing Enlight Pictures and Bruno Wu's Seven Stars, and aims to be an ambitious Mandarin-language blockbuster for the Chinese market.

Watch rehearsal video from David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu

Behind-the-scenes footage shows Cole Horibe and cast kicking ass



We're eagerly counting the days until the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu, opening next month at the Signature Theatre. Starring So You Think You Can Dance alum Cole Horibe as Bruce Lee, the biographical play blends dance, martial arts, Chinese opera and drama to tell the story of the international icon, from troubled Hong Kong youth to martial arts legend.

We've seen some cool promo shots of Horibe channeling Bruce Lee. Entertainment Weekly has posted a brief but cool behind-the-scenes video of choreographer Sonya Taheh leading Horibe and fellow cast members through some kickass moves. It doesn't appear to be embeddable, so follow the link and check it out:

'Kung Fu' dancers get a kick in rehearsal from 'So You Think You Can Dance' choreographer Sonya Tayeh

Kung Fu runs from February 4 through March 16 at the Pershing Square Signature Center Off Broadway.

Hong Kong movie pioneer Run Run Shaw dies at 106

Prolific movie producer responsible for popularizing kung fu genre



Legendary and prolific movie producer Run Run Shaw, who co-founded the iconic Shaw Brothers film studios, helped bring Chinese martial arts films to an international audience and jumpstarted the careers of countless screen stars, died in his home in Hong Kong on Tuesday. He made it to the badass age of 106.

HK movie mogul Run Run Shaw has died at age 107

Shaw is nothing short of cinematic pioneer, credited with popularizing the kung fu genre. Shaw Brothers studios, founded with his elder brother Run Me in 1958, helped launch the careers of dozens of powerhouse directors and star actors, and produced nearly a thousand movies. Produced under assembly-line conditions, Shaw films weren't always the highest quality flicks, but they made an impact -- and a lot of money.