They Call Us The Furious

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 actor, martial artist, and stuntman Brian Le of MartialClub, whose credits include Everything Everywhere All at Once, Paper Tigers, and this summer's gritty action thriller The Furious. He talks about his humble beginnings from watching kung fu flicks on bootleg VHS, to making YouTube videos with his brother Andy as self-taught action stars; getting to work with some of the world's best film fighters in The Furious -- and the steep learning curve of making action movies in Asia; and channeling his inner baby to play the unstoppable henchman Ho. Also: The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Furious.

They Call Us Bruce 110: They Call Us The Paper Tigers

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 Quoc Bao Tran, writer/director of the new kung fu comedy The Paper Tigers. He talks about the long journey to make this film, why The Paper Tigers had to be an Asian American story, and The Good, The Bad and The WTF of getting too old for this shit.

The Matrix starring Bruce Lee? Just plain weird.

Deepfake pastes Bruce's face in iconic Keanu Reeves' role.



I am soundly convinced that deepfakes will be the downfall of our society. When executed well, they can be all at once amusing, unsettling and kind of disturbing. This latest one to hit the web from Ctrl Shift Face, pasting Bruce Lee's face onto Keanu Reeves in a fight scene from The Matrix, is just... weird.

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::

Lewis Tan and Tzi Ma join the cast of 'Wu Assassins'

Netflix action crime series stars Iko Uwais and Byron Mann.



A Netflix martial arts action crime series about ancient triads and mystical assassins set in San Francisco's Chinatown, starring an Asian-centric cast? Count me in. It was recently announced that Lewis Tan and Tzi Ma have signed on as series regulars on Wu Assassins, alongside stars Iko Uwais and Byron Mann.

'Wu Assassins': Katheryn Winnick, Lewis Tan, Tommy Flanagan & Tzi Ma Join Netflix Martial Arts Drama

Wu Assassins stars Iko Uwais as Kai Jin, who becomes the latest and last Wu Assassin, chosen to round up the powers of an ancient triad and restore balance once again. You may remember watching Uwais kicking crazy amounts of ass in the The Raid movies, because your life was probably never quite the same again.

Meet the guy who introduced Bruce Lee to nunchucks

The story of revered martial artist Dan Inosanto is being developed into a movie.



You know that Bruce Lee was pretty damn deadly with a pair of nunchaku. But do you know of the man who first introduced Bruce to his most famous movie weapon? Soon, hopefully everybody will know. The story of martial artist Dan Inosanto is being developed into a feature film.

Bruce Lee Protege, Who Helped Cowboys Win Super Bowl, to Get Film Treatment (Exclusive)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Mark Gordon Company is developing movie on the life of Dan Inosanto, who was a protege, instructor, training partner and close friend of Bruce Lee, and a martial arts legend in his own right. The film will be produced by Mark Gordon, Matt Jackson, Tarik Heitmann and Dan Inosanto's daughter (and Bruce Lee's goddaughter) Diana Lee Inosanto.

Cinemax orders Bruce Lee-inspired drama 'Warrior'

Action drama set during the Tong Wars of San Francisco's Chinatown, from executive producer Justin Lin.



I am so here for this. Cinemax has given a 10-episode straight to series order to the period action drama Warrior, written by Jonathan Tropper, executive produced by Justin Lin and Danielle Woodrow, and inspired by an original idea from late martial artist Bruce Lee.

Bruce Lee-Inspired Tong Wars Drama 'Warrior' From Justin Lin & 'Banshee' Co-Creator Gets Cinemax Series Order

Set against the backdrop of the Tong Wars of San Francisco's Chinatown in the second half of the 19th century, Warrior tells the story of Ah Sahm, a gifted martial artist who immigrates from China to San Francisco and becomes a hatchet man for one of Chinatown's most powerful organized crime families.

Warrior appears to be a version of the long-rumored martial arts western that Bruce Lee had tried to develop as a star vehicle for himself, but was never able to materialize -- the idea that many believe eventually became Kung Fu... starring David Carradine, who was totally not Asian. In a now-famous 1971 interview on The Pierre Berton Show, Lee mentions he was in discussions to pitch a western called "The Warrior."

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.

Bruce Lee Movie Stars a White Guy Because Of Course it Does

By Keith Chow. Cross-Posted from The Nerds of Color.



This morning, Deadline unveiled the first trailer for Birth of the Dragon, which recently made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Ostensibly, the film depicts the legendary fight between Bruce Lee (played by Philip Ng) and Wong Jack Man (Yu Xia). But because this is Hollywood, the movie is going to be told from the perspective of a white dude.

Forrest Wheeler stars in the action short 'Power Play'

Vote for Rock Chang's film in the My Rode Reel filmmaking competition.



Forrest Wheeler, who plays Emery Huang on Fresh Off The Boat, stars in this fun three-minute action short Power Play, in which a pair of fierce combatants face off in a deadly battle... sort of. Directed, produced and edited by Rock Chang, the film is currently a contender in the My Rode Reel 2016 filmmaking competition.

Check it out:

Supervisor Jane Kim kicks ass in the baddest political ad

Jane Kim is running for California State Senate. And she will fight for you.



Our friend, San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, is running for California State Senate. She recently dropped this rad political ad where she trades in her stilettos for a taekwondo gi and shows off her badass black belt skills. The former school board president is currently the District 6 supervisor, representing the Tenderloin, SoMa and Treasure Island neighborhoods, where she fights for affordable housing, safe schools and more.

Check it out:

'Into the Badlands' renewed for second season

Genre-bending martial arts drama will return to AMC in 2017.



Looks like we're heading back to the Badlands. It's official. AMC's kickass martial arts drama Into the Badlands, starring Daniel Wu, has been picked up for a 10-episode second season set to premiere in 2017.

AMC is Going Back Into the Badlands in 2017

According to AMC, Into the Badlands delivered the third highest-rated first season in U.S. cable TV history, averaging 5.6 million viewers per episode, including a 3.4 rating in the 18-49 demo, with live + 7-day ratings.

Season two of Into the Badlands will premiere on AMC in 2017. Simultaneous to its U.s. launch, AMC Global will premiere the second season within minutes of the U.S. broadcast.

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:

AMC's Into the Badlands: The Time is Now

Guest Post by Keith Chow



I'm on vacation! This week, I'm taking a much-needed break to recharge the batteries and get a change of scenery. To keep things going around here, I've enlisted the help of several friends of the blog to submit guest posts on various topics of their choosing. Here's one from Keith Chow, cross-posted from The Nerds of Color.

As we near the end of 2015, one thing is for sure: it's a great time to be an Asian American television consumer. For the first time in history, you'll need two hands to count the number of major television programs to feature Asian American leads! On ABC alone, you have shows like Fresh of the Boat, Dr. Ken, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Quantico.

This Sunday night, the biggest network of them all -- AMC -- throws its hat into the ring with Into the Badlands, a dystopian martial arts drama starring Daniel Wu. And I can safely say the show is unlike anything you've ever seen before.

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:

Watch the Comic-Con trailer for 'Into the Badlands'

Daniel Wu stars in AMC's upcoming genre-bending martial arts action drama.



Over the weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, AMC dropped this badass new first-look trailer for the upcoming genre-bending martial arts drama Into the Badlands, starring Daniel Wu. It looks pretty damn awesome. Loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, it tells the story of a great warrior and a young boy who embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment. And kick ass along the way.

Take a look:

AMC releases Comic-Con poster for 'Into the Badlands'

Upcoming genre-bending martial arts series stars Daniel Wu.



In advance of San Diego Comic-Con, AMC recently unveiled some new key art for their upcoming original fall action series Into the Badlands, starring and executive produced by Daniel Wu.

The genre-bending martial arts series, loosely adapted from the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West, follows Sunny, a ruthless, well-trained warrior who embarks on a quest to find enlightenment across a dangerous land controlled by feudal barons. AMC has ordered six one-hour episodes of the series.

Here's the Comic-Con poster:

Tim Lincecum scores an exclusive interview with Bruce Lee

Fun video splices interview footage of legendary martial artist with San Francisco Giants pitcher.



San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum recently sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with legendary martial artist, actor, philosopher and inspirational human being Bruce Lee. Whaaaaaat?

The Giants recently dropped this hilarious video that features Bruce Lee as a guest on The Tim Lincecum Show, splicing together classic interview footage of Lee from The Pierre Berton Show with some cheeky questions and responses from the Filipino American two-time Cy Young Award winning Freak.

As a lifelong fan of both Bruce and the Giants, this is a glorious combination of all my favorite things:

Karate students offer final salute to fallen teacher

The students of Karate-Do pay last respects to their sensei, slain Cincinnati police officer Sonny Kim.



On Friday in Cincinnati, thousands of mourners from across the community lined the streets to pay their last respects to Sonny Kim, the veteran police officer and family man who was fatally shot in the line of duty.

Kim, a decorated 27-year-veteran of the Cincinnati Police Department, was killed in a shootout with an armed suspect in the Madisonville neighborhood on June 19. Kim's death sparked an outpouring of community support for his family, from the GoFundMe campaign that has exceeded its fundraising goal, to the University of Cincinnati's offer of a full ride for Kim's three sons, should they choose to attend the school.

Kim was also a beloved martial arts instructor. Among the many tributes to his life and career, this heartfelt final salute from his uniformed karate students at the Japanese Karate-Do dojo in Symmes Township, as the funeral procession passed by the school, brought me to tears.