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 Korean actor Lee Jung-jae, star of Squid Game and the new Star Wars series The Acolyte. Speaking through an interpreter, he talks about joining the iconic Star Wars franchise, making in his English-language acting debut as a Jedi master, and working with the show's young stars. He also gives us The Good, The Bad, and The WTF of making The Acolyte, and even dangles a tiny crumb of news about Squid Game season two. Special thanks to Isue Shin for interpreting this conversation.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.
The Miami Marlins Make History with Hiring of Kim Ng as General Manager
The Miami Marlins announced they hired Kim Ng to oversee baseball operations. She is now the highest-ranking woman in baseball operations among the Major League's 30 teams and is believed to be the first woman hired to a general manager position by any professional men;s sports team in North America's major leagues. I've been following Ng's career for years. This has been a loooong time coming. Kim Ng has to be the most overqualified person ever to enter this position as a first-time general manager.
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'Chinese virus' sign at doctor's office draws rebuke
A sign at a New Jersey chiropractor's office referring to the coronavirus as the "Chinese virus" is being slammed online as racist. Annesia Paraison took a photo of the sign Tuesday at the Jersey City office of Kevin Julian and uploaded it to Facebook. The sign, posted on the front desk widow, reads, "Dear Patients: During this time period of the Chinese Virus, please observe the six (6) foot rule of social distancing. Only two (2) people should be waiting in the reception room." Online reaction to the sign was... not positive. When reached by phone at his office Thursday morning, Julian declined to comment about the sign.
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Jon M. Chu to Direct ‘Lilo & Stitch’ Live-Action Movie
Jon M. Chu is reportedly in talks to direct Disney's upcoming live action adaptation of Lilo & Stitch. The original movie, written and directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois, was released in 2002. The animated family film follows a 6-year-old Hawaiian girl Lilo and her teenage sister Nani, who adopt a blue extraterrestrial creature nicknamed Stitch. No word on a screenwriter or casting or scheduling, but I imagine the biggest challenge will be how to visualize a live action version of Stitch that isn't totally terrifying.
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Hasan Minhaj Joins Season 2 of 'The Morning Show'
Hasan Minhaj has been tapped for a major recurring role in the upcoming season of Apple TV+'s The Morning Show. He will play Eric, a charismatic, rising star who joins The Morning Show team.
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Kim's Convenience Star is Now an (Unofficial) Action Figure
If you're a fan of both Star Wars and the hit Canadian sitcom Kim's Convenience, you were probably pretty excited to see actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee's recent appearance in The Mandalorian as X-wing pilot Captain Carson Teva. One fan, Jason Loo, was so excited, he made a custom action figure of Captain Teva. Now if someone would actually produce an official one...
In the Absence
The documentary short In the Absence, directed by Yi Seung-Jun and Gary Byung-Seok Kam, documents the sinking of the South Korean passenger ferry MV Sewol in 2014. As a result of the ineptitude of the first response to the emerging situation, over three hundred people lost their lives -- most of them schoolchildren. Years later, the victims' families and survivors are still demanding justice from national authorities. The 29-minute film has nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject. Watch it here.
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Brooklyn school board member suspended for referring to Asian students as "yellow children"
In Brooklyn, a school board member is set to face suspension over racially insensitive remarks directed at Asians in a group email exchange. Community Education Council 22 Jackie Cody has been under fire for referring to Asian parents and students as "yellow folks" and "yellow children" in an online forum for school leaders in September. Last week, the school board approved a resolution to ask the schools chancellor to suspend Cody for two months.
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Fried For The Night
Los Angeles producer/DJ TOKiMONSTA, just dropped her latest song "Fried For The Night," featuring Atlanta duo EarthGang, from her upcoming album Oasis Nocturno. "Everyone has a moment where they feel fried and burnt, but what about those moments you feel fried and turnt?" TOKiMONSTA says. "EarthGang brought their special magic to the studio and we made something other worldly. This song is dedicated to those psychedelic moments where our reality opens up a new point of view."
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Jessica Henwick on 'Underwater' and Her 6-Month 'Star Wars' Audition
Perhaps everybody's a little tired of Star Wars takes by now, but am I the only one a little blown away by the revelation that Jessica Henwick had been in the running to play Rey in The Force Awakens? In this interview with Variety, she reveals that the Star Wars audition lasted "fucking six months." She obviously didn't get the role, but was ultimately cast as X-Wing pilot Jess Pava in Episode VII. But damn, it makes you wonder.
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APAICS Congressional Fellowship and Internship
The Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies is seeking young AAPI professionals and students who are looking to increase their experience in public policy and service. Apply to the APAICS Congressional Fellowship (deadline: January 24) for young professionals and the APAICS Congressional Internship (deadline: February 27) for undergraduate aged students -- paid programs providing opportunities to build leadership skills, encourages political engagement, and fosters interest in public service careers.
'Agents of SHIELD' star will appear in the highly anticipated 'Star Wars' live action series.
From Deadline: Ming-Na Wen, already a Disney staple as the voice of Mulan in the iconic original animated film and as a star of ABC's Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., has been confirmed as a cast member of The Mandalorian, the upcoming Star Wars universe series for Disney+.
Disney CEO Bob Iger revealed the news Friday during D23 Expo, where Wen was one of the recipients of the annual Disney Legends honors. No word about her role in The Mandalorian -- the first live-action Star Wars series -- but if you ask me, they're wasting everybody's time if her character isn't at least a little bit badass.
But here's the first official trailer for The Mandalorian:
Rose will be back. It was pretty much assumed, but it is confirmed that Kelly Marie Tran will indeed be back in the next installment of the Star Wars saga. Lucasfilm officially unveiled the new and returning cast for Episode IX, which will include Tran reprising her role as fearless Resistance tech Rose Tico.
Take that, haters. From the official announcement:
It goes without saying that we are hugefans of Rose Tico and Kelly Marie Tran here at The Nerds of Color. Unfortunately, there’s a significant portion of Star Wars fandom that doesn't agree. Even worse, they’ve taken their disdain for a fictional character and used it to harass the actress so much that she had to delete her Instagram.
Online harassment in the Star Wars community -- and fandom, writ large -- is nothing new. Recently, Phantom Menace actor Ahmed Best revealed he contemplated suicide as a result of the fan backlash to his portrayal of Jar Jar Binks. Just the other day, a cadre of angry fanboys cried foul and singled out StarWars.com personality Andi Gutierrez over a mug she owns. But as Rose Tico famously said at the end of The Last Jedi:
Leaked 'Last Jedi' deleted scene leaves Rose Tico with a bad taste in her mouth.
If you were dying to see more of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, here you go. In this deleted scene from the upcoming DVD release, leaked from what appears to be a Korean subtitled version, we see Rose and Finn on their knees, captured by the First Order. What we didn't see in the theatrical cut: Rose taking a big ol' bite out of General Hux's gloved finger when he gets a little too close.
One lucky reader will win a pair of Hasbro 3.75-inch Last Jedi action figures.
UPDATE: The giveaway is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered!
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A month after the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, and I'm still pretty crazy about Kelly Marie Tran as Resistance tech hero Rose Tico. And I'm not afraid to admit that I've amassed a fairly substantial collection of Rose-related action figures, books and other merchandise. Yeah, I'm fanatical like that.
Each figure, produced by Hasbro, is detailed with movie-inspired design and includes character-inspired accessories. They can be paired with Hasbro's Force Link gear (sold separately) to activate authentic figure phrases, lights and sounds. Recommended for kids ages 4 and up, and you know, grown-ass adults too.
One lucky reader will receive both figures. Here's how to enter for your chance to win:
Awesome fan edit re-imagines fight scene from Fist of Fury. With lightsabers.
Bruce Lee died in 1973, four years before the original Star Wars hit theaters. Now, Enter the Dragon and A New Hope are two very different movies, but if you've ever wondered what Bruce might look like kicking ass in a galaxy far, far away, or imagined what kind of damage he could do with a lightsaber... here you go.
YouTube user Patrick Nan re-edited a fight scene from Fist of Fury... with lightsabers. Lightsaber nunchucks. Nan says he was inspired by this cool work of fan art, which imagined Bruce wielding this unholy union of a weapon, and just took it one logical step further. In reality, this weapon would likely be extremely impractical and hilariously dangerous to wield. But if anyone could do it, it's Bruce.
The edit totally works, and is immensely entertaining. Take a look:
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. 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.
On this episode, we go to the movies. We discuss the pop culture legacy of Star Wars, offer some non-spoilery thoughts on The Last Jedi and our favorite new character played by Kelly Marie Tran, and then throw down a super spoilery edition of The Good, The Bad and The WTF.
'The Last Jedi' star was eavesdropping on their review.
At long last, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has hit theaters, and those of us who were hyped for our girl Kelly Marie Tran as Rose finally got to see her get her Resistance on and join the fight in a galaxy far, far away.
So what's the verdict on The Last Jedi? What are people saying? Sure, you can go read some critics' reviews, log on to some message boards or jump in on a discussion thread on your Facebook wall. Or you can listen in on people talking about it at the next table. That's what Kelly Marie Tran did.
A few days ago, while in Europe to promote The Last Jedi, Kelly was eating at a pub with a friend when a group of friends came in, at down at the next table and started discussing The Last Jedi in great detail. Naturally, Kelly started eavesdropping, and her friend recorded her reaction as they discussed Rose.
Kelly's reaction is adorably priceless, as one of the diners says, "I looooooooove Rose."
"Kelly Marie Tran is how all of us would be if we were cast in a Star Wars film."
Over the weekend, at long last, Star Wars: The Last Jedi held its world premiere in Los Angeles. Fans lined the red carpet to get a glimpse of the saga's stars, and reactions to the long-awaited sequel are apparently good (I've been avoiding all of it -- really trying to stay spoiler-free). But hands down, the highlight of the premiere was the mega-franchise's newest star, Kelly Marie Tran, having the best damn time.
Tran plays Rose Tico, a behind-the-scenes Resistance nobody who gets thrust into the action when she goes on a mission with Finn. Up until recently, Tran -- much like Rose -- was also kind of a nobody, a struggling actress with a comedy background trying to break into Hollywood and working odd jobs to make ends meet. Until the biggest movie franchise of all time plucked her from obscurity to play a role that will most certainly make her a household name. And from the looks of it, she is not taking any of this shit for granted.
In addition to looking drop dread gorgeous in red, Tran was seen spending a good portion of the festivities adorably freaking out, getting visibly emotional, hugging everyone in sight and overall looking like she was genuinely totally stoked just to be there. As Dani Fernandez observed, via Twitter, "Kelly Marie Tran is how all of us would be if we were cast in a Star Wars film."
From unknown office assistant to a starring role galaxy far, far away.
From Entertainment Weekly: In her first official Star Wars performance, she had to keep playing the role of Kelly Marie Tran, office assistant.
"The day I found out, [director Rian Johnson] was like, 'Oh we want you in this movie,' I had just left work on my lunch break to go to this meeting," she recalls. "Afterward, he told me that I couldn't tell anyone, so I went back to work and answered phones and answered emails, like nothing happened. It was the most bizarre experience. Inside I was like, Ugh! Crazy!"
Then came the announcement. Then came the production. Then came a whole cascade of happy-happy, joy-joy that struggling actors are unaccustomed to dealing with. "I still just sort of live my life the way that I was before," she says. "I don’t know when I will feel that it's different. Definitely, when I saw the action figures, I was like, 'This is insane,' but it still hasn't sunk in or registered on me."
Kelly Marie Tran drops hints about her 'Last Jedi' character.
As you know, we are hyped as hell for Kelly Marie Tran's role as Rose Tico in the upcoming new Star Wars movie. So we're pouncing on every little Rose-related morsel of story details, marketing and merchandising in the run up to The Last Jedi's release next month. The latest visual clue: space jewelry.
Entertainment Weekly's Holiday Movie Preview has dropped some more information about Rose, including the above image of Tran and John Boyega's Finn piloting a craft to the interstellar casino city of Canto Bight.
We already know that Rose is no-nonsense maintenance tech who usually works in the background of the Resistance, but finds herself caught up in a dangerous adventure with Finn. Tran offers some more details about her character, her background and what she brings to their mission in a galaxy far, far away.
"The journey that she and Finn go seems pretty impossible, you can tell in this moment that she's very much aware of the dangers that they are about to face, but she's also logically in her mind problem-solving on the way," Tran says. She knows exactly, probably, how many things can go wrong in a situation."
As you know, we are enormously excited to see Kelly Marie Tran in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
We don't know much, but we know her character, a Resistance maintenance worker named Rose, has the biggest new role in a galaxy far, far away. We know that she'll be paired up with Finn, their mission will take them to a casino city called Canto Bight, and at some point, they'll go undercover as First Order officers.
Also: they will ride space horses.
Some new Last Jedi promotional art gives us a closer look at creatures called fathiers -- aka "space horses." According to Star Wars News Net, they are extremely fast creatures that are exploited for racing and gambling on Canto Bight. And as depicted (in extremely small detail) on this theatrical standee, it appears that Rose and Finn will saddle up and make a run for it on the back of one of these majestic space steeds.
It's not secret that we're waaaaay hyped to see Kelly Marie Tran as Rose in Star Wars: The Last Jedi and thus gobbling up all Rose-related merchandise. The latest: Funko just announced that one of its upcoming Specialty Series exclusives will be a Pop! Star Wars: The Last Jedi Rose in Disguise.
Hey, superfans. I just thought everyone would want to know that right now on Amazon, you can order a life-sized cardboard standup of Kelly Marie Tran as Rose from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. If that's your thing.
Rose Tico is described as "a gearhead, a greasemonkey, a behind-the-scenes jack-of-all-trades" in the Resistance who gets pulled into an adventure with Finn. Based on all the information and marketing that's been released so far, she's apparently Episode VIII's biggest new character -- and worthy of a cardboard cutout.
A geeky portrait of every Asian action figure from the Star Wars saga.
Do you like Star Wars? Do you like Star Wars action figures? Our friend David Yeh really likes Star Wars action figures. He recently shared this awesome (and incredibly geeky) photo highlighting his collection of all the Asian characters -- yes, there have been a handful, major and laughably minor -- from across the entire Star Wars saga that have been produced over the years as action figures (including the recently released figures for Rose and Paige from the upcoming Last Jedi). There are only about a dozen, which, considering the massive number of Star Wars toys that have been produced in the last four decades, is not a lot.
Roll call, from left to right, with character and figure details:
More details on Kelly Marie Tran's character in 'Star Wars: Episode VIII'
As you know, we're pretty darn excited about newcomer Kelly Marie Tran as Rose in the upcoming new Star Wars movie, and have been gobbling up every scant little detail about the character in the lead up to Episode VIII. The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly has rolled out a multi-part cover story on The Last Jedi, and gives us some more info on Rose and her role in a galaxy far, far away.
According to Entertainment Weekly, Rose Tico is "a gearhead, a greasemonkey, a behind-the-scenes jack-of-all-trades," while her sister Paige, a Resistance gunner who fights on the front lines, is the dynamic one.
When we pick up with the saga in Episode VIII, Finn (John Boyega) wants out of the fight, but reluctantly finds himself celebrated as a "big deal" by many in the Resistance -- including Rose, the low-profile nobody who is "starstruck" by the former Stormtrooper who helped destroy Starkiller base.
This heroic ideal she sees in him helps him stay in the fight.
Leaked photos reveal latest line of 'Last Jedi' toys.
Like we've said before, one of our obsessive preoccupations from now until the release of The Last Jedi will be any and all info and prom material pertaining to Rose Tico, one of the major new characters introduced in the new Star Wars movie, played by Kelly Marie Tran. And for action figure geeks like myself, this is a big one.
Thanks to Instagram user "swrogue507," the internet just got an early look at some toys from Episode VIII, reportedly found at a department store in Panama. These appear to be the first wave of Last Jedi 3.75-inch action figures from Hasbro, and may have accidentally hit the shelf about a month early at this particular store.
And so, we've got a look at the Hasbro 3.75" Rose figure:
