What Deportation Actually Does to a Human Life

And other items of note from Angry Asian America.

1. One Minnesota woman’s deportation story

She came to Minnesota as a child refugee in the 1980s. Last year America sent her away to Laos, where she didn’t know anyone. Columnist Ka Vang shares the story of one Hmong refugee and the incalculable cost of deportation. "I am telling her story because Minnesotans deserve to understand what deportation actually does to a human life — what happens after the headlines fade, after the handcuffs are removed, after someone is forced to leave the only home they remember."

2. Hospital needs help identifying man found unconscious in Los Angeles

A Los Angeles hospital is asking for help identifying a patient who has been hospitalized for weeks. According to Dignity Health, the patient is male, around 25-35 years old, and was found near Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in the Westlake neighborhood and has been hospitalized since December 29. He is described as an Asian or Hispanic man who stands 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He does not have any tattoos or distinct scars. Anyone who recognizes the man is asked to call Dignity Health at 213-742-5511 or 213-507-5495.

3. Chloe Kim says she's 'good to go' for Olympics

It's all good, everybody. Whew. Snowboarder Chloe Kim says she's "good to go” for the Milan Cortina Olympics despite tearing the labrum in her shoulder during a training run last week in Switzerland. Send good vibes.



4. Anderson .Paak Dives Into the World of Korean Music Competition Series in 'K-Pops!' Trailer

Check out the trailer for K-Pops!, the new family comedy from Grammy Award-winning musician Anderson .Paak. Produced, co-written, directed by and starring .Paak, the film follows a down-on-his-luck musician entering a Korean singing competition as he reunites with his long-lost son. Also starring Jonnie “Dumbfoundead” Park, Yvette Nicole Brown and .Paak’s real-life teen son, Soul Rasheed. K-Pops! opens exclusive in AMC Theatres on February 27.

5. Fast & Furious Han Lue Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure

At long last! It's the Fast & Furious Han Lue Funko Pop! Figure! Made in the likeness in Sung Kang, in that Funko kinda way, as he munches on a snack while planning a heist with Family. The figure stand four inches tall and comes packaged in a window display box. Now available for pre-order.

Chinatown Restaurants Suffer From Coronavirus Panic

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Chinatown Restaurant Business Plummets Amid Coronavirus Fears
"Restaurateurs in Chinatown say their businesses are suffering because of the panic about coronavirus. They say that the neighborhood has been noticeably less busy, while there have been no confirmed cases in New York yet during the outbreak that has infected 28,000 people worldwide. The outbreak has provoked xenophobic and racist responses about the Chinese people and diaspora, including from those who push age-old and bigoted misperceptions of Chinese culinary habits."

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Coughing While Asian
Scared of the coronavirus? Okay. Scared of Asians because of coronavirus? Don't be racist. This silly sketch, Coughing While Asian, produced and directed by Michael Tow and Teja Arboleda, addresses the overblown xenophobia and anti-Asian sentiment that have been fueled by the virus outbreak. Get a grip, people.

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Bruno Mars Will Star In, Produce Music-Driven Theatrical Disney Film
Disney has struck a deal with Bruno Mars to develop a music-themed theatrical narrative feature starring and produced by the platinum-seling pop star. The plot is being kept under wraps, but according to Deadline, the film will reportedly consist of mostly original music created and performed by Mars.

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Sung's Garage Episode 1: Jen Yamato
If you haven't heard, Han is back. The fan favorite character returns to the Fast & Furious franchise after having seemingly died at the hands of the villainous Deckard Shaw. On the inaugural episode of his new podcast Sung's Garage, Kang invites Los Angeles Times film critic -- and originator of the #JusticeForHan movement -- Jen Yamato to discuss Han's death and resurrection, and the Fast franchise making things right.

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"Barcelona" by Surrija
"Barcelona" is the fantastic new single from Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Surrija (aka Jane Lui), from her forthcoming spring album release. The song was inspired, in part, by time spent in, yes, Barcelona.

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.

Sung Kang gets behind the wheel again in 'Z Dream'

Five-part docu-series chronicles 'Fast & Furious' star's restoration of a classic Nissan 240Z.



Sung Kang, the super-cool star of several mega-successful Fast & Furious movies, gets behind the wheel again. Only this time, he's building his dream car. Fox Sports' new five-part documentary webseries Z Dream follows Sung as he goes through the process of restoring a classic Nissan 240Z. The car, known as "FuguZ," will debut at the 2015 SEMA auto show next month in Las Vegas.

In the premiere episode, Sung shares why he was motivated to pursue this unique passion project, and how he connected with friends and specialists to build the car. He says that he was inspired, in part, by the tragic, untimely death of his Fast & Furious co-star Paul Walker -- who was also an avid auto enthusiast.

"I realized after he passed away that life is too short," Sung says. "You've got to just go after it."

Check it out:

10th Anniversary Screening of 'The Motel'

With cast/crew in attendance, September 9 at the Japanese American National Museum



Los Angeles film fans! This is a good one. The community film series Big Trouble in Little Tokyo is proud to present a special ten-year anniversary screening of the 2005 indie coming-of-age dramedy The Motel.

In The Motel, Jeffrey Chyau stars as thirteen-year-old Ernest Chin, who lives and works at his family's seedy hour-rate motel. Alienated from his family, Ernest befriends Sam Kim, a troubled yet charismatic Korean man who checks in to the motel and teaches the fatherless boy the rites of manhood.

Join writer/director Michael Kang, stars Sung Kang and Samantha Futerman, and producers Miguel Arteta and Gina Kown, as we reunite and revisit the hit Sundance feature, a decade later. It's happening Wednesday, September 9 at the Japanese American National Museum.

Here are some more details about the screening:

Sung Kang stars in the new cop show 'Gang Related'

Crime drama airs Thursday nights on Fox



It's no secret that Sung Kang is one of the coolest dudes working in Hollywood. So fans will be pleased to hear that you'll be able to see him on a weekly basis, starting tonight, on the new Fox cop show Gang Related.

Set in Los Angeles, the gritty action drama follows an elite police task force engaged in the city's war between law enforcement and organized crime. Created and written by Chris Morgan, the show also stars Ramon Rodriguez, RZA, Cliff Curtis, Inbar Lavi, Terry O'Quinn and Shantel VanSanten.

Sung (sporting a haircut since we last saw him as Han in Fast & Furious) plays Tae Kim, a badass officer in the LAPD gang squad. No word if we'll be seeing him do any fancy driving on the show. But that would be awesome

Here's a trailer for the show:

Fast & Furious 6 Blu-ray/DVD Extended Edition

The biggest and baddest installment of the auto action franchise, directed by Justin Lin

If you had told me in 2001, upon release of The Fast and the Furious, that they would eventually go on to make six of these freaking movies, I would have told you to get the eff out of my car. But indeed, they've not only made six, but they've turned Fast & Furious into an international blockbuster franchise -- and arguably getting better with each film -- helmed by one of Hollywood's most successful Asian American directors. Whaaat.

You've come a long way, Justin Lin. Fast & Furious 6 marks a closing chapter for his run with the series, after successfully weaving together the seemingly disparate character/story threads from the first three movies, spinning a movie mythology and managing a bulging ensemble while continually upping the action ante. Yes, this is a big, loud movie, but it delivers in all the ways that count.

The movie also closes the loop for fan favorite Sung Kang as Han, who [SPOILER, like seven years ago, bro] meets his fate in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift -- the third movie in the franchise, but chronologically, the bookend to the series so far. Hats off to one of the coolest Asian American movie characters ever.

Fast & Furious is now available on Blu-ray, DVD, VOD and Digital Download. Here's the trailer again:

Planes, tanks and automobiles: first look at Fast & Furious 6

The best commercial that ran during the Super Bowl XLVII? Fast & Furious 6, of course. We got our first look at the highly anticipated sixth(!) installment of the blockbuster auto-action series, directed by our old friend Justin Lin. Call me biased, but any trailer that features a speeding car bursting out of a speeding airplane hull is all right by me. And there's more where that came from. Take a look: