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 this episode, we welcome the legendary Tsai Chin, star of the feature film Lucky Grandma, along with writer/director Sasie Sealy and co-writer Angela Cheng. We discuss why a 85-year-old Chinese grandma was the perfect star for a Chinatown gangster caper. Special thanks to our producer Nick Song for resurrecting and salvaging this episode from audio limbo.
And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian (North) America.
Asian Woman Punched in Face at Vancouver Bus Stop
In Vancouver, police are asking for the public's help identifying a man who punched a young Asian woman in the face in an unprovoked attack last month. Surveillance footage shows the victim was standing at a bus stop when the suspect approached her and punched her in the face. And that's it. They apparently didn't know each other, and nobody said a word. He sucker punched her and then ran away. What the fuck.
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Annual TV Report Card Shows Asian American Representation At Standstill
The Asian Pacific American Media Coalition released their annual TV report card, grading the top four television networks for the 2018-2019 season assessing their progress toward diversity and inclusion of Asian Pacific Americans onscreen and behind the camera and although there was some progress, it wasn't enough to make the needle move dramatically. In fact, it barely moved at all.
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Sewing in the Time of Coronavirus
The Asian American Documentary Network just launched a new series of short clips as part of its Storytelling Initiative, with the documentary short Sewing In The Time of Coronavirus, directed by Valerie Soe, highlighted as its first featured microdoc. This piece explains how Soe has been spending her time since the shelter-in-place order in California took place almost two months ago. "Sewing masks pushes back against the Trump administration's cynical manipulation of the COVID-19 crisis," Soe says, ."I reject the idea that humans are expendable cogs in capitalism's machine. We all deserve a chance to live and to be healthy. This is to ensure that more of us have that chance."
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CM's 30th Anniversary Issue: COVID-19 and the AAPI Community (FREE) Character Media (formerly KoreAm Journal, Audrey Magazine and Kore Asian Media) is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special edition print issue covering what's been happening in our country, specifically within our Asian American community, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For a limited time, they're mailing out complimentary copies of the print edition, free of charge. All you have to do is fill out the form here. (You can also read the digital version here.)
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Lucky Grandma Trailer
Check out the trailer for crime comedy Lucky Grandma, starring the legendary Tsai Chin. In the heart of Chinatown, New York, an ornery, chain-smoking, newly widowed 80-year-old Grandma is eager to live life as an independent woman, despite the worry of her family. When a local fortune teller predicts a most auspicious day in her future, Grandma decides to head to the casino and goes all in, only to land herself on the wrong side of luck... suddenly attracting the attention of some local gangsters. Desperate to protect herself, Grandma employs the services of a bodyguard from a rival gang and soon finds herself right in the middle of a Chinatown gang war. Lucky Grandma, directed by Sasie Sealy, will be released in virtual theaters on May 22.
The second season of the comedy webseries, created/written by Christine Kwon, directed/written by Tanuj Chopra and starring Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec and Sheetal Sheth as three best frenemies in the best book club ever, dropped last week. I was actually on vacation, and wasn't able to give it proper blog love. So here it is.
In season two, available for viewing in its entirety on YouTube, the book club moves their shenanigans to Sophie's house where we meet Geraldine's mom (the legendary Tsai Chin) and Leena's hot new love interest. There are motivational speeches, literary re-enactments and deadly games of survival.
They're baaaaaack! Nice Girls Crew is back! Three best frenemies in the best book club ever -- Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec and Sheetal Sheth -- are back for a second season of the hit comedy webseries, taking the mirth and mayhem to new heights. All five episodes of season two will be available online on April 28.
In season two, your favorite book club moves their shenanigans to Sophie's house where we meet Geraldine's mom (the legendary Tsai Chin), and find out who Leena's new love interest is! It's pretty hot.
Starring Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec and Sheetal Sheth
Heads up to all Comcast cable subscribers. The Nice Girls Crew is back! The ladies of your favorite BFF book club return for a second season of the wacky comedy web series Nice Girls Crew, now available exclusively this month on XFINITY On Demand's Cinema Asian America, as well as Xfinity Streaming.
Special one-night-only Season 2 screening at the Landmark Theater in Los Angeles
They're baaaack. The hilarious webseries Nice Girls Crew return for a second season. Lynn Chen, Michelle Krusiec and Sheetal Sheth are back as Sophie, Geraldine and Linsa -- three best frenemies forever in one crazy-ass book club. Before you do anything, be sure to catch up on season one here.
Season two expands the wacky world of Nice Girls Crew, introducing new characters played by Leonardo Nam, Parvesh Cheena, Anthony Ma and the iconic Tsai Chin as Geraldine's worldly mother, and getting down and dirty with cupcakes, manservants, self-help books and outdoor competition.
If you're in Los Angeles, they're setting things off with a special one-night only screening with cast and crew on Thursday, September 26 at the Landmark Theater. I'll be there to serve as emcee and lead the Q&A. Won't you come out? Here are some more details about the screening:
