They Call Us Bruce 172: They Call Us Yuji Okumoto

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 Yuji Okumoto, who stars in season five of Netflix's Cobra Kai as Chozen Toguchi, the role he originated in 1986's The Karate Kid Pt. II. He talks about stepping back into the Karate Kid Cinematic Universe, his (and ours, and everybody's) love for Kumiko, and getting an unexpected redemption arc for his character over thirty years later. This episode is paid for by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services. Find boosters near you at vaccines.gov.

Angry Reader of the Week: Yuji Okumoto

"If you fail, at least you failed doing what you love."



Hey, everybody! You know what time it is. It's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Yuji Okumoto.

Fund This: Seppuku, a Japanese American cinematic folk tale

Short film "looks through the lens of a psyche molded through generations by the legacy of internment."



Here's a cool-looking short film that could use some support... Seppuku is described as a "Japanese American cinematic folk tale" about the ritual death and rebirth of Mari Yoshimori, an Olympic track star.

Directed and co-written by Daryn Wakasa, and starring Akemi Look, Tamlyn Tomita and Yuji Okumoto, "looks through the lens of a psyche molded through generations by the legacy of internment." The project recently launched a crowdfunding campaign through Seed & Spark to raise production funds.

Here are some more details about the story:

Bad Guys Are Awesome, Especially Asian Ones

Character poster gallery features the stars of 'Awesome Asian Bad Guys'



National Film Society's long-awaited action/comedy Awesome Asian Bad Guys finally gets its digital release tomorrow, June 23. The movie will be released by FilmBuff on all major video-on-demand platforms including the film's website, powered by VHX, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and Xbox Video.

To get you sufficiently pumped for the release, here's a gallery of some dope character posters featuring the stars of Awesome Asian Bad Guys: Randall Park, Al Leong, Dante Basco, Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto, George Cheung, Aaron Takahashi, Patrick Epino and Stephen Dypiangco.

Check it out:

How to Be Like Chozen from 'The Karate Kid Part II'

National Film Society gets a lesson in awesome from Yuji Okumoto.



Here's some required viewing for my fellow Karate Kid Part II fans... Just in time for the digital release of the action/comedy feature Awesome Asian Bad Guys, Stephen and Patrick of National Film Society recently invited actor Yuji Okumoto to instruct them with lessons on How To Be Like Chozen, the incredibly mean, pectorally-blessed villain from The Karate Kid Part II. (Specifically, that scene where he takes off his shirt.)

As you'll see, for Patrick and Stephen, it's easier said than done:

'Awesome Asian Bad Guys' to be Released on June 23

National Film Society's action/comedy webseries will be available on all major VOD platforms.



Mark your calendars, film fans. Awesome Asian Bad Guys are coming to get you! The webseries-turned-feature action/comedy Awesome Asian Bad Guys, from Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino, aka National Film Society, will be released by FilmBuff on June 23 on all major video-on-demand platforms including the film's website, powered by VHX, Amazon Instant Video, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and Xbox Video.

In Awesome Asian Bad Guys, a pair of down-on-their-luck filmmakers must assemble a ragtag group of Asian "bad guy" actors in a deadly mission to take down LA's most nefarious crime boss. The cast includes Randall Park (Fresh Off The Boat, The Interview), Al Leong (Die Hard, Lethal Weapon), Dante Basco (Hook), Tamlyn Tomita (The Karate Kid Part II, Joy Luck Club), George Cheung (Rambo: First Blood Part II) and Aaron Takahashi (The Wedding Ringer). Full disclosure: I served as executive producer on the project.

The film is an irreverent homage to the nameless, expendable Asian villains of '80s and '90s action flicks. "These legendary performers have spent their careers in the background, and this project finally gives them their due," says Patrick. "It places them front and center where they belong."

Here's Patrick and Stephen with the big announcement, explaining how they pulled it off:

Awesome Asian Bad Guys in Seattle!

Two free screenings, August 23 and 24.



This is for all my people in Seattle... The Awesome Asian Bad Guys are coming to get you. National Film Society's action/comedy webseries Awesome Asian Bad Guys is hitting the road hard, and is making its next stop with two screenings as part of the Seattle Asian American Film Festival's Summer Series.

We're Screening Twice in Seattle!!

In Awesome Asian Bad Guys, Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino direct and star as down-and-out filmmakers who must recruit an unlikely team of Asian American heroes -- a motley crew that includes Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, George Cheung and Randall Park -- to take down a ruthless crime lord. The series is an homage to your favorite nameless Asian movie character actors of the 1980s and 90s.

You can go to the outdoor screening on Saturday, August 23 at Chinatown's Hing Hay Park (bring your friends! bring a chair!) or Sunday, August 24 at The NVC Hall. Stars Yuji Okumoto and Stephen Dypiango will be in attendance. And best of all, both screenings are free! Here are some more details about the screenings:

See you at the New York Premiere of Awesome Asian Bad Guys

July 25 & 26 at the Asian American International Film Festival



New York City! Make some plans, because the Awesome Asian Bad Guys are coming to get you.

Next week, National Film Society's action/comedy webseries makes its East Coast premiere as part of Asian CineVision's Asian American International Film Festival. It will screen on Friday, July 25, 6:00pm at City Cinema Village East and Saturday, July 26, 2:00pm at the Made in NY Media Center by IFP.

Want to win free tickets? Scroll down to the bottom for details.

Filmmaking duo Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino direct and star as Stephen and Patrick, down-and-out filmmakers who must recruit an unlikely team of Asian American heroes -- a motley crew that includes Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, George Cheung and Randall Park -- to take down a ruthless crime lord. The series is an homage to your favorite nameless Asian movie character actors of the 1980s and 90s.

Awesome Asian Bad Guys Opening Titles

Animated sequence pays homes to action/comedy webseries heroes' greatest cinematic moments



Awesome Asian Bad Guys, coming soon from National Film Society, is an action/comedy webseries about two down-and-out filmmakers who must recruit an unlikely team of heroes -- a motley crew that includes Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, George Cheung and Randall Park -- to take down a ruthless crime lord.

Want to see something Awesome? If you went to the film festival screenings of Awesome Asian Bad Guys in San Francisco, Chicago or Los Angeles this spring, you were treated to a supercool 30-second animated opening title sequence, created by the talented Michael Velasquez, depicting some of our heroes' greatest cinematic moments. Can you recognize them? Check it out:

Awesome Asian Bad Guys kick ass at LAAPFF

Encore festival screening on Friday, May 8 at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum in Little Tokyo



I am still reeling from Saturday night's amazing Los Angeles premiere of National Film Society's Awesome Asian Bad Guys at the 30th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. It was, yes, awesome.

Directors Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino were joined by stars of the action/comedy webseries -- including Tamlyn Tomita, Yuji Okumoto, George Cheung, Randall Park, Aaron Takahashi and Dante Basco -- as well as a fantastic, energetic crowd. As executive producer, on behalf of the whole team, thank you to everyone who came out and supported the project. It was soooo much fun.

Here are some photos from the evening, courtesy of Joseph Dypiangco:

You're invited to the LA premiere of Awesome Asian Bad Guys

Star-studded screening on Saturday, May 3 at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival



All right. This is for all my people in Southern California. The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is proud to present the Hollywood premiere of Awesome Asian Bad Guys, the new action/comedy web series from National Film Society. I have the pleasure of being an executive producer on this project, and I'm excited to share the fun with friends, film fans and the festival community.

Filmmaking duo Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino direct and star as Stephen and Patrick, down-and-out filmmakers who must recruit an unlikely team of Asian American heroes -- a motley crew that includes Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, George Cheung and Randall Park -- to take down a ruthless crime lord. The series is an homage to your favorite nameless Asian movie character actors of the 1980s and 90s.

Here's the teaser trailer again:

Watch the teaser trailer for Awesome Asian Bad Guys!

Action comedy web series unites badass villains from Rambo II, Die Hard, The Karate Kid Part II and more.



Awesome! Friends, it's my pleasure to present the teaser trailer premiere for Awesome Asian Bad Guys, the upcoming action comedy web series from Stephen Dypiangco and Patrick Epino, aka National Film Society.

The series is a celebration of some of our favorite cult movie personalities of yesteryear who were always relegated to bad guy background status, from The Karate Kid Part II to Lethal Weapon and Rambo II. Awesome Asian Bad Guys puts them in the spotlight and in the center of the action -- where they belong.

Starring Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, Aaron Takahashi, Dante Basco and more, the story follows a motley crew of washed up Asian bad guy actors who join forces to take down Los Angeles' most nefarious mob boss. Here's your very first look at the series, coming in 2014:

The Awesome Asian Cast of Awesome Asian Bad Guys

Behold, the awesome cast of National Film Society's upcoming webseries Awesome Asian Bad Guys. That's Yuji Okumoto, Patrick Epino, Stephen Dypiangco, Aaron Takahashi, Randall Park, Dante Basco, George Chung, Jasmin Currey, Tamlyn Tomita and the indestructible Al Leong.

Production on the action comedy webseries begins this week, and I just wanted to remind everybody that the team is putting the call out for extras. We need your help! If you're in Los Angeles, and free on Saturday, June 22 and Monday, June 24, you're invited to join in the fun as an extra in a big scene we're shooting downtown.

If you're interested in hanging out as an extra and watching the Awesome Asian Bad Guys in action, email awesomeasianbadguys@gmail.com. Hope you can join and be Awesome with us.

Fund This: Awesome Asian Bad Guys

All right, my friends. I'm the Executive Producer of a little something called Awesome Asian Bad Guys. I know I throw a lot of fundraising pitches your way, but this time I am personally calling on you for support.

My buddies Patrick and Stephen of National Film Society are making Awesome Asian Bad Guys, an action/comedy webseries about "two offbeat filmmakers, a volatile group of Asian bad guys and one impossible mission."

In order to accomplish this impossible mission, they need to raise some cash. Cue funny and totally rad pitch video, featuring the worst bake sale ever: