'Minari' Takes Double Top Honors at Sundance Film Festival

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Minari Scores Double Top Honors at the Sundance Film Festival Awards
Writer/director Lee Isaac Chung's Minari took double top honors at the Sundance Film Festival's annual awards ceremony on Saturday night, winning both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the U.S. Dramatic Competition. Based on Chung’s real life, the drama follows a Korean American family that moves from Los Angeles to Arkansas to chase the American Dream. This is definitely one to watch, folks.




The Outbreak Narrative and How Fear Fuels Our Xenophobia and Racism
"Let’s be clear about this: Your fear does not justify your racism and xenophobia. Your jokes and performative panic about the coronavirus are not funny. They are deeply pointless and trivialize something that should be taken seriously. And they are creating an environment of fear, panic and disinformation that’s more dangerous than the disease itself."

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How Andrew Yang Quieted the Asian American Right
"The Chinese social-media platform WeChat, once a hub for anti-affirmative-action organizers, is now reverberating with blue-hat emojis and cries for universal basic income. The flip can largely be linked to excitement surrounding one particular presidential candidate: Andrew Yang, the 45-year-old entrepreneur and political newbie who is also among the most successful Asian Americans to ever run for president. With the high level of support that Yang is getting from Asian voters, he has quieted the vocal conservative Asian American contingent that had been pulling the community to the right."



Call upon Indiana University to rectify for its ban on Japanese Americans
In May 1942, in the wake of Franklin D. Roosvelt's Executive Order 9066, Indiana University's Board of Trustees ruled that "no Jap. be admitted to Indiana University." About a dozen Japanese Americans were denied admission, including those which lived in Indiana. The Nisei College Redress Project is currently working with faculty, alumni, and community members at Indiana University to secure an apology for the Japanese Americans who were denied admission. If you are a member of the IU community, sign on to the letter here.

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HBO Max Wins 5-Bidder Auction For YA Novel 'I'll Be The One'
HBO Max will adapt Lyla Lee's upcoming young adult novel I'll Be The One into a feature film, with Fresh Off The Boat's Nahnatchka Khan attached to produce and possibly direct, from a script by Colleen McGuinness. The story centers on 16-year-old Skye Shin -- a bi-sexual, Korean-American girl -- as she pursues her dreams as a participant on reality TV singing and dancing competition "K-Pop Shining Star." With the help of her new friends and her crush, world famous model Henry Cho, Skye faces the industry"s old-fashioned beauty standards head on, setting her sights on becoming a K-pop star -- one the world has never seen before.

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Bernie Sanders, and How Indian Food Can Predict Vote Choice
Seemingly nonpolitical topics can shed light on political preferences.

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I'm In China. Here's What's Really Happening As The Country Faces The Coronavirus.
Peter Xu and his brother, Harry, were planning a trip to China when news of the coronavirus broke. They decided to go anyway, and report on what they observed.

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What reparations mean to one American family
Mits and Jayne Yamamoto met after being imprisoned in internment camps during World War II. Their daughter Ginny married Robert Syphax, whose ancestors were enslaved at Mount Vernon. Now, as momentum builds for reparations, this family grapples with how America should atone for the wrongs of the past.

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Parasite Power: Director Bong Joon Ho on His Edgy Oscar Contender
The filmmaker says movies saved his life. To return the favor, he's changing how Hollywood thinks.

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Fast & Furious 9 director Justin Lin breaks down Han's return, John Cena twist
John Cena is Dom's brother! Han is alive! Cars are jumping from one island to another! Charlize Theron has a new haircut! EW talk to returning director Justin Lin about the crazy new trailer for Fast & Furious 9.

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For 'Jagged Little Pill' Producer Vivek Tiwary, Professional Is Personal
"Why couldn't the weirdo Indian kid from the Lower East Side write comic books and produce Broadway musicals?"

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Lynn Chen Talks About Her Directorial Debut I Will Make You Mine
Lynn Chen's directorial debut film I Will Make You Mine will premiere at SXSW this year.

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'Birds of Prey' Director Cathy Yan Reveals the Crucial Advice Patty Jenkins Gave Her
Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan was a journalist interviewing up-and-coming filmmakers -- and finally understood that she herself could be one, too.

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Director Lulu Wang Orders Dumplings at the Spa
Grub Street Diet runs down the week in food from Lulu Wang, writer/director of The Farewell.

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Easy Korean dishes from the stars of Kim’s Convenience
The stars of Kim's Convenience, Paul Sun-Yung Lee and Jean Yoon, stop by the Toronto Star test kitchen to make their favorite easy Korean dishes and answer some questions.

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.

This letter claims there's a Coronavirus outbreak. It's fake.

Tell your relatives to stop spreading bullshit on Facebook.



Today in Coronavirus-related racism: a fake letter, purporting to be from an official with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, has been circulating on email and Facebook regarding a supposed Coronavirus outbreak in the South Bay region of Southern California. This is 100% not real.

Letter Claiming Coronavirus Outbreak in Carson is Fake, Officials Say

According to officials, there is no current threat to public health from the Coronavirus in Los Angeles County. But of course, this bullshit hoax letter names actual Asian-owned restaurants and markets in the Carson/Torrance area (including their addresses), declaring them "contaminated.

Casting Call Seeks Actress to Play Anna May Wong

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



"Must be able to carry a tune."
I've been seeing this casting call passed around, looking for someone to play screen icon Anna May Wong in the upcoming Paramount Pictures film Babylon: "ANNA MAY WONG: aged 30-40's; Chinese-American; based on the real person, Anna May is a dynamic singer/actress in the 1920s who moves in the top Hollywood circles but still struggles against racial stereotypes in the roles she is asked to play. Must be able to carry a tune. Shooting will begin approx. June/July 2020 in Los Angles. To be directed by Damien Chazelle and starring Brad Pitt and Emma Stone. If you are interested in pursuing, please send your picture/resume to Francine Maisler Casting at FMCselftapes@gmail.com." Good luck.

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A new virus stirs up ancient hatred
"This coronavirus is new. But the diseases of xenophobia and racism are not. And as history has shown, outbreaks of the latter are potentially harder to contain, and far more lethal."

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Berkeley Law School Drops Boalt Name Over Racist Legacy
The name "Boalt Hall" was removed from the University of California Berkeley's law school after a yearslong process that determined, in essence, that the school should no longer honor a man whose most notable work was rooted in racist views -- views that were instrumental in legitimizing anti-Chinese racism and in catalyzing support for passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Good riddance.

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Why The Green Hornet is ripe for a return
A new movie version of The Green Hornet may soon be in the works. Indie film/TV production company Amasia Entertainment has secured the film franchise rights to the superhero property. First debuting as a radio serial in 1936, The Green Hornet follows the adventures of Britt Reid, a newspaper publisher by day who fights crime by night as the titular masked vigilante, alongside his trusty aide Kato. As we all know, in the short-lived 1960s TV version of The Green Hornet, Kato was famously played by Bruce Lee in one of his first Hollywood screen roles. Wherever this goes, here's hoping a movie reboot of The Green Hornet does Kato right.

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Almost American Girl: An Illustrated Memoir by Robin Ha
Robin Ha's Almost American Girl is a powerful and moving teen graphic novel memoir about immigration, belonging, and how arts can save a life. Robin, who grew up as the daughter of a single mother in Seoul, finds her life turned upside down when a vacation to Huntsville, Alabama unexpectedly becomes a permanent relocation -- and her mom gets married. She struggles with extreme culture shock and isolation, until she discovers her passion for comic arts.

Finally, We're Getting a Boba Emoji

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



At long last, there's a bubble tea emoji
The Unicode Consortium, a non-profit that standardizes languages across digital platforms and devices, on Wednesday announced an upcoming launch of 62 new emoji in 2020, including a smiling face with tear, polar bear, seal, pickup truck, fondue, teapot, magic wand, beetle, piñata... and bubble tea!

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As coronavirus spreads, so does concern over xenophobia
"If anything, I am tempted to predict that xenophobia will rise in significance to precisely the degree to which our sources of information -- all of them, not just media -- give us stuff to panic about. More panic, more temptation to blame the outsider -- the other." Another side effect of the coronavirus: xenophobia.

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Epidemiologist answers common questions about coronavirus
Speaking of sources of information... Coronavirus, also known as the Wuhan virus or 2019-nCoV, is similar to the seasonal flu in symptoms and how it is transmitted. In this short video, Brandon Brown, an epidemiologist in the School of Medicine at the University of California, Riverside, answers some of the most common questions about coronavirus.

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Museum Of Chinese In America Archives "Very Much Salvageable"
Good news. The archives of the Museum of Chinese in America may be in better shape than feared, after a five-alarm fire destroyed part of the Chinatown building where they were kept last week. While the top floors of the building sustained heavy damage, the fire didn't reach the museum's archival rooms. When they were finally allowed to go back into the building, volunteers were able to recover hundreds of boxes of artifacts.

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Christine Sun Kim Will Sign the National Anthem Alongside Demi Lovato During the Super Bowl
On Sunday, Christine Sun Kim will perform for an audience of nearly 100 million people watching the Super Bowl. The artist, known for her transgressive distillations of sound and language, will deliver her American Sign Language rendition of the National Anthem as the pop musician Demi Lovato sings from nearby on stage.

When Racist Stereotypes Spread Like the Coronavirus

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Family Claims They Were Racially Stereotyped Over Coronavirus Concerns
With news of the recent coronavirus outbreak in China, the racist stereotyping has begun! In Washington state, an Asian American family who approached a sample table while shopping at Costco says they were asked "if they came from China" and were told to "step away" over concerns of infection.

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Illustrator LeUyen Pham Reacts to Winning the Caldecott Honor
The Newbery and the Caldecott Medals, considered the two most prestigious awards for children's literature in the United States, were announced on Monday at the annual Youth Media Awards. Among the picture book honorees for the Caldecott: Bear Came Along, illustrated by LeUyen Pham and written by Richard T. Morris. Watch this heartfelt video from LeUyen Pham with her reaction to receiving the award.

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Hong Chau Leads the Spirit Award-Nominated 'Driveways': Exclusive Trailer
Here's the official trailer for the indie drama Driveways, directed by Andrew Ahn and starring Hong Chau. Nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards, the film tells the story of a single mother, Kathy, and her young son, Cody, who find themselves cleaning out the house left behind by her dead aunt. During their stay, Cody forms an unexpected friendship with Del, a retiree who lives next door.

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Alan Kim is the Youngest Breakout Star of Sundance 2020
Alan Kim stars in the Sundance film Minari, directed by Lee Isaac Chung, which tells the story of a Korean American family's move to Arkansas in the 1980s to start a farm. And young Alan came to the premiere dressed to impress in a full-on cowboy outfit, because why the hell not?

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OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship
Hey, high school students! The OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship awards financial support to college-bound students who are the first in their family to attend an institution of higher education. The scholarship is open to Asian American and Pacific high school seniors who have been admitted to a college or university and plan to attend in Fall 2020. The deadline to apply is April 13, 2020.

What We Lost in the Museum of Chinese in America Fire

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



What We Lost in the Museum of Chinese in America Fire
Last Thursday night, 70 Mulberry Street in Manhattan caught on fire, likely destroying much of the Museum of Chinese in America's collection of some eighty-five thousand items -- a trove of priceless, irreplaceable artifacts from Chinese American history, salvaged, preserved and archived over several generations. If you'd like to contribute to the museum's recovery effort, donate here: MOCA Archives Fire Recovery.

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Trump's immigration rule could disproportionately hurt Asian immigrants
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to begin implementing new "wealth test" rules making it easier to deny immigrants residency or admission to the United States because they have used or might use public-assistance programs -- standards that could create serious barriers for many Asian immigrants. This article, published last fall, outlines how these new exclusionary rules could significantly affect the Asian American community.

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Charles Yu on The Daily Show
Writer Charles Yu was on The Daily Show to discuss Interior Chinatown (on shelves now!), his new novel about race, pop culture and escaping the roles we are forced to play. He talks about screen representation and the insidious divide-and-conquer strategy of the model minority myth.

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HBO And JuVee Productions To Develop 'House Of Chow' From Ken Cheng
Viola Davis and Julius Tennon's JuVee Production is teaming with HBO to develop the comedy House of Chow from writer Ken Cheng. "Based on Cheng's experiences growing up in a restaurant kitchen, House of Chow is a comedy about the reluctant partnership that forms between estranged, thirtysomething siblings Vicky and Charlie Chow. Both realize that the best way to salvage their disappointing and dysfunctional lives is to revive their family's old Chinese restaurant and turn it into something it's never been: a success. To do that, all they'll need to do is exploit the gullible foodies of L.A. into believing they're something they’ve never been: happy to be there. The comedy untangles the intertwined quirks of culture, sex, family and food that are part of everyday life for many first-gen, blue-collar, "immigrant Americans" and does it in the sexiest place imaginable: a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with a B-grade on the window."

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Bong Joon Ho on making ‘Parasite,’ then making history
I really enjoyed Kim Masters' interview with Parasite director Bong Joon Ho (and his translator Sharon Choi) on KCRW's The Business. Bong tells some fun stories about the making of Parasite and offers some new details into the upcoming HBO limited series adaptation of his acclaimed film. Plus, he's charming as hell.

Read These Blogs

How 'Namaste' Flew Away From Us
You've seen the word on billboards, mugs, t-shirts and tote bags, punned into meaninglessness. What was the original meaning and intention of "namaste," anyway?

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Asian American racism is the unfunny joke the comedy world needs to reckon with
Grappling with a culture that's still okay with making fun of people like me.

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'Drama. Competition. Fear': Those red envelopes for the Lunar New Year yield much more than cash
"Of all the traditions surrounding the biggest holiday in many Asian communities -- from cleaning the house and wearing new clothes for a fresh start, to lighting firecrackers to chase away evil spirits -- it may be the ubiquitous "hongbao," as it's called in Chinese, or "li xi," as it's known in Vietnamese, that inspires the most talk with endless comparisons over which relatives are big spenders and which are tightwads.

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My Family's Specialty Cleaning Supplies for Lunar New Year
Shoes Off cleaner, White Wash Wash, and more cleaning supplies to wash out the old and welcome the new.

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Stop-Motion Short 'Sister' Examines Psychological Toll Of China's One-Child Policy
Siqi Song's Oscar-nominated stop-motion short, Sister, is a somber meditation on the lives affected by China's one-child policy, informed by the director's unique coming-of-age experience.

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If You Don't Want to Try This at Home
There's no shame in loving durian at this New York City haven.

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How the owner of a San Francisco pin shop became a Twitter sensation in her eighties
Su Lee has run the Oriental Art Gallery, her speciality pin business, since 1967.

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With His Fourth Book, Charles Yu Finally Feels Like a Writer
Interior Chinatown explores Asian-American stereotypes, something that captivated the novelist and TV writer as he thought about stars, supporting characters and who gets to play the lead.

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'Star Trek: Picard' Actress on Show's "Progressive" Asian American Representation
Star Trek: Picard star Isa Briones says she's proud to be part of the progressive show that represents the Asian American community onscreen.

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Location, Location, Location: Always Be My Maybe's team takes EW on a tour of San Francisco
Always Be My Maybe was not only a cute rom-com, but a love letter to San Francisco.

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'Be Water' Puts An Honest Lens On Bruce Lee's Trailblazing Impact
Bao Nguyen's documentary Be Water, which premiered at Sundance, delves into Bruce Lee's impact as a martial arts icon and trailblazer for Asians in an American institution.

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Lori Tan Chinn Is a Scene-Stealer in Awkwafina's New Series. But the Role Comes After Decades of Harassment and Discrimination
Lori Ann Chinn speaks about the span of her career, which had challenges (whitewashing, being bullied by directors), and the joys (improvising with Awkwafina).

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BD Wong talks playing Awkwafina's dad on new show, plus reuniting with Mulan costar Ming-Na Wen
You know BD Wong as the stoic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: SVU, or for his enthralling performance as Whiterose on Mr. Robot. But until you see Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, you haven't fully seen just how versatile -- and lovable -- the veteran actor truly is.

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Bowen Yang of 'S.N.L.' Is a Smash. And a Mensch.
Saturday Night Live's first Chinese American cast member talks resisting conversion therapy, playing politicians and quitting Twitter.

Fire Destroys Thousands of Chinatown Museum Artifacts

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



85,000 Pieces From Beloved Chinatown Museum Likely Destroyed in Fire
Officials at the Museum of Chinese in America said Friday evening that thousands of historic and artistic items it had carefully collected and curated over decades were most likely lost after a fire tore through New York's Chinatown building where most of its acquisitions were stored. The 85,000 items, some dating to the 19th century, told the rich story of the Chinese migration to the United States: textiles, restaurant menus, handwritten letters, tickets for ship's passage. The collection was one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. And now destroyed.

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Oh no, Lizzo.
Popular and beloved music artist Lizzo is facing criticism for donning looks that sexualize and appropriate various Asian cultures in a recent cover photo shoot for Rolling Stone magazine. One of the photos features Lizzo nude, adorned with accessories associated with Southeast Asian ceremonial dance, while another photo features the artist sporting headwear reminiscent of geisha culture. This is not a good look.

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Yes, Sikh Soldiers Served in World War I. '1917' Got It Right.
British actor Laurence Fox has been offered a history lesson over his criticism of the inclusion of a Sikh soldier character in the Oscar-nominated World War I film 1917. Appearing on a podcast, the actor complained that the inclusion of a Sikh soldier -- Sepoy Jondalar, played by Nabhaan Rizwan -- in the movie had distracted him from the storyline, claiming, "there is something institutionally racist about forcing diversity on people in that way." No, dude. What's institutionally racist is history erasing the fact that every sixth British soldier serving in World War I was from the Indian subcontinent, with Sikhs comprising more than 20% of the volunteer army. Nobody's "forcing diversity." Nobody's forcing shit. Go read a book.

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FX is Going Through With a 'Shogun' Miniseries
FX's upcoming re-adaptation of Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell, is set to go as a 10-episode miniseries with aims to shoot in Japan this summer. According to Deadline, Justin Marks the first two episodes with supervising producer (and wife) Rachel Kondo. The series' writing team also includes co-executive producer Shannon Goss, consulting producer Matt Lambert, script editor Maegan Houang and staff writer Emily Yoshida. I honestly roll my eyes at anything related to this book, but this writing team gives me a little hope...

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Minari
Heads up: Steven Yeun stars in the indie immigrant drama Minari, which premieres at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend. Inspired by writer/director Lee Isaac Chung's own upbringing, the film follows a Korean American family whose lives are uprooted and turned upside down when they move from the west coast to chase the American dream on a plot of farmland in 1980s rural Arkansas.

There's a New Bruce Lee Documentary Premiering at Sundance

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Be Water
I can't make it to the Sundance Film Festival this year, but one of the films I'm dying to see is the premiere of the Bruce Lee documentary Be Water, directed Bao Nguyen. The film focuses on the legendary martial artist's rise to superstardom in the years before his death. Rejected by Hollywood, Lee returned to Hong Kong to complete four films. Charting his struggles in two worlds, Be Water explores questions of identity and representation through rare archive, intimate interviews, and his writings.

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Over 140 Prominent AAPIs Endorse Elizabeth Warren
More than 140 prominent Asian American and Pacific Islanders -- creatives, activists and academics -- announced their support Thursday for Democratic presidential candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The collective, which includes the likes of Constance Wu, Celeste Ng, Rabia Chaudry and Ellen Pao -- cites Warren's stance on a number of issues important to the Asian American community, including immigration, education and investment in entrepreneurship among the reasons for its support.

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To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You Trailer
Netflix has dropped a new trailer for the hit romantic comedy sequel To All The Boys P.S. I Still Love You, which premieres next month. Starring Lana Condor and based on the bestselling young adult novel by Jenny Han, the new movie follows the next phase for Lara Jean and Peter, who have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture.

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A24 re-teams with "Daniels" for Everything Everywhere All At Once
I'm pretty excited about this. A24 is re-teaming with filmmaker duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert ("Daniels") for the sci-fi adventure comedy Everything Everywhere All At Once, which begins production in Los Angeles this week. It stars Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong, Jonathan Ke Quan(!) and Jamie Lee Curtis. There's no word on the plot, but this is the team behind the farting corpse movie Swiss Army Man, and the masterpiece of a music video for "Turn Down For What." So yeah, I'm in.

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Parasite Live to Picture, January 26
This is just cool as hell. On Sunday, January 26, the Academy Award nominated film Parasite will have its score performed live to picture at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Featuring 37 musicians, the Hollywood Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by Parasite composer, Jung Jaeil. Featuring an introduction by Oscar-nominated director Bong Joon Ho.

Google Doodle Celebrates Screen Icon Anna May Wong

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Celebrating Anna May Wong
Today's Google Doodle is a beautiful slideshow celebrating the life and career of screen icon Anna May Wong, the first-ever Chinese American movie star in Hollywood. The slideshow, created by illustrator Sophie Diao features snapshots of Wong's life, from her humble beginnings working in her parents' laundry to some of the more famous characters she portrayed in the more than 50 movies she appeared in over her career.

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LEGO 2020 Chinese New Year Playsets
Look, if you're not celebrating the Lunar New Year with an official LEGO 2020 Chinese Lunar New Year playset, then you're missing out. There's the very cool Lion Dance playset (882 pieces) featuring 5 dancing lions, 8 minifigures (including a man in a rat costume to mark the Year of the Rat), a percussionists' stage, a detailed temple gate and more. There's also the Chinese New Year Temple Fair playset (1664 pieces) featuring an ornate Chinese temple, stalls displaying an array of LEGO barbecue dishes, candy, toys, vases and dough figurines, plus 13 minifigures and a baby figure. Red envelopes included!

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MSG in Chinese food isn't unhealthy -- you're just racist
"To this day, the myth around MSG is ingrained in America's consciousness, with Asian food and culture still receiving unfair blame. Chinese Restaurant Syndrome isn't just scientifically false — it's xenophobic." Asian American activists, restaurateurs and medical professionals are calling monosodium glutamate's bad rap outdated, racist, and unscientific.

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What It's Like to Never Ever See Yourself on TV
Charles Yu, author of the forthcoming new novel Interior Chinatown, reflects on a lifetime of watching television, never seeing yourself reflected on the screen, and the generational feedback loop the denial of subjectivity creates for Asian Americans and America at large.

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Awkwafina is Nora From Queens
Awkwafina's new series Nora From Queens premieres tonight on Comedy Central. The half-hour scripted comedy is inspired by her real life growing up in Queens, New York. Raised by her Dad (BD Wong) and Grandma (Lori Tan Chinn) alongside her cousin (Bowen Yang), Nora Lin leans on her family as she navigates life and young adulthood in outer borough-NYC.