East West Players + The Who's Tommy

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sounds like it should be a good show.

--

“The Who’s TOMMY” Opens May 13th at East West Players featuring Deedee Magno Hall, Joseph Morales, Cliffton Hall, and Parvesh Cheena

East West Players (EWP), the nation’s longest-running professional theatre of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, continues its 50th Anniversary Season, Golden, with “The Who’s TOMMY,” Music and Lyrics by Pete Townshend, Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, Additional Music and Lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. “The Who’s TOMMY” was originally produced on Broadway by Pace Theatrical Group and Dodger Productions with Kardana Productions. The production is directed by Snehal Desai (EWP’s “A Nice Indian Boy”) with musical direction by Marc Macalintal (EWP’s “Chess,” “Krunk Fu Battle Battle”) and choreography by Janet Roston (Ovation Award and NAACP Award winner for “The Color Purple” at Celebration Theatre). Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players.

“The Who’s TOMMY” cast features Joseph Morales (“In The Heights” Broadway & National Tour, “Bombay Dreams” Broadway) as Tommy, Deedee Magno Hall, recently from “If/Then” on Broadway (“Miss Saigon” Broadway & International Tour, “Wicked” 1st National Tour) as Mrs. Walker, Cliffton Hall (“Miss Saigon” Broadway, 1st National Tour & International Tour, “Wicked” 1st National Tour) as Captain Walker, and Parvesh Cheena (NBC’s “Outsourced”) as Uncle Ernie. Also featured are Araceli Prasarttongosoth, Van Brunelle, Michayla Brown, Ryan Castellino, Cesar Cipriano, Cailan Rose, Constance Jewell Lopez, Maxwel Corpuz, Michael Daniel Dashefsky, Christine De Chavez, Caitlyn Calfas, Marius Beltran and Tina Nguyen.

About “The Who’s TOMMY:” Deprived of sight, hearing and speech by the shock of what he had witnessed as a child, young Tommy Walker seems lost to life – until he reveals an uncanny talent for the game of pinball. When his lost senses are suddenly restored, Tommy is hailed as a living miracle. The classic rock musical arrives for the first time at East West Players in an electrifying new production.

“We are thrilled to produce ‘The Who's TOMMY’ on this auspicious occasion of EWP's 50th Anniversary because the Who is also celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year,” says Tim Dang, Producing Artistic Director. “This cast represents the diverse landscape of America today and has talent that will knock your socks off. This production will bring a unique sound and look like no other production of ‘TOMMY.’”

The design team includes: Set design by Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, costume design by Jenny Foldenauer, lighting design by Karyn Lawrence, sound design by Cricket Meyers, projections design by Sean Cawelti, and props by Marissa Bergman. Stage Manager is Ondina V. Dominguez.

All performances will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Previews are Thursday, November 6th through Saturday November 8th at 8pm and Sunday November 9th at 2pm. All preview seats are $28.

Opening Night for “The Who’s TOMMY” is Wednesday, May 13th at 8pm and includes a 7pm pre-performance cocktail reception, and a post-show reception with the cast and creative team. Call theater for availability. “Pay-What-You-Can” Performance is on Thursday, May 14th at 8pm. A special talkback with the cast and creative team is on Sunday, May 24th immediately following the performance. The production runs until June 7th.

Regular performances run Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets may be purchased online at eastwestplayers.org or by calling 213.625.7000. Regular tickets range from $43-58. Student and Senior discounts available. Dates, prices and details are subject to change.

###

Jon M. Chu + Jem and the Holograms + Hayley Kiyoko + Now You See Me: The Second Act

Monday, March 30, 2015



With a new film "Jem and the Holograms" starring Hayley Kiyoko (CSI: Cyber, Insidious: Chapter 3, The Fosters, Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster), Molly Ringwald, and Juliette Lewis in post production



Along with currently directing Now You See Me: The Second Act - which also boasts awesome new cast member Sanaa Lathan - it must be good to be Jon M. Chu.

Must be real good.

At the same time it must be equally good to be Hayley Kiyoko working in both tv and film without looking to be slowing down anytime soon.

Real good...

Auditions: Kollaboration LA 2015

Wednesday, March 25, 2015



Apply:

Kollaboration Los Angeles showcase is now accepting applications for this year's showcase! We're looking for singers, rappers, & poets who have what it takes to represent LA in this year's Kollaboraiton Star Finale and take home bragging rights for the city where the Kollaboration Movement started, oh and also over $10,000 in prizes! Online applications will be accepted until Friday, April 3 and you will be notified of your auditions time slot by Sunday, April 5. Live auditions will take place on Sunday, April 12 in Koreatown. Details and directions will be distributed if you are accepted for a live audition.

Kimmy Is Not Viet Penis & Tina Fey Doesn't Do Anything For Us In Unbreakable Kimmy Shit (That's Schmidt in Vietnamese Btw)

Monday, March 23, 2015



As I posted a couple weeks ago, even though I hadn't watched the show "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt", I wasn't quite feeling a character called Dong with a thick accent who also tutors in math and then marries someone to get a green card.

But I thought - well - let's watch every damn episode just to see if in fact it could go against the grain and was really trying to make a point to usurp stereotypes.

So I did...

And I can tell you right now - not only does this character have all the issues I cringed at with no redemption - but the whole show uses Asian Americans and Asians as the butt of jokes throughout the season.

*Here's a list of fun racist items from the show from the Asian American perspective (because if I included everything else, this post would be a book).

  • The character Jacqueline Voorhees thinks her husband is having an affair and one of the running "jokes" is that he's been spending a lot of time in Asia where she thinks he's most likely having an affair. One of her quotes is "He's been going to Japan lately and you can get mistresses in vending machines there". Yeah - I know. Apparently her husband has a foot fetish so of course Asia would be a place for him to pick up a mistress as well because of foot binding (where a reference was made). Score one for the Asian woman china doll stereotype!

  • Quote from Titus: "This isn't the Chinatown bus - you can't just choke someone who's sleeping." I wasn't sure if this was in reference to a news story I wasn't aware about but I'm guessing even if it was, it went over most people's heads so either way - I'm not a fan of it.

  • The character name Dong, because you know Asian names like Dong are funny and of course you have the Donger cultural reference. What other possible name could you have? And P.S. - there is no turning that one upside down because "Kimmy" is not Viet for cock and even if it was there is no parity there.

  • In one episode at the high school where Kimmy is getting her GED apparently they also rent out lockers to Japanese business men - because you know - Japanese men are small and don't mind living in high school lockers

  • At one point in the GED high school scenes Dong talks about the aggression of the Americans from the Viet/American War and Kimmy has to say to him "look around where you" (because I guess some of the other classmates were vets). Vietnamese immigrant = love for communism!

  • Quote from Kimmy: "Is everything upside down in China?"

  • Did I mention all the Dong name jokes? EP 8 has 'em good!

  • Love the pan flute music for Dong scenes. It's almost as irritating as the general chinky gong/music people play. It's Asian but it's not!

  • Quote from Lillian describing Dong as he's dressed up: "I guess VC stands for Very Sheik". Yes - please. Let's call more Viet characters VC.

  • Even though the show tries to turn Asian fetish upside down with one scene from Lillian - its still borderline because we're still objects.

  • Random Indian food joke - because that NEVER gets old!

  • Of course the Chinese restaurant gets raided where Dong works and they have to shut down because you know - ALL the people working there are illegal!

  • There's an Asian American adopted sister as one of Xanthippe's (Jacqueline Voorhees's stepdaughter) friends. But of course - she's sleeping with her brother! More oversexed Asian American female characters!

  • Dong marries some old as hell lady so he can stay in this country - because who in the world ever thought that maybe his character could be sponsored by another family or friends already over here or someone else? Hell no - we're liers and cheats!

What's funny to me is how some statements are made for feminism, Native Americans, mascot names, and being black and gay - but for us Asian Americans - there's nothing.

While some people want to applaud Tina Fey for giving us an Asian American face, in effect it's the same old caricatures we've seen before except wrapped up in a POV of a hipster White world where we're supposed to believe that it's somehow better and different.

But it's not.

*Note that some quotes are paraphrased/close to verbatim but not always word for word.

Yes Canada. You Are Racist Too

Monday, March 23, 2015


An interesting and quick read from the Canadian Tyee as sometimes I forget that my neighbors to the north have had some issues as well:

I was very much alive in 1942 when Japanese-Canadians were expelled from the British Columbia coast, without charge or trial; and interned, with their property seized and sold for peanuts. (I pause here to admit, as I did here a few weeks ago, that my father "bought" a factory from the "trustee" for the Japanese at 10 cents on the dollar, and with this "loot" I was educated and raised. No doubt my conscience bothers me, but in the words of Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio, "always let your conscience be your guide.").

Obama On The Measure Of Progress

Monday, March 23, 2015

From the AOL article



The way we have to measure progress here is not, is there ever going to be an incident of racism in the country. It's how does the majority of our country respond?" he said. "And on that front, there's no doubt that the overwhelming number of students at the University of Oklahoma, and around the country, think that kind of behavior is deplorable and don't accept it.

Racist Cops In Florida Get Fired

Monday, March 23, 2015

Doesn't surprise me but I am glad that they got rooted out:

A five-month internal investigation led to three of them being fired, and one of them resigning, according to NBC Miami. The officers reportedly sent a trailer-style video amongst themselves containing a Ku Klux Klan hood, attacks against minorities, derogatory images of President Obama and racist comments about Hispanics and homosexuals. "I had a wet dream that you two found those n-----s in the VW and gave them the death penalty right there on the spot," one of the texts reads. Many of their extremely hostile and racially charged conversations can be read at the Sun Sentinel.
Too much time to take everyone down.

A Little Hoi, A Little An, A Little Street Food

Monday, March 23, 2015

PSA: Random St. Paul/Mpls Demographic

Sunday, March 22, 2015


Pic from the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships in St. Paul

When people think of the Midwest it's easy to think of percentages and especially in MN thinking Trang Blanco Trang.

And in some ways that is true overall. As a state it's around 80%.

White.

But in The Cities - it's more diverse.

And in St. Paul - 15% of the population is Asian American.

Consider that your factoid for the day if you didn't already have that one under your belt.

Stat a PDF or hit some quick facts to find out more.

FM + Inyafacetv + 3 Fingers Up + Episode 1

Sunday, March 22, 2015



Especially like the flow at 2:20.

On The Red: When Kong Goes To AVN And "Invents" Motorbutting?

Sunday, March 22, 2015



Hmmm...it's not really an invention per se and it's not like anyone hasn't done that before...and yes, I know, it's not supposed to be taken seriously...

But you know...

Just sayin...

I still give points for the effort.

Joseph Vincent Single "Only Key"

Sunday, March 22, 2015



Music and Lyrics by Joseph Vincent
Mixed and engineered by Travis Atreo

A Little David Choi Covering Ed Sheeran + Tour Dates

Sunday, March 22, 2015



Love the microwave dinner and the beep @ the end.

Check out the new album. Check out the tour.

Cook County You Just Got Yourself A Shiny New Asian American Advisory Council. Now What Are You Going To Do With It?

Sunday, March 22, 2015

From the article:

In a news release Wednesday, Preckwinkle says she named eight people to the new Asian-American Advisory Council. The volunteer group held its first meeting Tuesday. Asian-Americans make up 6 percent of the county's population. But council members say Asians have been underrepresented in county and state government. The group also is hoping to increase Asian-American's participation in government contracting.

A Little FAAIM, Some DDK, And Miss Universe Ariana Miyamoto Isn't Japanese Enough?

Sunday, March 22, 2015

A little reading if you are so inclined, and really, who wouldn't be.

It's Sunday.

What else do you have planned?

Is There Anything 'Insurgent' Star Daniel Dae Kim Can't Do?

The life of a television or movie star seems charmed to most; the glamour of red-carpet events, the glare of cameras demanding your attention, the glossy photos depicting the story of your life. But Daniel Dae Kim - star of the iconic series "Lost," the primetime hit "Hawaii 5-0," and "Insurgent," the latest blockbuster in the "Divergent" series - is quick to lay bare the reality of his personal experience.

Foundation For Asian American Independent Media Gets Some Funds

Definitely glad to see that the FAAIM film fest has gotten some funds, and there's still a few days left to add to the total.
The Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) is an organization that celebrates emerging Asian American creative talent. We do this by hosting the annual Asian American Showcase in Chicago, and supporting artists in building a grassroots audience for their work [...] Even today there is a lack of Asian American visibility in media and the arts. What we see all too often in mainstream media are superficial depictions and outdated stereotypes of Asian Americans. At the same time, Asian American artists often struggle to access the necessary resources to produce their work and share it with a broad audience. This uneven playing field isn’t just a disservice to a culture – it prevents a fuller expression of the American story.

Why some critics think Japan’s Miss Universe contestant isn’t Japanese enough
Miyamoto made a point of preemptively, if politely, defending herself during her first meeting with the Japanese media after she was crowned Miss Universe Japan last week. The biracial beauty queen — the daughter of a Japanese woman and an African American man — said she may not “look Japanese” on the outside, but on the inside, her soul is replete with Japaneseness, according to the blog Kotaku.

An Open Letter + #TBT: Before I Had The Flu And I Watched Black-ish With That "Chink In The Marital Armor" Comment

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Dear Me Before I Had The Flu,

Sure in some ways I know - it's strange to get the flu now - and it was bad...I mean I can't believe I'm even walking...

But I pulled through it and I'm glad for us as we're feeling a little better now.

Sure maybe not as good as pre-flu, but it takes time...

Good enough to catch up on some Black-ish though (s1 ep16)

Wait...what...

Are you kidding me?

"Chink in the marital armor?"

WTF.

Again?

More?

Why do shows always have to fuck it up?

And Black-ish?

I thought they were supposed to be above this?

Taking on new racial conversations, new dialogues...errr...

Guess not?

*Sigh*

If you don't know you can't use that phrase anymore I can't really help you because you truly have no clue - and if you decide to bust one out on the etymology and use of the word and how it was accepted, etc., etc., etc., blah blah blah, xenophobic you could care less about implications and connotations - well - I just may be inclined to bust a boot up someone's clenched little derrière (in spirit only of course)...

Well...that's it for now.

Hope I'm feeling as good as you soon,
Me.

A Little Tuesday Jason Chu

Tuesday, March 17, 2015



You may have seen this. You may have not. Sure. V-day is over, but when do you stop professing your love?

Spin it DJ.

Casting Call For Upcoming Broadway Musical ‪#‎Allegiance‬ Starring George Takei At East West Players

Friday, March 13, 2015





EWP Site/Info

Wikipedia Entry Called Michael Moore A Foolish American Documentary Filmmaker + Now My Data Has The Word HizzleButt In It And Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now?

Friday, March 13, 2015



It's since been updated a little bit ago: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Moore.

I just thought it was funny since I was extolling on the virtues of Wikipedia to someone a few days ago.

And I just watched Citizenfour last week of which the above is a fan.

Hmmm.

P.S.

If I have a database of information including this post, now it has the word hizzlebutt in it.

And this.

Marked (A Korean American Adoptee Novel) + #KeepAdamHome: Stop Adam Crapser From Being Deported + Gazillion Strong

Thursday, March 12, 2015



Marked

From the Patreon site on the project:

Marked is the first Korean adoptee novel that mashes together influences from fantasy, Korean-Dramas, and illustrated books. The story revolves around Kevin Larson, a Korean adoptee raised on a farm in the midwest, whose life turns upside down when a mysterious Korean woman named Soo-ah Kim arrives on his birthday, calls him by name, and says, "I am here to fulfill your [Korean] father's wishes." The story is trippy. It has magic, love triangles, death, taboo love (?), a powerful and secretive organization. And individuals searching for identity and redemption.

Marked is a project hatched by the three of us -- Matthew Salesses, Emily Evanowski, and Kevin Vollmers. (We're all Korean adoptees.) It's nearing completion, and the plan is to release it this coming November (National Adoption Month) K-Drama style -- two episodes a week, each Monday/Tuesday, for a 16-episode season - on the Gazillion Strong website for the price of $.50 p/chapter. Before we get there, though, we have some work to do.

Listen, Act, Help, And #KeepAdamHome

This is just one of those stories that makes me shake my head in wonder on so many levels - and I won't ever pass judgement in that way on how Adam has lived his life and the decisions he's made. I'm not absolving him from his actions because at some point in our lives we make choices - we have to make choices - but at the same time - when someone's been thrown into a system that literally beats them down and they just have to survive - you get some leeway. But no matter what you might think about his life - I think everyone can agree he's a citizen of the U.S. - and deporting him would be a heinous and shameful act. Listen to the story below and then sign the petition.




Gazillion Strong



Definitely check out the Gazillion Strong site/projects and see what they are up to - which is a lot, and both stories above have been pushed/created/started in large part by them - and see how you can help them achieve their mission of developing resources and tools that aid marginalized communities, such as adopted people, foster alums, immigrants, people of color, and LGBTQ community members, to speak and advocate for themselves and others.

Site | SoundCloud

March 15th @ CAAMFest + Grace Lee + "Off the Menu: Asian America"

Wednesday, March 11, 2015



The new Grace Lee film, an hour long documentary where Lee travels across the U.S. in search of the intersection between food and APIA communities will have its premiere at the Castro on March 15th (2:20pm to be exact) and I hope that all of you who can go, do go.



Because it looks great (and I'm hoping someone will steal a copy for me, or at least send me some shaky HEVC video).



Here's a little more from the release:

==

In the one-­‐hour documentary, Lee travels from Houston, Texas to New York’s Lower East Side, from Oak Creek, Wisconsin to Oahu, Hawaii seeking stories that reflect an evolving Asian Pacific America and the role food plays in peoples’ lives. “We wanted to find unexpected stories that embodied the Asian American experience,” Lee said. “Asian America is already such a vast, complex, and contested idea. Focusing on food was a way to explore the deeper connections of culture, family, and ideas of authenticity and adaptation that link us all.” "KQED is deeply committed to independent films and filmmakers and we are proud to partner with CAAM to highlight the work of such a talented and unique filmmaker like Grace Lee," said Michael Isip, KQED’s chief content officer and co-­‐executive producer of the film. "Off the Menu brings audiences closer to Asian American culture through something we can all appreciate: food. Grace takes us on a cultural journey with thoughtful observations of how Asian traditions around the preparation, sharing and creation of meals can bring people and communities together."

In Houston, Lee meets two entrepreneurial food pioneers: third-­‐generation Japanese American Glen Gondo of Gondo Co., dubbed “the sushi king of Texas” and Gary Chiu, whose family-­‐run factory, Banyan Foods, has been providing tofu throughout Texas since 1978. Over the decades that their businesses have grown, they have re-­‐defined Asian staples like sushi and tofu into uniquely Asian American dishes that cater to the Texan palate, offering items like sushi rolls with deep fried jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and spicy crab and Asian Tex-­‐Mex fusion with tofu tamales.

In New York’s Lower East Side, French-­‐trained chef Jonathan Wu and his business partner Wilson Tang open Fung Tu, a modern Chinese restaurant based on family stories and recipes as well as Wu’s desire to cook food that was personal to his upbringing. Wu applies classic French techniques to ingredients more familiar to Chinese cooking, resulting in menu items that he says have “an authenticity of spirit.”

Just south of Milwaukee, a growing immigrant community at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin participate in langar, a centuries-­‐old practice that shows how the making and sharing of a meal can feed a community spiritually. The temple made headlines in 2012 when a gunman killed six people and wounded many others during a racially motivated shooting spree. Temple members tell the story of how the people who were preparing the meal that morning continue with this tradition, and how langar became an essential part of the healing process for this tight-­‐knit community.

Finally, Off the Menu travels to Hawai’i, the only state in the US where Asian Pacific Islanders make up the majority, to explore how native Hawaiians are working to make their food system sustainable. On an island where most food is imported, Hi’ilei Kawelo is is dedicated to preserving her family’s tradition of fishing for octopus, but it is her commitment to restoring an 800-­‐year-­‐old fishpond that will resurrect a long lost Hawaiian practice. Neglected in the last 100 years, Kawelo’s organization has rebuilt an 88-­‐acre pond designed to grow fish for the community. Across the island, young adults work the land at MA’O Organic Farm, the largest on the island. Cheryse Sana, the farm co-­‐manager, along with other young people working the fields express how they’re following in the footsteps of their ancestors who took care of the land, in hopes that the land would take care of and provide for them. “So many times, people associate food with Asian or Asian American culture. With Off the Menu, I hope we can expand the conversation to explore our stories as well,” Lee said.

CAAM has created a robust companion website, www.caamedia.org/offthemenu, that delves into these Asian American food stories and beyond, including interviews, essays, articles, recipes, cooking tips, and videos.

Director  Lee  and  producer  Eurie  Chung  will  attend  the  premiere and will be available for questions.

==

Read It: Rapper Nah Nguyen’s "Địt Mẹ Cộng Sản" (DMCS) or "Fuck Communism" Part 3 (With Links To Parts #1 and #2)

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

http://diacritics.org/2015/rapper-nah-nguyens-dit-cong-san-dmcs-fuck-communism-part-3:

In Parts 1 and 2 of this series, we saw Vietnamese rapper Nah’s viral video for his new song, “Địt Mẹ Cộng Sản” (“Fuck Communism”), and his open letter to the Vietnamese government and the people, respectively. In this third and final portion of the post, Lac Su, author of I Love Yous are For White People, interviews the rapper about the trajectory of his career and the impacts of his recent revolutionary moves. At the bottom of this post, you can watch Nah’s interview on Saigon Broadcasting Television Network (SBTN).

4X: Kick Ass Viet YouTubers

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Richie Le



LeendaDProductions



Kyle LeDotNet



Gina Darling

Film Pix: Maggie Q + Insurgent

Tuesday, March 10, 2015





And yes...I still really do need to check out Stalker at some point.

You're A First: Michelle K. Lee

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Straight outta the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's PR:

MICHELLE K. LEE FIRST WOMAN TO LEAD
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

WASHINGTON – WASHINGTON — Last night, the U.S. Senate confirmed Michelle K. Lee as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Lee is the first woman and person of color to lead the USPTO.

“We congratulate Michelle Lee on her historic confirmation,” said George C. Chen, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Ms. Lee is breaking barriers not only for the Asian Pacific American community, but for all women and communities of color in the tech and legal industries.”

President Obama nominated Lee for the position in October 2014. Lee has over twenty years of experience in intellectual property and patent law. Prior to her confirmation, Lee served as the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the acting Director and Deputy Director of the USPTO, and she also headed the USPTO Silicon Valley office. Prior to her public service, she was Google’s first Deputy General Counsel and Head of Patents and Patents Strategy.

Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and Masters of Science in computer science from MIT. She received her JD from Stanford Law School.

###

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes APA political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about APAs in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt + Ki Hong Lee + Dong + Tina Fey

Monday, March 09, 2015

I'm not sure how I feel about this as I haven't seen the show - but I do wonder a little about the guy called Dong with a thick accent who also tutors in math and then marries someone to get a green card. I mean I'm glad Ki Hong Lee is making connections and all...but you know...

I Can't Believe I'm Missing This: CAAMFest 2015 + Suboi + Awkwafina + CHOPS

Monday, March 09, 2015



One of the shows I absolutely will lament not seeing while not being @ CAAMFest this year is Suboi with Awkwafina hosted by CHOPS.

Dubbed the “Queen of Hip-hop” in Vietnam, Hàng Lâm Trang Anh started listening to rap as a rebellious teenager. Known as Suboi, the Vietnam-based rapper makes her U.S. debut on Friday, March 13, 2015 at Directions in Sound at Mercer. She’ll be co-headlining with New York-based rapper Awkwafina. The show will be hosted by hip-hop producer CHOPS of Mountain Brothers with beats provided by DJ’s Kronika, DJ Vinroc and Bluz.

Take a pic?

Send me an autograph?

Teleport me?

When You Name Your Band "Viet Cong" Prepare To Get Banned

Monday, March 09, 2015

You can name your shitty punk band anything you want.

Go for it.

But don't be surprised when some Vietnamese Americans don't like it - because you know - it's called history - and you get banned.

And yes - I do in fact know punk.

And no - good punk - good alternative music - doesn't mean you can just say "fuck it" when it comes to race and racism.

Sorry.

That aint punk.

That's just lazy.

Random Reads: #MyBananaStory + Off the Menu

Monday, March 09, 2015

http://college.usatoday.com/2015/02/27/asian-american-students-share-their-struggles-in-mybananastory/

"After moving to the US, I tried to fit in for sure, but it wasn’t my appearance that I tried so desperately to change. I was proud of being different. I was proud of the fact that I ate hotdogs for breakfast and packed rice for lunch. What I wasn’t proud of was my accent. I don’t know why, but I tried really hard to ‘normalize’ it. Maybe it’s because that was the only way I could think of for them to listen to me without immediately branding me as a foreigner…so I could make them understand that just because I have a Filipino lifestyle, that doesn’t mean I’m a foreigner. I’m just really glad I found the few, open-minded people in my earlier years in the US who invested time in getting to know me while appreciating my culture, and not just judging it from afar,” said Charmaine Balisalisa, director of creative enterprises of Paradox.

http://colorlines.com/archives/2015/03/Off_the_menu_goes_inside_asian_american_kitchens.html
"Off the Menu: Asian America,” filmmaker Grace Lee’s newest food documentary is, in her words, “a food show, but not that kind of food show.” Meaning: you won’t find any Ken Burnsian pans across close-up shots of glistening bowls of noodles in this film, which which will premiere CAAMFest in San Francisco. Instead Lee, whose previous films include “Janeane from Des Moines” and “American Revolutionary,” about the activist Grace Lee Boggs, embarked on a four-state tour across the U.S. to talk with folks about their Asian-American culture, identities and communities, and the role food plays in all of it. She met a multi-generational family of octopus hunters in Hawaii, the Japanese-American man who introduced sushi to the Texas masses, and a young Chinese-American chef mining the flavors of his childhood for a new, upscale audience. There are plenty of mouth-watering shots of food and cooking in action, but that’s not what Lee’s here for.

Nisei Return To Selma

Monday, March 09, 2015



Good article down at the RFS:

Endo will be sponsored and accompanied by a delegation from the Japanese American Citizens League, the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization.

He was born only 23 days after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Despite his American citizenship, Endo and his family were uprooted from their Los Angeles home and incarcerated in Rohwer, Ark. solely because of their Japanese ancestry. They were incarcerated for over two years before moving to Ohio in 1944 with the help of the Quaker-based American Friends Service Committee.

Following the war, the Endo family finally settled in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland area, where Endo found himself the lone Asian American student in his elementary, middle, and high schools.

Why Are Media Outlets Blurring Out The Face In The Racist Sigma Alpha Epsilon Video?

Monday, March 09, 2015



If you haven't heard - now you have. A few random thoughts/questions:

1. Glad to see they got their ass handed to them (but honestly - what are they going to do in this day and age...oh wait). Gives me some hope though.

2. I wonder what the POC count is for alumni (percentage wise).

3. How come the media blurs out the dude in the beginning? I say show him in all his White Racist Glory which the video embedded does.

4. Notice the fist bump action. Racists get so fired up in all their racist "glory"...

5. Sure - free speech does exist - and so do consequences for that free speech.

6. I'm sure I can debate the similarities between yelling "FIRE!!!!" in a theater and Racist Hate Speech...


Not Found On Google: "Asian American fan of literary genius dies in ice shaving accident"

Sunday, March 08, 2015

No really.

Put that into Google and you will find nada.

Nil.

Nothing.

Yeah...

I know...

You are indeed welcome for useless factoids of what you can't find.

47 Hours Left + Almost Funded (So Close) + Josh Fu + Main In Ceiling + Kickstarter

Thursday, March 05, 2015

I posted up on this before and wanted to make another post just because there is roughly two days left and the project is almost funded. So if you happen to like what you see and haven't donated to the project yet - give it a spin.

See if you can get them over the hump.

Random Read: Reinventing Asian American Cinema

Thursday, March 05, 2015

From the post:

If there is a cinematic genre called Asian American film, then every Asian American feature should be an invention until we find a formula that can do well and sustain the genre. If we don’t have a formula, every movie must be a new invention or a re-invention. That’s the real excitement about Asian American cinema; precisely because there is no formula for success every movie can essentially be experimental and innovative.

Worldly: Conan Goes To Cuba

Thursday, March 05, 2015



Well - the doors are open.

This is what's coming.

Here's to seeing another trip.

An Open Letter To The Selfie Stick

Wednesday, March 04, 2015

Dear Selfie Stick,

While I'm writing you this letter solely because I was reading this article on how the Smithsonian no longer welcomes you - in addition to other museums - which I get since they have bans on tripods and monopods - I guess I just wanted to say that while I get you, and don't hate you by any means, and I've been known to take a selfie or two myself...

Sometimes...

Just sometimes now...

It's okay to ask someone to take your picture...

We don't always have to rely just on you...

Or the hand that holds you...

I'm not saying you aren't useful...

Because isn't all existence useful?

I'm just saying...

Sometimes humans are O.K. too...

Umm...okay...guess that's it.

Gripping you,
Adam

Random Wall Of America Pic

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

On View March 7-Nov. 29, 2015: We are Hmong Minnesota Exhibit

Tuesday, March 03, 2015



http://www.minnesotahistorycenter.org/exhibits/we-are-hmong-minnesota

November 2015 marks the 40th anniversary of the Hmong migration to Minnesota following the war in Southeast Asia. Today, the Twin Cities metro area is home to 66,000 Hmong, the largest urban Hmong population in the United States. Developed in partnership with the Hmong community, this exhibit will commemorate the anniversary and celebrate the significant political, social and economic contributions the Hmong have made to Minnesota and the nation

Justice Dept Confirms What We All Knew (But It's Good To Collect That Data): Ferguson Police And Officials Are Completely Batshit Racist

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Fine - don't take my word for it - take theirs, theirs, theirs, theirs, and theirs.

Things we've learned...

1. Ferguson Police and Municipal workers made racist jokes and comments in emails.

2. Stops and arrests of African Americans without probable cause and using unreasonable force, has been, and continues to be a pattern for Ferguson police.

3. While Black Americans in Ferguson are stopped 2x more than White Americans they are less likely to be doing anything illegal/have anything illegal on them.

4. The Justice Department highlights the fact that Ferguson used its Black residents for $$$ (jaywalking, tickets, etc.) - to help feed the economy - and in the process violating their constitutional rights.

Here's to hoping the DOJ takes this all the way.

March 4th: Honoring an American Revolutionary: A Celebration and Fundraiser for Grace Lee Boggs

Tuesday, March 03, 2015



Sounds like this should be a great event - and what a great cause it is - hats off to the organizers and everyone helping to put it together. While I won't be able to go, I have purchased tickets to donate up to the cause and if you are so inclined, you can too.

Here's more info from the FB page:

Wednesday, March 4th from 6-9pm
Penumbra Theatre
270 North Kent St., St. Paul, MN 55102


Parking & Directions: There's an adjacent lot and plenty of street parking. http://bit.ly/1zMmljU

Grace Lee Boggs is an Asian American social activist, writer, philosopher, and feminist who focused her efforts on women and people of color for over seven decades, specifically the struggles of the African American community during the Civil Rights Movement and Black Power Movement. Grace Lee Boggs is now 99 in hospice care and in need of assistance. Come join us for a night honoring the contributions of Grace Lee Boggs with a film screening of "American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs" and a silent auction! This event will also be an opportunity to promote community and facilitate discussion. In the face of present injustices, an event like this - in addition to others that have been occurring throughout the Twin Cities - can help build our communities' strength and voice by bringing us together in celebration and in action.


Purchase Tickets at : http://graceleeboggsmn.bpt.me/
Suggested Donation is $25; More if you can, less if you can’t. No one will be turned away.
You can also pay at the door (check or cash.)

6PM - Reception, Silent Auction
7PM - Introduction/Opening Performances, Screening of "American Revolutionary"
8:30PM - Post-screening Discussion, Closing Performances
9PM - Silent Auction Closed

Co-sponsors:
Penumbra Theatre
Nexus Community Partners
Oyate Hotanin and Raving Natives
Aurora St. Anthony NDC
Community Action Against Racism (CAAR)
Bo Thao-Urabe
Bao Phi
Pan-Asian Voices for Equity-Minnesota (PAVE-MN)
Judge Gail Chang Bohr
Brotherhood Inc.
Embody Deep Democracy
Kaohly and Kong Her
Nick Kim
Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood

Our MCs for the evening:
Damon Drake (with Tribal Peace)
Margie Andreason (with PAVE-MN & CAAR)

Performances by:
Sha Cage + members of Million Artist Movement
Eva Song Margolis
Tom LaBlanc