Get Your Copy of ‘Scorpio’ Volume 1 on Kickstarter

June 4, 2022June 4, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Writer John Robinson IV wanted to tell a story that centered the astrology, particularly the zodiac signs. He had been a fan of the fantasy genre, but rarely saw any comic book stories that told it from a person of color point of view. He decided to combine his passion for writing and fantasy to create a world focusing on astrology and the stars, but with a lead character of color. This is how Scorpio was born.

Crowdfunding, Gaming

‘Bundle for Ukraine’ is a Stellar Deal to Support a Great Cause

March 8, 2022March 9, 2022 Bray Lawrence

Have you been looking for ways to help people in Ukraine? Do you also like playing interesting and unique games from indie developers? Then Necrosoft Games have the perfect bundle for you. The Bundle for Ukraine is a itch.io bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games with content from 732 creators containing over 1,000 games, tabletop RPGs, books, and soundtracks aimed at helping the people in Ukraine through this tumultuous time of Russian forces invading their country: all at the starting price of $10 with the option to give more for the goal of raising $2 million.

Art, Crowdfunding, Interview

Kickstart This: Robert Liu-Trujillo Discusses His New Art Book

October 31, 2021November 2, 2021 Swara Salih

Robert Liu-Trujillo is an artist looking to craft change.

He knows how powerful art can be to inspire and make social change, especially for younger consumers of his and others’ work. With a new Kickstarter project out now, we sat down with Robert to talk about his art, how social justice informs his work, navigating the picture book industry, and so much more.

Crowdfunding, Interview1 Comment

Why this ‘American Sikh’ Cosplays as Captain America

September 17, 2021September 17, 2021 Swara Salih

Animator and cosplayer Vishavjit Singh has experienced tremendous trauma in his life. He survived a genocide against Sikh people in India as a young boy, and after he and his family fled to the US, he’s constantly experienced racism and Islamophobia (despite not being Muslim) in the pre- and post-9/11 era. Despite all of this, he remains an optimist for people to treat each other better, and found through his regular cosplaying as Captain America that he could somehow achieve that. But what drew him to this initially?

Crowdfunding, Movies

‘Snakehead’ to Finally Hit Theaters and Digital in October

August 25, 2021August 26, 2021 Keith Chow

After more than a decade in development, director Evan Jackson Leong is now ready to unveil his magnum opus, Snakehead, to the world. Starring Shuya Chang, Sung Kang, and Jade Wu, Snakehead tells the story of Sister Tse, a woman who rises through the ranks of a Chinatown crime family before having to reconcile between personal success and her family. Check out the trailer below:

Comics, Crowdfunding, Interview

‘Joystick Angels’ Comics Creator, TJ Sterling

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Patrick Strange

Hoyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another interview for the people! I recently sat down for a conversation with comics creator, TJ Sterling to discuss his latest comics project for RAE Comics’ Joystick Angels! Check out our conversation and then head over to Kickstarter to support and secure your copy of Joystick Angels!

Crowdfunding, Movies

Kickstart This: Marc Bernardin’s Directorial Debut, ‘Splinter’

May 19, 2021May 19, 2021 Keith Chow

Writer, and Friend of the NOC, Marc Bernardin had always hoped to direct a movie by the time he turned 50. Well, now he’s gone and done it!

Though he has already exceeded his original Kickstarter goal in less than 12 hours, Bernardin’s directorial debut, the short film Splinter, still has a month to go to raise even more money!

Comics, Crowdfunding, Interview

NOC Exclusive Interview: Comics Creator, Jerry Ma

May 3, 2021May 4, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with my pal, Comics Creator, Jerry Ma! No stranger to the NOC, Jerry is dropping a brand new comics project today for Asian American Pacific Heritage Month called, The Monkey King: A Chinatown Odyssey! Find out all about it and how you can show support for this amazing project!

Comics, Crowdfunding1 Comment

Kickstart This: ‘The Monkey King’ Graphic Novel by Jerry Ma

May 3, 2021May 3, 2021 Keith Chow

What better way to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month than to help fund a new graphic novel project by one of Secret Identities partners, Jerry Ma?

Crowdfunding, Music

Jason Chu Music Video Fights for Chinatown Restaurant

October 6, 2020October 7, 2020 Patrick Strange

2020 has been a hard year for the entire world and for some business owners, the complete loss of their livelihood. Poet/Rapper/Activist, Jason Chu, recently reached out to The Nerds of Color to tell us the story of one of his favorite Los Angeles Hot Spots and how his latest single “AYCE” shines the spotlights on ‘Hop Woo Chinese BBQ & Seafood Restaurant’ and why we should support this Chinatown institution.

Crowdfunding, Music

Kickstart This: ‘Radical: The Savior Faire of French Hip-Hop’

March 27, 2020March 28, 2020 Shawn Taylor

First, I’m hoping that all you NOCers (and your loved ones) are as safe and as healthy as you can be. We are in some strange and uncharted territories, but hopefully this little slice of community can keep us connected.

I am fully aware that many of us are in dire financial straits. Many of us have lost jobs, lost other sources of income — many of us may find ourselves in new and unfamiliar caretaking roles. #LifeInTheTimeOfCOVID19

Continue reading “Kickstart This: ‘Radical: The Savior Faire of French Hip-Hop’”

Crowdfunding, Podcasts, Sci Fi

NOC’s Science Fiction Podcast ‘Occupy Me’ Is On Its Way

September 23, 2019October 11, 2019 Dominic Mah

Here’s the first teaser trailer for our new science fiction audio drama Occupy Me, presented by Melancholyball and Hard NOC Media.

Continue reading “NOC’s Science Fiction Podcast ‘Occupy Me’ Is On Its Way”

Crowdfunding, Hard N.O.C. Life

Hard NOC Bonus: Back Greg Pak and Lynn Chen’s Kickstarters

September 17, 2018May 8, 2020 Hard NOC Media

In this bonus edition of Hard NOC Life, Keith speaks to two Friends of the NOC about their respective Kickstarter projects.

Continue reading “Hard NOC Bonus: Back Greg Pak and Lynn Chen’s Kickstarters”

Crowdfunding, Movies1 Comment

Kickstart This: ‘I Will Make You Mine’

September 12, 2018September 14, 2018 Keith Chow

The world of cinema is replete with great trilogies. From George Lucas’ original Star Wars to Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic Godfather and modern classics like Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy. Well, my friend Lynn Chen is adding to that list with her directorial debut, I Will Make You Mine, the third chapter in the saga of Surrogate Valentine. But she needs your help!

Continue reading “Kickstart This: ‘I Will Make You Mine’”

Comics, Crowdfunding

Jerry Ma’s Legend Kickstarter Has Some Amazing Friends with Benefits

October 31, 2016 Keith Chow

Earlier this month, I told you about a new Kickstarter project from my Secret Identities partner Jerry Ma. His epic martial arts comic was introduced to the world the day before New York Comic-Con, and in only a matter of days, the project was fully funded! So what do you do when you reach your goal so quickly? You aim for stretch goals! And since this is the final week of the campaign, Jerry is hoping to get to his fourth and final goal of $10,500, and he’s enlisted some of the top artists in comics to help him get there!

Continue reading “Jerry Ma’s Legend Kickstarter Has Some Amazing Friends with Benefits”

Crowdfunding, Hard N.O.C. Life, Movies

‘Snakehead’ Filmmakers on the Search for Sister Sze

October 14, 2016August 26, 2021 Hard NOC Media

The filmmakers behind the upcoming independent movie Snakehead — director Evan Jackson Leong (Linsanity) and producer/actor Brian Yang (Hawaii Five-0) — join the show to talk about media representation, building community through crowdfunding, and the evolution of independent Asian American film.

Books, Crowdfunding, Interview

Modern Filipino Children’s Stories Gets a Kickstart

October 12, 2016October 12, 2016 Nels

The Philippines has 181 languages yet most children’s stories in the Philippines are written in only 2 languages, Tagalog and English. Sari-Sari Storybooks has Kickstarted a project to bring those under-represented Philippine language groups life through children’s stories. We interview Christina Newhard about the project.

Continue reading “Modern Filipino Children’s Stories Gets a Kickstart”

Conventions, Crowdfunding2 Comments

Epic Props Kickstarts New York Comic-Con Week!

October 3, 2016October 5, 2016 Keith Chow

If you haven’t heard, this Thursday is the kickoff to another New York Comic-Con. In addition to hosting the very first East Coast BGNOC, I’ll be on a few panels and hanging out at the Epic Proportions booth (#2010) all weekend! Speaking of Epic Props, my boy Jerry Ma just Kickstarted his own martial arts comic, so see below for how to contribute and where to find me at NYCC.

Continue reading “Epic Props Kickstarts New York Comic-Con Week!”

Crowdfunding, Interview3 Comments

Kickstarter Secrets with Greg Pak

May 16, 2016May 16, 2016 Dennis R. Upkins

Recently Fearless Leader (known to some of you as Keith Chow), informed the N.O.C. collective that legendary comic book writer Greg Pak had a new Kickstarter campaign and wanted to see if anyone would be interested in interviewing him.

My response to Fearless Leader:

Continue reading “Kickstarter Secrets with Greg Pak”

Crowdfunding, Interview5 Comments

Coming Soon: Dr. Beyond and the Agents of ABOVE

May 2, 2016May 2, 2016 Dennis R. Upkins

If ever there were a family of real life superheroes, it would be the Pogue Clan. Their story is an inspirational one and I’ve been proud to call these four friends (family, rather) for many years.

So when patriarch Paul F.P. Pogue informed me had a new web series in development, suffice it to say I was stoked and had to learn more about Dr. Beyond and the Agents of ABOVE.

You readers are in for a real treat. Today Paul and I discuss his new project, all things eighties, casting an Asian lead, whitewashing in Hollywood, and why diversity and multiculturalism should be a priority for everyone.

Continue reading “Coming Soon: Dr. Beyond and the Agents of ABOVE“

Crowdfunding1 Comment

Be a Part of the 2016 Angry Asian Man Subscriber Drive

March 8, 2016May 26, 2021 Keith Chow

Last month, one of our favorite blogs reached another milestone as Angry Asian Man celebrated its 15th anniversary. A decade and a half of being one of the most influential Asian Americans on the internet is no easy feat, so we’re hoping you can head on over to his site and help Phil Yu with his annual donation drive. You’ll get some cool swag out of it too.

Continue reading “Be a Part of the 2016 Angry Asian Man Subscriber Drive”

Comics, Crowdfunding1 Comment

Kickstart This: Black

February 2, 2016March 3, 2016 Keith Chow

Over the years, we’ve been pretty selective about which crowdfunding campaigns to support on this site. Once in a while, though, a campaign comes through our inbox or news feed that is too brilliant to ignore. The campaign to publish the graphic novel Black is one of those. Created by long time comic pros Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3, with art by occasional NOC contributor Jamal Igle and cover artist Khary Randolph, Black posits the question, what if only Black people had superpowers?

Continue reading “Kickstart This: Black“

Crowdfunding, Hard N.O.C. Life, Video Games1 Comment

Help Dante Basco and Beau Sia Kickstart FailSafe

November 24, 2015November 24, 2015 The Nerds of Color

There is only one week left in the Kickstarter for Failsafe, a new independent video game by Game Over Studios. Co-created by poet Beau Sia and featuring voices by Ashly Burch and Dante Basco. To help get the word out about the campaign, Beau and Dante stopped by Hard N.O.C. Life to talk about the game and the new world of storytelling their exploring with Failsafe.