Highlights from the 42nd Hawai’i International Film Festival’s Virtual Program

November 25, 2022November 26, 2022 Lauren Lola

For the third consecutive year of its 42-year run, the Hawai’i International Film Festival has a large selection of films available to view virtually. With titles ranging from Hawaii, the mainland, the overall Asia-Pacific region, and other parts of the world, there are so many for viewers to watch from the comfort of home, each of which expressing voices and stories of all kinds.

Books, Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Suzanne Park

October 26, 2022October 26, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

Southern Fried Asian returns to feature stand-up-comic-turned-young-adult-romance-author, Suzanne Park! She and Keith discuss growing up in the suburbs of Nashville, stumbling into stand-up comedy, writing her newest book, The Christmas Clash — about warring food court restaurants, her mother’s Korean American fried chicken, and more.

Comics, Podcasts1 Comment

Southern Fried Asian: Patrick Michael Strange

September 21, 2022September 21, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

On Southern Fried Asian, fellow NOC fam Patrick Michael Strange is in conversation with Keith about growing up as a military brat across the South! From South Carolina and Mississippi to joining the Navy in Viriginia, Patrick recounts coming to terms with his identity as a Filipino American and as a comic book nerd. They also discuss his own nerd empire and a memorable Comic-Con experience. Finally, Patrick reveals that tocino (and not lumpia or siopao) is his go-to Filipino dish.

Podcasts, Streaming

Southern Fried Asian: ‘House of Ho’

August 31, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

On as special Southern Fried Asian, NOC Managing Editor Laura Sirikul sits down with the cast of HBO Max’s House of Ho just in time for the reality docuseries’ eventful second season following the Houston-based Vietnamese family as they pursue a life of love, laughter, and luxury.

Conventions, Movies, Theatre2 Comments

Mixed Asian Media Fest Returns with Virtual and In-Person Programming

August 17, 2022August 18, 2022 Lauren Lola

New York City/San Francisco/Los Angeles: Mixed Asian Media proudly presents their second annual Mixed Asian Media Fest (MAM Fest) September 14-18.

Podcasts, Television1 Comment

Southern Fried Asian: Chef Nini Nguyen

July 20, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

Southern Fried Asian returns with a conversation between Keith and Top Chef alum, Chef Nini Nguyen! She tells Keith about growing up in New Orleans, being cast on Top Chef, teaching people how to cook on the internet, and what it really means for cuisine to be “authentic.” She also reveals why mullet roe will always remind her of her grandmother.

Comics, Podcasts, Poetry

Southern Fried Asian: Greg Pak Returns

June 22, 2022June 22, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

Southern Fried Asian is back and so is one of our previous guests. Keith welcomes back Greg Pak — whose moving new autobiographical project I Belong to You / Motherland is being turned into a choral performance in Austin — to discuss belonging and loss and share memories of his mother and childhood in Texas.

Interview, Marvel

‘Ms. Marvel’ Creators on Bringing Kamala Khan’s World to the MCU

June 7, 2022June 6, 2022 Swara Salih

Ms. Marvel is nearly here! How does one go about translating this beloved character and her story to life? We got to speak with head writer Bisha K. Ali and co-creator Sana Amanat on how they went about doing just that for Kamala’s entry into the MCU.

Interview, Marvel

The ‘Ms. Marvel’ Supporting Cast on Bringing Kamala Khan’s Friends and Family to Life

June 6, 2022June 6, 2022 Swara Salih

As Ms. Marvel approaches our Disney+ screens very soon, we got to sit down with the actors playing Kamala Khan’s family (Saagar Shaikh, Zenobia Shroff, and Mohan Kapur) and friends (Rish Shah, Yasmeen Fletcher, and Matt Lintz) on how they helped bring Kamala’s world to life in the newest MCU series!

Interview, Marvel

Iman Vellani on Playing Kamala Khan, aka ‘Ms. Marvel’

June 5, 2022June 5, 2022 Swara Salih

Ms. Marvel is nearly here! The beloved Pakistani American Muslim character millions already love is making her debut to the MCU with her own series this Wednesday, June 8! And we got to speak with her newcomer star Iman Vellani, Kamala Khan herself!

Podcasts, Toys

‘AAPI Toy Heroes’ with Kuya P

May 26, 2022 Shelf Conscious

Shelf Conscious is back! This time, Keith is joined by fellow NOC and creator of The NRW, Kuya P a.k.a Patrick Michael Strange, as he launches his own action figure podcast called AAPI Toy Heroes.

Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Chef Tim Ma

May 24, 2022June 22, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

On a new episode of Southern Fried Asian, Keith talks to his Chef Tim Ma — founder and CEO of Lucky Danger, the renowned American Chinese takeout restaurant in D.C. — about his southern roots in Arkansas and Virginia and why it’s important to honor the legacy of American Chinese cuisine.

Interview, Star Wars

‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ Director Deborah Chow on the ‘Star Wars’ Legacy and Toshiro Mifune

May 20, 2022May 20, 2022 Keith Chow

In one week, on the 45th anniversary of the original Star Wars, Disney+ will be premiering the first two episodes of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Filling in the gap between Episodes III and IV, Obi-Wan Kenobi brings back Prequel era stars Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen to reprise the roles of Kenobi and Darth Vader, respectively.

Interview, Streaming

A100 List Honoree Poorna Jagannathan on the Impact of ‘Never Have I Ever’

May 18, 2022May 18, 2022 Sophia Soto

Poorna Jagannathan is an honoree of Gold House’s 2022 A100 List, which recognizes the 100 APIs that have most significantly impacted American culture and society in the last year. The actress currently portrays Nalini Vishwakumar on Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. The third season of the series premieres on August 12.

Books, Movies, Television

More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’

May 3, 2022May 3, 2022 Lauren Lola

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month everyone! Last year, to acknowledge both this annual commemoration of contributions from the AAPI community and the ever-present following of the ’90s Disney Channel original series, So Weird, I compiled together a list of supernatural recommendations, created by and about people of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

News

Gold House Has Shared the 2022 A100 List and will Launch the First-Ever Gold Gala

May 2, 2022May 3, 2022 Sophia Soto

Gold House — the leading Asian and Pacific Islander changemaker community that unites, invests in, and promotes API creative and companies — has announced its annual A100 List. The list recognizes the 100 APIs that have impacted American culture and society during the last year. Gold House has also revealed that for the first time ever, these honorees will be honored and celebrated in person!

Podcasts

Southern Fried Asian: Samata Narra

April 29, 2022April 28, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

On Southern Fried Asian, Keith welcomes Samata Narra, Senior Vice President, Equity and Inclusion, Content Strategy, Warner Bros. Discovery.

Movies, Streaming, Television

HBO Max Highlights AAPI Content and Announces Short Film Competition For May

April 28, 2022April 29, 2022 Laura Sirikul

Asian Pacific American (APA)/Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is approaching and that means we’re about to get more AAPI spotlights and movements coming out way.

Interview, Movies, Sci Fi

Ke Huy Quan On Returning to Hollywood and Reclaiming His Name

April 6, 2022April 27, 2022 Laura Sirikul

It has been over twenty years since actor Ke Huy Quan was last seen on the big screen. Although he made a brief return in a supporting role in Netflix’s 2021 family adventure, Finding Ohana, Quan’s full comeback came in the form of a leading role in A24’s sci-fi drama, Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Interview, Streaming

Brenda Song and Lana Condor Discuss AAPI Representation in Entertainment

March 30, 2022March 30, 2022 Mike Manalo

The Nerds of Color absolutely loves Brenda Song and Lana Condor! And yesterday, the two leading Asian American actresses had a chance to sit down with one another to discuss their portrayals of multi-faceted Asian women on-screen and the importance of having representation in mainstream media.

Podcasts, Television

Southern Fried Asian: Vinny Chhibber

March 23, 2022March 22, 2022 Southern Fried Asian

In a first for Southern Fried Asian, Keith welcomes a previous guest’s sibling, Big Sky star, Vinny Chhibber.

Interview, Martial Arts, Television2 Comments

‘Kung Fu’ Star Kee Chan on Finding Humanity in the Villain

March 16, 2022March 17, 2022 Laura Sirikul

It’s hard to not associate the actor with the character they portray on television/film, especially if the character is as sinister and haunting as the enigmatic villain Russell Tan on The CW’s Kung Fu.

Of course, this isn’t the case for actor Kee Chan, who plays Russell Tan.

Animation, Interview, Movies

All Grown Up with ‘Turning Red’ Stars Rosalie Chiang and Sandra Oh

March 8, 2022March 8, 2022 Michael Lee

Disney•Pixar’s Turning Red draws much of its inspiration from director Domee Shi’s experiences as a Chinese Canadian teenager growing up in Toronto, Canada. The coming-of-age film centers on Meilin Lee (Rosalie Chiang), a confident, albeit dorky, 13-year-old navigating the chaos of adolescence. As she figures out how to strike a balance between being herself around her best friends and revering her overprotective mother, Ming Lee (Sandra Oh), Meilin is shocked to learn that she becomes a giant red panda whenever she gets too stressed or excited.