D23Expo: ‘American Born Chinese’ Stars Ben Wang and Daniel Wu Talk Representation

The D23 Expo may be near its end, but that doesn’t mean the news cycle has stopped. While ot the press line, The Nerds of Color had the chance to talk to Ben Wang and Daniel Wu, the stars of the upcoming Disney+ original series, American Born Chinese.

Continue reading “D23Expo: ‘American Born Chinese’ Stars Ben Wang and Daniel Wu Talk Representation”

Disney+’s ‘American Born Chinese’ Series Finds its Cast

Shortly after Disney released Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, director Destin Daniel Cretton signed on to helm a series adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s American Born Chinese. The genre-hopping action-comedy series is described as “a great universal story that moves between worlds and explores the impact of culture, identity, and acceptance through the lens of adolescence.” And now, the series has found its cast. 

Continue reading “Disney+’s ‘American Born Chinese’ Series Finds its Cast”

Netflix Announces Inaugural Cohort of the Future Gold Film Fellowship

Netflix’s Fund for Creative Equity Initiative have announced their inaugural cohort of the Future Gold Film Fellowship. Netflix Golden, the company’s newest social media channel for the pan-Asian diaspora, shared the news earlier today.

Working with Gold House and Tribeca, Netflix created a program designed to elevate three Asian and Pacific Islander directors. This year, Lloyd Lee Choi, Erin Lau, and Derek Nguyen were selected for the fellowship.

Continue reading “Netflix Announces Inaugural Cohort of the Future Gold Film Fellowship”

Gold House and CAPE Unveil the 2022 Gold List in Time for Awards Season

It’s officially Awards Season in Hollywood, and Gold House and CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) are launching the 2022 Gold List to highlight outstanding work by Asian filmmakers and talent. Think of the Gold List as an elaborate “For Your Consideration” campaign to get the Academy to recognize some of the amazing work by Asian and Asian American directors, writers, and actors in 2021.

Continue reading “Gold House and CAPE Unveil the 2022 Gold List in Time for Awards Season”

‘American Born Chinese’ Headed to Disney+

After smashing box office records with Shang-Chi, Disney and Destin Daniel Cretton are re-teaming on another iconic Asian American comic book. This time, the critically acclaimed and award-winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, will see new life as a series on Disney+, helmed and produced by Cretton.

Continue reading “‘American Born Chinese’ Headed to Disney+”

Why Asian Americans Feel Compelled to Defend ‘Shang-Chi’

Recently and on their own initiative, my 11-year old child became interested in Greek mythology. As a single co-parent father continually desperate for reasons to relate to and bond with my child, this delighted me, because by coincidence I became infatuated with Greek myths when I was young. As a broke Vietnamese refugee nerd kid, I’d go to the Franklin library and read up about the messed up Gods, the flawed heroes, the fantastic creatures.

Continue reading “Why Asian Americans Feel Compelled to Defend ‘Shang-Chi’”

Two Chinese Americans Explain How to Pronounce ‘Shang-Chi’

Keith and Dominic tap into their Chinese American backgrounds to provide YouTube’s definitive explainer on how to pronounce “Shang-Chi,” a name that the entire world will want to know now that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is the biggest movie in the world!

Continue reading “Two Chinese Americans Explain How to Pronounce ‘Shang-Chi’”

‘Shang-Chi’ Screenwriter Dave Callaham on Keeping it Authentically Asian American

Marvel’s Shang-Chi premieres this week. As the first Asian-led Marvel film, there’s a lot of pressure to get this character and story right, given the comic book’s problematic history being rooted in stereotypical Asian tropes. Director Destin Daniel Cretton and screenwriter Dave Callaham did a lot of research on Shang-Chi’s comic book origins and knew what they wanted to do with him. 

Continue reading “‘Shang-Chi’ Screenwriter Dave Callaham on Keeping it Authentically Asian American”

NOC Review: ‘Shang-Chi’ is Spectacular

Whether it’s an overall sense of fatigue from mainstream audiences who aren’t into comic book films, or perhaps a general sense of pandemic malaise from folks unsatisfied with the state of entertainment these days, it seems like the momentum and good will the MCU has cultivated the past 12 years has turned to mixed sentiment for most of this year.

Continue reading “NOC Review: ‘Shang-Chi’ is Spectacular”

‘Shang-Chi’ Gets Up Close and Personal With Character Posters

Marvel Studios just released Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings character posters. The posters features Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), Katy (Awkwafina), Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), Jiang Nan, and Wenwu (played by legends Michelle Yeoh and Tony Leung, respectively). It also includes the Death Dealer, who we have no idea who plays them.

Continue reading “‘Shang-Chi’ Gets Up Close and Personal With Character Posters”

New Featurette & Poster Offer More Details on Shang-Chi’s Backstory

Marvel Studios released an all-new featurette titled “Destiny” for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In the two-minute clip, producer Kevin Feige, stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina, and director Destin Daniel Cretton talk about Shang-Chi’s backstory and his connection to the Ten Rings and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.

Continue reading “New Featurette & Poster Offer More Details on Shang-Chi’s Backstory”

New ‘Shang-Chi’ Promo Teases Family Drama and Shirtless Simu

Marvel Studios is really kicking up the promotion for the September release of the anticipated film, Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings.

In the new promo called Need, after going into hiding from his past, Shang-Chi (played by a very ripped Simu Liu) is found by his father, Wenwu (Tony Leung), the leader of the Ten Rings, who wants his son to be his right-hand man and eventually take his place. Shang-Chi doesn’t want to follow that path. In a voiceover, Wenwu tells his son, ‘You can’t outrun your destiny.’

Continue reading “New ‘Shang-Chi’ Promo Teases Family Drama and Shirtless Simu”

New ‘Shang-Chi’ Trailer Displays the Power of the Ten Rings

During ESPN’s Broadcast of NBA Countdown before Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals, Marvel Studios released a brand new trailer for Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings. The film features Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), a young super hero and martial artist whose journey of self-discovery unfolds in this never-before-seen origin story.

Continue reading “New ‘Shang-Chi’ Trailer Displays the Power of the Ten Rings”

The Who, What, and Why of Marvel’s Epic New Movie, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

Well, this is kind of embarrassing. Monday, April 19, was Simu Liu’s birthday, and all I got him was an edible arrangement. In any other instance, that would be a perfectly safe and standard gift, in my opinion. But of course, here comes Marvel in an epic move of one-upmanship with the release of the Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings teaser trailer! Though in all fairness, their gift is way more universal than mine.

Continue reading “The Who, What, and Why of Marvel’s Epic New Movie, ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’”

The ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Teaser Explained

It’s about damn time the Shang-Chi teaser trailer has been revealed and it’s worth the wait. In the video, we finally get a glimpse of Simu Liu as the title character, and of all days, on Liu’s birthday. 

Continue reading “The ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Teaser Explained”

Surprise! New Trailer and Poster for ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’

Happy Birthday Simu Liu, indeed! In celebration of Shang-Chi’s birthday, Marvel Studios has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and IT FREAKIN ROCKS! My two cents: this is looking to be the best Asian-led action extravaganza of the year! But rather than take my opinion, check out the trailer for yourself!

Continue reading “Surprise! New Trailer and Poster for ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’”

‘Just Mercy’ Effectively Calls for Justice with Emotional Impact

It’s no secret that the justice system in the United States is a mess like no other. However, the odds of navigating it and coming out unscathed — if at all — are worse for the Black community. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and founder/executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, witnessed just how brutal it is, as he worked tirelessly to free Walter McMillian from death row, after being arrested for a murder he did not commit. Just Mercy tells that story.

Continue reading “‘Just Mercy’ Effectively Calls for Justice with Emotional Impact”

Bryan Stevenson Hopes ‘Just Mercy’ Will Lead to Conversation and Action

Bryan Stevenson is a busy man.  He’s a widely acclaimed public interests lawyer and prison reform advocate. He is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. He’s a motivational speaker, … Continue reading Bryan Stevenson Hopes ‘Just Mercy’ Will Lead to Conversation and Action

Hard NOC Life: Marvel’s Fantastic Phase Four

After a grueling week in San Diego, Dominic and Keith return to take stock of all of the bombshells that dropped during Marvel Studios’ lauded Hall H presentation. Plus, Keith speaks to A Wave Blue World VP of Sales and Marketing Lisa Wu and illustrator Steenz — who’s working on an upcoming anthology for AWBW this fall — live at the annual NOC Comic-Con meetup.

Continue reading “Hard NOC Life: Marvel’s Fantastic Phase Four”