Dhayana ‘MissDeusGeek’ Sena Talks Gaming, Representation, and Women of Xbox Initiative

August 25, 2021 Jamal Michel

Representation in gaming has grown in size and in demand over the last decade, and countless gamers, content creators, and advocates believe there is still much work to be done to make the space a safer one for gamers of all backgrounds. Australia and New Zealand content creator and gaming influencer Dhayana Sena, who also goes by Miss Deus Geek, is one of those advocates whose voice is making waves.

Animation, Anime, Gaming

The VO Actors of Global Majority You Need to Know: Krizia Bajos

August 23, 2021August 23, 2021 Edward Hong

Over the past three years, I’ve encountered some truly remarkable voiceover actors from the PGM (People Of Global Majority) community, so remarkable that I thought it would be a worthwhile endeavor to dedicate an article about themselves, their accomplishments, and where you can find them and do so every week. When will this end? Most likely never so as I cackle at the infinite posts this may generate, I am so very happy to tell you all that my spotlight for this week is on Krizia Bajos!

Animation, Anime, Television

The VO Actors of Global Majority You Need to Know: Belsheber Rusape Jr.

August 16, 2021August 15, 2021 Edward Hong

Animation, Anime

The VO Actors of Global Majority You Need to Know: Ryan Colt Levy

August 2, 2021August 2, 2021 Edward Hong

Fandom, Television6 Comments

Let’s Talk About Toni Topaz on The CW’s ‘Riverdale’

July 16, 2021July 15, 2021 Sophia Soto

Fans found themselves instantly falling in love with and wanting more from Vanessa Morgan’s portrayal of Toni Topaz as soon as she came onto our screens on Riverdale. Toni was first introduced in season 2, episode 3 “Chapter Sixteen: The Watcher in the Woods,” and became a series regular in season 3. Her portrayal provides representation as one of the only Black series regulars currently on Riverdale as well as her character being openly bisexual. So let’s take a look back at her journey and what we hope to see for the character going forward.

Reviews, Theatre

Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘An Octoroon’

July 12, 2021July 12, 2021 Edward Hong

During intermission while watching An Octoroon (written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Judith Moreland) at the Fountain Theatre, an old white woman randomly came up to me and asked what I found so amusing in this play. First, I had to get over the shock that a live human being was touching me (without permission) and getting up in my face to ask this question because after all, this was my first time watching a play with a live audience (albeit in an outdoor theater) in 16 months. Second, what WAS I and primarily all the other POC audience members laughing about?

Gaming, Interview

Xalavier Nelson, Jr. Brings Representation to New Heights with ‘El Paso, Elsewhere’

July 7, 2021July 7, 2021 Jamal Michel

Xalavier Nelson, Jr. — the award-winning narrative designer, writer, and former journalist — doesn’t just make games that are out of the box, he supplants the box with stock photos of dogs and then has them run an airport for aliens. As silly a concept as it may sound initially, Xalavier and his team at Strange Scaffold released an indie game earlier this year whose premise was just that, and folks really dug it. Xalavier is sincere in his approach to video game development, with a particular emphasis on sustainability, and he strives for it when thinking about any game idea.

Interview, Video Games

Noveen Crumbie and Adriana Colón on Arkane Studios’ New Game ‘Redfall’

June 30, 2021June 30, 2021 Jamal Michel

With the reveal of incredible new indie titles, new and upcoming downloadable content, and major blockbuster games dropping on Game Pass the day of their release, this summer’s E3 gave gamers a lot to appreciate following a year and a half of some of the industry’s most challenging times. For me and thousands of other gamer nerds, the standout for the summer was the reveal of Arkane Studios’ new open-world co-op FPS Redfall.

Animation, Gaming

Appreciating the Diversity of Late-Generation ‘Pokémon’

June 28, 2021June 29, 2021 Jamal Michel

When I first caught sight of Pokémon Neo Genesis cards being sold on the Home Shopping Network as a kid, I almost took my mother’s credit card and picked up the phone to put in a few hundred orders. I remember on one such occasion using the spare change from a trip to the gas station to buy a single booster pack. I came home with a gallon of milk and yet another holographic Machamp, all while receiving the admonition I knew was waiting for me at home.

Movies, Television

Trailer for Disney Channel’s ‘Spin’ Drops the Beat

June 25, 2021June 25, 2021 Mike Manalo

Credit where credit is due, Disney Channel has been making really good strides to tell multicultural and diverse stories for the past decade or so, arguably more than we see in most Hollywood films. Looking back at movies like Johnny Tsunami, or cartoons like American Dragon: Jake Long and Proud Family, and even more recent shows like Andi Mack, and you can’t help but give them props for casting POCs as leads and actually making those leads’ cultures central to the stories they’re trying to tell. And their upcoming movie, Spin is no exception.

Movies, Streaming

‘Let’s Be Tigers’ Director on Being Vulnerable and Processing Grief

June 18, 2021June 22, 2021 Laura Sirikul

One of the directors, Stefanie Abel Horowitz previously directed theater for nearly a decade before pivoting to film. She was determined to tell important stories through her work like her previous short film, sometimes, i think about dying, a story about a woman’s existential crisis with death, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.

Conventions, Gaming, Interview

Verizon Powers a 5G Future For Gaming with Diverse, Inclusive, and Cutting Edge Initiatives

June 14, 2021June 14, 2021 Jamal Michel

Diego Scotti, Chief Marketing Officer at Verizon, took to the stage at E3 2021 to share some of the major initiatives in gaming and advancements in technology the company was prepared to share with gamers and fans.

Interview, Video Games

‘Fightin’ Words’ Episode One: Gaming Icon Tanya DePass

June 11, 2021June 11, 2021 Jamal Michel

Tanya DePass is the founder and Director of I Need Diverse Games, a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago, which is dedicated to better diversification of all aspects of gaming. She’s also a gaming icon, having been named one of the “Gamers of the Year” for 2020 by Kotaku, as well as a 2020 Annenberg Innovation Lab Civic Media Fellow at USC.

Anime, Streaming, Television

Netflix’s ‘Cowboy Bebop’ Adaptation Release Date Confirmed

June 10, 2021June 10, 2021 Mike Manalo

Earlier this week, Netflix released a very tiny featurette about its Cowboy Bebop adaptation revealing a number of awesome bits of news:

John Cho’s hair as Spike
John Cho’s hair as Spike
John Cho’s hair as Spike
The original composer of the original anime series will be returning for the Live-Action Series
The show will finally debut on Netflix this Fall!
John Cho’s hair as Spike

Interview, Movies, Television

Culture House’s Raeshem Nijhon Talks About the Importance of Representation

June 2, 2021June 17, 2021 Jamal Michel

The last several years have seen numerous fallouts from Hollywood industry titans with regard to representation and the arts. NBC cancelling the 2022 Golden Globes amid the problems the HFPA essentially created for itself is a reminder of the strides still to be had for the industry. Enter Raeshem Nijhon, executive producer and founder at Culture House, a black, brown, and women-owned premium film and TV production company.

Streaming, Television

Here’s the Trailer & Key Art for HBO Max’s ‘Genera+ion’ Returning June 17

May 27, 2021June 11, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

Oh, high school.

For a lot of us, it was both the best time of our lives, and a waking nightmare. But that’s part of what makes the high school experience so interesting to look back on, and why shows like Genera+ion are so entertaining.

Comics, Marvel, Reviews

‘Reptil #1’ Review: Meet The Family

May 27, 2021May 31, 2021 Adonis Gonzalez

It’s finally here! Reptil #1 finally hit comic book shelves last Tuesday, reintroducing fans to a longtime member of Marvel’s heroes gallery. Humberto Lopez, a.k.a Reptil, finally gets his own solo series, taking us deeper into the life of the teenage dino-shifting hero. But the emphasis isn’t on Beto’s life as a superhero. Amidst the disbanding of the Avengers Academy team and the world-changing effects of Kamala’s Law, writer Terry Blas takes on a personal journey for Beto — introducing us to several members of his family and delivering a comic proud to represent the Latinx community in a fresh, inspiring way.

Movies, Streaming

‘Gunpowder Millshake’ Trailer is Filled with Explosive Action

May 25, 2021May 25, 2021 Laura Sirikul

Netflix’s anticipated action film Gunpowder Milkshake dropped their trailer early this morning and our jaws just dropped.

DC Comics, Television

You’re Welcome: Official Look at Jordan Fisher’s Impulse on ‘The Flash’

May 21, 2021May 21, 2021 Keith Chow

The CW just released its first official look at Jordan Fisher as the future speedster Bart Allen, aka Impulse.

Horror, Interview, Movies

‘Army of the Dead’ Actor/Stuntman, Les Price

May 18, 2021June 11, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another interview! I recently sat down for a conversation with an Actor/Stuntman friend of mine, Les Price, who recently played a zombie in the Army of the Dead that faces off with Dave Bautista! Army of the Dead is now available in Select Theaters and will be on Netflix this Friday, May 21!

Horror, Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘Army of the Dead’ Stars: Omari Hardwick and Matthias Schweighöfer

May 11, 2021May 15, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with a pair of the stars of Army of the Dead: Actors, Omari Hardwick and Matthias Schweighöfer! Army of the Dead hits Select Theaters May 14 and will be on Netflix May 21!

Horror, Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘Army of the Dead’ Writer/Director: Zack Snyder

May 10, 2021May 15, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with the Writer/Director of Army of the Dead: Zack Snyder! Army of the Dead hits Select Theaters May 14 and will be on Netflix May 21!

Horror, Interview, Movies, Streaming

NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘Army of the Dead’ Stars: Ana de la Reguera, Nora Arnezeder, Tig Notaro and Ella Purnell

May 10, 2021May 15, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with some of the amazing stars of Army of the Dead: Ana de la Reguera, Nora Arnezeder, Tig Notaro and Ella Purnell! Army of the Dead hits Select Theaters May 14th and will be on Netflix May 21st!