NOC Review: ‘Freakier Friday’ is a Fun, Chaotic Nostalgic Charmer

August 7, 2025August 7, 2025 Mike Manalo

From The Parent Trap to Mean Girls, Lindsay Lohan’s dominance in pop culture through the late ‘90s/early ‘00s was inescapable. And with good cause, because some of those films went on to become true classics, with many getting a second life with either musical remakes (Mean Girls) or in the case of Freaky Friday, legacy sequels. Surprisingly, that’s actually a great thing, because with Freakier Friday, the movies aren’t the only things getting a second life. Welcome back, Lohan!

Conventions

NOC Guide to the Top SDCC 2025 Offsites

July 19, 2025July 19, 2025 Mike Manalo

Comic-Con is just five days away everyone! As we discussed in our NOC San Diego Comic-Con Guide, we will be on the ground covering as much of the fun nerdtopia festivities as possible! However, SDCC is not just about panels. There’s so much to do around the convention center, including some events you don’t need a badge for. So allow us to sort through the entire collection of offsites happening during SDCC 2025, and bring you our Top Picks!

Conventions1 Comment

Your NOC Guide to SDCC 2025

July 16, 2025July 16, 2025 Mike Manalo

We are exactly one week away from San Diego Comic-Con, folks! As per tradition, The Nerds of Color is going to be there on the ground, not only bringing you the latest and greatest from the panels, but also participating as panelists in some of them (Looking at you, Swara, you rock star!) So as you gear up and prep for the biggest nerd event of the year, we’re going to break down the best panels and events you can’t miss!

Horror, Interview, Movies

Discussing Death and Blood with the Directors and Cast of ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’

May 16, 2025 Mike Manalo

Death is a funny thing. Not so much “ha-ha” funny as it is “mysterious” funny. It’s also terrifying, gory, and nasty. And no series of films better encapsulates this sentiment better than the Final Destination franchise! Recently, we were given the great opportunity to witness the latest installment, Final Destination: Bloodlines, and speak with directors Adam Stein and Zach Lipovsky, and cast members Richard Harmon, Anna Lore, and Owen Patrick Joyner about the latest gruesome and gory chapter in this legendary saga.

Horror, Interview, Movies1 Comment

Talking Pinoy Power with the Stars of ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’

May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 Mike Manalo

I’m proud to be Filipino. While I believe representation in film and television has been much better in recent years, you’d be hard pressed to find many major studio franchises centered on Filipino families or characters, let alone long-running horror franchises. Which is why I got really excited when I saw Final Destination: Bloodlines was centered on a mixed Filipino family! That meant the world to me, as did getting a chance to speak with the stars that brought that family to life: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, and Rya Kihlstedt.

Animation, Movies

Dreamworks Unveils Filipino Animated Film ‘Forgotten Island’ for September 2026

April 16, 2025April 16, 2025 Mike Manalo

Okay, this one is close to the heart for me. To date, there hasn’t been a single (long-form) animated film centered around Filipino mythology from any of the major Hollywood animation studios. However, as of today, Dreamworks Animation has finally announced, we have one coming!

Horror, Interview, Movies2 Comments

‘Lisa Frankenstein’ Star Liza Soberano on Filipino Representation

February 5, 2024February 5, 2024 Kelly Martinez

Lisa Frankenstein may be Liza Soberano’s first Hollywood production, but she’s certainly no stranger to show business. At just 26 years old, she’s already one of the most accomplished actresses in the Philippines.

Comics, Interview1 Comment

NOC Exclusive: Lauren Lola and Ponsi Alfonso Break Down ‘Dasig’

October 20, 2023October 20, 2023 Mike Manalo

As The Nerds of Color, we’ve been given a great many privileges to speak with some of the greatest, most talented individuals in the industries of film, television, music, and comics. But while it’s wonderful to get the opportunity to meet these terrific strangers and learn more about their respective crafts, it’s an even rarer and greater opportunity to work alongside these talents.

Horror, Trailers

The Coming of Filipino Horror Short Film ‘Mosquito Lady’

September 25, 2023September 25, 2023 Edward Hong

With its world premiere at the prestigious genre festival Beyond Fest on October 7, its East Coast premiere at Brooklyn Horror Film Festival, and Midwest Premiere at the Chicago International Film Festival, Mosquito Lady is an incredible horror short film that features the manananggal, a terrifying fetus-eating creature from Philippine folklore.

Podcasts, Theatre

The Middle Geeks Episode 52: Senzel Ahmady on Playing Princess Jasmine in ‘Aladdin’

April 27, 2023April 27, 2023 Swara Salih

We welcome Afghan-Filipina-American actress Senzel Ahmady on the podcast, and discuss her taking on the iconic role of Princess Jasmine in the touring Aladdin musical!

Interview, Movies

Staying Sharp with Anna Akana and Yoshi Sudarso from ‘Blade of the 47 Ronin’

October 25, 2022October 25, 2022 Mike Manalo

Blade of the 47 Ronin hits Netflix today! Back in 2013, the original film, 47 Ronin, debuted in theaters to unfortunate critical reception and low box office grosses. Nevertheless it was a moment in which Keanu Reeves really first acknowledged/embraced his Asian roots on film. In that grand tradition, it seemed fitting to reboot the franchise, but in the hands of Asian filmmakers, including director and expert stunt choreographer, Ron Yuan. He was able to recruit two amazing folks to the cast, renowned actress, comedian, and outspoken creator Anna Akana, and famed stuntman, actor, and all around Power Ranger, Yoshi Sudarso.

Reviews, Theatre

A Los Angeles Theatre Review: ‘Hamlet’

May 23, 2022May 23, 2022 Edward Hong

You would be hard pressed to find me wanting to watch a Shakespeare production willingly. While I am painfully aware his works are considered the echelon of fine performance arts training, my distaste for it only grew as a vast majority of Shakespeare productions only utilize white actors for the meaningful parts.

Until now.

Movies, News

New Poster and Trailer for Jo Koy’s ‘Easter Sunday’

May 5, 2022May 5, 2022 Mike Manalo

Easter is coming this August, folks! And by that I mean, Easter Sunday! For someone like me, who is Filipino American, this is a really, incredibly special moment. We now actually have a major studio financed and distributed wide release centering on a Filipino family.

Television

FOX’s ‘The Cleaning Lady’ Promotes Sean Lew and Faith Bryant to Series Regulars

December 13, 2021December 21, 2021 Mike Manalo

Ahead of its highly anticipated premiere on January 3, FOX’s upcoming drama, The Cleaning Lady, starring multi-talented Elodie Yung (Daredevil, The Hitman’s Bodyguard) has announced two new series regulars for the show!

Animation, Streaming

Manila to the Moon: An Interview with ‘Blush’ Director Joe Mateo

September 28, 2021September 28, 2021 Mike Manalo

Imagine if you will that you’re a minority in the entertainment industry. Picture yourself working proudly on some of the best, most well known animated projects of all time, and then — BAM! — a studio asks you to tell your own story. What would be the story you’d want to tell? For Filipino animator, Joe Mateo (a 25-year veteran artist and animator who worked on Zootopia, Big Hero 6, and many other classic Disney Animated works), that dream came true.

Sci Fi, Television

New SYFY Series ‘Astrid and Lilly Save the World’ Stars Jana Morrison and Samantha Aucoin

August 31, 2021September 30, 2021 Mike Manalo

Today, Universal just announced that they are moving forward with a new SYFY series called Astrid and Lilly Save the World.

To star in the show, SYFY has tapped two rising stars, Filipina Canadian actress Jana Morrison will play Astrid, and coming with her for the ride is fellow Canadian singer/songwriter/actress Samantha Aucoin.

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 041: Producer/Actor, Christopher T. Wood

June 7, 2021June 9, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 041: We welcome Producer/Actor, Christopher T. Wood! Our first Non-Filipino guest, Christopher comes on to tell us his personal story and one of the earliest stories of Black-Asian solidarity in the story of David Fagen, an African-American soldier who defected during the Philippine-American War to fight alongside the Filipino army. Fagen became a successful guerrilla leader and his capture became an obsession to the U.S. military and American public.

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 040: Actor, Derek Basco

June 2, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 040: We welcome Actor, Derek Basco of The Fabulous Filipino Brothers! From dancing with his brothers to building up Filipino representation in Hollywood with films like The Debut and the latest project, The Fabulous Filipino Brothers, Derek shares his FilipinX journey thus far! Come thru and check out the video interview and stay all the way until after the credits for a sneak appearance of another amazing Basco family member who is tearing up Hollywood!

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 039: Comics Creator/Writer, Budjette Tan

May 28, 2021May 27, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 039: We welcome Comics Creator/Writer, Budjette Tan of Trese! Find out how being possessed, exorcised, animated cartoons, big robots, photo-copied comics and the support of an amazing artist friend in Kajo Baldisimo, helped pave the way to an animated series at Netflix for Budjette Tan!

Horror, Interview, Movies

NOC Exclusive Interview: ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It’ Actor, Andrea Andrade

May 26, 2021 Patrick Strange

Heyyy! It’s Kuya P back again with another NOC EXCLUSIVE! I recently sat down for a conversation with Actor, Andrea Andrade to discuss her role in the upcoming film, ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It‘!

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 038: Kuya P’s Childhood Friend, Myke Agojo

May 24, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 038: We welcome Host Kuya P’s childhood friend, Myke Agojo! As we search and explore our Filipinx identity, we have invited our friends and family to share in their experiences and give insight on us. First up, Kuya P’s childhood friend, Myke Agojo!

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 037: Actor/Writer/Producer, Cori Dioquino

May 22, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 037: We welcome Actor/Writer/Producer, Cori Dioquino! “Unapologetically Asian”, Cori tells her us her unique journey as a Filipino immigrant, finding her passion with arts and entertainment, being a Teaching Artist and the 90s X-men animated series.

Interview, Podcasts

ShoPowSho Episode 036: Author/Writer, Lauren Lola

May 17, 2021 Patrick Strange

Psst. Psst. Hoy! New episode of the ShoPowSho!

Episode 036: We welcome Author/Writer and fellow member of The Nerds of Color, Lauren Lola! The Author of “A Moment’s Worth” and “An Absolute Mind” shares her unique journey of exploring her mixed FilipinX ancestry.