Animation, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

Directors Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford on the Filipino Roots of ‘Forgotten Island’

March 30, 2026 Mike Manalo

What a week it has been for Filipino representation! Last Wednesday, we got our first glimpse of Dreamworks Animation’s Forgotten Island. On Friday, we unveiled our intimate interview with superstars H.E.R and Liza Soberano. And today, we’re continuing the streak with our conversation with the directors of Forgotten Island and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Januel Mercado and Joel Crawford!

Animation, Interview, MoviesLeave a comment

Feeling the Filipino Pride with H.E.R and Liza Soberano from ‘Forgotten Island’

March 27, 2026 Mike Manalo

This week, Dreamworks Animation and Universal dropped a historic trailer for Filipino film fans everywhere. They revealed the first official look at their latest feature, Forgotten Island; Hollywood’s first Filipino-centric animated feature.

Animation, Movies2 Comments

How Dreamworks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ Fosters Filipino Culture and Folklore

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 Mike Manalo

I am a proud Filipino American nerd. As such, I grew up here in the US searching for, but never quite finding, mainstream Hollywood movies that propelled the voice of the Filipino community strongly.

Animation, Books, Interview

Randy Ribay on Returning to Write the Last of the ‘Roku’ Duology

December 30, 2025December 30, 2025 Lauren Lola

Avatar Roku is back in The Awakening of Roku. It is the latter half of his respective duology, as part of the Chronicles of the Avatar series — the young adult fiction series set within the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender.

Interview, Television, Theatre

‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Star Vincent Rodriguez III is First Talent to Sign with Tremendous

November 4, 2025 Rissa Lavilla

Tremendous has a mission to help spotlight marginalized voices in media and entertainment from AAPI and LGBTQ+ to other multi-cultural audiences and beyond. In the dynamic landscape of media and entertainment, the company stand’s as a beacon of authenticity, passionately advocating for truthful representation on and off the screen.

Animation, Crowdfunding, Movies

Reflections on Watching Shorts at the Hawai’i International Film Festival as a New Filmmaker

October 24, 2025October 22, 2025 Lauren Lola

I’ve been covering the Hawai’i International Film Festival (HIFF) for several years for The Nerds of Color, yet haven’t attended its festival in-person since 2019. When I obtained many ticket vouchers from serving on the screening committee for its 45^th iteration, I realized before me I had a really good excuse to actually travel back to Honolulu this year to attend it. Little did I expect at the time of starting in the committee back in March that by the time I flew out to O’ahu, I would also be attending this year’s festival as a new filmmaker.

Animation, Opinion, Television

Recasting Zuko for ‘The Legend of Aang’ is Unnecessary at Best, Tasteless at Worst

August 6, 2025August 5, 2025 Lauren Lola

It’s the 20th anniversary year for Avatar: The Last Airbender, and both fans as well as the cast and creators of the show came together to celebrate at the most recent San Diego Comic-Con. From an anniversary panel to announcements about what’s to come in the future for the franchise, there was a lot to go around.

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!

Music, Reviews

Filipino American Rock Collective No Sisig, No Rakenrol Launches 2025 Show

January 17, 2025 Amanda L. Andrei

No Sisig, No Rakenrol, a new creative collective for original Filipino American rock music, debuted its 2025 show this January 3 at the Redwood Bar and Grill in Downtown L.A. The lineup featured four acts: the Mellow Dees, Mrfy’s Law, ZOS!MO, and DemiVoix.

Animation, Books, Interview

Randy Ribay on ‘Avatar’ Fandom and Writing for Roku

July 22, 2024July 19, 2024 Lauren Lola

Chronicles of the Avatar is back! The young adult fiction series set within the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is about to drop its fifth installment, centered on a new Avatar, penned by a new writer.

Movies, Streaming

NOC Exclusive: Trailer & Key Art for ARRAY’S ‘WHO WE BECOME’

November 22, 2023December 1, 2023 Laura Sirikul

The past three years have been a troubling time for people. With the pandemic and the murder and hate crimes against Black and Asian Americans, it can make or break you as a human being.

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.

Animation, Interview1 Comment

Michaela Ternasky-Holland on Combining Grief and Philippine Mythology in ‘Mahal’

June 12, 2023June 12, 2023 Melissa Slaughter

Michaela Ternasky-Holland is named for her father, Michael Anthony Ternasky. It’s one of many connection they share, a connections that was cut short when her father died in a car accident when she was young.

Interview, Movies

Matthew Libatique on Capturing the Nightmare of ‘Don’t Worry Darling’

September 23, 2022September 23, 2022 Mike Manalo

Today, after many weeks of drama, Don’t Worry Darling, the anticipated sophomore film for director Olivia Wilde is finally hitting theaters. And while the film itself is getting something of a mixed reaction, the one thing many can agree on is that the visuals are terrific. And part of that is the vision of Oscar-nominated, Filipino American cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

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.

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.

Interview, Music

Super Smack is Ready to Smash Stereotypes and the Industry with New EP

October 1, 2021October 1, 2021 Bray Lawrence

Super Smack is a Filipino American rapper that has been leveling up in the music game ever since his first ep, Neon Red, hit streaming services. With a unique blend of gaming culture, anime references, good vibes, and a message for change, Super Smack’s pens music that blend pop and rap in ways that make the nerd in any of us step on the dance floor.

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.

Horror, Sci Fi, Television

Jacob Batalon to Star in SYFY’s ‘Reginald the Vampire’

August 5, 2021September 30, 2021 Mike Manalo

Our favorite web-slinger guy in the chair is making his way into the world of vampires! Jacob Batalon, a fellow Filipino brother from another mother, has nabbed the lead role in a SYFY Channel original series called Reginald the Vampire.

Movies4 Comments

The ‘Heights’ of Anxiety and the Color Line: Racial Ambiguity in a Culture of Absolutes

July 9, 2021 Lara Stapleton

I once heard the great political philosopher and activist Angela Davis argue that Americans are so obsessed with race as an identifying feature that when we meet racially ambiguous people, we are anxious until we know on which side of the color line they fall. Upon hearing this, I was relieved by the articulation of something I had suspected was at the heart of my experience. It was like experiencing great art, that rush of adrenaline that comes with recognizing what we’ve known all along presented as fantastically new.