I wonder if JCP, as in JCPenney, is the new KFC (as in Kentucky Fried Chicken). Ever since Ron Johnson left Apple (former head of retail) to become head of “JCP,” I’ve noticed that the department store has had hipper television ads. In reality, JCP is not the new KFC, but more like the new Target – at least when it comes to pastel colors and hip music. (Before Apple, Johnson had worked at Target.)
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The recent suicide in April 2012 of 40 year old Qinggen Wang, a principal software engineer at Paypal, is driving discussions in the Chinese blogosphere about whether it’s worth it to come to the U.S. to pursue jobs, specifically ones that aren’t related to one’s passion in life.
Shopping With GASP!
The winner of the 2012 “B A Hero” Hepatitus B Public Service Ad (PSA) video contest was announced, and the above video by Isaac Mejia is the winner. The runner-up is this one by Josh Prasad, and the other finalist is this one by Holvin Louie. For those who don’t know, Hepatitis B is an incurable liver infection that affects one in ten Asian Americans and kills one out of four of those infected. It can be prevented through vaccination and avoidance of the bodily fluids of infected people. For more information, see the Hepatitis B Foundation website.
In the matter of two days, Manny Pacquiao has managed to alienate himself from significant parts of his fan base by stating some rather eyebrow-raising opinions about queer men and same-sex marriage. Firstly, he criticized President Obama’s beliefs about same-sex marriage. Next, it’s now been reported by the LA Weekly that he believes queer men should be put to death.
When I first heard that Mindy Kaling’s pilot, The Mindy Project, was picked up by Fox, I was cautiously optimistic — not because I don’t like Mindy. I mean, who DOESN’T like Mindy? She’s so girly without being SO GIRLY. She’s the gal pal that everyone wants to sit at a coffee shop with for hours and talk smack about everyone who passes by.
In any case, I was cautiously optimistic because I wanted to see her succeed — and it’s pretty difficult to get a sitcom that sticks. Plus, she has some competition with like-minded “girl” shows like The New Girl and Girls. But after watching the trailer for her new show The Mindy Project, I am more than confident that Kaling will finally step out of those supporting cast roles and into that of leading lady.
First brownie point that needs to be given out immediately with Yes, We’re Open: with a largely Asian American cast as the leads, the story has nothing to do with their ethnicity nor any cultural awkward elements that are found quite often in films like these.
Last week, President Obama delivered remarks at the 18th Annual Gala of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. I liked how Obama made some remarks about his personal connection with the Asian American community by talking about his half-sister, brother-in-law and his nieces, as well as his time growing up in Hawaii and Indonesia. Obama also makes reference to Vincent Chin’s tragic death to the Japanese internment camps.
Ah, the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival is here. It’s that one time of the year where a truck load of Asians and Asian Americans in the entertainment industry here in LA come to mingle amongst themselves for a showcase of films that they are either part of or come to watch in support of their fellow actors in the community. On opening nights especially, it would not be surprising to see well known faces like Daniel Dae Kim, Tamilyn Tomita, or a certain bum milling about named Edward Hong with his jeans and t-shirt bought from Target. For the next 10 days, I will be watching over 12 films in the next 10 days and for all of them, I will be giving a review for each and every one of them.
I openly admit I am a gangsta rap fan. So I have to constantly remind myself that there is more music out there than 2Pac, Dr. Dre, and/or Snoop Doggy Dog. One talented hapa artist I’ve been following (that isn’t a gangsta rapper) is Jessi Malay. I have been lucky enough to have gotten to know her in the last couple of years and have found her to be more than just a “pop” singer. Jessi is intelligent (way more intelligent than me), beautiful, and most of all talented.
In honor of May being Asian American Heritage Month, Comcast Cable Xfinity TV is announcing a special collection of more than 350 entertainment choices that highlight Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Says Ruben Mendiola, Comcast Vice President and General Manager of Multicultural Video Services:
“Our collection celebrates the richness of the Asian-Pacific American culture on Xfinity TV. With diverse TV line-ups and special programming, we offer the best multicultural video experience across screens and devices, and we plan to bring our customers even more choices and ways to watch in the coming year.”
Featured content includes HBO’s East of Main Street, Aoki – a chronicle of the life of Japanese American civil rights activist Richard Aoki, channels like MYX TV and Cinema Asian America on Xfinity on Demand, and slideshows and articles on Asian Pacific Americans.
Whether you like it or not, the vampire craze is still going strong and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. While Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows (which comes out on May 11th) is yet another film in the vampire genre, it was extremely surprising for me to find out that the film itself is a good return to form for the director after checking out the packed press screening on Saturday night. Not only was the film surprisingly well made, it had a great ensemble cast (Eva Green, holy moly I want to marry you, you beautiful out-of-this-world woman), great story, and a nice blend of drama and humor in a dark fashion. Definitely also check the 8Asians giveaway that we are doing for this!
For a more in-depth review on the film as well as the press junket that came the day after, follow me after the jump!
According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, May 11th is Adoption Day in South Korea.
The article interviews Jane Jeong Trenka, who was adopted from South Korea to the US. She currently works in South Korea as the president of Truth & Reconciliation for the Adoption Community of Korea (TRACK), where she envisions changing societal prejudices against single mothers raising children on their own – because 92% of adoptees from South Korea are born to single mothers, and she believes that if the government and the society can promote the rights and welfare of single mothers, there would be less pressure on them to choose adoption.
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- Asian American Commercial Watch: May Is Blooming At JCP
- Suicide Prompts Chinese To Reconsider Coming To U.S.
- Winner Of The 2012 “B A Hero” Hepatitis B PSA Video Contest
- Manny Pacquiao, Filipino Homophobia And Masculinity
- The Mindy Project Makes Mindy Kaling Even More Hilarious
- Yes, We’re Open Review & Interview From LAAPFF 2012
- President Obama At Asian Pacific American Institute For Congressional Studies Annual Gala
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APA Events
Oct 14: (Seattle, WA) From Fields to Family: Asian Pacific Americans and Food
Mar 1: (Atlanta, GA) The Art of Gaman: Arts and Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942-1946
Apr 26: (New York, NY) June 4, 1989: Media and Mobilization Beyond Tiananmen Square
Apr 26: (New York, NY) America through a Chinese Lens
Apr 27: (Seattle, WA) SEX IN SEATTLE 20: HAPPILY EVER AFTER. . . (the series finale!)
May 16: (Seattle, WA) May SpamORama
May 24: (San Jose, CA) Sake San Jose
May 24: (New York, NY) A Conversation with artists Arthur Ou, Hai Zhang, and Julie Quon in Conjunction with America through a Chinese Lens
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