September 16, 2018
Hollywood
At a recent screening of the box office hit Crazy Rich Asians, sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association, I sat next to actor Tim Lounibos. It was truly a landmark film - actors who look like us! After 25 years of a drought of Hollywood films featuring Asian Americans - could this be a moment of change? If $100+million dollar box office clout proves that Asian faces can sell movie tickets, let's hope this continues.
We asked Tim for his commentary on this moment in time. - Suzanne Joe Kai
It’s an amazing time
The past several weeks have been absolutely amazing for the Asian American entertainment industry. Crazy Rich Asians blew past $100 million at the box office in less than three weeks, becoming the most successful rom-com in almost a decade on its way to surely cracking the top ten all-time list for that genre.
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a huge success on Netflix to the point where it has actually raised the popularity of the Japanese yogurt drink Yakult and the stock value of the company who produces it.
Searching had the second highest per-screen box office average in its opening week, trailing only CRA, and more than doubled its distributor’s box office expectations.
As a result, Hollywood has begun greenlighting Asian American projects left and right, and is being more inclusive in casting Asian American actors in general. It’s an amazing...
Tomb Raider 2's Terence Yin chats with Steven Joe.
Just a few years ago Terence Yin was a UC Berkeley student aspiring to become a medical consultant. Terence is now a Hong Kong movie star and a singer with 19 films, two TV dramas and a supporting role in Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life.
AsianConnections Steve Joe caught up with Terence, as well as Hong Kong's legendary actor Simon Yam, and star Angelina Jolie at the movie's world premiere. Click here for red carpet coverage in Hollywood by AsianConnections' Steve Joe, Marissa Becker and Mike Kai.
Steve talked with both Terence and Simon in exclusive interviews.
Click here to Steve's chat with Simon Yam
and read right here for his conversation with Terence.
Studio cameras also captured Angelina talking about the Asian influences in her life
The Paramount Pictures movie starring Angelina Jolie and Gerard Butler is the sequel to the hit Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Directed by Jan de Bont.
Steve: Terence, you come from an acting background. Can you tell us about it, and how it has influenced you?
Terence: Both my parents were actors. My mom was a famous actress in Hong Kong. My father was a famous director and actor. The fact that they were in the business never really influenced my childhood that much, basically I grew up in LA.
But, I guess in the end, it influenced me quite a bit. Because when I went back to Hong Kong to work over the summer, I met one of their friends, who is my manager now, Willie Chen. He is...
Berkeley vs Stanford, USC vs UCLA, ahhh those rivalries!
This time Harvard gets Punk'd on its own home turf at its big game against Yale and AsianConnections' very own Mike Kai and classmate Dave Aulicino lead the merry pranksters.
Berkeley vs Stanford, USC vs UCLA, Arizona State vs University of Arizona - ahhh those rivalries!
This time Harvard gets Punk'd on its own home turf at its big game against Yale and AsianConnections' very own Mike Kai and classmate Dave Aulicino lead the pranksters to victory.
And if you haven't heard yet about the prank which has been covered in the news media around the world, including MSNBC''s Countdown, the Jimmy Kimmel TV Show, and Asian and European press, here are a few links:
Check out www.HarvardSucks.org for the video, the song, and the message board.
32nd Annual Lunar New Year Gala honoring Katrina vanden Heuvel, Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., and Ivan K. Fong, 2006 AALDEF Justice in Action Award recipients.
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) honors Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor of The Nation magazine, Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Harvard Law School Professor, and Ivan K. Fong, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Cardinal Health, with AALDEF Justice in Action Awards at its annual Lunar New Year Gala on Thursday, February 2, 2006 at PIER SIXTY in New York City.
The Justice in Action Award is AALDEFs highest recognition of individuals who have paved the way for racial justice and equality for Asian Americans. Past recipients have included the late civil rights hero Fred Korematsu, filmmaker Mira Nair, attorney Alice Young, and playwright David Henry Hwang.
Proceeds from the gala benefit AALDEF's legal and educational programs in the areas of immigrant rights, economic justice for workers, voting rights and civic participation, affirmative action, language access to services, youth rights and educational equality, and the elimination of hate violence and police misconduct.
For ticket and RSVP info contact Lillian Ling, (212) 966-5932 ext. 202 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloak643835dd9a03779acfaf35852e37eeb4').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var...
Sam Chu Lin, Asian American Broadcast Pioneer, Dies
He was an Asian American face on broadcast news decades before it was en vogue, a tireless journalist dedicated to getting Asian American stories broadcast, and a multi-dimensional newsman without peer.
On Sunday, March 5, 2006, the unmistakable voice went silent, as Asian American broadcast pioneer Sam Chu Lin died suddenly in Burbank, Calif. He was 67.
"Its quite a shock for everyone," said his widow Judy.
From coast to coast, news of Chu Lin's unexpected death sent shockwaves.
Both U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and Congressman Mike Honda (D-San Jose) called Chu Lin a journalism pioneer.
"Throughout his career, Sam stood strong against discrimination and helped break down negative stereotypes, all the while conducting himself with a great amount of integrity, credibility, and enthusiasm," said Mineta, a former San Jose congressman and mayor, in a statement.
"Sam was proud of his Chinese American heritage. He wasn't shy about using his roots to make the entire Asian American community, and indeed the world, a better place," Mineta added. "And today thanks in part to Sam, doors and minds that were once shut to Asian Americans are now open and accepting."
Mineta went on to call Chu Lin a "committed journalist and consummate professional."
"And he was a kind, loyal, and generous person," Mineta added. "He is someone whom I was lucky to call a peer, but even more blessed to call a friend."
Chu Lin wrote...