Not Fade Away AC's own Ben Fong-Torres gives us a backstage look of his encounters with the likes of Janis Joplin, Sly Stone, and Tom Hanks in this personal history of Rock & Roll. Buy Now >>
FOOD & TRAVEL
Bean Curd Seaweed Wraps INGREDIENTS
16 dried black mushrooms
1/4 pound fresh bean curd sheet
1 sheet Japanese seaweed (nori)
8 canned baby corn, drained
1/4 pound Chinese ham, julienned
2 green onions, julienned
cooking oil for deep-frying
1/2 cup prepared teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons chicken broth Click for Recipe >>
SITE ANNOUNCEMENTS
In sobering news, two American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were handed harsh sentences of twelve years of hard labor this week in North Korea. Our hearts go out to their families. We hope that the U.S. government can secure a negotiated release for Laura and Euna as soon as possible.
Initially keeping a low profile for more than two months since their daughters capture, last week the families went public, on The Today Show, Larry King Live and Nightline in an effort to get them released.
Here is their interview with Larry King. Larry talks with Lisa Ling and family and friends of detained U.S. journalists held in North Korea.
On Saturday April 18, Iran convicted another American journalist Roxana Saberi of spying, sentencing her to eight years in prison after a closed, one day trial. On May 11, she was released.
The Asian American Journalists Association Reacts to News of the release of Roxana Saberi DEPARTURES is a must see film! We interviewed Director Yokiro Takita about the challenges he faced in bringing the film to the big screen. Click here to the interview!
The Newport Beach Film Festival presented an award for Outstanding Achievement in Directorial Filmmaking to Director Jun Gu for DREAM WEAVERS - BEIJING 2008 her documentary of the behind the scenes stories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The festival opened with a bang with a sold-out premiere of LYMELIFE. The opening night was held at Big Newport, which boasts one of the largest screens west of the Mississippi with more than 1,200 seats. The festival has a terrific line-up of movies with Asian talent, or Asian-themes out of its more than 400 features, shorts, documentaries and animations.
Go see DIM SUM FUNERAL when it is released in theaters. The ensemble cast includes Kelly Hu, Bai Ling, Julia Nickson who attended the screening at the Newport Beach Film Festival. Two Asian American actors have leading credits in a major Hollywood movie CRANK: HIGH VOLTAGE. Both have very different journeys in Hollywood.
Bai Ling immigrated from China to the U.S. and
Art Hsu
was born in America. Suzanne Kai interviews both about their kick-ass performances.
Congratulations to the recipients of the AALDEF JUSTICE IN ACTION awards. The recipients were honored at a Gala in New York City. Lia Chang reports.
The fight to save the Riverside, California Chinatown from vanishing under a developer bulldozer continues. A new court date is set for July 9. Check the http://SaveOurChinatown..org for updates.
Congrats also to indie film Slumdog Millionaire for taking home eight Oscars! Check out the images from the Oscars.
Some fairy tales do come true, especially for young award winning fashion designer Jason Wu! Not only was his fairy tale evening gown chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama for her inaugural balls, she graces the cover of Vogue Magazine March edition in a Jason Wu design!
We have asked AC editor Lia Chang to showcase her runway and behind the scene photos of Jason Wu and his very first collection debut at New York Fashion Week. Stay tuned!
What is in store for the Lunar Year of the Ox? Angi Ma Wong, Feng Shui consultant and best selling author shares insight into this year. She is also the author of two new books for children on President Barack Obama.
AC Team members have been busy on both coasts. Lia Chang joined an ensemble cast for a special one day performance reading of A TUNE BEYOND US or WHAT A REVOLTIN DEVELOPMENT THIS IS! Our very own Renaissance Man, Ben Fong-Torres was the co-host again of the Emmy-award winning telecast of the Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade. View samples here of some of the wonderful photographic work by our Arts & Entertainment Editor Lia Chang. She just completed a one woman show in New York City.
For the past ten years ASIANCONNECTIONS has brought to you exclusive interviews with Hollywood A list stars, Indie Filmmakers, and legendary as well as up-and-coming Asian American talent.
While actor James Hong remains pessimistic about current opportunities for Asian American actors in Hollywood, there are a few exceptions. The Clint Eastwood film Gran Torino has a strong Hmong ensemble cast.
Last year there were notable lead roles for Asian males. Kung Fu Panda (voice by James Hong playing Mr. Ping, father of Po the Chinese Panda bear played by Jack Black), The Forbidden Kingdom, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and Speed Racer. AsianConnections team talked with all of the stars!
ACs Annie Chang sat down with the hottest singing sensation from Asia RAIN, who made his American acting debut starring in Speed Racer.
Jennifer Yamato, senior editor at the rockin RottenTomatoes.com movie website, and roving Hollywood Correspondent at the 81st Academy Awards got up close and personal with The Forbidden Kingdom stars Jackie Chan, Collin Chou and Michael Angarano.
In addition, check out our podcast with none other than Jackie Chan who had everyone cracking up, plus interviews with Crystal Liu.Suzanne Kai joined their roundtable discussions in Beverly Hills.
Annie Chang brings you a podcast with John Cho and Neil Patrick Harris, stars of Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. After 17 years, CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) is still going strong. CAPE held an elegant Holiday Soiree in Hollywood. The fundraiser honored actor James Hong with a Lifetime Achievement Award. CAPE presented its New Horizons Award to actor John Cho, and its Visionary Award to Tim Kring, creator and executive producer of Heroes. ASIANCONNECTIONS.COM is celebrating ten wonderful years as the online community source for Asian American news and entertainment.
For 2009, we are excited to let you know that new upgrades are coming soon!
We are proud to continue to showcase the best of Asian America including musings from Emmy award-winners such as author and former Senior Editor of Rolling Stone magazine Ben Fong-Torres, and culinary tips from wizards such as Emmy winner and James Beard Foundation Honoree Chef Martin Yan. Congratulations again to AsianConnections team! THE LAST LINE was an Official Selection at the LONDON Sci-Fi INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL! The film won Best Documentary Short at the FAIF/INDIE FEST International Film Festival at Downtown Disney in Southern California. The documentary screened in Greek language at the Athens International Film Festival in Greece. THE LAST LINE was Directed, Produced and Shot by Suzanne Kai and Marissa Becker, and Produced by Mike Kai,and associate producers The documentary chronicles the final ten day camp-out of die hard Star Wars fans waiting to see the last Star Wars film.
CALENDAR
NOW to June 07, 2009
NEW YORK The Wild Project 195 E. 3rd St.
American Hwangap The Ma-Yi Theater Company & The Play Company present AMERICAN HWANGAP
by Lloyd Suh directed by Trip .. More Info
Thom Sesma Stars in DISNEY'S THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay Thom Sesma plays\"Scar\" in DISNEY\'S THE LION KING, currently in previews at the Mandalay Bay Theat .. More Info
Dog - 2009 Your visionary and revolutionary ideas will be overlooked this conservative year, so wait for a more opportune time like 2010 when things are more rec ...(more)