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What’s Going On? Everything, All at Once By Ben Fong-Torres

Posted by Suzanne Kai - on Sunday, 08 May 2022

What’s Going On? Everything, All at Once By Ben Fong-Torres
What’s Going On? Everything, All at Once By Ben Fong-Torres MAY 8, 2022 With “Like a Rolling Stone: The Life and Times of Ben Fong-Torres” the documentary about me, now out today and streaming merrily along on Netflix, I’m officially in the film industry.  Actually, that’s been the case since last June, when the documentary, which stole its title from a popular column at Asian Connections created by director Suzanne Joe Kai's son Mike when he was 14, premiered at the...

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American Born Chinese coming to Disney+ in 2023

Posted by Suzanne Kai on Sunday, 14 August 2022

American Born Chinese coming to Disney+ in 2023

"American Born Chinese", an exciting, groundbreaking series is slated to premiere in 2023. The Disney+ series was introduced to the Asian American Journalists Association's National Convention this summer. The convention was attended by more than 1,500 journalists from all over the world. 

The Disney+ series is based on Gene Luen Yang's award-winning graphic novel. The main character, Jin Wang, played by actor Ben Wang, navigates supernatural action-comedy adventures between his immigrant family life and teenage life at school. His journey is propelled into a realm of Chinese mythological gods and creatures when he meets a new foreign exchange student.

Cast announcements include Ben Wang (MacGyver), Michelle Yeoh (Everything Everywhere All at Once/Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), and Poppy Liu (Better Call Saul). This Disney cast will be directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, who also helmed Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. 

Janet Yang is Elected President of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

Posted by Suzanne Kai on Sunday, 09 October 2022

Janet Yang is Elected President of Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences

August 2, 2022

Hollywood

by Suzanne Joe Kai

 

Janet Yang has been elected President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences by its Board of Governors!

This is an epic, historic moment recognizing the first Asian American to become President of the Academy in its 95 year history.

She is only the second person of color and the fourth female elected as the Academy's President. 

Ms. Yang began her first term as president August 2, 2022, and continues in her second term as a Govenor-at-Large of the Academy.

From Oscars.org is this statement by Academy CEO Bill Kramer: 

“Janet is a tremendously dedicated and strategic leader who has an incredible record of service at the Academy. 

She has been instrumental in launching and elevating several Academy initiatives on membership recruitment, governance, and equity, diversity, and inclusion.”  

“I am thrilled that she is taking on the esteemed role of Academy President and look forward to working closely with her on our shared vision to serve our membership, celebrate the collaborative arts and sciences of motion pictures, and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.”

2022-2021-2020-2019 - New Diversity Rules for Oscars

Posted by AC Team on Monday, 07 February 2022

2022-2021-2020-2019 - New Diversity Rules for Oscars

February 7, 2022

Hollywood

by Suzanne Joe Kai

Progress continues with our society's push for more "diversity, equity and inclusion." 

If you search online for the term Diversity, Equity and Inclusion you will find the term "DEI" is now a standard term. 

Its on many people's drawing boards in corporate America, and most importantly in Hollywood on how mainstream media, movies, and TV shows are made.

If filmmakers aspire to win awards at the Oscar level, the Academy now has guidelines on "DEI", and in recent years has initiated its own initiative called "Academy Aperture 2025" with the goal that Oscars.org released in this statement on September 8, 2020: 

“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them. 

The Academy is committed to playing a vital role in helping make this a reality,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson.  

“We believe these inclusion standards will be a catalyst for long-lasting, essential change in our industry.”

Here are some resources we've been writing about, and also from other outlets:

July 1, 2021 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Invites 395 Members for 2021. https://asianconnections.com/arts-and-entertainment/item/the-ampas-2021-class-of-invitees-continues-to-be-more-inclusive

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Simu Lui - First Asian Star of a Marvel Studios Movie! SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

Posted by AC Team on Monday, 06 September 2021

Simu Lui - First Asian Star of a Marvel Studios Movie! SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

September 6, 2021

Los Angeles

by Suzanne Joe Kai

 

I invited a friend to join me to see SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, the Marvel Studios movie directed by Destin Daniel Cretton on its opening weekend.

Like many Asian Americans I know, we are starved with the lack of faces who look like us in mainstream movies. 

We were not disappointed. In fact, the lead actor, Simu Liu, the first Asian to star in a Marvel Studios movie looked, talked, and acted just like an Asian American born and raised in the U.S. In fact, even though Simu sounded and acted just like one of us born in America, he was raised in Canada, and born in Harbin, China. He has succeeded in breaking through all boundaries in reaching North American audiences.  

The ensemble cast was also terrific. Tony Leung, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Tsai Chin, Fala Chen, Meng'er Zhang, Ronny Chieng, the whole cast was great - listed here on IMDB.   

The box office gross for SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS opened strong.

Associated Press reported forecasts predicting a $50 million box office estimate over the Labor Day weekend taking into account that we are in a Covid-19 pandemic.

Instead it smashed that forecast reporting an estimated $71.4 Million in ticket sales. 

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences 2021 Class of Invitees Continues to be more Inclusive

Posted by Suzanne Kai on Friday, 02 July 2021

Los Angeles 

July 1, 2021

by Suzanne Joe Kai

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Invites 395 Members for 2021. The push for more diversity continues. 

The 2021 class is comprised of 46% women, 39% underrepresented ethnic/racial communities and 53% from 49 countries outside the United States. Here is a download of the list of the invitees from the Academy https://oscars.org/newmembers2021/

Among the invited include Walt Disney CEOBob Chapek a longtime Disney executive who was named CEO of the Walt Disney Company replacing Bob Iger who will remain as executive Chairman until the end of 2021.

Invitees include actors Henry Golding (Still Image on left from Warner Bros "Crazy Rich Asians“), and Steven Yeun,“Minari,” “Burning,” and director Cathy Yan, “Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” “Dead Pigs.”

Membership selection decisions are based on professional qualifications, with representation, inclusion and equity remaining a priority as part of its initiative, Academy Aperture 2025.

On September 8, 2020, Oscars.org released this statement: 

“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them.

The Academy is committed to playing a vital role in helping make this a reality,” said Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson. 

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