PARASITE ATTACKS THE OSCARS

South Korean Film “Parasite” ruled the Academy Awards last night winning the top 4 categories out of their 6 nominations. The Bong Joon-ho film was awarded the Oscar for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film and Best Picture breaking numerous records including being the first movie to win both Foreign Language film and Best Picture, the first Oscar wins for South Korea and the first non-English speaking film to win the highly coveted Best Picture honor.

During Bong Joon-ho’s Best Director acceptance speech he also gave thanks to his fellow nominees.

Thank you so much. When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is that "The most personal is the most creative."

That quote is from our great Martin Scorsese. When I was in school, I studied Martin Scorsese's films. Just to be nominated was a huge honor. I never thought I would win.

When people in the U.S. were not familiar with my films, Quentin [Tarantino] always put my films on his list. He's here, thank you so much. Quentin, I love you.

And Todd [Phillips] and Sam [Mendes], great directors that I admire. If the Academy allows, I would like to get a Texas chainsaw, split the award into five and share it with all of you.

Thank you. I will drink until next morning, thank you.

Earlier this year, it was announced that HBO was interested in creating a Limited TV Series based on the film. For now, Parasite is out in theaters, and available on VOD.

Taika Waititi also took home an Academy Award for writing the script for “Jojo Rabbit” in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. During his acceptance speech, he thanked his mother for  giving him the book which he adapted. This was Waititi’s first Oscar win and third nomination.

THE FAREWELL WINS BIG AT THE FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS

Lulu Wang’s film “The Farewell” received the top award at this year’s Film Independent Spirit Awards, winning Best Feature. During Wang’s acceptance speech, she thanked her grandmother who inspired the film and stated that there are plenty of female filmmakers and although there are programs and encouragement, that is not enough.

“There has been a lot of conversation this year about how to encourage more women to be in film or get more women into the conversation. I just have to say, you don’t have to encourage women, there are lots of women making films and who want to make films and who are in film school. And so shadowing is great, programs are great but really what women need is just the job. Give them the freaking job. Give them the money…”

Actress Zhao Shuzhen who played Nai Nai in “The Farewell” won the award for Best Supporting Female Actress. Unfortunately Shuzhen was not available to accept her award because she was not able to leave her home in China due to the Coronavirus. Lulu Wang accepted her award on her behalf.

Best International Film at the Film Independent Spirit Awards was given to Parasite.

BONG JOON-HO 'S PARASITE RECEIVES 6 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

Bong Joon-ho and his film “Parasite” continues to make history - this time, for the Academy Awards. Bong Joon-ho became the first director from Korea to be recognized by the Oscars. “Parasite” received 6 nominations which include – Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Film Editing, Production Design, and International Film (previously referred to as Foreign Language Film).

The 2019 Cannes Palm d’Or winner has made over $130 million dollars worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo and has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating as well as an audience score of 93%.  

Earlier this month, news broke that HBO was interested in creating a Limited TV Series based on the film. Bong Joon-ho will be working with Adam McKay (Succession) on the special. However, no specific plot details have been released.

“Parasite” follows the lives of two Korean families: the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim family. When a rare opportunity is presented to the Kims, the two families become entangled creating a thrilling story of greed, revenge and shock.

AWKWAFINA AND PARASITE MAKE GOLDEN GLOBES HISTORY

Awkwafina made history at the Golden Globes when she was honored for her role in “The Farewell”. Her win made her the first actress of Asian descent to take home the award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

The other actresses competing in her category included Beanie Feldstein, Emma Thompson, Ana de Armas and Cate Blanchett. During her acceptance speech, Awkwafina jokingly said, “If I fall upon hard times, we can sell this, so that’s good.” In addition to thanking Zhao Shuzhen who played her grandmother in “The Farewell,” she also expressed her sincerest gratitude to Director Lulu Wang for giving her the chance of a lifetime. Awkwafina, whose birth name is Nora Lum dedicated her Golden Globe award to her father Wally.

“I’d like to dedicate this to my dad, Wally. I told you I’d get a job, Dad. And to my grandma, my best friend, the woman who raised me. And to my mother, Tia, who I always hoped was watching from somewhere above, and I hope that she’s watching me now.”

There have only been 5 women of Asian descent who have been nominated in the category: Machiko Kyoin, Miyoshi Umeki, Yvonne Elliman, Hailee Steinfeld and Constance Wu.

Kinocine PARKJEAHWAN4wiki [CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)]

Also making history at the Golden Globes was the film, “Parasite” which won for Best Foreign Language Film. Bong Joon-ho’s movie was the first South Korean movie to win at the awards show. During his acceptance speech, Bong Joon-ho stated, “once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

Diane Paragas' film Yellow Rose is picked up by Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions

According to Deadline, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions has acquired all worldwide rights (excluding the Philippines – which will be released in theaters by ABS-CBN) to Diane Paragas’ film, Yellow Rose.

Directed by Paragas, Yellow Rose follows the story of Rose, a Filipina teen from a small town in Texas struggling to pursue her dreams of being a country singer while also facing the threat of deportation. Broadway star and multiple Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada plays the role of Rose. Joining Noblezada is Tony Award winning actress Lea Salonga, Gustavo Gomez, Dale Watson and Princess Punzalan.

Below is part one of my interview with filmmaker Diane Paragas, Producer Cecilia Mejia and actress Princess Punzalan from earlier this year when the film made it’s premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Filipino: A PSA by Charlene deGuzman

Charlene deGuzman just released a PSA (Public Service Announcement) titles Filipino: A PSA in celebration of Filipino American History Month. deGuzman, who gained popularity over her youtube video “I Forgot My Phone”, wrote, directed and produced the PSA. Filipino: A PSA includes appearances by Filipino American actors including Vincent Rodriguez III, Ginger Gonzaga, Tess Paras, Jason Rogel, and Eugene Cordero as they give us a brief history of the Philippines as well as spotlighting other Filipinos in the entertainment industry.

SPECIAL SCREENING OF "THE FAREWELL" STARRING AWKWAFINA & TZI MA

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival just added a special screening of the Awkwafina and Tzi Ma starring film, The Farewell. The Sundance hit directed by Lulu Wang follows the account of Wang’s own life which was previously featured in NPR’s This American Life.

The Farewell tells the story of New Yorker Billi (Awkwafina), who emigrated from China to the US with her parents when she was a young child. Now years older, she discovers that her grandmother, Nai Nai, who still resides in China, is dying from cancer. Her family decides to conceal the truth from her grandmother and instead, create a plan to have an impromptu wedding as a cover for them to say their “final” goodbyes to their Nai Nai.

The LAAPFF special screening of The Farewell will take place at 7:30pm, Wednesday, May 8 at the Regal LA Live: A Barco Innocation Center. For tickets and more information, you can head to https://festival.vcmedia.org/2019/

The Farewell is scheduled to hit theaters July 12.

LUCY LIU RECEIVES A STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Lucy Liu received a star on Hollywood today, making her the second Asian American woman to receive a Walk of Fame star (and the 11th Asian American person). The first Asian American woman who received this recognition was actress Anna May Wong, when she was inducted in 1960.

“We are excited to honor Lucy Liu, and we placed her star next to the star of Anna May Wong, the first Chinese American actress to grace Hollywood’s film screens,” said Hollywood Walk of Fame producer Ana Martinez in a press release.

Liu’s Charlie’s Angels costars Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Demi Moore showed their support at the ceremony. Moore and Rhea Perlman also went up on stage to share their own special memories of Liu.  

During Liu’s speech, she thanked her parents for immigrating from China and for overcoming all the obstacles and roadblocks that came their way. She mentioned her gratitude to her brother who let her stay in his apartment, taking over the bunk bed while he slept on the floor.

And she did not stop there. In regards to diversity, Liu stated, “I was lucky that trailblazers like Anna May Wong and Bruce Lee came before me. If my body of work somehow helped bridge the gap between stereotypical roles first given to Anna May and mainstream success today, I am thrilled to have been part of that process.”

She also acknowledged TV Producer and Writer, David E Kelly who hired her to play Ling Woo on Ally McBeal.

“At the time I started on Ally McBeal, it was rare to get a glimpse of any diversity on the screen. David Kelly who is here today took a risk by creating Ling Woo and helped break the glass ceiling. David, thank you for taking a chance on me” Liu said.

You can watch the entire ceremony below:

FILIPINO FILMMAKER MAKES HISTORY AT LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL

Diane Paragas and her film, Yellow Rose, will make history at this year’s 35th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, making her the first Filipina American Filmmaker to open the festival.  

Directed and written by Diane Paragas, the American movie musical follows the story of Rose, played by Tony award nominee Eva Noblezada, a 17 year old girl who tries to fulfill her dream of becoming a country music star all while facing the threat of deportation. Joining Noblezada is Broadway star and Tony Award winner, Lea Salonga who plays Rose’s aunt. Rounding out the cast is Dale Watson, Liam Booth, Gustavo Gomez, Libby Villari and Princess Punzalan.

“I am so humbled that our film has been chosen for this honor.” Paragas told Deadline.com

Paragas also stated that Yellow Rose has taken over 15 years to make and “it couldn’t come at a more important time when anti-immigrant sentiment is at an all-time high. This is a story for everyone facing challenges in finding their voice, their dreams and, more importantly, their home.”

Francis Cullado, the Executive Director of Visual Communications expressed their excitement in showcasing Diane Paragas as the first ever Filipina American Opning Night presentation, saying

“We feel that Yellow Rose’s themes stemming from our collective experiences of what defines American can create cultural cross-connections throughout our diverse communities.”

The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will run from May 2nd to May 10th. For more information, you can head to https://vcmedia.org/festival

THE EMPEROR OF MALIBU TO STAR KEN JEONG AND DEBORAH S. CRAIG

Ken Jeong and Deborah S. Craig will star in the CBS comedy pilot, The Emperor of Malibu. Jeong will play Gerry, a Chinese billionaire who is shocked to find out that his son, Auggie, has been secretly dating an American (Kate), for two years and is now engaged. Gerry decides to move his whole family to Los Angeles in hopes of persuading his son to re-think his engagement.

Deborah S. Craig, who is known for her work in NBC’s The Blacklist, will also join the cast playing the role of Shiatzy, Jeong’s wife. She is described as “a terrifying force of nature…sophisticated, a little eccentric and strong-willed.” Shiatzy is upset that Auggie has chosen his wife without her help and tries her best to keep Kate away from Auggie.

The Emperor of Malibu is written by Kevin Kwan (author of Crazy Rich Asians trilogy) and David Sangalli.

MARVEL STUDIOS MOVIE SHANG-CHI HIRES A DIRECTOR

Marvel Studios has signed on filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton to direct their upcoming film Shang-Chi.

In the comic books, Shang-Chi is born in China to a Chinese father and white American mother. His father, the villainous Fu Manchu, teaches him martial arts. and Shang-Chi becomes a hero after rebelling against his father’s ways.

Although no casting news have been announced, Marvel Studios has mentioned that Shang-Chi will be their first project featuring an Asian lead and mostly Asian and Asian American cast. Shang-Chi will be penned by Chinese American Dave Callaham whose recent works include co-writing with Patty Jenkins and Geoff Johns in the upcoming DC Warner Bros sequel, Wonder Woman 1984 and Sony’s animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse 2.

Cretton, who was born and raised in Hawaii, is currently directing Just Mercy, a film he wrote, based on the memoir of Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson. The movie stars Michael B. Jordan and reunites him with actress Brie Laron who starred in his film, Short Term 12.

MINDY KALING'S "LATE NIGHT" TRAILER RELEASED

The official trailer for Mindy Kaling’s feature film, Late Night, has just been released.

Kaling serves as producer and writer of the film and stars alongside Emma Thompson who plays a talk show host on the verge of losing her show. Thompson hires a female writer, played by Kaling, to help revamp her program. Late Night also stars Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Ike Barinholtz and Dennis O’Hare and is directed by Nisha Ganatra.

After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, Amazon Studios bought the US distribution rights for the film for $13 million. According to Deadline, the deal was made after an all-night bidding battle and became the largest deal for a US only distribution at Sundance.

Late Night is scheduled to hit theaters on June 7th.

FREE SOLO WINS OSCAR FOR BEST DOCUMENTARY

Free Solo took home an Oscar for Best Documentary at the 91st Annual Academy Awards this past Sunday, February 24, 2019. Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the husband and wife team who directed the film, clearly looked shocked as they accepted the award.  

During their acceptance speech, Chai Vasarhelyi said, “this film is for everyone who believes in the impossible.”

Free Solo follows rock climber Alex Honnold’s attempt to climb Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan without the use of ropes.

DOMEE SHI AND BECKY NEIMAN COBB RECEIVE AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR BAO

First time Academy Award nominees Domee Shi and Becky Neiman-Cobb won an Oscar for Best Animated Short for their film, Bao. The short was inspired by Shi’s relationship with her own mother. During her acceptance speech, she Shi inspired others by saying,

“To all the nerdy girls out there who hide behind their sketch book, don’t be afraid to tell your stories to the world. You’re going to freak people out, but you’ll probably connect with them too, and that’s an amazing feeling to have.”

FIL-AM BOBBY RUBIO AMONG FILMMAKERS WHO ARE PART OF PIXAR'S SPARKSSHORTS PROGRAM

Filipino American filmmaker Bobby Rubio confirmed on his social media accounts that he will be writing and directing a short film titled “Float” as part of Disney-Pixar’s Sparksshorts program which is described as “an experimental storytelling initiative that welcomes new creative voices at Pixar Animation Studios to share their stories.”

“Float” follows the story of a father, who upon discovering that his son floats, decides to hide him from the outside world to keep him safe from the judgement. But when the public learns of his son’s ability, the father must decide to either run, hide, or accept his son as he is.

In response to a tweet, Rubio acknowledged that the characters in his film are indeed Filipino.

He also stated “I am proud to tell our stories. I know what it means to see our culture represented on screen! #RepresentationMatters.”

“Wind” by Edwin Chang (Pixar)

Joining Rubio in the Sparkshorts program is Edwin Chang and his short “Wind” which is described as a “magical realism story about a Grandma and a Grandson trapped in a massive, never ending sinkhole, living on a large boulder suspended by strong winds. Together they scavenge falling debris to build an escape, hoping to find a better life in the outside world.”

“Kitbull” by Rosana Sullivan (Pixar)

Filmmaker Rosana Sullivan whose maternal family is from Malaysia where several of her stories are inspired from, will also join Chang and Rubio with her short “Kitbull” which tells the story of an unlikely relationship between a stray kitten and pitbull.    

Other shorts joining the program include “Purl” written/directed by Kristen Lester, “Loop”, written/directed by Erica Milsom, and “Smash and Grab” written/directed by BrianLarsen.

Jim Morris, the President of Pixar Animation Studios said in a statement,

“The Sparkshorts program is designed to discover new storytellers, explore new storytelling techniques, and experiment with new production workflows. These films are unlike anything we’ve ever done at Pixar, providing an opportunity to unlock the potential of individual artists and their inventive filmmaking approaches on a smaller scale than our normal fare.”

“Kibtull,””Smash and Grab” and “Purl” will premiere at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood starting on January 18th for an exclusive one-week run. They will then be available on YouTube next month – “Purl” (Feb 4th), “Smash and Grab” (Feb 11), and “Kitbull” (Feb 18).

The rest of the films have no release dates yet.

All of the Sparkshorts selected shorts will be available on Disney+, the upcoming Disney streaming service which is scheduled to launch later this year.

Asian Representation - 2019 Golden Globe Nominations

The 2019 Golden Globe nominations were announced live this morning from the Beverly Hilton Hotel. As expected, Sandra Oh received a Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama nomination for her role in Killing Eve.  It’s been a wonderful 2018 for the actress who made history this year as the “first woman of Asian descent to be nominated for best lead actress in a drama series” for her work on the BBC America show Killing Eve. Previously, Oh received 5 Emmy nominations for best supporting actress in a drama series while playing Dr. Cristina Yang on ABC’s hit drama Grey’s Anatomy. She will also co-host the 2019 Golden Globes with comedian and Brooklyn Nine-Nine’s Andy Samberg.

Filipino American Singer and Emmy winning actor Darren Criss also received a (Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television) nomination for his role as Andrew Cunanan in The Assasination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. The FX Show also received a nomination for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television and will be going up against TNT’s The Alienist, Showtime’s Escape at Dannemora, HBO’s Sharp Objects and Amazon’s A Very English Scandal. Criss’ costars Penelope Cruz and Edgar Ramirez were also recognized for their work.

NBC’s The Good Place which stars Kristin Bell, Ted Danson, Jameela Jamil and Filipino born Canadian actor Manny Jacinto also received a nomination for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

On the big screen, the blockbuster hit Crazy Rich Asians received a Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy nod with Constance Wu also being recognized with a Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy nomination for her lead role in the film.

The animated movie Mirai was honored with a Best Motion Picture - Animated nomination. Mirai tells the story of a boy who runs away from home because he feels forgotten when his little sister Mirai joins his family. He encounters an enchanted garden where he meets a teenage Mirai and they enter a world of wonder, meeting characters from their past and future as they uncover their beautiful family’s story. Featuring the voices of John Cho and Daniel Dae Kim, Mirai is the 10th highest grossing Japanese film in 2018 (according to Wikipedia).

Another Japanese film, Shoplifters also received a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Foreign Language. According to Wikipedia, Shoplifters is the 4th highest grossing Japanese film of 2018. Upon receiving the Golden Globe nomination, Director Hirokazu Kore-eda said, “Thanks to many people’s help, Shoplifters has spread its wings farther and farther since the Cannes Film Festival in May. As it is my first nomination for Golden Globe Awards, I am looking forward to being a part of this new experience. My thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press.”

Shoplifters won the Palm d’Or at the 2018 Cannes International Film Festival.

Filipino American Cinematographer and Academy Award nominee Matthew Libatique was the man behind the camera lens for A Star Is Born which received a nomination for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Libatique also made a couple of cameos in the film. In addition, Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper received nominations for Best Actress and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. Cooper also received a Best Director – Motion Picture for the project.  

The 2019 Golden Globes will air live on NBC Sunday, January 6th.

For a complete list of the nominees, you can click here

FINE CUT FILM FESTIVAL OF FILMS

The 16 Finalists from the FINE CUT Festival of Films will be part of a series of half hour broadcast episodes on KCET. The selected short films will start airing on Wednesday September 26th at 9pm with many of the movies available for streaming at www.kcet.org/finecut. In addition to being accessible for viewing, audiences can also take part in the Viewer’s Choice Competition by voting online. The winner of the Viewer’s Choice category will win a production package prize worth over $20,000. Viewers can vote online, once a day, during and up to one week after the broadcast date of the films.

Over 300 short films (under 25minutes long) were submitted by filmmakers enrolled in 54 Southern California schools and were entered in one of three categories which include Documentary, Narrative Short and Animation. The winners in each category will be awarded an opportunity to be part of the American Pavilion screening at the Cannes International Film Festival in May 2019. In addition, the winner of the Jack Larson Student Filmmaker Award film will also be part of the screening.

Nineteen years ago, FINE CUT founder Jack Larson approached KCET with the idea of creating a student film series that would provide as a platform for students to showcase their films on television.  

The Finalists include:

*Al Imam (USC) Documentary, directed by Omar Al Dakheel

*Candy Crushed (California Institute of the Arts) Animation, directed by Chloe Hsu

*Deviant (San Diego State University) Narrative, directed by Benjamin Howard

*Dumpling (California Institute of the Arts) Animation, directed by Siti Lu

*General Dupont in General Dupont Doing Laundry (UCLA) Animation, directed by Kim Nguyen

*If You Want Out (San Digo State University) Documentary, directed by Mark Ledbetter

*Kip (Biola University) Documentary, directed by Nicholas Moyer & Nate Norell

*Labor (UCLA) Narrative, directed by Cecilla Albertnini

*On Time (USC) Narrative, directed by Xavier Neal-Burgin

*One Small Step (USC) Narrative, directed by Aqsa Altaf

*Raccoon and the Light (California Institute of the Arts) Animation, directed by Hanna Kim

*Serial Killer Superstar (USC) Narrative, directed by Joseph Picozzi

*Where I Was Born (California Institute of the Arts) Animation, directed by Jungmin Cha

American Pavilion Selections (AP)

*Guns Found Here (Emerging Filmmaker) won AP “Best Emerging Documentary 2018, Documentary, directed by David Freid

*My Mom and the Girl (Emerging Filmmaker) AP “Emerging Filmmaker LGBTQ Showcase - Honorable Mention 2017, Narrative, directed by Susie Singer Carter

*Night Call (Chapman University) won AP “Best Student Film 2018”, Narrative, directed by Amanda Renee Knox

"CALL HER GANDA" IN SELECT THEATERS

Director PJ Raval’s documentary “Call Her Ganda” will be released in select theaters in Los Angeles on September 28 and in San Francisco on October 5th, followed by a national release through Breaking Glass Pictures.

The documentary is centered on Jennifer Laude, a 26 year old transgender and alleged sex worker who was found dead with her head plunged into a motel room toilet. Joseph Scott Pemberton, a 19 year old U.S. Marine was identified as the suspect. While on “liberty leave” Pemberton approaches Jennifer at a club and after discovering that Jennifer is a transgender, he brutally murders her. Her body is found by her friend and the motel receptionist. The film follows three women from different backgrounds, brought together through their united desire for justice. Virgie Suarez an activist attorney, Meredith Talusan a transgender journalist, and Jennifer’s mother Julita “Nanay” Laude.

“Amidst a media storm and police inquiry, as Jennifer’s family copes with their loss, three women intimately invested in the case, pursue justice—taking on hardened histories of U.S. imperial rule that have allowed previous American perpetrators to evade consequence: An activist attorney, Virgie Suarez, who labors to reveal the truth of Jennifer’s death from inside the courtroom, despite strategic silences and sly legal maneuvers from Pemberton’s defense team. A transgender investigative journalist, Meredith Talusan, who is determined to bring international attention to the case, writing sharp, in-the-fray essays for VICE, The Guardian and Buzzfeed. And Jennifer’s normally reserved mother, Julita, who finds herself at the effective center of a political uprising, inciting fellow protesters with a tenacious voice she never knew existed.”

For more information on the film, you can head to www.callherganda.com