What Did I Miss?: May 2023

Other News

Reimagined Volume II: Mahal | 2023 Tribeca Film Festival – A virtual reality project I was involved with in early story development last year will be having its world premiere next month at this renowned, New York-based film festival.

Published Works

Bay Area Brothers Discuss Filming for 1,000% Me Documentary – For Mixed Asian Media, I sit down with two of the participants of this new documentary from W. Kamau Bell.

1,000% Me Documentary Shines a Needed Light on Mixed-Race Experiences – For Mixed Asian Media, I do a thorough dive into all there is to appreciate about this much needed documentary.

Fanny and Their Ongoing Legacy in Redefining Rock – For the Center for Asian American Media, I explore the history and ongoing legacy of a barrier-breaking rock band.

Netflix Gives First Peek and Release Date for ‘Nimona’ – For The Nerds of Color, I highlight our first good look at what’s to come for this highly anticipated film adaptation of N.D. Stevenson’s 2015 graphic novel of the same name.

Appearances

Update on Dasig – In the first post in five months, I give a brief update on how the progress of our upcoming graphic novel, Dasig, is coming along.

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What Did I Miss?: March 2022

Published Works

Depths of Unexpected Emotions Unravel in Kogonada’s ‘After Yang’– For The Nerds of Color, I break down my observations and thoughts about this director’s second feature film.

“Turning Red” Animators on Anime Influences and Working with Domee Shi – For the Center for Asian American Media, I spoke with two Pixar animators on what it was like to work on the studio’s 25th feature film.

Review of Hollywood Heroine by Sarah Kuhn – For Goodreads, I go over my general thoughts about the fifth entry into the Heroine Complex series.

Plays

Rainy Day Artistic Collective 2022 | Not in Kansas by Lauren Lola – Following the performances of the Halfway Historical Festival, the director of this very personal play gave it a home on her YouTube channel for audiences to continue to discover and, hopefully, learn from. Inspired by true events, two PhD students from the Philippines are on a road trip to New Orleans, when they experience the opposite of Southern hospitality at a rest stop in Mississippi.

Comics

My Journey with Journals – In collaboration with This Asian American Life, I look back on 20 years of journaling and how much it has shaped my life. (The companion personal essay can be read on the TAAL website.)

5 Things I Haven’t Written, But Would Like To

Ever since I made the decision several years ago to start taking my writing more seriously, I’ve managed to have written quite a number of projects since then. I’ve written novels, short fiction, plays, films, and the occasional poem or two. However, there is still so much more that I have not written that I would like to try my hand at eventually, and a lot of those mediums are collaborative. As I’ve been told time and time again, the first step to making something happen is by putting it out into the universe. Therefore, I would like to take today to run through five things I have not written, but would like to someday:

What Did I Miss?: May 2020

Published Works

Director Alice Wu and Actor Leah Lewis on the Whole Story of Making “The Half of It” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I give a glimpse at the making of Alice Wu’s first film since “Saving Face” and how the lead actor landed and approached the project.

What Did I Miss?: November 2019

Published Works

Doug Jung’s Screenwriting Debut Will Be Available on Disney+ – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into an early work from this “Star Trek” screenwriter, ahead of its availability on Disney’s new streaming service.

‘Jojo Rabbit’ Sends a Timely Message via Satire, Fascism, and War – For The Nerds of Color, I provide my non-spoilery thoughts about the latest feature film from director Taika Waititi.

Review of From Rufio to Zuko by Dante Basco – For Goodreads, I give my input on this informative memoir from someone who’s seen and done a lot in the entertainment industry for over three decades.

The Director and Producer of Pixar’s “Float” Discuss Filipino American Representation and Bringing a Personal Story to Life – For the Center for Asian American Media, I go behind-the-scenes of this groundbreaking short film from Pixar Animation Studio by talking to two of the people that made it what it is today.

Review of Cyber Shogun Revolution by Peter Tieryas – For Goodreads, ahead of its 2020 release, I give a rundown on what I make of this latest entry into the United States of Japan series.

Appearances

About Tita | TFAL Podcast – Over two years after its initial release, an audio essay I did for the This Filipino American Life podcast is now available on their YouTube channel.

What Did I Miss?: September 2019

Published Works

Actor Will Yun Lee Has Been Making Strides in Hollywood For Two Decades – For the Center for Asian American Media, I spoke with the “Good Doctor”/”Altered Carbon” star on his journey as an Asian American actor in Hollywood.

‘Abominable’ Brings All the Charm in This Magical, Heartfelt Adventure – For The Nerds of Color, I give a spoiler-free overview of my thoughts from watching this upcoming Dreamworks and Pearl Studio co-production.

Review of Anime Supremacy by Mizuki Tsujimura – For Goodreads, I go over my thoughts on this dynamic novel that gives a glimpse at the chaotic anime industry.

Review of Frankly in Love by David Yoon – For Goodreads, I discuss my thoughts about this heartfelt, YA romance debut novel.

How Disney’s ‘So Weird’ Deepened My Connection to My Filipino Side – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into how this 90’s Disney Channel series has had an unexpected effect on me this past year.

Review of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli – For Goodreads, I give my latest impressions on a novel I grew up with, ahead of the film adaptation’s release.

Christopher Sean Talks About Being the First Asian American Lead of “Star Wars” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I dive into this overlooked first for the “Star Wars” universe, as I speak with the lead actor of “Star Wars Resistance.”

Other News

Critics are calling “Abominable” “absolutely gorgeous” – My review of “Abominable” was quoted by Dreamworks Animation for promo leading up to the film’s release.

What Did I Miss?: June 2019

Published Works

Spider-Man, Pokémon, and Star-Crossed Lovers: Mixed Race Characters Take the Lead – For my debut piece for The Nerds of Color, I do an analysis on three different films released over the last six months that feature mixed race characters and interracial relationships front and center.

Matt Braly on Bringing Thai American Representation to Disney Channel’s “Amphibia” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I speak with the creative mind of Disney Channel’s upcoming animated series on how childhood trips to Bangkok served as the inspiration for the show.

Thoughts and Reactions to Watching ‘The Matrix’ For the First Time – For The Nerds of Color, I go beyond Keanu Reeves’ brief role in “Always Be My Maybe,” as I watch and react to one of his more iconic roles from the last 20 years.

Two Worlds, One Family: 20 Years of “Tarzan”

Every now and then, I expand my dialogue about storytelling by going beyond the boundaries of books and out into the mediums of TV and film. I do so by doing these analysis pieces once a while about a TV show or film that has reached a significant time in its history (i.e. series premiere, series finale, film release, anniversary of a release, etc.). Previously, I wrote at length about the Disney Channel series, “So Weird.” Today, similar to “So Weird,” I look to another Disney property that has also reached its 20th anniversary this year; the one that ended the Disney Renaissance with a bang. Today, I’m talking about Disney’s “Tarzan.”

Form Voltron!: Thoughts on a Revived Animated Classic

A few years ago, I started making the effort to expand my dialogue about storytelling by going beyond the boundaries of books and out into the mediums of TV and film. I do so by doing these analysis pieces once a while about a TV show or film that has reached a significant time in its history (i.e. series premiere, series finale, film release, anniversary of a release, etc.). Previously, I dug into the layers of the YouTube Red series, “Cobra Kai.” Today, in honor of its series coming to an end yesterday, I shall continue my exploration of my favorite content in the streaming world by delving into a nuanced revival of an animated series originally from the 80’s. Today, I’m talking about the Netflix series, “Voltron: Legendary Defender.”

What Did I Miss? (April 15th-21st)

Published Works

30 Years Later, Studio Ghibli Double Feature Stands the Test of Time – For YOMYOMF, I wrote about the commonalities that Studio Ghibli films “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Grave of the Fireflies” share, as well as the stark differences that make them the classic films they are, 30 years after they were originally released.