Telling My Story for Video: Recommended Viewing

After going back and forth on whether or not this would be too self serving, I ultimately decided to go ahead and make the following video the focus for this month’s Recommended Analyzing piece. For those who don’t know, I am the latest subject for the Spotlight series from TFCU; a branch of The Filipino Channel that focuses its efforts on reaching out to and encouraging Filipino American college students to go after their aspirations and goals in life. In the video, I talk at length about my work as an author, blogger, playwright, and screenwriter.

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What Did I Miss?: December 2018

Published Works

About Baybayin – For Surat Magazine – the very first publication written entirely in Baybayin in over 50 years – I contribute a poem on how learning this script writing system has contributed to my overall understanding of my Filipino heritage.

This is the Only SNL Skit Featuring Jason Momoa You Need to Watch – For YOMYOMF, I spotlight a very particular skit from the night actor Jason Momoa was the guest host for “Saturday Night Live.”

SIGNAL ROCK Sheds Light on Philippines’ Toxic Patriarchal System – For last month’s Cinematografo International Film Festival, I explore how this year’s opening night film gives a glimpse at the long embedded patriarchal attitudes that still exist in the Philippines.

A Grimy, Working Class Singapore Unfolds in “A Land Imagined” – For last month’s Cinematografo International Film Festival, I explore how this year’s closing night film shows another side of Singapore from the one seen in “Crazy Rich Asians.”

The Cast of “The Debut” Reflect on Film’s 18th Anniversary – For last month’s Cinematografo International Film Festival, I interview several of the cast members of this groundbreaking film, as they look back on their experiences of making it.

Judith Hill Releases Postponed Music Video for “Back in Time” – For YOMYOMF, I shed a light on an old yet new music video that is released two years and eight months after it was supposed to originally come out.

Gene Cajayon Discusses His Journey in Filmmaking and the Making of “The Debut” – For last month’s Cinematografo International Film Festival, I speak with the film’s director about the 18 years since its release.

CRAZY RICH ASIANS and AQUAMAN: The Significance of Their Timing– For YOMYOMF, I spotlight the personal significance on the fact that “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Aquaman” came out the same year and what they did for me in terms of representation.

Appearances

YOMYOMF Blockbuster Showdown: AQUAMAN – The Offenders and I close out the year by sharing our thoughts on one of the better films to come out of the DC Extended Universe.

Enlightenment Blog Feature on Lola By The Bay! – Author Reno Ursal shouts out this blog and the post I did about him and his upcoming novel, Enlightenment.

 

5 Years of Lola By the Bay/2018 Year in Review

WordPress sent me a reminder last night that it has now been five years since the formation of this here blog/website. That’s half a decade of running this thing in the six years since I made the decision to start pursuing my writing more seriously, and look how much has happened since then.

But this post isn’t to serve as a retrospect of the last five years. Instead, this is a look back at the past eleven incredibly speedy months of the year 2018. I say this in some way or another at the end of every year, but it is absolutely crazy how fast this year went.

Looking Back on August Anticipations

August has come and gone, and it was a month that had a lot of meaning. On one hand, for many people of the Asian American community – myself included – it was a celebration of the releases of numerous films where Asian Americans were the stars of their own stories and/or were taking charge from behind the camera. On the hand, this month had an added level of depth to it for me, as it was truly a busy time both as an author and a playwright.

What Did I Miss? (August 19th-25th)

Published Works

The Significance of that One Cameo in “Crazy Rich Asians” – For Multiracial Media, I shed a light on a particular cameo from the film and the significance her appearance had to me.  (BONUS: Kina actually shared the essay with her followers on Twitter!)

Appearances

YOMYOMF Blockbuster Showdown: SEARCHING – About a week away from its nationwide release, us Offenders discussed our thoughts on this Sundance-recognized psychological thriller starring John Cho.

“Crazy Rich Asians” from My Certain Points of View: Recommended Reading

As I had explained in advance, this last weekend of the month is incredibly busy for me, and so naturally, there hasn’t been as much time nor head space to come up with something substantial to write for this week. However, with “Crazy Rich Asians” out in theaters for a week and a half now, I figured that re-sharing the links to all the pieces I alone have written about the film prior to and after its release would make for a good Recommended Analyzing post.

What Did I Miss?: The One Day Early Edition (August 5th-11th)

I pause today from my regular blog post. It’s been a busy few days, and starting next week, things are about to get even busier.

I would, however, like to you remind you all that “Stories High XVIII” begins its run next Thursday at Bindlestiff Studio. If you are interested in going, you can buy your tickets here.

In addition, I will be appearing at the Local Authors Book Fair two weeks from today at the Mountain View Public Library. It’s a free event, and so if you are in the area, I hope you come out to that as well.

And with that, here is what you missed:

What Did I Miss? (July 8th-14th)

Appearances

YOMYOMF Blockbuster Showdown: ANT-MAN AND THE WASP – The Offenders and I gather together to discuss our thoughts on the latest film from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Published Works

Where’s Rose? – For YOMYOMF, I question the lack of announcement regarding whether or not Kelly Marie Tran will be reprising her breakout role of Rose Tico in the upcoming “Star Wars” film.

 

What Did I Miss? (June 10th-16th)

Published Works

The Hawaiian-Dubbed MOANA Premiered for World Oceans Day – For YOMYOMF, I briefly highlight the world premiere of the first Disney film to be dubbed in Hawaiian.

What Did I Miss? (May 20th-26th)

Published Works

From Homemade Beginnings to a Vengeful Return: 15 Years of LUMPIA – For YOMYOMF, I interview director Patricio Ginelsa Jr. on the making of his debut film, and how that same spirit continues on in its upcoming sequel.

Director Alex Bocchieri on Commemorating the 442nd Infantry Regiment in New Feature Film – For YOMYOMF, I interview the director of “Go For Broke: An Origin Story” on how he got involved in this project, making the transition from directing documentaries to a narrative, and how the state and community of Hawaii helped make this film happen.

Appearances

YOMYOMF Blockbuster Showdown: SOLO, A STAR WARS STORY – The Offenders and I discuss our thoughts on the second “Star Wars” standalone film. SPOILER ALERT for those who have not seen it yet.