What Did I Miss?: March 2021

Appearances

180 Seconds, 5 Artists – Co-produced by Tara Mercene (co-director of Breath of Writing), I am one of five artists featured in this short video from Rappler, in honor of National Arts Month.

Published Works

Kelly Marie Tran On Being the Voice of Raya in Disney’s First Animated Film Set in Southeast Asia – For the Center for Asian American Media, I spoke with the star of the latest Disney animated film about bringing the character to life during the pandemic, as well as the history the film is making and the timing of its release.

The Perseverance of Diana Lee Inosanto and Becoming Magistrate Morgan Elsbeth – For Hapa Mag, I speak with the accomplished actor and martial artist about her experience filming for The Mandalorian, as well as her work as a stunt actor and how she created opportunities for herself.

NOC Presents: A SEA Conversation about ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’ – For The Nerds of Color, I bring together all the Southeast Asian writers of the outlet together for a conversation regarding our thoughts on Disney’s Southeast Asian-inspired film.

Review of All of This is for You by Ruby Jones – For Goodreads, I give a brief overview of this unexpectedly timely book from this contemporary New Zealand visual artist.

Review of Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro – For Goodreads, I give an in-depth analysis on the latest novel from this renowned British author.

Patrick Clanton on the Evolution of Behind the Magic YouTube Channel – For The Nerds of Color, I do a follow-up interview with this innovative content creator on how his passion project has grown over the last few months.

Review of Home in a Hundred Places by Sarah Dayan Mueller – For Goodreads, I briefly share my thoughts on this long awaited second novel from this thoughtful indie author.

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365 Days

Throughout this past week, many people – public figures and otherwise – have been marking one year since life upended as they know it. Today is my turn. One year ago today was when I was last onsite at my day job’s office. Other people I knew had already started working from home about a week before I did and just from the looks of my commutes, they were getting emptier and emptier. I was not surprised when, while commuting home that day, I received an email from work, saying that we would be working from home for the next two weeks. Little did I, or anyone else for that matter, expect for those supposed few weeks to turn into a year. And yet even as I arrived home that day, I looked back at the outside world, with a lurking feeling that it would be the last time for a very long while where I’d be able to roam about it as freely as I did that day.

Thoughts About Speculation in Storytelling

Warning: The following contains a few light spoilers from “Raya and the Last Dragon.”

Last night, I took part in a bi-coastal virtual watch party of the latest Disney animated film, “Raya and the Last Dragon.” The world of the Kumandra and the conflict that’s imminent across the land played out before all participants of that party, and with that came the all too timely lesson of finding the will and openness to trust others.

After the film, we all hopped on a Zoom call and shared our thoughts about it, and when talking about the characters themselves, the following question came up: Do you ship Raya with Namaari?

What Did I Miss?: December 2020

Published Works

Hiromi Kamata On Growing Up with Selena’s Music and Directing Netflix’s Biopic Series – For The Nerds of Color, I spoke with one of the directors of the first season of this new series about how it came together.

Kimiko Guthrie on Her Career in Dancing and Writing Block Seventeen – For Hapa Mag, I speak with this Bay Area author about growing in Berkeley in the 1970s, her work in the dance world, and about the process of writing her debut novel.

Raya and the Navigation of Asian America as a Mixed-Race Filipino American – For Hapa Mag, I dive deep into my excitement for this upcoming Disney animated feature film, after years of going about Asian America as both a mixed-race and Filipino American woman.

Three Characters Lauren Mary Kim Performed Stunts for in ‘The Mandalorian’ Season 2 – For The Nerds of Color, I go over the characters this former interviewee performed stunts for in the most recent season of this live-action series from a galaxy far, far away.

Appearances

#Kollab2020 Alumni Staff Highlight – Ahead of Kollaboration’s 20th anniversary celebration, I was featured as one of many former staff members, where I talk about my experience being a part of the organization and how it has changed my life. (Facebook version available here.)

NOCs of the Roundtable: Goodbye 2020 – As we close out this horrendous year, the people behind this pop culture outlet come together to discuss their favorite nerdy moments from the year.

Readings

SCI-FI Festival Best Scene Reading: An Absolute Mind by Lauren Lola – WILDsound’s Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Writing Festival produces an audio-only reading of one of my favorite scenes from the screenplay adaptation of my second novel of the same name.