8 Years of Lola By the Bay and 2021 Year in Review

For those who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas! For those who don’t, I hope you have a really good day anyway.

I can’t believe it’s been this long since the formation of my little corner of cyberspace already. It’s grown to be the virtual hub that I’ve always wanted for myself, and then some. I created the website to make it easy, for those who don’t already follow me on social media, to keep up with writing projects I have going on, as well as what’s on my mind on a (mostly) week-to-week basis. Looking back on my posts over the last 11 months, I think I’ve started to notice just how blatant and honest I’m becoming about both where I am in my journey as a writer, as well as the things that I truly care about.

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How Playwriting and Screenwriting is Making Me a Better Writer

Nearly five years ago now, shortly after releasing my second novel, I started making the journey towards writing for both the stage and the screen. A Christmas gift of the word-processing program, Scrivener, jump-started my expansion into other creative writing mediums. Within that time, I have since written multiple stage plays, a few spec scripts, a few pilots, a few short films, and even a feature-length screenplay. Oh, I also upgraded to Final Draft earlier this year, because I felt that it was time to up the ante.

Thoughts About the Universe Responding

A few months back, I did a post about things I haven’t written, but would definitely like to one day if given the opportunity and resources to do so. What’s interesting is very recently, I’ve been approached and have gotten attached to three different opportunities, all of which were offered to me because of the fact that I’m a writer.

What Did I Miss?: May 2021

Published Works

AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’ – For The Nerds of Color, I go through a list of recommended material across mediums, created by and starring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, for those who grew up on Disney Channel’s ’90’s supernatural series.

Dante Basco Looks Back and Forward at His Career in Storytelling – For the Center for Asian American Media, I once again find myself speaking with this beloved Filipino American actor, as he goes over his career so far and what is ahead for him.

Review of Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala – For Goodreads, I give my take on my first dive into the cozy mystery genre, starring a Filipino American protagonist.

Netflix Gives First Look at ‘Trese’ Anime Series – For The Nerds of Color, I hype up the release of the trailer, as well as the announcement of the cast and release date, of this highly anticipated anime adaptation.

Review of From Little Tokyo, with Love by Sarah Kuhn – For Goodreads, I go over how this latest novel from this author really hit home for me, in more ways than one.

Appearances

ShoPowSho 036: Author/Writer Lauren Lola – I am the latest featured guest on this Filipino American-focused podcast, where I discuss my journey both as a writer and as a mixed-race Filipino American. (Full description can be found here on The Nerds of Color.)

Short Film Announcement: “Interview with an Aswang”

After officially announcing it both in my guest appearance on the ShoPowSho podcast as well as on my Instagram, I’m proud to go public with the news here that my one-act play, “Interview with an Aswang,” has been made into a short film and is currently being submitted into the film festival circuit. For those who didn’t catch it when it was featured in Rainy Day Artistic Collective’s Winter Showcase three months ago, it tells the story of a college student who interviews her friend about what her life is like as an aswang for a school assignment. Of course, that’s just the very surface level synopsis of it.

Re-Introduction in Honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States, where the entire duration of the month is devoted in recognizing the history, culture, and achievements of people from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. While this annual, month-long celebration has been going on for a couple of decades now, I think it’s fair to say that this year’s will really be one of the first ones where people outside the communities are actually paying attention and learning about the history, in light of the hate crimes that have been happening for over a year now. I’m always going to be dismayed that it took a massacre for the general public to start paying attention to what has been happening, but the positive is that at least they’re finally paying attention. We’ve been here for a long time and we’re not going anywhere.

What Did I Miss? – January 2021

Published Works

Review of A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland – For Goodreads, after receiving an ARC of this upcoming middle grade novel from Disney Books, I give my brief thoughts about it.

The Backstory ‘Cobra Kai’ Should Tell – For The Nerds of Color, I argue my case for why the backstory of a gone but not forgotten character from “The Karate Kid” universe should be brought to life for the hit Netflix series.

The Stars of ‘Finding ‘Ohana’ Discuss Filming in Hawaii and Hawaiian Representation – For The Nerds of Color, I talked story with the four stars of this new family adventure Netflix film.

Review of Into the Dark by Claudia Gray – For Goodreads, ahead of its February release, I give my take on the first young adult novel from “The High Republic” era of “Star Wars.”

Appearances

Amazing Asians in the Arts: Lauren Lola – I am the first featured creative for The Cr8sian Project’s Amazing Asians in the Arts series for the year. I talk about my work as a writer, challenges and moments from my journey, and goals I have set for myself.

Jan. 5, 2021 – Screenwriter Lauren Lola (An Absolute Mind) – I take part in a short interview for WILDsound Podcast about the screenplay adaptation of An Absolute Mind, my journey as a writer, as well as which “Star Wars” film I’ve seen the most times.

Rainy Day Artistic Collective Interview – Ahead of the inaugural Winter One Act Festival, as one of the playwrights who will have work featured in it, I’m interviewed about my journey in the theatre world for the collective’s Facebook page.

Interview with Screenwriter Lauren Lola (AN ABSOLUTE MIND) – Matthew Toffolo, CEO of the WILDsound Film Festival, interviews me about the screenplay adaptation of “An Absolute Mind”.

News

The Short Screenplay Challenge 2020 | 1st Round, Challenge #2 Results – My scores from the first two challenges of this screenwriting competition are added up, placing me in the Top 15 for my assigned group.

Trailers

SCREENPLAY TRAILER: An Absolute Mind Script Trailer – WILDsound’s Fantasy/Sci-Fi Film & Writing Festival produces an epic trailer for the screenplay adaptation of my second novel of the same name.

Representation Matters

This is a phrase that I’ve seen shared a lot on social media within recent years and it’s one that rings volumes of truth: Representation matters. Seeing or reading about someone who’s like you – whether they are the same race, gender, sexual orientation, a combination of them, etc. – as the hero of their own story means a lot, especially for those who haven’t really seen themselves portrayed before. It legitimizes one’s existence and that their stories are valid.

What Did I Miss?: September 2020

Published Works

‘Mulan’ is a Thoughtful but Clunky Iteration of the Chinese Folktale – For The Nerds of Color, after being granted access to a screener of this highly anticipated live-action remake from Disney, I get down to business and give my take on it.

Patrick Clanton on Exploring Disney’s Hidden Gems on Behind the Ears YouTube Channel – For The Nerds of Color, I interview the creator and host of this new Disney-focused YouTube Channel about how it came together during the COVID-19 crisis.

Review of Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger – For Goodreads, I give my two cents on this debut work from a brilliant author on the rise.

Jessica Henwick: The Hapa Franchise Queen on Growing Up Between Two Cultures – For my debut issue as the new writer of Hapa Mag, Lauren Winn and I collaborated on this interview with this extraordinary actress and writer on her journey in the entertainment industry over the past decade.

The Presentation of Multiculturalism in the World of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” – For my debut issue as the new writer of Hapa Mag, I do an in-depth dive into how multiculturalism is presented in this beloved franchise, at a time of its resurgence into popularity.

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.