What Did I Miss?: May 2022

Published Works

More AAPI Supernatural Recommendations for Fans of Disney’s ‘So Weird’ – For The Nerds of Color, I bring a second iteration of supernatural (and some sci-fi) content, creating by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, for those who grew up on the ’90s Disney Channel original series.

The Pinays on the Rise Artists Delve into Their Origin Stories and Music – For the Center for Asian American Media, I get to know the three up-and-coming artists who make up the roster for this CAAMFest 40 music showcase.

The Cast and Crew of ‘The Bad Batch’ Reflect on Season 1 and Tease Season 2 – For The Nerds of Color, I bring coverage of what was talked about and revealed at the panel for the latest “Star Wars” animated series at Star Wars Celebration.

A Look Back at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim, From a Certain Point of View – For The Nerds of Color, I reflect on my first experience attending this highly anticipated yet long delayed fan convention.

Appearances

Mifits Ep. 10 | Being Filipino and Proud, Contemplating the Complexities of Asian Identities, and Writing Science Fiction with Lauren Lola – Host Annie Prafcke and I chat about my experience growing up as a multiracial Filipino American in the San Francisco Bay Area, coming to terms with my Filipino identity, my life as a writer, and “The Matrix.”

Videography Work

The Stars Come Out for ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ on the Star Wars Celebration Red Carpet – These are press line interviews conducted following the Lucasfilm Showcase at Star Wars Celebration for The Nerds of Color. Interviews conducted by Laura Sirikul, filmed by me, and edited by Keith Chow.

On the Red Carpet with the Stars of Mando+: ‘Ahsoka,’ ‘The Mandalorian,’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ – Here is another crop of press line interviews done for The Nerds of Color at Star Wars Celebration, this time for the Mandalorian+ panel. Interviews conducted by Laura Sirikul, filmed by me, and edited by Keith Chow.

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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.

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.

What Did I Miss?: July 2020

Published Works

Elaine Miles Reflect Back on Auditioning, Filming, and Native Representation for ‘Northern Exposure’ – For The Nerds of Color, I chat with one of the original cast members of this Emmy Award-winning series for a look back of her time on the show, to commemorate its 30th anniversary.

Drama Del Rosario’s Coming Out Story in ‘In This Family’ Looks Back on Growth, His Own and His Parents – For PBS, I provide a glimpse at the making of this personal documentary, which is in the lineup for this year’s PBS Short Film Festival. (A slightly altered cross-post can be found on CAAMedia.org).

25 Years of Encouraging Dream Pursuits in ‘Whisper of the Heart’ – For The Nerds of Color, I dissect this underrated Studio Ghibli film on its impact and its message it has had over the last 25 years.

Review of Haunted Heroine by Sarah Kuhn – For Goodreads, I give my impressions on the latest novel from the beloved “Heroine Complex” series.

From ‘Rise’ to ‘Shadows,’ F.C. Yee on Deepening the Story of Avatar Kyoshi – For The Nerds of Color, I interview this New York Times Bestselling author once more, ahead of the release of this latest installment of the ever-expanding Avatar universe.

Review of The Shadow of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee – For Goodreads, I dive into my thoughts on this latest story from the “Avatar” universe.

Lauren Mary Kim on Developing and Performing Stunts for Two ‘Star Wars’ Productions – For The Nerds of Color, I speak with this seasoned stunt actor about working on not one but two TV shows set in a galaxy far, far away.

Review of The Perfect World of Miwako Sumida by Clarissa Goenawan – For Goodreads, I dive into my impressions on this in-depth sophomore novel.

What Did I Miss?: December 2019

Appearances

Long Distance Calls Vol. 1 | Long Distance Radio – I was one of many listeners whose voice messages appear in this first volume of Long Distance calls about our experiences in the Filipino diaspora (mine starts around 19:00).

Published Works

Review of Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History by Walter Ang – For Goodreads, I give a brief overview on my thoughts on this heavily detailed account about a part of theater history that hasn’t been as thoroughly explored before.

CAAMFest Alumnus Edwin Chang Explores Immigration and Family in Pixar Directorial Debut “Wind” – For the Center for Asian American Media, I speak with the writer and director of the latest release from Pixar’s SparkShorts program.

Review of I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story by Anthony Daniels – For Goodreads, I provide a brief rundown on my thoughts about this insightful account into the making of all nine Skywalker saga films from the one person who has been in all of them.

Some Things are Thicker than Blood: The Core Theme of ‘Star Wars’ – For The Nerds of Color, I provide a counter for one of many arguments being made about the latest “Star Wars” film.

Force Healing and Its (Re-)Emergence in ‘Star Wars’ – For The Nerds of Color, I dive into a fan theory I have about the first live-action appearances of Force healing in two recent “Star Wars” productions.