Aug

19

2008

(15) Comments

Liang Chow: The Man Behind a Champion

11:32PM by elenastevenson

If you follow women’s gymnastics, you know that Shawn Johnson finally got her gold medal Tuesday morning, edging out teammate Nastia Liukin with a fantastic balance beam routine. And the man supporting her is her coach, Liang Chow, himself a member of the Chinese national gymnastics team in the 1980’s. He’s the unsung hero behind her success—and her great attitude.

In the extensive news coverage I’ve seen on Johnson, she refers to her Chinese coach and his wife as “my second parents.” Teri and Doug Johnson, Shawn’s parents, appreciate the important relationship. In an article for the August 2008 issue of Guideposts, Teri recounts Coach Chow’s mastery in managing Johnson’s personality. Other gymnastics teachers were frustrated by Shawn’s hyperactive behavior. Chow, who owns a gym in West Des Moines, Iowa, knew how to harness it. “I love her energy. That’s what you need in this sport.” Teri stated, “He kept her interest by keeping her challenged.”

Aug

13

2008

(19) Comments

Kal Penn and Political Action

10:53PM by elenastevenson

Yes, it’s the Giant White Girl of Ningin, cheesin’ with yet another Asian celebrity. How did I get to meet Kal Penn? At a Democratic voter-registration rally. He, like several other notable Asian-American actors and directors, is putting his clout behind Barack Obama’s campaign. My son, hiding from the camera, was less enthusiastic. Sorry, Kal. He’ll love your movies someday….but he better not repeat the dirty jokes.

Aug

9

2008

(18) Comments

Beijing 2008 Opening Ceremonies

12:38AM by elenastevenson

I just finished watching the Opening Ceremonies, and it’s hard to find a word besides, “Wow.” Artistically, it was everything I’d hoped for and more. Zhang Yimou really outdid himself. I have strong feelings about the Chinese government’s political and religious oppression. But like many others, I put those aside for the sake of the athletes and the high Olympic principles that drive them. I geek out over the Olympics. I lose all my cynicism and become a kid again. 

Aug

6

2008

(78) Comments

Roger Fan: The Out-Takes, Part 2

04:13PM by elenastevenson

As we gear up for next month’s release of Ping Pong Playa, here’s more of my conversation with Roger Fan. An interview is always about the artist’s thoughts. But we had such a great rapport, I couldn’t help but share a few of my own. Roger has a natural love for the human race that makes him an excellent listener. Here’s more on Asian film, American film, stereotypes, and Justin Lin. 

Jul

31

2008

(78) Comments

Roger Fan: The Out-Takes, Part 1

10:26PM by elenastevenson

Yeah, I’m the lucky girl standing next to Roger Fan. When I finally met him at “Finishing the Game”’s New York City premiere last October, I felt like we’d known each other forever. Roger, one of the film’s stars, was the unofficial blogger of FTG’s 2007 Grassroots Tour. Besides spending most of the year at film festivals and campuses, connecting with the fans, Roger also spent countless hours documenting the tour in pictures and funny descriptions, much to the delight of rabid fans like me. If you got a MySpace comment from Finishing the Game, it was most often Roger’s doing. We emailed back and forth, and I teased him about how great he looked, bare-chested and suntan-oiled, as the cocky Breeze Loo circa 1973.

Then I interviewed him by phone while writing up Finishing the Game for a local newspaper. Truth be told, I was lucky the article got run at all. Asian-American film is pretty much off the radar where I live; I had only 850 words for a review of Finishing the Game AND a “wide angle” on Asians in Hollywood! But Roger, smart Brown alum that he is, gave me so much great material that would not fit in that tiny box. And I had the tall order of editing it and giving my fellow Midwesterners a taste of what’s happening in the Asian-American community.

Jul

30

2008

(6) Comments

Find me on Technorati

04:12PM by elenastevenson

Hey, friends, I just listed this blog on Technorati. Click on the link below to favorite this blog.

Come, my crowds of eager fans, read my stuff! Find out about great Asian films and entertainers! See what you’ve been missing!

Technorati Profile

Jul

23

2008

(10) Comments

Review of Korean film “No Regret”

04:08PM by elenastevenson

Oh, the excitement of the FedEx envelope arriving from L.A. Publicist Jack Song asked me to review “No Regret,” a Korean film with an upcoming U.S. theatrical run. It’s being billed as a gay Romeo and Juliet, in light of its melodramatic romance and class-differences theme. According to the press kit, “No Regret” was such a passion project that cast and crew worked for next to nothing and contributed their personal cash toward production expenses. Released in South Korea in November 2006, the buzz around this film has been building steadily.

Jul

17

2008

(14) Comments

Would You Survive a Japanese Game Show?

03:30PM by elenastevenson

I decided to check out “I Survived a Japanese Game Show,” an ABC send-up featuring Tony Sano and Rome Kanda. Sano, a Japanese-American, plays something of a straight man to Kanda’s exaggerated Johnny Gilbert. It’s standard reality-TV fare—win the games, avoid eliminations, get a big cash prize. The only real twist is some “cultural learning” opportunities thrown in here and there. But the viewing left me with a few questions.

Jul

7

2008

(9) Comments

AAIFF Movie Review: “Gone Shopping” by Li Lin Wee

06:20PM by elenastevenson

“Gone Shopping,” written and directed by Li Lin Wee, will make its U.S. premiere at AAIFF on July 16. Films made in Singapore are a new, fast-growing addition to the Asian film market, and this one—an offbeat satire set in a shopping mall—has gotten some good buzz. But when I agreed to review this film, I didn’t know I had a personal connection to Singapore.

Jul

2

2008

(26) Comments

Are You Experienced?

12:44AM by elenastevenson

Hey Jim, you’re cool because you’re old like me : ) Check out my interview with Jim Chu, filmmaker and owner of White Rabbit Lounge in NYC:

Jim Chu and White Rabbit