Post-Racial America's Next Top Model

T.Y.-to-the-argh uhh, I still don't get the "love" part of the love/hate relationship some of my friends have with her. As problematic and as many issues this clip brings up, Tyra has once again left me starring at my computer screen, disturbed to the point of laughing, unable to articulate anything but "wow...WOW"!

If you don't have that much time to waste just watch the first minute and then jump to 6:00 and see what the Asian sista comes up with...



And if you have a lot of time to waste read this not-so-on-point article by the LA Times' representative of mixed raced residents of Hawai'i. Where do they find these people? Oh yeah, LA.

New Moon Soundtrack

I know how it sounds when people say they read playboy for the articles, but I really do watch some flicks just for the music. As a kid bred on hip hop I rely on films and their soundtracks to introduce me to different artists. Even if the film is not the greatest, the soundtrack can almost save it, especially with those "I have White people problems" type joints, think Garden State or The Last Kiss. So when your 12 year-old cousin asks you to see the new Twilight movie, peep the soundtrack before you say no. Death Cab, Thom, Lykke Li, Grizzly Bear, Sea Wolf..I'm just sayin.

Thom Yorke - Hearing Damage

DOWNLOAD HERE

Lykke Li - Possibility

DOWNLOAD HERE

I Heart Hulu

In addition to not being able to wake up and watch football on the weekends, these clips really make me want to get cable (and a HD TV, and a DVR). But Hulu holds me down. These videos are worth sitting through the short commercials, especially if you haven't seen them before:

The Daily Show feature on the new Republican Party website:

The Daily Show: Slim Thug Feels the Recession

The Queen on SNL: Excedrin for Racial Tension Headaches

Song Wins Special Jury Award at the San Diego Asian Film Festival!

A Song For Ourselves won the Short Film Special Jury Award last weekend at the San Diego Asian Film Fest. SDAFF has a super official awards gala that Eric Tandoc and I were lucky enough to attend. "Lucky" meaning that the San Diego JACL generously sponsored our tickets and let us sit at their table. Eric made the most of the free beer while I popped an anti-anxiety pill.



There was a gala after-party which was "cool, but it's not what i'm use too" so i celebrated the night with the homies from AnakBayan LA & SD over some late night carne asada fries:


Mass Movement in the building! Eric's film Sounds Of A New Hope screened to a packed house.

Reconsider Columbus Day

Reconsider Columbus Day by Nu Heightz Cinema

Screenings in New Orleans, DC and Philly This Weekend

Three big screenings this weekend! All the films that are playing with A Song For Ourselves in these festivals are excellent, please try and catch one in your city. Unfortunately, I'll be stuck in my room working on film school applications.


DC APA Film Festival
Saturday, Oct. 10th @ 12p

Playing with Manilatown Is In The Heart This screening is FREE!


Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival
Sunday, Oct. 11th @ 1p Playing with Sounds of a New Hope by Mass Movement's own Eric Tandoc


New Orleans Film Festival
Sunday, Oct. 11th @ 5p Playing with A Village Called Versailles (I've heard this film is amazing. This will definitely be a special screening since it will be in New Orleans)

Taiyo Na performs "War of the Flea" with Nobuko Miyamoto and Charlie Chin in NY

Last Saturday at the Basement Workshop Reunion in New York the homie Taiyo Na performed "War of the Flea" alongside Nobuko Miyamoto and Charlie Chin. Taiyo has always mentioned Chris Iijima as one of his biggest influences and inspirations as an artist so I can't imagine how amazing it must have been for him to sing Chris' lyrics with his old music partners.



Listen and download the original "War of the Flea"

Here's the filthy Senz of Depth Remix featuring Bambu off the A Song For Ourselves Mixtape:

Bambu performing "Chairman Mao" in Honolulu

Couldn't shoot Bam & Phatty's performance at the premiere but did shoot them the next night at The Loft.

Honolulu Weekly Cover Story

One of the coolest parts of the Hawai'i trip was going to Boots & Kimo's to eat this (banana pancakes swimming in macadamia nut sauce)... ...and then walking over to Foodland and seeing this:
The small print along the yellow fist reads "Long Live Chris Iijima"!
Read the whole article here.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chee Unit (Blue ScholarsXBambuXCreed)

What do you get when you have a recording studio full of Filipino rappers and a sarcastic Baha'i DJ? Welcome to the OOF! booth. To shoot the "Chee Unit" (Blue Scholars, Bambu, Creed) in Honolulu was dope, but to witness Geo's one-take murder was something special. See for yourself... Oh yeah, the night continued with us getting locked IN the building and having to climb and scale our way out.

Flicks from Hawai'i Premiere on Honozooloo

I had the privilege of meeting a grip of inspiring and talented people while in Hawai'i and photographer Aaron Yoshino was one of them. I became a fan of his photos earlier this year through his website honozooloo.com. After hanging out with all these filipinos, it was really good to see a fellow buddhahead making a name for himself and doin it big! SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AT HONOZOOLOO.COM