Feature Friday: Amelia Fei

 

Meet Amelia Fei! She voices the roles of Anna Woo, Ling Soo, and

Quan Yee in The Angry Angels of Chinatown trailer. Here is a little

more about her. 

1) Why did you choose to be a part of the Angry Angels trailer?

 

We've rarely seen productions of stories that accurately portray Asian

culture and historical events, especially about women. So I find it refreshing

and empowering to see such a movie being made while having the honor to be

a part of it. Representation matters. 

 

2) What do you love about your characters?

 

I got to voice three different characters for the trailer, and though they're quite

different in many ways, they all, one way or another, show bravery to fight for

what's right instead of bowing to fate. This was extremely difficult back in the

day considering their social status and them being women,

Asian women, and I find this kind of persistence and courage is

especially crucial in the world we're living today.   

 

3) What do you love about what you do?

 

Because of the nature of my job, I'm required to do a lot of research

and studying for my characters. And to me, it is always delightful to

have the opportunity to learn about new stories or just things I didn't

know in general. 

Afterwards, having the opportunity to share the stories with the rest of the world

through my perspective simply feels magical.

 

4) Fun Fact: Since I was fortunate enough to pick my own English name and all,

I used to attempt to obtain a pilot license while waiting for my artist visa to get

approved (thinking it wouldn't), and it did! 

Website link: ameliafei.com

Feature Friday: gMichael Nicolosi

 

Meet gMichael Nicolosi!

He voices the roles of the narrator and Officer Jack Manion in

The Angry Angels of Chinatown trailer. Here is a little more about him -

 

1) Why did you choose to be a part of the Angry Angels trailer?

 

I won the roles as part of a package bet in a very lengthy Texas

Hold 'Em tournament in Rio. I thought it was a timeshare, so I called. 

Turns out, it was a voiceover job. I figured, “why not.”

 

2) What do you love about your characters?

 

The two characters I ended up voicing were quite a bit of fun. 

They were both better fishermen than me, but I didn't have to provide the boat or fuel, so ... Win-Win.

 

3) What do you love about what you do?

 

I have absolutely loved working as a voiceover artist.  I've been

told I have the perfect face for it.

 

4) Fun Fact: I've been a drummer for almost as many years as I've been alive.

Feature Friday: Robin Mazer

 

Meet Robin Mazer! She voices the characters of Donaldina Cameron. Here is a little more about her -

1) Why did you choose to be a part of the Angry Angels trailer?

Donaldina Cameron was a real person. A historical, female hero, that up until I was chosen for this project,

I had never heard of. I am drawn to strong, ambitious, and intelligent characters, so I was beyond thrilled to

voice Donaldina. Stories of historical women are not told as often as those depicted in film of historical

men, and this was a remarkable opportunity to shed some light on a real-life female "Avenger" who chose

to be outspoken and take action in the days of long skirts and the role of wife/mother as the only thing a

woman was fit for.

2) What do you love about your character?

Donaldina moves forward. Everything she does is in service of a super objective to make the world better, safer, and more equal. She sees something wrong and she does something about it. She has zero complacency or apathy. She is unbridled strength and justice.

3) What do you love about what you do?

One of my acting professors at Ithaca College, Cynthia Henderson, said: “acting is living truthfully through given circumstances.” I love being a storyteller and telling the truth via the vehicle of someone else. It's a really special thing to immerse yourself into an entire spectrum of someone else's emotion.

4) Fun Fact:  I'm a singer/songwriter. I've been singing/studying voice my whole life and writing music for most of it, and hold a BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. Also - I am a certified spin instructor! I started teaching in college but have been spinning since high school!

Feature Friday: Meet Tom Zhang

Meet Tom Zhang! He voices the characters Wong Luck and Matthew Chin. Here is a little more about him - 

 

1) Why did you choose to be a part of the Angry Angels trailer?

 

I chose to be a part of the Angry Angels trailer because it serves an important story about a little-explored aspect of Chinese American history. 

 

2) What do you love about your characters?

 

I love the variety in the characters I got to voice. I will say I enjoyed Matthew's lines most though because he's every bit the charming lead I've always wanted to play.

 

3) What do you love about what you do?

 

I love taking part in telling the diverse stories I never saw growing up - as an actor, I do my best to seek out projects that engage issues of social justice and social change.

 

4) Fun Fact: I can lick my nose and elbows! I probably shouldn't right now because, you know, COVID, but still!

 

Website: https://www.tomleezhang.com/

New Disney princess in Disney's upcoming film: Raya and the Last Dragon

Look out for Raya and the Last Dragon, a story heavily inspired by East Asian mythology, in theaters March 12, 2021! Raya is a fearless warrior on an adventure, searching for the water dragon, Sisu. It was recently announced that Kelly Marie Tran will be the first Southeast Asian actor to lead the Disney animated film; she will be voicing Raya! Cassie Steele who is known for work in “Degrassi: The Next Generation” and Awkwafina who is best known for her work in “Crazy Rich Asian”, “Jumanji: The Next Level, and “The Farewell” will also star alongside Kelly in this upcoming film. Awkwafina will be voicing Sisu, a water dragon in human form. This story will take place in the fictional kingdom of Kumandra. Dragons and humans lived in peace until the Druun monsters invaded and forced the dragons to sacrifice themselves for humanity. Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) will help Sisu (Awkwafina) reclaim her power to become her true dragon self to defeat the Druun monsters.  

 

“Produced by Moana veteran Osnat Shurer and written by Crazy Rich Asians scribe Adele Lim, Raya and the Last Dragon is directed by Frozen and Big Hero 6 head of story Paul Briggs”

NEW Epic Fantasy TV Series: "The Wheel of Time"

Amazon Studios is partnering with Sony Pictures Television to shoot its first season of their new epic fantasy TV series “The Wheel of Time.” Furthermore, Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD screenwriter Rafe Judkins is the leading producer for this new series! 

 

“Set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists and only certain women are allowed to access it, the story follows Moiraine (Rosamund Pike), a member of the incredibly powerful all-female organization called the Aes Sedai, as she arrives in the small prophesied to be the Dragon Reborn, who will either save or destroy humanity.”

Recently, Sophie Okonedo, an Academy Award nominee, and Kae Alexander, a former Game of Thrones star, have joined the cast of “The Wheel of Time.”

The new TV series is based off of the 14 Wheel of Time novels by "Robert Jordan", a.k.a, James Oliver Rigney, Jr. This upcoming new TV show could be the next big fantasy show. What are your thoughts?

Frozen, Starring Kristen Bell and Idina Menzel, Turns Stereotypes on Their Heads

 

I love how this Disney princess movie turns stereotypes on their heads. Anna, second princess of Arendelle, falls in love with a handsome prince and plans to marry him. But Elsa, first princess of Arendelle, forbids their sudden marriage, unleashes her frozen power on the kingdom, then flees. Anna leaves Arendelle to find her sister with the help of Kristoff, an ice seller, who falls in love with Anna.

When Elsa accidentally strikes Anna in the heart with her frozen power, the only way Anna can be saved from death is by an act of true love. Thinking she must be kissed by her handsome prince, Anna pleads for him to kiss her. But he refuses, and turns out (spoiler alert) to be evil, bent on taking over the kingdom. He charges her sister Elsa with treason for Anna's impending death.

Then Anna realizes Kristoff truly loves her. She sets off across a fjord to find him. At the same time, Hans chases Elsa onto the same fjord, intent on killing her. Anna reaches Kristoff, but sees Hans is about to kill Elsa. She throws herself between the two and freezes solid, blocking the blow. As Elsa grieves the loss of her sister, Anna begins to thaw. Her sacrifice for her sister constitutes an act of true love.

It surprised me how the handsome prince turned out to be evil, breaking a stereotype. The screenwriters thought of a great twist in making sisterly love the key to saving Anna and subsequently Elsa instead of the love of a man, as it usually is in Disney princess movies. Frozen is my favorite movie of 2014 so far.