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.

Noah, Starring Russell Crowe, directed by Darren Aronofsky

I saw this movie with a group of Christian and non-Christian friends. All agreed that Noah was entertaining.  From a screenwriter’s point of view, the writers had to expand the traditional Biblical story to fit three-act structure and give Noah and other cast members character arcs. Conflicts had to arise on the ark or else it would be a boring trip. While some ridicule the use of “rock people,” I thought they made the story more realistic. How else could Noah and two grown sons have built the huge ark in such a short time? (In the Biblical account, it took about twenty years for four grown men to do it, but screenplays usually condense timelines).

As a Christian, I have no problem with the writers adding or changing elements of the original story to elucidate the meaning of the story. How many times have preachers implored their listeners to “use their imaginations” to fill in what Bible characters could have been thinking or saying during their conflicts? Hopefully, viewers will be drawn to look into the original source of the story in Genesis chapters 5-10 and spiritual conversations can be started.

While the story carries an environmental message, it also conveys one of hope and restoration. Mankind was given a second chance to “do things right.” Wouldn’t most of us take advantage of a second chance to avoid mistakes of the past?

http://www.noahmovie.com/

Dream High, Starring Suzy Bae and Kim Soo Hyun

I really loved this show. The music was awesome, the characters well-rounded, the plot well-told. It didn't end the way I thought it would, which is good, because I like to be surprised. I even enjoyed the adults' stories.

I liked the fact that the main character was a girl jerk and the two boys nice guys, different from the usual nice girl falls for the jerk guy. So you don't know who she's going to end up with.

The joy and passion these young people have for their music is inspiring. Dream High is not only for young people, but for old people with dreams too.

Linsanity the Movie--An Inspiring Asian American Success Story about Jeremy Lin



A week and a half ago, I watched Linsanity the Movie about NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin. In February of 2012, he shocked the sports world with a five-game winning streak for the New York Knicks.

More shocking was the fact that he seemed to come out of nowhere. Undrafted and unwanted by the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets, he ended up with the Knicks and fully expected to be sent home. Then several New York players became injured or sick and Lin got his last chance to show what he could do. He amazed his teammates, opponents, fans, and the sports world by sinking baskets left and right, tearing up the court.

Sports commentators didn't know how to describe him. Unfortunately, some ugly racial stereotypes came out that actually started a dialogue on how Asians have been ignored or misrepresented. But the movie doesn't dwell on this. Lin credits his parents and his Christian faith for seeing him through good times and bad. His God gave him strength to do what he needed to when he needed to.

This inspiring movie gives hope to anyone the world has written off. No matter what your skin color or others' perception of you is, your dreams still can come true.

Creating Destiny, Starring Yoo-Jin and Tae-young Ki

This drama was hard to get into. It seemed to move slow and some parts were hard to understand the logic. Why would the protagonist agree to travel to Korea to become betrothed when she already had a boyfriend? The bloodline excuse the mom gave was not fully explained. Was she afraid of hereditary diseases, unwanted character traits passed down the family line, inherited debt? And Sang Eun's biological mother's name was never mentioned. Nobody in either family bothered to ask her it or what she or her family did for a living.

I did enjoy seeing the romance grow between the two main characters. The second storyline with Yeo Joon's sister was interesting, yet in the end, we still don't know if she was really in love with the father of her child. The other romances were kind of unbelievable. And why was Yeo Joon's uncle even in the drama? He didn't really contribute much.

Maybe some things were lost in the translation. In fact, whole lines were missing from some scenes. Maybe because the drama was translated by volunteers.

I really wanted to like this drama more. I like the actors and actresses. I wish more of the scenes could have been shot outdoors or in places other than restaurants and coffee shops.

Shining Inheritance, Starring Han Hyo Joo and Lee Seung Ki

After the first episode, I had decided not to finish it because when they introduced all the characters at once, it was very confusing. I finally took it up again after watching several more other dramas. The first half went by slowly and I wasn't that excited. But after about halfway, the plot sped up and I began really enjoying it. The characters were well-developed. The jerk gradually changed his attitude in a natural way. The heroine had her faults and wasn't all goody-two-shoes. The antagonist was definitely shrewd and calculating and really made it difficult for the heroine. But she was motivated by love for her daughter as well as her love of money and was a complex character. The heroine had many helpers including the nice guy, whom I felt sorry for because (spoiler alert) the heroine rejected him. Even the secondary characters had complete arcs that resolved in the last episode.

All in all, I really liked this drama, despite it's confusing and slow beginning. I felt for the characters and really wanted the good guys to win.

The Great Queen Seondeok, Starring Yo Won Lee, Ko Hyeon-jeong, Park Ye-Jin, Uhm Tae Woong, and Nam-kil Kang

This very long, intricate story is worth seeing to the end. At first, they introduced so many characters, it was confusing. And when some of the characters aged, others didn't, which also led to confusion. But don't let that stop you. I really enjoyed the setting, costumes and pageantry of the begin...read morening. The character arcs and plot were so interesting, one weekend, I watched ten episodes! The last third of the series I didn't enjoy as much as the first two-thirds, but it was still engrossing. This makes me want to find out the real story of Queen Seondeok.

Spring Waltz, Starring Do Young Suh, So-yeon Lee, Daniel Henney, and Bo-ra Geum

I liked this series, but thought it spent too much time on the backstory as children. If you only saw Episodes 2 and 3, you'd think the story was about the kids. However, I got back into it when the adults arrived full force. Phillip was so handsome and nice, of course I would have liked to see him and Eun-Young get together, but it's always the jerk who gets the girl. Even though I have these criticisms, I give it 4 stars for the emotional rollercoaster it puts you on. The last episode was kind of anti-climactic. SPOILER ALERT! It would have been better to see Song Ina let go of Jae Ha instead of her telling Eun-Young about it. All in all, I thought it was a great k-drama and would recommend it.

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, Starring Lee Seung Ki and Min-a Shin

I really really really really like this kdrama. Mi Ho was so pretty and adorable. At first I thought Dae-Woong looked goofy, but as the series moved on, I realized he really has a nice smile. The fact that they both were willing to give up their lives for each other was so touching. I'm not sure if ...read moresomething got lost in the translation, but I didn't understand where Park what's-his-name came from. I also thought he had ulterior motives and wanted Mi Ho for himself. This drama made me laugh and cry, especially the last two episodes. The grandma showing up in the last episode was kind of deus ex machina to make everything all right, but I would have been disappointed if Mi Ho didn't come back. Did anyone besides me catch Go Mi Nyu and Jeremy from You Are Beautiful? Even some of the music was familiar from either that drama or Heartstrings. I would highly recommend this show, especially if you liked Secret Garden or 49 days.

You Are Beautiful Starring Jang Keun Suk and Shin-Hye Park

I have watched three kdramas and they all had musical settings: Heartstrings, You are Beautiful, and The Musical. You are Beautiful was my favorite. I liked how the mean character changed by the end. It was the only one in which I felt physically sick before the last two episodes wanting to know wha...read moret happens, but not wanting the series to end. Yikes, does that mean I'm addicted?

Donaldina Cameron

Fierce Compassion: The Life of Abolitionist Donaldina Cameron, by Kristin and Kathryn Wong

Can one ordinary person truly make a difference? In turn-of-the-twentieth century San Francisco Chinatown, Donaldina Cameron did just that. Fighting against racism, gangs, and her own self-doubt, Miss Cameron freed thousands of Chinese slave girls from prostitution and dealt a huge blow to human trafficking.

From Scottish ancestry and born in New Zealand, Donaldina moved north from Southern California to 920 Stockton Street to teach sewing for a year, but ended up staying for forty-six. She also became an advocate for the Chinese living in America and traveled to many cities speaking on the topic.

This biography by a mother-daughter writing team captures readers' imagination and takes them to the streets of Chinatown exploring not only Miss Cameron's life, but the lives of the many girls and women she saved. Most were tricked or coerced into prostitution or sold as house slaves by desperate parents in China. The book portrays their struggles to escape slavery and adjust to life as free women.

Kathryn (r) and Kristin (l) Wong, Authors

Today, a hundred years later, human trafficking again has risen to the forefront of the public eye. Fierce Compassion is must-reading for anyone interested in modern-day slavery, Chinese-American history, Christian biographies, San Francisco Chinatown, the Presbyterian Church, the abolitionist movement, inspirational stories, women's issues, Donaldina Cameron House and more.

GCB: Hell Hath No Fury

On March 11th, I watched the second episode of GCB. In the first episode, the protagonist, Amanda Vaughn, played by Leslie Bibb, seemed to be the only positive major character in the show set in a mainly Christian community in Texas. I was hoping the second episode would introduce more positive Christian characters. I missed the first five minutes, but viewers did get to see some of the major characters change for the better.

Heather the realtor, played by Marisol Nichols, finally accepts Amanda's apologies and befriends her, even openly defying Carlene. Cricket the businesswoman advises her daughter Alexandra, played by Alix Gitter, to be nice to Amanda's daughter Laura, played by Lauran Irion, and not throw mud on her in a mean girl ritual.

The strained relationship between Amanda and her mother Gigi, played by Annie Potts, is explored. Gigi is portrayed as a prudish, self-righteous Christian and Dallas socialite whom Amanda had vowed she would never be like. But Amanda finds herself in the same situation with her daughter, when Laura vows never to be a mean girl like her mother was in high school.

The wacky characters introduced in the first episode seem to be getting rounded out. Hopefully, as the show progresses, all the characters will become more developed and show both good and bad characteristics.

GCB: Soap Opera or Real Life?

On March 4th, I watched the first episode of GCB, a new soap opera on ABC. Surprised? I don't normally watch soaps, but I was curious to see how network television would portray Christians. Leslie Bibb, as Amanda Vaughn, a former mean girl, returns home to a suburb of Dallas, Texas, after her husband dies in a car crash. Kristin Chenoweth's character, Carlene Cockburn, now the queen bee in her town and at her local church, who had been mistreated by Amanda in high school, plots revenge, all in the name of God.

To say the least, my gut reaction to the characters and situations was that I was highly offended. I don't know any adult Christians who would act the way Carlene and her gang would act or say the things they said ("Cleavage makes your cross hang straighter"). The characters seemed to be no different from the exaggerated negative stereotypes that are portrayed in the majority of mainstream television and movies, if Christians are seen at all.

Nonetheless, I asked myself, "Instead of bashing the show, what good can come out of it?" I thought about how African-Americans were first portrayed on television as maids, butlers, and negative stereotypes. But now they play important roles and star in shows (although lately the number of them has waned, but that's another topic). Perhaps for Christians, this is a start. There have been other shows in which Christians were portrayed as "the good guys," such as Touched by an Angel and Father Dowling Mysteries, but not in a while. Hopefully, GCB will open the door for more shows and movies with positive Christian characters (and not more stereotypes.)

Another thought: Soap operas are not real life, but lend themselves to over-the-top characters. To have drama, you need conflict, hence, the highly exaggerated Carlene. The pilot introduced Carlene's friends, Jennifer Aspen, as Sharon Peacham, a former beauty queen who is now overweight, Marisol Nichols as Heather Cruz, a successful real estate agent, Miriam Shor as Cricket Caruth-Reilly, a strong-willed businesswoman, and Annie Potts, as Amanda's mother Gigi Stopper. Each of these women has her own problems.

It will be interesting to see if some of these negative characters will change and exhibit good characteristics.

Fremont Area Writers' Triple Play Workshop

Just a head's up: On Saturday, Sept. 24, Fremont Area Writers will present not one…not two…but three mini-workshops in one morning! All for the bargain price of only $25.

Topics:

“My Point of View on Point of View”--Geraldine Solon is the author of Love Letters which has been optioned for film. She is the winner of the 2011 Beach Book Festival-Romance category. She just released her new novel, Chocolicious.

“10 Ways to Get an Audience for Your Writing”--Art Carey is the author of The Gender War. His sci-fi, humor and mainstream fiction has appeared in a variety of Internet and print publications.

“The Volcano Method of Self-Editing”--Carol Hall is a freelance writer and author of For Those Who Serve: A Devotional for Church Volunteers. She’ll demonstrate how to harness creative eruptions and use quiet analysis to make writing sizzle and flow.

Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Place: Room 204 at DeVry University, 6600 Dumbarton Circle, in Fremont. Register by Sept. 7^th for a chance to win $25 (The cost of the workshops!). Please contact Geraldine Solon at gsolon082007@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining this workshop or mail a check to Fremont Area Writers P.O. Box #32 Fremont, CA 94537.