DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON is enjoying quite a year. He's got a couple of movies coming out, his HBO series Ballers is coming back for another season, he was named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive and he's earning the most money of any actor in the U.S.
He's taking creative chances. He surprised most people with his singing in Moana.
Johnson hosted his annual Rock the Troops special at the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The showk, which aired Dec. 13 on Spike, aims to honor, inspire, and entertain the brave men and women of the Armed Services, and features tributes and performances from Nick Jonas, Matthew McConaughey, and Dwayne's BFF Kevin Hart — but The Rock took the stage himself during the show for a rousing, spot-on rendition of the Elvis Presley classic "Jailhouse Rock."
Polynesian Moana and her erstwhile companion, the demigod Maui.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Thanksgiving hangover. Thinking of taking the family to a movie? Here's an offering you should consider.
By Louis Chan REPRINTED FROM ASAM NEWS
MY TWO 20-something children called Moana, which opened this Thanksgiving weekend, one of the best Disney movies ever.
That’s high praise from two kids who’s collection of animated Disney and Pixar movies is quite extensive. (can you still call two 20-somethings kids? Hell, yes, especially if they’re yours)
The Media Action Network of Asian Americans joined in that praise applauding Disney studios for hiring Pacific Islanders at multiple levels and reflecting accurately the values and culture of Pacific Islanders.
“Moana is the gold standard for how movies should be made,” says MANAA board member Rakshak Sahni. “If you are making a film about Pacific Islanders, it is a given that you should hire Pacific Islanders both in front of and behind the camera. Yet in the past and present we have seen studios creating stories about Asians and Pacific Islanders, but hiring White writers and White actors to perform or voice the roles.”
Moana tells the story of a girl drawn to the ocean and who defies her father, the chief of the island village, when she goes beyond the reef to save her people.
According to the Disney Examiner, an independent online magazine devoted to Disney, directors John Musker and Ron Clements met up with prominent cultural advisors in the region and immersed themselves in the culture during visits to Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, and New Zealand.
“The ocean is viewed as a living, breathing, powerful entity,” said Musker about what he learned. “There is immense respect and admiration for the ocean in this part of the world. We heard many times from the people we met during our trips to the Pacific Islands that the ocean doesn’t separate the islands, it connects them. Voyaging is real source of pride for the Pacific Islanders, a part of their identity. They were, and continue to be, some of the greatest explorers of all time. This wayfinding sense is not only quite sophisticated, it is miraculous.”
Members of MANAA had a chance to see an advanced screening of the movie. Some came away in tears.
“When many Pacific Islanders spoke up during a Q&A with ‘Moana’ producer Osnat Shurer, they were in tears,” said MANAA Vice President Miriam Nakamura-Quan. “They felt that Disney had somehow managed to combine three different cultures and values into one and present it accurately and authentically to a wider audience.”
According to MANAA co-founder Guy Aoki, there wasn’t a White person in the entire movie.
“Disney had confidence in their story that they didn’t have to compromise — as many filmmakers do — feeling they needed a White character for the audience to identify with,” he said. “We’re confident that children of all ages and backgrounds will identify with Moana.
Besides the lead voice roles of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and newcomer Auli’i Cravalho, the commitment of Disney to cultural sensitivity is impressive with all the Pacific Islander talent used in the movie.
Extra Hint: Watch the credits all the way to the end for an extra surprise scene.
Dwayne Johnson is second AAPI to be named 'Sexiest Man Alive.
IT'S AN ANNUAL honor bestowed on a celebrity every year, but for Dwayne Johnson and the Asian/American & Pacific Islander community, Johnson being named People's Sexiest Man Alive, means a little more.
The half-Samoan, half-black actor is the first non-white male to receive the title since Denzel Washington in 1996—20 years ago! The last time an AAPI man won the honor was 1994 when Keanu Reeves garnered the title.
With the animated movie Moana due out before year's end in which he voices the demigod Maui, several movies due out next year and starring in the HBO's Ballers, Johnson topped the list of Hollywood's A-list earners in 2016.
In an understatement, the busy actor says he feels like he's reached a "pinnacle" point in his career.
Growing up in Honolulu, during his teen years, "I was unsure of who I was and who I wanted to be,” he told People Magazine.
One of the most appealing things about Johnson is his willingness to go against type. Many he-man types are satisfied to portray essentially the same character in movie after movie; you know, the steely-eyed, strong-jawed, man of few words and la preference to use muscle when in a fix. He played many of those characters in his action movies in the Fast & Furious franchise. G.I. Joe, Hercules and San Andreas among a host of others.
The physically-imposing actor - was a football player and a wrestler before he began his acting career has also played a tooth-fairy, an unwilling parent and an over-the-hill football player. In other words, he's not afraid to laugh at himself and the image associated with him.
Like many Samoan/Americans, he thought football was his ticket -to fame and fortune and a way to taking care of his family. Injuries sidelined his budding pro-footbally career and ultimately, he was cut from the Canadian Football League. "That failure was tough; that was a tough pill," he admitted to People.
He fought off a bout of depression before finding himself in the wrestling ring, following the path of an older relative.
From acting in the ring, it wasn't a far stretch to acting in the movies. By using his muscles to grab casting agents' attention, he was able to land a covey of action roles.
This year, Johnson was named the highest-paid actor. AAPI actors are not seen as box-office attractions, often passed over for white actors, even when the role calls for an AAPI actor. When will Hollywood producers and casting agents overcome their inherent bias against AAPI actors? With all the publicity surrounding diversity in the #OscarsSoWhite and #WhiteWashedOut controversies, maybe Johnson's breakthrough will dispel their doubts. Don't hold your breath. Not much changed when Keanu Reeves was at the top of his popularity. It will likely take Johnson, Reeves, along with Jackie Chan, Priyanka Chopra, Constance Wu, Daniel Dae Kim, Steven Yeun, Hailee Steinfeld and a host of others to achieve similar bankable status before the studio heads change their thinking. More importantly -- and more difficult -- the aforementioned stars will have to start making noise by talking openly in all media available about the need for AAPI inclusion and identify themselves as AAPI every chance they get. Forget being "exotic" or "ethnically ambiguous," or passing for white. They have to mention their roots as often as they can; not only for their personal well-being, but for all those who follow.
In an Instagram message announcing being name People Magazines Sexiest Man Alive, Johnson said, "Remember, sexy isn't something you 'try and be.' Sexy happens naturally when you're comfortable just being yourself."
Auliʻi Cravalho is the voice for the animated Moana.
DWAYNE, "THE ROCK" JOHNSON, a former professional wrestler and football player, is more than a muscle-bound, action movie star.
In the upcoming animated movie, Moana, he displays his singing talent. He sings "You're Welcome," a brand new song written for the movie by Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame.
For centuries, the greatest sailors in the world masterfully navigated the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. But then, 3,000 years ago, their voyages stopped for a millennium – and no one knows exactly why.
Moana is a sweeping, animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who is inspired to leave the safety and security of her island on a daring journey to save her people. Inexplicably drawn to the ocean, Moana (voice of Auliʻi Cravalho) convinces the mighty demigod Maui (voice of Johnson) to join her mission, and he reluctantly helps her become a way finder like her ancestors who sailed before her.
Together, they voyage across the open ocean on an action-packed adventure, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills her quest and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.
In casting of the voices, Disney sought Pacific Islanders to play the main roles. The selection of Johnson, who is Samoan/American, was a no-brainer. He is the highest-paid movie star in Hollywood.
In open auditions, Disney found Cavalho, who is Hawaiian/American.
DWAYNE "THE ROCK" JOHNSON is perhaps the most visible Pacific Islander American in the country so he's is joining the ranks of celebrities that are encouraging people—especially young ones—to go out and vote.
The Rock, took a break from filming Jumanji in Hawaii and enlisted his production team at Seven Bucks Production to create a song that explains why registering to vote takes no time at all (which is why everyone should do it). "Did you know it takes approximately a minute and 34 seconds to register to vote? Ninety-four seconds to register to vote," The Rock says to the camera.
The AAPI community is the worse demographic in getting eligible voters to go to the polls. During this cycle, numerous community-based organizations have launched registration drives, developed video PSA's, created multi-lingual literature to get out the voters.
There are more immigrants coming from across the Pacific than from South of the Border and a recent Pew study shows that Asians are expected to surpass Latinos as the largest immigrant group in the U.S. Speaking before the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies earlier this year, Obama cited the need for a better representation of AAPI in the political process. "The AAPI community is the fastest-growing minority in America, but it’s still ..." and here he was interrupted with applause ... "well, that's good to cheer about, but it's still significantly underrepresented at the ballot box. In 2012, just 56 percent of eligible AAPI voters were registered to vote. And fewer than half of those registered actually voted. So if you’re upset with America’s immigration policy, but you’re not voting -- that has to change."
A NEW TRAILER for the Disney animated feature Moana debuted on Good Morning America this morning. It was introduced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who provided the voice for the demi-god Maui. Moana follows the story of Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho), a daring 16-year-old who goes on a voyage across the ocean to save her people. Along the way she meets demigod Maui (voiced by Johnson), who guides her on her journey.
The gorgeous animation and what seem to be likable characterizations seem to mark another hit. Moana is the first "princess" of Pacific Islander heritage.
The movie is scheduled for a Thanksgiving release. For you AAPI parents, expect to see the Moana dolls by Christmas and a live character at the Disney parks this summer. Great tattoos, too!
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, left, and Jackie Chan have reason to smile since they top the highest paid actor list.
Reprinted from AsAm News SIX OF THE highest paid actors in the world are of Asian and Pacific Islander descent, according to a list released by Forbes.
Of the seven, only one is American. Dwayne Johnson whose mother is Samoan and father is African/American, is the highest paid actor in the world. He earned $64.5 million in 2015 for his roles in Fast & Furious 7 and San Andreas.
Johnson was born in Hayward, CA and has dual American and Canadian citizenship.
The prevalence of so many non-Americans on the list is perhaps an indication of the growing clout of international markets in the movie industry.
Right behind Johnson in earnings is martial arts megastar Jackie Chan. His 2015 films included Dragon Blade and Monkey King: Hero is Back. He also produced Who Am I 2015. The Hong Kong star earned $61 million.
Shah Rukh Khan from India ranked eighth among the highest paid actors in the world with a take of $33 million. He is known as the king of Bollywood and starred in the comedy Dilwale.
Rounding out the top 10 highest paid actors list is Indian/Canadian Akshay Kumar. He took in $31.5 million for his roles in Baby, Hey Bro, Gabbar is Back, Brothers and Singh is Bling.
Fan Bing Bing starred in four movies in 2015 and earned $17 million. That was enough to rank 5th among the top 10 highest paid actresses in the world. None of the Chinese actress’ movies were widely distributed in the United States.
Deepika Padukone is an Indian actress who placed 10th among the highest paid actresses in the world. She earned $10 million for her roles in My Choice, Piku, Tamasha and Bajirao Mastani. She’s set to appear in XXX: Return of Xander Cage in 2017 with Vin Diesel.
The listing of the highest paid actors and actresses in the world runs counter to the popular Hollywood belief that AAPI-led movies are not profitable, an excuse that rings hollow as the American motion picture industry tries to market to the rest of the world.
Is Dwayne Johnson eyeing a new role as President of the U.S.?
AN ACTOR as President of the United States? How outlandish does that sound?
Oh, wait a minute. That's already been done, right?
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is not rejecting the idea after an article in the Washington Post said that he might actually win if he ran for president.
'I can’t deny that the thought of being governor, the thought of being president, is alluring," said the Samoan/American actor. "And beyond that, it would be an opportunity to make a real impact on people’s lives on a global scale. But there are a lot of other things I want to do first.'
Could this be the first nudge of the boulder that will start gaining momentum until it can't be stopped? The retired wrestler seemed very intrigued by the opinion piece written by The Washington Post, which supported his background and skill set as a good fit for the POTUS. So much so, that he actually commented back on it.
“I care DEEPLY about our county… and the idea of one day becoming President to create real positive impact and global change is very alluring," Dwayne wrote. "Buuuuut until that possible day, the most important thing right now is strong honest leadership from our current and future leaders of this country.”
Since the San Andreas actor is a registered Republican, the author of the piece, Alyssa Rosenberg, argues that since the party is desperate for nonwhite voters, The Rock could be a viable option.
This political speculation began earlier this month when the 44-year old Johnson hinted at the possibility of a career in politics in an interview with British GQ.
"I’ll be honest, I haven’t ruled politics out." he said. "I’m not being coy when I say that, but at the moment I am not sure."
The popular actor has mastered the first step in being a politician -- ambiguity.
AS HOLLYWOOD gets dragged into the 21st century and kicking and screaming to the inevitable realization that casting diversity in motion pictures is good for business, it's a different story in the fantasy world of animation. Apparently, drawing characters of color is easier than casting actors of color.
The first trailer for Moana, Disney's latest animated movie, debuted today (June 12). It features the first Polynesian princess in Disney's universe of princesses.
In the latest addition to the Disney princess canon, Moana (Aul i'i Cravalho) sets sail for a fabled island. Joining her on the adventure is the demi-god Maui (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson).
The 'Moana' poster was released last week.
Funny, but while watching the trailer it looks like The Rock, who is part Samoan, put his all into his role. I have not heard him more animated (pun intended). The tats the animators drew on Maui look fantastic!
Johnson said the film is "visual and singing journey unlike anything you have ever seen before."
Notably, Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the Broadway musical Hamilton, wrote some original music for the movie. His Hamilton co-star Phillipa Soo, who plays Hamilton's wife on stage, also stars in Moana in a still unnamed role.
It is the first role for Aul i'i Carvalho, who is Hawaiian/American, and had to undergo a rigorous audition process to find an actress with a Pacific Islander heritage to play the princess. I imagine then, if Disney stays true to form in merchandising, that this Christmas, Pacific Islander parents will be buying Moana dolls that look like their daughters and temporary tattoos for their boys.
Moana joins an ever-growing list of Disney's princesses of color. After criticism arose that all the Disney princesses had been white, Disney began introducing a more diverse line of young female characters: Jasmine was the first Arab princess (1992), Pocahontas was the first Native American princess (1995), Mulan was the first Asian princess (1998), and Tiana was the first African-American princess (2009). This July, Disney will finally introduce its first Latina princess, Elena of Avalor.
It would be really good if Disney Studios, which makes moves under Lucas Films and and Marvel Studios among others, employs the same casting diversity for its real live actors that it does for its animated ones.
"Moana" will be out in theaters on Nov. 23, 2016 in time for the holiday season. Watch the first trailer below:
'RUNNING AMOK' is a common phrase you probably have heard. Did you know that the word "amok" is of Malaysian origin? "Amok" refers to a person, usually male, who goes on a rampage and starts killing everyone in sight and it usually ends with that person getting killed. It's a form of suicide, really, an individual who is mentally disturbed trying to go out in a rage, telling the world contradictory messages: that he can't take the world anymore and his existence matters. I only mention this because mental health issues are topics Asian/Americans generally try to avoid, yet the manifestations that someone having difficulty coping is something everyone is familiar with; something that tends to be discussed behind closed doors. It can manifest itself in extreme forms like running amok or more commonly, as in the case of movie star Dwayne Johnson, "in a bubble."
Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders suffer from mental illness at the same rate as everyone else. Unfortunately, AAPI's are also the least likely to seek help.
Recently, the television show Oprah's Master Classtalked with Johnson, a Samoan/Canadian who made a name for himself as a professional wrestler after getting rejected as a football player. Eventually, he worked his way into acting where he is having a successful career playing big, strong macho guys.
After playing football for four years at the University of Miami, Johnson was passed over by the NFL. While he played for the Canadian Football League for a short time, he was ultimately cut from his team, the Calgary Stampeders, and sent packing. At 23, Dwayne found himself living in his parents' small apartment, battling depression.
"I didn't want to do a thing," he recalls. "I didn't want to go anywhere. I was crying constantly. Eventually you reach a point where you are all cried out." That wasn't the first time he felt lost, nor was it the last. Each time he had to remake himself, into a wrestler, into an actor, into a businessman, into a father. Just the fact that they are people of color in a country that in every institution is white-centric puts a lot of stress on minorities; that they don't count, don't matter and are invisible to the rest of society. Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders come from 52 different countries and are the most diverse racial/ethnic group in terms of religious/spiritual affiliation, cultural background and traditions, and generational and immigration experiences.
Prevalence rates of mental illness among AAPI are believed to be no different from those of other Americans. However, the type of psychopathology, ethnicity and generational status, acculturation and cultural background all appear to influence the manifestation of psychological distress among AAPI, according to Gayle Y. Iwamasa of the Asian American Psychological Association.
A study conducted by The University of Maryland School of Public Health research team in 2007, which looked at needs of mental health for Asian-American young adults, showed that participants reported several common sources of stress that affected their overall mental health:
Parental pressure to succeed in academics
Discussing mental health concerns is considered taboo in many Asian cultures and as a result Asian Americans tend to dismiss, deny or neglect their symptoms
Pressure to live up to the "model minority" stereotype (a view that inaccurately portrays Asian Americans as successfully integrating into mainstream culture and having overcome the challenges of racial bias)
Family obligations based on strong traditional and cultural values
Discrimination due to racial or cultural background
Difficulty in balancing two different cultures and developing a bicultural sense of self
A different study conducted by Iwamasa found Southeast Asian and other Asian-American/Pacific Islander immigrants who experienced violence, war, or economic oppression prior to their arrival in the United States appear susceptible to suffer psychological distress or post traumatic stress syndrome, something we usually associate with soldiers' disturbed by their combat experiences.
Living up to parental expectations can put a lot of stress on children.
"Understanding the mental health issues of Asian/Americans and Pacific Islanders is important," says Iwamasa," because of the vast heterogeneity of the group, the various Asian cultures' beliefs about mental health, and the emphasis on the connection between the mind and body."
Among many Asian-Americans/Pacific Islanders, interpersonal harmony and the focus on family influence the experience, interpretation and expression of psychological distress. For example, in some Asian cultural groups, the experience of psychological distress is not only a reflection on the individual in distress, but also reflects on the entire family. Thus, shame, embarrassment and loss of face contribute to whether or not an individual will admit to experiencing psychological problems.
These same cultural values are key reasons AAPI are less likely to seek help or treatment for their depression or other mental illness.
The acclaimed, Emmy-nominated series Oprah's Master Class tells the stories you've never heard from the people you thought you knew best. Hand-picked by Oprah Winfrey for their unique impact on the world, true modern masters from Academy Award-winning actors, to Grammy-winning musicians, to ground-breaking athletes, share the greatest lessons they've learned along the way. In an intimate setting, they share their successes, their failures, their triumphs, disappointments and heartbreaks. The fact that a celebrity of Johnson's stature is willing to go public with his depression, even if may hurt his macho image, hopefully may help someone struggling with mental health - whether it be depression, PTSD, feelings of inadequacy, loneliness, sexual identity, or some other issue - to seek the help he, or she, needs.
Johnson's confession shows that anyone can have bouts of despair. You can be a musical protege striving for perfection, a father trying to regain your position as family provider, a student trying to live up to expectations, a young person being bullied, parents who must depend on their child to understand a new culture, or an athlete who is just not quite good enough to go pro. The point is, if you know anyone suffering from this condition, let him or her know there is help and that there is no need to be alone. Ask "The Rock." "I found that, with depression, one of the most important things you could realize is that you're not alone," said the movie action hero in the YouTube video posted by Winfrey's OWN channel. "You're not the first to go through it; you're not going to be the last to go through it. And oftentimes — it happens — you just feel like you're alone. You feel like it's only you. You're in your bubble. And I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and (say), 'Hey, it's gonna be OK. It'll be OK.' So, I wish I knew that." For more news about Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, go to AsAm News.
IT USED TO BE that summer meant three months of watching summer reruns on TV. Nowadays, it is a season unto itself. It gives networks a chance to be a little more out of the box and try out new ideas that just missed being included in the fall/winter season. Two of the brightest shows this summer featured Asians playing major roles: Hell On Wheels and Dark Matter.
Actors (from left) Angela Zhou, Byron Mann and Tzi Ma have major roles in "Hell on Wheels."
HELL ON WHEELS, in its fifth and final season, has saved the best for last. When the western series telling the story of the building of the first transcontinental railroad began, it was heavily criticized for leaving out the Chinese workers who built the west to east line, from California to Utah. For the first four seasons, it was all about the Union Pacific effort which built the railroad from east to west - cowboys, recently freed African Americans, Native American and Mormons. While the first four seasons had their moments, the fourth season has surpassed them all with its story of the Central Pacific and the Chinese workers' contributions to building this nation - not just the railroad. For the first time on television, Chinese characters were depicted as fully fleshed-out human beings. Some were flawed, triumphant, stubborn, loyal, determined, strong, greedy, manipulative, intelligent or brave -- or as real people tend to be, a little bit of all of these characteristics. The characters depicted on Wheels are a far cry from the Ponderosa's Hop Sing, who rarely ventured out of the kitchen other than to announce to the Cartwright family that dinner was ready.
Kudos to the actors Byron Mann, who plays labor contractor "Chang;" Angela Zhou, who plays "Fong," a woman playing a boy; and Tzi Ma, portraying "Tao," the foreman o the Chinese workers. After such a tenuous start, Hell on Wheels is finishing strong. A lot of credit should be given to show runner, John Wirth for including the Central Pacific story. To my mind, that is a more compelling story with the additional layer of the culture clash between whites and the Chinese making for more interesting storylines. It doesn't avoid the racism that pervaded that era because race relations provide the reason for most of the show's story's conflict. If you have on-demand TV, you can binge-watch the entire season from episode one to catch up and you'll have plenty of time to do that. AMC has decided to break up the final season in half with the first half concluding this fall and concluding seven episodes to be shown in the summer of 2016. So, even though we call this Wheel's last season, next summer is the "real" last season when we find out the fate of all of the show's characters. We know how it ends with the driving of the golden spike near Promontory Point, Utah and the historic photo that excludes the Chinese workers.
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The cast of Dark Matter
DARK MATTER was a surprise. With a minimum of fanfare, it is establishing itself as a worthy entry in the sic-fi genre.
Melissa O'Neil is Two, the requisite badass
Dark Matter is a space opera following the exploits of six humans who awake from suspended animation and can't remember a thing of their past. Fittingly, they name themselves in the order they awoke aboard the mysterious ship: One, Two, Three and so forth. Oh, and to add more interest, an android, who looks like a woman, is introduced, but her memory doesn't include the ship's mission or who the awaken amnesiacs might be. Two is played by Melissa O'Neil, who is making her television debut with Dark Matter. The Chinese/Canadian from Calgary just a high school student when she became the 2012 winner of Canadian Idol. She was on Broadway in Les Mserables when her agent convinced her to audition for the sic-fi series.
Two is another one of those bad-ass Asian women roles that white producers love. O'Neil has had some training in martial arts so the fight scenes come easy to her. The fight coordinators love her.
Perhaps the only other crew member who could challenge Two is Four, played by Alex Mallari, Jr. Four is a quiet guy but when he is a whirl of flashing swords and kicks when he gets into a fight. Born in the Philippines but raised in Scarborough, Canada, the athletic Mallari has appeared in Robocop, Nikita and a number of other roles before landing the role of Four.
Alex Mallari as Four
The show's strong suit is action but it is the interaction between the main characters that makes the viewer care about them. The playful back-and-forth banter is one of the show's appeals.
SPOILER ALERT:
The first episode hints what to expect in the rest of the series. The crew learns that they are not the good guys that they thought they were.
Of all the main characters in the show, Four's backstory has been the most extensivly portrayed. Apparently he is a prince on a world that looks an awful like Shogun-era Japan but there is still the mystery of why he was placed on a ship with other dangerous criminals.
The show has impressive sci-fi DNA. It was created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, who were also behind the Stargate franchise. It is another one of the several sci-fi productions being filmed in Canada. Our northern neighbor - it appears - is not adverse to providing diversity in its television programs.
There're plenty of stories worth mining in this series and I look forward to watching it next summer and learning more about the mysterious crew of the spaceship Raza. Dark Matter has already been renewed for another 13 episodes next summer.
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OTHER SERIES of note that have Asians and/or Pacific Islanders in prominent roles include Ballers, Human and Strike Back.
Dwayne Johnson
Ballers stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Mimi=based sports agents who spends his time coddling spoiled but highly paid - athletes. The Rock is surprisingly quite good in this, showing that his acting range goes beyond the muscle-man hero-typecast that he has been called on to play in the movies. He can portray contemporary roles in a real-world setting, if you count Miami real. Almost every other setting is in a bar or restaurant filled with beautiful people. I have to admit, its hard to hide his physique even when he's wearing a suit.. Strike Back is a fun, shoot'em-up that has the feel of a video game. It follows a team of highly-trained, secret military unit of British intelligence. There's a video-game feel to the show with the high number of villains who get killed in the course of saving the world. But the appeal to the show are the characters relationships with each other as drawn up by the writers and actors. The show is not above killing off some of its main characters.
Michelle Yeoh
Strike Back is British-produced and in its fourth and last season. There's only so many villains you can kill and dangerous situations that you can escape from. I mention this show only because this season is set in Thailand, which gives a great reason to cast a lot of Asian actors, including Michelle Yeoh, who can act the hell out of a character that could easily have become your stereotypical villainess, ala Dragon Lady. Humans, another British import, is about human-like artificial beings who have human feelings and independent thought. Its a chilling allegorical study of race, sex, gender roles and mankind’s fears of technological advancemen, Humans moves at a slower pace than, say Dark Matter, but it is thoughtful and poses a lot of what-if-it-were-me questions.
Gemma Chan
What makes the series noteworthy is Gemma Chan, who plays one of the "synths," short for "synthetic." It's hard to take your eyes off her when she's onscreen, looking hard to detect any trace of human emotion on her face. The part-Chinese-Scottish actress, an Oxford graduate, is probably best known in Asian/American circles for her take on Hollywood. "Oh, you are more likely to see an alien in a Hollywood film than an Asian woman," she said. UPDATE: In earlier versions of this post, I neglected to mention Aasif Mandvi who plays Rafiq Massoud. All in all, it was a good summer for Asian-watching compared to past years when Asians and Pacific Islanders were relegated to the background at best. In the big picture, though, five shows out of the hundreds being aired, AAPI characters are still barely visible in America's living rooms. But the summer is only a harbinger of things to come. Hollywood, in its normal practice of copying what's hot, was apparently impressed with the ratings of Fresh Off The Boat so that 2015-2016 TV season looks to be a historic season in terms of shows featuring Asians in prominent roles. Watch for my preview for the upcoming season.
