Korean American film maker wins Spirit Award's for best movie

Spa Night stars Joe Seo

ASAM NEWS

“I'M GOING TO BARF,” Andrew Ahn said to laughter after winning an Independent Spirit Award for best film budgeted for under $500,000.

The award is named for John Cassavetes, an actor, screenwriter and director who is considered by many the pioneer of American Independent Film.

A gay Korean/American filmmaker, Ahn won for Spa Night which debuted at Sundance and opened the Asian American International Film Festival in New York.

“This is so meaningful that this award is going to a film about a Korean American immigrant family, about queer Korean/American people,” said Ahn. “Now more than ever its so important that we support stories told by and about communities that are marginalized. That we tell story about immigrants, women, people of color, trans and queer folks.”

The story is centered around a young man who takes a job in a spa to help his struggling parents pay the bills. It is at the spa that David, played by Andrew Seo, explored his gay identity within the context of a conservative Korean/American family.

“Film is such a powerful tool,” said Ahh while clutching his Spirit Award. “Humanizing these communities so we can’t be pushed aside, labeled as other. We are part of this great country. and we are undeniable.”

Spa Night has been honored with numerous awards including best breakout performance for Seo from Sundance and best performance from Outfest. Ahn also won by Outfest for best narrative feature prize.

"I have to thank my parents for understanding that their gay Korean American son is their son," said Ahn.

TGIF FEATURE: Korea still a U.S. ally despite the visit of Conan O'Brien & Steven Yeun

Conan O'Brien and Steven Yeun did a music video during their visit to Korea.

IN CASE you missed last week's special featuring comedian Conan O'Brien in South Korea here are a few clips of his hilarious visit.

His special guest was Steven Yeun, the Korean/American star of The Walking Dead. He took a break from killing zombies to display some pretty good dance moves, a flair for deadpan comedy and - lo, and behold - not bad singing pipes, either.

The American pair tried Korean food ...

My favorite bit was the K-pop music video in which they both appeared with J.Y. Park. As K-pop goes this is pretty good - catchy, nice dance moves, attractive people - even if you don't understand the Korean lyrics.

Yeun, primarily known for his action role in The Walking Dead, may be priming himself to expand his horizons beyond the zombie apocalypse. His character, Glenn Rhee, is generally thought to be the character who dies in the hit drama's finale. But that won't be revealed until the show's next season.

RELATED: Glenn Rhee's fate has 'Walking Dead' fans in a daze

Not surprisingly, Yeun, as a Korean/American was also viewed as an American. He was as much a foreigner to the Koreans as red-headed Conan. Yeun was also a bit of a stranger in a strange land. As Conan discovered, Yeun wasn't much of guide.

Have a great weekend.

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Violence at Trump events turns off PR consultant, quits job as Breitbart spokesman

KURT BARDELLA is one the many nameless "grunts" who work behind the scenes of a political campaign to help the campaign run smoothly. We probably not have heard of him if not for today (March 11) when he decided to stand against the violence that has been following the Donald Trump campaign for President.

Kurt Bardella

"There is this escalating pattern of behavior that's only happening at Donald Trump events," Bardella told Buzzfeed. "It's incredibly dangerous. His rhetoric is unmistakable and it is calculated and it is intentional." 

Bardella resigned from his position as Breitbart News spokesperson a few hours before the cancellation of a Trump rally in Chicago because police feared they would not be able to control the thousands of anti-Trump protestors. 

What appears to be the last straw was when Michelle Fields, a reporter from Breitbart News, a pro-Trump news agency, was reportedly manhandled and forced to the ground by Corey Lewandowski, the candidate's campaign manage . Breitbart News, instead of supporting their reporter, seemed to waffle and even posted stories casting doubt on her version of the incident. A Washington Post story by a reporter who witnessed the entire incident backed Fields' story.

"I just disagree with the course of which (Breitbart News) had been covering this, and how they've treated Michelle," he told CNN. "I think that they've been looking for a reason to disprove something, when all the evidence from a Washington Post reporter's firsthand account, to the bruises on Michelle's arm, to all the photos and video clips that we've seen strongly suggest that Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's campaign manager was the one who did this. And there's no reason to never support your own reporter."

Later yesterday, after a video surfaced showing the incident, Breitbart News released the following statement:

Breitbart News stands behind Michelle Fields. Even Donald Trump campaign spokesperson Katrina Pierson said Thursday that “someone probably did grab her,” i.e. Fields, though she claimed it could not have been Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Trump’s suggestion that Fields made up the incident Tuesday evening contradicts the evidence, including her own injuries, an account from Washington Post reporter Ben Terris, and audio recorded at the scene.

But, clearly ,looking at his subsequent Tweets and interviews, that incident was simply the final straw of a growing dissatisfaction with the Trump campaign with which Bardella no longer wanted to be associated, even tangentially.

A series of Tweets from Bardella further explained his decision.

Bardella was born in Korea and at 3 months old, he was adopted by a childless American couple and he once reportedly told a writer that he's not a "D" or an "R," (Democrat or Republican) but an "O" (opportunist). However, he left no doubt why he left his political position.

"I think that Donald Trump has been a disruptive force in the political and public rhetoric, the discourse of the conversations running the presidential campaign has deteriorated," said Bardella in the CNN interview. "You are seeing violence and it's not just an isolated incident. It's a pattern of behavior, ... And at what point does somebody draw the line and say enough is enough, and take responsibility for that? You had Donald Trump on (CNN) not that long ago. He doesn't take responsibility from it."

Bardellla, who used to fulfill the same function for Republican Rep. Daryl Issa, had enough. "Donald Trump makes me embarrassed to say that I'm a Republican."

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