'Grey's Anatomy' gets real; Harry Shum Jr, Midori Francis added to cast.Ha

Harry Shum, Jr, left, and Midori Francis join cast of long-running 'Grey's Anatomy.'

The newest class of interns at Grey Soan Medical Center will add two Asian Americans to the cast of Grey's Anatomy in the show's 19th season.

Finally, with the addition of Harry Shum Jr and Midori Francis, the staff at the fictional Seattle hospital is starting to reflect real life. In the past, the show has been criticized for not casting enough Asian Americans in more prominent roles despite the hard-to-ignore presence of AANHPI medical personnel in most real-life US urban hospitals.

Shum and Francis will play first-year surgical residents at Grey Sloan, which was ordered to disband and rebuild its teaching program in the Season 18 finale.

Shum will play Daniel “Blue” Kwan, who is described as sharp-witted, impatient and brilliant. He is generous by nature but competitive to a fault, naturally gifted, and used to winning at everything. The character's back story hints at a family crisis that interrupted with his career plans and now he’s got a lot to prove.

Francis’ character, Mika Yasuda, is described as a middle child with eight siblings. She is used to being overlooked and underestimated (for many AANHPI, that sounds very familiar) and uses it to her advantage. Mika is dealing with overwhelming  med school debt (that sounds familiar, too), but she’s scrappy and confident she can make it in the hospital's residency program and rise to the top.

Most recently, Francis played Alicia, the leader of the Essex College Women’s Center, on HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls. She will continue with that role in the series' second season. Francis began garnering notice for her lead role in Netflix's Dash & Lily, for which she earned an Emmy nomination.

Shum launched his career as a series regular on the cult-favorite Glee. He cemented himself as a romantic figure in the groundbreaking film, Crazy Rich Asians, where he played Charlie Wu, a potential love interest of Astrid Leong, played by Gemma Chan. The CRA sequel will center on the budding romantic relationship between the two.

Despite being cast regulars, the backstories of the characters played by Lynn Chen, left,
and Alex Landistill still needs to be told.

The two Grey's newcomers will join regulars Lynn Chen, whose role as Dr. Michelle Lin, head of plastic surgery, wasn't fully fleshed out in Season 18; and Alex Landi, who plays the oversexed 3rd year resident, Dr. Nico Kim.

As we discuss Asian American cast members, we should remember that Grey's Anatomy brought Sandra Oh some Hollywood cred for her portrayal of BFF Dr. Cristina Yang. The Emmy-nominated Oh left the security of the series in 2014 to expand her acting resume.

We also cannot forget the Asian American actor who has been with the series for all of its 18 seasons and presumably into the 19th. Kathy C. Han, a nurse in real life,  appears in almost every important surgery scene as the reticent scrub nurse Bokhee. In those 18 seasons, she probably has spoken a only a dozen words.

Despite numerous cast turnovers with actors coming and going, Grey's Anatomy, created by executive producer Shonda Rhimes, remains ABC's top drama for the coveted 18-49 demographic favored by advertisers. 

With the addition of the new characters, there is an opportunity for Rhimes to help develop the Asian American characters. Since Oh's departure, the Asian American characters have not really been explored and turned into 3-dimensional characters like Dr. Cristina Yang.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter. 

Asian Americans push for a gallery of their own in Washington DC

SMITHSONIAN

Linda Sasaki, director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, at the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The drive for permanent gallery space on the National Mall in Washington D.C. was launched 3,000 miles away in Los Angeles with Hollywood celebrities and politicians.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center Saturday (May 18) launched a $25 million fundraising drive for a proposed museum or exhibit space dedicated to the history and future of Asian America with an event simply called The Party.

"Museums preserve what's important to society. They tell our stories, give historical context to contemporary issues and help us imagine a better future," said Laura Lott, president and CEO of the American Alliance of Museums.

"The ability to have that visibility and recognition is so important," said Lisa Sasaki, the center's director, to the Associated Press. Despite temporary exhibits along the mall, she said, "there has never been a dedicated space where the public could consistently visit and find out about the history and culture of Asian Americans."

Asian Americans are the nation's fastest-growing minority and number about 22 million, or roughly 6% of the population. They come from more than 20 countries, with the largest populations from China, India, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam and Japan. They range from recent immigrants to descendants of laborers who migrated in the 19th century to build the Transcontinental Railroad and work sugar cane fields in Hawaii.

About Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center

From its establishment in 1997 as an initiative critical to the mission of the Smithsonian until today, the vision for the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center has been to enrich the American story with the voices of Asian Pacific Americans.

Asian Pacific America is the story of a vibrant, diverse, and resilient set of communities that have been part of the American experience for more than 200 years. It is the story of two continents and a constellation of islands joined by the migration, exchange, and competition of people and ideas. Yet, across museums and galleries in the nation’s capital and around the country, most people find only fragments of America’s rich Asian Pacific heritage.

There are more than 22 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. In less than 50 years, nearly one of every ten people in America will trace his or her heritage to Asia and the Pacific — a region that is home to nearly half of the world’s population, natural life, nations, economies, major faiths and languages.

The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center believes that understanding all of America and America’s standing in the world is richer, more compelling, and more powerful when it includes the Asian Pacific American story. The center serves as a dynamic national resource for discovering why the Asian Pacific American experience matters every day, everywhere, and all of the time.

It's too early to say how large a gallery would be or when it might be secured, but Sasaki says they are looking at several locations along the mall. The 4,500-square-foot (418-square-meter) Molina Family Latino Gallery is scheduled to open in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in 2021. 

DIOKNO

A diorama at the Smithsonian American History Museum depicts Chinese workers in a California field.

The Smithsonian already has separate museums for the American Indian and African American history and arts.

Presently, parts of the AAPI history are on display within the Smithsonian American History Museum and AAPI art is exhibited in a separate building. For lectures or additional exhibits, the Center has to seek space in other institutional buildings. For its recent 3-day literary festival, for example, the Center had to hold it July literary festival events had to behdl at the Phillips Gallery, the Library of Congress and the Dupont Underground.

"I don't know that we have an Oprah," said former Center director Franklin Odo, referring to Oprah Winfrey's charitable foundation, which donated $21 million for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But "we have lots of people with immense means, so there's no question in my mind we can do it."

The launch for a museum or permanent gallery space on the Mall took place at The Party, the first fundraising event of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, a migratory museum that shares Asian Pacific American (APA) history, art, and culture through innovative community-focused experiences.

The Party emceed by Harry Shum, Jr., celebrates "the indelible contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the American experience,” said Lisa Sasaki, the director of the Smithsonian APA Center. 

“From music to technology, sports to entertainment, these modern history-makers inspire Americans of every ethnicity, religion and socioeconomic background by demolishing barriers and challenging time-worn stereotypes with their talents, perseverance, and ingenuity.”

Inaugural awards

Spanning categories including Culinary Arts, Music, and Sports, the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center recognized the contributions of the following:

• Pioneer Award in Culinary Arts to Helene An, the chef known as “the mother of fusion cuisine,” and her family.

• Legend Award in Music to Hiroshima, the Grammy-nominated and first Asian American R&B jazz band.

• The Game Changer Award in Music to Jay Park, the multi-platinum global hip-hop and R&B artist, choreographer, entrepreneur, and songwriter.

• The Titan Award in Sports to Vivek Ranadive, the founder of TIBCO and owner of the Sacramento Kings.

At The Party, the iconic blue dress worn by Constance Wu's character in Crazy Rich Asians was presented as a donation from Marchesa to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The 2018 Hollywood film was the first in 25 years to feature an all Asian and Asian American cast.

“For over 200 years, Asian Pacific Americans have been an integral part of America’s cultural fabric,” said Rep. Doris O. Matsui, Smithsonian regent and a member of the Center’s Advisory Board. “It is time for our struggles to be recognized and our diverse contributions honored within the respected halls of America’s Smithsonian Institution.”

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Take On America talks to 100 Asian American Millennials, Nov 2

IT'S NOT OFTEN Asian Americans are given the opportunity to talk about themselves. Speaking out is not something usually associated with Asian Americans but this program breaks that stereotype.

This Friday, 100 Asian American Milennials will have a chance to sound off on issues like affirmative action, workplace discrimination, stereotypes and more in PBS' Take On America.

Based on the trailers, the conversation might get pretty explosive.

The young Asian Americans gathered in San Francisco to meet and talk to moderator Carlos Watson, who brought with him celebrity chef and raconteur Eddie Huang, actor Harry Shum Jr. and fashion designer. Kimora Lee Simmons and attorney Harmeet Dhillon.

The most heated conversation centered around affirmative action with Dhillon, Republican National Committee member taking on the more liberal Bay Area audience.The trailer chose to focus on that debate but the audience and panel also talked about dating, identity and Asian male stereotypes.

Take On America airs on PBS on Friday, Nov. 2. Check local listings for show times.
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It's a wrap for 'Crazy Rich Asians', the movie

INSTAGRAM / JIMMY O. YANG

The remaining cast members of Crazy Rich Asians gather for the last day of shooting in Singapore

FRIDAY (June 23) was the last day of filming in Singapore for the movie adaptation of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians. 

Director John M. Chu created a congenial environment for bonding for the cast members so the end of Singapore shooting was bittersweet - more like the last day of high school. A great experience, new friendships made and being part of something historic coming to and end.

It is the first Hollywood motion picture with an all-Asian cast since the Joy Luck Club 25 years ago.

Comedian Ronny Chieng of The Daily Show summed it up in a social media posting:

From their social media postings, you can tell the cast members from around the world were having a good time in Singapore. Judging by some of the gorgeous photos of the production, this movie will be an ode to Singapore, much like Woody Allen did films centered around Paris, New York City and San Francisco.

In many of the scenes of Crazy Rich Asians, Singapore will be a star.

Kris Aquino and lead actress Constance Wu.

Several of the supporting actors were sworn to secrecy to not reveal what roles they would be portraying. Such is the case with Ken Jeong and Manila's "Queen of All Media" Kris Aquino, the latter rumored to be playing a member of Burmese royalty.

As author Kevin Kwan said, part of the fun is guessing who will be playing certain characters. Jeong could be one of the patriaarchs of one of the super wealthy Singaporean families or he could be the role of "Eddie," one of the innumerable cousins trying to live up to family standards. The frantic character could make use of Jeong's physical comedic skills.

Anyone who's read the novel knows that the cast of characters is huge including numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and the clusters of friends.

The worldwide search for actors proved dating for director Chu, who opened up casting calls on the internet, hoping to find the perfect actors for each role. The search netted Henry Golding, a Singaporean TV personality who has never appeared in a motion picture before being cast as Nick Young, the male lead in the novel and movie.

RELATED: How would you cast Crazy Rich Asians?

Actors, many of whom had to be able to speak with the Singaporean accent, a bit British, came from as far away as London (Gemma Chan), Australia (Ronny Chieng, Chris Pang, Remy Hill) and the United States (Constance Wu, Nico Santos, Jimmy O. Yang, Harry Shum Jr., Ken Jeong, Awkwafina).

The cast went out to dinner together and had a thing about Karaoke. They apparently had pretty much had a good time, according to their social media feeds and Singapore's gossip columnists.

What happens on the last day of filming and you host of people who are definitely not camera-shy? You end up with this photo.

What actors do when a camera is pointed their way.

The cast, as you can tell from the Instagram and Twitter photos, is one of the most attractive-looking casts ever - no matter what ethnicity.

The scene now moves to Hollywood for editing, scoring and marketing. No date has been announced for its premiere.

By the time filming ended, stars Constance Wu was back in the U.S.  preparing for the fourth season of Fresh Off the Boat and Michelle Yeoh was filming the CBS product, Star Trek: Discovery. that will debut this fall.

Kevin Kwan is making the rounds promoting the concluding novel of the Rich Asians trilogy, Rich People's Problems that was published last month. Will there be a second movie in the franchise based on the middle novel, China Rich Girlfriend.? Stay tuned.

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'Glee' alum Harry Shum, Jr. will be in the 'Crazy Rich Asians' movie.

HARRY SHUM, JR., one of Hollywood's up and coming young Asian/American actors, got cast in Crazy Rich Asians, the movie, in a role that could be the breakout role for him despite an already impressive resume.

On the hit television show Glee, Shum's character, Mike Chang, could usually be found in the back row of the choir risers, uttering a few words now and then to show agreement with the main characters up front. He was not given a chance to upstage the show's stars.

I guess that's where the producers felt Asian men belonged - obscure and in the back row. Who would have thought that hiding behind the quiet, almost invisible character Mike Chang, was a sexy, six-pack hunk type of guy?

Shum reportedly will play tech billionaire Charlie Wu, the ex-boyfriend of the beautiful Astrid Leong, played by British actress Gemma Chan. Charlie's money is new wealth, which just didn't cut it with Astrid's old-wealth family. In the first book of the trilogy on which the movie is based, Charlie Wu had a small role but in the second and third books, the character takes on a much more central role.

It wasn't until Shum appeared in 2016’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny  that he displayed his leading man potential. 

Shum, who was born in Costa Rica and speaks Spanish, was supposed to report for filming in Singapore last weekend.

The Ensemble

Director Jon Chu and author Kevin Dwan had a big hand in ensuring that the casting would follow the novel's storyline. That meant going far and wide to find the all-Asian cast, a rarity in a Hollywood production.

Leading the all-Asian cast is Fresh Off the Boat's Constance Wu in the central role of Rachel Chu, an American professor, the girlfriend of Nick Young, played by newcomer Henry Golding. Rachel meets Nick's family for the first time, not knowing that his family is insanely rich. Internationally known actress Michelle Yeoh -- who is from Singapore and will be starring in the new Star Trek Discovery series this fall -- has been cast as Nick's meddling mother, Eleanor Young.

American audiences will  also recognize two other actors who have been newly cast: Jimmy O. Yang from Silicon Valley and Nico Santos of Superstore, have supporting roles.

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