Academy Awards still sees the world in black and white

IT MAY not be #OscarsSoWhite this year, but after hearing the nominations for the Academy Awards announced today, it's clear that the motion picture industry still has a way to go to reflect the American movie-going audience.

Asians and Asan/Americans got overlooked again. Latinos fared no better. Absolutely no Asians or Latinos were among the nominees in the Oscars' acting categories.

Four African/American actors were nominated in the acting categories. Mudbound's Mary J. Blige, The Shape of Water's Octavia Spencer, Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya and a surprise nomination for Roman J. Israel, Esq.'s Denzel Washington.

Jordan Peele was included in the Best Director Category for his work for Get Out.

Only Guillermo del Toro, director of The Shape of Water, was able to break through the monochromatic nominations in the major categories. The movie garnered 13 nominations, including del Toro's Best Director nomination.

Hong Chau, who was nominated for best supporting actress by the Golden Globes and by the Screen Actors Guild, missed out getting nominated for her portrayal of a Vietnamese refugee in Downsizing.

The absence of Asans or Asian/Americans was not missed by actress Constance Wu (Fresh Off the Boat and the upcoming Crazy Rich Asians).

Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon were nominated for Best Original Screenplay for writing The Big Sick. Many thought the movie, based on the intercultural, interracial courtship of Nanjiani and Gordon, should have supporting acting nods for Holly Hunter.

Among the other awards, Abacus, the documentary of how the government went after a small Chinese/American bank for its role in the mortgage crisis but let the big banks off the hook, was among the nominees for Best Documentary. (If you haven't seen it yet, it's on Amazon.)

Nominated for best song, Coco's "Remember Me," was composed by Filipino/American Robert Lopez.

Coco, a Mexican-themed animated movie, which was nominated for Best Animated Feature.

“There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done,” said April Reign, originator of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. “People unduly focus on films that reflect the black experience, when that has never been the goal of #OscarsSoWhite.

“It’s about everyone in this country being able to see themselves on-screen,” she told the Daily News. “Because we are very slowly becoming a more inclusive society and definitely a browner country, people who pay their $15 to sit in the theaters deserve to see their stories being told.”

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SAG awards: Olivia Munn represents; No AAPI winners; Ansari stays away

SCREEN CAPTURE

Olivia Munn and Niecy Nash had a hilarious intro to awarding SAG's best actor in a drama series.

ASAM NEWS

ASIAN/AMERICANS were shut out at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, but the fastest growing ethnicity in the country did have one shining moment.
Olivia Munn, whose mother is Chinese, stole the show when she made a cutting reference to the lack of Asian/American nominees while presenting the award for best actor in a drama series with Niecy Nash.

Munn was about to announce the winner when she was interrupted by Nash.

“Wait, wait, wait. If it’s Sterling K. Brown, can I say it?” Nash interrupted.

Munn looking a little puzzled, asked why.

“Cuz he’s Black. I mean, but you can say anybody’s name who is Asian that’s nominated.”

“I think its just White guys and Sterling K Brown, but I’ll take one of the White guys,” said Munn.

Turns out Brown did win and, true to her word, Munn allowed Nash to announce the winner.

Of course, both Nash and Munn knew there were no Asian Americans nominated in that category.

Aziz Ansari was nominated for outstanding actor in a comedy series for his role in Netflix's Master of None. He chose to stay away following the fallout from accusations he sexually violated a date who said she made it clear to Ansari she did not want sex. Ansari has since apologized saying he misread his date’s cues. 

When Ansari's name was announced as one of the nominees, there was a notable lack of applause. The Indian/American comedian did not win, losing to William Macy of Shameless.

Hong Chau of Downsizing also did not win. The award went to Allison Janey of I, Tonya in the category of outstanding actress in a supporting role. Chau also loss to Janey in the same category earlier this year at the Golden Globes.

The cast of the motion picture The Big Sick, which starred Pakistani/American Kumail Nanjiani, was shut out. Instead Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri won for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture.

Views From the Edge contributed to this report.

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2017 Anna Awards picks best picture, outstanding actors and more

'The Big Sick' has the honor fof winning the 2018 s Best Asian/American Move Award.

IT'S AWARDS SEASON: The Golden Globes were just handed out. The writers, actors and directors will be handing out its yearly awards. The Grammy's are coming and soon, the Academy Awards will be announced.

Although they are better known and have the glitz, glamor and hype, here are the award announcements that you've all been anxiously waiting for. Right? The winners for the Fourth Annual Anna Awards, granted to Asian American and Pacific Island artists for their work in 2017 because ... except for Aziz Ansari, no one else seems to recognize their work.

Anna May Wong

The awards are named after Anna May Wong, one of the earliest Asian/AMerican actors who had to endure playing the exotic, or the submissive, or the sexual stereotypes of Asian women even though she was born and raised in Los Angeles. She was a star even though Hollywood never gave her the credit she deserved nor the chance to play a role beyond the stereotypes.

Views From the Edge came up with the idea for the awards  in 2014 when no Asians were nominated for any award on any of the entertainment award shows. Not much has changed since then. There is no physical trophy or certificate, just a nod in their direction with an attaway tap on their shoulder.

The awards categories change somewhat from year to year depending on circumstances, incidents or the news context of the period. To be clear, there is no statuette, trophy or money attached to the awards and they're presented for your enjoyment and pleasure. If it raises an eyebrow or two, that's OK, I'd like to hear from you.

 It may be a bit tongue-in-cheek, but it says something about the current state of American pop-culture. So, with no apologies to the Academy and the Hollywood Foreign Press, we present the Anna Awards.

Best Asian/American Movie 
The Big Sick based on the true-life story of the interracial courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gardner. For non-Asians the movie is funny because of the performances of the great cast. However, for Asian/Americans the familiarity to the cultural misunderstandings takes the movie a notch up to hilarious. On Thursday, (Jan. 11), The Big Sick was awarded the Critics' Choice Award for Best Comedy.

'Columbus' was not nominated for any of the big awards, but the Anna's recognizes its brilliance.

Best Underrated Asian/American Movie
Columbus, starring John Cho and directed by Kogonada, is the best movie hardly anyone has seen. It is not for everyone. There are no superheroes, no spectacular special effects, no sex and it is not cleverly hip. It is not Asian/American in theme, but its conversations of family, ambition and living to one's potential are universal. The movie is on several critics' top movies for 2017 but it failed to generate enough buzz to get the attention of the award shows. With Kogonada at the helm, the film is a feast for the eyes. Every lingering shot is beautifully framed and conveys a mood of suffocating beauty.

Best Director
Kogonada, who directed Columbus, his first feature film. He created a leisurely-paced essay on architecture and familial relationships. No sex, no action, just wonderful acting by John Cho, Haley Lu and the rest of the cast. His mood-setting made Columbus, Indiana, with its humid, rainy weather. lush greenery and architectural masterpieces, the overriding character of the movie. Columbus, the town, could be smothering in a way, not only weatherwise, but culturally and the way small-towns can cut off ambition and risk-taking. by its residents.

John Cho, right, discusses a scene witih Columbus director Koganada.

Best Actor
John Cho in Columbus. The veteran actor once again showed his versatility in his restrained but conflicted character. His soul-searching journey never comes to an end but as he comes to accept his fate and what comes next in his own life, he launches another kindred soul on her own journey of self-discovery. It's a far cry from Cho's breakout role in the Harold & Kumar franchise or as a starship helmsman. It is Cho's best work.

Best Actress
Hong Chau in Downsizing. Who can argue against nominations for the Golden Globes, SAG and possibly the Academy Awards? The Vietnamese/American plays an immigrant who speaks with a heavy accent without resorting to stereotype. She is the first AAPI actor to be nominated for the major awards since Hailee Steinfeld, a Filipina/American, was nominated in 2011 for her role in True Grit. The last time Asian American to win an acting award was Haing Ngor, a Cambodian refugee and physician, when he received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of journalist Dith Pran in 1984’s The Killing Fields.



Biggest Disappointment
Killing oft Captain Philippa Georgiou played by Michelle Yeoh in Star Trek Discovery's second episode. After heavily touting the first Asian starship captain in the series, teasing about her possible storyline and building excitement in the AAPI community, the show's writers killed her off before we even got to know her. In the show's first season, the writers introduced the idea of alternative universes so I'm hoping we haven't seen the last of her.

Best Stage Performance
Eva Noblezada in Miss Saigon. The pride of San Diego, Calif. where she was born, and Charlotte, North Carollina, where she was raised, Noblezada  was nominated for a Tony for her portrayal of the title role of Kim in the Broadway revival of the musical that takes place during the Vietnam era. Will her success follow in the footsteps of the first Kim, Tony-winning Lea Salonga?

Best Badass Man of the Year
Daniel Wu in AMC's Into the Badlands. The action series still has the best choreographed fights on television thanks to the fantastic work of Dee Dee Ku, who did the same for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Wu, who doubles as producer, demands the best from his actors, including a strenuous boot camp  before they even begin filming.

Melissa O'Neil

Best Badass Woman of the Year
Melissa O'Neil in SyFy's Dark Matter, in which she plays Two (aka Portia Lin). The Chinese/Canadian won Canadian Idol, but her fight scenes on both shows are well fought, fast and with (apparent) force. She doesn't hold a belt in any martial arts that I know of, but her footwork, body movement could fool me. Unfortunately, Dark Matter went dark this year.

Is He or Isn't He?
Shazad Latif plays the psychologically damaged security officer Ash Tyler in Star Trek Discovery. Ash Tyler is not exactly an Asian name so that explains the question mark on his racial origins. Latif, however, was born in London in July 1988 of mixed English, Scottish and Pakistani descent. Considering Tyler's troubled past, we're not sure how long he will last in this universe.

Newcomer of the Year
Kelly Marie Tran in the movie Star Trek: The Last Jedi. This pick was a no-brainer. Tran, better known for her work on Youtube, her first major break/role is HUGE in more ways than one. She plays mechanic Rose Tico, the first impactful role played by an Asian in the nine-movie Star Wars saga. Tico plays a heroic role in the war between the galactic Empire and The Rebellion and most likely will be back in Episode 9 of the franchise.

Has Finn Jones convinced anybody of his martial arts prowess in 'Iron Fist?

Best Whitewashed Role Award
Finn Jones in Netflix's Iron Fist and The Defenders. Steeped in Asian culture, taught the martial arts by Tibetan monks, Jones is the ultimate white savior, arrogantly admonishing actual Asians (such as Kendo instructor Coleen Wing played by Jessica Henwick) to the "truth" and "techniques." Really, what would have been lost to the overall plot if the main role was portrayed by a real-life Asian? Or, someone who doesn't just go through the choreographed fight scenes by the numbers and looks like he's had some martial arts training?

Best Stereotype Buster Award
Kelly Marie Tran, wins her second Anna this year for her role in The Last Jedi. Her character, Rose Tico, is a mechanic who performs heroically in the war against the evil Empire. She didn't resort to being a martial artist, Dragon Lady, submissive or sexual plaything. At last, there's an Asian cosplayers have someone they can dress like without having to having to explain themselves. Rose Tico forever!

Unexpected Appearance of an Asian
Gary Young showed up unexpectedly in Outlander, which partially takes place in the 18th century. The show follows the adventures of a Scotsman and time traveler from the 20th century. This season, the show's third, moved from Scotland to the Caribbean so for someone who hasn't read the novels the show is based on, it was a complete surprise that a Chinese character should pop up but there he is: Mr. Willloughby, aka Yi Tien Cho. Apparently, in the books, Mr. Willoughby speaks with a heavy accent and is racist characture of a Chinese man, so much so, that book readers cringed at the idea of including him in the TV series. Fortunately, Willoughby's portrayal by Young is a far cry from the book version.

Mickey Rooney Award
Formerly known the "Worst Portrayal of an Asian American" award we've renamed it for Mickey Rooney's embarrassing portrayal of I. Y. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's for the actor portraying a character that best exemplifies the negative stereotypes of Asians or Asian Americans. This year, the ignominious award goes to Hank Anzaria for providing the voice of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the Indian storekeeper in the cartoon show The Simpsons. Comedian Hari Kondabolu took a hard look at Apu in a documentary, The Problem With Apu. He says the character exploits stereotypes of Indian immigrants. Anzaria offered a heartfelt apology to anyone who's been offended and said changes are on the way. We'll wait and see.

Outspoken social critic
Chrissy Teigan - We're considering renaming this award after Chrissy, who has 9.5 million Twitter followers. She keeps winning this category year after year. The super model is not afraid to give us an intimate peek into the highs and lows of her personal life and speaks for many of us against injustice, inequality and racism and all the craziness coming out of the White House. Most recently she fought back against a racist tweeter who tried to link her to the pizzagate scandal, a fake news story created by Trump supporters.

Breakout Artist of the Year
BTS - Who can forget the American debut of the K-pop band at the American Music Awards? It was like the second coming of the Beatles, girls screaming and crying and fellow artists clapping and dancing. The 7-member boy band has racked up accolades this year. Among the most noteworthy of those has been becoming the first K-pop group to crack the top 40 on the benchmark Billboard Hot 100 chart with their track "MIC Drop." How long will the BTS fever last? Who cares? Enjoy the moment while it lasts.

Truth Be Told
Comedian Kumail Nanjiani's opening monologue when he hosted Saturday Night Live didn't shy away from race relations, stereotypes and his Pakistani heritage. It might have made some people uncomfortable but that's what happens when truth is spoken. Watch it below:

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SAG shows some love for Asian/American actors, 'The Big Sick' cast, Hong Chau and Aziz Ansari

Camel Nanjian's "family" in The Big Sick.'

Asian/American actors got a little bit of love from their acting peers when the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards nominees were announced Wednesday (Dec. 13).

Vietnamese/American Hong Chau was nominated for her supporting role in the Matt Damon science fiction flick Downsizing. This follows her nomination by the Golden Globes in the same category.

RELATED: Asian Americans nominated for Golden Globe awards

The Big Sick, a movie based on Kumail Nanjiani’s true-life romance with his wife, took a cast ensemble nomination. Besides Nanjiani, the cast included Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Zoe Kazan and Indian actor Anupam Kher.

"We are so lucky to have been graced with the enormous talents of every single member of our cast," said Nanjiani, who co-wrote the script with his wife Emily Gordon. "They each put a piece of themselves into our story and we are thrilled at being recognized."

Hunter, who plays Nanjiani's future mother-n-law in the movie, also was nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.

“Recognition from your peers is a particular kind of humbling thing." said Hunter to SFGate. Actors know in a way that no one else knows. They are on the inside track so when I have in my career gotten honors from people who do what I do, it resonates a different way for me.”

Aziz Ansari, who writes and stars in Netflix's Master of None,  got the nod for Best Actor in a Comedy television series.

For the complete 2018 list of SAG nominees, click here. The awards show will air Jan. 21 on CBS.
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Golden Globe's Asian American nominees react to their nominations and representation

Hong Chau and her "Downsizing" costar Matt Damon.

AMONG THE GOLDEN GLOBE nominees were a few Asian/Americans -- not as many as anticipated -- but some.

Although the Golden Globes don't have the prestige of the Academy Awards, the recognition by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is often seen as precursor for the Oscars.

Among the nominees were sprinkling of Asian/Americans, including the surprise nominee of Hong Chau as Best Supporting Actress for her work in Downsizing.

Since 1970, there have only been two other actress of East Asian descent who have been nominated for supporting actress: Tina Chen for The Hawaiians and Rinko Kikuchi in Babel.

But Chau's bold interpretation of a Vietnamese immigrant including a heavy accent (to the point approaching a stereotype) was hard to ignore in the Matt Damon science fiction starrer in which she nearly stole the scenes she was in.

Chau told Entertainment Weekly she is especially grateful for what this means for her parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam in the late 1970s.

“They know everything about the story because, like most parents, they don’t like to be surprised, so I walked them through the entire plot of the story in every single detail,” Chau explained. “This is one of those rare occasions where I’m actually able to talk to them about a job and they’re excited about it because it’s a Vietnamese character that’s so closely related to their journey, so I’m excited to share this experience with them.”

“This is the type of character who’s always in the background,” Chau added. “I hope filmmakers will go back and take a look at people whom they thought they couldn’t mine drama or entertainment from. There are a lot of characters that have been underdeveloped because people aren’t interested or are afraid of attempting to tell their stories. Take another look at them: that’s what I hope for.”

Alan Yang and Aziz have been here before. The show previously won two Primetime Emmys for writing. The Golden Globe nomination is for Best Television Series - Comedy. 

RELATED: The Anna Awards for Asian/American entertainers

"It’s really great,," said Yang to Entertainment Weekly. "it’s really wonderful and I’m really proud of what we did in season 2 because one of our goals for this season was to make it different from season 1, and not in a trivial way. You know, we wanted to go deeper, we wanted to be more ambitious, more experimental, and I think the season was more aggressive and more ambitious. I’m glad that it totally didn’t turn people off. We took some big swings and I’m happy with how it turned out."

Aziz also was nominated as Best Actor in a Television Series - Comedy.

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez were nominated for Best Song "Remember Me."

Awards are also nothing new for Robert Lopez and his wife and song-writing partner Kristen Anderson-Lopez. Their song "Remember Me" from the animated feature Coco.

The song-writing pair issued this statement:

“We are so grateful to our collaborators at Pixar for asking us to write a song that is so personally meaningful — about family, music, and saying goodbye to those you love. We couldn’t be prouder of what these filmmakers have achieved in ‘Coco’, a film that has always strived to faithfully portray and celebrate Mexican culture. Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press — we are humbled by your recognition.”

The Filipino/American and his wife previously won an Oscar for "Let It Go" from the 2013 Disney pic Frozen. The husband-wife team also co-wrote the Tony award-winning stage musical The Book of Mormon.

Angelina Jolie's film, First They Killed My Father, entered as a foreign language film from Cambodia, was among the nominees for Best Foreign Film. The movie tells the story of 

author and human rights activist Loung Ung's life under the rule of the deadly Khmer Rouge.

The foreign press snubbed any recognition for The Big Sick starring Kumail Nanjiani and written by the comedian and his wife. Critics loved the movie and predicted a nod for Best Original Screenplay or a Best Supporting Actor nominations for Holly Hunter and Ray Romano. 

The oversight prompted this tweet from Nanjiani’s page, purported written by Stephen Spielberg: “Hey gang. This is Steven Spielberg tweeting from Kumail’s phone. My fave movie this yr was The Big Sick. It’s avail on Amazon Prime & iTunes & all that. Great movie to watch w the fam. I watched it w my family (the Spielbergs) & we all loved it. Handing phone back to Kumail now.”

None of the media fell for the hoax, but it was a clever retort because The Big Sick, on several critics' "best-movies-of-the-year" list, was deserving of a nomination in those categories.

Also missing was the understated performance of John Cho in Columbus directed by Korea-born Kogonada. A film without special effects, violence or nudity (well, there's one scene featuring Cho) and about what's important in life and how we relate to others deserves some notice in the super-hero world we live i today.

Cho's restrained performance de[octed real person struggling with his past and wondering what the future held for him.

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