And then in one fell swoop, Howard Stern's new replacement, Adam Carolla, makes a mockery of the whole Asian Excellence Awards show (see entry below) with this radio sketch.  Unbelievable. 

Even though the award show rightly recognized the wonderful achievements/progress of Asians & Asian-Americans last week, it sometimes makes me wonder how much of a difference it's all really making when I hear blatant crap like this. 

*EDIT: Yeah, many could just write this off as typical shock-jock tactics looking for people to call in and complain, so why play into it? 

But on the other hand, I think a big reason why a sketch like this was even thought to be "okay" for airing is because we're a typically apathetic and silent minority that usually just swallows this kinda stuff. 

Does anyone think they'd even dare parody the BET Awards with Ebonic-filled acceptance speeches?  Hell, no.

CBS Radio execs in charge:

• Joel Hollander, chairman and chief executive officer, CBS Radio, tel: 212-846-3939, email: joel.hollander@infinitybroadcasting.com
  
• Dana L. McClintock, senior vice president, CBS Communications Group, tel: 212-975-1077, email: dlmcclintock@cbs.com

Makin' the Rounds

A few years ago after doing a heavy press and appearance schedule for "The New Guy" and "BLT", I just got burnt out going to all those red carpet events.  I mean, it's fun for the first few times, getting free stuff, meeting actors of shows you watch, etc. but after a while, when the glamour and excitement goes away -- it actually becomes sort of a grind. 

Yes.  Boo-hoo, poor me.

No really.  It's just a different kind of "stress".  Having to find something new to wear all the time, going to events & causes that you have no idea what the heck they are and making up nice things to say about the event (after all, you can't say the only reason you're there is to get some free publicity), fending off other actors/personalities/reality stars all vying for face time with the photogs, organizing limo/car service (which can get expensive after a while), doing a 3 hour interview for a magazine and then an 8 hour photo shoot for the one insert they'll use in the article -- in the end, it's an important part of the marketing machine but still silly in the grand scheme. 

Which is why my interest in events like The Academy Awards has started to wane over the years.  Because you've basically got this big, hyped up event that's geared towards dubbing a "winner" on such a subjective thing as Acting -- that in the end, it's really all fluff.  It doesn't really mean anything but a big, fancy party. 

But last Friday I attended the 2006 Asian Excellence Awards and I have to admit, I had an awesome time. 

Not doing all the red carpet stuff, mind you (I skipped it entirely and went through a side entrance) but just catching up with fellow actors that I haven't seen since becoming a dad 10 months ago. 

Like finally talking with Daniel Dae Kim since his meteoric rise with "Lost" (which btw, this Korean Actor gave me props on my "Without a Trace" gig ).  Touching base with former co-stars John Cho, Karin Anna Cheung, Bai Ling and Will Yun Lee. 

Getting to spend some time with Angry Asian Man, Lynn Chen, Karl Yune ("Memoirs of a Geisha"), Rex Lee ("Entourage") and Bobby Lee. 

And finally being able to meet some long admired artists like, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Lou Diamond Phillips, BD Wong, Jason Scott Lee and Grace Park from "Battlestar Galactica". 

I just barely got to give a "hello head nod" to ladies: Kelly Hu, Lindsay Price, Lucy Liu, Michelle Krusiec, Maggie Q, Yunjin Kim, Parminder Nagra and Lisa Ling.

In fact, the event was so crowded that I didn't even get to see my really good friends there like Keiko Agena and my boy Roger Fan!  (His movie with Justin Lin, "Annapolis" opens this Friday, Jan 27th)

I know, I know --  it just sounds like a bunch of shameless name dropping.  But seeing all those faces there, made me realize how far everyone has come.  

Because all those Asian-American folks I mentioned above?   I remember the first time I met every single one of them over the past 9 years in this business and none of them were anywhere near the level of success they have currently attained.  I can even tell you the projects they were all cutting their teeth out on at the time.  

Seeing everyone there in one night made me realize that it's kinda like a little fraternity -- being able to talk to people that really know what the other's going through on a daily basis (other than significant others) ; creating a solidarity of sorts.  It was a cool sight to behold and I felt very proud to be a part of that collective.  Each of us being at that event on our own merits but all getting there through very different paths.   

But even though it was a cool experience, at the same time, I'm done with a big event like that for awhile -- I can't hang like that anymore (Ron Jeremy was even there!)  You can see the televised event on AZN TV, Jan 29th. 

Highlight not to miss: Ralph Macchio's tribute to the late Pat Morita -- oh yeah, and Bai Ling announcing the incorrect winner for the Outstanding Female TV Performance.    

THE NUMBERS

Happy 2006.  It's taken me a while to get motivated enough after the holidays to begin blogging again.  How columnists, talk show and radio hosts always have something interesting to say everyday is beyond me.

The holidays and summer time are usually pretty slow in the business, so nothing eventful career-wise occurred in the past few weeks.  (Helpful Tip: Summer's a good time to send your submissions out to agencies as that's when they are less busy and are in the midst of cleaning house of unwanted actors on their client list). 

One thing of note was that NBC show I was up for last year, "The Book of Daniel", premiered last Friday.  Although I think the show's got a little too much dysfunction for a viewer to process; the role that Ivan Shaw plays is pretty progressive for an Asian Male and he does a fine job with it -- you should try and check it out.  

It was a pretty tough situation at the time losing out on such a great role but whenever I find myself feeling ill will towards my fellow Asian Actors, I take a look at the Screen Actor's Guild's latest demographic actor breakdown.

This one was released in Fall 2005 and it just goes to show statistically, the disparity between Caucasian actors and everyone else (there was ONE lead female actor of Native American Indian descent in ALL of 2004!)   

Because minority actors always see the same group of people in an audition room and are constantly pitted against each other -- after a while, it's easy to equate the anger/disappointment of losing out on a role to a particular face.  It's only human to be teed off from time to time but I think it's also important to remember the grand scheme of things. 

Because no matter who winds up booking the role, it's making a dent in the numbers up on that chart.  And any in-fighting/negative support amongst same ethnic groups achieve nada.  All you can hope for is that he/she does a good job with the role; making the most of the opportunity to open other doors. (Although being pissed off because they sucked a** and wasted an opportunity is okay. ) 

On a less serious note, I realized over the holidays that my excessive television watching as a youth has slightly, adversely affected me.  While listening to the usual compilation of Christmas Tunes on the radio and TV, I noticed whenever I heard the melody to Tchaikovsky classic 1892 ballet, "The Nutcracker Suite", I found myself singing:

"Smurf Berry Crunch is fun to eat,
A Smurfy fruity breakfast treat,
Made by Smurfs so happily,
It tastes like crunchy Smurf Berries,
It's berry shaped and crispy too,
In berry red and Smurfy blue."

For those too young (or old) to grasp the reference; at the height of "The Smurfs'" popularity in 1983, a red and blue breakfast cereal was released by Post Cereal.  The jingle above was played incessantly to the tune of "The Nutcracker Suite" during the barrage of commercials promoting the colorful morning concoction.  I'm sure there's an MP3 of it somewhere on the net you whippersnappers can download.  

Sigh... I used to be so cultured.         

Off the Beaten Path

I just finished the reshoots on "The Gene Generation". 

And as her serious work on films showcases a side contrary to what the mass public knows, it might play out with the similar success that Courtney Love saw after she did "The People vs. Larry Flynt" (only that success was short-lived for Love because she mucho gusto los drugas).  Nevertheless, it's a perfect example that there's no one path to make it in this business. 

I wonder if this is what Robert Frost was referring to in The Road Less Taken?   

A Bang Up Job

I had a great experience shooting "Thief".  There were lots of great actors to go back and forth with (Andre Braugher, Clifton Collins, Jr. ["Capote"], Randall Duk Kim [The Keymaker from "The Matrix Reloaded"]) and it was a very diverse cast as well.  The 6-episode first season is supposed to air in March 2006 on FX.

I'm really glad I got to finally meet and work with Will Yun Lee.  He and I had never met before but I couldn't help but inadvertently follow his career since we started working in the business around the same time.  He's a super nice guy and I'm honestly jealous that he can pull off the whole "David Beckham/long hair pulled back in a bun" look.  If I were to grow my locks that long, I'd look like Ryan Cabrera. 

But the one memory I'll keep with me from the shoot is my fight scene with Michael Rooker ("Days of Thunder", "Mississippi Burning").  When my wife found out I had some stunts to perform, she was like, "Aren't you excited?" 

To which my reply was, "Um, not really." 

Because after doing stunts this year on "Hatchet", "The Gene Generation" and "Jane Doe", I have a good handle on how things usually pan out, at least for me: 

Unfortunately, there's really no way to avoid this trial and error process because ultimately the stunt needs to be performed in real-time and seen in order to pinpoint the error.

During rehearsals, I observed Rooker was a pretty physical guy -- he was really into his character, who in the scene is supposed to be laying a serious beat down on my character. 

No big deal, I've dealt with heavy-handed actors before (heck, I survived an un-choreographed kick to the stomach from Daniel Zacapa's steel-toed boot on "TGG"!)  I just made sure to protect myself and pad up in the places he was hitting me during rehearsals (elbows, knees & hip). 

We shot the scene a few times from one angle, then another, then another.  By the 10th time we did the scene, I noticed my right calf was killing me - so much that I was limping.  Then I noticed in the following take that Rooker's left heel on his shoe kept nicking my calf during our scuffle.  So for the next take, I asked for a shin guard to compensate.  But the damage was done and I had to hide my limp for the rest of the shooting day. 

Then in a later stunt, I was supposed to get pushed down onto a mat.  But when "Action" was called, I was knocked down way past the mat and my head conked onto the concrete floor. 

Although the mat was adjusted accordingly for the next take... the damage to my noggin was already done.  But again, there's no other way to do it than to see it played out first.  All you can hope for is to not get too hurt in the process.  That's why all the stunts involving gun play freaked me out -- because one usually doesn't get a second chance when guns are involved. 

The stunt coordinator felt so bad with the beating I was taking, he bought me an hour massage at the spa in my hotel.  I had to wait a few days for my bruises to come down before booking the massage so that I could actually enjoy the rubdown.

But when all is said and done, I got home in one piece and can now just relax and spend my first Christmas with my latest addition to the family... oh, wait... that's until after I get my hair extensions back in next Thursday for the upcoming "TGG" reshoots. 

Damn.

And going off on a total tangent, one day in Shreveport, I woke up in my hotel on the 19th floor, opened the blinds and saw this guy just chillin' out on my window ledge!

I think it's a hawk.

I was almost late to be picked up for work because I was standing there for like 20 minutes just staring at it's feathers, strong beak and talons.  What a treat to get to see such a beautiful creature up close. 

Home Sweet Home II

When I purchased my home last year, I posted a dream list of all the stuff I wanted to fill it with.  And #7 on the list was some sort of secret passageway(s).   

Having now moved in, I started doing research for fun a few weeks ago during my down time in Louisiana.  Check out the cool niche this site has: http://www.hiddenpassageway.com/ (click on "Videos" -- then click on "Niche")

Now how cool is that?

I don't think I'd put guns in there but rather merge it with item #1 on the list: by placing The William Shakespeare bust in there whose head swings open to reveal the button that slides the bookcase back, thus revealing the batpoles to slide down into my garage. 

A hidden passageway for the hidden passageway!

While you're in the "Video" link on the site, be sure to also check out the "Animation" section -- especially #2 (pool table) and #4 (armchair). 

Then sitting on the plane to Shreveport, lo and behold, what do I read in the Skymall? 

Yes, that's right.  One of the items in section #3!  The Rocketeer helmet. 

Although I think the signs are abundantly clear, I'm still having trouble convincing the wife on any of the items.  But then again, if I get that underground pool table thing done (seen in Animation #2), she won't even know there's one in the house.  And if she ever did find out, I could escape her wrath via the armchair hatch (seen in Animation #4) Hmmm... 

And while we're walking the line of outrageousness, I might as well just go all the way.

So, new additions to the list include: An airplane hangar to house a life-sized, working Viper from "Battlestar Galactica" and snowspeeder from "The Empire Stikes Back". 

My living room would be re-modeled into a replica of the Millennium Falcon's sitting area leading to the Cockpit (which would be the TV room).

Then I'd have my landscapers re-create Rivendell's Fellowship Courtyard (from "The Lord of the Rings") in my backyard -- with the circle of chairs around a BBQ/Firepit.  Meanwhile a working model of Twiki from "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" (with Dr. Theopolis strapped onto his chest [as pictured]) would be entertaining my guests and taking drink orders.

If I had a Million Dollars...

I've been meaning to do this entry since I read this book last year called, "The Automatic Millionaire" by David Bach.  Even though the title sounds cheesy, it's one of the best books I've read (even in business school) that makes learning to saving money easy to understand for the layperson.

Granted, I knew most of the stuff that's in there from years of my mom ingraining it into me ("Never use a credit card unless you can pay it off in full the next month", "Pay yourself first", "Never lease", Never rent", etc.) but this book is great in proving that you don't need to have immense will power or a large salary to set aside some dough.

The basic premise is: You can't spend the money you can't see.  So you automatically "hide" it from yourself:

-Having 5% or 10% of your paycheck put automatically in a money market account or Roth IRA.

-Set up an automatic bi-weekly program to pay your mortgage.  If your mortgage is say $2000/month -- every 2 weeks, the bank deducts half of the amount ($1000) from your checking account and since you're paying more frequently, it cuts down on the interest you pay.  Ex: Say you have a mortgage of $250,000, with 8% interest rate, for 30 years.  If you paid your mortgage once a month, it would take 30 years to do it and you'd have paid $411,000 in interest.  However, if you paid the same amount, but bi-weekly, you'll pay off the amount in 23 years and spend only $292,000 in interest -- saving $119,000 in interest!

But say if you live paycheck to paycheck and can't "afford" to sock cash away.  Bach demonstrates what he calls "The Latte Factor".  Where by saving just $5/day from your normal daily routine (Bach uses cutting out a latte and muffin x 7 days = $35/week, approx $150/month.  And if you invested that $150/month in the stock market which has had an average return of 10% over the last 50 years, by age 65 that $5/day would be $1.2 million.

It's not an advanced book about trading stocks or playing the real estate market by any means but just gives you enough information to be smart about money on several different levels.  Which I think is actually better for the majority who aren't "business majors" but need to have some business savvy.

Anyone who's ever been intimidated about the thought of choosing retirement funds, finding a mortgage or just finding a place to put your money -- basically stuff you know you're going to have to eventually learn... read this book.  It's all in there and laid out in a simple manner.  You can breeze through the entire book in about 2 hours.

The reason why I post this, especially for performers, is that I'm a firm believer in having "screw you" money so that you can attain the things you want in life on your time table.  Not having to wait for that "one big break" that may or may not ever happen.  It might just be a bunch of little breaks that you need to maximize in the here and now.  You don't want to be 65 and suddenly realize, "Holy Crap.  I'm still renting." 

And to younger readers -- don't think, "Oh, this is something I don't have to worry about yet."  -- No!  You've got something that the rest of us old timers haven't got -- Time.  A 40 year old that puts away $6000/year until he's 65 still wouldn't come near the compounding power of a 20 year old kid that put away $2000/year and stopped after just 10 years of doing it.  The earlier you know this stuff and apply it, the better. 

It's the gift that will keep on giving.  Happy Holidays.

Forever Young

On this show, "Thief", I play what is described as a "baby-faced 17-year old" kid.  Although that won't actually be stated on the show; it's basically implied throughout that I'm a young kid -- no older than college aged.  

And for some reason, that just made me chuckle over a situation that happened 9 years ago at a talent agency. 

I was meeting with the head of an agency that specialized in youth actors for potential representation.  During the middle of our chat, it came out that I was actually 23 years old at the time. 

Once that happened, the agent quickly and politely wrapped up the meeting by saying, "I'm sorry.  I didn't know you were 23."  And despite my numerous protests, she firmly stated, "You'll be going through some physical changes in the next few years and won't be able to fit within our clients' demographic." 

Flash forward about a decade and I'm so tempted to walk into that same agency (ala Julia Roberts' revenge shopping scene in "Pretty Woman") with a demo tape of clips from: "Party of 5", "The New Guy", "BLT", "Thief", "The Hazing", "Cousin Skeeter", "First Daughter", "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Tru Calling" to have the following scene play out: 

And for those nay-sayers who can't unwrap my actual D.O.B. from their minds, here are two incidents that just happened a few weeks ago:

1) While pulling out of my driveway, a landscape contractor peddling his services walked up to me and said, "Hey there.  Is your dad home?" 

2) After striking a favorable deal for a Mexican Woman at our yardsale, the lady turned to my wife, pointed to me and said, "He's a good boy.  Tu hijo?" (Translation:  "Your son?")  My wife was in a very bad mood the rest of the day.

And I don't even get me started how much of a pain it is living at a Casino/Hotel while shooting here in Louisiana -- I get carded everyday I come "home".

But, I do know that one day -- it'll be all over.  Because boy, did Comedian Bobby Lee hit it on the head when he said during a set: 

"Asian people age overnight.  For 55 years, my mom and dad looked like Lucy Liu and Chow Yun Fat. 

Then one morning, they woke up and looked like Yoda and Gollum." 

"Sweet Home... Weezy-Ana"

I'm currently writing from my new base of operations here in Shreveport, LA.  

I'll be shooting a recurring role on FX's new show "Thief" with Andre Braugher, Linda "Sarah Conn-ah, come wit me if you wanna live" Hamilton, Malik Yoba and Will Yun Lee; set to air sometime in Spring 2006.

Originally it was supposed to be shot in New Orleans but that plan was obviously axed after Hurricane Katrina. 

It's the first production to be shot in Louisiana after Katrina, thus infusing some much needed money into the Southern State.  So not only do I get to do some good work but also help out with the cause.

I've noticed an interesting regional demeanor develop around these parts.  As outsiders looking in, we see the devastation and homeless folks in New Orleans and anyone with a heartbeat will speak of the situation in somber/sympathetic tones.  But with 70% of this crew being from New Orleans, it's all so matter of fact.  Here's a conversation I witnessed:

It's all so mundane for them that it's kinda trippy but understandable because everyone has lost something.  No story shocks anyone. 

They've put me up in a hotel/casino during my tour of duty.  And when going to Las Vegas, I always thought how cool it'd be to live in a casino. 

Now I know.  And now I also know why folks who live in Vegas -- don't gamble.

The four days here I was already down $280 - that's almost 5 days of per diem!  And that's when I realized I had to pace myself if I was going to last the entire time. 

Although I could see it as the money going to help the relief effort in Louisiana... but that wouldn't fly over very well coming home to the wife penniless after a job. 

And as some may have seen, the trailer of "Poseidon Adventure" has been running on NBC to gear up for the Nov 20th premiere -- and guess who's 'lil part kicks off the trailer?   Take THAT C.Thomas Howell!

And finally, a big thanks goes out to everyone at UT Austin for their hospitality this weekend as I was there to help kick start their Launch 2005 Conference.  I've been to over 100 colleges and UT Austin never fails to show a good time.  This post's photos summed up the weekend nicely.  Hope "Launch '06" is even bigger!