Editor’s Diary: Cannes Film Festival 2013, Day 2
Diary from Cannes 2013: Day 2 May 17, 2013: A dramatic day for Cannes today, including gunshots and a jewelry heist. An employee for the luxury jeweler Chopard found that a safe holding $1.4 million dollars worth of jewelry had been stolen from the four-star hotel room the night before. Ironically, Sofia Coppola's The Bling Ring, about teenagers who steal possessions from celebrities. Later in the day, a mentally unstable man with a gun fired blanks into the air near a French television interview featuring jury members Christoph Waltz and Daniel Auteuil. Attendees fled the scene, but...
Fan Bingbing Wins THR’s ‘International Artist of the Year’
On May 18th in Cannes, amongst all the stars in town for the Cannes Film Festival, there was one "Cinderella" who stood out from the heavy rain. Entertainment publication The Hollywood Reporter presented their first ever International Artist of the Year award to Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. An event was hosted by The Hollywood Reporter, Jimmy Choo and Mouton Cadet at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez to present the global icon with the award. THR editorial director Janice Min, publisher Lynne Segall and Jimmy Choo CEO Pierre Denis were on hand to present the award to Fan, which was...
Psy Performs Live on American Idol Season Finale
During the American Idol Season Finale, Psy performed "Gentleman" live alongside a handful of talented backup dancers. The impressive choreography got the audience up on their feet dancing and even earned Psy a standing ovation from the American Idol judges. Other performers of the night included current American Idol judges Keith Urban and Mariah Carey, and former judge Jennifer Lopez. Check out Psy's impressive stage presence and energy below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PhgoKw96FRE
Editor’s Diary: Cannes Film Festival 2013, Day 1
Diary from Cannes 2013: Day 1 (May 16, 2013) It's my first time at the Cannes Film Festival, attending as a writer/editor on behalf of Asia Pacific Arts and Audrey Magazine. I've been told to expect a crazy circus -- as there are hundreds of screenings for both the official Film Festival and the simultaneous Film Market -- and I can't wait. The day before, Baz Luhrman, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Amitabh Bachchan walked the red carpet for the Opening Night film, The Great Gatsby. Also in attendance was the superstar jury, headed this year by Steven Spielberg, which include Ang Lee, Nicole...
When YouTube Videos Go Wrong: Creepy Asian Chiropractor Video
Picking up at nearly 3 million views, this video from Los Angeles based chiropractor Ryan Lee has gone viral over the past couple of days on the internet. While we're sure Ryan was very intentional on marketing the services of his clinic, we can't help but wonder if he bothered to show anyone else this video before allowing it to go live on the YouTube. In fact, he appears just tad bit creepy and this video might even turn away customers. But then again, he is receiving a lot of public attention (although we're sure he wasn't expecting this kind). Check out the video below!
Spring 2013 | Pop-arazzi: Prodigy (Review)
DEPT: Pop-arrazi AUTHOR: Kanara Ty ISSUE: Spring 2013 "Marie Lu is at her best in Prodigy, the sequel to her New York Times bestseller Legend, giving us the most exciting follow-up to a debut novel the young adult genre has seen in a long time."
Spring 2013 | Pop-arazzi: Marie Lu of Prodigy
DEPT: Pop-arazzi AUTHOR: Kanara Ty ISSUE: Spring 2013 "The NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of the highly popular teen dystopian novel LEGEND and the sequel PRODIGY sits down with us to talk about who she thinks would make a great day and June in the film version, her next book in the series, due out in 2014, and the importance of (hot) asian american male leads in literature."
REMAINS OF THE DAY: Reviewer Susan Soon He Stanton finds beauty and sensuality in Uyen Nicole Duong’s Daughters of the River Huong, an epic tale journeying from the ancient Kingdom of Champa to French colonialism to modern day New York City, all told through the eyes of an alluring but flawed heroine.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: Plugged In
STORY: Susan Soon He Stanton
Over the course of a tumultuous century, the stories of four generations of Vietnamese women unfold in a historical epic that shifts from Imperial City of Hue, war-torn Saigon, Paris, and ’90s New York City. For such an entertaining read, the amount of history author Uyen Nicole Duong packs into her pages is impressive. Even while painting a larger picture of Vietnamese culture, the focus never strays far from these daughters of the River Huong.
At the heart of the story is Simone, a petulant Indochine Lolita, who reveals the lives of her ancestors tracing back to the extinct Kingdom of Champa. Beginning with the Mystique Concubine, a paddle girl discovered by a king, to her daughters, Madame Cinnamon and Ginseng, and Simone’s mother, these survival stories trace the journey from the last Vietnamese monarchy to French colonialism, revolution and independence.
Being fun-employed is fun up until you realize that every time you go out, you’re dipping into the precious little life savings that you’ve managed to save up (god knows how) and you’re still not employed. Boo.
For those of you who are on a tight budget, I’ve put together a quick list of ways to enjoy the last bit Indian summer without spending too much.
Tan on your driveway.
Sometimes, the beach is too far. And the gas money it takes to get there should be saved towards something important, like new headshots because yours make you look like an overweight preteen. And your friends might be too busy doing important things like working and making money to hang out with you. So why not work on getting some color back into your pasty self? Grab a towel and last year’s suntan oil and lay out on your driveway. Give it a couple of days, and you’ll be a nice buttery brown color. That’ll show your friends to neglect you.
Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: Features
STORY: Janice Jann
PHOTOS: Melly Lee
HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS
{ HELENA }
Growing up, the only way Helena Kim thought she could make herself look more “feminine” was by growing her hair long. “I had always been really athletic and strong with a stockier frame,” says the Korean American. “As I got older, I felt a little out of place. It was hard to identify with not having a really feminine build. My mom tried to make me wear makeup, but it didn’t look right. I just accepted I wasn’t going to look like the images I saw or the people [around me].”
By the time Helena got to college, she cut 14 inches off her locks and started to feel more like herself. “Now if people put makeup on me or pouf out my hair, it feels really weird — like not part of my body.” Though Helena is comfortable with the way she looks, there are still people out there who aren’t. “The only time [my image] evokes a negative response is generally where there are not a lot of people of different color,” she says. “Kids would come up to me asking if I were a boy or a girl. Sometimes guys feel uncomfortable around me. They’ll say things like, ‘Oh, I have that shirt in my closet.’” The public bathroom is where most issues arise. “Usually someone will say something like, ‘This is the women’s bathroom.’ Yeah, I know,” Helena laughs. “That’s why I’m here. It’s been so long it doesn’t even bother me.”
It’s something the 35-year-old had to learn. “I think my biggest thing is to walk the best journey I can and exercise patience and compassion with people,” she says. “I get it — they just haven’t seen anyone that looks like me. I think people are afraid of things that they don’t know or understand. Usually, if I can sense that someone’s uncomfortable or will have some sort of negative reaction, I’ll just say, ‘Hey, how are you,’ and suddenly it doesn’t really seem to be an issue anymore. It’s like, oh, I’m a person. You don’t have to treat me like some sort of freak show.”
Helena admits she was a little nervous about sharing her story. “I was really surprised when I got chosen. I’m familiar with Audrey. I’ve known it since the launch [in 2003] and I know I don’t look anything like the kind of women in Audrey.” So what changed her mind? “When I was growing up, I think I would have really liked to have seen someone who looks like me in a magazine for Asian American women.”
– Janice Jann
Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.
Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.
Mission accomplished.
Took a great shot last Christmas? Love to draw, doodle or Photoshop? We wanna see your work in Audrey!
What does “winter” or “the holidays” mean to you? Maybe snow angels? Maybe partying it up on New Year’s? Maybe all the resolutions you failed to keep in 2010?
Regardless, we want to see it! We want to see what “winter” (specifically, December through February) means to you, whether it’s the holidays, New Year’s, even Valentine’s Day! You just might get your photo or artwork into the next issue of Audrey Magazine!
Submit your photos that in some way reflect the Asian American experience as well as the theme of “winter.” You don’t have to be a pro, so submit your photo by October 17, 2011. To submit, please see instructions below.
We’re looking forward to seeing your work!
Submissions
Images should be in digital jpeg format, at least 300 dpi resolution and 2400 pixels on the long end. Along with each image, please include your name, location and an explanation of how your image relates to the theme. Only submit photos that you’ve taken yourself. Please do not digitally alter your photos, besides cropping and applying basic tonal adjustments. Send your photos to EDITOR@audreymagazine.com, maximum three entries per person.
Legal & Releases
By submitting, you are granting Audrey Magazine permission to publish your submitted photos online and/or in print with your photo credit. You must be 18 or older to submit; if you’re under 18, a parent or legal guardian can submit on your behalf. We cannot accept photos of “recognizable” people in your photograph without a personal release signed by the person, authorizing our publication of the photo.
Every woman’s face or body has a different story to tell. We may be bombarded by the mainstream media’s message of what beautiful is supposed to be, but we know that beauty comes in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Here, an Asian American woman proves it.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: Features
STORY: Janice Jann
PHOTOS: Melly Lee
HAIR & MAKEUP: Joyce Luck and assistant Natalie Herrera for JLS
{ NEBULA }
In a recent Glee episode, wannabe Broadway superstar Rachel Berry contemplates getting a nose job, despite her adulation of Barbra Streisand. The episode was one Chinese American Nebula could empathize with. Having grown up with a distinctive nose, one her parents always touted as “the highest-bridged Asian nose they could find,” Nebula is also in the acting industry, one where sometimes how you look is more important than how you act. “I just don’t have that typical Asian look when they’re looking for the [button-nose] and everything,” says Gu.
Sometimes looking atypical has its upsides. While on jury duty, one man recognized Nebula. “He’s like, ‘Have I seen you before? Your nose, it’s really distinctive. … it makes you really special,” Nebula remembers. “I thought that was so sweet.”
Whether or not she’ll have a career like Barbra Streisand who “defined a whole generation,” Nebula is confident she’ll continue working. “Character actors work,” Nebula says. “They have a tremendous opportunity because there are so many cookie cutter [faces] — that’s an opportunity for you to stand out.”
– Janice Jann
Joz is one of nine women Audrey featured in its Body of Quirks feature. Check out more stories here.
Purchase the Summer issue of Audrey Magazine here.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark may be a bust (the newly revamped version pretty much does away with Arachne, the role Filipina American actress T.V. Carpio was to play), but we’re betting the new Sony Pictures film The Amazing Spider-Man, starring cutie Andrew Garfield and Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan as Nels Van Adder, the Proto-Goblin, is gonna be the bomb. You’ll have to wait till next summer to see it, but check out the teaser trailer now.
DailyCandy’s new talking head isn’t just any head; it’s the lovely noggin of South Korean-born American television news correspondent, SuChin Pak. DailyCandy, an email Newsletter based in New York, has recently hired Pak to be their woman about the town and on TV.
Although she had to undergo a grueling interview for the position, for most viewers, Pak won’t need much of an introduction. Pak is easily recognizable from her frequent appearances on MTV as part of their news team. She also appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show in 2007 to discuss her struggles with confidence and beauty issues relating to being an Asian American woman.
Pak’s interests and knowledge base are seemingly vast, as she is the founder of Hester Street Fair, an alfresco small biz bazaar in New York’s Lower East Side, as well as the host for the National Constitution Center’s “The Exchange,” a program where high school students to discuss their views on relevant constitutional issues.
Check out Suchin’s charming job interview here.
Lucky for Pak; her extensive resume, Mad Men aspirations, and charming head shot were just enough to land her a position with DailyCandy. Unfortunately for us, with her experience and sweetness, it looks like we’ll be making a trip to the dentist sometime soon.
ISSUE: Summer 2011
DEPT: Plugged In
STORY: Katrina Guevara
Treme, HBO
Set in post-Katrina New Orleans, this HBO TV series from David Simon (The Wire) follows the lives of struggling artists and musicians, including Annie, played by Korean-Italian American Lucia Micarelli, a real-life, Juilliard-trained concert violinist who has toured with Josh Groban and Jethro Tull. Currently in its second season, Treme (pronounced “truh- may”) is shot on location where the city is as much a character as its human counterparts.␣
Audrey Magazine: Has filming on location changed your perspective of New Orleans?
Lucia Micarelli: All these years later, you can clearly feel the gravity of the natural disaster in the city and its people. The city’s still not back, and the people are still hurting. At the same time, there’s a strong sense of community. It’s part of what makes it a really interesting cultural space and place to tell that city’s story.
AM: What’s happening to your character Annie this second season?
LM: I can say that she is in a new relationship, and she is really growing a lot as a musician. She just returned from being on tour and over the course of the season she’s being encouraged by different people to become her own artist.
AM: You were a child prodigy of sorts on the violin.
LM: I started off on piano, and that didn’t work out so well. And then I switched over to violin. I was like 3, so I don’t actually remember starting out. But my parents did tell me that I was a pretty quick learner.
AM: You did a lot of touring before Treme. Any favorite destinations?
LM: I had an amazing time in South Africa and Iceland. Red Rocks in Colorado was one of the most beautiful venues I’ve ever seen. But I still haven’t been to Japan and am really excited to visit one day.
— Katrina Guevara
More stories from Audrey’s Summer 2011 issue here.
With performances by platinum selling recording group Far East Movement, Grammy nominated B.O.B. and platinum artist Sean Kingston, the all-day ISA festival is guaranteed to be one show you wouldn’t want to miss! The event, hosted by YouTube talents Ryan Higa (NigaHiga), Kevin Wu (KevJumba) and Cathy Nguyen, is aimed to inspire and empower both the performers and spectators. It’s happening tomorrow so buy your tickets now!
I don’t know about you, but when I hear someone singing about destiny, I don’t expect them to be under 18. As a recent college grad, and still unsure of her path in life, I know I’ve still yet to find my own. However, when I heard 15-year-old Megan Lee belt out tunes to her newest single, “Destiny”, she sounded like a young woman fully aware of her path, place, and purpose.
With five years of professional industry experience already under her belt, Lee is on the straight track to fulfilling her own destiny. And with the recent release of her new single’s music video, Lee is looking to embody the hero through reflection of her time spent navigating her own path.
“I am pretty sure that all of her fans and non-fans would agree about her passion for music regardless what language is written in,” said Lee’s mom, Elaine Lee. “She always looks for the music that she would love to deliver to give hope, love and any other positive messages because she strongly believes that music has the power and the media has the power to move people’s heart and mind.”
Megan is currently auditioning for the next round of Korea’s most popular music reality show, MBC Star Audition Season 2, and hopes to release her very first EP album by the end of 2011.
Check out Lee’s music video to “Destiny” directed by Timothy Tau:
