d Ang Lee and Eiko Ishioka were among this year’s Oscar nominees.
Life of Pi 11 nods this year (including Best Picture and Directing nod for Ang Lee), while Eiko Ishioka (who passed away last year) received a Costume Design nomination for Mirror Mirror (starring Julia Roberts and Lily Collins). Lee previously won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain (in Directing) in 2006 and has been nominated as well for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Ishioka also won an Oscar in Costume Design for Dracula (1992), making this her second nomination.
For a full list of the nominations, please visit here.
Actor Archie Kao at the CAPE Soiree.
CAPE, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment’s holiday party felt a little like a company shindig-that is, if your co-workers were James Kyson Lee, Archie Kao or Carrie Anne Inaba. Oh yea, and if the party was held at the swanky Vibiana in Downtown Los Angeles. Celebs, awards, schmoozers and free-flowing alcohol was all here as the esteemed organization recognized two movers and shakers in the industry, actor/comedian Ken Jeong took home the prestigious New Horizons Award and industry exec Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, won the Visionary Award. Here are 10 Things that I mused about the soiree.
1) Lots of peer love going around.
Actors Leonardo Nam and Justin Chon share the love.
Forget the whole stigma that actors are always catty and competitive with each other. If anything, CAPE is an organization that demonstrates exactly how much Asians are supporting one another in the industry. As one of my good friends once said, “when one of us gets an opportunity like a part in a movie or show, it just moves us as an entire race, forward.”
2. I can get starstruck.
My gig as assistant editor of Audrey Magazine is pretty sweet. I get to talk to celebrities on a regular basis through interviews and parties like this. So it’s been a while since I got starstruck. But the fan-girl in me totally came out when I saw Keiko Agena on the red carpet. Gilmore Girls is forever my favorite show and I told her so the first chance I got. I think I scared her a little. Yea, having a 5’9″ asian girl in a flowery cocktail dress come up to you exclaiming, “I love your work and your show and your character and YOU” is a little scary, I suppose.
3. There is no classy way to eat chicken wings.
I tried. I really did. You just can’t make eating chicken wings at a soiree look classy. But they sure were delicious.
4. Pageant queens are a hit at parties.
As part of the Miss LA Chinatown court this year, I got to relish the attention at parties and gatherings when I’m in my crown and sash like no other. Apparently, looking like royalty is quite the conversation starter. CAPE was smart in including on their guest list two sets of pageant girls; former Miss California USAs were on hand (right) as well as the current Miss LA Chinatown court. (I’m not in my royal attire because I just wanted to be a normal civilian for one night!)
5. A church is a cool place to get down.
The Vibiana in Downtown LA is such a sweet place to throw a party! The sound system is a little tough to bear but with the classic interior and great lighting, it’s definitely a spot I’d frequent again.
6. And the outdoors is not bad either!
7. Ken Jeong is DA MAN.
He can joke, he can act, he can dance, he can make the best acceptance speeches. If I had an award to give out, I’d give it to Jeong too. (Congrats on winning the New Horizons Award!)
8. I swear I’m not an alcoholic.
But free-flowing booze like the sake shown above definitely made it easier to enjoy the evening. (Not that I wasn’t enjoying it already.)
9. Photobooth is fun!
10. People with a whole lotta heart made this event possible.
It’s to a group of very dedicated individuals that have made CAPE as successful as it is today. So cheers to you, Jennifer Sanderson, Ken Choy and company!
Thanks to CAPE Press and Carmen Chan for providing all the photos and making me look like a photo hog.
KoreAm Journal’s Unforgettable Gala has come and gone. All the glitz and glamour can be a little overwhelming to take in so Audrey breaks it down a bit for you with our Ten Things: Highlights (and lowlights) of Unforgettable.
1) A Jinro Bottle dressed up in a tux brings all the girls to the yard.
Forget the pick-up lines, nice cars and sleek haircut. Because seriously, who can compete with this hunka hunka green chunka glass?
2-5.) We love Parks!
2. We love the gorgeous Park Plaza where Unforgettable was held.
3. We love the adorable Randall Park and how he can make the terribly trying task of being master of the ceremony (entertaining and informative and smart and semi-politically correct) look so easy.
4. We love Heather Park and her silky smooth husky tremor of a voice. We weren’t the only ones crushin’; Brian Joo could not stop raving about the R&B singer. (Park is also featured in the winter issue of Audrey Magazine.)
5. We love Grace Park. The Hawaii 5-0 cutie may be the only person in the world who can forget what she was supposed to say, like, 5 times throughout the night and have the audience still sigh at how adorable she is when she’s forgetful.
6. Poreotics can dance
The America’s Best Dance Crew champs showed what they were made of –which, if you just watch the way they dance, you’d think they were made of feathers and rubber– as they grooved their way into everyone’s hearts. Grace Park totally gave them a shout-out when she went on stage too! If that’s not awesome, I don’t know what is.
7. Juju Chang’s Acceptance Speech
The always eloquent Juju Chang used her effortlessly eloquent storytelling to show her gratitude for winning her achievement award for the evening. Funny, sweet, poignant, America’s lucky to be able to say good morning to her everyday.
8. Ameriie and Kero One Duet??!
Would this not be the flyest collaboration ever?
9. Thank God for open bars.
Asians are naturally awkward, right? Thanks to sponsors Jinro Hite, we got a little juice to loosen them up and enjoyed a totally poppin’ after-party.
10. No thank you to camera hogs
A sore spot of the evening would have to be those individuals–you know who they are–that hogged the cameras as if it was their oxygen tank. Going through the Unforgettable photo gallery, we couldn’t help but see one or two of these individuals that seem to be in EVERY SINGLE PICTURE with every single person they can possibly grab to stand next to them and pose with. I would post a picture to show you exactly what I mean but that would just be giving those fame whores exactly what they want- more attention. No thanks.
What were some of your highlights and lowlights to Unforgettable? Let Audrey know!
Photos thanks to Mas Chae, tada Chae and Eric Sueyoshi
I may be the butt of all jokes among my group of friends, but please believe me when I say that multi-talented Margaret Cho received a Grammy nomination on Wednesday for her album Cho Dependent under Clownery Records. She’s like a jester, and I say that with the most respect because she never fails to keep the public entertained with her quick-wit, swift dance moves and sassy voice.
Her album, which features the likes of Andrew Bird and Mickey Avalon, will be running against other town clowns such as Flight of the Conchords and Robin Williams in the Best Comedy Album category.
To date, this is Cho’s second ever Grammy nomination since her last in 2004 for her Revolution release.
Meanwhile, Bruno Mars is just doing his thing (not lines of cocaine, hopefully) and living the dream with his “Nothin’ on You” B.o.B. collaboration and “Just The Way You Are” hit because he picked up seven nominations for categories like Best Record of the Year and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Other Asian Americans who also are in the running for a Grammy include Tia Carrere and Danny Ho, both nominated for Best Hawaiian Music Album and both under record label Danny Ho Creations. This looks like a win-win situation for Ho nonetheless.
Tia Carrere and Danny Ho play some music in the studio.
So let’s watch the actual face off (with the whole split screen shot and winner and losers reaction shot) when the 53rd Grammy Awards airs Feb. 13, 2011.
For the full list of the 109 Grammy nominations, please visit: http://www.grammy.com/nominees.
