"These are sexy turtles."

"Do not call me a slutty unicorn, because... you don't have proof yet."


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Cute baby!

Fun family times. :)


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That's what I'm saying, Kevin Kataoka!

"Even the biggest movie ever made about ninjas didn't star Asians. It starred turtles!"

To visualize what having actual Asian and Asian-American actors starring in films would look like, check out my earlier blog post over here: "What about my stories?": My reaction to 50/50. Still relevant, now more than ever.

It's 2013! Asian people make up over 60% of the world's population. Sixty percent! China is currently the world's second largest film market. Yet, I am hard pressed to name a major movie starring an Asian or Asian-American actor since Harold and Kumar celebrated Christmas in 3D.

I do love me some Han in the Fast and Furious movies, a character know for his world-class driving ability, not for his martial art skills, bucking two stereotypes at once! Han left those sweet fighting moves to noted experts Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. But Han was seventh billed in Fast 6 after Tyrese, but before Ludacris, ahem, "Chris Bridges". Also, due to his (alleged) death in the credits, he probably won't be featured in Fast and Furious 7. Instead, we get more of this guy. I don't know who was asking for the white guy from Tokyo Drift, but welcome back, Lucas Black.

On the plus side, Fast 7 will also include Thai actor Tony Jaa... best known for his martial art movies... so there's that?

In conclusion, more diversity in media! Now!



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I'm saying The Lion King is racist.

And sexist and homophobic as well.

But those are some catchy songs!

Also, Patton needs some black friends, if only to make his daughter less racist.


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Prominent black lady news.

Booo.

I don't struggle with puzzles, except for why there aren't more colorful people on my television.


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"The leaves are changing colors,"

"but the TV stars are staying white. And male."

How does he do it all?!

"The mummies are from Egypt, which is in Africa. Which makes them African American. But they will be played by white Canadians."


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Bianca Reagan: Where the Action Is! Now available!

BIANCA REAGAN: WHERE THE ACTION IS, the sequel to STEVE THE PENGUIN, has been published! It's now available in paperback on Amazon.

For autographed copies, please send requests to mrjmedia [at] gmail [dot] com.

The eBook format is coming soon. More details to come.

I'm so excited and proud! Hooray!


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"We were kings and queens in Africa!"

"How could you allow yourself to be a slave?"

:|

Also, hee hee! Jokes.

"I got marbles sharper than this man."

Ha!


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I'd watch this as a web series.

via Interview: Writer/Producer Lena Waithe Talks New Series 'Twenties' + Watch Pilot Presentation, by Masha Dowell, Shadow and Act.

Shadow and Act: What is a pilot presentation? Why did you opt for this route? 

LW: A lot of networks read the script and loved it, but they either thought there wasn’t an audience for it or that it already existed. Of course I became extremely frustrated because I knew neither of those things were true. So I realized I had to show these network executives that TWENTIES was one of a kind and that there was nothing on TV like it. And I figured the best way to do that was to shoot a pilot presentation, which meant we would shoot a few pivotal scenes from the script, edit them together, and give people a sense of how the show would look and feel. Lucky for me, Justin Simien (writer/director DEAR WHITE PEOPLE) offered to direct it and Flavor Unit was willing to pay for it. Now I had the opportunity to show people what I was going for instead of trying to explain it to them. My plan wasn’t just to show it to executives, but to show it to the world so that the people could have a voice in this as well. And just so we’re clear: this is not a web series! I repeat this is not a web series. Not that there’s anything wrong with doing a web series. I’ve done one. My goal is to partner with a network that understands what I’m going for.

[...]


Shadow and Act: What do you want us to do after we’ve watched it?
 

LW: The good news is I don’t want your money. There’s no Kickstarter or IndieGoGo attached to this project. All we want you to do is commit to sharing TWENTIES with twenty of your friends. The more you spread the word the better chance we have of getting it on TV. We’ll keep pitching. You keep sharing. Let’s do this!

I don't know if there is a network that is going to understand and agree with what Lena is going for. There's a reason there aren't many scripted shows from the US with a lead character that is

1. an L, G, B, or T person
2. a black woman
3. a lesbian woman
4. a person talking to multiple black people
5. a black lesbian woman talking to a bunch of other black people

As Lena pointed out, the networks "thought there wasn’t an audience for it or that it already existed", even though "neither of those things were true." If I had a project as amazing as TWENTIES, and networks passed on it, I wouldn't try to prove anything to them. It's 2013. I would produce, distribute, and promote TWENTIES myself, online, as a web series. I would have more control over the show, avoiding interference from well-meaning, but misguided network notes. Also, people would actually be able to see it. The series wouldn't be stuck in development for years, with the risk of never making it to air.

For me, it would be a waste of time trying to sell a product to someone who has no interest in buying it. There just aren't enough network executives who both see the value in and are willing to take a chance on airing a show about the honest story of a black woman, much less one who is articulate and queer. Instead of emphasizing the fact that "This is NOT a web series", why not embrace the new medium and create a successful web series (while we're waiting on Dear White People)? This would allow a fan base to grow around TWENTIES, and make the sale of the project even more profitable (and likely).

I have opinions!

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You're on notice, Kal Penn.

You're still on notice, buddy. But I do think Indians are cool. Especially that one up there. :)


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"I don't understand. How do you have a show?"

found via Slate

"Now, why don't you just go to Massachusetts and go to school? ... You could, um, ride a horse?"

Brilliance!

Thank you, Lizzie Mae/Azie! The second installment adds to the enlightenment:

"Who does not like bacon?"

Let's ask that nice white man some more questions about slavery!

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"If you don't want to be associated with white collar crime, maybe you shouldn't dress that way."

"It's okay. I can say that. Some of my best friends are white men in suits."


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"How smart are you?"

"Really smart."


 Hee! So much cuteness.


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"You either have a penis, or you don't."

"I do not."

You would have to be crazy to run for Congress. Or rich. Either. Or both.


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"We survive for you."

via CocoaFab.

Love.


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"Who hates the term 'female comedians'?"

I do! My hand is up!

"Do you get the, 'I usually don't think women are funny'?"

"'I don't usually like black comics, but you alright.'"

"I get that all the time."


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"If you stay flat...what will happen?"

"It's okay, beloved."

 Hee!


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Mayonnaise?

Puerto Rica-minica-Tex-Mex buffet does sound delicious. Sign me up!

BTdubs, why are there no Latinas represented in that video segment? Are there no women on the streets of New York who would like to share their bigoted views about Central Americans, South Americans, and West Indians on basic cable?


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Musings from a black woman: Not my fantasy, either, bro.

Comedy Central

From The Half Hour: Gabe Liedman on Comedy Central:

I guess the other thing that, like, really bugs me about Game of Thrones, and, like, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings, and just all (bleepity bloop) is like, I...I...hate the name of the genre "fantasy." Like, I think that that is very presumptuous to call it fantasy. And also, like, look, I know I've only been here for thirty years, but it does seem to me that everyone's fantasy is, like, dangerously similar. Right?

Where it's, like, every year, there's, like, a bunch of white guys who go to New Zealand, and they're just like, "Okay, dudes. Time to make a new movie or TV show about 'the fantasy,' or whatever." And then they walk into a room, and they're like, "Okay, okay. The fantasy. The fantasy we all share. Here we go. It's moving through me, okay? So I need you to type, okay? The fantasy. It's moving through me. Okay, the fantasy, here we are. 

"I'm...riding my lion into battle. I'm dressed in a full deer. Um...it's 'before.' And, everyone's house is a circle, which is super interesting. I find myself in a silent wood--no 's' on that. When, all of a sudden, behind me, I hear a twig snap. I turn to see what it is, and it's a little girl who's perfect at archery. Fantasy complete."

It's like, oh, cool. That's all? That's your fantasy? Cool. Cool fantasy.

"It's 'before.'" Hee hee! Super cool observations, Gabe Liedman. No wonder I couldn't get through The Hobbit.


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This should not have been a debate.

My right to safety is not a discussion.

To put this into perspective, could you imagine if Kamau held a "debate" about New York's Stop-and-Frisk policy between asked a white male officer from the NYPD and a black male victim of police molestation? "We need the ability to continue verbally harassing people after we have physically violated their civil liberties. It's comedy!"

And Kamau was right about that moderator. What was up with that guy?

For all of the people who have ever asked, "Is it really worse for women on the internet than it is for men?", or, "Is it really worse for women in comedy than it is for men?", the unequivocal answer remains, "YES, OF COURSE IT IS!" Whenever a woman stands up and speaks, especially for the rights of women, she is immediately a target for attack, even when people agree with what she is saying.

For a big drop in the even bigger bucket of proof, here's a link to what happened to Lindy West after the "debate":

If Comedy Has No Lady Problem, Why Am I Getting So Many Rape Threats?, Jezebel.


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