BOA Constricts fans at Rage Nightclub in West Hollywood

Asian Pop sensation BOA had a surprise appearance in West Hollywood, CA last Friday. Showing her snake strength by debuting her new video at GameBoi.


BOA partying it up at Rage.


My photog partner Sthanlee Mirador was able to capture a few shots of BOA as she performed at the GameBoi Night held at Rage Nightclub. Fans didn't mind the hold she had on them as they danced and jumped to her video but were also hoping she would sing.


BOA ©Sthanlee B. Mirador.

Here's a quick bio of BOA from Wikipedia:
Boa Kwon (born November 5, 1986), commonly known by her stage name BoA, is a Korean singer, active in both South Korea and Japan. Born and raised in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, BoA was discovered by SM Entertainment talent agents when she accompanied her older brother to a talent search. In 2000, after two years of training, she released ID; Peace B, her debut Korean album, under SM Entertainment. Two years later, she released her debut Japanese album, Listen to My Heart, under the Avex label. In 2008, under SM Entertainment USA, a subdivision of SM Entertainment, BoA debuted in the United States with the single "Eat You Up".
BoA's multilingual skills (she speaks Japanese and conversational English along with her native Korean and has recorded songs in Mandarin Chinese) have contributed to her commercial success in South Korea and Japan and her popularity throughout Asia. She is one of only two non-Japanese Asians who have had million-selling albums in Japan and is one of only two artists to have first six consecutive number-one studio albums on the Oricon charts.

Eastwood takes his Gran Torino onto the Warner Lot.

Yesterday, the new Clint Eastwood film "Gran Torino" opened to a limited audience. For the World Premiere, the media coverage was even more limited.


Clint Eastwood.

Many wonder why such an interesting movie as "Gran Torino" would have a limited World Premiere event that the general public would not have access to. The premiere was held at the Stephen J. Ross Theater on the Warner Bros. Lot in Burbank secluded away from the public.

Your guess is good as mine. It could be that Eastwood is very private person and when it comes to premieres he's a bit reluctant to pose. I can imagine being in the limelight for so long that one would rather have the public concentrate on the film itself than the usual package of a premiere.

However, it was still a pleasure to be a part of that history of seeing Mr. Eastwood walk down a carpet for his film. As an American of the Asian persuasion, it ws even more endearing to see newcomers, Bee Vang and Ahney Her walk the carpet in support of their film with Eastwood.

Young Ahney Her posed like a veteran for the photographers. Watching her naturally move along the carpet was so refreshing. She knew the step and repeat process of a premiere. Automatically putting her hands on her hips and knowing that it takes some flexibility to do an "Over The Shoulder" pose illustrates that Ahney is ready to take Hollywood by storm just like fellow young Asian American actors such as Justin Chon and Aaron Yoo.



In the film, Ahney plays Sue Lor, sister of Thao Vang Lor (played by Bee Vang). The two are neighbors of Korean War Veteran Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood). As he watches his neighborhood slowly integrate with Hmong refugees, his widowed life becomes more bitter. One fateful night, Thao sets out to still Kowalski's prized possession, a Gran Torino car. That events sets into motion, a bond between Kowalski, Thao and his family.


Bee Vang

A Trailer of "Gran Torino"



Back to the carpet, Alison Eastwood showed her support for her father. Along for her ride was her husband Stacey. Funny thing was when a photog asked, who's with her, she jokingly said, "That's my husband Stacey, just like the girl's name." I wonder if she was supposed to be a comedian or just a director.


Alison Eastwood.

A big surprise of the night was Angelina Jolie. What a delight to shoot her today in a row. However, she was a bit more casual in an olive long sleeved blouse and black pants than a flowing fashion number the night before.



She was so accommodating with the photographers posing for at least 10 minutes.

We definitely can't be choosy.

Until next time, "Over The Shoulder!"

Various Interview Clips from the 2008 CAPE Holiday Soiree

Last night, CAPE honored Tim Kring, John Cho, James Hong and Adele Yoshioka for their accomplishments and achievement in helping perpetuate the positive image of Asian Pacific Islanders in the entertainment industry. Here interview clips from recipients and celebrity guests.

Clips included are of Tim Kring, James Hong, John Cho, Collin Chou, James Kyson Lee, Leonardo Nam and Karin Anna Cheung.

Tim Kring on his Visionary Award from CAPE


John Cho


James Hong on his career


Collin Chou of "Matrix" and "Forbidden Kingdom" fame


Leonardo Nam of "Fast and Furious" and "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2" fame


James Kyson Lee on Tim Kring's award and what is his signature dish!


A B-Roll shot of Sendhill Ramamurthy and James Hong on the red carpet

Just my take on California's Prop 8

I know that I usually blog about the red carpet but I thought I would just sound off on California's Prop 8

It will be a sad day for California if Prop 8 passes. As many people believe that marriage is between a man and woman. From India to royalty of the past, marriage was used as a political and monetary form to ensure the livelihood of a family. Strategic marriages between two royal family enhanced their strength in control of a kingdom or a country. For fixed marriages, it was about what one male can give to the family of another, women were treated as chattel and property. So to all who says marriage is a tradition of man and woman on the basis of love in god's eyes, don't be fooled by the religious rhetoric. How do we know that the bible wasn't edited and is from a point of view of a man who believed that God spoke to him? What if that person was mentally ill himself?

Also, California is moving backward by voting yes on Proposition 8. Since the late 1800's to the 1940's, California made it illegal for blacks, asians, malay to marry whites. Who knows, maybe in the future, bigotry and hatred may rear its head and try to bring back discrimination through marriage. Oh wait that's going to happen now if Prop 8 passes.

Ramiele Malubay is my favorite American Idol contestant

Thinking that I wouldn't get caught with the AI bug, I was bitten again. After watching the the auditions, I didn't think there were many that stuck out. From the fan favorites of David Archuleta and Asia'h Epperson, one that really stuck to me was Ramiele Malubay. Being American of Filipino descent, I was thinking, oh no no another over-rated Asian-Am singer like Jasmine Trias.



This little girl can really belt it out and the judges were in agreement except for Simon. However, after the first week in Hollywood, Simon changed his tune about Ramiele. Her rendition of Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" definitely brought her game on. Even Simon said she was the one of the best singers of that week.




One thing I truly love about this young lady is her big voice and being proud of her American Filipino/Asian roots. With Jasmine, she originally said she was Hawaiian then within the coming weeks of the show, she finally admitted her Filipino roots. No matter what ethnicity Ramiele is, her voice overcomes all and is proud to become an American Idol of Asian/Filipino descent. Wishing her the best in the coming weeks.


Check out her American Idol Top 24 interview:

Filipinos In Hollywood

As one of the few Filipino event photographers covering red carpet events alongside my veteran red carpet photographer Sthanlee Mirador (he's featured in the book, with his photo taken by me), I thought I'd share this press release regarding Filipinos in Hollywood.

The funny thing about being Filipino is that Hollywood would sometimes be confused as to what to cast Filipinos as either Hispanic, Asian, American Indian or who knows what...

Well here's the release:

NEW BOOK TELLS THE STORY OF FILIPINOS IN HOLLYWOOD



LOS ANGELES (February 2008) – The history of Filipino Americans in the entertainment industry is finally revealed in Carina Monica Montoya’s Filipinos in Hollywood. This book will be featured in a Filipino American Library (FAL) Book Reading on Saturday, March 8 at 2:00pm at FAL (135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles). To RSVP for this free event, please contact filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net or 213-382-0488.

In FAL Book Readings, authors share their Filipino works of literature with residents of Greater Los Angeles. Admission is free and donations are accepted. Food and drinks will be provided. This event is co-sponsored by Filipino American Service Group, Inc. (FASGI), Wal-Mart, and Burger King Corporation.

The memoirs of Filipinos in Hollywood span more than 80 years, dating back to the early 1920s when the first wave of immigrants who were mostly males, arrived and settled in Los Angeles. Despite the obstacles and hardships of discrimination, these early Filipino settlers had high hopes and dreams for the future. Many sought employment in Hollywood, only to be marginalized into service-related fields, becoming waiters, busboys, dishwashers, cooks, houseboys, janitors, and chauffeurs. They worked at popular restaurants, homes of the rich and famous, movie and television studios, clubs and diners. For decades, Filipinos were the least recognized and least documented Asians in Hollywood. But many emerged from the shadows to become highly recognized talents, some occupying positions in the entertainment industry that makes Hollywood what it is today -- the world's capital of entertainment and glamour.

Author Carina Monica Montoya, who was born and raised in the Hollywood area, has collected these vintage images from the early Filipino families who settled in Hollywood, the Filipino community, and Los Angeles historical organizations. These remarkable photographs capture the spirit of and challenges faced by Filipinos in America, as well as their triumphs, recognition, and success in Hollywood. For more information on Filipinos in Hollywood, please visit www.filipinosinhollywood.com.

Montoya’s interest in local history is personal; her father was one of the first young Filipino men to arrive, settle in Los Angeles and find work in Hollywood. She was thrilled by the opportunity to compile and edit this photographic history on behalf of her family, as well as for the Filipino community in Los Angeles who are all part of the history, the subject of this new book. She hopes that her work will bring back fond memories and inspire the telling of more colorful stories. Her fervor in writing this book has led her to currently undertake a second book on Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles.

Founded on October 13, 1985 by “Auntie Helen” Agcaoili Summers Brown, FAL is one of the most comprehensive repositories of Filipino and Filipino American works with a collection of more than 6,000 titles. Its mission is to actively promote the history, culture, and professional achievements of Filipinos and Filipino Americans through the book collection, leadership development, and cultural programming, thereby contributing to the achievement of a culturally dynamic, multiethnic America.

FAL is located at 135 N. Park View St., Historic Filipinotown, Los Angeles, CA 90026-5215. It is open Mondays-Fridays 1:00-5:00pm and by appointment. For more information, please contact the FAL Administrator, Jonathan Lorenzo, at 213-382-0488 or filamlibrary@sbcglobal.net. Also visit www.filipinoamericanlibrary.org and www.myspace.com/filamlibrary. Tax-deductible donations are accepted online. FAL is a division of the Filipino American Heritage Institute (Nonprofit Tax ID Number 95-4282571).