The Sifu Mimi Chan Show
If any of you listened to CCHAT 24, you will have found out what a huge hip-hop 90s fan I am. Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adisa Banjoko about the hip-hop today, and in particular, about the much talked about Childish Gambino song This is America. I loved this conversation and hope you will too!
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May 4th has become a Star Wars fan day for the past several years. According to Starwars.com: While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. StarWars.com, as well as the official Star Wars social media channels (hashtag #StarWarsDay), help spread the word and showcase fan activity. Each year fans celebrate with their own traditions by throwing Star Wars themed parties, hosting film marathons, having lightsaber fights, dressing in cosplay, or even attending a large public event. May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May, and it has been the traditional start date of Disney Star War weekends. I sit down with Brian again to chat Star Wars traditions and review The Last Jedi. Spoiler alerts for those that have been in a cave and have not yet seen the most recent film. May the 4th be with you all!
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May the Force Be With You. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…well, actually it was Kansas. Brian Caldwell stepped into the theater for A New Hope for the first time and was hooked.
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Daniel Springen is the executive director of the Orlando Film Festival and an award winning director. We talk about the ins and outs of film festivals and the challenges indie filmmakers face today. He shares tips for indie filmmakers on how to make a quality film on a small budget, plus what curators are looking for when choosing a film to screen at a festival. My film, Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer screened at his film festival in 2012, and it was one of the most fun festivals we attended. The parties, panels, and workshops were fantastic, and the event has gotten even bigger over the years. Screening 411 films over 8 days, this is an event not to be missed in Orlando. Check out the Orlando Film Festival October 19-26 at the Cobb Theater in downtown Orlando.
Read moreSeptember 15 marks that start of National Hispanic heritage month, and I was happy to chat with Alex Hernandez, a Cuban-American science fiction writer based in South Florida. He blends the sub genres of space opera and biopunk into his stories. Many of his books often themes of migration due to his family history with immigrating from Cuba. We discuss his heritage, genealogy, and how his life influences his work. Don’t think you are a fan of the genre? Once I learned what it was, I was surprised to learn that I like space opera and biopunktoo, being a fan of Star Wars, Cowboy Bebop, and Orphan Black.
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SPOILER ALERT. If you were trapped in a cave over the weekend and still have not watched the season finale of Game of Thrones, do not listen to this episode.
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Meet Tony Wolf! He is an actor, singer, and artist in New York. Tony shares his experiences with the struggles of show business. We also discuss his artistry and illustrations, as he has created some comics that have appeared in the New York Times. As you know I am a comic book geek, and always enjoy chatting comics with a fellow geek!
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It’s San Diego Comic Con week! In honor of this convention, I sit down with my occasional co-host Oscar, as well as other special guests to chat all things Comic Con. One of the guests is author and film critic Ric Meyers, known as the kung fu guy! He was a long-term columnist for Inside Kung Fu and Asian Cult Cinema magazines, and has consulted on numerous films, including one of my favorites, Kung Fu Panda. I sit down to talk with Ric about his 20th Kung Fu Extravaganza at San Diego Comic Con. Another guest is Lei Ann Resurreccion, who is a lover of cosplay. Lei Ann chats costumes and cosplay fun with me as we both plan on being at Comic Con next year!
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Roger Garcia keeps busy: he is the executive director of the Hong Kong Film Festival, director of the Asian Film Awards Academy, a movie producer, and an expert on Hong Kong cinema. He’s also edited books on Asians in Film and is a renowned film critic. We chat about the time he spent on the famed Shaw Brothers film sets in the 1980s, the history of Asian film studios and the future of filmmaking in Asia. Roger also shares a fascinating theory on how films have adapted for different technological platforms during the end of our chat. For comments or suggestions reach out on social media @sifumimichan.. On with the show.
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Meet my friend Robin Leong and discover how he went from a kung fu kid in Seattle to a Singapore movie star. We discuss whitewashing in Hollywood, kung fu, and keeping traditions alive. Robin shares some of his philosophy on respect and the wisdom of Confucius.
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Aaron is a Japanese American Indie filmmaker from Hawaii. We met 10 years ago working on a TV show together in Hong Kong. He is one of the most fun and lighthearted guys I know. Laugh along and learn about ‘camp’ films, and the inspiration behind his critically acclaimed hit Blood of the Samurai. We had some connection issues, so I apologize for the sound. Thank you for the feedback I have been receiving and please share the podcast with one person to help get the word out. Always feel free to send me show ideas or comments to mimi@culturechatpodcast.com or on socialmedia @sifumimichan – now on with the show.
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