January 2007 Archives
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"Negritude 2.0: Standing in the Shadows of Dreamgirls"
Again, its hard to imagine but there was a time when black music and pop music were not synonomous. Like rock music before rap, black music was race music, was n*gg*r music, was the work of devils. But Jamie Foxx's Berry Gordy (founder of Motown) inspired character in Dreamgirls gives a basic look at one of the most instrumental figures in bringing black music to the mainstream.
"Entrepreneurs of color owe an enormous debt to Berry Gordy, whose path from hit-chasing songwriter to world-renown business mogul is, as much as if not more than those beautiful ladies on the movie screen, the stuff of dreams."
READ ON...
More on Berry Gordy:
Berry Gordy & Motown Records
The Motown Story
Tags: Black History Month, Flashback
Canadian National Anthem Sung in 'Cree'?
Hockey Night in Canada fans are in for a treat - finally, an addition of 'culture' to the game of sticks and puck. For the game 'Flames vs. Canucks' at Calgary's Saddledome on February, 3rd, 2007 8:00 PM on CBC...
Posted by ethnic cool | January 31, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Top 10 Stereotypes Eva!
"From Borat to Mammy
The top ten stereotypes in cinema history"
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Here a Polysics review....
...there a Polysics review:
Beyond Robson
Streethawk Magazine
From Blown Speakers
From the Polysics gig at the Plaza Club last Friday, Jan. 26.
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 30, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
K'naan talks about more war in Somalia
From the Hour site (Jan. 17, 07): "Ten days ago, the U-S launched an airstrike on Somalia. The US says it was going after al-Qaida suspects, accused of bombing two US embassies in Africa.
The story got some coverage, then went away. But trust me, Somalia is worth talking about. It hasn't really had a stable government for 15 years. And in the past month, war has erupted there.
Tonight, we've got a guy who knows Somalia. Canadian hip hop artist K'naan. He grew up in Somalia, his family is still there. We'll talk to K'naan in a sec. First, let's set it up."
Previous K'naan blogs:
K'naan: The Dusty Foot Philosopher
Europe done felt the T-Dot/Mogadishu/Kingston connection
Tags: Current Events
John Galliano ... makes "queer" the new fashion statement for 07/08
John Galliano, the famed British designer behind Dior, wowed and dazzled fashion critics and couture-followers once again after his 07/08 Fall/Winter Men's collection in Paris last Friday. His shows have been known to be full of surprises and often hits you over the head with shocking creations and designs that can't help but make you wonder if being "fashionable" really means wearing stuff that "normal" people wouldn't wear (even if it looks like you dug it out of a garbage can). Galliano often makes references to history and portrays the images from his travels around the world through his clothes; his latest collection (Vogue.com) features inspirations from his recent trip to Japan and with masks, antlers, and head-gear that looks borrowed from Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto", Galliano has once again been able to distinctly separate himself from the other designers out there.
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guilty pleasure - Kelly Osbourne: Turning Japanese--I really don't think so
Japanophiles unite! Tune into MuchMusic for a 3-part reality show featuring Ozzy's little Kelly having fun and fancy in Japan. In Kelly Osbourne-Turning Japanese, indulge yourself by watching Kelly immerse herself in modern and traditional Japanese culture. As a gaijin (foreigner), Kelly must battle the politeness of Japanese society, the language barrier, homesickness, while trying out odd jobs and hobbies.
In the episodes, you'll find Kelly settle down in her trendy Tokyo "mansion" (condo), try to work her automated toilet, figure out the Tokyo subway system, waitress in an otaku (geek) cafe, act as a receptionist at one of the city's busiest "love hotels" (pervy goodness), hang out at a host club, sword for her life at a Samurai class, dress up in a manga costume for a Cosplay event, work at an oxygen cafe, try her hand at being a Buddhist nun, teach English using karaoke, and study at a geisha house.
For those of you wanting a taste of Japan for the young, this may be your eye candy.
More:
*More info on the British website @ www.minotaur.co.uk/.
*Check out MuchMusic's schedule for showtimes @ MuchMusic.
*More info on MuchMusic's website @ Kelly Osbourne-Turning Japanese.
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Two Faiths. Two Worlds. One Love. - PARTITION opens February 2nd, 2007
It's probably going to be dubbed another Romeo & Juliet story, this time set against the backdrop of the political and religious upheaval of the partition of India. In PARTITION, the new film by local filmmaker and cinematographer Vic Sarin, Gian an Indian soldier (Jimi Mistry) is drawn to Naseem (Kristin Kreuk), a young Muslim girl amidst the turmoil of the new border drawn shortly after WWII between Hindu-dominated India and Muslim-dominated Pakistan.
Partition opens in Vancouver on February 2nd at Fifth Avenue Cinemas...and yes, you read correctly--that would be Smallville's Kristin Kreuk playing a Muslim woman; she even sports a voice-coached accent. You may become distracted with Kristin's Chinese-Dutch features and wonder how Lana Lang found herself in the middle of India, or maybe cringe at Neve Campbell's awful faux British accent, but don't let these things distract you from the beauty of the landscape and the film's message. And if anything else, you may learn a bit about the massacres and scars left behind from the partition...a point in history that has been overlooked over here. Although, you might want to rent Earth, a film by Deepa Mehta (of Water fame) which deals with similar issues surrounding the partition (set in Pakistan).
So, go watch Partition and give some props to Canadian content...and try not to snicker, lest you get a beat down from the target audience--silver-haired retired set who are suckers for the romantic epic love story.
Posted by Tamiko | January 28, 2007 | Comments (1)Tags:
Beer...a DOG's best friend
It seems like consumerism and notions of "quality living" have not only infiltrated into our lives, but also the luxurious lives of our 4-legged friends as well. If posh diamond collars and designer clothing weren't enough for Bow Wow, a pet shop owner in the Netherlands has created a non-alcoholic beer beverage... for dogs!
Following the likes of several brewery owners in the U.S (ex. Heartland Brewery in NYC's "Slobber Lager" for dogs), Terrie Berenden has formulated a beer made from beef extract and malt and has said that the idea for such a treat for his beloved canines came from his yearly hunting trips to Austria; at the end of each day, they sit down with their friends to have a beer and thought that their dogs deserved one too. Berenden has consigned a local brewery to bottle the beer and is now introducing it to the market as "Kwispelbier- a beer for your best friend" ("Kwispel" means wagging a tail, in Dutch).
The beer can be consumed by humans too, however it doesn't come cheap. It costs about $2.14 US a bottle, which is about 4 times that of a Heineken. Imagine, going to the bar and grabbin' a beer with your best bud...your beloved pooch. That'll be the day.
Posted by ethnic cool | January 28, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Wyclef named Haitian "roving ambassador"
Hip hop artist, Wyclef Jean, formerly of Fugee fame, has been named as a "roving ambassador" to Haiti by President Rene Preval to try and improve its' image abroad and help bring tourism back and help bring stability to the long troubled island in the Caribbean.
Clef also founded the Yele Haiti foundation last year in efforts of the same mission. The MC/producer also dropped an entire album in Haitian Creole back in 2004 called Sak Pase Presents: Welcome to Haiti (Creole 101)
News about the much anticipated Fugee reunion is still up in the air....
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 27, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
RON JOSOL on the West Coast - Headlines Yuk Yuk's Vancouver
In case you missed the all-Asian line-up of the A-List Comedy Tour last November, RON JOSOL will be packing the house with Jeffrey Yu and Paul Bae at Yuk Yuk's Vancouver.
Thursday January 25 2007 | 8:30 pm
Friday & Saturday January 26-27, 2007 | 8:00 pm & 10:30 pm
CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL - 1015 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC
Tix & showtimes | map
Shout-Out to the Pinoy PopStars in Corona and Rodondo Beach! (You know who you are!) You can catch Ron at Martini Blues in Huntington Beach and Improv in Irvine, CA.
More:
www.ronjosol.com
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Affirmative Oscar Action?
(Though to not much surprise) Today's Oscar nominations reflect a more worldy and colorful picture this year
"Oscar embraces globalization and diversity" article @ Popmatters
On the trail of the Golden Globes and other film circuit awards, the Oscar nominations announced today continued the year of a wide array of diverse and global pictures and roles (in terms of ethnicity, nationality, age, sex).
The Schema worthy mentions...
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 23, 2007 |Tags:
An accidentally Asian romantic dramedy - Twisting Fortunes | Feb 6-9, 2007
"Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more?" Okay,that line was stolen from Before Sunrise, and with that in mind try to transplant yourself away from Vienna, away from the two blond main characters, and twist it around to find the two mains in Vancouver, sipping a latte, verbally sparring in the play TWISTING FORTUNES from February 6-9th at the Playwrights Theatre Centre on Granville Island.
Billed as "an accidentally Asian romantic dramedy," Twisting Fortunes, directed by Kathy Leung, features Zen Shane Lim as Ray Chow, a non-dater tired of the game, and Grace Chin (also one of the writers of the play) as Jessy Leung, a serial monogamist, who fall "in like" and try to figure things out amidst the cafe culture of Vancouver.
Twisting Fortunes
When: Tuesday, 6 February - Friday, 9 February 2007 | 8 pm
Where: Playwrights Theatre Centre, 1398 Cartwright Street, Granville Island
Tix: $10 at the door, $11 online HERE.
Tags: Theatre
Old school vs. New school (...vs. Radical school vs...)
CNN's "the War Within": A look at battle to win the minds of the new generation of young British muslims - SUNDAY, JAN. 21 5pm/8pm/11pm (*PST on CNN)
Ethnic ghettoes, grappling within hybrid identities, older generation vs. younger generation gaps and friction, moderates vs. the radicals, community dialogue, billiard tournaments between at risk muslim youth and the cops in their neighborhoods, the American amabassadour to Britain speaking in a Muslim community, mosques vs. cathedrals, the state of female muslims in Britian, islamic law in Britain....
Familiar issues but with possibly the most tense stakes in the heart of east meeting west. Catch CNN's (w/ Christiane Amanpour) look at the struggle within the Muslim community in Britain and within British society at large tonight.
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 21, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
"Russia's Reel Resurrection"
"This is a story of revival, of success, but success with a bitter twist." - documentary producer, Don Murray
"Of all the arts, for us cinema is the most important." - Lenin
"...it's not movies in themselves that are most important, but the ideological hammer which has been used to brainwash people." - director and satirist Viktor Shenderovic ("the Russian Rick Mercer")
Article on Shenderovich feeling the pressure from the Kremlin
Stanislav Govorukhin: A Filmmaker Moves Out Of The Duma
Author Masha Gessen
CBC profile on post-Soviet Russia
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(The) Straight on tour in Ethiopia
By Boon Kondo
What do you see in this photo here?
Read Doug Williams' article in the Straight about his photo tour in Ethiopia to find out about the collision of "tourism and commerce."
"It came as a surprise that Ethiopia has a well-travelled tourist circuit, and even more of a surprise that so many photographers had already been there. I found that even the most remote tribes were eager for the modelling opportunities that bring in money from tourists. This trip, more than any other I've taken, made me reflect on the value and ethics of travel photography and tourism...."
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 20, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
TaikoFit - Japanese drumming's take on fitness
By Tamiko
Don't want to work? Just want to bang on these drums all day? Well, you can with TaikoFit, the newest fitness innovation on the heels of step aerobics and spinning. TaikoFit combines Japanese-inspired taiko-drumming ("taiko" is Japanese for "big drum") with traditional floor aerobics; basically you'll bang away your stress on large taiko drums while simultaneously shaking your booty. Bonus: Helps get rid of that jiggly arm jelly! You know what I'm talking about...
Created by Michelle Unrau, Ph.D, a personal trainer with over 12 years of experience, TaikoFit was conjured up after Unrau's friend from Victoria's Uminari Taiko group introduced her to taiko drumming. Careful...TaikoFit isn't actual taiko-drumming...it merely spins elements of traditional taiko into a simpler format with a fitness twist--so anyone can do it.
Tags: Life
Gypsy Rock! Spin mag's "Scene of the Year"
By Boon Kondo
"As bands from New York to Denver to Russia flavour traditional Eastern European music with rock, punk, and hip hop, even Hollywood is getting in the act"
As Spin mag reported in its 06 review issue (Jan. '07), though France's Gypsy Kings may have infiltrated restaurants around the globe, the Gypsy sound and mentality is now giving the indie rock seen a good injection. Eugene Hutz (that guy with the handlebar 'stache in the pic) is leading the revolution with his band Gogol Bordello and by curating the New York Gypsy Festival. He also spins in the NYC club scene while Gypsy funk band Slavic Soul Party! regularly rocks Brooklyn. There's been the Electric Gypsyland remix compilation, some Gypsy inspired grooves in Basement Jaxx's most recent disc, Crazy Itch Radio and Hutz has also helped released the Gypsy Beats and Balkan Bangers compilation which included artists from NYC's Balkan Beat Box (lead by Israeli Jew, Tamir Muskat) to European groups like Mahala Rai Banda and and Kocani Orkestar. Those last 2 appear on the Borat soundtrack and Denver's DeVotchKa scored Little Miss Sunshine.
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 19, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Shohei Imamura flix @ the Cinematheque
By Boon Kondo
Pacific Cinematheque theatre presents a "retrospective tribute to one of Japanese Cinema's great mavericks and masters"
A two time Palme d'Or winner at the Cannes film festival for for The Ballad of Narayama (1983) and The Eel (1997), local art-house theatre, Pacific Cinematheque will be playing a career retrospective of Shohei Imamura's finest works.
Click HERE for a profile and scroll to the bottom for the schedule of the films.
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 19, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Funk - perhaps the most ethnically cool thing eva
By Boon Kondo
"A colored is a very frightened-to-death Afro-American. A Negro is one that makes it in the system, and he wants to be white. A nigger, he's loud and boisterous, wants to be seen. Nobody likes a nigger. A black man has pride. He wants to build, he wants to make his race mean something. Wants to have a culture and art forms. And he's not prejudiced. I am a black American man. Now you go ahead and print it." - James Brown, 1982
We take it for granted that the funk and soul of the black American is the foundation of pop music as we know it. To me, FUNK is perhaps the most ethnically cool thing known to modern society. And funk is synonymous with one man, JAMES BROWN. Eddie Murphy's Jimmy Thunder character in Dreamgirls is based on JB (just like Eddie played JB in the hot tub on SNL back in the day) but the movie of course focuses on the Diana Ross and Mototwn founder Berry Gordy inspired characters that Beyonce and Jamie Foxx play. Foxx's Ray was another look at the journey that black music took to make it to the white mainstream pop-land but there's a bit of nostalgia involved in those 2 stories where James Brown's legacy is just as strong today as it ever was. As legendary music journalist, Robert Christgau attests that "funk beats are the language of American popular music..."
Check out the solid cover story tribute by Rolling Stone to the Godfather and what he means to music and culture.
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag video
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag/I Feel Good live medley performance
Rocky IV: Living in America (and the look on Drago's face!)
Say it Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud) - Playboy after Dark show
Out of Sight - the T.A.M.I. show
Tags: Black History Month, Flashback
Dub Come Save the City
By Boon Kondo
The Mad Professor @ the Commodore, FRIDAY - JAN. 26
Born in Guyana and raised raised in the UK from his teen years on, the Mad Professor is a pioneer in dub music, dub studio technology and the modern soundsystem movement (esp in the UK) that was a major influence in trip-hop, drum'n'bass, downtempo and hip hop. He brings his dub quaking plates to Van-City on the 26th (same night as Polysics). The Professor and his Ariwa studio have remixed or collaborated with acts such as Massive Attack, Sade, Jamiroquai, the Beastie Boys, Lee Perry, and Horace Andy to name a few. One his best known works is the No Protection dub remix album of Massive Attack's groundbreaking album, Protection.
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 18, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Kanppai! - Japanese sake showcased at Artisan Sake Studio & Tojo's new digs
By Tamiko
Vancouver's catching up to the cosmopolitan cities of the world (a la NYC, LA, SF, Tokyo, London, and Paris) with not one but two authentic sake bars, opening this month. Scratch that...one authentic sake bar, and one authentic sake studio.
Before I continue, let's have a linguistic lesson: sake is NOT pronounced "sack-y"...you risk sounding like a poseur who thinks you know but actually don't. In order to avoid the embarrassment (blushing?), sake should be pronounced "sah-keh". Don't even bother with merely saying "sake" (as in "goodness sake")--you might as well crawl into a hole.
Now that we got that out of the way, let's begin with Artisan Sake Maker Studio on Granville Island (1339 Railspur Alley | 604.685.7253) The proprietor is Mr. Masa Shiroki, a specialist in importing premium brands of sake from Japan, he's the one big guns like Tojo-san go to for the good stuff. Shiroki-san is launching his own premium sake, Osake, in the first sake winery in Canada. There are 3 types ($24.95-$32.00 for 750ml bottle): Genshu has tropical fruit aromas; Junmai has pear, melon and citrus flavours; and Nigori is opaque with a piquant taste.
If you want to have some sushi with your sake while sitting in a bit of swank, head to the new location of Tojo's on 1133 West Broadway (opened January 15). You'll find a vaulted maple room featuring a sake lounge and bar amongst the 6,500 sq.ft of zen design by architect Colin Kwok (including a sushi bar, 4 private tatami rooms, 3 small private rooms, and 1 large private room).
Posted by Tamiko | January 18, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags: Life
Polysics @ the Plaza, FRI - JAN. 26
By Boon Kondo
If you ever wanted to know what the band Devo (you know, whip it good?) would look/sound like as a Japanese ensemble instead, be at the Plaza Club on Jan. 26.
Polysics official site
Polysics myspace
Each Life, Each End vid
You, You, You vid
Mr. Psycho, Psycho live
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From Black Belt Jones to the Wu-Tang to an Afro Samurai
By Boon Kondo
If you've caught yourself flipping past Spike TV this January, you may have seen an anime'd samurai with the voice of someone familiar (but not someone you would expect voicing the old Japanese warriors). Yup, thats the Ezekiel 25:17 spouting Samuel L. Jackson voicing Takashi Okazaki's Afro Samurai.
This aint the first bushido brutha though. In fact, cinematic history has had quite their share of them, from Jim Kelly's Black Belt Jones (who also starred as Williams in Enter the Dragon) to "Bruce Leroy" in the Last Dragon (yeah, you know the one with the Shogun of Harlem) to Forrest Whitaker's Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai and of course, the Wu-Tang Clan's shaolin fixations. The Wu's producer, the RZA, who also scored Ghost Dog and partially scored Kill Bill, also scores this one.
And...did you know that Samuel L's immortal Ezekiel speech in Pulp Fiction was inspired by Sonny Chiba (who also played Hattori Hanzo, the sword maker in Kill Bill) who used to make similar religiously threatening sermons before getting medieval on his helpless victim's ass.
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Cohen wins, Borat retires
By Boon Kondo
In one of the most exciting moments in recent history, Sacha Baron Cohen, the actor/comic behind Borat (and Ali G and the upcoming Bruno) won the Golden Globe for best actor (in the musical or comedy category) last night. In one of the most disappointing moments in recent history, the figure that arrived at the gala to accept the award was actually Cohen and not Borat! I'd been dreaming about a real Borat acceptance speech ever since the nominations came out but i suppose he believes he did his job already and has now apparently retired the Borat character. It was dam fun while it lasted!
Posted by Boon Kondo | January 16, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration - January 16-20, 2007
By Tamiko
You may remember Jay-Z's hot remix of Panjabi MC's song "Mundian To Bach Ke" (original version here), the less obvious use of Bhangra in Busta Rhymes "Turn it Up (Fire it up)" (here) or tuned it up to Juggy D's duet with Chinese-American rapper Jin on "Kohl Aaja (Come Closer)" here. You've had a taste of Bhangra and can't let go?
Lucky for you, you can catch Juggy D perform live, alongside the world's #1 Bhangra band, DCS, and watch international teams compete in Vancouver--the designated the City of Bhangra for January 2007--at the Vancouver International Bhangra Celebration from January 16-20 at Sheraton Wall Centre, organized by the VIBC Society, a not-for-profit dedicated to promoting the Indian dance form of Bhangra.
Posted by Tamiko | January 14, 2007 | Comments (2)Tags:
YES! It's Dine Out Vancouver 2007!
By Ethnic Cool 
So, after Christmas comes New Year celebrations and after that it's DINE OUT VANCOUVER.
With a reputation for being a 'delicious' city, Vancouver hosts some of the best restaurants in the world. Everything from cheap sushi, fresh caught seafood, to ethnic cuisines and fine dining, there is nothing here that you won't be able to find. There are just too many choices! Dine Out Vancouver gives people a chance to experience the food and service of over 156 restaurants in the city, all for a set price. There are always those pricy, "burn a hole in your pocket" restaurants that you're dying to try. This is the chance!
Reservations have started and some restaurants are already sold out (Example: Chambar) but there are plenty of other places to visit.
Hit up http://www.tourismvancouver.com for online menus and more info!
Check out http://www.dinehere.ca. A great site for restaurant recommendations and reviews.
Posted by ethnic cool | January 13, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags:
The Globe and Mail keeps asking "How Canadian Are You?"
By Alden E. Habacon
The cover of Friday's Globe and Mail was not what we expected as the highlight of the weekend: "Visible-minority immigrants and their children identify less and less with the country, report says." According to a recent report that analyzed 2002 Statistics Canada data, despite the much talked about change to Canada's demographics, visible minorities are increasingly feeling a sense of exclusion.
"The gap didn't narrow, but widened, with the next generation, with 42 per cent of all visible minority second-generation immigrants reporting discrimination, compared with 10.9 per cent of their white counterparts."
Discrimination and stereotyping also continues to be an issue, and may in fact be on the rise. According to the cover story, "While the children of white immigrants become more attached to Canada, exhibit more of a sense of belonging to Canada and identify in greater numbers as Canadians, the reverse is true for children of visible-minority immigrants, the study found." This is quite the about-face from the Globe and Mail's ground-breaking 12-part series about The New Canada in 2003.
Perhaps proof that the statistics, highly-celebrated fusion-restaurants, bi-cultural magazines and ethnic third-language television (that are the proof of Canada's diversity) are not enough to make even second-generation visible-minorities report a deeper sense of belonging to Canada. If not already on your mind, one could say this is the (obvious?) result of "visibly diverse" Canadians - despite being legitimate Canadians - not seeing themselves sufficiently reflected in mainstream media as quintessentially Canadian; not in the same way their white-counter parts might.
What do you think?
More:
Read How Canadian Are You? by MARINA JIMENEZ (globeandmail.com)
Read the cover story, How does multiculturalism translate for minorities? by HAYLEY MICK here (globeandmail.com).
Caught Between Cultures (CBC Canada Now and Newsworld, 2003)
Tags: News
Samurai Champloo - rediscovered in Canada
By Alden E. Habacon
Rumours of a complete DVD-set of SAMURAI CHAMPLOO -- easily the BEST EVER samurai animation -- have recently surfaced. Hardcore fans are keeping this very hush-hush, as it's likely a fansub -- short for "fan subtitled." Until now, it was not possible to watch all 26 episodes straight through. What a treat! All on the heels of the Canadian debut which took place on December 24th, 2006 on the Canadian digital station, Razer.
Released by Fuji Television in 2004, "Its name comes from the Okinawan word "chanpuru" (e.g. goya champuru), which means to mix or blend. Thus, the title may be translated as "Samurai Remix" or "Samurai Mashup", keeping with the series' blended theme." (From Wikipedia)
Listen to Pedro Mendes interview Shinichiro Watanabe on CBC Radio (May 29, 2006) here.
Posted by Alden | January 11, 2007 | Comments (0)Tags: News
Little Mosque Rocks Canada!
By Alden E. Habacon
Curious to know how CBC's Little Mosque on the Prairie did last night? CBC has just reported that 2.1 Million Canadians (that's measured viewers) watched the debut episode! Congratulations CBC -- you've got a hit! Finally, a uniquely Canadian (and visibly diverse) television show beat out every American-produced primetime drama in the ratings-game (only with exception to House at 9:00 PM). Which also means Congratulations Canada! To use one the show's taglines, "Muslims around the world are known for their sense of humour," and Canada agreed!
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Banana is back!
By Alden E. Habacon
It's been just over four years since Banana Magazine's last issue, and still we get asked, "Is Banana around?" Well, it's been confirmed that Banana has been revived as Banana Living. And there are some big plans! Mark Simon, founder of Banana Living's original print predecessor, promises more -- a print magazine of the same name has been spotted on campus at SFU and something called Banana Television is in the works.
Hopefully, this is good sign for 2007! And is part of the recent rise of Asian American magazines, such as THEME, a beautifully designed magazine from NY (launched in Spring 2005), THIRTEEN MINUTES, the most recent launch of BLINK MAGAZINE in Toronto and JASMINE MAGAZINE continues to bring us gorgeous covers! Possibly an inidcator that the mythic market of Asian American and Asian Canadian consumers is growing in viability.
From all of us at schema,
we wish you the very best in this new venture!
Posted by Alden | January 9, 2007
| Comments (0)
Tags: News
More on the "Little Mosque" phenomena
By Alden E. HabaconLittle Mosque on the Prairie has caught TV-land by storm. With hopes set high on a Canadian comedy-hit, not only have groups of people gathered at special "Little Mosque" dinner parties, the video-clips on YouTube have spawned heated discussion, some envy in the U.S. and over 7000 views (and growing). Click here to join the debate or to leave your reviews.
If you caught the premier, share your opinion in the comments below.
More:
See here for the WORLD's Largest Swarma!
"Camels on hand to celebrate premiere of 'Little Mosque on the Prairie' " (Yahoo News) click here.
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From dragons on the west side to a mosque on the prairie
By Boon Kondo
CBC keeps on rolling on the "minority" Canadian shows. They concluded second part of Dragon Boys (see blog below) on Monday night and Tuesday premieres another much talked about show in Little Mosque on the Prairie. Now a lot of this show's attention has come from our Muslim-scared friends to the south. Yeah, it ain't called "Little Jihadist Sleeper Cell in the American Heartland" (though no doubt, that's where much of the satire will be targeted at) but the show has already been covered by CNN's Paula Zahn on top of all the Right wing rejects that are unsurprisingly quite bent about it already.
Albert Brooks might have gone Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World but I wonder if he's gonna get the chance to tune into a little Canadian channel to see how that sense of humour will mesh in our heartland. Judging by the previews though, much like the Dragon Boys mini-series itself, the desired issues to express seem to be pushed out a bit too much in a forced manner for my liking, but this is a series - it will have to time to grow on the audience.
SHOW PREMIERES TUES, JAN. 9 - 8:30 PM on CBC
Interview with Zarqa Nawaz, show creator and producer
CBC has high hopes, Nawaz wants laughs
Maclean's piece
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DRAGON BOYS - Airing THIS Sunday and Monday on CBC!
By Alden E. Habacon
Don't you dare miss this CBC Special Presentation. Click here for Canadian schedule info.
Audiences were blow away at both the Vancouver and Toronto screenings - and we've also heard that Dragon Boys has already been "officially selected" for the 2007 San Fransisco Asian American Film Festival. Terry Woo, author of Banana Boys, was heard saying, "I knew it was going to be good. But not this good! See the SCHEMA ULTIMATE FANSITE for all the reviews and fan-response ... need we say more?
All of us UBER-fans want this to get the same attention by CBC as Vanishing Sons (starring Russel Wong, 1994) did -- which also began as a four-part mini-series and followed by 13 TV-episodes (which never got to Canada). DRAGON BOYS IS EVEN BETTER! Superbly written and stellar acting by an incredible cast!
More:
CBC.ca - Arts | TV
Driven Magazine
The Canadian Press
Boys on Film, by Jen Sookfong Lee
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Recent Posts
(The) Straight on tour in Ethiopia
TaikoFit - Japanese drumming's take on fitness
Gypsy Rock! Spin mag's "Scene of the Year"
Shohei Imamura flix @ the Cinematheque
Funk - perhaps the most ethnically cool thing eva
Kanppai! - Japanese sake showcased at Artisan Sake Studio & Tojo's new digs
Polysics @ the Plaza, FRI - JAN. 26
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