Tag Archives: Asian

Black, Asian and Latino Film Celebrities Form Their Own “Oscars”

imageHOLLYWOOD, California (The Adobo Chronicles) – In an apparent response to the lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations for two years in a row now, a group of famous celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Tyler Perry and Spike Lee is partnering with Black Entertainment Television (BET) to establish the Boscars, the Black Oscars. The Boscars will award and recognize outstanding achievement in film among  Blacks.

Not to be outdone, Asians in Hollywood led by director Ang Lee, actors Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu, and scriptwriter Ronnie Del Carmen are also forming their own “Academy of Motion Pictures.” They plan to establish their own Oscars which they are calling Ascars.

Of course, Latinos won’t allow themselves to be left behind. They are in discussions with Univision and Telemundo to hold an annual film awards for Latinos. They’re calling it Lascars.

The Internet activist group responsible for the hashtag #Oscarssowhite, has thrown its unconditional support for the triple move by the film celebrities of color.

Meanwhile, Native Americans in film are also in the process of establishing their own Oscars. Unfortunately, the move is on hold until they come up with an appropriate name for their awards. They can’t use NASCAR because that name is patented by the Daytona-based stock car racing organization.

Is this the beginning of the end for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Oscars as we know it?

Stay tuned!

U.S. CENSUS BUREAU TO RECLASSIFY FILIPINOS FROM ‘ASIAN’ TO ‘PACIFIC ISLANDER’

imageWASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – For decades now, Filipinos living in the United States have been lumped with the ‘Asian’ demographic subgroup by the Census Bureau. That is about to change starting with the 2020 population census.

The bureau announced today that it has decided to reclassify Filipinos to ‘Pacific Islander,’ citing several significant reasons:

  1. The Philippines is an island nation that is not connected to the main Asian continent.
  2. The country sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in close proximity to other Pacific Island nations like Fiji, Guam, and the countries of Polynesia.
  3. Its tropical weather is very similar to the rest of the Pacific Island nations.
  4. The Philippines uses the Latin alphabet (ABCDE) , unlike other Asian countries which use logographics  like kanji, hanja and hangul (漢字).
  5. Most important of all, unlike their Asian counterparts in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, the Filipinos do not use chopsticks.  They use silverware or eat with their hands.

Filipino communities in places like Daly City, Honolulu and Jersey City immediately praised the decision by the Census Bureau.

So beginning in 2020, Filipinos will identify as P.I. — Pacific Islanders from the Philippine Islands (P.I.)

ASIAN AND HISPANIC JOURNALISTS PROTEST USE OF ‘ILLEGAL ALIENS’ IN NEW SUPERMAN MOVIE

Controversial scene from 'Batman v Superman' (screen capture)
Controversial scene from ‘Batman v Superman’ (screen capture)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (The Adobo Chronicles) – Two of the country’s minority journalism organizations today formally protested the use of the term ‘illegal alien’ in the new Hollywood film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Asian American Journalists Association(AAJA) and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) sent a strongly-worded joint letter to Zack Snyder accusing the film’s director of perpetuating stereotypes and fueling anti-immigrant sentiments.

The film’s first trailer was released yesterday. In one scene, Superman (Henry Cavil)  is seen on Capitol Hill being mobbed by angry protesters bearing placards with messages like “Superman = Illegal Alien,” and “Aliens are Un-American.”

The letter asked Snyder: “How difficult is it for you to use ‘undocumented immigrant’ instead of ‘illegal alien?’

AAJA and NAHJ have been advocating against the use of offensive and derogatory language by the media especially as it relates to immigrants and minority communities.

In a brief email response to the journalism organizations, Snyder simply said, “Chill, guys. This is fiction! Besides, Superman IS an alien!”

The film opens March 16, 2016 in theaters worldwide. Ben Affleck plays the role of Batman.