Yin & Young EP39 - Filmmaker Darren Kwan and Post Oscars Talk

Yin & Young are back with guest filmmaker Darren Kwan! We discuss how he got into filmmaking and then go into an in-depth talk about the Oscars.

* Darren Kwan - originally from the Bay Area, worked at a tech company in Silicon Valley before deciding on a career change to filmmaking.

* James and Darren met at the De Anza College film department. Reconnected with James when he recognized Darren on the street in downtown LA.

* Darren’s latest film is about the cuddling industry.

* Tangent into Robert Kraft getting busted going to a massage parlor that has happy endings.

* James and Darren shot a short film in the tunnels under downtown LA.

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* 25:44 Oscars Talk. Everyone breaks down the issues they had with the Green Book: story pacing, racism, and replay value.

* Discussion on the films that should’ve won Best Picture.

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* 57:13 Moving on to the Best Documentary category, the Oscar nominated film: Minding the Gap:

* Darren expresses his connection to Kiere’s story and lack of connection to Zack’s story.

* Dan was impressed by the narrative structure of the documentary.

* James likes the film but gets heated about how it does not address racism against Asians.

* 01:19:35 - Best Animated Film, Yin and Young both agree on “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse” as a solid winner.

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Language Corner

* Japanese - 参った (まいった maitta）- a) I give up, b) I’m beaten, c) overwhelmed

* Mandarin - 厭世臉 (yan4shi4lian3) - literally “hate world face”. A cool, smile-less, serious look that women have.

* Cantonese - 身體健康 (san1tai2 gin6hong1) - lit. body healthy, wish you good health. Said during Lunar New Year.

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Links:

* Darren Kwan on Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/user32586431

* Oscar Nominations 2019: Full List – https://variety.com/2019/film/news/oscar-nominations-2019-list-1203112405/

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Yin & Young links:

* Main Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast/

* iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2

* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast/

* YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvtVW6pVPeKFn7H_6ai8lA?

* Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1BF7YXqVAEk9EXVr45gWy4?si=3wrdb9VpSR-p3yQygvLtdw

* Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/yin-young-podcast

Yin & Young EP31 - Writer Vicky Luu

Yin & Young and returning guest Laura Cox meet with writer and Young’s fellow Milpitas home girl Vicky Luu!

* Vicky and James went to the same high school, but didn’t connect until recently in LA through a mutual high school friend, Anson, Vicky’s first boyfriend.
* Vicky dated Anson out of social pressure.
* Vicky is into true crime stories.
* Vicky writes for Superstore.
* She likes to watch a lot of different shows to see what's available.
* Top 3 things she likes that doesn't involve screens, Hiking, Camping, Eating out with Friends.
* Born and raised in Milpitas, Vicky went to USC for undergrad, studied film and TV.
* She initially liked the production end of things.
* After graduating USC, she stayed in LA as a Production Assistant working in reality TV.
* Met her writing partner on the set of "Family Guy".
* They wrote a script and their bosses passed it onto UTA and they both got signed.
* Got their first gig on "Marry Me", then to "Grinder", then went to "Superstore" in their second season.
* Vicky is conversational in Vietnamese.
* Vicky came out as a lesbian in college. Vicky shares her dramatic coming out story with her parents which involves a short film, lots of laughing, and tears.
* We get an inside look into how a writer's room works.
* Yin leaves early because he has to take his Mom, a “Fast and the Furious” fan, to the airport in the morning.
* Vicky’s grown to love LA for all the options that are available.
* Vicky shares how she met her wife.
* Discussion veers to the label people have of each other.

Language Corner:
Mandarin (James): 辛苦 - xīnkǔ - suffering, toilsome
Korean (Laura): 짐이 많은  - jim-i manh-eun - burdensome
Vietnamese (Vicky): Dất ơi - Oh My God

Vicky Luu's IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2936759/
Superstore on NBC: https://www.nbc.com/superstore

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Yin & Young links:
* Main Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast/
* iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast/
* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvtVW6pVPeKFn7H_6ai8lA?
* Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/yin-young-podcast

Yin & Young Episode 30 - Actor George Q. Nguyen

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/6R_EhkohGP4 (or click picture above)

After a month-long hiatus, Yin & Young are back with an interview with actor George Q. Nguyen discussing his path from SF to LA and balancing a day job with an acting career.

- Young met George in the Bay Area for a screening of "The Grandmaster."
- George's parents used to teach language for the Defense Institute in Monterey. Was born in El Paso, but grew up in San Francisco. Started as a film major as an undergrad and filmed in 8mm.
- Took one acting class as undergrad. Realized was more passionate about being in front of the camera or on stage then behind the camera.
- Changed his major to Cellular & Molecular Biology, wanted a more practical major.
- Got a job at ACT selling tickets to upcoming shows and was able to take ACT classes at night.
Started working at a biotech before graduation.
- "Whenever a director asks you to audition, you audition," was one of the first great acting lessons he learned.
- Continued working both at a biotech firm and at ACT doing sales.
- Biotech pays the bills to allow George to pursue his creative endeavors.
- George got hit by a car not too long ago. Broke his leg in different parts and as gone through multiple operations to fix things. Rough start to 2018.
- Being a consultant/contractor allows for some flexibility to go to auditions.
- Tried various martial arts in SF such as Wing Chun where he learned in a garage.
- Oscar Corner: Yin and Young and George discuss some Best Films from 2017.
"Coco", "Three Billboards", "I, Tonya", "The Shape of Water."

LANGUAGE CORNER
Mandarin - 清明節 - Qīngmíng Jié - Tomb Sweeping Day
Vietnamese - đám giỗ - death anniversary.
Japanese (slang) - yankee - delinquent

George’s Links:
website: https://sites.google.com/site/geogenes/
films: https://sites.google.com/site/geogenes/george%27sfilms
imdb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2852475/?ref_=nv_sr_4

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Yin & Young links:
* Main Website: http://www.jamesyshih.com/yin-young-podcast/
* iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yin-young-podcast-jys/id1185421015?mt=2
* Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yinyoungpodcast/
* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkvtVW6pVPeKFn7H_6ai8lA?
* Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/yin-young-podcast