Interviews
Hoa Xuande & Fred Nguyen Khan
On sympathizing with the struggle
It was a hot Monday late afternoon in West Hollywood, Los Angeles. For actors Hoa Xuande and Fred Nguyen Khan, it was just another press day of photoshoots and interviews for their new HBO series, The Sympathizer. “Looking fresh, my guy!” Xuande teased Khan in Vietnamese when he arrived at the shoot for their group shots. Khan chuckled and responded, “Thank you, brother!” While switching to different poses, they continued to make inside jokes and tease each other in Vietnamese, a language they scarcely knew before being cast into their individual roles.
Sarayu Blue
On the importance of depth and authenticity
When I first met actress Sarayu Blue, it was on the red carpet in March 2018 for Paleyfest, celebrating her new comedy I Feel Bad. Looking at the press lineup on the carpet, I was the only Asian woman—let alone, woman of color—waiting to speak to the cast and creatives of the first network series centering around a biracial-South Asian family. For most journalists of color, it is a daunting experience being at the end of the press line, hoping to get some sort of coverage from the actors. But Blue made it a point to chat with me.
Vanner
On winning competitions and hearts
It’s 12:30 am in Seoul, but you wouldn’t be able to tell for K-pop group VANNER who are all smiles, gesturing finger hearts towards the camera over Zoom. Seated in the offices of their management company, KLAP Entertainment, the members—Taehwan, Gon, Hyesung, Sunggook, and Yeongkwang—show no sign of fatigue or slowing down as they have been spending the past few weeks promoting their latest EP, Veni Vidi Vici. Instead, the boys are full of energy throughout the interview, laughing in-between questions and having their answers interpreted.
SB19
On sharing their music, culture, and journey
SB19 has had a busy summer.
If you asked them how they’re feeling, they’d be honest and say they’re a bit overwhelmed. It’s no surprise as the Pinoy Pop group has been nonstop the entire summer. In June, they dropped their EP, Pagtatag, and began a North American tour spanning 10 cities from July through August and are still traveling for promotional reasons.Their latest single “GENTO” is gaining a lot of traction on social media as their Dance Challenge is going viral as popular influencers and K-Pop idols take the challenge...
Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter Has Conquered Gaming and Has Set Her Eyes on Animation: ‘I’ve Always Been Fascinated With It’
Filipino American streamer Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter never expected her career to take off as it did.
She started streaming video games on Twitch in 2015 to battle loneliness and possibly make a few friends. Due to her bubbly personality, she amassed millions of followers on multiple platforms, which led to sponsorships and brand endorsements…
‘Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó’ Director Sean Wang on the Constant Search for Identity
It’s safe to say that director Sean Wang is having an incredible year, despite the fact we’re only two months into it. It’s not everyday that you would receive two of the biggest news of your life all within a week.
On January 19, the Taiwanese American director premiered his debut feature film, Dìdi (弟弟) — meaning “little brother” in Mandarin — at Sundance, winning both the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast…
Charles Melton Is Feeling Himself
If there was one word to describe Charles Melton, it would be “grateful.”
When I first arrive at the undisclosed location in West Hollywood for our interview, the May December actor had been shooting his ad campaign for YSL Beauty—he’s the handsome new U.S. voice of the brand’s MYSLF cologne in the U.S.—since the early morning, and has a short break to grab something to eat before we talk. I surprise him with a handful of Asian snacks, ranging from rice crackers to chocolate sticks to a variety of Korean moon pies, which he quickly sifts through, picking the rice crackers to consume first.
iÑaki godoy
on finding the spirit of one piece
Netflix's live-action adaptation of the anime One Piece has become a cultural phenomenon, debuting at number one in 46 countries, instantly getting a renewal for a second season. But, if you talk to the star of the series, Iñaki Godoy, he'll tell you that his life hasn't really changed much.
Gia Kim
On embracing multicultural narratives for a new generation of television
It’s 4 p.m. on a Friday in downtown Los Angeles and actors Minyeong Choi and Gia Kim have spent most of their day shooting their cover photo for Timid Magazine, celebrating the upcoming release of their new Netflix series X.O. Kitty. The two had just spent the week doing non-stop press interviews and promotions. The red carpet premiere was the night before, but Choi and Kim show no signs of slowing down as they pose for the camera in-between outfit changes and boba breaks.
Minyeong Choi
On embracing multicultural narratives for a new generation of television
It’s 4 p.m. on a Friday in downtown Los Angeles and actors Minyeong Choi and Gia Kim have spent most of their day shooting their cover photo for Timid Magazine, celebrating the upcoming release of their new Netflix series X.O. Kitty. The two had just spent the week doing non-stop press interviews and promotions. The red carpet premiere was the night before, but Choi and Kim show no signs of slowing down as they pose for the camera in-between outfit changes and boba breaks.
Ke Huy Quan On Returning to Hollywood and Reclaiming His Name
It has been over twenty years since actor Ke Huy Quan was last seen on the big screen. Although he made a brief return in a supporting role in Netflix’s 2021 family adventure, Finding Ohana, Quan’s full comeback came in the form of a leading role in A24’s sci-fi drama, Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Hiroyuki Sanada Felt Respected in the Ending
of ‘Bullet Train’
Bullet Train hit theaters this past weekend with a whopping $60 million at the global box office. The film, which stars Brad Pitt as Ladybug – an unlucky assassin who takes a job on the bullet train in Japan when there are other assassins at play – leading him to hilarious and action-packed situations. One of his unlikely allies turns out to be The Elder (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) and his foolish yet equally deadly son, Yuichi (Andrew Koji).
THE PROTÉGÉ’S MAGGIE Q ON TRAILBLAZING AND CHOOSING QUALITY ROLEs
In Lionsgate’s The Protégé, Maggie Q plays Anna, the world’s most skilled contract killer and titular protégé of legendary assassin Moody (Samuel L. Jackson). Moody’s brutal murder leads Anna down a path of revenge and straight into a conspiracy that brings her in over her head. The script, specifically the concept of a woman confronting her past, immediately drew Q into the story.
James Wan Promises Malignant Will Be Like Nothing You've Seen From Him Before
It’s been five years since Malignant director James Wan has helmed a horror film with 2016’s The Conjuring 2. Following that, Wan immediately began working on the blockbuster superhero film Aquaman, which was released in 2018. In the wake of Aquaman’s success, the filmmaker knew he wanted to return to horror, but he also wanted to come back with something new and original.
Director Lisa Joy Reinvents the Male Gaze in Reminiscence
Director Lisa Joy began writing Reminiscence after years of working in a writers’ room full of men. Being the only woman in the room, Joy felt disappointed as her male counterparts wrote female characters from the point of the male gaze. Frustrated with the constant misogyny she encountered, Joy eventually made her exit and decided to write her own screenplay. Studios had expected her to write a romantic comedy, but Joy had other things in mind.
Don't Breathe 2: Norman Nordstrom "Definitely" Isn't the Hero of the Story
Don’t Breathe 2 sees the return of Stephen Lang’s Norman Nordstrom back for more following the 2016 horror thriller. Now, eight years later, Norman seems to have found peace, having recreated the family that was stolen from him as he serves as a guardian to an 11-year-old girl, Phoenix (Madelyn Grace). When intruders attempt to disturb the life Norman had built for himself, the evil inside of him is activated, resulting in deadly consequences.
Adele Lim is Ready to Get a Little Dirty
It’s hard for Adele Lim to pick the raunchiest part of her new film Joy Ride. Could it be the wild ménage à trois between one of the characters and two attractive men? Or the surprise tattoo revealed on a specific body part? It could be the scene where the main characters are struggling to hide drugs in the most indecent of places.
“It definitely has to be what I call the “V-POV” [aka] the vaginal point of view shot for my contribution to cinema,” Lim laughs as she tells ELLE Singapore during the Joy Ride press tour.
DAWN On His “Narcissus” EP: Love, Loss, and Finding Himself
DAWN knows a thing or two about his life being held under a microscope.
The 29-year-old artist, real name Kim Hyo Jong, has had his life in the media circus since the reveal of his romantic relationship with fellow Cube Entertainment labelmate and idol HyunA, which was seen as taboo in the K-pop industry, in 2018. Both DAWN and HyunA did the unthinkable and remained committed to their relationship, prompting the label to cut both of them out…