NOW WHAT
The AZN Asian Excellence Awards Bring Out Our Own Red-Carpet Walkers
ho hasn't heard of Nobu restaurants or Vivienne Tam designs? Asian Americans may be overrepresented in the culinary arts and couture but it is only recently that their Hollywood presence has mainstreamed. AZN television's Asian Excellence Awards recognizes accomplishments in all areas with an eye towards improved entertainment industry visibility.
The 7th annual award show was held on May 16th at UCLA's Royce Hall. College students lined up along the red carpet and braved the evening chill to get a glimpse of their favorite celebs. Gracious attendees like John Cho and Roger Fan, dressed in a vinyl taxi-cab yellow jumpsuit, posed with eager fans, while the likes of Kal Penn and Daniel Dae Kim played it cool, pausing only momentarily to GQ, before continuing into the building.
Red carpet regulars like Russell Wong, George Takei and Kelly Hu shared the spotlight with newcomers like Nickalodeon's baby-faced Justin Chon, Saving Face's MD beauty Michelle Krusiec, and Survivor star Yul Kwon.
Newer starlets languidly traversed the red carpet, flaunting their fashions and figures in equal measure. Even the musical acts were as varied in their personas as in their vocals: American Idol's Sanjaya shyly tucked free locks behind his ear and demurred from an on-carpet performance, while Far*East Movement broke into spontaneous a capella.
Executive producer of this year's show, Teddy Zee, known for his work on such films as 2004's Saving Face, HITCH (2005) and The Pursuit of Happyness (2007), was accompanied by his pretty daughter and voiced admiration for this year's television pioneers, complimenting Masi Oka for his role on the hit show Heroes.
"Oka has captured the nation by playing a good guy while speaking Japanese on camera which has been a great thing for the community," Zee exclaimed.
Hollywood producer Teddy Zee poses for a candid with his lovely daughter.
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Since his 2002 producing debut, Life or Something Like It, Zee has moved on to continued successes. Other on-camera stars have been less lucky. Actor Jason Scott Lee for instance, has spent some serious downtime on his Hawaii farm, fishing, occasionally practicing martial arts, and Òwaiting for a call from [my] agent.Ó
Lee achieved near greatness with his role as ass-kicking Bruce Lee in the biopic Dragon (1993), only to fade into obscurity after several B-grade action flicks and a vampire trilogy. From a sexy, brooding husband, to a sci-fi android of perfect proportions, it's thanks to pioneering forefathers like Lee and George Takei of Star Trek fame, that this generation's new talent, like the show's Korean American co-hosts Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park have achieved impressive on-screen presence.
During the show, Kim and Park inspired laughter with their scripted rivalry, particularly with Kim's insinuation that a Maxim body double had been used in Park's sexy spread. Comedians Russell Peters, Margaret Cho and Dat Phan performed in between presentations, keeping the laughter light. Some notable awards include classics like Outstanding Film, Outstanding Actor/Actress in film and television as well as the unconventional viewers choice awards like, Favorite Reality TV Star and Outstanding Independent Film.
Saxophonist and entrepreneur Kenny G awarded Nobuyuki Matsuhisa the Pioneer Award, serenading his best friend and business partner with his rendition of a Japanese classic. The longevity and popularity of Vivienne Tam's label earned her the Visibility Award, last year given to Charlie's Angel Lucy Liu. Perhaps the biggest honor, the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Pirates of the Caribbean's, Geoffrey Rush, was given to Hong Kong superstar and fellow Pirates co-star Chow Yun-Fat.
Chow, who began a career on Hong Kong television, became a sex symbol after starring in the popular show Hotel. His role in the film The Story of Woo Viet (1981) established him as a critically as well as commercially bankable movie star. By 1996 Chow had over 68 Asian film credits to his name. In 1998 he starred in his first Hollywood film The Replacement Killers (1998). Although Chow's role opposite hottie Mira Sorvino tapped into his multi-faceted appeal, it was his romantic role opposite Jodie Foster in Anna and the King (1999), a film whose production size rivaled that of Gone with the Wind (1939), that cemented his status as an international star.
When asked what brought her out to UCLA's Royce Hall on this crisp May evening Quentin Tarantino's Hell Ride (2008) newcomer Cassandra Hepburn gushed, ÒAsians baby, Asians!Ó The red carpet showcased designer gowns and Prada suits to be sure, but more importantly, AZN Asian Excellence Awards recorded a night of high visibility pride. May 16th was one Hollywood date when golden skin was the norm and the brunettes outnumbered the peroxide-blondes.
ho hasn't heard of Nobu restaurants or Vivienne Tam designs? Asian Americans may be overrepresented in the culinary arts and couture but it is only recently that their Hollywood presence has mainstreamed. AZN television's Asian Excellence Awards recognizes accomplishments in all areas with an eye towards improved entertainment industry visibility.
