WESTMINSTER – A symposium on “Changing Media Images of Asian Americans” will be held Thursday, May 31, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Rose Center Theatre, 14140 All American Way, Westminster.
Moderator Prince Gomolvilas, playwright and USC professor, will guide the panelists through some of the issues Asian Pacific Americans may be facing today in various entertainment and media outlets. The symposium will feature APA entertainers and experts in a freewheeling discussion about how APAs are portrayed in popular entertainment and how a blend of activism, new media, and shifting social demographics are having an effect on media representation.
Topics to be addressed include: Where have we been, and where are we going? Where is there progress, and where have things stalled? How do audiences influence the future of APAs in arts and entertainment?
The panelists are:
Dante Basco, an actor whose credits include the movies “Hook,” “Fakin’ da Funk” and “The Debut” and the TV shows “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” “American Dragon: Jake Long,” “Moesha,” “Prime Suspect,” “CSI: Miami” and “Hawaii Five-0.”
Richard Chang, arts writer for The Orange County Register and contributor to ARTnews magazine.
Ian Anthony Dale, an actor whose credits include the movies “The Hangover” and “The Bucket List” and the TV shows “CSI,” “The Event,” “Hawaii Five-0” (as Kono’s love interest, Adam Noshimuri), “Day Break” and “24.”
David Fung of the Fung Brothers, who have a comedy channel on YouTube (their videos include “The Jeremy Lin Effect”).
Janet Kwak, a reporter for NBC4, previously at WOAI in San Antonio and KTXS in Abilene, Texas.
Aarne Heikkila, a producer at NBC News who has produced stories for “NBC Nightly News,” “The Today Show” and MSNBC.
Presented by OCA (Organization of Chinese Americans), Orange County Chapter. Advance reservations free for OCA members and students with valid ID, $5 general. At the door: $5 for OCA members and students, $10 general.
RSVP now at http://2012ocaocmedia.eventbrite.com.