Category Archives: interview

Darwin Barney interview with Rick Quan

Sportscaster Rick Quan continues his series profiling Asian American sports stars. Previously, he did pieces on Jeremy Lin, Rex Walters, and Apolo Ohno. His latest work focuses on the Chicago Cubs starting second baseman Darwin Barney. The baseball player is 1/4 Korean and 1/4 Japanese. After just one full season in the major leagues, Darwin Barney is already starting to make his mark with his team. In this profile, he talks about his Asian American background, his love for baseball and his musical talent. His athletic prowess was with his since childhood. Follow his career through college to the big leagues.

Darwin Barney interview with Rick Quan

Jay Park interview with channelAPA.com

Leave a reply

Jay Park interview with channelAPA.com
Over the weekend at 2011 ISA LA, channelAPA.com had a chance to chat with Jay Park about his music and dance careers. With a huge following in both USA and Asia, we talk about opportunities for Asian Americans in both regions. He shared with us about his strategy straddling the East and West. Jay Park has already release several singles including Single Life, Demon, Bestie & Speechless. He’s even done several collabos like Clouds and Maybe One Day. He might not have an English album soon, but he’s working on new English tracks. In the meantime, he’ll be busy promoting his upcoming Korean film “Mr. Idol” and a Korean album in November.

Jay Park interview with channelAPA.com

Ryan Higa on Supah Ninjas, YouTube, ISA, YTF, and more

Leave a reply

Ryan Higa in Supah Ninjas

During the 2011 ISA SF Bay Area concert, channelAPA.com had a chance to chop it up with YouTuber Ryan Higa. He’s got over 4 million Youtube subscribers, but is exploring options outside of YouTube as well. One route he’s looking at is TV. On the October 1, 2011, Ryan Higa will be the guest star on the “DJ Elephant Head: A Ninja Without Dreams” episode of Supah Ninjas on Nickelodeon. He’ll be playing the sleep-inducing DJ Elephant Head looking to steal a diamond, while the main cast will to learn a new type of martial arts for the big finale. Watch some of the behind the scenes footage. (Also on the same day, he’s one of the hosts for the 2011 ISA LA festival. So you can see him live if you’re in the Los Angeles area.)

Behind the scenes with Ryan Higa in Supah Ninjas

Ryan Higa as DJ Elephant Head on Supah Ninjas (full episode)

Ending fight sequence with DJ Elephant Head: Fighting to the Beat

With online films like Agents of Secret Stuff and songs like Shed a Tear & Nice Guys, the young video star is looking beyond youtube. He’s now officially part of International Secret Agents (ISA) and just started YTF, which is comprised of Ryan Higa, Kevin Wu (aka Kevjumba), Chester See, Victor Kim, D-Trix, JR Aquino and Andrew Garcia. YTF is kicking off next week with a concert in Hawaii with their main objective to inspire people to help them believe that dreams can come true.

Ryan Higa talks to channelAPA on Supah Ninjas, YouTube, ISA, YTF, and more

If you’re in Hawaii, you can join Ryan and the rest of the YTF crew on October 9, 2011. get tickets here.

Wong Fu Productions talks ISA, Leehom Wang, music videos, & more

Leave a reply

Wong Fu Productions talks ISA, Leehom Wang, music videos, & more

channelAPA.com had an opportunity to connect with the guys of Wong Fu Productions at the 2011 ISA SF Bay Area over the weekend. We talked with Wes, Ted, and Phil about what it means to them to have the International Secret Agents concert in the Bay Area. (They have their roots in the Bay.) The week before ISA SF, Wong Fu Productions was out in Taiwan directing, shooting, and editing a music video for Wang Leehom. Although the trio had a non-stop schedule and was jet lagged, the day before ISA SF they shot and edited a short film for the concert with a bunch of their friends. (If you want to see online, you need to help Wong Fu Productions reach 1 million subscribers on YouTube.) Ted, Phil, and Wes have a lot of different opportunities open to them. Some of the things in the works include a feature film, a high quality web series, and music videos for Magnetic North and Kina Grannis. With all these projects, they are still able to work with a wide range of budgets from zero to infinity and beyond.

None of this can happen without the fans. If you want to see how Wong Fu fans are like in the SF Bay Area, watch til the end of the video. (you’ll probably see it in a future Wong Fu Weekends.)

update: Wang Leehom music video “Still In Love With You” by Wong Fu Productions

If you’re a fan in LA, be sure to go see them at 2011 ISA LA. You can win tickets here.

Wong Fu Productions talks ISA, Leehom Wang, music videos, & more

Far East Movement talks ISA, 2nd album, So What? music video & more

1 Reply

Far East Movement talks ISA, 2nd album, So What? music video & more

Over the weekend, channelAPA.com had a chance to connect with Far East Movement at the 2011 International Secret Agents (ISA) Concert in the San Francisco Bay Area. We chopped it up about being signed to Cherrytree Records and what it meant to them. With their success, they still think about the music and Asian American community. To showcase new and mainstream artists, they continue their collaborative efforts with Wong Fu Productions to bring International Secret Agents all over the US from LA to SF to New York to Seattle and beyond. Recently, Ryan Higa and Kevjumba joined the ISA fam to continue to grow the community.

As for music, Far East Movement is almost completed with their second album under Cherrytree Records. While on tour with Lil Wayne, the group took out a second tour bus just to work on the album. (that’s dedication!) The album will be loaded with collabs including Pitbull, David Guetta, Rye Rye, Bangladesh, Cherry Cherry Boom Boom, RedOne, Stereotypes, and more. They’re also about to release a new music video for So What?, which they co-directed. Look for their new music video in a few weeks and their new album early 2012.

If you’re in Los Angeles this weekend, be sure to join these guys at the 2011 International Secret Agents (ISA) LA. It’s an event you don’t want to miss.

If you can’t make it out to LA, you can still support them by voting for them in the 2011 MTV EMAs ( the European version). The group is nominated in two categories Best New and Best Push. You can vote here.

Far East Movement talks ISA, 2nd album, So What? music video & more

Harry Shum Jr. talks Glee at 2011 Emmys

Leave a reply

Harry Shum Jr. talks Glee at 2011 Emmys

While on the red carpet of the 2011 Emmys last night, Harry Shum Jr. chatted with some of the press on what’s coming up on Glee Season 3. Don’t read or watch any further is you don’t want spoilers.

His character, Mike Chang, will have new opportunities after graduation from William McKinley High School. Drama will arise as between him and his parents as he chooses what he wants to do post-graduation. (Sounds like the classic Asian parents pushing there kids to “safe” career choices.) Mike Chang’s parents, played by Tamilyn Tomita &Keong Sim, is slated to appear in Glee Season 3 episode 3. This season, not only will Harry Shum Jr. be doing more dancing, but he’ll also be singing. (Remember when Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Ushkowitz did a duet in Glee Season 2 episode 4 “Duets”.)

See what Harry Shum Jr. was up to this past year in Matched, Buffet, 3 Steps to Self Esteem, Best Date EVER!, and 3 Minutes.

Harry Shum Jr. talks Glee Season 3 at 2011 Emmys

Harry Shum Jr. interview about Glee Season 3 at 2011 Emmys