*Repost from FB
If the COVID pandemic ends soon enough, I'll be trading coasts once again!
I'm happy to announce that I have accepted my admission to UCLA's School of Theater, Film, and Television to pursue my MFA in Production and Directing!
I had hoped to attend Columbia University to stay on the East Coast where I'd be closer to many of my friends. However, with the waitlist, I am planning on proceeding with UCLA to study (and hopefully work) near Hollywood.
Coming from CO, living on both coasts seemed like a dream. I don't think any combo of words can describe the excitement I feel and how thankful I am for all of the support I received on the way. While I still have a long way to go, I will at least have another place I can call home.
If any of ya'll are in CA, I'd love to link up! Also, depending on how severe COVID is in a few months, I'm gonna try to visit NYC and Rochester by the end of summer.
Stay safe ya'll!
Art is therapy, and I think we need it now more than ever.
Because of COVID-19, I canceled my trip to Rochester in late April/early May. This would have been the last time to see many of my friends who were graduating from UofR. It would have been amazing to see them before everyone split up.
To cope, I decided to make music. Taking an old track I made while in Rochester on my short film, I changed everything to fit my current mood. Adding in improvised solos on brass, piano, and guitar, the song transformed into my FAVORITE project yet.
Yes, it is a lofi track. With its popularity in Asian popular culture, I wanted to create something to combat the uneasiness in Asian-American communities.
My hopes is to express how much I miss NYC and Rochester in a more meaningful way. With NY State locked down, I hope every one stays safe from the coronavirus and society's response.
On a side note, more uploads will be coming, and this track was supposed to be my last upload before I take another break. However, I just really enjoyed it, and since it was made during a time of anxiety and stress, I wanted to release it sooner.
Check it out on my YouTube or Soundcloud, and I hope yall stay safe out there.
#covid_19 #nystateofmind #nyc #rochesterny #uofr #universityofrochester๐ #cancel2020 #washyourhands #staysafe #seeyouagain #lofi #music #artistherapy
Happy International Women's Day! Here's a pic to my mom and sister, two of the most important women in my life
We might butt heads from time to time, but at the end of the day, we're still family
#internationalwomensday #march8 #mom #sis #annoyingbrother
*short rant alert incoming*
If there's anything I've noticed from this coronavirus scare, it is what racism looks like towards Asians.
My coworker told me what happened to her before I came in:
One of our foreign customers came in to report a lost debit card at a Chinese restaurant. His reasoning was this: "They are YOUR people, so you need to take care of this." When my coworker responded, "But I'm Korean -" He cut her off to say, "Yes, your people." Then he went on a rant before storming out of the building.
When I heard about this, I was PISSED.
Most of our customers are Korean. Yes, it is a common thing to mix up Eastern Asian people, just like any other region of the world.
What PISSED me off was the fact he acted based on this assumption (not to mention, the gross behavior he displayed at a BANK). So why am I ranting about this?
I feel like, for most of my life, it was "okay" to be complacent in the face of racism. However, after college, I realized that many of the Asians that I knew, growing up, ignore these types of comments and actions. I was like this growing up, but after college, I had a new perspective.
THIS SHIT IS NOT OKAY IN 2020. I have been noticing it more and more in the news, in the arts, and even real life. While it might be impossible to eradicate racism, I am hoping that my generation and future generations will be better.
Disclaimer: I did post this on Facebook, but I wanted to share it here too since I will NOT be quiet on this
#coronavirus #coronavirus2020 #support #shithole #thisisamerica #fuckracism #stopracism #love #equality #resistance #speakup
After a month and a half, I FINALLY FINISHED "MEMENTO MORI!!!" Quick note: I want to thank my sister who allowed me to use part of her animation. She helped me on another animation for "Another." I'm so excited to have finished a full score of music, but I think I am more excited for the slew of content I have planned. Over the next few weeks, I might not be able to upload a video so that I can work on new projects.
In terms of what I have planned, I will (hopefully) be able to finally release new forms of content! I want to be able to teach people like I did in Rochester, so there will be tutorials on Video Editing, Film Production, Music Production, and Audio Mixing. I hope to do some video essays (*cough Bojack Horseman/Evangelion) and Vlogs!
I have learned so much in the last couple of months, and I will continue to learn in order to bring new content!
On a side note, if you've read this far and have been keeping up with my music, I have a question to ask:
Would it be interesting to remix this music into a lofi hip hop playlist? Let me know!
#finished #soundcloud #youtube #bojackhorseman #evangelion #neongenesis #R&B #flstudio #newmusic #animation #newcontent #newplaylist #anotherone
"I know I ain't the coolest but I got passion." - Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino
As my last BHM post, I wanted to recognize Donald Glover.
He is a generational talent. He left his mark in music as Childish Gambino and in Film/Television as himself.
Funny, bold, and thoughtful - from "Awaken my Love" to "Atlanta," you can see Donald's passion in everything that he does. I have no idea how he has time to rap, sing, act, tell jokes, write, direct - basically, he is the modern polymath.
Anyone would be jealous to have record-breaking albums, Disney roles, and their own Emmy-nominated series. (Personally, I hate how much I love this artist)
But I want to keep this post short because I don't think Donald Glover is at his peak yet. He has done SO much for modern pop culture, but I have a feeling that there is a lot more to come.
#thisisamerica #donaldglover #awakenmylove #becausetheinternet #atlanta #nyu #trap #hiphop #starwars #disney #spiderman #musicandfilm #blackhistorymonth #bhm2020 #inspired #hardworkpaysoff #tootalented
For those of you who don't know, I am a HUUUUGE Weeknd fan.
Though I listened to "High For Me" in high school while watching "Entourage," I haven't listened to the Trilogy or Kissland before he broke into the mainstream. When I started college, "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills" played everywhere. I thought it was weird to hear a soft voice to a hard-hitting trap beat. Then, I started listening.
It was mesmerizing. It gave me a sense of creative freedom. It was unique.
Yes, he sounds like Michael Jackson, but his psychedelic production and semi-nihilistic lyrics are infectious. The Weeknd might not be a role model. His lyrics of drugs and sex are dangerous.
But listening to his music has made me fearless in my film, photography, and music. It might seem a little odd to put Abel Tesfaye as a Black History Month post, but my goal was to list out at least a few black figures who have changed my life and artistry. My music is heavily inspired by Abel, and I was inspired by his newest hit, "After Hours," for my YouTube post for tomorrow (2/29/2020). Looking forward to his concert in Denver (hopefully) buuuut
If his songs say anything, I hope this man doesn't overdose on the drugs ... We've lost enough people this year already ๐ฅ
#blackhistorymonth2020 #xoedits #theweekndmeme #weekend #theweekndfan #abeltheweeknd #bhm2020 #bhm #trilogy #almostover #kissland #afterhours #heartless #blindinglights #thehills #cantfeelmyface #fearless
"He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." - Muhammad Ali
Keeping my BHM post because I feel like many people have already posted on Ali.
But here's how he impacted my life:
As a former boxer, I studied old tapes of famous boxers. Muhammad Ali was an obvious choice considering his legendary status. In the ring, the man was a FIGHTER. Outside of the ring, he was a poet, political figure, and role model.
I remember researching the "Rumble in the Jungle" fight for an essay in high school. I picked the topic because, as a sports enthusiast, the "Rumble" resonated throughout the world. As someone who stood up against the Vietnam Draft, he was stripped of his Heavyweight Title.
However, after beating undefeated champ George Foreman in the eighth round, Ali not only stood by his talents but also his values.
One of the valuable pieces advice I have heard is this: No matter what you do, where you go, or who you are, ALWAYS maintain your character. I thought about what character meant for a very long time, but, seeing Ali, I realized I only needed to be myself, no matter what.
RIP Ali. He was the greatest, and he said that even before he knew he was.
#ali #muhammadali #boxing #boxer #blackhistorymonth #bhm #excellence #persistence #motivation #rolemodel #throwback #blackhistorymonth2020 #knockout #boxingtraining #muhammad #february #american #beyourself
From last week, but I wrote whatever movies and TV shows came to mind
#movies #cinephile #diversity #celebrateexcellence #toomuch #lists #favoritemovies #favorite #oldmovies #newmovies #oldboy #breakingbad #pulpfiction #thedarkknight #nolan #scorsese #almodovar #bongjoonho #parkchanwook
