Boston Asian American Film Festival celebrates 15 years

The Boston Asian American Film Festival (BAAFF) is an event that will always have a special place in my heart. It was among the first events that we covered on this show, and I loved the diverse assortment of films that were shown.

From its early days hauling the films in a box from venue to venue, BAAFF has grown a lot over the years, showcasing films from around the globe by some of the best in the business. Now, in 2023, it’s entering the 15-year mark, and doing so with works in every genre, from Oct. 12-22. Festival Director Susan Chinsen joins me for a rundown of the event, which will include both in-person and virtual screenings.

Susan and I talk about some of the names you’ll see at the festival, as well as its growth over the last decade and a half. She shares some of the early memories as well as what she sees as BAAFF’s impact on the film world after all this time.

 

Citywide Comic Spotlight: Reveal Out!

Creator: Treasure

Assisted By: Hinahina Gray and Caribo

Publisher: Webtoon

Ever wish you could go back and live those milestone years of your youth all over again? This amazing Webtoon series gives the main character Eeden the chance to do just that, and the results are a blend of hilarious and deeply emotional.

Eeden is living a life with a fair amount of regret—her art career is going nowhere, she’s been evicted from her apartment, and the woman she loves doesn’t even know it. Eeden is clearly hurting, and along with her choices, it seem a lot of that stems from her father, who never accepted that his daughter is gay. Long story short—nothing is going right.

All that changes when Eeden wakes up one morning to find herself years in the past—all the way to her first days of college. All of a sudden, she has the perfect chance to do things all over again, and do them right! But can things work out, even knowing how it all goes?

It’s the story that really captured my interest. When I found this series, it was five episodes in, and before I knew it I had read them all. That’s how much I was drawn in. Eeden’s character really captures that desire for a ‘do-over.’ I think we’ve all been there, and I found myself reflected in her desire for a second chance.

Art-wise, I really dig the style. Given that Eeden is an artist herself, I saw the technique as someone inspired by the greats, but eager to put their own twist on things. Above all else, the method of conveying emotion is really on point.

This story brings a lot of depth, emotion, and the twists keep you waiting for the new episode. Highly recommended.

The heroic (and steamy) world of Ryder O’Malley

You’ve toured the world of superheroes in author Ryder O’Malley’s Heroes of Vanguard series. Now, it’s time for something a little bit darker.

This writer (whom I have never spoken to before, honest!) used his love of comics to craft a M/M romance series, now four books long. On Sept. 14, Ryder debuts the Villains of Vanguard with the first installment, “Corrupted Desire.” Here’s a look at what’s in store:

The world is going to burn, and I’m the one holding the match.

Prison hardens a man. Even worse, my ex testified against me in court. Ten years into my sentence and the inmates of Cold Iron fear me. It’s lonely, but it’s the price of survival. This isn’t the place to think about friends, let alone a relationship.

When Vanguard needs a criminal with my fiery skills, my time in the slammer is cut short. To keep my freedom, I only have to put down a Southland’s newest king pin. It’d be easy if the local do-gooder stopped interfering. Gallant won’t be the reason I get locked up again. If he wasn’t smoking hot, I’d crush him. On second thought, maybe he needs a pounding.

The heroes are playing with fire, but I’m not the one about to get burned.

Ryder and I dive right in, starting with the origins for this series and the climactic battle of shifting from his previous work to the world of romance. He takes us on a journey through the process of how romances are written (and Hallmark movies too, apparently) and the unique style he’s going for. We even get treated to a brief excerpt from the writer himself!

Buckle up folks, this one’s gonna be epic.

“Plus 1s” has its big debut before a sold-out crowd!

The crew from the romantic comedy “Plus 1s” is back on the show, but this time it’s a few new faces. Producers Kimmie Johnson, Emily Baeza and Aries Fung join me to talk about the film’s debut as part of the recent Roxbury International Film Festival before a sold-out audience. The producers and I talk about the experience and what the fans wanted to know.

Kimmie, Emily and Aries’ roles went well beyond being producers and we talk about the different challenges they took on during the filming. Trust me when I say they had a lot to deal with, but took it on with their diverse film backgrounds. They also share what about the movie made them say “I want in.”