POP CULTURE / Sifu Mimi Chan

91. Tommy Tam on murals and graffiti street art

Tommy Tam is an incredible muralist that has been painting the wall at the Wah Lum Temple. We have named it “The Great Wall of Wah Lum”. He is incredibly talented and chooses the tool of spray can over paintbrush. We chat all about graffiti, street art, and murals.

85. Mike Relm on the DJ culture and audio – visual mash ups

MIKE RELM is best known for his audio and video mash-ups, live concerts, and broadcast work. Part director, part Hip Hop producer, and awesome DJ, Mike has introduced the world to a style that truly echoes the fever-pitched pace of modern entertainment while paying homage to classic filmmakers and musicians.

83. Ricardo Williams on Nerd Nite Orlando

Ricardo Williams is a filmmaker, musician, event organizer, and program manager. Since studying communications at Pace University in NYC, he’s appeared in commercials and independent films and produced numerous albums. He’s also guest lectured on film theory and video production at New York’s School of Visual Arts. Currently, Ricardo is the host of Nerd Nite Orlando.

81. Phil Chen, bassist, on music and Jamaican culture

Phil Chen is a well-known Jamaican bassist who now lives in Los Angeles. He was one of England’s most utilized session bassists during the 1970s and 1980s, including Jeff Beck, and the Rod Stewart band, but is probably best known for his later work with The Doors.

80. Me (Mimi) on Mulan

This is my first solo podcast! Today, I chat about my experience as Disney’s Mulan model. Yes, I was the model, inspiration, and live action video reference for Disney’s Mulan. I previously asked listeners to send in questions, and I answer them here!

76. Comic book geek out with the pros

Live from Paper Asylum! I’m always psyched to visit my favorite comic book and novelty store in Beverly, MA. However, this visit was even more exciting because we did a live recording at the store!

75. Edwin Zane on TV development

Edwin Zane has been developing TV shows since the 1990s. He’s an old friend of mine from my Hollywood days, and I thought I would talk to him about the changes in TV development over the past 30 years, with the boom of Netflix and Hulu. We also talk about how Asian American roles in the industry have evolved since that time.

72. Lana Bui on movie trailer soundtracks

Lana Bui is the Associate Music Supervisor at Aspect, a trailer house in Los Angeles. She started as a composer’s assistant working on television advertising campaigns for brands such as Nike, Samsung, General Mills, and Honda. Now, as associate music supervisor, Lana has placed music for major campaigns such as Suicide Squad, How to Train Your Dragon 3, Call of Duty: WW2, and Thor: Ragnarok. Lana is a friend of mine that I’ve knowns since she was 12, and I was thrilled to chat with her about this fun aspect of movie trailer soundtracks.

65. Adisa Banjoko on hip hop and cultural appropriation

If any of you listened to CCHAT 24, you will have found out what a huge hip-hop 90s fan I am. Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Adisa Banjoko about the hip-hop today, and in particular, about the much talked about Childish Gambino song This is America. I loved this conversation and hope you will too!

60. Star Wars Fans: May the 4th Be With You!

May 4th has become a Star Wars fan day for the past several years. According to Starwars.com: While the idea of May the 4th did not start with Lucasfilm, the film company that created Star Wars has fully embraced the spirit of fandom that makes the day so special. StarWars.com, as well as the official Star Wars social media channels (hashtag #StarWarsDay), help spread the word and showcase fan activity. Each year fans celebrate with their own traditions by throwing Star Wars themed parties, hosting film marathons, having lightsaber fights, dressing in cosplay, or even attending a large public event. May has always been important to Star Wars fans. The six live-action movies of the Star Wars saga debuted in May, and it has been the traditional start date of Disney Star War weekends. I sit down with Brian again to chat Star Wars traditions and review The Last Jedi. Spoiler alerts for those that have been in a cave and have not yet seen the most recent film. May the 4th be with you all!

46. Brian Caldwell on Star Wars fandom

May the Force Be With You. A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away…well, actually it was Kansas. Brian Caldwell stepped into the theater for A New Hope for the first time and was hooked.

37. Dan Springen, director of the Orlando Film Festival, on indie filmmaking

Daniel Springen is the executive director of the Orlando Film Festival and an award winning director. We talk about the ins and outs of film festivals and the challenges indie filmmakers face today. He shares tips for indie filmmakers on how to make a quality film on a small budget, plus what curators are looking for when choosing a film to screen at a festival. My film, Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer screened at his film festival in 2012, and it was one of the most fun festivals we attended. The parties, panels, and workshops were fantastic, and the event has gotten even bigger over the years. Screening 411 films over 8 days, this is an event not to be missed in Orlando. Check out the Orlando Film Festival October 19-26 at the Cobb Theater in downtown Orlando.