LOS ANGELES – Visual Communications (VC) is pleased to announce that it is now accepting applicants for its 2010-2011 Armed with a Camera Fellowship. The Armed with a Camera Fellowship is open to any applicants of Asian Pacific American descent who are under the age
of 30 and have had previous work in a film festival, an exhibition screening or any program of the The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival or VC exhibitions program. VC will award up to ten fellows a fellowship package including a cash grant of $500, access to equipment, editing facilities, training and workshops from industry professionals and mentorship, to complete a five-minute digital video within a five-month span of time.

LOS ANGELES- MANAA, the Media Action Network for Asian Americans, is pleased to announce one $1000 scholarship for currently enrolled graduate and undergraduate students interested in pursuing careers as filmmakers and in television production (not broadcast journalism). Formed in 1992, MANAA is the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and advocating balanced, sensitive, and positive depiction and coverage of the Asian American community.

"Up's" co-star, Jordan Nagai, plays a Wilderness Explorer who just happens to be Asian American.

LOS ANGELES - The Media Action Network for Asian Americans, the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring media depictions of Asian Americans, is praising Disney/Pixar for creating an Asian American boy as a co-star in their summer blockbuster film, "Up."

April 29, 2009

Asian American Advocacy Groups, Fans Condemn Racial Bias in M. Night Shyamalan’s "Whitewashed" Casting of "The Last Airbender"

Los Angeles--Thousands of fans and two prominent Asian American advocacy groups are protesting Paramount Pictures' upcoming "The Last Airbender," accusing the production of racial bias in selecting white actors to portray ethnically Asian characters.

LOS ANGELES–Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and its depiction of Asian Americans, is demanding that Disney star Joe Jonas apologize for slanting his eyes in a picture that has been widely seen throughout cyberspace. Given its historical significance in degrading people of Asian descent, the mock-Asian pose is considered racially offensive and continues to have a negative impact on the Asian American community.

Film could’ve been just as successful- and more accurate- with Asian American stars

LOS ANGELES – 21, the movie starring Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, and Kate Bosworth, will be issued on DVD on July 22nd. The controversial film, based on the best-selling novel Bringing Down The House, told the true story of the MIT professor who taught his students how to beat Vegas at blackjack and make millions. In reality, the professor, the player who scored the most money, and most of the team, were Asian American. In the movie, they were mostly portrayed by white actors- Kevin Spacey as the professor, and Jim Sturgess as the lead member.

Apology follows Carolla and co-host Teresa Strasser’s

LOS ANGELES–Three weeks after former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Norm MacDonald used the offensive racial slur “gooks” on an appearance on the syndicated radio program, “The Adam Carolla Show,” he apologized to Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and its depiction of Asian Americans.

Organization raised concerns with Sony Pictures back in 2005

LOS ANGELES–Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and its depiction and coverage of Asian Americans, is upset that 21, the new film starring Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth and based on the best-selling novel “Bringing Down the House,” chose a white male lead instead of an Asian American and that Asian American actors were denied the opportunity to get meaty roles in a true-life story that featured mostly Asian Americans.

Carolla and co-host Teresa Strasser apologize for letting it air.

LOS ANGELES – Media Action Network for Asian Americans (MANAA), the only organization solely dedicated to monitoring the media and its depiction of Asian Americans, is upset that former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Norm MacDonald used the offensive racial slur “gooks” on his recent appearance on the syndicated radio program, “The Adam Carolla Show.”