Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior

[GeneChing]

So, anyone got Disney Channel?

If not, see our new ezine article, Shin Koyomada: LAST SAMURAI to Last Monk in WENDY WU by Craig Reid

[eling99]

that movie gave me a lot of goosebumps

[GeneChing]

Why goosebumps? I don't have Disney Channel so I haven't seen it. Disney's spin on kung fu has been interesting, so I'm interested. Mulan was great (BTW I just heard Mimi is about to be married.) But the persistent rumors of the Snow White and the Shaolin monks project has me baffled.

[neilhytholt]

My kids went complete gaga about that movie. My daughter wanted to be like Wendy and my son wanted to be like Shen.

Of course, they pretty much go crazy about every Disney movie.

The martial arts I thought weren't too bad. It wasn't so wushu like some movies (maybe I'm generalizing). They had different teachers teach Wendy a different animal style kung fu skill (okay, they weren't that realistic and were mostly wire work).

BUT ... lest I sound jaded, it really got the kids excited, so they begged for lessons, so I taught them some animal style form and drills, which was a complete disaster because my son went around teaching it to all his friends and I heard about it from both the principal and his teacher.

So ... I might try training them again when they're like 20.

[Wildwoo]

Wow the article says he practices Northern Shaolin and he learned from Ku Yu Cheong.
He doesn't look that old. I guess kung fu keeps you looking really young!!

[GeneChing]

Wildwoo: I don't think he said he learned directly from GM Ku. Did I miss another reference?

Koyamada began his training in the Okinawan martial arts (kei shin kai karate), and since moving to the United States has been absorbed in the Northern Shaolin kung fu. Northern Shaolin was founded by iron palm specialist Ku Yu Cheung, who passed away in 1952. One of the Five Tigers of Northern China, Cheung was noted for breaking 12 bricks with one strike and for killing a ferocious fighting horse with a simple slap.

neilhytholt: That's a funny story. If they are into it, don't deny them until they're 20. You can't blame the youth. The problem at school was your fault. You are the teacher. You didn't start with etiquette. Try again. Start with etiquette. Always start with etiquette.

[Shaolinlueb]

when i first saw the advertisement i was like . pssht another asian women faking the kung fu. but then i wikipedia'd her and found out she was a black belt in tae kwan do. so i was like hmmm, good she has experience and she loves martial arts.

plus she just turned 18

[Lokhopkuen]

when i first saw the advertisement i was like . pssht another asian women faking the kung fu. but then i wikipedia'd her and found out she was a black belt in tae kwan do. so i was like hmmm, good she has experience and she loves martial arts.

plus she just turned 18

That is just Bee eeS press release stuff she never had any training. Shin had tried to hook me up with the martial art coordinator slot and also to train the female lead who had no previous martial art training. The producer Ralph Farquhar had called me to see if I would be interested and I said sure. He said there was one other person being considered and that the guy had not gotten back to him yet. Turned out it was Koichi who's work i totally respect. His Alpha Stunts group took over Power Rangers after we left the show. Good guy he did the work on that Sammo Hung TV show as well.

Woo was just making fun of Shin who is his classmate since he did not mention his teacher in his interview.... Shin is a great kid and has an amazing future in the entertainment world. Watch for him.

Peace

[Hard Fists]

Wildwoo:
That's a funny story. If they are into it, don't deny them until they're 20. You can't blame the youth. The problem at school was your fault. You are the teacher. You didn't start with etiquette. Try again. Start with etiquette. Always start with etiquette.

My son is about three and a half. I started him a while ago on some basic focus mit striking and stances (stances have been a bit of a problem) so he would be used to them when he begins formal kung fu school in the next couple of years. I told him several times how important it was that he only do kung fu with me, and that he could not practice, or play, kung fu at school or any other time with any other person-especially his friends. Needless to say, my wife came home the other day and said that he was comparing other Dads in his class to his papa and showing his friends tiger strikes...yikes. Now I look like the crazy parent LOL. What do you suggest, Gene? My boy is so interested, and I'll start him in class as soon as I think he can handle it, but I would like to work on basics with him at home. How can one get across that this is just for at home?

[qiphlow]

brenda song is FINE as HELL. the training sequences were better than the final battle, i thought. IMO the wire work was way too obvious.

[GeneChing]

Disney's steady progression to showcasing the martial arts is a fascinating barometer of the advancement of our traditions into American culture. Wendy Wu is a perfect example. Disney has been doing a lot with the martial arts in the past few years. The standout examples are casting Mimi Chan as the body double for Mulan (see post 3 above). Then there was Jackie (and Sammo) in Around the World in 80 Days. And I must give props to Disney Martial Arts Festivals, especially since our parent company is directly involved with the Tiger Claw Elite Championships.

Wendy Wu is an interesting addition to the martial arts genre because it's Disney. It's reminiscent of kid ninja fad (Ninja Turtles, Three Ninjas, etc.) as well as the whole Power Ranger franchise (Shin and the choreographer were both involved with Power Rangers. The choreography is amusing - it's bloodless and none of the movements have any impact, but the fight progression isn't bad. There's a lot of wire work, a lot of assisted barrel rolls, a lot of flying about, but this story is pure fantasy - it's a kid's film, after all - so it's acceptable. There's a weird Shaolin Soccer homage in the middle of the film, which makes no sense at all beyond a tip of the hat to the genre perhaps. Shin performs the opening to BSL#5 and Brenda does wubuquan in a training sequence. Once I got past the fact that neither Shin or Brenda are Chinese, yet they keep talking about the deep connection of Chinese culture (which in this film means you still eat moon cakes), it's an entertaining Disney flick. Nothing is really novel about the story and the choreography, except that it's Disney, which in itself is quite fascinating. It's very family oriented. I, for one, would have liked to see more out of the final fight in prom dresses (that just screams potential to me), but we can't have everything. Were I a young'en, I'd probably have really enjoyed this film. As an adult, I encouraged by the direction it seems to be going, at least in terms of martial arts and pop culture.

The bonus track - an extended alternate ending (which was only a few minutes long) on the DVD opened up the possibility of a sequel.

[Allison]

I agree that the fact that Disney gave all this attention to Kung-Fu symbolized more than other things its acceptability in the American society.
I guess that even though it wasn't very realistic they found the way to appeal to the children with the animal style and where I live many young children started taking lessons as a result of the movie so this is a good thing.

____
http://www.bushidocodeclub.com/

[冠木侍]

I remember the time when this movie first came out. My family has cable but I was in a place that had no access at the time. It looked kind of cool and the concept was good. But, DCOM are churned out like clockwork almost every month. So, I my interest was peaked but I didn't know how it was going to be.

I got to see it later on in the year.

On the plus side, Shin from The Last Samurai is one cool cat. Although, making the transition from big budget movie to made-for-cable movie seemed odd.

And of course. Brenda Song is very attractive. I remember seeing her work when she was younger. Her characters were wholesome and genuine. I have to admit that the character annoyed me a little. Her current stint on the Suite Life of Zack and Cody (I have younger sibs who watch Disney Channel) as London was almost the same type of character in the movie.

Now, for the Kung Fu. It was a good effort. Of course, I am by no means a self-proclaimed expert but I know what entertains me. Some of the fights were all right. A lot of dependency on wires but the Wushu was interesting. I actually didn't like how they had the spirits inhabit the bodies of her teachers. I would have liked to see more skilled people fill the roles.

Disney should do more work with martial arts in general. The feel good-ness in all of their movies is a staple and as long as there is a good story, it should come out successful.

[GeneChing]

Jon M. Chu denies Brenda Song 'not Asian enough' for 'Crazy Rich Asians'
Lisa France byline
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
Updated 8:22 AM ET, Thu November 21, 2019
'Crazy Rich Asians' director on film's success 01:41

(CNN)The director for "Crazy Rich Asians" has responded to an actresses' claim she was passed over for an audition because she was deemed "not Asian enough."

In an interview with Teen Vogue former Disney Channel star Brenda Song said she had expressed interest to her managers in trying for a role in the 2018 film, which was the first major studio movie in more than 25 years to feature a predominately Asian cast.
"Their reasoning behind that, what they said was that my image was basically not Asian enough, in not so many words," she told the publication. "It broke my heart."
She added "I said, 'This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can't even audition for it? I've auditioned for Caucasian roles my entire career, but this specific role, you're not going to let me do it? You're going to fault me for having worked my whole life?' I was like, 'Where do I fit?'"
But the film's director, Jon M. Chu, is disputing that.
On Wednesday Chu responded to an Entertainment Weekly tweet about Song's claim via his official Twitter account.

Entertainment Weekly
✔
@EW
· 18h
Brenda Song wasn't allowed to audition for Crazy Rich Asians because she was 'not Asian enough' http://share.ew.com/WaVbh9U


Brenda Song wasn't allowed to audition for 'Crazy Rich Asians' because she was 'not Asian enough'
The former Disney star, who played rich hotel heiress London Tipton on the show 'The Suite Life of Zack and Cody,' was discouraged by her managers from auditioning for the groundbreaking rom-com.

ew.com

Jon M. Chu
✔
@jonmchu
����*♂️would these words ever come out of my mouth? Nope makes no sense. I feel horrible she thinks this is the reason. The fact is I love Brenda Song and am a fan. I didn’t need her to audition because I already knew who she was!

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2:04 PM - Nov 20, 2019
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"Would these words ever come out of my mouth? Nope makes no sense," he tweeted. "I feel horrible she thinks this is the reason. The fact is I love Brenda Song and am a fan. I didn't need her to audition because I already knew who she was!"
On Thursday the director tweeted a 2018 article about the open casting call for the film.

Jon M. Chu
✔
@jonmchu
One of my favorite memories of making #CrazyRichAsians was when we opened the auditions to anyone in the world with our open call. We watched hundreds &hundreds of videos from very talented people from all around the world. Made us tear up many times. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pri...dio-film%3famp …



What happens when you let everyone in the world audition for a Hollywood studio film
Three people who participated in the viral #CrazyRichAsiansCasting campaign earned their first ever parts in a big motion picture. Here’s why director Jon M. Chu thought it was necessary to scour the...

pri.org
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3:58 AM - Nov 21, 2019
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See Jon M. Chu's other Tweets

"One of my favorite memories of making #CrazyRichAsians was when we opened the auditions to anyone in the world with our open call," Chu tweeted. "We watched hundreds & hundreds of videos from very talented people from all around the world. Made us tear up many times."
Song, who is currently starring in the Hulu series "Dollface," has been hailed as one of the most visible Asian American actors thanks to her roles in various Disney Channel projects including the film "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior" and the series "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody."
CNN has reached out to Song for additional comment.

One of the things that I liked about Brenda's role in Zack & Cody was that she wasn't played off as Asian. In fact, her character was a spoof of Paris Hilton, so it could've just as easily been played by some white blonde engenue. What made her character stand out was that it didn't default to race, so her playing the race card here for this is really awkward.

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