A.C.E. / U.S.A.
August 15, 2016
A.C.E. CALENDAR
THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 13
Dreams, diversity hallmarks
of USA’s new “Falling Water”
By Lynn Elber
AP Television Writer
EVERLY HILLS, Calif. — For
actor Will Yun Lee, his role in the
USA Network’s new series
“Falling Water” is a dream come true.
The Asian-American actor says the
drama about peoples’ interconnected
dreams represents a big change from the
typecasting he’s encountered in his
18-year career.
“I think I’ve done every single
Chinatown episode of every single show,”
Lee told a TV critics’ meeting. This time,
the “Hawaii Five-O” and “Strike Back”
cast member said, his character won’t be
stuck doing martial-arts fight scenes and
he welcomes not having “to do a
roundhouse kick for some strange
cinematic reason.”
The series, described by executive pro-
ducer Blake Masters as a “metaphysical
thriller,” features a diverse cast but does
not make ethnicity the focus, Lee said.
It’s never the “focal point of any of our
characters being a woman, being black,
being Asian,” he said.
“Falling Water” also stars Lizzie
Brochere (“American Horror Story,” “The
Strain”) and David Ajala (The Dark
Knight, Fast & Furious 6).
As the series unfolds, three unrelated
people come to understand that they’re
dreaming parts of a common dream that
“might hold the key to humanity’s fate,”
said Chris McCumber, the NBCUniversal
Cable Entertainment executive who
oversees channels including USA.
Masters said the show’s premise is that
B
FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT. On Thursday, September 1, a free outdoor concert featuring perfor-
mances by Portland Taiko, the Portland Youth Philharmonic (pictured), the Oregon Symphony, and others, takes
place at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland. The performances are followed by a fireworks show
beginning at nightfall. (Photo courtesy of the Portland Youth Philharmonic)
Continued from page 12
Pamanhikan and It Runs in the Family, held in
partnership with the DisOrient Asian American
Film Festival (August 24). For info, call (971)
340-4861 or visit <www.apano.org>.
“Bending Nature”
Aug 20-Oct 16, noon-7pm (Mon), 10am-7pm
(Tue-Sun), Portland Japanese Garden (611 SW
Kingston Ave, Portland). View “Bending
Nature: Four Bamboo Artists in the Garden,” an
exhibit
featuring
the
work
of
four
internationally known bamboo artists — Jiro
Yonezawa, Shigeo Kawashima, Charissa Brock,
and Anne Crumpacker — in three outdoor
locations around the garden. For info, call (503)
223-1321 or visit <www.japanesegarden.com>.
“Sundays on The Bridge”
Aug 21, 1:30-6:30pm, Trinity Episcopal
Cathedral (147 NW 19th Ave, Portland). Attend
“Sundays on The Bridge,” events held in con-
junction with “The Bridge,” an international,
interfaith art exhibit featuring 47 Arab,
Persian, and Jewish contemporary artists from
15 countries of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish
traditions. The day includes a talk (1:30-
4:00pm) with rabbi Ted Falcon, imam Jamal
Rahman, and pastor Dave Brown, who are
known for their unique blend of spiritual
wisdom and humor as well as music by Ritim
Egzotik (5:00pm) and a closing ceremony for the
exhibit. Ritim Egzotik features a collection of
diverse musicians who play a variety of instru-
ments including Arabic keyboards, Arabic ac-
cordion, Turkish elektro saz (called a maqam),
Turkish id, darbuka, riqq, katim, electric and
acoustic fretless guitars, violin, and acoustic up-
right bass. For info, call (503) 222-9811, e-mail
<thebridge@trinity-episcopal.org>, or visit
<www.trinity-episcopal.org/arts/the-bridge>.
“Animation &
Experimental Showcase”
Aug 22, 7pm, Clinton Street Theater (2522
SE Clinton St, Portland). Attend the
“Animation & Experimental Showcase,” a
special
collection
of
animation
and
experimental films from women around the
world. Featured films include Kalawa by Sara
Celeste Martin, Swallowed Whole by Heidi
Kumao, Red Line by Mona A. Shahi, Olilo by Ao
Li, Mirage by Yaya Xu, and others. For info, or to
obtain a complete schedule of films, call (503)
267-1126 or visit <www.powfest.com>.
Kailash Kher
Aug 27, 7pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
(1037 SW Broadway, Portland). Attend “Ishq
Anokha,” the 2016 world tour of Kailash Kher.
The concert is presented by Kalakendra. For
info, or to buy tickets, call (503) 308-1050 or visit
<www.kalakendra.org>.
Life of Pi
Aug 27, dusk, Seattle Center, Mural
Amphitheatre (305 Harrison St, Seattle). Pack
your low-back chairs, blankets, and bean bags
and enjoy an outdoor screening of Life of Pi, a
fantasy adventure based on Yann Martel’s novel
about an Indian boy from Pondicherry who
survives 227 days stranded on a boat in the
Pacific Ocean. (USA, 2012, Ang Lee, 125 mins.)
For info, call (206) 684-7200 or visit <www.
seattlecenter.com>.
Tibet Fest
Aug 27-28, 11am-5pm, Seattle Center (305
Harrison St, Seattle). Learn about Tibetan
cultural heritage at Tibet Fest, presented by
Seattle Center Festál. The event features
traditional Tibetan music and dance, children’s
activities, Tibetan food, crafts, and more. For
info, call (206) 684-7200, or visit <www.seattle
center.com> or <www.washingtontibet.org>.
2016 Portland Film Festival
Aug 29-Sep 5, Laurelhurst Theater & Pub
(2735 E Burnside St, Portland). Attend the 2016
Portland Film Festival, which includes eight
days of workshops, panel discussions,
networking, parties, and the screening of 54
narrative and documentary feature films and 89
short films selected from more than 3,800
submissions. Asian-interest films featured are
Karmia Chan Olutade’s The Remnant, an indie
musical in which a 16-year-old girl and her little
brother seek shelter in an orphanage run by a
cold-hearted man, and Irja von Bernstorff’s The
Farmer and I, a documentary in which cultural
barriers and tensions arise between German
filmmaker Irja and Bhutanese farmer Sangay
when they team up to create a television series.
For info, or to obtain a schedule of events, call
(503) 683-2679 or visit <www.portlandfilm
festival.com>.
Cora Cooks Pancit
Sep 1, 11am-noon, Wing Luke Museum of
the Asian Pacific American Experience (719 S
King St, Seattle). Attend a Toddler Storytime
featuring Cora Cooks Pancit, a book about a
young girl who gets a chance to be her mother’s
assistant in the kitchen, and an art activity. For
info, call (206) 623-5124 or visit <www.wing
luke.org>.
Free concert in the park
Sep 1, 12:30pm (performances begin),
5-5:45pm (Portland Youth Philharmonic), 6-
6:30pm (Portland Taiko), 7-9:30pm (Oregon
Symphony), Tom McCall Waterfront Park (1020
SW Naito Pkwy, Portland). Attend free outdoor
concerts by Portland Taiko, the Portland Youth
Philharmonic, the Oregon Symphony, and
others prior to Labor Day weekend. A fireworks
display begins at nightfall. The rainout date is
September 2. For info, or to obtain a full list of
performers, call (503) 228-1353 or visit <www.
orsymphony.org>.
“Opening Japan: Three
Centuries of Japanese Prints”
Sep 2-Nov 20, 10am-7pm (Mon-Fri),
10am-6pm (Sat), noon-5pm (Sun); Sep 2, 5-9pm
(reception); A6 Studio & Gallery (550 SW
Industrial Way, Suite 180, Bend, Ore.). View
“Opening Japan: Three Centuries of Japanese
Prints,” a free exhibit of more than two dozen
Japanese woodblock prints created by Hasui,
Hiroshige, Yoshitoshi, and others in the 17th,
18th, and 19th centuries. An exhibit tour is
offered on Saturdays at 4:00pm for a nominal
fee. For info, call (541) 330-8759 or visit <www.
atelier6000.org>.
Portland Thorns FC
Sep 4, 4pm, Providence Park (SW 18th Ave &
SW Morrison St, Portland). Watch Portland
Thorns FC take on Seattle Reign FC as part of
the National Women’s Soccer League’s 2016
season. The Thorns FC squad features Mana
Shim, Nadia Nadim, Jennifer Skogerboe, and
others. The Seattle roster includes Nahomi
“Naho” Kawasumi, Rumi Utsugi, Keelin Win-
ters, and others. For info, or to buy tickets, call
(503) 553-5555 or visit <www.portlandthorns.
com>.
Shanghai Acrobats
Sep 7, 7:30pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert
Hall (1037 SW Broadway, Portland). Watch the
Shanghai Acrobats of the People’s Republic of
China, who perform astonishing acts of
athleticism, energy, and charm. For info, or to
buy tickets, call (503) 228-1353 or visit <www.
orsymphony.org>.
“Live Aloha Hawaiian
Cultural Festival”
Sep 11, 11am-7pm, Seattle Center (305
Harrison St, Seattle). Enjoy a day of Polynesian
delights at the “Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural
Festival” presented by Seattle Center Festál.
The event features Hawaiian food, live music
and hula, a marketplace, and more. For info, call
(206) 684-7200, or visit <www.seattlecenter.
com> or <www.seattlelivealohafestival.com>.
REFRESHING ROLE. Will Yun Lee participates
in USA Network’s “Falling Water” panel during the
NBCUniversal Television Critics Association summer
press tour, in Beverly Hills, California. For Lee, his role
in “Falling Water” is a dream come true. (Photo by
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
dreams are not a Greek chorus to the
characters’ lives and instead are the other
half. Gale Anne Hurd, his fellow executive
producer, fielded a query about why the
series is on USA rather than sister cable
channel Syfy.
It’s “grounded in people. It’s not like
we’re going to a different world or saying
aliens exist or zombies exist,” Hurd said,
adding that it fits with USA’s series
“Colony” and “Mr. Robot.”
Ajala shared one of his own dreams, one
in which he received a call that “Falling
Water” would be picked up to air. Two days
later, he learned it was true.
“That was one of the sweetest dreams,”
he said.
“Falling Water” premieres October 13.
Ichiro Suzuki donates 3,000-hit
souvenirs to Hall of Fame
Even Olympic selfies are
complicated by Koreas’ rivalry
By Steven Wine
Continued from page 16
AP Sports Writer
IAMI — Ichiro Suzuki has
donated to the Hall of Fame
some of the gear he wore when
he collected his 3,000th career hit,
including his jersey, a pair of cleats, his
arm guard, and batting gloves.
The Suzuki collection at the Hall of
Fame numbered more than two dozen
items even before his triple in Colorado,
which made him the first Japanese player
to reach 3,000 Major League Baseball hits.
When he and his Miami Marlins
teammates returned to Marlins Park to
begin a homestand, Hall of Fame president
Jeff Idelson was there to collect additional
Suzuki souvenirs.
Suzuki, a baseball history buff, has
visited Cooperstown six times.
q
M
Snapchat removes filter amid
claims of racial insensitivity
VENICE, Calif. (AP) — Snapchat has
removed a filter for photos that some say
promoted racist Asian stereotypes.
The social media app’s filters, also called
lenses, allow users to change their
appearance with silly faces or morph
themselves into cartoonish animals and
other characters.
A filter that Snapchat says was inspired
by Japanese animation placed slanted
eyes on a user’s face. The filter was
quickly derided by Snapchat users on
Twitter. One Asian-American user, Grace
Sparapani, told The Associated Press in a
Twitter message she was “shocked by how
much it looked like the classic cartoon
caricatures of Asians — squinty eyes and
buckteeth.”
California-based Snapchat told USA
Today the filter was taken down and won’t
be used again. The company says its filters
“are meant to be playful and never to
offend.”
a big deal to outsiders, but they often stim-
ulate deep emotions on the Korean Penin-
sula, which has been divided by the world’s
most heavily armed border for decades and
where many long for eventual reunifica-
tion.
Inter-Korean ties, never good, have been
terrible in the past decade of conservative
rule in the South. But there were friendlier
days under previous liberal governments
in Seoul, and they were often seen most
clearly in sports. North and South
Koreans, for instance, marched together
under a flag that symbolized unification
during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Whatever happens in politics, many
South Koreans love seeing their athletes
treating North Korean competitors with
respect, and there’s always lots of media
attention on these moments of harmony.
North Korea also cherishes the idea of
unification, and much of its propaganda is
aimed at stirring such feelings in the
South, though the North’s vision is of a
single Korea controlled by Pyongyang.
When North Korea’s women’s soccer
team won gold at the 2014 Asian Games in
Incheon, South Korea, and the South won
bronze, many South Koreans expressed
delight in seeing players from both
countries celebrate together after the
medal ceremony, smiling and putting their
arms around each other.
Similarly, the Rio Olympic selfies
represent a small thaw in otherwise frigid
ties — just as long as it’s all reported to the
authorities.
AP writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed
to this story from Seoul, South Korea.
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