Yuko Torihara is an actress based in NYC, but she’s tried just about everything in-between offstage – from wardrobe styling, photography, producing,, set design, and more across the UK, US, and Japan! Over the pandemic, she directed a short film (Chinatown Beat) in collaboration with prominent Asian artists (such as Henry Chang and Corky Lee), was recently seen in the new Starbucks Reserve campaign, and currently stars as Miko Kaplan in the hit Netflix show,The Watcher. Her advice to young artists? “Work on cultivating a solid and deep self love, a healthy relationship with yourself… Keep on saying yes to change and transformation, as you don’t know where you will end up.” Read on to learn more about Yuko Torihara and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Julia Cho is a performer, producer, and casting director based in Los Angeles. Finding a love for arts at a young age, she went on to double major in Rhetoric and Theater and Dance & Performance Studies at UC Berkeley and founded Artists at Play, a theatre-producing collective “that explores the Asian American experience” and provides both a platform and resources for artists in the Los Angeles community. Her recent credits include dubbing a leading role in a new Korean show on Disney+, the world premiere of Carla Ching's The Two Kids That Blow Shit Up, and guest starring on The Resident! As a creative that forged her own way without connections, Cho advises young artists against “[falling] victim to the notion that there are any ‘rules’ or a set ‘how to’ when it comes to a career in the arts,” and encourages them to find their own definition of success as they continue to learn and grow. Read on to learn more about Juila Cho and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Sujata Day is an actor, writer, director, and producer based in L.A. Starting her career with talent shows as a child (for 25 cents a ticket), Day went on to star in four seasons of HBO’s Insecure and as CeCe in Issa Rae’sThe Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, directThis Is My Storynarrated by LeVar Burton, and have her own works such asDefinition Pleaseavailable for streaming on Netflix – however, she believes her greatest accomplishment to be “making the perfect cup of chai,” a part of her daily routine! Day also supports Black Girls Code, an organization “providing technology education” and instilling a love of STEM in young Black girls. Day advises young artists to “[not] set a time limit on [their] dreams.”Read on to learn more aboutSujata Dayand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Hedy Wong is an actress, producer, writer, and rapper based in Los Angeles. This multidisciplinary artist went from booking music video gigs and commercials in California to co-writing, producing, and starring in the award-winning feature film,Take Out Girl, as well as producing her first single, “Who Do You Trust?” on Spotify. Wong got to where she is now by saying yes to trying and gaining new experiences to aid her later on. She loves that the arts allow her to “[explore] the human condition” and create familiarity with her audiences through storytelling. Her advice to young artists is to “learn everything about [their] craft” and to incorporate business management into their artistry as well. Read on to learn more about Hedy Wong and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
May May Luong is a film producer based in fabulous Las Vegas! After leaving the tech company she worked for, Luong began honing her craft in Las Vegas by joining the Film Department at UNLV. Since getting her MFA in Writing for Dramatic Media, she’s accumulated some impressive credits, including filming the Stanley Cup tour for the VGK’s first season, controlling the Bellagio Fountains and the Mirage Volcano, and the film Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West! Luong also works on advertisements and commercials, and teaches at Nevada State College and UNLV. She names writing, collaboration, and empathy as some of the most important skills in her arsenal, and advises young artists to “notice that everything around [them] is art,” and to press on as creators, no matter the obstacles ahead. Read on to learn more about May May Luong and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Kristy Choi is a filmmaker and writer based in Los Angeles. Initially a competitive pianist, Choi went on to fall in love with writing, and began to study screenplays to better her work. She picked up the fundamentals for filmmaking from the many projects she dedicated herself to, later going on to writing, directing, and producing her own film for the New Yorker (“Herselves”)! She finds collaboration with other professionals inspiring, particularly with non-binary, female, and POC creatives. Choi hopes to “write and direct [her] first narrative feature film” in the future, and to “further experiment with hybrid documentary techniques.” She advises young artists to practice self care and seek out a circle of fellow artists that will both encourage and celebrate their work, as well as adopting a growth mindset and a regular routine to practice their art. When she’s not working on a project, she enjoys hiking and karaoke, and lists whistling as a special skill!Read on to learn more about Kristy Choi and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Linda Joe is an Entertainment Producer and Executive based in Los Angeles. She attended University of Southern California and New York University studying Cinema-Television and Media and soon after began her entertainment industry career in development and acquisitions. From there, she moved on to international sales and distribution for film and TV, to producing big budget productions and events for renowned companies such as Paramount Pictures, NBC Entertainment, E! Entertainment, Fox International Productions and more. Linda also has worked with film and television award shows, major festivals - such as Cannes and Sundance - and produced for large-scale events including Comic-Con, SXSW and Global Esports World Championship. She recently was Head of Production for Infinity Grove Entertainment where she developed an original Broadway-bound musical called Accidental Joy, a dark comedy focused on one woman’s journey to find the guru within. The successful production featured a diverse cast and had multiple sold-out shows during its run. Read on to learn more about Linda and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Cara Mitsuko is an actress and producer based in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating with a degree in theatre performance from San Diego State University, she continued to hone her craft by studying with professional acting coaches such as Walker Clark, Stuart Rogers, Scott Rogers, Ivana Chubbuck, and, most recently, with Paul Schackman at Actor’s Instinct. One of the most memorable moments of her career was taking part in a production of “The Crucible” in Portland: the actors were cast in secret, rehearsed one-on-one with the director, and debuted the show to the audience after never meeting one another. As Cara said, “I had no idea what to expect from my co-stars, and I think what we created was really incredible.” Highlights of other projects Cara has worked on include the lead role in Luis Valdez’s play “Valley of the Heart,” Amazon Studio’s “The Man in The High Castle” and Netflix’s “You.” Read on to learn more about Cara and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Bri Ng Schwartz is a facilitator and curator of artistic community engagement programming based in Brooklyn, NY. She is passionate about creating programs, performances and digital spaces for and by intersectional communities, working with groups such as the National Queer Theater, New York Theater Workshop and Theater Communications Group. Her future goals include getting a PhD in Performance Studies and teaching university-level classes in Applied Theater. Read on to learn more about Bri and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Emily Kuroda is an actor, writer, and producer based in Los Angeles!! Since her humble beginnings at East West Players, she has run the gamut from stage to screen, acting in TV shows like “Gilmore Girls” and “The Good Doctor” to new works like “Endlings,” a play about the henyos in Korea, which she had performed in Boston right before the shutdown this year. Keep reading to find out more about what makes Emily an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Alex Chester is an actor, model, writer, and producer based in New York City!! She has appeared in major magazines as a model, and went on to become the face that introduced the first Chevy Geo commercial! She has also been in various TV shows such as The Closer, The Good Wife, and New Amsterdam. She has also had a successful career in theater, landing roles in How The Grinch Stole Christmas, A Chorus Line, and was also the first Asian American to play Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre in Fire Island Pines Arts Project’s production of The 25th Annual County Spelling Bee! With all of these credits in the business, Alex’s prize project is Hapa Mag, a magazine for mixed race Asians that she is the creator and Editor-In Chief. Keep reading to find out more about what makes Alex an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Thuc Nguyen is a screenwriter and producer based in Los Angeles!! She has worked in New York and Hollywood with big names like Jerry Bruckheimer and Warner Brothers Television...
Cheryl Daro is an actress and producer based in Las Vegas! She has been seen in Broadway caliber productions and is also an extensive content creator in Las Vegas for BIPOC...