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Incomplete families, drug addiction, autism, immigration, homosexuality. Issues that already at the first glance make you take a deep breath individually. Yet, they happen in real life. Still, having them under a roof of a single film, you might think twice to hit the play button. Because you are well aware film is not real life. What works for one does not inevitable works for the other, each asks for a different sensitivity. “For Izzy” finds just the right balance in tackling an amalgam of matters that are just too real. Without pathos, big gestures, it offers a heart-warming story. It captivates with its well-paced calm, low-key stylistic touches, and fine choice of actors.

For Izzy is available from Raintrail Pictures

Dede (Michelle Ang) is an addict whose life takes an unexpected turn, when her mother (Elizabeth Sung) decides to set her onto a drug-free path. Little did they know...

An upcoming documentary following the early career of an aspiring Asian American actor unveiled a new trailer that features a conversation with Sandra Oh among other trailblazing actors of East Asian descent.

“Searching for Anna May Wong,” produced by Quentin Lee, traces the journey of actor Natasha Tina Liu, who raises the question, “If trailblazing actor Anna May Wong were still alive today, would she still face the same racism and challenges she experienced during her time in Hollywood?”

The half-hour film also features interviews with James Hong, Tzi Ma, Amy Hill, the late Elizabeth Sung, Jake Choi, Ludi Lin and Anna May Wong’s grandniece, Anna Wong. The interviewees remember the late Chinese American actor’s career and speak out on the challenges Asian American creatives still experience in the industry.

“Historic Asian American figures like Anna May Wong really came up despite all the odds,” Lin said. “They had to be rebels,...

“Young and the Restless” star Eileen Davidson is leaving the CBS soap opera — again.

“I’ve been so blessed to be able to play Ashley Abbott and work with the amazing people on the show and have nothing but gratitude and love for all!!!” she tweeted on Wednesday. “Time for a little more control over my day to day.”

Yes I am leaving my second home @YandR_CBS in September. I’ve been so blessed to be able to play Ashley Abbott and work with the amazing people on the show and have nothing but gratitude and love for all!!! Time for a little more control over my day to day! ❤️❤️????

— Eileen Davidson (@eileen_davidson) June 27, 2018

Also Read: Elizabeth Sung, 'Young and the Restless' Actress, Dies at 63

This won’t be the first time Davidson’s Abbott goes M.I.A. The character was off the show from 1988-1999.

There have been...

Veteran film and TV actress Elizabeth Sung, who appeared in The Young and the Restless in the 1990s, died on May 22. She was 63.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sung studied ballet at a young age before coming to America to study dance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. After graduation, Sung danced for an American company before transitioning to television acting.

She is perhaps best known for her role in CBS' long-running soap The Young and the Restless. Sung played restaurant owner Luan Volien from 1994 to 1996, the mother of Jack's long lost son, Keemo. Luan married her true love, Jack Abbott (Pete Bergman), but the couple's happiness was cut short when Luan died from a mysterious terminal illness.

Her other notable TV credits include Hawaii Five-0, The Sopranos, Bones, Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Night Shift. She also played Danielle Dwyer in a couple of episodes of Passions.

Elizabeth Sung, a character actress whose 30-year career included such popular TV series as The Young and the Restless, The Sopranos and Curb Your Enthusiasm and films including Memoirs of a Geisha and The Joy Luck Club, has died. She was 63. The Associated Press reported that she died Tuesday but gave no other details.

A Hong King native, Sung also was a Juilliard-trained dancer and an acting coach/teacher. She did a stint in the American Film Institute’s Directing Workshop for Women in the mid-1990s, and her graduate thesis short film, The Water Ghost, earned her an Mba in directing from AFI.

But by then she already had been racking up credits as an actress, guesting on series including The Equalizer, China Beach, Murder, She Wrote and Knots Landing and appearing on the big screen in Tango & Cash and The Joy Luck Club. Perhaps her most high-profile...

Former “The Young and the Restless” star Elizabeth Sung, died Tuesday, according to multiple media reports. She was 63.

Sung appeared on the long-running CBS soap as Luan Violen Abbott, owner of the Saigon Shack restaurant, from 1994 to 1996.

CBS did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on Sung’s death.

Her other notable TV credits include “Hawaii Five-o,” “The Sopranos,” “Bones,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” and “Charmed.”...

Elizabeth Sung, the veteran film and TV actress who appeared in the soap The Young and the Restless, has died. She was 63. 

Sung's died on Tuesday according to Soaps.com, although no cause of death was given. 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Sung studied ballet at a young age before coming to America to study dance at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. After graduation, Sung danced for an American company before transitioning to television acting. 

She is perhaps best known for her role in CBS' long-running soap The Young and the Restless. Sung played restaurant owner ...

Every week, a bevy of new releases (independent or otherwise), open in theaters. That’s why we created the Weekly Film Guide, filled with basic plot, personnel and cinema information for all of this week’s fresh offerings.

For August, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.

See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for August 2016

Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, August 5. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.

Wide

Bazodee

Director: Todd Kessler

Cast: Chris Smith, Kabir Bedi, Kriss Dosanjh, Machel Montano, Natalie Perera, Staz Nair

Synopsis: Anita Ponchouri (Natalie Perera), the dutiful Indian daughter of a deep-in-debt businessman (Kabir Bedi) is about to marry a wealthy Londoner (Staz Nair) when a chance encounter with local singer,...

Well, here we are in the closing weeks of summer movie season. It’s the last gasp for big-budget blockbusters before the coming fall festival season, but there are plenty of indie alternatives for whatever your tastes may be. Below, you’ll see every planned theatrical release for the month of August, separated out into films with wide runs and limited ones. (Synopses are provided by festivals and distributors.)

Each week, we’ll give you an update with screening locations for these various titles. In the meantime, be sure to check our calendar page, where we’ll update releases for the rest of the year. Happy watching!

Week of August 5 Wide

Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer

Cast: Margot Robbie, Cara Delevingne, Jai Courtney, Will Smith, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Joel Kinnaman, Jay Hernandez, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood

Synopsis: A secret government agency led by Amanda Waller recruits imprisoned...

“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.

Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem

At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...

“Introducing the Academy class of 2016,” reads the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences website announcement of its invited new members Wednesday. And while joining that august organization is a singular honor, many say they were surprised to learn of their inclusion — mainly because they hadn’t applied for membership. Traditionally, that’s a laborious process that can take years before you get recommended by peers, vetted by your branch, and finally invited. Every year it’s a shock that someone like, say Tina Fey, IFC’s Arianna Bocco, last year’s Oscar-winner Margaret Sixel (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), or Oscar marketer Lisa Taback, wasn’t already a member.

Read More: Oscars So White: 8 Ways to Solve the Academy’s Diversity Problem

At the heart of the Academy’s complex diversity issue is how much the Oscars reflect the way that the Academy likes to view itself. Believe me, they were horrified when,...

Viva Pictures has acquired North America rights to Quentin Lee’s The Unbidden, following its world premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival last week.

International rights to the film were acquired by Korea’s 9ers Entertainment earlier this month.

Described as the first female-driven Asian American supernatural thriller, The Unbidden stars Tamlyn Tomita (The Joy Luck Club), Julia Nickson (Rambo), Amy Hill (50 First Dates), Elizabeth Sung (The Joy Luck Club) and Michelle Krusiec (Saving Face).

The story follows a mystery novelist who believes she is being haunted and holds a dinner party for her friends, where the group is taken hostage by a gun-wielding stranger.

The film is produced by Charles Lei of Beijing-based Thunder Communications International, along with Us-based Stanley Yung, NaRhee Ahn and Lee. Lee’s previous directing credits include White Frog and The People I’ve Slept With.

“As highlighted in the recent 60 Minutes story, Rising in the...

Visual Communications (Vc), the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, announced the Opening, Closing and Centerpiece film programs for the upcoming 32nd edition of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival (Laapff) running April 21-28, 2016. This annual film celebration will be presented across Los Angeles from Little Tokyo to Downtown Los Angeles to Koreatown and to West Hollywood featuring 140 films from over 20 countries.

Vc will celebrate 32 years as Southern California’s largest and most prestigious film festival of its kind. The Laapff launches the pre-celebration of Asian Pacific Heritage Month through this year’s slate of over 130 films from both Asian Pacific American and Asian international directors from over 20 countries. For over three decades, the Festival has presented nearly 5,000 films and shorts by Asian American and Asian international artists.

Opening this year’s Festival at the Aratani Theatre in Little Tokyo is the World Premiere of dramatic comedy "The Tiger Hunter" from an amazing new director Lena Khan. The film centers upon Sami Malik (Danny Pudi of NBC TVs - "Community"), a young South Asian man who travels to America to become an engineer in order to impress his childhood crush and live up to the legacy of his father — a legendary tiger hunter back home. When Sami's job unexpectedly falls through and he ends up living in a tiny co-op with two oddball roommates, he must resort to constructing an elaborate charade with the misfit accomplices in hopes of convincing his sweetheart that he's far more successful than he truly is...or perhaps ever could be. As Sami tries to pull off the farce of a lifetime, what ensues is a series of adventures involving outlandish schemes, an arch-nemesis in an absurd office environment, and a somewhat functional Dodge Charger with a character of its own. Together, although their plans may contradict each other with terrible consequences, Sami and his rag-tag group must work together while meeting the usual host of obstacles — the "usual," that is, if back-alley brawls, trips to prison, or catastrophic LSD-related misunderstandings are just your usual, everyday fare. The film also stars Rizwan Manji, Jon Heder, Karen David, Kevin Pollak, Sam Page and Iqbal Theba.

Jonathan Hua Lang Lim’s powerful drama "Pali Road" starring Michelle Chen, Sung Kang, Elizabeth Sung and Jackson Rathbone will close out the eight - day film extravaganza at the Directors Guild of America on April 28, 2016. "Pali Road" centers on Lily (Michelle Chen), a Chinese doctor doing her residency in a Hawaiian hospital under Dr. Kayne (Sung Kang). She had fallen in love with schoolteacher Neil (Jackson Rathbone) — at least this is what she remembers. But after a terrible car accident, Lily wakes up to discover, in horror, a married life with Dr. Kayne, that includes a 5-year-old son she has never seen. With everyone around her denying Neil's existence, Lily begins to question her own sanity, but memories of Neil force her to embark on a journey to retrace her past and discover the truth.

The Laapff Centerpiece offering this year is the moving and insightful documentary "Tyrus" from director Pamela Tom which brings the life of Chinese American painter,production illustrator, lithographer, and kite builder Tyrus Wong to the big screen. Wong is best known for his concept art for Walt Disney's feature animated film Bambi. His strikingly beautiful concept paintings and sketches continue to influence the work of generations of animators and production designers. "Tyrus" celebrates not only the beauty of his art, but reveals to a larger audience a lesser known part of the Chinese American experience — that of its artists and creators.

“We are excited and proud to present these three films as our celebrations,” states Vc Executive Director Francis Cullado. “Having Lena Khan’s "The Tiger Hunter" as our opening, Jonathan Lim’s "Pali Road" as our closing night, and Pamela Tom’s "Tyrus" as our centerpiece film certainly highlights the amount of Asian American directorial talent out there. The big word this year in Hollywood has been ‘diversity’ and the Festival is one of the ways we address this issue at Visual Communications and for our community. For us, it’s not just about diversity – it’s about inclusivity. We will be releasing more of the Festival line up in the next week and everyone will be able to celebrate inclusion and diversity on the screen, as it should be.”

For program information, a complete listing of sponsors and partners, and to purchase tickets, log on to www.vconline.org/festival or contact Visual Communications at (213) 680-4462. Tickets are available to the general public on Monday, March 21st. The Festival is proud to be partnering with our following screening venues across Los Angeles:

●Aratani Theatre @ Japanese American Cultural & Community Center – Little Tokyo 244 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 ●Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ Japanese American National Museum – Little Tokyo 111 N. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012 ●Downtown Independent – Downtown La (Dtla) 251 S. Main Street, (between 3rd and 2nd Streets), Los Angeles, CA 90012 ●Cgv Cinemas – Koreatown – Mid-Wilshire 621 Western Avenue (between 6th Street and Wilshire Blvd.), Los Angeles, CA 90005 ●The Great Company – Downtown La (Dtla) 1917 Bay Street (between Wilson and Mateo Streets), Los Angeles, CA 90021 ●Directors Guild of America – West Hollywood7920 Sunset Blvd. (at Hayworth), West Hollywood, CA 90046...

Cavity Colors has gone interactive with their latest enamel pin. The worms festering in this poor zombie’s rotting eye socket can be spun with a flick of your wrist! Also in this round-up: a new TV spot for Hardcore Henry and a new trailer for Quentin Lee’s The Unbidden.

Zombie Enamel Pin: “It’S Going To Eat You!

Our first action pin! Use your finger to spin the maggots! Gross out all of your friends!

* Features Spinning Maggots inside the eye socket *

High-quality soft enamel pin with a Black Nickel Finish

Double rubber clutch on the back for secure attachment

Cavitycolors logo on the back

First pressing – Only 200 Available

Art By: Aaron Cavitycolors

Size: Approx 2 inches tall

Shipping: Currently In Production – Ships in approx. 5 – 7 days – $ 12.00.”

To learn more about the new zombie enamel pin, visit Cavity Colors’ website.

———

Hardcore Henry: “Strap in. Hardcore Henry is one of...

Recently, CBS dropped the new,official synopsis/description for their upcoming "Elementary" episode 14 of season 4. The episode is entitled, "Who Is That Masked Man?" And it turns out that we're going to see some very interesting and serious stuff take place as the real identity of Holme's mother gets revealed. We're also going to see Holmes and Watson go after some old lady who's suspected of slaughtering a couple of gang thugs to death, and more! In the new, 14th episode press release: Just As Holmes' Relationship With Morland Reaches Its Breaking Point, New Details About Sherlock's Mother Are Revealed. Press release number 2: When Holmes' investigation into the attempt on Morland's life, pushes their strained relationship to the breaking point, the identity of Sherlock's mother will get made known. Also, when three gang members are murdered, Holmes and Watson are going to be startled to find out that an...

To celebrate the completion of principal photography on Quentin Lee's supernatural thriller The Unbidden, we have a gorgeously dark set of new, exclusive stills to share. The film follows "four best friends who get together for a spirit-settling seance the night before Halloween and are intruded upon by a young man who claims that one of them is his mother," according to the official synopsis. The intruder then "unravels a past crime that has been haunting them for two decades." The Asian-American cast includes Tamlyn Tomita, Julia Nickson, Amy Hill, Elizabeth Sung, Jason Yee, Karin Anna Cheung, Kimberley Rose-Wolter, and Michelle Krusiec, with newcomers Akemi Look and Hayden Szeto rounding out the ensemble. The film is the sixth feature by Lee, who has made dramas...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...