This Oscar season, Asian representation is ‘Everywhere’ as upstart indie is Academy front-runner

• March 1, 2023

“Everything Everywhere All At Once,” the universe-hopping film that celebrates diversity, family and humanity, has taken over Hollywood’s awards season.

The A24 film with a majority-Asian cast took home the top honors at the 29th annual Screen Actors Guild awards, including best motion picture ensemble performance. This year’s SAG Awards — which often predict winners at the Academy Awards, happening this year on March 12 — were held Sunday in Los Angeles and live-streamed online for the first time.

The latest award-season triumph completed a “guild trifecta” after the film snagged Directors Guild and Producers Guild honors, solidifying the film’s status as the front-runner for Oscar gold.

And these are just the latest plot turns for the three-hour multiverse, martial arts fantasy/family drama which, since it debuted a year ago at SXSW, has defied Hollywood logic. This anarchic indie allegory on the immigrant experience — saddled with a spare $14.3 budget and an out-there plot that defies high-concept marketing strategies — has snagged more than $100 million in global ticket sales and topped the traffic on streaming services.

“Every one of you knows the journey, the roller-coaster ride, the ups and downs,” said Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh, whose career has run the gamut from martial-arts thrillers aacadmend dramas, to rom-coms. “This is not just for me, this is for every single girl that looks like me.”

At the SAG gala, Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan, the film’s leads, became the first Asians to win in their respective categories. Yeoh won for best film lead actress for her role as Evelyn Wang, and Quan won for best supporting male actor.

The EEAAO Awards! https://t.co/tExoUrVrUw

— Dave Lu 呂曉龍 (@davelu) February 27, 2023

Holding back tears, Yeoh thanked her supporters and the thousands of media-industry members in the SAG-AFTRA union who vote on winners.

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“We are here because we love what we do. Thank you for giving me a seat at the table, because so many of us need this. We want to be seen, we want to be heard.”

Quan was the only male actor of color nominee in his category. “This moment no longer belongs to just me. It also belongs to everyone who has asked for change,” he shared in his acceptance speech “The landscape looks so different now than before.”

This year’s SAG film and television nominees featured many female actors of color, including “The Woman King” Viola Davis, Hong Chau from “The Whale,” Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s “Blonde,” Danielle Deadwyler in “Till,” Angela Bassett in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “Everything Everywhere’s” Stephanie Hsu, and Niecy Nash-Betts, who was in Netflix’s “Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.”

Actress-producer Quinta Brunson and her castmates won best performance in a comedy series for the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary.”

I’m still teary about this moment… finally, a video I’m seeing in the community that doesn’t depict violence towards an Asian elder… but a standing ovation. https://t.co/qamf2CSzY1

— trishofthetrade everywhere (@trishofthetrade) February 27, 2023

But it was the final speech of the night from James Hong, considered a trailblazer in Hollywood, that blew audiences away. The “Everything Everywhere” actor called out ongoing racism in the industry, including harmful white-washing and the use of “yellowface,” and championed more authentic Asian representation on and off-screen.

Hong, 94, said that he began his decades-long career in a 1937 film with Clark Gable.

“The leading role was played by these guys with their eyes taped up… the producer said the Asians were not good enough, and they are not box office-[worthy],” Hong said in the final acceptance speech of the night. “But look at us now!”

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SAG Awards 2023: Oscar bellwether nominates ‘Fabelmans’ ‘Banshees,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’
Oscar nominations show both progress and regression for diversity
‘Everything Everywhere’ tops Oscar nominations with 11
Academy Awards: Hollywood talks a lot about diversity but do they follow up?
These brothers kick, jump, punch and crack you up in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’

SAG-AFTRA union member Quincy Surasmith runs the “Asian Americana” podcast, and voted in this year’s awards. Surasmith, an actor, that he was proud that the A24 film “got to sweep.” He recognized his “acting heroes” Quan and Hong who, with these diverse films, get to portray themselves in their full Asian identity.

But he challenged awards shows — which for decades have recognized more white men in Hollywood — and the organizing bodies that decide on them.

“It’s not these individual wins that make people suddenly care about us (artists of color). It’s more about when and how do we get a chance to tell our perspectives and stories, and who gets to create and share those stories, or even have a chance to be nominated for these things,” Surasmith said. “I don’t think we celebrate diversity from the exception; we get to celebrate it when it becomes the norm. We ‘make it’ in Hollywood when we all make it.”

​ Orange County Register 

Dodgers held to four hits in loss to Reds

• March 1, 2023

THE GAME: The Dodgers managed just four hits in a 7-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday afternoon at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

PITCHING REPORT: Left-hander Julio Urias went 2⅔ innings, going deeper than usual in his first start of the spring as he prepares to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Urias gave up two singles and struck out four of the last five batters he faced. He was charged with a run when Justin Hagenman replaced him and gave up an RBI double. … Noah Syndergaard also made his spring debut, pitching two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out. His fastball velocity was mostly 91-92 mph though he did touch 93 mph in his second inning. … Right-hander Jordan Yamamoto gave up three runs including a home run to Nick Solak while retiring just one of the four batters he faced in the eighth inning. … The Reds scored three times in the ninth off left-hander Bryan Hudson as well.

HITTING REPORT: Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas had the Dodgers’ hits, both singles. Andy Pages drove in their only run with an RBI single. Bradley Zimmer’s ninth-inning double was the Dodgers’ last hit of the game.

DEFENSE REPORT: The Reds were successful on four stolen base attempts, three with Austin Barnes at catcher and one with Diego Cartaya behind the plate.

UP NEXT: Dodgers (RHP Dustin May) vs. Rangers (LHP Andrew Heaney), Wednesday, 12:05 p.m., at Surprise Stadium, SportsNet LA, 570 AM

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​ Orange County Register 

Teacher at Irvine’s Beckman High School arrested after recording devices found in school restroom

• February 28, 2023

IRVINE — A teacher at Beckman High School in Irvine was arrested Monday on suspicion of hiding recording devices in a bathroom at the school.

Siu Kong Sit was arrested on suspicion of  possession of or manufacturing child pornography, burglary and on two misdemeanor charges and was booked at the Orange County Jail, said Irvine Police Department Lt. Cathy Scherer.

According to police, a contracted maintenance worker found the devices inside a restroom near a pool at the school and turned the items over to the school’s administrative staff, which then called the police department. Officers determined the devices had recorded several victims while they were in the restroom, Scherer said.

During the course of their investigation, detectives determined Sit had installed the recording devices.

Scherer said police are attempting to locate additional victims based on additional evidence located on the devices.

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​ Orange County Register 

Fountain Valley collision leaves one driver dead, another hospitalized

• February 28, 2023

A two-vehicle collision at Euclid Street and Slater Avenue in Fountain Valley left one driver dead and another hospitalized after officers pulled him from his burning car on Sunday, Feb. 26.

Fountain Valley police said in a Monday statement that an officer witnessed the collision at 4:52 p.m. when a 2022 Toyota Camry heading north on Euclid collided with a 2008 Dodge Caravan, and the Camry burst into flames.

The 55-year-old Caravan driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said that at the time of the collision, the Caravan driver was turning left onto eastbound Slater from southbound Euclid. His identity was not immediately made public.

Officers pulled the 51-year-old Camry driver from Costa Mesa out of his vehicle after it had become engulfed in flames. He was hospitalized with significant head injuries, police said.

Investigators have not yet determined if drugs or alcohol were involved.

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​ Orange County Register 

Santa Margarita girls soccer seeded first for CIF Southern California Regional

• February 28, 2023

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Santa Margarita’s girls soccer team received another reward Sunday for its dramatic victory in penalty kicks in the CIF-SS Division 1 championship.

The Eagles (19-2-1) were seeded first in Division I for the CIF Southern California Regional tournament, which starts Tuesday.

Santa Margarita will play host to Liberty of Bakersfield (22-1) at Saddleback College at 6 p.m.

Los Alamitos (18-7-5), the Division 1 runner-up to the Eagles, received the No. 3 seed in Division I and a match against visiting Cathedral Catholic on Tuesday. Cathedral Catholic was the Open Division runner-up in the San Diego Section to Westview.

Villa Park (17-3-4), which fell to Santa Margarita in the semifinals, claimed the No. 4 seed in Division I. The Spartans play host to No. 5 La Costa Canyon at El Modena High on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Marina (11-6-6) and Portola (16-3-2) received the third and seventh seeds, respectively, in Division III. The Vikings play host to Centennial of Bakersfield on Tuesday while the Bulldogs travel to No. 2 Patrick Henry, the Division II champion in San Diego.

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Crean Lutheran (19-3-3), which claimed the Division 5 title Saturday, drew the third seed in Division IV and a home game against South Gate on Tuesday.

And in Division V, Magnolia and La Quinta, who dueled in the CIF-SS Division 7 final on Friday, received the fifth and sixth seeds, respectively.

The champion Sentinels (17-9-1) play Tuesday at Clairemont of San Diego, the Division IV champion in San Diego. The Aztecs (16-7-5) play host to Larchmont Charter of Los Angeles at Bolsa Grande High.

The regional tournament continues Thursday with the semifinals and concludes Saturday with the finals.

​ Orange County Register 

‘Still kicking,’ Ducks beat Blackhawks for 3rd straight win

• February 28, 2023

ANAHEIM — Four-point swings aren’t quite what they used to be …

Old days: A game between the Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks meant bragging rights in the regular season in the Western Conference.

New times: A contest involving the Ducks and Blackhawks meant a result could impact the race to the bottom, also known as the Connor Bedard Derby. Of course, last place overall doesn’t automatically ensure the right to pick first in the draft – due to the draft lottery – but a team’s odds are meaningfully enhanced by finishing 32nd.

So how about those standings?

Columbus still holds down the last spot overall with 44 points but ‘gained’ more separation in the standings when the Ducks defeated the Blackhawks, 4-2, on Monday night at Honda Center, with the hosts winning their third straight game. The Ducks and Chicago each have 47 points but the Ducks have played 61 games, two more than the Blackhawks. The result snapped Chicago’s five-game winning streak.

Scoring for the Ducks: Isac Lundestrom (fourth of the season), Jakob Silfverberg (ninth), Max Jones (fifth) and Troy Terry (16th), with Terry and Jones adding assists. Ducks rookie center Mason McTavish added three assists, Frank Vatrano had two assists, and rookie goaltender Lukas Dostal made 24 saves for his third win of the season. Defenseman John Klingberg had the primary assist on Silfverberg’s goal, giving him nine points in his past nine games.

“That’s a hard game for those guys to play,” Ducks coach Dallas Eakins said. “We flew home the other night (from Carolina). Guys probably got in their beds by maybe 4 a.m. Guys with kids probably didn’t sleep at all. So these are dangerous games. … Good on our guys for being ready, getting over that mental hump and finding a way to get the points.”

The game-winner was from Jones, who broke the 2-2 tie, scoring with 17.5 seconds remaining in the second period and Terry scored the only goal in the third, converting a slick backhander from a sharp angle at 8:15.

“I can’t not mention McTavish,” Terry said. “Him and (Jones) together are two of the best forecheckers on the team and they won the puck back. Mac made a really good play. Once I saw he was going to get it, I tried to just bust to the net because I knew he was going to find me.

“Once I got it, I did have a little more time than I thought. I was on my backhand. … I don’t even know if I could have scored it from where I ended up. I just tried to get it around the goalie (Petr Mrazek) and it’s a fortuitous bounce. It feels good.”

Troy Terry Ducks lead 4-2! @AnaheimDucks | #FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/YzzfNmilwo

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) February 28, 2023

The Ducks’ only other three-game winning streak this season was in late January. Earlier in the day, Terry pointed to things he saw in last week’s victory in Washington, which started the current run for the Ducks.

“As a team, we’re still fighting,” he said. “We’re still kicking. When you’ve got guys fighting Tom Wilson and (Dylan) McIlrath and you’ve got Nathan Beaulieu jumping in front of an Alex Ovechkin one-timer. That type of stuff – we may be where we are in the standings – but we’re all playing for something and we’re too close a group not to battle for each other.

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“That game was a good reminder of that and set us up for the next game.”

Jones agreed, saying: “Right there, it showed all right, we still care. Everyone is out there still fighting and leans on each other. It makes everyone else want to work harder.”

Chicago was without franchise icons Jonathan Toews, who is dealing with symptoms of long COVID-19 and Patrick Kane (roster management), and earlier in the day, defenseman Jake McCabe and depth forward Sam Lafferty were traded (along with future draft picks) in a package to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two players and two future picks. One of those players, Joey Anderson, the older brother of Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson, traveled to Anaheim and played against the Ducks, on the fourth line.

How thin were the Blackhawks on experience? Two forwards in their top nine had played a combined nine games in the NHL, counting Monday night’s contest.

​ Orange County Register 

Hornets’ LaMelo Ball breaks ankle, latest setback in rough season

• February 28, 2023

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — LaMelo Ball’s frustrating, injury-plagued season is likely over after the point guard broke his right ankle in Charlotte’s 117-106 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.

The former Chino Hills High star has already missed 27 games this season after he sprained his left ankle on three separate occasions, beginning in the preseason. He and the Hornets (20-43) were playing their best basketball of the season before the point guard fell to the floor on a non-contact play in the third quarter.

X-rays revealed the fracture to Ball’s ankle.

“It sucks,” Hornets swingman Gordon Hayward said, shaking his head. “Injuries are the worst part of the game.”

Ball had entered the game with five straight double-doubles and appeared on his way to another with 18 points, six rebounds and five assists before leaving with 9:26 left in the period.

He was also shooting the ball extremely well from deep, having made 47.3% (27 of 57) of his 3-point shots over the last five games. He was 6 for 7 from behind the arc against the Pistons.

Charlotte’s five-game winning streak was the team’s longest of the season.

“We were starting to figure it out as a team,” Hayward said. “He and I were starting to build (chemistry). I think me personally, I was starting to build a good relationship with him on the court and we were finding easy buckets for each other. Some of that is what we’ve gone through the whole year, not being able to build that out on the court with different guys being injured. Him at the beginning of the season, then me right after that, and now him again. It’s been back and forth with different people through the year, which is tough.”

Ball had just dribbled behind his back and appeared to be setting up to work off a screen from center Mark Williams behind the 3-point arc when he fell to the ground. He grabbed the loose ball and passed to Williams, who found a teammate for a score.

Ball was taken to the locker room.

Hayward said players figured he had “tweaked something,” not knowing the extent of the injury until after the game.

Hornets coach Steve Clifford didn’t say how long Ball would be out. But given the severity of the injury and the fact the Hornets only have 19 games remaining and are not in contention for the playoffs, it seems unlikely the team would rush him back.

“The only thing you can do is watch the film, learn from it and then focus on what we have to do tomorrow in practice to get ready for (the next game). Unfortunately, we’re experienced at playing without all of them, so it’s not like it’s going to be brand new,” Clifford said. “It’s tough, too, because he was starting to play so well, and the team obviously was playing better and better. They’re not going to wait for us.”

Hayward said he texted Ball after the game, but hadn’t spoken with him.

“I think that is the most important thing when you are injured – stay positive and have a good support system around you including your teammates, family and friends,” said Hayward, who broke an ankle on an awkward landing in 2017 while playing for Boston. “He’s young and he will bounce back but it is always tough in the moment.”

​ Orange County Register 

Troy Terry on wearing the ‘A’ : ‘It’s a huge honor to me’

• February 28, 2023

ANAHEIM — Troy Terry didn’t have much time to get adjusted to wearing the “A,” which will be one of his responsibilities as long as injured teammate Adam Henrique is out of the lineup with a lower-body injury.

Terry found out shortly before their game at Washington on Thursday.

“Honestly, I came to the rink against Washington and it wasn’t on my jersey when I first got there. … There were some cheers and people giving me a hard time,” Terry said, smiling. “It’s a huge honor to me. It’s something that I don’t take lightly.”

Ducks coach Dallas Eakins previously said that Terry had “earned it,” in terms of the leadership qualities required of an alternate captain and elaborated on Monday after the Ducks’ morning skate.

“We’re not only trying to develop hockey players here, but we’re trying to develop leaders as well and he’s doing a fabulous job at that,” Eakins said.

It is something that doesn’t happen overnight.

“More vocal for sure,” Eakins said of Terry this season. “Before he was just a fly on the wall and wouldn’t say much. It was more of a respect thing. Didn’t want to step in front of another veteran player. Certainly more vocal in the room. Has an opinion on some things we’re doing on the power play. Certainly way more engaged on the bench with other players. It’s baby steps all the time.

“Leadership, especially in an NHL dressing room, is something you maybe don’t want to go running into the fire. You’ve got to take the necessary steps to get there and I think he’s slowly checking off the boxes.”

400 CLUB

For Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler, hitting the 400-point career mark in the NHL (which happened on Saturday in Carolina) resonated even more when he started hearing from family and friends and other teammates.

But the fact that he has played the third-most games in the NHL among members of his 2010 NHL draft class – the contest against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday was his 872nd – topped the career point total mark, at least in his mind.

“I’d say that’s probably what I’m more proud of – I still think I have a lot of years left to play,” Fowler said. “Besides some injuries, I think I’ve tried to be a consistent factor for the team on the back end. The points and stuff – that’s fun – but it’s more about showing up every day and being ready to go for your team.

“Doing that over a long career, that’s what I’m most proud of. Hopefully, like I said, there’s a lot more years left.”

ICE CHIPS

Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk is one of the many soon-to-be unrestricted free agents on the roster and his name has come up periodically on trade boards this season. Still, he isn’t racing toward the exit sign and would consider signing a contract extension with the rebuilding Ducks.

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“We would be definitely open for it,” Shattenkirk said on Monday. “Again, totally understand the situation too, especially after what happened (here) last year.”

There haven’t been meaningful talks regarding an extension.

“It’s in his hands,” Shattenkirk said of Ducks GM Pat Verbeek. “I’m certainly old enough to understand the way the business works. If nothing happens, maybe we’ll explore it again.”

​ Orange County Register