Season two’s finale of
Supah Ninjas airs tonight on Nickelodeon and it overflows with action!
As this season has been wrapping up, I’ve been reflecting on the amazing times
I had working on this show, the memories shared between me and so many members
of the cast and crew, as well as the indelible mark the experience has left on
me.
Firstly, the privilege of working alongside old friends
certainly enriches my life. When I started out in the entertainment business,
Hiro Koda took a chance on a total noob and hired me to double an actor on a
show he coordinated. Since then, we’ve worked together on several awesome
projects, from Ninja Warrior commercials to The Hangover 3, and the hilarious
stories we’ve accumulated have grown exponentially. This time around, instead
of wearing his Stunt Coordinator hat, he’s sporting his finest Director pants,
as Hiro took the reins and directed this episode ("The Floating Sword") of Supah Ninjas. To say I’m
proud of him would be an understatement...make sure to check out tonight's episode!
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| Behind-the-scenes: Some downtime between takes on "The Floating Sword" |
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| Me, Glenn, and Tim in "Finding Forster" |
Secondly, I value the friendships that my run on Supah
Ninjas established. Doubling Brandon Soohoo was a riot (scarily, he reminds me
of a younger me), fighting on the docks with my preppy brothers Glenn McCuen, Tim Eulich, and
Nicholas Verdi in the Finding Forster episode created unforgettable memories,
and training/goofing around with my homie Ryan Potter continues to be a blast. The
philosopher Albert Schweitzer said, “we should all be thankful for those people
who rekindle the inner spirit.” These friends, as well as many others I made
working on this show, certainly fuel the flames that keep my fire burning
strong and I’m eternally grateful.
Thirdly, Supah Ninjas showcases a culture regularly
overlooked in the world of entertainment media. The lead of the series, Ryan Potter, is of Asian descent. His father in the show, Randall Park, is Asian.
And his grandfather in the show? You guessed it: Asian. Not only is Gramps
Asian, but he's George Takei, a pioneer for Asian Americans in film for almost
50 years now!
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| Alex and George and ninjas...Oh my! |
So many prominent Asian-Americans permeate the entertainment
world. Behind the camera, we have visionaries such as Justin Lin (Fast and Furious 5, Community, Better Luck Tomorrow) and Jon M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Step Up 2, Justin Bieber’s Never Say
Never). Quest Crew and Poreotics, all Asian dance crews, won America’s Best
Dance Crew. People of all races jam out to the sounds of Far East Movement. On
camera, backstage, on the dance floor, and in music, the Asian-American
entertainment community is making a strong, positive impression.
These successes make me proud as I’m sure everyone I’ve just
described never sought out to be the greatest Asian-American
actor/producer/director/dancer/musician/entertainer, but rather just to become the
best actor/producer/director/dancer/musician/entertainer that they can be!
Let’s make some noise for these outstanding role models who not only deserve
recognition for their achievements but who also inspire a new, younger
generation coming from diverse cultures/backgrounds to passionately pursue
their goals.
Strive
for your dreams and goals...live in greatness because greatness lives within you!
