Up In the Air…

So I watched the film tonight, you know, the George Clooney film. Some say that this film may win the Oscar for best of the year and George may even get an Oscar himself… I don’t doubt both will be nominated.

Now, I’m not a critic, but I liked the film… It’s not your typical “Hollywood” film where everything gets tied up nice and neat by the end… (most people want that most of the time and I admit I too find myself yearning for things like that sometimes) but this film isn’t like that. This film shows a lifestyle very unique unto the main character, pretty fascinating actually and somewhat of a story of a piece of that one man’s life, but somehow I related… Guess thats what good films do, huh?

It definitely had some statement or commentary on our world today, I think I got it or at least I felt it, in that way when you can appreciate a great painting yet may not be able to sum it up in words. There was a sadness with no real answer, none but to go through it I guess… But humor, yes always humor and in only the way Clooney can deliver it, with ease and cool. He’s still got to be one of the coolest guys on the planet… definitely top ten, if not all time, at least alive today. See, the thing I related to is the being on the road. I’m no where near the time spent on the road as the character in the film, but being an actor and shooting all over the country and world sometimes, I found myself many of times in somewhat bland hotel room and amongst people who I don’t know at all… and with that you become what you like, at least what you like about yourself… meaning, the things you most like about yourself sometimes come out and are on view when your out on the road and location and sometimes the people you meet on the road and the adventures you have seem kind of weird and out of place when you get home to real life… Just thinking out loud… Anyway, this film… probably getting nominated for best film and deserves it, George too, although saw a preview of a film Jeff Bridges is in, playing some old crusty country western singer and he looked like he won the Oscar in the trailer. Sometimes George is just so cool… almost too cool, my heart doesn’t break for him… at least not enough.

In this film, as in life, was sadness, humor, romance and sex… and sadness. I’m thinking about it and looking for the hope, I think there was hope… Yes, there was hope… maybe I need to watch it again.

Last old blog…

This is it… I’m erasing my old blog & rolling on from here… I guess some of those old thoughts may be lost, but theres more to come.

Getting Tatt’ed

Friday, February 22, 2008

Something special happened in my life, so I decided to remember the occasion with a tattoo.

Check out this old post…

So What Does It Feel Like To Be Celebrity?

Friday, June 15, 2007

This is one of the questions I’m asked most from people I meet. Its a bit of a bit strange to me sometimes because most of the times I don’t feel like one, a celebrity, that is. See, I come from a very little town and a very big family. From as far as I can remember I’ve been performing at town functions and in the streets in the Bay Area, breakdancing, rapping and singing with a hat out for change and even battling the guy watching from the crowd looking to take me out. I came to L.A. with my brothers and began to work, now twenty years later, I meet people, a lot of great people, who appreciate the things I’ve done and who even admit to me that they grew up with me and the characters I’ve played. I’m awfully thankful for all the blessings I’ve had in this town, I know personally how hard it is to make a living in this town and I’ve seen this town break more then a handful of hearts. And I too have been through my ups & downs… No one in this town gets out without having their own “True Hollywood Story”.

I somehow managed to work steadily throughout the years and the longer you stick around Hollywood the more you see the successful ones are a motley crew of the survivors, those who survived what Hollywood had to give, the good and bad, and managed to stay here and make it work. Now, when it comes to celebrity status, well, its kinda like going back to high school and being popular. To a big degree, as silly as it seems, the celebrities are like the popular kids in town. The weird thing is some cats around town are just “Hollywood” famous, simply meaning they’re cool in this town and at the hottest clubs yet outside of this Hollywood world, they might not be recognized in a crowd. And furthermore, things change a lot in this town, those who are popular now can be all but forgotten in a year.

The best analogy I could make about being famous is, it’s like if your from a small town and you leave, then come back for the holidays, you don’t want to do anything stupid when your at the local market cause you know people are watching and it might just get back to your mom. That’s kinda how it feels like to be famous, only your small town becomes more like everywhere or anywhere you may be recognized. Especially if your an ethnic actor like myself, your whole community is so proud of you and your accomplishments and feel like your apart of their family, but sometimes have preconceived ideas about how you should be or act.

I guess its sort of strange if I think of it but this has been apart of my life for so long I forget about it most of the times. I’m only reminded of it when I hang out with new people in my life and how they react to it. Sometimes fame works out in my favor, like people hooking you up or giving you deals, buying you a drink or what not, and sometimes it may work against you like people you don’t know wanting to get into involved conversations or wanting to take that picture at the most uncomfortable times. But I have to say, most the people I have met have been really sweet, giving me a compliment and taking a quick pic.

I have friends I’ve worked with that have become very famous and I know that they have had many problems with the gossip rags and all the things that kind of media makes up. That does seem like a big problem, but for those of us who in this business know that it’s just apart of this business, like it or not and the higher your star rises the more of that sort of thing you may have to deal with. But if your making millions, it may be the price you have to pay.

As far as my fame goes its kinda different cause I’ve been around for so long and have done so many different things that I have a bunch of different kind of fans. First there’s Rufio, this character in Steven Speilberg’s “Hook”. This is the film that put me on the map for a lot of people. I actually started my acting career five years before that when I was ten and the real Dante Basco buffs have seen my real early credits. But I must here the Rufio chant on average at least once a day when I’m out in public. I mean in a lot of ways Rufio is an icon in his own right and means a lot to a whole generation of kids, especially the misunderstood bad asses and skaters. There’s a popular rock band named after him and even inspired development of the animated characters I play, Prince Zuko form Avatar and The American Dragon: Jake Long. Then there’s all the independent films I’ve done who that have become cult classics like But I’m a Cheerleader and Fakin Da Funk. I’ve been told I’m one of the most recognizable asian actors in America. I don’t know, maybe I am. Looking back at the 90’s and early 2000’s people will have to say I did my thing.

The funny thing about fame is, a lot of the time people recognize you but can’t quite remember from where, most of the time they think they went to school with you, sometimes I just agree with them and keep it rollin.

So… I guess that’s how it feels to be famous, at least for now.

Another classic post

Jet Lagging

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Just got back from Manila and I can’t sleep, its 4am and I’m up typing a blog. Its crazy to be home. I just got back from filming a movie called, “Subject: I Love You”. This is a film about the “Love Bug,” computer virus that came out of the Philippines in the year 2000 that caused billions of dollars in damage. This was my first time shooting in Manila and the experience was amazing. When I go home, the love and support I get is astounding, most of the people I meet are simply proud of me for bringing pride to Filipino’s in Hollywood, and they are proud of me like a family member is proud of you… The month away had a profound effect on me.

Beyond just being affected by the magic of Manila, I was very blessed to work with such gifted artist, which have now become friends. The director Francis Delatorre is a young and promising film maker, who brought us all together. I had the pleasure of working with Filipino superstars like Gary V. and Jericho Rosales, who were both so extremely talented and who I know am blessed to call them friends.

Going home to work has been a dream of mine for years, many folks there and here in the states have been looking to me to be apart of building a bridge from the talent in the homeland to connect with those of us here, stateside. This may be a big stepping stone. The talent is definitely there and when we build this bridge it will not be just me going home to do films, it’ll be a two way street, it’ll be bringing some of the Filipino talent to Hollywood to do work here.

Its been an exciting month abroad, connecting with my home away from home, getting the keys to Manila and having the time of my life, shooting a movie in which i got to play a character that I had so much fun with. This guy may surprise some, I was able o play a veery comical guy that I see as Mercutio to Jericho’s Romeo.

Simply a wonderful experience… I piece of me fell in love with Manila and I know in my heart that I will be going back to work and have the Philippines apart of my life.

But now I’m back in L.A. about to get back to my life here, longing to get back there soon.

this was a fun old blog

this was a real “entourage” moment…

Dodgers & Dinner Parties…

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

So on Sunday I was invited to attend a Los Angeles Dodgers game at Dodgers’ Stadium for “Dodger Day”, an event thrown by a foster kids program where a bunch of foster kids get to come to the game for free and meet some celebrities. For many of these kids, its the first baseball game they’ve ever been to. Of course an event like this is my pleasure. First and foremost, its a great cause and all the kids you meet are so cool and just happy to be there and excited about the game. You take a few pictures and sign a few autographs and get to watch the game from some VIP suite  and eat free food. Who wouldn’t want to do that? But beyond all that, I actually got to walk on the field before the game and just hang out with the other celebs and some of the team, it’s pretty amazing. I really felt like a kid in awe. I mean, not that I was ever really that great in baseball (well, I was an “All-Star” on my little league team… but my dad was the coach, so…) but its just an awesome experience. Its one of those little perks you get every now and then because you got a little celebrity status, I say take it and enjoy… And I did. One of the best things about it was I got to bring my dad. Growing up, baseball was one of the sports we played most together, sometimes I forget about those days, but there’s just something about going to a baseball game with your dad… Its one of those special things a son will always love.

Now tonight… We had the strangest, but coolest dinner party. My girlfriend thought we should cook dinner tonight at my house, see we eat out quite a lot, at least twice a day, which is kinda crazy and when you look back on your months spending, it tends to be embarrassing. So being the producer and business minded person she is, she’s always trying to figure out ways to save me a little money and besides, it seemed like a good change of pace. Well, tonight it was me and my boys and her and a few of her girls. She cooked collard greens and corn (which were delicious by the way) and I cooked homemade turkey chili (she doesn’t touch red meat) and baked potatoes. One of our friends made a charming salad and some others brought beverages. And for the record, as far as saving money when  you cook… I never seem to, I went grocery shopping and easily spent twice, if not three times as much as I would of if I had went out, and I still have to cook it, let alone clean the dishes… But it was pretty good if I say so myself.

I know you’re saying, this seems pretty normal… but see, as we were cooking, I’m stirring my chili masterpiece on the stove and my girl is checking on here greens, our whole crew is just chillin in the kitchen, talkin’… a little clever conversation. I see someone walk down our driveway to come into our backdoor. I have no idea who it is, I figure someone my girl must have invited. I look back and I see my brother Dion with a strange look on his face as this stranger walks into our house… all of a sudden I realize its Adrian Grenier… you know, the guy who plays “Vince” on Entourage. I mean, I know I live in Hollywood and work in the business and have plenty of celebrity friends… but this is just out of the ordinary… It sure as hell took me by surprise. Hell, I played a character on his show (which we talked a bit about) and it still tripped me out. He stumbled into my kitchen through the back door as if he stepped right off the set of his show, I almost expected him to be followed by Drama and Turtle. But he said he was supposed to meet one of my girlfriend’s friends here. It, or he as it were, was an unexpected surprise. He was very cool. He enjoyed the food, we gave him San Miguel beer from the Philippines, which he claimed to enjoy both and he shared with us great conversation about music, woman, life and the pursuit of “what’s it really all about?”… He was genuinely a cool guy. And as he and our lady friend said their goodbyes… In enters yet another surprise. Now, another friend of my girlfriend enters our little dinner party with her cousin from Australia, who just happens to be a 6 time world champion of kick boxing. I know through his stories that he is pretty well known in those circles and down under. In any case, he is a good time. I mean he really lights up a room with his presence and charm and stories and accent. We ended up “you tubing” him and watched a few of his more memorable fights. He’s the real deal… I ended up standing eye to eye with him, sizing him up a bit, not much taller then me, but would no doubt snap me like a twig faster then I could think to throw a punch. I ended taking funny pictures with him as he taught me a choke hold.

So this little dinner party was attended by a handful of actors and musicians, a film & tv producer (my girlfriend), a clothing designer, a celebrity bodygaurd to the likes of Antonio Banderas and Mel Gibson, a bona fide television star & a world champion kick boxer… Only in L.A.

more old blogs…

still transferring blogs over…

Some Thoughts…

Friday, December 14, 2007

Where do I fit in?

Story of this Asian American…

Trying to find his way

In the Hollywood landscape

In L.A. we call it “the business”

You want to keep up you better get up your fitness

Cause this hustle is rough

Don’t rely on talent cause that aint enough

As if they would even know it if they saw it

They’re too out of touch

& you ask me who “they” are

The one’s who think they create stars

F*ck those stars they can suck my d*ck

In my neighborhood there were no Brad Pitts…

That’s just a piece of a poem I’ve been writing in my head and it’s been swimming around my head tonight because I’ve been watching a bunch of movies lately. See, in L.A. its almost “award season” which happens early next year, which means the Oscars and Emmy’s and also an award called the Screen Actors Guild or SAG Awards in which actors get to vote on the best performances of their peers. This year I got the privilege of being on the nominating committee, which basically means I get all of the this years movies free on DVD to watch and vote who I think should be nominated for best performances. The cool thing is I get to watch all the new movies, some that haven’t even hit theaters yet and they all just get delivered to my house.

There have been so many great movies and performances this year, from American Gangster to 3:10 to Yuma to Lars and the Real Girl… and I just finished The Great Debaters. I love movies and I love getting the chance to watch them. The thing that gets me sometimes, the thing that wrenched my gut is, sometimes as I enjoy all these films and stories, I wonder where I fit in to it all. I mean, predominantly, the films are White stories and actors and they are superb, great and some are just average and even more are just bad… but they exist and they are there to tell their story. There are even Black films and actors, although significantly fewer then the White ones, telling there stories, some just as good, some just as bad. But I often try to look into the film and see where I can be in it, often times there is no role for me in them. Crazy thing is you love these films because the speak of the the universal feeling felt by all of mankind and me being apart of this mankind not only wants to experience the feelings through the Hollywood films but I also want to express my feelings and perform in our films, in our stories.

Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to complain because I know in my career I have been more fortunate then most in this town, White, Black or other… It just as a person I want to be included. As an actor I want to do what I do best… I want to act and tell these stories.

See, I’m Filipino-American or Asian-American, however you may want to classify me, but the fact of the matter is I’m American and although I love Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or any of the amazing cinema coming from Hong Kong and Japan, it really doesn’t have much to do with my life experience, not much more really then it does yours. In my career I’ve always gravitated to African-American Films, one because they casted me and excepted me, one of the sad truths of Hollywood casting is, “if you aint white, you black…” simply meaning there are White roles and then there are other. I often fit in the other category. And even “the other” role goes to a White guy. But I was always embraced by Black film makers, maybe because I was urban and a product of the Hip Hop times I grew up in or maybe because they all were going through the good hustle we all are in this town. And its not to say I never work in White Hollywood, because I do and will continue when the role come up that I’m right for.

I’m just thinking out loud tonight and watching some amazing films that I wish I could of been apart of and looking forward to the films I am about to shoot and opening a new genre of Asian-American films… With every role I play, I crack the door open a little wider.

Old Blogs…

Now that I’m Word Press I’m going to catalog my old posts… still have to figure out how to post video blogs… i’ll post more as we go…

Obama

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Obama just got elected president of the United States, I’m at a Hollywood party in the hills and the world has changed. I’m typing on my blackberry and writing down my thoughts just so I’ll always know how I felt when something of this magnitude happens in our universe. The world has changed… A few years ago, I would never have thought it was possible. Growing up as an ethnic person in America, it has always been a reality that you can be anything you want to be, rich, famous, a ceo, a general but the president of the United States… That’s probably not going to happen. But today, that reality has been abolished. We are a huge step closer to equality in our country and in the world. I’m getting married soon and when I have kids, I know they can truly be whatever they want to be, no exceptions… The world is ours… All of ours.

First blog on Word Press

Starting to blog… Not sure why, I just like to write… Write about whatever. I’m starting now on wordpress… I have a few blogs on different sites, hopefully I’ll figure out how to use this site right and get everything right here.

Today, my new niece was born, this morning actually… Her name is Emerson, I met her today at Ceder Sinai where she was born just after 10am. Through my sister in laws pregnancy I thought she was having a boy and I would refer to the baby as “Danger”, see, in the Basco Family, if your a boy your first name has to start with a “D”, its just tradition… Derek, Darion, Dante and Dionyisio… my dad ‘s name is Darius and my Grandfather’s name is Damaso… my uncles… Danny, Douglas(we call him Duke) and David. So the baby was born and she’s a beautiful baby girl… I’m still going to call her “Danger”… maybe she’ll be a tomboy and live up to the nickname.

Ok… the first blog here. Let me figure how to use this thing and I’ll write more… Seems like there’s a lot of things on my mind my mind lately and I hope this is the place where I can get them out…

Now how the heck do I publish this thing?!?!?!?!

what button do i press?

talk to you soon.