Today I Post A Poem About “Freedom”…

Land of the brave
Home of the free
Where you can do what you want
And be anything.

Ironically
We’ve come so far
To get back to how it’s supposed to be
Free
To worship the god that you choose
No rules
To tell you who you can love
And who can love you

So cheers to those who have died
Who have insured we have these inalienable rights
& to those who continue to fight
For this sweet freedom is not free, it comes with a price.
& furthermore to be wise
We must protect this precious prize
And honor our freedom
By doing our best to make something of our lives.

Cash Money Party. Grammy Weekend

Ok, I’m up in this Grammy party right now and I’m blogging… Not that I’m bored up in here, it’s just pretty chill and I’m probably a little tired still from the Levi’s/Frank Ocean party last night. I decided not to drink tonight, so I really clear to observe what’s really going on and I just feel like writing about it in real time. Plus my girl went to walk around and make a round with one of her girlfriends.
First off, it’s freezing in LA, which doesn’t put me in the best mood, second, it’s pretty packed in here. Paris Hilton rolled in with a little crew about a half hour ago, I think she just rolled out, I guess she’s over it already… I’m kinda feeling that… But no one has performed yet and word on the street is there is supposed to be a surprised performance by Lil Wayne, Nikki Minaj and Drake… That would be dope. We’ll see if that happens… Hold up, Drake just walked in… Drizzy is up in the piece in red leather pants… Guess he’s getting his hip hop Michael Jackson on. He can actually pull it off. Hey, I’m a fan if his… Plus he shouted me out on “Money To Blow.”
Ok let me describe the rest of the room to you… The party is in a smaller sound stage, it’s pretty packed, but somehow manger to stay pretty subdued, it’s decked out in a Las Vegas theme.. Got to admit, pretty classy. As I walked in the Justin Timberlake song was playing… (I’m feelin that song btw) the stage is dope, great little light show, the lights they use in the big concerts, like the hanging LCD’s or something… There’s burlesque dancers in lingerie dancing on stage… Stripperesque… But still kinda classy… I mean, kinda, you know…
The weird thing is all the VIP couches in the back of the room are empty… I mean where’s the rest of the Cash Money Crew… Maybe they got stuck on the blizzard on the east coast.
The food they’re passing around is good and the bar is open… I’m going to grab a drink and hopefully the holy trinity of Cash Money come out. I’m just an actor at a music party… Hell, I’m just happy to be here…

“I date Asian guys because of Dante Basco” or An interesting way I impacted my generation of Asian Americans…

So, here’s a thing that’s come up a bunch of times in my life that I find funny, or at least amusing. I’ll often get tweets or tumblr messages like the one I posted here, or I’ll get comments like the title of this post. I even got told this by director, Stephen Dypiangco, “I think my wife started dating me because she had a crush on you growing up!” Which, was awkward… then I said, “You’re welcome…” Which made it more awkward… Hahaha…

It just got me thinking, it’s strange way to think of how I might of impacted my generation. I’ve been told I was the first cool Asian actor many people actually saw on film and television in the 1990′s… No accent, no stereotypical roles… Just a cool kid. I actually did a movie called, “Extreme Days,” and when I went in to audition and met the director, Eric Hannah, told me, he didn’t realize till I walked in the room but, I was the guy in his head the whole time he was writing the character. You only see an Asian character a few times in movies and films… Especially in those days, and odds are if you remember any, I was probably one of them… and if was a cool Hip Hop kid… It was probably me. (Or one of my brothers, which I usually get credited for… but that’s another story)

But now the idea that I somehow helped this big melting pot of America, I somehow was the reason some girls (or guys) started dating Asian guys… Well, if this is in any way true. I have to be proud of that! It’s got be one of my finest accomplishments! It’s all funny… but cool.

I guess, part of this is the reason why I started my own production company and make movies. There’s way more to Asian America than what is so narrowly portrayed in mainstream media. Go watch Hang Loose, there’s a bunch of new Asian guys for you to fall in love with!

The Rufio Show -Vlog

I hope everyone had a great Christmas… I took this chance to give a gift to all the fans out there, the launch of a new show on my YouTube channel.

The Rufio Show…

This is my classic character making a comeback into the real world, you’ll get to see him in ways you’ve never seen him before!

Also, in these upcoming episodes, look for guest appearances from some of my friends, including YouTube stars and even a reunion of some of the actual Lost Boys from “Hook,” all grown up!

Go check it out!

Bangarang!

The Great Damaso Basco

Reblogged from My take on life...:

Here's to a long life

Six children and a strong wife.

20 grandchildren

18 Great grandchildren... I think it is, if I didn't mess up

Could of seen your great-great grandchildren if Jo jo would just hurry up.

But that's only half the story

Not even half the glory

Of my grandfather, Damaso Basco

Patriarch of the Basco Family

Glorious lifetime that spans nearly a century…

Read more… 283 more words

I wanted to repost this today because my grandfather would have been 100 years old today, 12/12/12. He past away two years ago and I miss him very much. He was the patriarch of our family and was loved by us all. It's amazing that he came to America in hopes of a better life and just two generations later, I'm making movies in Hollywood. He truly made my life possible. So today, I honor you grandpa, happy 100th birthday. I love you. Miramaming salamat, po.

Rufio Ink T-Shirt Contest

Wanna see your rad Rufio design on a tee? Listen up! Find out how to get your design on an official Rufio Ink t-shirt!

Calling all artists! Rufio Ink fans can now put their artistic skills to the test and have the opportunity to design an official Rufio-inspired t-shirt!

Starting today and running until Sunday, December 30th at 11:59 p.m. PT, Rufio fans can unleash their artistic powers by creating their very own Rufio-inspired designs. Entries must be submitted to rufioinkgmail.com.  There is no limit on submissions.

After the submission period ends on December 30th, the top 3 designs will be chosen by yours truly. Starting on New Years Even, fans will get to vote on their favorite design, and the winner will be featured on an official Rufio Ink tee! And, to make the contest even sweeter, the winner will receive their own custom-printed tee and partial profits per tee sold!

So, start sketching away to be a part of the Rufio Ink movement. You have a chance to be a featured artist on out limited edition artists’ series.

 

*** UPDATE – Due to the holidays we’re extending the deadline till the end of January! Please keep submitting!

Hollywood Stories – “Avatar: The Last Airbender”

Here is a continuation of my “Hollywood Stories,” series for my YouTube channel. It’s actually a lot of fun to look back and think about things I’ve done and projects I’ve been apart of. It’s the end of the year and I often get introspective at this time of year, all the things that happened this year and all the plans for next year.

There are so many fans of ATLA and looking back, I honestly didn’t know that this project was going to become the phenomenon it became. I mean, Nickelodeon was doing it, up to that point, “Sponge Bob Square Pants,” was what they were known for in animation, at least to me and this seemed so left field. On top of that, I’m fairly new to the animation world and auditioning and booking this, I just counted myself lucky to book another job.

But then something happened… (it all changed when the Fire Nation attacked) Somewhere in the middle of the second season as I was reading through the script and really seeing where Prince Zuko was going as a character, all the possibilities of what ultimately happened with him, it quickly became evident to me I could be in the middle of playing one of the greatest characters of my career… and it’s a cartoon character.

To see the impact this show has had on the world and impact this character has had on people… including myself. Just goes to show you, you never know what’s going to happen. We plan a lot things in our careers and in our lives, sometimes they happen, sometimes they don’t… sometimes something comes out of left field impacts you and the world, in ways you could never imagined.

PMX 2012

So I go out and do conventions every now and then, when my schedule permits and especially if its someplace I’ve never been to. It’s a great excuse to travel. This video gives you a little peek into the world of the latest one I’ve been to, PMX- Pacific Media Expo. This one was great because it was local and I was able to promote the upcoming launch of my company Kinetic Films and our first movie, “Hang Loose.” I know it’s a short video, but if you’ve never been to a “con,” here you get a little taste…

It was great meeting everyone and getting to sign a few autographs and talk to people who have been of fan of things of done in my career. A lot of times as an actor, we’re so busy just keeping our careers alive and in the middle of the grind, we forget that people are out there that really enjoy your work and in some way we may have impacted some of their lives. To meet a few and to experience the work from their point of few, even for just a short while is amazing and humbling to say the least… It definitely inspires me to keep going… Even talking to the new Power Ranger crew and seeing young actors embarking on the beginning of their careers and the memory of what that felt like…

Let’s just say it was a good day. Thanks everyone and PMX 2012.

Fame & Fortune

So I was remiss in posting a pic via Instagram in front of a quote and not giving due credit to the person it came from. Chris Heads is a photographer and I stumbled across this quote hanging outside a gallery in Beverly Hills on Robertson and Beverly. I thought it was a cool quote and took a picture in front of it. I’m just getting to know some of his work and digging it.

I was just taken a bit by these words because like most artist I struggle with this ideas… Fame & Fortune… And why exactly did we set out to become artist in the first place and where and when does the world of commerce come creeping into your life and how do we control that.

It’s been on my mind more lately then ever in my life… Now that I am grown up in the industry and my talents have led to not only acting, but now… producing, writing, directing, being a partner in a production company… Sh*t is getting hectic!!!! Well, I mean, you know, I’m learning a lot. It’s just now, more then ever, am I being bombarded with business and talks of percentages and “Intellectual Property,” and lawyers and emails and texts and phone conferences!!!! Your boy is growing up…

And yes, I have made many mistakes… I continue to make them as I learn. This is the thing, I grew up as an artist and in that world, I love to collaborate and create… Hell, I would do all that everyday, all day for free. But as an artist you have agents and managers and lawyers to protect you and make sure there is ample compensation for it all. As much as creating is fun, there is commerce involved and we all have to live our lives and we have to find a way to pay for that…

So as I go through this, coming of age process of business in this industry I grew up in, I apologies to the people I have made mistake with. I’m thankful for those who have taught me lessons, even the harsh ones. I’ll do my best to be better on the next project.

I know when I posted this quote earlier, some people on my blogs we’re offended, I apologize, never meant that. My intention was towards myself. I, like most artist, ponder this idea and theme… it reminds me of something I wrote once… “You should want to be good, more than you want to be famous…”

hitRECord

So tonight I went to a gathering at the Levi’s Haus. (Yes it’s a house all about Levi’s.) And the gathering tonight had to do with this platform created and released by Joseph Gordan Levitt… The whole thing is quite amazing, it’s called “hitRECord.” It’s hard for me to explain, I’ll let joe explain… Check out the video at hitRECord.org
Now, being a creative type, this whole idea appeals to me. Create and collaborate. I think you should check it out. Especially all my fans on tumblr. So many of you are amazing artist, I’m sure, there’s something on this that you would dig. (Who knows, maybe we can do the “Dante Basco Tumblr Movie” through it.) [if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's a tumblr thing...]
In any case, check it out. I think Joe is brilliant and is on to something really special, maybe I can be apart of it… Maybe we all can…