So here’s the complete little season of the The Rufio Show we did… all in one place. It was fun putting this together with my brother and friends. It all started with me going up to Victor Yerrid, who does all the amazing puppet work, at me and my brother Derek’s birthday. (We share the same bday… Aug29th! Shout to all my Virgos) And asking him what he thought about doing something for my youtube page. I was originally thinking I would just be talking to a puppet in a funny sketch… He came up with the whole idea to actually make a Rufio puppet and that blew my mind! My brother and manager, Emily got involved to produce and this is what we came up with! Thanks for everyone who has enjoyed it so far… Hopefully we’ll do more soon!
So last week I did this reddit interview and it was the first time I’ve ever been on it… I was a little nervous. Well, in my short life on social media, I’ve learned, that you all know more than me about this, so I try to just listen and hope you guys lead me in the right direction. In this case, a few people had told me I should do this reddit thing and I took mental note, but then when a bunch of other people shed light on it all, including a friend of mine, Matt King, I decided to commit to doing one and see where it takes me.
Well, of course I sent a little blast out to let everyone know I was going to do it… And to hope to have a few people there when I started. You know, it’s like throwing a party and scared that no one was going really show up! (I kinda hate that feeling) Well then, a bunch of folks got excited, but then, some of the folks on tumblr started telling me how the reddit folks can be a bit harsh and mean… So I got nervous. To top off all that when I signed into reddit and started my AMA, I saw that Emmy Rossum was doing hers at the exact same time! Now I’m thinking… Oh great… Now no one is really going to be at mine, hell, I would be at her’s too! And ironically, just a week before this, someone on tumblr asked me who my “celebrity crush” was… And flippantly said Emmy Rossum, I actually love her show Shameless and happened to see billboards around LA that day promoting the new season. Anyway, somehow that led to whole Emmy Rossum incident, which I have to admit was kinda funny.
Well, the whole AMA went really good… I actually answered questions for like 5 hours! About my whole career and take on life and also I wanted to help promote my new production company, Kentic Films as well as our first movie, “Hang Loose.” (If you haven’t seen it yet, go check it out at hangloosemovie.com) And being that this is my actual blog that I want to hold the history of my online life, I definitely needed to blog about this and have it here for good measure and documenting value… It was fun, the reddit folks were actually great and super nice to me… and somehow I managed to be more popular on the front page than Emmy’s AMA… go figure. Anyway, hit the link on top to read the whole thing or hit BestofAMA for the cliff notes version… Maybe I’ll do it again sometime, but you know, you can always ask me anything here, on tumblr or twitter!
So here’s the latest episode of the “Rufio Show,” I got my buddy AJ Rafael to make a cameo and I got to lip sync one of my favorite songs off his album, “Red Roses.” It was a great time shooting this series. We’ll be dropping a new episode every Tuesday for the next few week. Go to my YouTube, check it out and subscribe… Little hint of what’s to come… Some Lost Boys grown up… Rufio up in a club… & maybe more music!
So, I’m out here in Calgary… I was flown out to make an appearance for the P.O.K.E. (Protect Our Kids Education) Charity, they head a poetry night and I was able to come out, support and drop a few poems.
But while I was out here, I had a last minute idea to meet up with some fans and promote my latest film, “Hang Loose.” I simply tweeted and tumblr’d out I was in town and asked who wanted to meet up and “hangout”? To my surprise I pretty good amount of people showed up… even though it was snowing outside! Truthfully, it was way too cold for me. But we all wound up in the Auburn Saloon (Shout out to Haley and Hannah for taking care of us!) and we had a great time.
I was able to tell everyone about my film company, Kinetic Films and was able to talk about, “Hang Loose,” the process of film making and my aim in starting the company. I did a long Q&A section where it was more like just talking to a group of friends. They got to ask me about my career… Hook, Rufio, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Zuko and even Homestuck! We tried to watch the movie online, but there was too many of us and we clogged up the wifi! hahaha… Everyone promised to check it out at home and help spread the wordaround Calgary.
I had such a fun time meeting some fans, I ended up going to some new found friends house and watching “Hang Loose” with a handful of their friends!
So this impromptu Hang Loose Hangout was a success… It’s really like the film and our company, a real grass roots effort. I think we made a great little film and I think my company has a lot of potential. I hope everyone can go check it out at hangloosemovie.com and maybe we can come to your town and hangout soon!
-Thanks Dee for flying me out and hosting me!
-Thanks Cash for the great pics…
-Thanks to all my new Calgarian friends for showing up and all your hospitality!
So here’s my first blog for the new year… I have to admit, 2012 was a heavy year… Both personally and in concern with business. Last year I launched my production company, Kinetic Films, and our debut movie, “Hang Loose.” And let me tell you, the stress of producing has been crazy! Getting the team together that has the same vision is hard enough, let alone putting together a talent pool that can pull off not one film, but three so far! And another one the the way.
Up to now, we’ve been so immersed in writing, producing, acting and everything else it takes to put a movie together and I think we’ve been doing a great job, these first few are pretty good movies. The pressure now comes in how to market and distribute. This is the place of my industry I’m most not qualified for. Let’s face it, I grew up as the talent… (that’s the actors, writers and whatnot’s) I’m used to preparing to shoot a movie and put my heart and soul into a project to get it on film and when we wrap shooting, I give out presents to the cast and crew… & I’ll see you at the premiere! Now as I’m growing up and having different roles in production, I’m seeing it all from a new perspective.
First off, the production is bigger than any one person, doesn’t matter if you’re the lead actor or director… once the boat takes off, no one can stop it, we have to get this movie made. And sadly, I’ve seen why actors get a bad name, I mean, I am an actor and I hate to see that happen, but I guess it goes with the territory. It truly takes a small village of people to make a movie, even at the micro-budget film making we embarked on.
So here we are, we have a great little movie and we want as many people to watch it as possible. Not only that, we have three more movies coming to you throughout the rest of the year! Although we finished shooting, looks like the work has just begun.
I’ll be travelling throughout the country over the next few months to talk about Kinetic Films and “Hang Loose,” you can follow me on twitter (@dantebasco) to see if I’ll be in your neck of the woods. Also, you can hit up HangLoosePR@gmail.com, to have us come to your town or school to help spread the word about the movie and Asian American film making.
Go watch the movie at hangloosemovie.com … now screening 24/7!
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!
Right now I have an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. In life… and especially in this town, we all have plans and dreams. We have all these ideas that we think are great and we do are best to make them come to life. Not often do we get to see these come into fruition… Today, I am lucky to do just that.
My movie, “Hang Loose,” comes out today. I star in it with Kevin Wu, who we also co-wrote it together with Benjamin Arthur.
Not only did a movie get released today, we we’re able to launch a company, Kinetic Films.
It’s been truly an arduous journey over the last few years, producing the first few films in our slate, but finally getting to the place where we are today is amazing. Our movie is ready to everyone to see and available for sale.
Win, lose or draw… this is a moment that can never be taken away.
I’m so thankful for all the artist, cast, crew, everybody who was apart of making this film and company happen. Each and everyone of you are important and integral in seeing this come to life. It really does take a village and tons of sacrifice.
There’s still a long road ahead for us… but here we are… at the beginning of something that I hope is special.
Please buy the film and support. I am eternally grateful.
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!
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.
So for all of those who have been following me, you might have heard by now that we, Kinetic Films, have finally launched our company and debuting our first film, “Hang Loose,” starring myself and Kevin Wu (Kevjumba). Just to get to this point has been filled with numerous trials and tribulations, but I guess it’s just par for the course for a new start up company!
I’ve spoke in the past of my personal motivation and reasons of helping to create this company and you can read it my past blog, Kinetic Films. Right now, I want to further talk about what I entitled this entry… the “Importance of Asian American Cinema.” Like most artist, I want to do work that matters, that makes an impact and now that I’ve grown up from a child actor in this industry to an adult actor/writer/producer, I find myself with the opportunity to be apart of something so much bigger then just myself. Asian Americans remain as the most under represented community in mainstream American media and due to that we find ourselves without a voice… or at least without a big enough voice, more like a novelty in the mainstream, token roles in movies and television, an extra flavor to add to the group when companies are trying to appear politically correct. But times are changing… we’re on the rise, with companies like ours, the success of Kevjumba, Ryan Higa and others on You Tube and smash hits from Far East Movement, we are at the dawning of the New Asian American Movement!
Once again, I’ll reiterate, it’s not some racist, conspiracy “Hollywood” has against us, no… it’s much more simple then that. Like most things when it comes to business, it comes down to money or at least what can be counted and quantified. Part of the problem when it comes to project being created for the “Asian American” audience, as of right now, it doesn’t really exist. Not saying we don’t exist, because we all know we’re here… Literally millions of us, Americans, most born and raised here, who happen to be from Asian and Pacific Island decent, but when it comes to the numbers, we haven’t been counted. As being the so called “model minority” here in America, it is said broadly, we live in the neighborhoods we want, drive the cars we want, our kids go to the schools of their choice and what ever is being sold to “mainstream” America or “Caucasians” is bought and consumed by us. This is seen by others and also by ourselves as the accomplishment of the American dream, which may be great on many levels only it leads to us being complacent and looked over when it comes to being a viable part of the American pop culture. Even the recent explosion of “Gangdum Style,” which is a runaway smash hit and a tune I do like and the artist PSY is fun to watch, but the way it was so sponged up by the American Pop culture, reinforces that most of America still see Asians as a whole as foreigners… and again, I’m in no way trying to diss PSY, but as big as a phenomenon as that has become, the fact that there is no “American” Asian imageries that even rival that is somewhat disappointing.
All this is compiled with the fact that as a race, Asians, we’re pretty easy going and stirring up controversy is not the first thing we do. We’re not big on demanding to be heard, we prefer to just do things well, great even and let that be recognized, but in the world of Hollywood and media spin, this is definitely not the best way to be noticed. I propose that there are things to learn from other communities on our rise. The success of Tyler Perry films and even the educating of the African American community of the importance of opening weekend numbers have helped to show the importance of the African American community and how lucrative it could be to create product for that audience. That’s the opportunity we have now, with “Hang Loose.”
This is a call to arms… Right now, our trailer has been seen over 300,000 times on Kevjumba’s page and all over the web and is currently available for pre-order and premieres online on Dec. 14 2012 at hangloosemovie.com! Now is the time to help us be heard, I’m asking for support from the Asian American community and the community at large, supporting my company and the films we’re making will help show the industry that we as Asian America, are a viable and lucrative group that necessitates attention.
Let it be known, that my first goal in creating Kinetic Films, is to create a self sustainable company that can continue to make films for our community… forever. And this is possible. For your purchase of 3 dollars pre-order and 5 dollars once the film is released, not only will you get great movies that you and your whole family can enjoy, with the faces of the stars that resemble yours and your families, but you will also be contributing to a company that is continuing to help cultivate a more well rounded representation of what is is to be Asian in America, as well as employing Asian actors and directors and always looking to find the talent of the next generation.
I guess the biggest lesson I’ve learned over the last two and half decades in Hollywood as an Asian American artist is… It is our responsibility to define who we are. But we all have to be apart of it, the talent has to create it and the community has to support it…
One time leader of the Lost Boys & Prince of the Fire Nation...
Actor/Writer/Poet/Producer
With a career spanning over two and a half decades, DANTE BASCO is a Hollywood actor who has become a cult classic and pioneering figure in Asian American cinema. He was first introduced in Steven Spielberg's fairytale movie Hook, as "Rufio", the leader of the Lost Boys. He quickly jumped to leading roles like Newline's Take the Lead, opposite Antonio Banderas, and The Debut, which became the voice of a Filipino American generation. 20th Century Fox executives were so mesmerized by the uniqueness of Dante's look and ability that they gave him a development deal for his own series and he starred in a pilot for Touchstone/ABC, The Chang Family Saves the World, written and produced by John Ridley and directed by Paris Barclay. Ever versatile, he's "Jake Long" in Disney's animated series American Dragon: Jake Long as well as "Prince Zuko" in Nickelodeon's phenomenal hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Dante is the founder of one of the largest weekly poetry venue in the country, "Da Poetry Lounge" in Los Angeles and he has also shared his spoken word poetry on Russell Simmons' HBO Def Poetry Jam. He has also begun writing and producing his own features with his production company Kinetic Films, including Hang Loose, a (hilarious buddy) comedy with YouTube sensation KevJumba, winning the 2012 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival Special Jury Prizes for "Best Actor" and "Best Newcomer" respectively.
From breakdancing in the streets of San Francisco to starring in movies on the silver screen, Dante Basco has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood and truly an Asian American icon.
