Crazy Rich Asians Screening at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Join us on Wednesday, August 15 as we celebrate Crazy Rich Asians - this summer's biggest romantic comedy!   Based on the worldwide bestseller by Kevin Kwan, the film is directed by Jon M. Chu and boasts a star-studded cast including Constance Wu, Michelle, Yeoh, Henry Golding, Ken Jeong, Awkwafina, and Gemma Chan.  Party with us from 7-11 PM at private film screenings and an exclusive reception co-hosted by DC APA Film and The Smithsonian.  All screenings will be held at the Warner Bros. Theater in the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

About the film:
Crazy Rich Asians is the first major Hollywood film since 1993 to feature a majority-Asian cast.  The story follows New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. Not only is he the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families, but also one of its most sought-after bachelors.

Our celebration will include live music, Asian appetizers, wine tastings by The Vineyards at Dodon, beer tastings by Atlas Brew Works, giveaways, and photo-ops.   DC APA Film and The Smithsonian will also co-host an informative and engaging panel discussion on Asian Americans in literature and entertainment moderated by Asian Pacific American Film's Executive Director, Christian Oh.

Panelists include:
Melissa Bisagni – Media Initiatives Program Manager at the National Museum of the American Indian
Michael Strange - Host & Executive Producer of The New Release Wednesday Show
Brad L. Jenkins - Managing Director and Executive Producer of Funny or Die DC
Scott Tong - Marketplace Journalist and Author of A Village with My Name: A Family History of China’s Opening to the World. 

The panel discussion will begin at 7:30 PM.  Tickets start at $50 with the first of three screenings starting at 5:30 PM.  To order tickets, visit the Smithsonian Theaters website. 

Panelist Bios:

Christian Oh
Christian Oh is the President of DC Asian Pacific American Film - annual film festival of 18 years.  He is the former Executive Director of Kollaboration DC, an Asian American platform for discovering and supporting Asian American talent. Christian is also a consultant, filmmaker, and social media manager, as well as an educator, a trainer, and overall event/festival planner dealing with all things Asian and Asian American. He also was an adjunct professor at University of Maryland for their Asian American Studies program - specifically teaching Asian Americans in Film and Media. 

Melissa Bisagni
Melissa Bisagni, Media Initiatives Program Manager at National Museum of The American IndianMelissa is an actress and producer, known for Medicine for Melancholy (2008), Ronnie BoDean (2015) and Loves Her Gun (2013). Melissa is an actress and producer, known for Medicine for Melancholy (2008), Ronnie BoDean (2015) and Loves Her Gun (2013).

Michael Strange
Patrick Michael Strange is the Host & Executive Producer of the weekly YouTube pop culture show, The New Release Wednesday Show; produced in conjunction with the society and culture website, The Nerds of Color. Patrick is also the founder of the charity cosplay group, CosLove, which hosts family events with its costumed members along with providing regular visits to schools and hospitals nationwide. In other pursuits, Patrick is an actor and member of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Arts (SAG-AFTRA), he is the creator of the convention panel, "Totally Awesome Asians" spotlighting Asian and Pacific Islanders heroes and creators contributions within pop culture and is a regular convention guest hosting panels and cosplay contests. Patrick most recently helped found and organize, Wicomicon, a pop culture event highlighting nerds of color that received national media attention by press outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, SyFy, TheMarySue, Paste Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Vulture and others.

Brad L. Jenkins
Brad Jenkins is an American producer. He is the managing director and executive producer of Funny or Die DC. Jenkins is the former associate director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, an experience he discusses in the forthcoming book - West Wingers: Stories from the Dream Chasers, Change Makers, and Hope Creators Inside the Obama White House, a collection of personal stories by Obama Administration staffers. In 2015, it was announced that Jenkins would be named managing director and executive producer of Funny or Die's new Washington, D.C. branch. At Funny or Die DC, Jenkins produces politically themed content and provides consulting services for social media, talent outreach, writing and brand strategy for clients.

Scott Tong
Scott Tong is Author of A Village with My Name: A Family History of China’s Opening to the World (University of Chicago Press, 2017) and Marketplace Journalist. His book takes a long view of China’s economic opening, told through the lives of five people across five generations in his own family. Scott served as Marketplace China bureau chief from 2006-2010 and has reported from more than a dozen countries. He has contributed to special series on the 2017 globalization backlash; Water: The High Price of Cheap; Venezuela’s economic collapse; the rise of shareholder value and the Price of Profits; long-term U.S. job creation; the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami; the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa; and the economics of one child in China.  https://www.scotttong.com/