Getting Ready for Prime Time

Photo by Jason Doiy

So Talk: Spokesmodels Felix Chan and Aubrey Aquino reviewed their presentations backstage at the Fifth Annual Asian Spokesmodel and Talent Show last weekend at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.

BY FIONA MA

If a thousand-mile journey begins with a single step, the more than 40 entertainment-world hopefuls who participated in this year's Fifth Annual Asian Spokesmodel and Talent Show are off to a quick start. Presented by Pinnacle Fantasy Productions at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco, the show aimed to bring more Asian Pacific Americans into the entertainment industry while benefiting a local charity. Proceeds from the Nov. 22 event go toward the Asian American Donor's Program.

Kennedy Chan, Pinnacle's chairman and founder, explained that every competition has produced a "star graduate." One, for example, is now a regular on the TV series Baywatch; others have become international recording stars.

The show opened with two wandering aliens chased off stage by last year's dance winners, Mindtricks, who performed as the "Men In Black."

The format of the show featured three sets of performers in the categories of Female and Male Spokesmodel, Female Singer, Male Singer, Dancers, and Specialty Acts. The spokesmodels were first introduced on a large video screen showing the women in an athletic outfit, in casual wear seated behind the wheel of a Porsche, and in formal attire. The men opened their segments by showing off their quads and pecs doing push-ups or lifting weights.

The Female and Male Spokesmodel winners did a great routine pitting North versus South. Aubrey Aquino, a San Jose State student, hails from the North; Felix Chan, a Cal Northridge graduate and an aspiring actor, has his roots in Los Angeles.

While it was no easy task to walk, talk, wait, smile, and memorize the extensive amount of dialogue, it appeared that Aubrey was so good that she memorized both her and Felix's lines.

In the Female Singer category. the winner, Christine Adiaz, belted out a powerful, soulful rendition of "Pride" and strutted her stuff on stage like her idol, Tina Turner. Foxee Brown, the vivacious radio personality heard on KMEL's Breakfast Club, said that Christine's performance "moved me--she really put her heart in it."

The winner in the Male Singer category was Ver5E, a group of four young men from Milpitas that was formed seven months ago. They performed "You Look Wonderful To Me." The Dance category was especially competitive; all the dance groups were energetic and well-rehearsed. The winner, Karizma, have been performing together since high school. These nine men and women looked like they were having fun with their perfectly choreographed number.

The Specialty Act category was the most interesting and, well, different. The first contestant was a talented pianist playing an original New Age, Yanni-type piece. The second contestant and eventual winner with the hardest name to pronounce--outside of the emcee's, last year's Female Spokesmodel winner Pearl Tantivongsathaporn--Ku' Uipo 'Anela 'O Kalani, performed a charming New Zealand traditional dance.

But there should have been a special award for contestant number three: Edward Duff. He was a quick-change dance artist who impersonated a no-sleeved, buffed-out Macho Man; an Asian John Travolta in Staying Alive; and a Will Smith wannabee from Men In Black, holding a "MIB" sign in case we didn't get it.

Judge Christina Lau said Duff "had guts and originality." Sitting next to Lau was John Sasaki, KTVU-TV reporter, another judge who was inspired to see how hard the contestants worked on their performances.

While it's been said that hard work pays off in the long run, KMEL's Brown lamented, "People here [in the U.S.] don't feel Asians are marketable."

There is, however, one man who does have the patience to market APA talent and he happens to be one of this year's judges: Kormann Rogue, president of Classified Records, the label of Jocelyn Enriquez and Pinay. He was "excited to see up-and-coming talent and ... a lot of improvement."

Noel Lee, the founder of Monster Cable Products, was a first-time judge and appeared mesmerized by the entire event. AsianWeek Assistant Publisher Michael Tarbox was another first-time judge.

The fifth Annual Spokesmodel and Talent Show will be broadcast on Dec. 25 at 4 p.m. on KTSF-Channel 26.

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