Actor Kim Chan (left) and director Marc Rosenbush. Photos by Fiona Ma.
Young at Heart and Just About to Start
Bloody Marvelous: Cast and crew were in stitches working with young-at-heart actor (but don’t call him an “actor” because he’s never taken acting lessons and he honed his craft by studying terrible actors and learning what not to do) Kim Chan (Lethal Weapon 4, Fifth Element) in Zen Noir, the first independent feature film by award-winning, theater director Marc Rosenbush. Rosenbush has been working on the Buddhist murder mystery over the past nine years and wrote the lead part with Chan in mind. “We’re lucky to get [Chan] and feel that this is the best role he’s ever played,” remarks Rosenbush. During the filming, Chan kept looking for a place to slip in his “bloody marvelous” signature statement — which he happily reports he succeeded in doing near the end of filming. Chan was also successful in recruiting his good friend, Bay Area native actor Howard Fong (The Joy Luck Club), as the lead monk. This fall, Chan will be appearing in an episode of Law and Order where he lectures on Chinese calligraphy. Chan, known to correct scriptwriters on incorrect lines, was given the following line: “Calligraphy is the greatest achievement of the Chinese people.” Chan interjects: “Now we all know that’s not true. ... the Great Wall, gunpowder, the compass … now those are some of the greatest achievements.” Next up for Chan is the NYC stage, starring as the “Crimeboss” in the current running Spanish Mob, a comedy/musical about five Italian mobsters. Doesn’t an Italian Crimeboss have to speak Italian? “I do. I speak Street Italian,” boasts Chan, which he learned as a boy while hanging out at his sister’s laundry in Little Italy.
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Identical 8-year-old twins, Marnie and Nicole Molano.
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The Dynamic Duo: Identical 8-year-old twins, Marnie and Nicole Molano, are looking to break into show biz in a big way. Born in San Mateo County, the twins developed an interest in singing at 2-and-a-half-years old, while listening to inspirational songs played on a cassette player given to them as a gift. Though not able to formulate the words to the songs, they could carry a tune and could keep a beat, and so their mother encouraged them to pursue their talent. Last year, the twins produced/released their first CD, Give Us a Break, featuring 14 inspirational songs for children. “In fact, it was them that told me to record their songs and sell the CDs so they [could] have a home to live in and bedrooms of their own,” reports their single mom and No. 1 fan, Marie. The Syrian/Chinese/Portuguese/Filipino btwins are “donating 10 percent of their annual revenue to the children in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., whose parents perished during the Sept. 11 tragedies,” states Marie. They believe that singing is a “gift to be shared, to inspire, and to cherish.” Their motto: Let kids be kids; favorite song: “Climb Every Mountain”; favorite movie: The Parent Trap (no surprise); and their dream: to be great movie and singing stars someday, like their favorite diva, Whitney Houston. Fans can call 1-650-701-1314 to purchase CDs or book the singing duo. |
