Funnyman’s Filipino Wife Splits
Robin Williams once joked that when “you marry a Philippine woman … they like you in the Philippines” — which may explain why Williams still has a career despite his disastrous move into serious movies like Patch Adams, What Dreams May Come and 24 Hour Photo. He might not be so lucky anymore with news that his Filipino-Finnish, or “Finnipino” as coined by Williams, wife is divorcing him for irreconcilable differences. Williams met Marsha Garces over 20 years ago when he hired her to babysit his children and left his first wife for her in 1989. Garces filed for divorce in San Francisco on March 21. They have two teenage children.
Amy Tan ‘Showing Her Age’
A few guests at the 51st San Francisco International Film Festival press conference were surprised to see novelist Amy Tan. Although Tan is anticipating success with her upcoming adaptation of The Bonesetter’s Daughter for the San Francisco Opera, the lead rhythm dominatrix isn’t winning any fans from the crowd just yet. “I saw her but didn’t really acknowledge her,” said one suited guest, while another high-profile film festival consultant concurred that Tan’s careful makeup applications could no longer conceal her sagging skin. Perhaps Tan’s not really ready for her close-up and should just stick to thespians.
Show Goes on for AZN on E!
Alas, AZN’s final broadcast will be this week, but the TV network that could will continue to broadcast its annual Asian Excellence Awards on E! network beginning May 1. This year’s lineup is reality TV-heavy, and Baby director Juwan Chung, who premiered his Boyz n the Hood-style film at last year’s SFIAAFF, thinks that reality TV is a no-brainer … but for another scary reason. “With the [Screen Actors Guild] strike about to pop off, reality TV is going to get another boost,” said Chung, regarding the union contract expiration date on June 30. Gawd, not another season of That’s Amore!
The Kid Stays in the Movies: Urkel is Back!
If you’ve ever stayed up too late watching old reruns of Family Matters on Nick at Nite and wondered “Whatever happened to that guy who played Steve Urkel?,” then wonder no more. He’s still employed, though maybe not gainfully so. … Urkel, better known as actor Jaleel White, appeared in this year’s last-minute addition to the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Kissing Cousins, directed by Amyn Kaderali. White plays Antwone in Kaderali’s touching film, and with Kissing Cousins being the centerpiece of Los Angeles’ Asian Pacific American Film Festival, Kaderali can bank that tickets will sell out again.
Asian DJs March to Tibet on Sunday
Not everyone agrees with the planned Olympic Torch event in San Francisco on April 9, running from the Embarcadero to the Marina District, but musicians are stepping up (as always) to symbolically take the first step towards passive resistance — despite not being directly involved in the debates. South Asian DJ Karsh Kale and Berber Jew DJ Cheb i Sabbah (born Haim Serge El Baaz) are taking the lead with Burning Man breakbeat champ, Freq Nasty, with a benefit dance party for TibetanUprising.com on April 6th at Ten15. Immigration Commissioner Greg Chew believes that the Olympics still remain pure despite the China’s controversial campaign to renovate urban spaces in Beijiing in time for August 2008. “Goodwill and politics just should not be together, it’s not right,” Chew said.