This “micro-webseries” of 90-sec. episodes parodies the popular millennial YouTube channels of BuzzFeed and Tastemade (for example), where the racial identity of the chef directly impacts the identity of the food...even when a chef wants to break out of that mold. Enter Kurt, an adopted Asian.
This “micro-webseries” of 90-sec. episodes parodies the popular millennial YouTube channels of BuzzFeed and Tastemade (for example), where the racial identity of the chef directly impacts the identity of the food...even when a chef wants to break out of that mold. Enter Kurt, an adopted Asian.
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Story
Mission Statement
Behind the camera, we have an all-female production team including director Christina YR Jun and cinematographer Alyssa Renzi. In front of the camera, we have Asian-American actor/writer Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa, alongside his good friend, actor/writer David Meyers.About The Project
Born in Los Angeles, I (Kurt) have been accustomed to a life where multi-culturalism is a norm. However, working in Hollywood, where a majority of high-level executives come from outside of this city, or live in pockets where they do not need to interact with others, there is a bubble of especially white perspective that pervades the media and Hollywood, whether it is on the TV screen or on YouTube Cooking shows. This implicit bias is what our pilot immediately explores. There is a misguided perception that our racial identities must dictate our lives, especially when it comes to “marketability”. In this age of Crazy Rich Asians, where a feature film featuring an all-Asian cast has skyrocketed interest in Asian content, it has also pinholed us into “exotic-izing” and “orientalizing” ourselves. COOKING SHOW seeks to make fun of that forced marketing, and how unfair it is that an adopted Asian-American chef cannot achieve the same level of prestige as his Italian or American peers because of his ethnicity. We also parody online cooking shows in general -- especially millenial incompetence and malaise -- with fun gags, humor, and social commentary. 'Cuz while there's definitely a message, we're here for the crazy fun of high-stakes 90-seconds! WAH!
WE NEED YOUR HELP BECAUSE:
With your help, the funding raised here will support our shoot days and post-production of our season, which will then be shopped around at various short-form content creators, and ultimately, see release on a social platform this SUMMER 2019. We're at the finish line with our scripts, and just a few (thousand) dollars short for the shoot - and your support will help boil up this sucker to new heights! We'll all be eating Lobster in NO TIME!!! :)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. And we really appreciate all your help in bringing a fresh perspective and unique comic take to this new age of "Asian Content". (eye-rolling, so hard).
XOXO
Kurt, David, Christina, and Alyssa
A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT "COOKING SHOW"
This is a parody cooking show where no one ever cooks. We play two best friends, one White guy and one Asian guy, who co-host an online cooking show. But, whether due to racial politics, our PC culture, or millennial incompetence, in every 90 second episode, something will always go wrong...
OUR TEST SHOOT went super well in February (in my parent's dining room), and we are looking forward to filming in our actual location at a beautiful private home in Beverly Hills...which looks pretty similar to THIS:
OUR actual kitchen location has an island as well as a marble countertop that will really shoot up the production value of our scripts, and allow us to make a true parody - one where the line between reality and fiction becomes quite blurred - even in the quality of the set, cameras, costumes, hair, and make-up. That's how we'll grab the attention. With food porn shots like this:
or this:
and hand-porn shots like this:
to parody cooking hosts like Buzzfeed's award-winning Alvin Zhou 100 Million+ Views):
or Tastemade's cooks like Vijaya Selvaraju:
or Korean heroine Seonkyoung Longest:
or Filipina sister Jen Phanomrat:
..all of which requires fancy on-location equipment like this:
So, to do all that visually and aurally, we need your help. And we thank you so much for your time, We look forward to sharing the final shoot with you soon!!
A PRESTO!!!!!
PS If you ever have any questions or would like to see a full clip from our no-budget test shoot, please feel free to reach out - kurtkanazawa [at] me.com
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UPDATES!! 4/21 PLEASE WELCOME OUR FULL AMAZING CAST!!!
NATASHA TINA LIU as Natasha, the MUA
Natasha Tina Liu (Actor) can be seen in some cool projects that will be released soon including Synchronic (feature film), Cobra Kai (Youtube Red series), and (Future) Cult Classic (SyFy dark comedy pilot). In her free time, she enjoys improv, stand-up comedy, and pretending to be a cat. Her favorite foods are brussel sprouts, mochi and ube ice cream, and taro boba!
SKYLAR SCHOCK as Skylar, the PRODUCER
Skylar Schock is a recent graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Acting for The Camera, as well as serving as the TA for the UCLA Professional Program in Producing lead by Tom Nunan. Skylar has also trained at the Stella Adler Professional Conservatory and with master Meisner teacher Kathryn Gately. She recently performed in Paris, France as Rosalind from Shakespeare's As You Like It . She is passionate about promoting female driven narratives and is the Co Founder of Messy Bun Productions.
KRISHNA SMITHA as Krishna, the PD
Krishna Smitha (www.KrishnaSmitha.com) hails from Dallas, Texas but now calls Los Angeles her home. She's a vegan so Cali has been able to offer a wider variety of options for her palate. Her favorite kinds of food are Tex-Mex- she can eat chips and salsa for days- and Thai- mmmmm, curry. She would also like everyone in the world to know about Vrommage- a veegan cheese place in West Hollywood- it has changed her life.
ZAKIYA YOUNG as Zakiya, the SOUND GIRL
Zakiya Young (actor) is an east coast girl who left the cold, the subway and the rats back in NYC to make her home in sunny Los Angeles. She recently starred in Danai Guriria's play "Familiar" at The Old Globe and was seen on Orange Is The New Black and Iron Fist. She made her Broadway debut in "The Little Mermaid" and resists the strong urge to perch on a rock and sing Part of Your World when she goes to the beach. Favorite ice cream: anything non-dairy bc she went full LA and is vegan now. Favorite fruit: All fruit...bc she went full LA and is vegan now. IG: @officialzakiyayoung.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!
Incentives
$10
SMS Haiku
I text you an original haiku. ;) love, kurt
Claimed: 12 of 100
$25
Video Haiku + Saxophone
On Instagram, David will recite you a personal Haiku, while Kurt simultaneously improvises on the alto saxophone. #jazzfusion #eastmeetswest #wtf
Claimed: 11 of 100
$35
Coffee at Eataly
Any afternoon you'd like, Kurt will spend an Italian coffee with you at Eataly-Century City, and you can stroll around the store and pick his brain about all things Italy (where he lived for two years). You'll definitely leave the store with a basket of hand-picked goods for your dinner recipe tonight!
Claimed: 8 of 40
$50
WRAP PARTY INVITATION
If you're in LA, you will get an invitation to the PAAAR-TAAYYY of the century with us at our wrap, and that includes a glass of FANCY-ASS Italian Wine, hand-selected by Kurt, AND sip on a homemade tomato soup with David!!
Claimed: 8 of 50
$75
David writes you a monologue
"TO BE OR NOT TO BE" David will write you an original and exciting monologue of fury, love, or social justice - on whatever topic you'd like - and send it to you via email!!
Claimed: 0 of 30
$125
All the above + signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent"
Get all the above - Text Haiku w/ Saxophone accompaniment, Coffee @ Eataly, Monologue, Invitation to Wrap Party - PLUS a special signed copy of David's full-length play "We Will Not Be Silent"... which has already been performed in Seattle, Florida, and soon..a city that starts with "N" and ends with "ew York City".
Claimed: 3 of 20
$250
One-Act Play + Performance at {STR}
David will write a 10-minute one-act play ABOUT YOU (or anything you want), and then - if you're in the LA-area - we'll BRING a table reading to you with live-actors in July 2019 through {STR} the Sunday Table Reading series - in your own living room! Otherwise, if you're out of town, we'll be happy to send you an audiobook recording!! :)
Claimed: 0 of 20
$350
Request any song + ALL THE ABOVE
On Instagram, request ANY song, and Kurt will sing it for you. He went to Juilliard but that guarantees nothing. (but PLEASE request Toxic - Brittany Spears) + video haiku with saxophone, a monologue, and a one-act play with {STR} Reading! WOAH!
Claimed: 2 of 20
$600
All the Above + ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT
All the above - a Video Haiku with saxophone accompaniment, a Coffee @ Eataly, a Monologue, a Wrap Party invitation, a one-act play at {STR} by David, a signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent", a song request to Kurt - PLUS, Associate Producer credit on every episode!! :)
Claimed: 1 of 10
$1,200
Home-cooked Meal
Home-cooked meal for you and a plus one, with your home personal chef, Kurt. You pick the evening, he'll come up with the menu. You'll be stunned.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,500
ALL OF THE ABOVE + sneak preview
All of the above - a Text Haiku, a monologue, a coffee @ Eataly, an original {STR} one-act play, a signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent", a song request, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit, a HOME COOKED MEAL - PLUS, you get a sneak preview of new scripts for COOKING SHOW by Kurt and David.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,800
Executive Producer
This project, filmed under the SAG-AFTRA Short Project Agreement, will be used as a pitch video to major funders at places looking for short-form branded content. If you sign on as an Executive Producer, you will receive imdb credit, as well as a direct link download. PLUS ALL THE ABOVE!
Claimed: 0 of 1
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
SMS Haiku
I text you an original haiku. ;) love, kurt
Claimed: 12 of 100
$25
Video Haiku + Saxophone
On Instagram, David will recite you a personal Haiku, while Kurt simultaneously improvises on the alto saxophone. #jazzfusion #eastmeetswest #wtf
Claimed: 11 of 100
$35
Coffee at Eataly
Any afternoon you'd like, Kurt will spend an Italian coffee with you at Eataly-Century City, and you can stroll around the store and pick his brain about all things Italy (where he lived for two years). You'll definitely leave the store with a basket of hand-picked goods for your dinner recipe tonight!
Claimed: 8 of 40
$50
WRAP PARTY INVITATION
If you're in LA, you will get an invitation to the PAAAR-TAAYYY of the century with us at our wrap, and that includes a glass of FANCY-ASS Italian Wine, hand-selected by Kurt, AND sip on a homemade tomato soup with David!!
Claimed: 8 of 50
$75
David writes you a monologue
"TO BE OR NOT TO BE" David will write you an original and exciting monologue of fury, love, or social justice - on whatever topic you'd like - and send it to you via email!!
Claimed: 0 of 30
$125
All the above + signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent"
Get all the above - Text Haiku w/ Saxophone accompaniment, Coffee @ Eataly, Monologue, Invitation to Wrap Party - PLUS a special signed copy of David's full-length play "We Will Not Be Silent"... which has already been performed in Seattle, Florida, and soon..a city that starts with "N" and ends with "ew York City".
Claimed: 3 of 20
$250
One-Act Play + Performance at {STR}
David will write a 10-minute one-act play ABOUT YOU (or anything you want), and then - if you're in the LA-area - we'll BRING a table reading to you with live-actors in July 2019 through {STR} the Sunday Table Reading series - in your own living room! Otherwise, if you're out of town, we'll be happy to send you an audiobook recording!! :)
Claimed: 0 of 20
$350
Request any song + ALL THE ABOVE
On Instagram, request ANY song, and Kurt will sing it for you. He went to Juilliard but that guarantees nothing. (but PLEASE request Toxic - Brittany Spears) + video haiku with saxophone, a monologue, and a one-act play with {STR} Reading! WOAH!
Claimed: 2 of 20
$600
All the Above + ASSOCIATE PRODUCER CREDIT
All the above - a Video Haiku with saxophone accompaniment, a Coffee @ Eataly, a Monologue, a Wrap Party invitation, a one-act play at {STR} by David, a signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent", a song request to Kurt - PLUS, Associate Producer credit on every episode!! :)
Claimed: 1 of 10
$1,200
Home-cooked Meal
Home-cooked meal for you and a plus one, with your home personal chef, Kurt. You pick the evening, he'll come up with the menu. You'll be stunned.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,500
ALL OF THE ABOVE + sneak preview
All of the above - a Text Haiku, a monologue, a coffee @ Eataly, an original {STR} one-act play, a signed copy of "We Will Not Be Silent", a song request, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER credit, a HOME COOKED MEAL - PLUS, you get a sneak preview of new scripts for COOKING SHOW by Kurt and David.
Claimed: 0 of 5
$1,800
Executive Producer
This project, filmed under the SAG-AFTRA Short Project Agreement, will be used as a pitch video to major funders at places looking for short-form branded content. If you sign on as an Executive Producer, you will receive imdb credit, as well as a direct link download. PLUS ALL THE ABOVE!
Claimed: 0 of 1
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
THEY ARE AWESOME:
Kurt Kanazawa (Actor, Co-Writer) www.kurtkanazawa.com Born in Los Angeles, with family roots in Hawaii, Kurt Sanchez Kanazawa recently appeared on TV as Tad on Grey’s Anatomy (ABC), and butt-naked on stage as Galileo Masconi in The Judas Kiss (Boston Court Pasadena) His favorite ice cream is Green Tea, yup. But honestly, he doesn’t eat ice cream that often anymore because — yogurt. Favorite fruit: Watermelon FOR DAYS (but, only in July/August because — seasons).
David Meyers (Actor, Co-Writer) www.davidacts.com David is an actor and writer, whose favorite color is Green! On screen, David has worked with James Franco, Molly Shannon, Cathy Scorsese, Danny DeVito, Jesse McCartney -- and shot projects for FOX, Adobe, Nissan, Apple, Verizon, QuickBooks and more. His play "We Will Not Be Silent" has had 4 regional productions, with an upcoming off-Broadway premiere.
Christina YR Jun (Director) https://www.christinayrjun.com Christina YR Jun is a Korean-American director/writer born in Spain and currently based in LA (so the identity crisis is real). Most recently Jun has explored this existential identity crisis by directing the short film, Search History (SAG-AFTRA Foundation showcase & Bentonville Film Festival) as well as co-directing the feature film, Samir (funded and distributed by WB Studios). Her favorite thing in the world is cheese, charcuterie, and high cholesterol.
Alyssa Renzi (Director of Photography) https://www.alyssarenzi.com Alyssa Renzi is a cinematographer from New York, currently living in Los Angeles. She just recently wrapped production on the USC thesis film, Retribution, directed by Mel Orpen, and has shot a number of short films, web series, commercials, and music videos. If you give her chocolate, she will eat it. Same goes for ice cream. And if it's chocolate ice cream, all bets are off.
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CASTING COMPLETE!! UPDATE 4/21 ✅
Natasha Tina Liu (as Natasha, the MUA)
Natasha Tina Liu (Actor) can be seen in some cool projects that will be released soon including Synchronic (feature film), Cobra Kai (Youtube Red series), and (Future) Cult Classic (SyFy dark comedy pilot). In her free time, she enjoys improv, stand-up comedy, and pretending to be a cat. Her favorite foods are brussel sprouts, mochi and ube ice cream, and taro boba!Skylar Schock (as Skylar, the PRODUCER)
Skylar Schock is a recent graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Acting for The Camera, as well as serving as the TA for the UCLA Professional Program in Producing lead by Tom Nunan. Skylar has also trained at the Stella Adler Professional Conservatory and with master Meisner teacher Kathryn Gately. She recently performed in Paris, France as Rosalind from Shakespeare's As You Like It . She is passionate about promoting female driven narratives and is the Co Founder of Messy Bun Productions.
Krishna Smitha (as Krishna, the PD)
Krishna Smitha (www.KrishnaSmitha.com) hails from Dallas, Texas but now calls Los Angeles her home. She's a vegan so Cali has been able to offer a wider variety of options for her palate. Her favorite kinds of food are Tex-Mex- she can eat chips and salsa for days- and Thai- mmmmm, curry. She would also like everyone in the world to know about Vrommage- a veegan cheese place in West Hollywood- it has changed her life.
Zakiya Young (as Zakiya, the SOUND GIRL)
Zakiya Young (actor) is an east coast girl who left the cold, the subway and the rats back in NYC to make her home in sunny Los Angeles. She recently starred in Danai Guriria's play "Familiar" at The Old Globe and was seen on Orange Is The New Black and Iron Fist. She made her Broadway debut in "The Little Mermaid" and resists the strong urge to perch on a rock and sing Part of Your World when she goes to the beach. Favorite ice cream: anything non-dairy bc she went full LA and is vegan now. Favorite fruit: All fruit...bc she went full LA and is vegan now. IG: @officialzakiyayoung.
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