Tag: Television Academy

As Jay Diaz’s debut feature Angeleno prepares to make its world premiere at the Los Angeles film festival Dances With Films on June 20, 2026, I took the opportunity to interview director Jay Diaz and my friend Kevin Huie, who produced the film together on a shoestring budget. Kevin is also a fellow member of both the Producers Guild of America and the Television Academy. Bringing an independent feature to its world premiere at a major film festival is no small accomplishment, making their achievement all the more impressive and worthy of celebration.

On Sunday, May 31, 2026, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural Across the Industry, an AAPI Heritage Month Celebration, a networking party hosted by fellow Producers Guild of America and Television Academy members Augie Max Vargas and Narumi Inatsugu at Rideback Ranch. It was a truly inclusive and inspiring afternoon, where I reunited with friends I first met in the industry more than 30 years ago, including Steve Tao, Michael Goi, and Adele Yoshioka, while also connecting with a new generation of rising talent such as actor Aidan du Chiem, actor Elizabeth Trieu, and intimacy coordinator Olivia Ku. As a filmmaker who has worked in this industry for over three decades, what a wonderful way to wrap up AAPI Heritage Month 2026.

Being a member of the Television Academy has given me the privilege of watching as many American television series as possible during Emmy® FYC season. I stopped watching television after coming to the U.S. for college because I didn’t own a TV. It wasn’t until Netflix began streaming in the 2000s that I started watching television again. We are truly living in the golden age of television. I probably wouldn’t have returned to watching TV if not for streaming, which allowed me to binge entire series at my own pace. I honestly don’t understand how people once waited an entire week for a new episode to air. What a waste of time!? Here’re my favorite television series this Emmy® FYC Season.