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All Hail Queen of My Dreams!
On June 20, director and writer Fawzia Mirza’s feature film Queen of My Dreams premiered stateside after having quite an interesting journey.
The pastel-hued queer Muslim dramedy set in 1999 combines elements of Bollywood and Western storytelling to tell the story follows Azra (Amrit Kaur) as she travels from Canada to her parents’ home in Karachi to bury her father (Hamza Haq). Azra struggles to connect with her conservative mother Mariam (Nimra Bucha), but her return ushers her into memories both real and imagined that reveal their unexpected similarities.
“Our movie has premiered during interesting times,” Mirza pointed out at a special premiere screening with star Kaur and producer (and her wife) Andria Mirza-Wilson on June 21 at the Laemmle in Santa Monica. She says it in jest, but she is right. When the film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2023, the industry was facing dual strikes.
Fortunately, the film received a theatrical release in Canada in 2024, which was fantastic and eventually, indie theatrical distributor Willa and Product of Culture acquired the film for U.S. distribution.
Come June 20, who knew the world would be on the brink of war and immigrants’ lives would be in danger?
Through the dark times we are facing, Queen of My Dreams provides about 97 minutes safety, queerness, brown Asianness, and community to preserve culture and bring joy. And sometimes that’s enough.
Queen of My Dreams is in theaters now and will open in more theaters across the country through July 4 weekend. Watch the movie, buy tickets and become your own queen of your dreams today!
King of Drag Reigns Supreme!
The first-ever drag king competition King of Drag made its big debut on June 22 on Revry — and I pray to the Gods that this show gets as huge as RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Hell, I hope there is a crossover. Technically, there already is a crossover because season 9 Drag Race winner Sasha Velour as well as season 13’s Gottmik are regular judges alongside Tenderoni, Damian Pelliccione, and Wang Newton.
Hosted by Somebody Somewhere actor and comedian Murray Hill the six-episode reality competition series features six kings: Pressure K, Big D, Alexander the Great, Charles Galin King, King Molasses, Tuna Melt, Buck Wylde, King Perka $exxx, Dick Von Dyke, and Henlo Bullfrog.
In each episode, the kings compete in various challenges. At the end of each ep, two kings compete in “The Final Thrust” where the losing king is eliminated.
The series will feature a revolving door of celebrity guest judges which started with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig in the first episode. Other guest judges include Oh, Mary! Tony winner Cole Escola, Lisa Rinna, Kathleen Hanna, Carmen Carrera, and Hill’s Somebody Somewhere co-stars Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller.
Watch King of Drag on Revry now!
The Hollywood Reporter… We Need To Talk, Girl
The Hollywood Reporter can’t seem to orient themselves when it comes to telling Asian people apart.
The entertainment industry trade publication recently published an article about the three new governors-at-large of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors Haifaa Al-Mansour, Effie T. Brown, and Annie Chang.
Congratulations to all of them!
Initially, THR published a photo of the Interior Chinatown actor Annie Chang instead of Annie Chang, Universal Pictures VP creative technologies and Academy Science & Technology Council Chair.
They fixed it fairly swiftly. Good on them.
I get it. I have worked in environments and newsrooms like this before. Mistakes happen.
But this is just getting a little… ridiculous. Especially in newsrooms where there are so many editorial gates to go through before publishing. It’s not a good look… especially when the same publication mistook Joel Kim Booster for Bowen Yang not once (first time was when they announced Yang’s Saturday Night Live casting in 2019)… but twice.
But hey, at least they moved on to another set of Asians… I guess?
New Episode of The Green Room with Christina Wong and Wendy Zeng!
If you’re a cannabis dispensary virgin, you’re gonna want to listen to this episode. On the latest episode recorded in early March 2025, I had a conversation with Mogu Magu founders Christina Wong and Wendy Zeng — or how they like to refer to themselves: “your w**d aunties”. Wong is the Founder and CEO of Fruit + Flower Co. and Zeng is a chef. Both are the founders are Mogu Magu, which isn’t just a “gathering”. It’s about creating a community. During the episode (recorded March 2025), we talk about the different types of events Mogu Magu throws — many of which I have attended. Wong and Zeng also give tips and advice about what to look for when purchasing cannabis products at dispensaries.
Subscribe to and follow THE GREEN ROOM podcast on all the things:
Woody Fu’s One-Man John Wick at Hollywood Fringe is Wild
People in Los Angeles tend to forget the concept of live performances — they do exist in this town — as does Hollywood Fringe.
I went to Woody Fu’s one-man John Wick show and it was a TIME. It’s a wild CliffsNotes/crowd participation/“Who’s Line Is It Anyway?”/fun and silly take on the action franchise — and it was an unexpected character study on the entity that is Keanu Reeves. And it just wasn’t John Wick. It explored Reeve’s entire oeuvre, philanthropy, and his cultural impact. It’s suprisingly…dare I say… thought-provoking?
After selling out its run last year, Woody Fu: One Man John Wick comes back and has some upgrades. The scripted show takes us on the “set” of John Wick Chapter 5: E Pluribus Unum. Actor/writer Fu steps into the spirit of Keanu and, with the help of the audience, recreates all the big moments of the franchise. It’s one of those plays where I didn’t mind audience participation.
If you’re in L.A. witness Fu’s John Wick experience one last time at Hollywood Fringe on June 28. Buy tickets here.
In the meantime, here’s a preview:
