Tuesday, 18 August 2009

• ISA

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  Wong Fu Productions first began making videos in 2003 on the campus of UC San Diego. Over the years Wong Fu has evolved from a group of college dormmates to a trio of young entrepreneurs and creative directors. Wong Fu Productions is now a growing independent production company with a fan base of millions around the world.
  
  Wesley Chan, Ted Fu, and Philip Wang are the three young men behind this new media company. With a foundation in making quality short films and music videos, Wong Fu has emerged online as a recognizable brand. Over the course of a few short years, the three have established Wong Fu as a leading production company in the new media world, started a successful t-shirt brand "Nice Guy Design", and also created the concert series "International Secret Agents". They have been invited to speak and screen their work at over 50 universities around the US and Canada. Many of their works have been accepted to various film festivals, including the 2008 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Corner, and their influence and impact continues to grow.
  
  They are currently coordinating a nationwide Autumn tour, designing for their clothing brand, and preparing to start their 2nd feature length film, while continuing to make short films and music videos for their website.
  
  As emerging artists and businessmen, they strive to continue to improve their craft, grow as a company, and reach people in a positive way with their work.

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  David Choi is a native Los Angeles singer/songwriter/producer who's songs and tracks have been heard on NBC, VH1, MTV, E!, Travel Channel, PBS, Food Network, as well as in commercials overseas. He has worked on several major online campaigns including Starburst and JC Penney.
  
  Choi was the grand prize winner for David Bowie's Mashup contest which Bowie himself chose. Following that, he was the grand prize winner for USA Weekend Magazine's John Lennon Songwriting Contest for teens and appeared in USA Weekend Magazine with recording artist Usher.
  
  During his time as a staff songwriter/producer for Warner Chappell Music, David had a song called "This is Your Life" placed on upcoming Interscope group Flipsyde, which he co-produced.
  
  In October of 2008, David released his self produced album "Only You" worldwide.

  
  

  
  
  
  

  
  
  

  Kevin "KevJumba" Wu was inspired to put comedy videos on YouTube by the stand-up performances of Dave Chapelle. He chose the YouTube username KevJumba because his friend used MattJumba as a screename, and he thought it was funny. Wu chose YouTube because of his lack of resources and an audience. When Wu's "I Have to Deal With Stereotypes" video was featured on Youtube, his number of viewers began to increase. In this video, Wu says that the three stereotypes he must deal with as an Asian are that he is "cheap", a "nerd", and has "no social life". He tries to prove that he is not cheap by stating that he recently bought a "brand new, top of the line, TI-84 calculator". He acknowledges that this might make him nerdy but dismisses this stereotype because he does not "make all A's...in school today (he) made a B+". He goes on to say he can prove he has a social life because his cell phone rings all the time. At this point, his phone rings, he answers it, and the voice on the other end says, "Hey, why did you tell me to call you?"
  
  Jeff Yang of the San Francisco Chronicle describes Wu as perhaps the most interesting elite YouTube personality, going from obscurity to YouTube's most subscribed comedian in a few months. According to Yang, Wu's videos are not strictly comedy, consisting mostly of "stuff that Kevin finds interesting, weird or irritating." Yang describes Wu's videos as "mesmerizing", although he has difficulty pinpointing why. Yang ultimately feels it is due to Wu's self-confidence, singling out the video "I Need Help With the Females" and its self-deprecating humor and relaxed delivery. In "I Need Help with the Females", Wu describes how males will sometimes ask him for dating advice, which he is unable to provide because females are like "another species" that he does not understand.
  
  Currenty, Kevin has 500,000 subscribers and over 60,000,000 video views on Youtube. On February 26, 2008 the Los Angeles Times compared the web series quarterlife's viewership to Wu's. At the time Wu was a "semi-well known YouTube blogger" and had received 450,000 views for a video describing how he broke his shin. quarterlife, which had been picked up by NBC, had received only 100,000 views on MySpace and 50,000 views on YouTube.
  
  By May 29, 2008, Wu had become one of three Asians under the age of 21 to be in the top five of YouTube's all-time most subscribed users with 187,000 subscribers and more than 5.9 million views. By June 5, 2008 he had become the number one subscribed comedian on YouTube, and third most subscribed uploader overall. Wu's videos have received replies from Jessica Alba and Baron Davis. In 2008, Davis created a "longest stare" contest for ibeatyou.com, a site that he and Alba's husband Cash Warren co-founded. The contest began with Davis challenging Wu, who then challenged Alba.
  
  Wu has collaborated with fellow YouTube comedian Christine Gambito (HappySlip) and has made five videos with her.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Hailing from Hawaii, Bruno Mars is an accomplished artist that's beginning to make a name for himself out on the West Coast . Besides his work on Flo-Rida's hit "Right Round", Bruno has writing credits on songs for artists such as Sean Kingston, The New Menudo, and recorded with The Far*East Movement. His songwriting has also been featured on major blockbusters such as The Ugly Truth, The Hangover, and Confessions of a Shopaholic. On many nights, you can see him perform with various bands out in Hollywood.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

  The Far*East Movement (also known as FM), hailing from the clubs and streets of Los Angeles, are one of the freshest crews representing the next generation of artists and "fly music." Members Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif, and DJ Virman have created a huge industry buzz with major companies, radio stations, and club djs worldwide through their international appeal, energetic live shows, and collaborations with top street wear companies. Finding their inspiration from the diverse city blocks and night club scene of Southern California, FM has built a strong internet fan base and a new lifestyle brand for the next generation of youth around the world.
  
  FM has embarked on 2 World Tours (including the USA, South America, Canada, Europe and Asia), signed distribution deals in Japan and Korea (Avex Network and JF Productions respectively), garnered multiple features on MTV World, and also featured music on worldwide media such as ABC Family's Lincoln Heights, CBS Primetime shows "CSI: Miami" and "CSI: NY", multiple placements on HBO's "Entourage", "Fast & Furious Tokyo Drift" and "Finishing the Game" (a featured film at Sundance 2007). FM was also the first Asian act to perform at the Sundance Film Festival's prestigious Music Café Gala hosted by ASCAP, and was also recently a featured act at the Cannes Film Festival in France. As producers, FM worked with Jin the Emcee to create ABC JIN, an award-winning, platinum album that broke records for first week sales in Hong Kong. FM, in conjunction with their manager Carl Choi, have also created the international management company Catch Management.
  
  In the world of marketing, the Far-east Movement has been sought out by major companies to endorse their products. They worked with McDonalds as celebrity judges and were featured artists for the national Big Mac Chant campaign and spokespersons/tour headliners for McDonald's Lost Ring campaign during the 2008 Olympics. FM was also a featured artist for Verizon Wireless's LG Dare 'Touch One' Campaign.
  
  Currently, FM has released their sophomore album entitled "ANIMAL." This breakthrough album features the current major radio hit single "Girls On The Dance Floor" (Produced by Danity Kane 'Damaged' hit makers, The Stereotypes) as well as FM's previous radio hits: "Lowridin" and "You've Got A Friend." The album showcases the next generation of rising artists and the rise of a new fresh kid party genre, featuring guest appearances by Def Jam's One Block Radius, Warner recording artists Wiz Khalifa and Jah Free, Grammy Nominated producers The Stereotypes, along with Latin music legends Lil Rob and Baby Bash. They also continue on their rigorous touring schedule and have recently added world renowned DJ Virman from POWER 106 (top rated radio station in Los Angeles) as their DJ and fourth member.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Born and raised in Mission Viejo, CA, singer-songwriter Kina Grannis catapulted herself into the spotlight in 2008, when she won Doritos’ Crash the Super Bowl contest. With well above a quarter-million YouTube views for “Message From Your Heart,” Kina earned herself a major-label recording contract and the song’s music video was broadcast during the Super Bowl before its 97-million viewers. Her weekly video blogs (www.youtube.com/kinagrannis) have maintained their massive viewership, routinely surpassing 100,000 views. Kina is currently recording her forthcoming album, to be released this winter.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Multi-talented and charismatic. Quest Crew entertained their way into MTV viewers’ homes and hearts to become America’s Best Dance Crew season 3 Champions. They credit their win to staying true to themselves and the time honored values of hard work, cooperation, and perseverance; plus an everlasting thirst for evolving their art. In this age of entitlement, Quest Crew is a refreshing example of these time-honored values.
  
  Accomplished dancers, each with their own specialty, they bring to the stage a great mix of humor, high-flying and eye-popping tricks, innovative choreography, and personality that consistently brings audiences to their feet.
  
  Quest is often asked if they consider themselves role models. Because their fans range from tweens to AARP, they feel they do have that responsibility. They are known for their “cool “ street dance moves, clothing, and hair; but are not fully immersed in street culture. Instead they prefer not to be limited to one genre and represent themselves as professional entertainers. Most members are either working on or have college degrees and/or extensive professional work experience which often reflects in the creativity of their work. “Nice” is often regarded as the ultimate cliche, but when one meets Quest Crew, it is the word most often used to describe them. Their Universal appeal became evident with support from just about every demographic while on Randy Jackson’s ABDC. It seems apparent mainstream America has truly embrace Quest Crew!
  
  Among others, they wete featured on So you Think You Can Dance, Season’s 1 through 4, last season’s American Idol finale and music videos. Currently, they are featured on TMZ, Inside Edition, and one can see them in Sony Production’s, ALVIN and the CHIPMUNKS, SQUEAQUEL to be released in December 2009.
  
  In addition, Quest has been a strong supporter of community events through the years like American Idol Gives Back and countless performances across the U.S. and abroad. Giving back has always been an important part of Quest Crew’s philosophy, as evidenced by their name.

  
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

  Stirring up over a hundred thousand YouTube subscribers, GLP has definitely grown to become a popular trio that has captured the ears and minds of a wide variety of fans. Reigning from the West Coast--Gabe, Leejay, and Passion have infused all of their distinct styles of music into one. GLP creatively puts together different genres of music--R&B, Soul, Old School, Beatbox, Covers, Theme Songs, 90s Nostalgia--into one performance. Since their first performance together in 2008, they have performed at various gigs across the nation.  Their popularity as a trio can be seen through the number of subscribers and views on their YouTube channels and fan page on Facebook.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

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