Michael Paul Chan plays Lieutenant Mike Tao in the hit TNT television series The Closer .

You may know Michael Paul Chan as one of the stars in the hit TNT television series The Closer as Lieutenant Mike Tao. But hes also made his mark in theater and film, most recently with the independent film Americanese , directed by Eric Byler, which is currently playing the film festival circuit across the country. Chan proves that hard work pays off as he describes his beginnings, struggles, and passions, and why he is (deservingly) happy where hes at today.

How did you get your start in performing?

Performing, I started in junior high school. I was a musician and played in rock and roll bands. Acting, after a stint in college, I started working with Asian-American writers and they needed actors so I started doing theater. I got a scholarship at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. Then I moved down to Los Angeles and started doing television. I think I started to turn when I went to New York and I did a play called Family Devotions written by David Henry Hwang and then I went on to do Madame Butterfly . I came back to LA and did more television. In the late 80s and early 90s, I got a couple of breaks in feature films like Joy Luck Club and Falling Down and then a few years later, I got my first network series which only lasted half a season. But then came

EXCLUSIVE! AsianConnections' Suzanne Kai interviews Larry Fong, the Cinematographer of the blockbuster movie '300.' Larry talks about his road to '300' and being Asian American in Hollywood.

LARRY FONG
CINEMATOGRAPHER of 300

If you work hard and are good at what you do, and willing to pay your dues, your path will present itself to you.

Chow Yun-Fat, Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom are in Tokyo for the opening of Walt Disney Pictures' PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END. May 23.
Who says that Asian guys aren't HOT?!

UC Irvine Film and Video Winter Series features work from Chinese filmmakers Pei-Chyi Wan and Anita Chang

UC IRVINE FILM AND VIDEO CENTER PRESENTS TRANSNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES

Screenings, Receptions & Guest Appearances:

JANUARY 24 -

6:30pm Reception
7:00pm Screening

No Seasons
Directed by Pei-Chyi Wan. 2002, Taiwan, 60 minutes, DVD. In Chinese with English subtitles
An introduction and comments on No Seasons will be provided by curator Catherine Liu, Professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine

62 Years and 6,500 Miles Between
Directed by Anita Wen-Shing Chang. 2005, Taiwan/USA, 52 minutes, DVD. In Chinese with English subtitles
Director Anita Wen-Shing Chang to appear in person for Q&A session

JANUARY 31 -

7:00pm Screening

Grandma Has A Video Camera directed by Tania Cypriano

Catch the hilarious comedy Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay opening in theaters nationwide!

AsianConnections' Annie Chang interviews John Cho. and Neil Patrick Harris.

Run to the theaters and see Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay!

Not only is this comedy wacky and fun, it is historically significant as the first major Hollywood movie sequel in recent times with Asian American stars in the lead.