미국서 방영되는 최초 한인 주제 프로그램 ‘Egg Westcoast’ 제작팀 내한
미국에서 인기리에 방영되는 '에그웨스트코스트' 출연진
이 프로그램의 제작을 맡고 있는 초이스 엔터테인먼트사의 대표 리처드 최 씨(33)는 미국 내 뿐 아니라 한국 등 세계적으로 큰 인기를 모았던 시트콤 ‘프렌즈’의 섹션 프로듀서를 맡는 등 미 주류사회에서 꾸준히 실력과 경력을 인정 받아온 한인 2세다.
최 씨는 “이 프로그램을 통해 자신의 꿈을 이루기 위해 노력하는 한인 2세들의 다양한 모습과 한국 문화를 미국 사회에 제대로 전달하고 싶었다”며 “또 이번 방문을 통해 한국 젊은이들의 모습을 담아 우리 문화의 생동감과 젊은 패기를 미국에 보여주고 싶다”고 말했다.
Richard Choi Ascends Hollywood Ladder
Richard Choi began his Hollywood career like most others - from the bottom. With virtually no experience or training in the entertainment industry, Choi initially worked as an errand boy on the set of the immensely popular sitcom "Friends" back in the early 90s. He then slowly took on more important roles, eventually becoming the post production coordinator and associate producer in the following years. As a result, in the last few years of "Friends," Richard Choi's name appeared in the list of credits at the end of each show.
Now with "Friends" having come to an end, Choi has started his own production company - appropriately titled Choice Entertainment Inc. Along with his older brother Gary Choi, the two have combined their skills to produce a number of documentaries along the way.
Their latest piece is entitled "Egg WestCoast," a series of short documentaries on Korean-Americans or other people/events related to the Korean American community. This type of genre is known as a video magazine show. The show has caught on recently with the American public, as the US cable channel International Channel picked up the show and has been airing it every Ｗednesdays since November, 2004.
Egg Westcoast has thus far featured everything from kimchi-making in Los Angeles, to Korean-Americans learning the Korean language and Taekwondo from Caucasians.
The Choi brothers are currently filming their 9th segment in the series and there are no plans to stop shooting anytime soon.
