Month: June 2021

Happy Birthday Mindy Kaling!

by Jason Wieder

Mindy Kaling was born on June 25, 1979. She is a comedian and actress.

By Claire Leahy – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95164042

While Kaling has acted in several movies and television shows, she is most known for her character in The Office. Along with her role as Kelly Kapoor in the show, she also was a writer, producer, and executive director of this sitcom.  

Recently, Kaling created a Netflix series titled “Never Have I Ever.” Kaling wrote and produced this series, which is based on her own childhood and young adult life. “Never Have I Ever” details the life of a teen named Devi as she comes of age as a first-generation Indian American. This show, important for its representation of Indian Americans and first-generation immigrants, quickly became popular and was Netflix’s #1 Show of the Day in several countries within a few days of its debut. Kailing celebrated this accomplishment on her social media through an Instagram post capturing the show’s stats on Netflix, and even dressed up as Devi this Halloween.  

Here are some films we have with Mindy Kaling in our collection: 

2021 Made in Hong Kong Festival

One of the great things about living in DC is that so many of our cultural institutions are free to the public. This includes some of the Smithsonian’s special events, like the annual Made in Hong Kong film festival hosted by the National Museum of Asian Art. The festival is virtual this year due to the pandemic, but admission is still free! You can sign up for tickets to virtual screenings here. Some of the films are simulcast, but most will become available on various dates in July. After you purchase passes, you’ll have anywhere from three to seven days to watch each film for free!

This year the festival is celebrating the filmography of Ann Hui. Her forty-five year career spans mediums, genres, and eras, and three of her films — The Golden Era, Keep Rolling, and A Simple Life — will be available for free through the virtual festival starting July 9.