GAM-TV is set to transform itself in the coming months, having initiated discussions with members of Asians and Friends who have themselves started online efforts to strengthen the brotherhood of gay, Asian males. Over the coming weeks you will see GAM-TV blog entries entailing the incorporation of other websites, blogs, social media pages/members, meeting sites and other means to generate larger local and national communities. The content you've grown used to seeing here on GAM-TV will expand, but will also incorporate free elements delivered via sources such as YouTube and Facebook.

GAM-TV's good friend Patrick Wang directed and starred in a wonderful movie called "In the Family" about two gay dads eventually involved in a bitter custody suit. It's an endearing film that has now come out on DVD and Blue-Ray. Here's Patrick talking about it:

So after a beautiful 18 months on the road, we will finally be releasing IN THE FAMILY on home video. The company and care of friends, old and new, throughout this nutty ride has made a huge indentation in my life. Thank you so much. It's a privilege to be able to carry all these experiences with me.

I don’t usually find myself in Alameda, but I’ve had the chance to visit for dinner twice in the last four weeks. First it was tasting Shanghai soup dumplings at Ark, and last week it was pizza night at East End Pizza Co. For the entire review, visit focussnapeat.com.

GAM-TV is doing a mini-feature on Asians and Friends Chicago's long-time member and supporter, fashion designer Kevin Vong, who created and will debut a dress made from 10,000 single puffs of popcorn, each individually glued on over the course of an entire month.

The dress design, which blends his Laotian roots with the glamor of a 1940s and ‘50’s ball gown is the centerpiece of AFC’s “Gayflower” float, a high-masted ship that is set to sail as entry No. 19 in this year’s Chicago Gay Pride Parade.

Asians & Friends Chicago (www.afchicago.org) are planning a "Hug an Asian Day" ethnic dress-and-outfit pub crawl for Sat. May 11 at 7 p.m. It'll start at Bonsai Bar, 3503 N. Halsted in Chicago and make its way through the area's Boystown bars. The event is designed to market the organization and to celebrate the city's Asian Pacific Islander month. Organizers say last year's event was successful in drawing attention to the group and helping members socialize among other bar patrons.

The first episode of a gay-themed sit-com, posted on YouTube in Vietnam, has gone viral and been viewed more than one million times, vaulting gay life in the Southeast Asian country into the headlines.

Created by a 21-year-old gay student, “My Best Gay Friends" pulls stories from the lives of a group of gay and lesbian Vietnamese youth and dramatizes them in what the creator says is an effort to show that the lives of gay people are “very normal” and “to bring true images of homosexuals to everyone to change their perspective.”

[Editorial note: As GAM-TV grows further in its vision, we will begin linking to other blogs and content sources produced by gay Asian men in the United States, and in some cases, internationally. Ben, a food blogger based in San Francisco, will be our first regular contributor. Lifestyle contributions will appear here on our home page with their bios and resources on our LIVE tab.]

Focus - Snap - Eat
Review of Gjelina in LA’s Venice Beach
By Ben On April 3, 2013 · Dining, Travel

A hugely successful "Panda" premiere party at @mosphere in Chicago last weekend. Over 60 people in attendance and a overwhelming and generous response. Thanks to cast and crew and everyone who contributed to the final product. Visit our Webisodes page to download the webisode.

The premiere party for "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear" is set for this Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 8 p.m. at @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark Street in Chicago. At that time, "Panda" will go live online and be available for download/purchase here at gamTVusa.com (click our Webisodes tab). The debut follows a successful preview in New York City last week at Uncle Charlie's bar in Midtown Manhattan. A full bar of guests expressed how impressed they were with the production and hoped to see more from GAM-TV.

GAM-TV is proud to add a preview party for a preliminary version of its latest webisode, "Panda: Tale of a Gay Asian Bear" in New York City. It'll be at Uncle Charlie's bar, 139 E. 45th St., at 7 p.m. on Wed., March 13, 2013. Admission is free. Showing will probably be about 7:30 p.m. with an 18 min. running time. DVDs of GAM-TV's romantic comedies, musicals and documentaries will be available, with proceeds to benefit the AIDS-awareness charity, School Street Arts Movement. For more information, e-mail Angel at AngelChgo@aol.com.