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Brenda Song

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Brenda Song

Brenda Song (born March 27, 1988[2]) is an American actress, model,[3] voice actor, host, and singer. After many television roles and commercials during the late 1990s, Song won a Young Artist Award for her work in The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000). She went on to appear in feature films aimed at teens, including Like Mike (2002) and College Road Trip (2008). Her movies on Disney Channel include Get a Clue (2002) and Stuck in the Suburbs (2004).

In 2005, Song landed a role in the hit Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, where she played the hotel heiress London Tipton. Song earned an Asian Excellence Award nomination for her part in the series. In addition to her acting role which she still plays in the Suite Life spin-off, The Suite Life on Deck, Song produced several episodes of the Suite Life and co-produced a pilot for a Suite Life spin-off, Arwin!. She began a music career in 2005 as part of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars.

Her fame increased after she played the title role in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.[4][5] The film was one of the top rated Disney Channel Original Movies with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere.[6] She connected with the character struggling to keep her heritage and will star in the sequel. TV Guide listed her in its 2008 "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".[7]

Early life

Song was born in Carmichael, California, a suburb of Sacramento, to a Hmong father and a Thai mother who was adopted by a Hmong family.[1][2] Both her parents were born in Asia.[3] Her paternal grandparents were part of the Xiong clan, but changed their last name to Song when the family immigrated to the United States.[1] Her father works as a second grade teacher and her mother is a homemaker. She has two younger brothers, Timmy and Nathan.[3]

Song and her mother moved to Los Angeles when she was 6 to support her acting career; the rest of the family followed two years later. She was inspired by the way her mother dealt with breast cancer in 2005.[8] Song holds a black belt in Taekwondo and was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade.[2] Homeschooled, she earned a high school diploma at age 16.[1][3] Song took courses at a community college and online from the University of California, Berkeley[3] with a major in psychology[1] and a minor in business.[9]

Acting

Early work

Song started in show business as a child fashion model in San Francisco after being spotted in a shopping mall by an agent from a modeling school.[8] She began acting in a Little Caesars commercial at age five,[10][3] and then she had a small role in two episodes of the television program Thunder Alley. She was in the 1995 Requiem, an AFI student short film by actress Elizabeth Sung. The 7-year-old Song played a young version of "Fong", who is portrayed as an adult by Tamlyn Tomita. The film won a CINE Golden Eagle award.[11] Song was later in another short film directed by Elizabeth Sung called The White Fox.[1] Her first theatrical film role was in Santa with Muscles, a 1996 film starring professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. After appearing in Leave It to Beaver (1997), she had a television role in 1999 with Nickelodeon's 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd. After this she had a number of small roles in series such as 7th Heaven, Judging Amy, and Bette, where she met Ashley Tisdale.

Two of Song's early roles led to Young Artist Award mentions. Song starred in the 2000 Disney movie The Ultimate Christmas Present, which won the award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress".[12] Her 2002 appearance on The Bernie Mac Show led to a nomination for "Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress".[13] In the same year, she was in the family film Like Mike, which grossed over $50 million.[14] The film stars rapper Bow Wow as an orphan who can suddenly play NBA-level basketball. Song plays the character Reg Stevens. Although the film was criticized for its "frightening myths about adoption",[15] it was successful enough to spawn a sequel, although Song did not return. After 2002, Song continued to make guest appearances in Disney Channel shows like That's So Raven, and had minor roles in many American sitcoms. Song appeared in Get a Clue in 2002, which was the first Disney Channel Original Movie to receive over 1 million viewers. She had a recurring role as Tia in the Disney Channel's Phil of the Future, appearing in seven episodes in 2004 and 2005.

In late 2004, Song starred in the Disney movie Stuck in the Suburbs, where she portrayed Natasha Kwon-Schwartz. The TV premiere received 3.7 million viewers.[16] She said later: "When Stuck came out it was crazy 'cause we went to Six Flags and we were there and so many kids recognized us from Stuck in the Suburbs, I'm like wow that movie must have done really well."[10] That year, Song posed on the cover of Teen People with Get a Clue co-star Lindsay Lohan.

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

In 2005, Song got the role of the spoiled heiress London Tipton on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The role was named "Paris" in an early script and is a spoof of "Paris Hilton" (London spoofing Paris, and Tipton is the name of the Hotel her father owns in the show).[3][17] She got the role without an audition,[18] and was surprised to find her friend Ashley Tisdale working in the show.[19] The series eventually earned a 2007 Young Artist Award for "Best Family Television Series (comedy)",[20] an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Children's Program",[21] and two Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for "Favorite TV show".[22] Song earned an Asian Excellence Award nomination for "Outstanding Newcomer" for her part in the series.[23]

As the Suite Life series became popular, Song became a regular on the Disney Channel and had a voice role in Disney's American Dragon: Jake Long series. In 2006, Song had a voice-over role in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen, which also featured the voices of fellow Disney stars Cole & Dylan Sprouse and Emily Osment. She later starred in an online series called London Tipton's Yay Me! based on the episode "Tiptonline" on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody. She returned as London Tipton in a Suite Life spin-off called The Suite Life on Deck.[24]

Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior

Song had her first starring role in the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior,[25] which had over 5.7 million viewers at its premiere.[8] Wendy Wu was first planned as a comedy but became a "star vehicle" for Song.[3] The film was about an average, popular Chinese-American teenager whose life is turned upside down by a visit from a young Chinese monk (Shin Koyamada). The monk claims she is the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior and the only person who can prevent an ancient evil spirit from destroying the world. In the movie, Wendy and most of her family struggle with keeping their culture and heritage. Song said she could relate to the message since she knew little about her own people before making the film.[3] The role was not exaggerated like the other roles she played.[26] To promote the film, she posed on the cover of Seventeen, Teen People, Teen, and several other magazines, and traveled to Malaysia, Singapore, and Costa Rica.[27]

After Wendy Wu, Song appeared in the Walt Disney Pictures film College Road Trip[28][29] with Raven-Symoné and Martin Lawrence. In its opening weekend in March 2008, the film grossed $13.6 million, ranking #2 at the box office,[30] and grossed in total $45 million in the United States.[31] After being a captain for three years in the Disney Channel Games, she was featured in Studio DC: Almost Live with other Disney stars. Song starred in the Lifetime Movie Network telefilm Special Delivery,[32] and had a brief cameo in the Disney Channel Original Movie Camp Rock credited as "Girl near lake".[33] She was set to star in American Darlings,[34] a feature film with Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez. The film was never released.

A Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior sequel, starring Song and Koyamada, is set to start filming in 2008.[35] Song is set to star in a December 2008 animated TV special for NBC, "Macy's Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in New York".[36]

Song has been represented by the International Creative Management[32] and Curtis Talent Management.[37]

Music

Song was part of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of performers from several different Disney Channel television series. She took part in the recording and music video of a version of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes". The recording appeared on both the special edition Cinderella DVD and on the DisneyMania 4 CD. The album CD was released in April 2005 under the Walt Disney Records label and peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the Top Kids Audio chart[38] and Top Compilation Albums chart.[39]

In 2004, Song appeared in Jesse McCartney's music video for "Good Life". Film clips from Stuck in the Suburbs which included Song appeared in music videos for Anneliese van der Pol's song "Over It" and Taran Killam's "More Than Me", "On Top of the World" and "Make a Wish". In 2007, Song filmed a music video for "Open Up Your Eyes" which was featured in her movie, Holidaze. She recorded a song for Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior called "I'm Not That Girl", which aired on Radio Disney and was on the Wendy Wu DVD. In the Suite Life High School Musical themed episode, Song performed "Bop To The Top" and "Really Great". "Really Great" became the theme song for online series London Tipton's Yay Me!. She sang "Bling Is My Favourite Thing" on another Suite Life episode.

When asked if she plans to break into the music scene with an album, Song said in 2005: "Well if the opportunity were to come about, I'd be stupid to say no."[40] Ian Scott wrote and produced demo songs for her.[41] The songs are credited to Mark Jackson Productions, which is associated with Warner Bros. Records.

Public image

In 2006, Song was hostess for the "A World Of Change" annual charity fashion show to benefit Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services.[42] She supported the 10th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge, and as part of the Disney Channel Games 2007, Song's team supported the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She helped at the 2005 "Much Love Animal Rescue Shop 'Til You Drool Benefit".[43] In 2006 and 2007, Song participated in the YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Chicago.[44] In 2007, she started hosting a Disney special daily segment called Pass the Plate, where she helps kids and their families learn more about healthy food. The series is produced in ten countries in association with Disney Channel.[45] In 2006, a series of articles by Scholastic included facts about Song and mathematical guidance from her. The first article in the series was "Maths Spotlight on... Brenda Song".[46][47] She supported the solidarity march in Hollywood early in the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike.[48]

According to Time, she is one of the three Disney starlets who have not been involved in the Hollywood party girl scene, along with Hilary Duff and Raven-Symoné. Asiance Magazine calls her a "great role model" for young girls.[49] She said in 2005: "Besides Hollywood grand-openings and award shows, I try to stay away from the parties. It’s so easy to be swept away from that whole scene because it’s expected of you. I’ve never drank or smoked in my entire life, but I’ve seen 15-year-olds drinking and smoking and I just think that’s gross."[1]

Song ranked ninth in Netscape's "Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment",[50] was voted one of "AOL's Top 20 Tween (and Teen) TV Stars",[51] and was ranked #3 on Maxim's Asian Hot 100 of 2008 list.[52] TV Guide listed her in its 2008 list of "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".[7]

File:Brenda-song-escord-ad.jpg
The original image from Song's website, which was used in the LA Weekly escort ad

On April 18, 2008, a picture of Song was used in an ad for an escort agency in the back of that week's LA Weekly. Disney lawyers were not pleased with the use of Song's copyrighted image for advertising adult activities. A rep from Disney told TMZ.com: "This is an unauthorized use of Brenda Song's image and her personal attorney has issued a cease and desist to the advertiser."[53] Song filed a libel suit against the Vibe Media Inc. seeking $100,000 in damages.[54] She told TMZ: "In filing suit, I hope to prevent this company from doing this again to anyone else".[55] Song added: "As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in regard to its exploitation of my image".[54]

The photo used in the ad was taken when Song was 16 years old. Song's attorney later found that an individual, and not Vibe Media, was responsible for the use of Song's photo. He told Back Stage:

"I'm not sure if they were trying to just find a picture of a pretty girl or an Asian-looking girl or whether they expected that Brenda would be recognized.... Brenda's demographic is a lot different from what I would suppose the clients of this business are. If you're the sort of person who would use the services of a business like this, it is quite possible that you have never heard of Brenda Song."[56]

He said that it may be hard to show how much the misuse of the photo hurt her career, but that a lawsuit was needed. "Brenda's public image is very important to her. Brenda has been careful to not accept roles that would taint her in the way that some other young actors have been".[56]

Discography

Songs

Year Title Soundtrack Notes
2005 "Bling Is My Favorite Thing" The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
"A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" Radio Disney Jingle Jams
2006 DisneyMania 4 & Cinderella Special Edition DVD
Ultimate Disney Princess
"Open Up Your Eyes" Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen
2007 "Really Great" The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Promo for Lincoln Heights & theme song for London Tipton's Yay Me!
2008 "I'm Not That Girl" Radio Disney Jams, Vol. 10 Promo for Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
"A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" DisneyMania Princess

Music videos

Year Title Album
2004 "Over It" Stuck in the Suburbs soundtrack
"On Top of the World"
"Make a Wish"
"Good Life" Stuck in the Suburbs soundtrack and Beautiful Soul
2005 "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" DisneyMania 4
"Bling Is My Favorite Thing" The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
2007 "Really Great"
2008 "Open Up Your Eyes" Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Requiem Young Fong
1996 Santa with Muscles Susan
1997 Leave It to Beaver Susan Acustis
1999 The White Fox N/A
2000 The Ultimate Christmas Present Samantha Kwan Disney Channel Original Movie
2002 Like Mike Reg Stevens Main role
Get a Clue Jennifer Disney Channel Original Movie, Young Artist Award
2004 Stuck in the Suburbs Natasha Kwon-Schwartz Main role/Disney Channel Original Movie
A Cinderella Story[4] Kelly Anderson Warner Bros.
Costume Party Capers: The Incredibles Alex Voice
2006 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior Wendy Wu Main role
Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen Treat Voice
2007 American Darlings Marissa Lead/never released
2008 Special Delivery Alice Cantwell Lifetime Movie Network
College Road Trip Nancy Walt Disney Pictures
Camp Rock Girl near lake Cameo appearance
2009 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior 2 Wendy Wu Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Fudge Jenny Regular
1999 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd Sariffa Chung
2004-2005 Phil of the Future Tia 7 Episodes
2005-2008 The Suite Life of Zack & Cody London Tipton Main role/Producer
2008 - Present The Suite Life on Deck Main role / spin-off to The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Online series at Disney.com
Year Title Role
2006 Disney Channel's Imagineer That[57] Herself
2007 - Pres London Tipton's Yay Me! London Tipton

Guest appearances

Year Title Role Notes
1995
1994		 Thunder Alley Kathy Two episodes
1996 Small Talk Panelist Five episodes
1999 Mad TV Trick-or-Treater Cameo appearance
2000 Once and Again Chrissy Aired on October 19, 2000
7th Heaven Cynthia Brief appearance
2001 ER Lynda An One episode
Judging Amy Vanessa Pran Aired on October 9, 2001
Bette Stacey Aired on February 7, 2001
Popular Mandy Shepherd Brief appearance
2002 The Bernie Mac Show Shannon Young Artist Award nomination
George Lopez Jennifer Aired on October 9, 2002
The Brothers García Jenny Episode: Love Me Tender
For the People N/A Episode: Nascent
2003 That's So Raven Amber Aired on June 20, 2003
One on One Asanti Aired on November 11, 2003
2006 That's So Raven
Hannah Montana		 London Tipton Part of That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
American Dragon: Jake Long Cheerleader Tracey Voice

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Motive Result
2001 Young Artist Award "Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy), Supporting Young Actress" The Ultimate Christmas Present Won[12]
2003 Young Artist Award "Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress" The Bernie Mac Show Nominated[13]
2006 Asian Excellence Award "Newcomers Award" The Suite Life of Zack & Cody Nominated[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wameng Moua (September 22, 2005). Bonafide Star: Brenda Song. HmongToday.com. Accessed 2007-12-04.
  2. ^ a b c d About Brenda. BrendaSongSite.com. Accessed 2007-05-19.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jacques Steinberg (June 14, 2006). Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'. The New York Times. Accessed 2007-05-09.
  4. ^ a b Stacy Jenel Smith. Rising Star: Brenda Song Shows Off Chops in 'Wendy Wu' Netscape Celebrity. Accessed 2007-09-08.
  5. ^ Izuan Shah (November 10, 2006). Happily on Song star-ecentral.com Accessed 2007-10-27.
  6. ^ R. Thomas Umstead (January 22, 2007). Disney Movie Skips to Another Record. Multichannel.com. Accessed 2007-09-22.
  7. ^ a b TVGuide.com reveals tomorrow's tween stars today, overlooks mini Clay Aiken. (July 2, 2008) MTV Buzzworthy. Accessed 2008-10-10.
  8. ^ a b c Jeff Yang (2006). Warrior Women-Brenda Song SF gate.com. Accessed 2007-11-20.
  9. ^ Kerry Miller (May 9, 2008). Suite Song. Midweek. Accessed 2008-06-09.
  10. ^ a b Interview with Brenda Song. (March 2005) TheStarScoop.com. Accessed 2007-11-20.
  11. ^ 1996 Awards CINE. Accessed 2008-02-27.
  12. ^ a b 22nd Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2007-06-20.
  13. ^ a b 24th Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2007-06-20.
  14. ^ Like Mike. Box Office Mojo. Accessed 2008-08-30.
  15. ^ Ann Hornaday (July 3, 2002). Like Mike Washington Post. Accessed 2007-06-20.
  16. ^ Cynthia Littleton (July 20, 2004) 'Days' wins For ABC; 'Atlantis' a Sci Fi record. Hollywood Reporter. Accessed 2008-10-10.
  17. ^ Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith (October 6, 2008). When London (Brenda Song) Met Paris Netscape Celebrity Accessed 2008-10-10.
  18. ^ Interview with Brenda Song. (April 2005) TheStarScoop.com. Accessed 2008-10-12.
  19. ^ Aaron Wallace (January 16, 2007). Interview. UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2008-10-26.
  20. ^ 28th Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2008-01-24.
  21. ^ 2007 Primetime Emmys. Emmys.org. Accessed 2007-12-30.
  22. ^ Kid's Choice Awards 2007 and Kid's Choice Awards 2008. Nickelodeon. Accessed 2008-01-24.
  23. ^ a b Asian Excellence Awards Nominees (2005). Accessed 2008-04-04.
  24. ^ "Zack & Cody" embark on spin-off voyage Reuters.com Accessed 2008-02-07.
  25. ^ Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2007-08-25.
  26. ^ Jaymie Moran (June 2006) Brenda Song is Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. AsianceMagazine. Accessed 2007-08-08.
  27. ^ Teen Talks To: Brenda Song. TeenMag.com. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
  28. ^ Brenda Song Teen Mag Interview 2 TeenMag.com. Accessed 2007-11-02.
  29. ^ College Road Trip Cast. New York Times Movies. Accessed 2007-11-20.
  30. ^ David Germain (March 9, 2008). '10,000 B.C.' leads box-office hunt with $35.7 million debut. SignOnSanDiego/AP. Accessed 2008-10-20.
  31. ^ College Road Trip. Box Office Mojo. Accessed 2008-08-30.
  32. ^ a b Kimberly Nordyke (January 16, 2008) Pair set for 'Delivery' The Hollywood Reporter Accessed 2008-01-26.
  33. ^ Camp Rock Premiers On Friday – Jonas Brothers Star in Disney Channel Original Movie
  34. ^ Brenda Song Biography. Biggeststars.com. Accessed 2007-09-22
  35. ^ Shin Koyamada Variety.com. Accessed 2007-10-14.
  36. ^ NBC Fall line-up. (September 8, 2008) thefutoncritic.com. Accessed 2008-09-09.
  37. ^ William Kerns (July 15, 2007) Major Los Angeles talent agent calls popular children's group just what she's been looking for LubbockOnline. Accessed 2008-02-16.
  38. ^ Disneymania, vol 4. Allmusic.com. Accessed 2007-06-18.
  39. ^ Top Compilation Albums - DisneyMania 4. Billboard.com. Accessed 2008-08-01.
  40. ^ Shining Stars Online Magazine Interview (March 21, 2005) ShiningStars. Accessed 2008-09-01.
  41. ^ Producers. MarkJacksonProductions.com. Accessed 2007-11-22.
  42. ^ A World Of Change Charity Event:Brenda Song SplashMag.com. Accessed 2007-10-22.
  43. ^ Gallery. WireImage. Accessed 2008-10-10.
  44. ^ Brenda Song talks about kids' health UnionSentinel.com. Accessed 2007-11-20.
  45. ^ 'Suite Life' Actress Hosting Disney's Multicultural Series buddytv.com Accessed 2007-10-27.
  46. ^ MATH Spotlight on... Brenda Song. EBSCOhost Connection. Accessed 2008-04-03.
  47. ^ Brenda Song. EBSCOhost Connection. Accessed 2008-04-03.
  48. ^ Brenda Song-Writers Guild America strike DailyCeleb.com. Accessed 2007-10-14.
  49. ^ Look at Brenda Song all grown up! (April 25, 2008) Asiance Magazine. Accessed 2008-06-14.
  50. ^ Stacy Jenel Smith (2007). Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment Netscape. Accessed 2007-11-20.
  51. ^ "Aol's Top 20 Tween (and Teen) TV Stars" Aol.com. Accessed 2008-04-04.
  52. ^ Brenda Song: Meet the Disney celebuzz.com. Accessed 2008-10-04.
  53. ^ For a Good Time ... Call Disney Star? TMZ.com. Accessed 2008-04-18.
  54. ^ a b Natalie Finn (April 25, 2008). Brenda Song Cries Foul E Online. Accessed 2008-04-26.
  55. ^ Song Sings: See My Face in Court! TMZ.com. Accessed 2008-04-26.
  56. ^ a b Lauren Horwitch (May 28, 2008). Actors Fight for Control Over Their Photos. Backstage. Accessed 2008-09-01.
  57. ^ Imagineer That Disney.com. Accessed 2008-04-04.
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