Birth Name: Alvin Nathaniel Joiner

Nickname: X X to the Z Black John McClane

Height: 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)

Mini Biography:

Xzibit was born in Detroit, where he lived until his mother passed away when he was only nine years old. At the age of ten, he began to rap, very personally because of the loss of his mother. At the age of 14, he got into trouble and was removed from his home for two years after his father refused to have him there. Xzibit was released from the state on his own recognizance as an adult at 17. He did a little slangin’ to get some money together and jumped into his jeep and headed toward LA, California. In 1992, Xzibit met with producer Broadway, through the group, Madcap. His first songs were “Freestyle Ghetto” on “King Tee IV Life”, and after that he got on the Liks’ “Coast ][ Coast” on the joints, “Hit and Run”. He points to his mother, who was a writer, as his source of creativity. Xzibit’s rhymes resonate because he speaks from the heart as an individual, rather than trying to portray a phony hip hop persona. He has lived through many dramatic times in his life, so he raps primarily about his own life experiences, and is not afraid to reveal himself on a track. Xzibit eventually found himself working with Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, and helped on Dre’s 2001. Through that work he became good friends with Dre, Snoop, Eminem, and others on the Aftermath staff. He is now a father, too.

Trivia:

Member of rap supergroup Golden State Warriors with Ras Kass and Saafir.
Has a son, Tremaine.
In 2003, he found himself in a tug of war between his current label Columbia and Eminem’s label Shady Records. Columbia was willing to release him, until they heard that Eminem wanted him. (50 Cent was signed to Columbia who released him before an album was released only to have Eminem sign him and make his debut album the fastest selling album of all time.).
His original rap name was “Xzibit A” with the “A” standing for his real name, Alvin.

XYE has successfully taken the state-of-the-art in Artificial Intelligence and applied it to motion picture Visual Effects in a way that makes the computer interact with humans on a more human level. For the better part of the last decade Xye, through his Hollywood-based Visual Effects Studio, Yannix Technologies, has provided cutting-edge CG technologies for the motion picture/television industry. Xye is responsible for developing a better, and more efficient, way of providing Hollywood with relief from a variety of Visual Effects “headaches.” After graduating from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Mathematics degree at age 19, he joined Richard Edlund’s Boss Films Studios (True Lies (1994), Outbreak (1995), and Species (1995)), as a programmer. Shortly, however, Xye realized that he wanted to develop new technologies, and so he decided to focus on research and development outside of a studio setting. “In the studio environment,” Xye explains, “the emphasis is more on getting the immediate shots done, so one finds oneself spending more time putting out fires than designing a better fire truck.” It is with this in mind that Xye left Boss Films Studios to focus exclusively on Research and Development, and in 1995, Yannix Technologies was born. And so, Xye disappeared for three years to devote himself to revolutionizing the Visual Effects industry. He would surface intermittently to consult with companies like Warner Digital Studios, and then he would quietly return to what he jokingly refers to as “mad scientist mode.” The time investment proved invaluable. Xye emerged, having discovered what he refers to as “smart technologies” — groundbreaking technologies that allow humans to interact with computers more effectively and more efficiently. When the smoke cleared, Xye had successfully discovered a way to maximize both human resources and technology through the development and implementation of his newly found smart effects. Xye’s technologies and software have remained at least three years ahead of what the studios commonly rely on; and thus, his discoveries have assured Yannix a place at the forefront of the “cutting edge”; yet most of Hollywood is still largely in the dark about how Yannix does what they do. “Every program I’ve written simply adds to the toolkit. Every piece of code is modular.” Indeed, Xye and Yannix have flourished at a time when many other Visual Effects companies have closed their doors. Over the better part of a decade, Yannix has lent its talents and technologies to many of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters on the way to assembling an impressive track-record, while somehow managing to remain Hollywood’s best-kept secret.

Xiaoxi Xu , a Chinese filmmaker, comes from an international background. He grew up in China, and went oversea to study at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa, majored in Fine Art. The art course offered him a wide range of techniques in terms of image making, which has influenced him to become a filmmaker with a highly artistic vision. Xiaoxi gains experience and good skills in drawing, painting, photography, and video art. He worked as a video artist in his final year project ‘The Fluxed of ID”. He used video images as the prime means of expression regarding perceptions of cultural identity in a globalized world. In 2006 he received a bachelor’s degree of fine art; In 2008 Xiaoxi decides to further his study in a graduated level. He moves to Los Angeles to study MFA in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, Universal Studios, and Hollywood. He starts to work on more narrative subject matter, the travel and study experiences in Asia and Africa have given him a lot inspiration to create story. At same time, Xiaoxi tries to maintain his unique artistic vision, using film as a powerful medium to express his idea and thoughts.In 2009 Xiaoxi Xu Receive his Master degree in Fine Art ( Filmmaking) at New York Film Academy.So far, he has been directing and shooting many different shorts in various formats (including Film, HD and Red Camera). Also He collaborates as a cinematographer, editor, and writer in “Toto Forever”, a short movie directed by Roberto F. Canuto in 2009, between many more. Also he co-directed with Roberto F. Canuto in his first feature film in Super 16mm, “Desire Street”. It will be completed on 2010.

Birth Name: Derek Barbosa

Height: 6′ 2″ (1.88 m)

Mini Biography:

Discovered and signed at age 16 by music impresario Rick Rubin, Derek Barbosa (known as rapper Chino XL and often referred to as “the Lyrical Messiah”) was born in New Jersey to a Puerto Rican father and a Black mother. After releasing his debut album “Here To Save You All” (with chart topping singles and top rated videos aired on MTV), he took a decidedly different journey in making his follow up and subsequently parted ways with Rubin’s American Recordings label to sign to Warner Bros. Records. After Prince’s public legal battle and departure from WB, the A&R saw a shift in personnel and Chino realized he, too needed a new home for his music. The long awaited follow up “I Told You So” was released independently and become an instant classic, despite its release date of September 11, 2001-the day of the attack and destruction of Manhattan’s World Trade Center).Barbosa then turned his sights and creative inspiration to acting. Over the next 4 years, he would appear in film roles as varied as direct-to-video fiascos to working with director Rob Reiner in a lead opposite Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson in “Alex & Emma”. Along the way came comedic improv and dramatic guest stars on network TV.Returning to his music roots, Chino and his manager, Stacey Castro worked for two years to create his third and longest awaited release, “Poison Pen”, which followed the cult status of his previous two records (copies of 1996′s “Here To Save You All” still sell to this day). He has toured and collaborated with artists from Alanis Morissette to Pitbull and Faith Hill to Snoop Dog. He is now signed to Universal Music with his next release due in Spring 2008.He is amember of MENSA and his uncle is funk maestro Bernie Worrell.

Trivia:

Frequently listed among the top-five hip-hop lyricists of all time.
Is a member of MENSA, just like James Woods, Ben Rollins, Alan Rachins, and Geena Davis.
His mother is African-American; his father, with whom he is estranged, is Puerto Rican.

Mini Biography:

Ray Xifo very slowly became aware of his calling as an actor in high school and college during which time he was aspiring to be a priest in the Salesian Order. He was a brother in this order when he attended drama classes at Columbia University. After teaching in Salesian schools for three years he reassessed his vocation and moved to New York City where he worked in Off-Off Broadway productions, regional theater, Broadway, TV, and some film. In 1998 he moved with his wife Kay Foster to Los Angeles where he continues to pursue work in TV, movies, and theater.

Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)

Mini Biography:

Yang Xie is the son of the prominent award winning Chinese film director Jin Xie, who is the only Chinese film director honored with a membership in both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors’ Guild of America. Yang Xie graduated from New York University, with a MFA in film production.

Trivia:

Son of Jin Xie.

Birth Name: Qiaona Xiao

Height: 5′ 2½” (1.59 m)

Mini Biography:

Born in China in 1989, Jona Xiao moved to the New York when she was a year old. After moving to St. Louis, Jona began acting in middle school plays, and has, since then, been involved in over 10 films, 15 theater productions, commercials, and voice-over work.She is an alumni of the 2005 Missouri Fine Arts Academy.In her free time, Jona enjoys playing lacrosse (she is a High School Academic All-American and All-State), backyard football, ultimate Frisbee, poker, and art. Also, she is a peer mentor for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. She will attend University of Southern California in the fall.

Trivia:

Her birth name was Qiaona Xiao but because of the difficulty in pronouncing the first name, a more phonetic name, “Jona,” was the replacement.
In high school, she was an Academica All-American and All-State lacrosse player.
She can piggy back anyone up to 300 pounds.

Birth Name: Kris Phillipps

Height: 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)

Mini Biography:

Kris Phillips was born in Taiwan in 1960. His father was an American diplomat and his mother a writer. He was first accepted by Stanford on full scholarship but dropped out after a year. He moved to New York in order to pursue a career in theater. He went to American Dramatic Arts Academy in New York and graduated in 1980. He made 3 movies in Taiwan in the early 1980s, but, at the same time, his singing career took off in a much bigger way. Kris made 13 records in Asia from 1981 to 1989, and every one of them was a best seller. In 1987, because of his American citizenship, he became the first performer from Taiwan to perform in mainland China’s New Year’s Eve variety show. It was an overnight success, and Kris dominated China’s pop music for the next 3 years. He made 5 records in China between 1987 and 1989.Kris moved to New York in 1990 and was in the original Broadway cast of Miss Saigon. He also appeared in a few other Broadway musicals and plays between 1990 and 1995, but none of them was particularly successful. In 1995, he joined Andrew Lloyd Webber’s touring company, costarring Sarah Brightman, in Webber’s The Music of Night concert. The concert started in New York’s Radio City Music Hall and then toured 43 cities in the US. The same concert was moved to Beijing in September 2001, with Elaine Paige replacing Brightman. It was the first time Broadway musical being introduced to mainland China.Kris Phillips also made a big comeback as a recording artist in Asia in 2000. He made two records in 2000 and 2002. He still is one of the highest paid stars in Asia today. Although he works extensively in Asia, Kris keeps an apartment in New York and considers himself a New Yorker.

Trivia:

Popular Chinese singer.
Father is American, mother is Chinese
Graduated from Taipei American School