Thanks to one of our CBS47 producers, James Gonzalez, for bringing this to my attention.  One of the stars of Clint Eastwood's new movie "Gran Torino" - is originally from Fresno!

The movie is about tough guy Eastwood, who doesn't care for his new Hmong neighbors, until he starts to get to know them, and ultimately protects them from a Hmong gang.

Here's part of a post from New American Media:

Who are the bad guys of Gran Torino? Five Hmong actors, chosen from several states and from five different clans, make up the gang. Most of them have little experience acting. Sonny Vue, born in Fresno and now from St. Paul, plays the ringleader, “Smokie.” At 19 years old and only 5’5” tall, he was a surprise pick for the gang’s toughest guy. Even he was surprised. He’d taken an acting class at Vessey Leadership Academy but never been in front of the camera before. He even confesses he has stage fright.

"Gran Torino" opens in Fresno sometime in January.

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