Just Kidding Films may be joking around when playing Unco Chin and Unco Sam in their sketch comedy skits, but judging from their fast-growing audience, their fan base is definitely not kidding about their admiration for the JKFilms duo.

“We received a thorough education from the streets and are both certified SGV survivors,” said Joe. “Anyone who grew up in the late 90’s and early 2000’s knows what I’m talking about.”

Kwan and Joe’s “street” lifestyle, though harmful to some, only pushed them to pursue their passion of performing. In 2007, Kwan and Joe created their first Youtube video, still viewable on their Just Kidding Film’s channel. Then, a few videos later, there was the birth of their most well-known characters, Unco Chin and Unco Sam, two stereotypical deep-accented Asian men who experience a life of twisted comedy through the minds of Kwan and Joe.

Though their humor is central and relatable to anyone who has grown up in the San Gabriel Valley, or lived among older generations of Asians, JKFilm’s fan base has spread far outside the 626 bubble. Thanks to Youtube’s far-reaching audience, Kwan and Joe have created fan bases in the Midwest, overseas, and all throughout California.

At the end of August, for instance, JKFilms took their comedy on the road for a performance at the University of Texas.

“People in LA think Austin is just a bunch of cowboys and cows, but there is so much more to it here,” said Joe in documented video blog of the trip.

JKFilm’s success, as with most self made businesses, was no overnight sensation. With hardly any well-known Asian names in the Comedic industry, Kwan and Joe searched for support within the Asian American Entertainment community, which took time, discipline, and exhaustive networking.

“First and foremost you must be self-driven,” said Kwan. “If you want to be successful, you’ve got to give yourself homework. No will tell you to better your craft but yourself. For instance, if you suck at editing, better take editing classes. If you can’t do dramatic scenes, take acting classes. Basically, if you are not self-motivated, this is not the industry for you.”

The JKFilm duo follows a handful of Asian Youtubers whose popularity sparked from exposure through the Internet, such as WongFu, Timothy DeLaGhetto, Nigahiga, and Michelle Phan.

“The good thing about the Asian American entertainment industry is that we are all in it together for the same cause-- we’re done waiting for an Asian American entertainment community so we’ve made our own,” said Joe. “Things are happening now, and people we’ve met in the past have been so supportive and helpful.”