Asian and Asian American actors and the directors and producers who rely on Hollywood Tinseltown to nurture and provide the opportunity for their talents should think about a new strategy in the new world of globalization.
The playing field has been leveled out. The earth is now flat. My take is: "Take our marbles and go play somewhere else where your talents are better appreciated."
"Don't waste any more time in racist, White-supremacist Hollywood and Tinseltown." The Black actors and entertainers have penetrated, but their yellow fellow actors have yet to go beyond barely visible roles as extras, sidekicks, voiceless, yello Thug # 2, "China dolls" menial roles. And it appears that our yellow movie directors who have successfully "whitestream" have not pushed hard enough to expand the euro-cultural warp-zone. I give up.
Many should consider going EAST instead of sticking it out with Hollywood.
The last insult, the movie "21", based on the real life story of Jeff Ma, who with his team of MIT brainiacs succeeded in beating the odds in Las Vegas, saw a switcheroo using a White actor, Jim Sturgess, as the star of the movie. Apparently, Sony Studios, darn Japanese owners, are too much into that "honorary whitehood" stuff that they forgot Sony is Japanese.
A movie about "Math, MIT, and gambling" and they won't allow an Asian play the real heavy role, based on a true real life story of Jeff Ma, an Asian American? All under the pretext of "bankability" because movies with Asian actors don't sell ?
Give us a break ! And we will show you Hollywood dudes our tiny penises ! What a crock of chow fun and egg rolls !
For a sampling of some Asian men angry about the racist casting excluding the real life characters of the story ensemble, visit :http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/03/racist-casting-and-21.html
Here we are in 2008, and Asians are still taking this bullshit from Hollywood Tinseltown.
Listen ! Jet Li and Jackie Chan just starred in their latest - THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM.
According to movie critics, it takes the last 40 years of Chinese martial arts cinema and condenses it into a streamlined fantasy story, light on depth yet overshadowed by many strengths including fierce screen fighting from action director Yuen Wo-ping, a phenomenal action and comedy pairing of Jet Li and Jackie Chan and gorgeous cinematography from Peter Pau. The film is also a lavish visual showcase for two of Asia’s most beautiful women of the moment, Liu Yifei and Li Bingbing.
My advice from Spatium Trientis, to my fellow Asians now working in and trying into Hollywood, as extras in menial roles as Thug # 2, China dolls, and chop chop kung phooey villains, Go East. Go Asia. Go China. Don't waste time attempting to break down those racist doors in LA LA land.
South Korea has a vibrant movie industry. China's resurgent art and film community in place gaining momentum.
Forget Hollywood and Tinseltown. Go Asia, head East, and you won't regret it.
The rich vein of story plots, the stunning locations, the fascinating stories and cultures in Asia's rich history and cultural narratives have yet to be plombed, explored and shown in films.
Ang Lee has not even begun to make his best films yet. And after Zhang Yi Mou, there is more to come from China's new generation of artists and film professionals.
This is the Asia-Pacific Century. And to many of us straddled between East and West, we see the future. And it is there.
Go East, Young Man. Go East Young Woman. You will find that your talents are much better appreciated in the non-Western world. And the synergy of mixing East and West where you are in the creative "Driver's Seat" will be much more exhilirating.
Many Asian-Americans who have left and gone over to Asia have done fabulously well. Remember the World of globalization is upon us. Have suitcase, will travel.
