I recently did an interview with writer/director Sang Kyu Kim, actor Kelvin Han Yee, and actress Megan Lee of the TV series Crash. Here's what they had to say about their lives in general and their different perspectives of the media's impact on Asian Americans:
Maimounah: What challenges, if any, do you face as being a writer/director of Asian descent?
Sang: For a writer/director, I think the main chall
enges of getting your vision out there supersede anything regarding being Asian. For all the "isms" in this town, one thing dictates everything else in the end. Money. If you have a project that can move people and/or make money for someone, this town will flock to it regardless of your ethnicity or moral persuasions. Having said that, creating something Asian specific is more difficult than non-Asian material. Some people out there believe there isn't a market for such territory, so they won't go near such material. It's already a challenge to create something that would be highly desirable. If it's Asian-centric, you have to be ready to jump through more hoops to get that project made. It's just not enough that we create projects that involve Asian stories and characters. We have to make sure such material is EXTREMELY exceptional for it to be accepted, so our standards have to be higher than most.
Maimounah: Do you feel that if there is an abundance of Asian writers, directors, and producers on an executive level that Asians will have as much representation in the media as other non-Asians?
Sang: I think having an abundance of ANYTHING Asian would be a great help. In the end it's all about solidarity. Union. We need as many Asians in the business AND in the audience. But that's still not enough. For any progress to be made, we need to speak our minds and push for what we believe in. Again, money dictates this town and this world. If Asians make up a significant chunk of the money spending audience, their voices are louder even in silence. On the professional side, having more Asians in the business is a definite plus. We have many performers, but how many writers, directors, producers, and executives do we have proportionally? There are plenty of Asian artists out there, but there aren't many roles being written for them. And whatever is written for them tends to be on the caricature side unfortunately. And if there are well-rounded roles out there, the ones in control won't jump at the chance of having an Asian in there as a first choice because there's a fear of the unknown.
Maimounah: What is your philosophy about why there aren't that many lead roles available for Asians?
Sang: A few reasons. There aren't as many Asian writers/directors/producers/executives to create these roles. But it's not just about creating roles for Asians. Roles in general that are not ethnic specific should be open to all races. I would love to see an Asian be a lead on a show where the lead doesn't have to be a specific ethnicity. When that happens, things will change for the better. Unfortunately, there's this fear of the unknown. People don't know how American audiences will react to an Asian lead. Someone needs to break that barrier, and that'll require help on all fronts from directors, writers, performers, executives, and audiences. Right now, Asians are the sidekicks or the mascots in shows and films. They're either the silent concubine or the asexual dj hipster who speaks in punch lines. Having said all that, we also need the general public to demand to see more diversity. Until people speak up, no one is going to do anything. People in power tend to do what they want until they're FORCED to do otherwise. People need to be more vocal AND more active. If people don't care enough to act on it, why should those in power?
Maimounah: How did you become a writer on the Crash series and what was it like working on Season 1? What do you have in store for Season 2?
Sang: I was fortunate to meet Glen Mazzara while I attended the CBS Writers Mentoring Program. He responded to my work, and we stayed in touch. When he became show runner of CRASH, he put me up for the staff writing position. I've always said that all it takes is one person, and luckily for me I met Glen Mazzara. I'm no longer with the show now, so I'm not familiar with the storylines for Season 2.
Maimounah: What upcoming projects do you have in store?
Sang: Earlier this year, I finished a feature called, JONES, which is based on the adopted son of the Reverend Jim Jones. The true story follows Jim Jones, Jr. and how basketball saved and redeemed his unbelievable life. I was very fortunate to have received that assignment, and we'll hopefully get a great director to bring it to life.
On the television front, I have a few things in the works. Can't go into detail about them quite yet, but hopefully I can get them up and running in the near future. Then who knows? Maybe I can try to put some Asians up for the lead. Whether or not it actually happens is up to the support of others.
Maimounah: What challenges have you faced as being an actor of Asian descent and what have you done personally to overcome those challenges?
Kelvin: Well artistically I am challenged by all the same things that any artist faces. What poses the toughest challenge for an actor of Asian descent in Hollywood is that of “employment opportunity”. I wish there were more opportunities for me.
In a perfect world we could be “color blind” with regards to casting. But we can’t be truly “colorblind” at this time in history for most projects. Race carries the weight of archetypes and stereotypes nurtured for the whole of human history. Example: It’s not appropriate (at this time and place in history) for white actors to play black characters. It’s considered by most, at this time, to be in bad taste with or without the use of blackface. As an American actor of Asian descent I am appropriate for only a certain percentage of the acting jobs out there. Those being roles that are either Asian specific or roles where race is not specified but using an Asian actor may be beneficial to the storytelling. For example, we often play scientists or doctors. In a script where race is not specified the Dr. may be played by ANY race. I believe that sometimes the Asian actor books the role of Dr. or scientist because Asians are perceived as intelligent. It may also be true that in real life there are a lot of Asian Dr’s. I am often bound, casting wise, by my perception of what an Asian person is. Example: I’m kind of a big guy. If the script says “big guy” most people don’t automatically think of an Asian guy. ...Until they see the big Asian dude. Sometimes this is due to the narrow mindedness of people...of the audience...of casting directors... but most often cast directors are simply attempting to fulfill the casting needs of the script. They are looking for an archetype. And though I appreciate and advocate for diverse storytelling I can by no means call for an imperative. I must believe in artistic freedom. Sometimes it just is what it is. So partially my job is about opening up peoples preconceptions about what people of specific ethnicities and cultures are really all about. But then, archetypes are the building blocks of good story telling. Ask Joseph Campbell. So we must educate ourselves to see the difference between archetype and stereotype.
Maimounah: What is your philosophy on why there aren't that many lead roles available for Asians at present?
Kelvin: People have a tendency to want to see them on screen, to relate in a personal way to the character on screen. The majority of people in America happen to be white people. So most storytelling is about people who are white. But here’s the thing...when we can see ourselves in characters that aren’t of our same race then we're viewing our universe through enlightened eyes.
Maimounah: How did you get chosen as a cast member for the Crash series and what was it like working on Season 1?
Kelvin: I auditioned for casting directors Saron Bialy and Sherry Thomas. Working on Crash was one of the nicest things to work on ever. I enjoyed beautiful Albuquerque, New Mexico where we shot for Los Angeles. I became friends with Brian Tee of the movie Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift and right after we finished shooting season one we did an episode of Lie To me (FOX) together and a movie called The Wedding Palace as well.
Maimounah: How would you compare your role in Crash to other roles that you have played in the past?
Kelvin: I’ve been lucky to play all kinds of roles in my 25 year career. Heroes, villains, young punks, wise fathers, pigs, Gods, rock stars, doctors, ping-pong players, I’ve done ‘em all.
Mr. Park was a character I’d personally been looking for a long time. I know him. Or rather I know a guy just like him. And I hate the guy. My uncle, my mother’s brother, Steven Louie is to the San Francisco Chinatown community what Mr. Park is to L.A.’s Korea town.
In Crash, Tom Sizemore introduces my character saying, “Some call Mr.Chun Soo Park a pillar of the community. Others say he’s some kind of crime boss. The message is clear. You don’t FUCK with anyone under Mr. Chun Soo Parks’s umbrella”. My Uncle Steven Louie was president of one of the notorious 5 Companies (or Family Associations) in San Francisco. If you’re from San Francisco Chinatown you’d know what I’m talking about. They’ve run Chinatown with an iron fist for generations. My parents didn’t like him or the tyranny. My father was one of the first Asians to work in the County Court system in San Francisco. He worked on the other side of the “law” line. My dad was a stand up guy and we moved out of Chinatown to get away from all that. So for me playing this loathsome character is personal. I did it for my parents, for Chinatown, and for Korea town. There are really people like this in our communities. Playing Mr. Park was an exorcising exercise. And he was fun to play. He is a multidimensional guy.
Maimounah: Will your returning role for Season 2 be the same as the previous season?
Kelvin: The producers of Crash have taken the show in a new direction. Season 2 will pick up around ten months from the season 1 finale. I have not yet been booked for season 2.
Maimounah: Do you believe that the images of Asians on screen are any different from the images that were portrayed of Asians decades ago? If so, how different?
Kelvin: In my 25 years in this industry I have seen things change for the better for Asian American actors. Roles for Asians in Hollywood have improved and there are more of them. Young AAPI actors just starting in the business have ten times the opportunities I had back in the day. The perception of race in our country has changed. We see fewer stereotypical and demeaning Asian characters.
Maimounah: Over the years of your acting career, what were some of your favorite roles to portray and why?
Kelvin: I will always be fond of Paul Fang in 1986’s A Great Wall (MGM). It was my first movie. My first starring role. It was the first American feature film to shoot in the Peoples Republic of China. I’ve been privileged to originate characters in Philip Kan Gotanda’s Yankee Dawg You Die and Fish Head Soup. My Mercrutio in Romeo and Juliet did Silat knife fighting and Escrima stick fighting. That was cool. My Jacob Marley’s Ghost in Christmas Carol pulled his chains using Tadashi Susuki’s Buto techniques. I like to bring some kind of Asian element into western classics.
Maimounah: What are your plans for the near future career wise?
Kelvin: I just changed agents so it’s kind of like starting up a new business. I will be seen on Eastwick (ABC) Wednesday September 30 @ 10pm.
I am currently in rehearsal for the world premiere of GRACE KIM & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS, a new comedy written specifically to serve as Lodestone’s last show before the critically-acclaimed Asian American theater company permanently closes its doors at the end of 2009.
Inspired by classic screwball comedies, GRACE KIM & THE SPIDERS FROM MARS tells the story of Grace, a young Korean American woman, who has withdrawn from the world after the death of her mother ten years ago. But Grace’s life is thrown upside down when she meets her sister’s fiancé and falls in love with him.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lodestone_Theatre_Ensemble
Maimounah: How did you become a cast member on the Crash series and what was it like working on Season 1?
Megan: Well, first of all I am so grateful of being a member on this series.
When I auditioned for this project, I was super excited and a bit nervous at the same time...my mom and acting coaches have helped me to understand my character better. As you've seen, my role as Ji-Sun was in a quiet, dramatic situation which I never experienced. When I went in, I just did my best and had fun! A couple of hours later, my mom received a call from my agent that I was on hold! Then, a day later, I booked the job!
Working on Season 1 was so amazing! Everyone on the set was so talented, professional, and super great! My story line was a little sad.. but I had so much fun playing the role and I didn't want to leave set!
Maimounah: Will you be returning for Season 2?
Megan Sadly, no. I could have returned to the second season if they had kept the Asian story in this series.
Maimounah: What was it like working with the actorBrian Tee?
Megan: It was so AWESOME! he's a very talented actor to work with and he made my scene become so comfortable like my oppa (older brother).
Maimounah: Who is the next actor that you want to work with and why?
Megan: Will Smith and Julie Andrews. They have been my inspiration since forever. It would be a great honor to work with them if possible.
Maimounah: How do you feel about the lack of many lead roles available for Asians at present?
Megan: To tell the truth I think it’s a bit unfair. These days, we are living in the society where everyone is mixed in many different ways like school! And there are so many talented Asian actors who can bring more reality of our lives in the community into TV and films, lacking lead roles are a bit disappointing. I heard that is the reality of Hollywood! I believe that gradually it’s changing.. and hopefully this situation would get better by the time I get a little older. There will be more lead roles available in the future thanks to many Asian actors in the industry who are working so hard to make this happen!!
Maimounah: In your opinion, what do you think needs to be done to change the lack of large Asian representation in the media?
Megan: "Vote" and "Express your opinions" like what you are doing!! I think that could change our will power in many different areas including entertainment industry as Hispanics are becoming more visible in our country than ever before! Remember, our mayor of the city of Los Angeles is of Latino descent!! I would love to see a Mayor or Governor of Asian descent soon in our state of California!!!
Maimounah: Do you think that it is easier for an Asian actor of your age to get more roles in the film industry compared to Asian actors of a much older age?
Megan: Well I never thought of that, but I don't think so because there are not many theatrical auditions for my age groups which is "Tween". Maybe it could change if I am older like 15 or 16. I need to grow more!!!
Maimounah: What are your favorite hobbies?
Megan: I love watching movies and Korean dramas in my spare time, it helps my Korean language skill. I love writing, playing music, and anime drawing.
Maimounah: Do you have any special talents?
Megan: I can sing and dance! People call it a "Triple Threat".
Maimounah: Where do you want to see yourself five years from now in your career?
Megan: Hmmm, I will be 18 in 5 yrs! I want to see myself as the Asian Abigail Breslin who actually works hard as an actor not as an instant TV or film star! Some child actors want stardom like being one of the famous Disney characters, but I want to be recognized as a good actress for the rest of my acting career. I always finding ways to improve my acting skills to prepare myself for a good role when that comes. I hope that comes soon! I want to see myself continuing to pursue my passion and become a good role model for the Asian community where many other young Asian kids could become good assets for our society doing many different works with pride!!
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