Comments on: Paramount Pictures & Asian Americans: Tarnished Legacy

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:16:11 +0000

Part of the problem is Asian actors are over represented by under performing managers and agents who are content to type cast their clients in roles that fit the stereotype. From time to time projects do crop up that requires an actor, or director to step up to the plate and what I have found is that on one hand the above article is very true, and the back of the bus or great wall of Hollywood is there but sometimes an actor or actress just has to step up and dare to take a seat at the front of the bus. As real as it is it is also an illusion that only exists as long as those kept out or roles and those keeping them out of roles agree that it exists. That is why CAA WMEE and ICM only have token Asian clients and few under 40. Asian talent needs less bad representation less over managed careers and better aggressive representation from the smaller boutique firms that hold them back as much as the larger ones keep them out. Micky as Gengas Khan? Somewhere an Asian actors agent is NOT DOING HIS JOB.

By: Paramount Pictures – Diversity in the 21st Century? :: The Last Airbender Movie Casting | Activism at Racebending.com

Sun, 23 May 2010 03:08:56 +0000

[...] took a look at the studio’s early history of casting Asian American actors in lead roles: Paramount Pictures and Asian Americans: A Tarnished Legacy. This article will focus on Paramount Picture’s diversity in terms of their most recent, [...]

By: Theo Shaw

Theo Shaw — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 17:55:42 +0000

i love watching GI Joe, both the cartoon series and the movie. I am hoping that they would make a sequel. ‘

By: mike

mike — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:39:24 +0000

No need to apologize, we appreciate the support!

A little confused, though: are you talking about Ninja Assassin, starring Korean pop star Rain? He isn’t white (or Japanese).

By: Sasha

Sasha — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:51:04 +0000

Seri makes a good point – American films have not given anything new in decades. There is no longer a surprise ending or any depth or really any sort of depth in American films. I wonder, where do you find Asian films to watch?

It is especially sad to me that Last Airbender COULD have been such an amazing, incredible opportunity to promote Asian culture. What a wonderful, wonderful opportunity it could have been, especially given the popularity of the series. I think adults loved the series even more than the kids. The films could have been an opportunity to reach an even larger audience – people who never watched the series.

I recently watched Ninja Assassin with my brothers – half Filipino, fans of the game – and was disgusted by the fact that the protagonist is a white guy adopted by a martial arts dojo and the bad guy is Japanese. SERIOUSLY?!! At this point in time we still have to have a white guy somehow appear in Japan to be our good guy. Japan doesn’t even have ONE guy who could be a hero without immigrating there? Needless to say my brothers were disappointing – I don’t know the story in the videogame.

sorry to ramble on.

By: Seri

Seri — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 06:45:35 +0000

This is why my friends and I have stopped watching Hollywood films altogether.

We have a weekly film series now where we watch films from South Korea, China, and S. America. These films are so much better than anything Hollywood could offer, with more depth and unexpected plots.

By: If Asian women are considered so desirable why no Top Movie Stars? - Great Debates - Page 22 - City-Data Forum

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:15:34 +0000

[...] Asian Roles in the Media, Continued: Where’s the Love? | The International Examiner Paramount Pictures & Asian Americans: Tarnished Legacy :: The Last Airbender Movie Casting | Act… Hollywood and Asians: Why Protests Alone Won’t Change Anything : You Offend Me You Offend My [...]

By: e

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:42:18 +0000

Couldn’t agree more!
Count me as 1 of your #’s.

BTW, the Hughes brothers (“The Book of Eli”) are in final negotiations to write & direct a live action version of “AKIRA”. If anyone can ensure diversity in a film, it’s them.

By: mike

mike — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:21:27 +0000

Thank you for writing – and for all your hard work in an industry that is not welcoming to those who are different.

You absolutely are not “trying in a vacuum.” There is a growing, vocal movement of consumers, fans, and professionals that are tired of whitewashing. A system of bias and complacency has held for a hundred years, but that does not mean it’s the right system – or even the most profitable one. We really, truly believe that the addition of more voices, of more faces, to Hollywood’s landscape will enrich us all.

Will Smith isn’t some rare diamond in the rough, a person of color who white Americans can mysteriously relate to. Consumers have moved into the 21st century and it’s time studios followed suit.

By: e

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 03:09:47 +0000

Which is especially sad since the writer & director is M. Night Shamalan.
As an African-Chinese American who has worked in the film/TV business nearly 20 years, the only way to enlist change is to withhold your movie going dollars & be as vocal as possible on the blogs, industry sites, etc. The suits really pay attention to such things.
Unfortunately, currently the #’s are w/in their comfort zones (won’t get them fired) & there really hasn’t been enough public outcry so they do very little towards diversity.

Last week the stats for hiring minority writers/showrunners for TV pilots were released:
Women– 7
Latinos (male or female)– 1
Asians (m or f)– 3
African Americans– 0
http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/women-cant-create-and-white-men-cant-jump-worst-network-pilot-season-for-women-part-2/

& if that isn’t bad enough, read the accompanying comments justifying such bigotry.

As a writer & producer, I’ve been trying for years to get more lead minority presence in front of & behind the camera.
I was told (among other ridiculous reasons/excuses ), “Our audiences don’t want equality, they want Oprah.”

Thanks for an excellent article. It makes me feel @ least I’m not trying in a vacuum.