somekoreanchick on Xanga

Weblog

Thursday, 14 August 2008

Minority Actors + Hollywood = What?

* I was going to post about my fear of aging (coming soon) or how I recently ran into an old crush but tonight’s dinner discussion was too interesting to not share – let me know what you think (or maybe it’s just interesting to me because of my field of work).

Tonight, I went to dinner with a bunch of people who work in film/TV. One of the girls there is an aspiring actress of Asian descent. She recently turned down a disgusting and stereotypical role in a movie (I read the scenes, and yes folks, it’s BAD – she would have played an Asian hooker with broken English who gives blowjobs). After we all admired her for her integrity in wanting to choose roles of substance, I then broke out into a rant (another somekoreanchick rant) about how much I hate the movie Sixteen Candles because of the “Long Duck Dong” character and how the role created long lasting ramifications that still exist today.

Let it be known that I have ZERO (make that sub-zero) respect for the actor who portrayed him and that he’s fooling himself if he thinks that he has any reason to be proud of that shitty and mortifying role. If every Asian male actor turned that garbage down, that role may have never come to fruition on film. I can’t even imagine watching that movie with a bunch of people and being the only Asian in the room.

I get that struggling actors have it tough. Hollywood is a cutthroat town and many people are competing for that paycheck or that opportunity that will make them a star. It’s even harder for minority actors with integrity because they got to find roles without having to sell out.

So the question that was posed tonight was whether or not minority actors (Asian, Black, Muslim, Latino, etc.) have a responsibility in turning down offensive or demeaning roles that only perpetuate more stereotypes or unfair/inaccurate/negative images.

Popular/Common images that we’ve seen on TV:
Asian men: nerdy/asexual/foreign/geek + accent
Asian women: exotic/foreign/dates white men + accent
Black men: gang members, ignorant, thugs, criminals
Black women: ignorant, uneducated, crazy, sexualized
Latino men: see Black men category + a slight accent (and usually wears a white wife beater)
Latino women: overtly sexual and uneducated (with boobs hanging out)
Muslims: terrorists, untrustworthy

And that’s just off the top of my head.

Should actors turn down these kinds of roles? Angela Bassett turned down Halle Berry’s Academy award winning role in MONSTER'S BALL because she deemed it to be offensive towards black women.

Angela said: "I couldn't do that because it's such a stereotype about black women and sexuality…Film is forever. It's about putting something out there you can be proud of 10 years later.” She adds, ''It wasn't the role for me...I would love to have an Oscar. But it has to be for something I can sleep with at night.''

Do minority actors have a social responsibility or should they just look out for themselves? What’s your brutally honest opinion?

PS: check out www.angryasianman.com for info on the Olympic/Spanish basketball team controversy. I didn’t even know about this until a reader pointed it out. Now, the TENNIS team in Spain has hit back again with the chinky eyes. Classy. Real Classy.
PPS: Next entry is definitely about my fear of aging. It's keeping me up at nights, which is why I am blogging at this hour

* Edit - interesting responses. One thing that I would like to note is that I don't believe that minority actors are in the same boat as Caucasian actors. A white actor can play a 1-dimensional character and it won’t negatively other white actors (or white people) because there are so many different roles out there. Black, Asian, Latino or Muslim representation on screen is nowhere near as diverse. I think that Asians (and other minorities) are (rightfully) sensitive about what is put out there because our community has SUCH LITTLE representation and when actors portray demeaning or stereotypical roles, this does nothing but perpetuate more ignorance and prejudice. Agreed?

Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Chris Brown & Mel Gibson

Chris Brown and Mel Gibson: What do they have in common? I guess nothing. I just feel like posting about them. Do you concur with my opinions? Read on.

Chris Brown – I went to a show where he was performing and ladies who were 10 years older than him were going bananas. Yeah, I’d be laughing too except I was one of them   He's still like a teenager, right? I don't even think he's legal to drink yet.

He’s definitely here to stay. He is the perfect teen idol – good looks, charm, insanely talented, catchy ass songs and a wholesome yet edgy style.

And I can’t get that David Banner song out of my head. Chris Brown looks hot in the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl3rucU4gzM

Is life good for this kid or what? He’s got everything right now – his youth, his blazing career, tons of money, and plenty of girls. Enjoy it, Chris. You’ll be around for awhile…unless you do or say something stupid, which you probably won’t. However, fame can be a bitch and it can turn on you at any second…which brings me to Mel Gibson.

Working in Hollywood, I do get some perks (if you can call it that). I had the privilege of reading Mel’s next acting project and damn, it’s pretty good. Bear in mind that 99% of the scripts I read are utter garbage so this was a pleasant surprise. Although he has a loyal fan base, he has become so controversial and divisive the past few years, some people wonder if he can make an acting comeback. He was offered a role in THE DEPARTED but had to turn it down because of directing obligations to APOCALYPTO.  It's a shame because THE DEPARTED had an all star cast, a notable director, and a stellar story (which by the way, was a remake of the Hong Kong film, INFERNAL AFFAIRS).

I am a fan of Mel’s. I met him very briefly a few years back and he was gracious, approachable and very kind. I think he’s a tortured artist with demons that he battles everyday. I cringed when I heard about the DUI and to this day, I defend THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST – sorry, I just didn’t think it was anti-Semitic (although his DUI clearly was). I still wish him the best. Chris Rock once said that Mel put it all out there - his money, his reputation, and his career just to make his own statement and that is what true art is about.

It sucks that he was booed at a Lakers game when he was with his kid. People are so fucking rude    And that shit never would have happened 10 years ago.

Fame and adoration – they both can be fleeting.

Monday, 11 August 2008

Let Me Clarify the White Guy post

Haha. I am not sure what the hell just happened but apparently, my old blog entry on Why I will Never Date a White Guy got over 30,000 views and more than 950+ comments this past weekend

I come into work this morning and check my blog (something I had not done the past few days b/c I've been ridiculously busy) and my jaw dropped when I saw that there were over 950 comments on the White Guy entry. I haven't even read all the comments yet but there are a couple of points that I would like to clarify for anyone who cares -

* The below is dedicated to all the idiots who clearly didn't read or comprehend my entry. Let me break it down for you again:

1. I don't believe that wanting to date someone of your own ethnicity/race/religion is the same thing as discriminating against people of your own ethnicity/race/religion. It's just not. And you're a moron if you think it is.

2. I never said that I have anything against interracial dating/marriage. What I said is that I have nothing against dating someone outside your race/religion/ethnicity/etc if you just happen to fall in love with someone outside your own group. What I DO think is pathetic are people who buy into stereotypes AGAINST THEIR OWN ethnic/racial group and proceed to then discriminate against your group. This to me is self-loathing to some extent.

3. I clearly noted what MY experiences were. I never proclaimed that everyone who dates outside their race is a sell out. Also, I do think that Asian guys have it harder in this country and I give any woman who is not Asian props for being able to see past stereotypes of Asian males (esp since a lot of asian women themselves can't seem to do the same). Asian women have always been seen as the "Me Love You Long Time White Man" kinda girl while Asian men have been desexualized by american media, which is why I don't think non-Asian women who date Asian guys is the same exact thing as a Asian woman dating a white guy. To say that would be to dismiss history of our culture, media and experiences.

4. My comment on being THAT girl meant that I didn't want to be lumped into that group of self-loathing girls that I am inherently against. I don't give a shit what you think about me SO LONG AS what you are going by is factually true. In my own experience (and experiences of many others I know) asian girls who do date white guys exclusively tend to think and act like Esther Ku (that obnoxious Asian comic whose youtube link I posted on my old entry). And yeah, I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT want to be seen as something resembling anything to an Esther Ku. Example - an Asian woman said to me the other day that "the thought of being with an Asian makes my skin crawl." In my experience, it is THESE kinds of women who tend to be the ones that are seen with white guys and that is NOT who I am. And I wouldn't want to be seen as someone like that because it is simply NOT ME. But that is NOT the reason why I prefer Korean/Asian guys and if that's all you got from my entry, you clearly didn't read my entire entry.

5. Finally, if you read my entry with a functioning brain and it still offends you, well.. go back and read my disclaimer. And my question to you is how the hell did you pass Reading Comp in the third grade? Cuz you clearly didn't understand my points, which were pretty cut and dry.

Thanks to everyone for defending my post. I've noticed a trend so far on the kind of people who found my post offensive and those who agreed with what I said. Everyone's perspective is going to differ depending on what life experiences you've had or even what kind of personality you hold. I am glad that my entry was at least able to spark some discourse and bring to light an Asian American woman's perspective that differs from what is shown in mainstream media.

Now, I really got to get back to work....

* Edit - No, my coworker was surprised that I would want to date a Korean or an Asian guy. That sentiment was echoed by my other coworkers and yes, to this day, it's brought up and not because they feel as though I am excluding other races but because they can't believe I would be attracted to an Asian. This isn't my paranoia - this was told directly to my face on multiple occasions, which is probably where a lot of my anger came from in my initial post (which was an unapologetic "fuck you" to anyone, including other asian women, who stereotype men of my race).

Lastly -those who completely misconstrued my original entry might want to learn how to fucking read before commenting (this is invaluable advice that I suggest you apply in your everyday life). I clearly said IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE and I also stated the word "preferred." I noticed that I struck a nerve with the naive, the ignorant, the self-loathing folks, or those who simply are illiterate.

To the many people who "got it", much love back to you.

Sunday, 20 July 2008

The Dark Knight...

Who saw this? I tried to watch this but every decent showing in Los Angeles was sold out this weekend.

I was never a fan of action movies or movies based off of comic book characters. But everyone's been raving about this and of Heath Ledger's performance. My siblings saw the first Batman and said it was amazing.
Who saw this and do you need to see the first one to enjoy the sequel? And who else thinks that Heath's untimely death influenced the HUGE ticket sales this weekend? While I am sure that this film would have done great even without Heath's death, I can't help but think morbid curiosity also played a factor in sales.
Heath's death was shocking.... some people from my work knew him and said he was a nice guy. RIP, Heath.

Friday, 18 July 2008

Yoo Seung Jun... Part II

Ha. I was just talking about him, wondering what ever happened to the guy (see older entry).

I was surfing and found out that he just signed with JACKIE CHAN'S management company and is "training to be an action hero" (courtesy of allkpop.com). I know that he's a controversial figure in the korean community and I understand why people were offended by his actions to be a US citizen but I also think it was his personal choice. He mistakenly thought the 2 year absence would affect his career when in reality, not going to the army is what was career suicide. Well, I wish him the best. I actually think that he's genuinely a good guy.