A CSUMB webinar addresses Asian representation in film

By Walter Ryce

Organizers from CSU Monterey Bay convened three panelists from various facets of the film industry to talk about the state of “Asian Representation in American Cinema.”  

The Zoom webinar, which took place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 20, was the second annual event hosted by the CSUMB faculty and staff co-op Building Community Through Dialogue, and provided context behind films such as “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” which won prestigious mainstream awards. 

The panelists included Michelle Sugihara, executive director of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment; Gordon Ho, a board member of CAPE; and Eve Oishi, an Associate Professor of Cultural Studies at Claremont Graduate University. 

“I watched the Oscars with great delight when ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ swept the awards,” Oishi said. “It was a landmark moment in Asian American film. And a long time coming for its two stars.” 

Oishi provided historical context, showing still images of Asians in film, from the early years of cinema in the late 1800s, through to the silent-film era. 

She said that large numbers of those early films have been lost to fires or decomposition, and film scholars have had to rely on print and newspaper sources to recreate the historical record.

Sugihara said her organization, comprised of industry professionals, was founded by Asian American executives who wanted to increase representation and authenticity. And that effort can begin before the cameras are turned on.  

“Representation starts on the page, with a script,” Sugihara said. “Our alumni have written on 60 shows, like 'Lord of the Rings,' 'The Good Doctor,' 'Pachinko, Dave.'” 

CAPE is branching out into animation to increase the Asian names in the “coveted director or producer slot.” And it has  begun focusing on executive positions. 

“They’re important because they are the green lighters," said Sugihara. "It’s important for people who look like us and know our stories to be on that side of the table.”

CAPE board member Ho was a former head of marketing at Disney Home Entertainment. He pointed out that a co-founder of CAPE was Wenda Fong, former TV producer and current chair of the CSU Board of Trustees. 

From left: Gordon Ho, Michelle Sugihara, Eve Oishi

Ho said that in many Asian families, parents may not be supportive of their children seeking a career in entertainment. And so it’s important to have that support network elsewhere. 

“It’s critical because it’s about who you know, networking, providing support,” Ho said. 

He said he was proud of the success of films like “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Mulan,” and “Parasite," and the TV sitcom “Fresh Off the Boat,” and that it’s important to support such works. 

“It’s a business, so you need to generate return. [We] have to be advocates. … Success creates success," Ho said.

He later cited “Squid Game” and K-pop as cultural phenomena that have helped open doors. 

In the question-and-answer portion, Sugihara seconded that, exhorting young people to “come and network” and “don’t give up.” 

Oishi said, “History tells us that Asian Americans have never been invited in, but have made a space for themselves.”

She cited a “landmark” Filipino-American film, “The Debut,” which the filmmakers and producers screened themselves at movie theaters, tapping their own community networks to fill seats. 

The panelists agreed that mentorship was important for young people trying to break into the film industry, as well as perseverance. 

“You’re going to hear ‘No’ more than ‘Yes,’” Ho said. “You have to have grit.”

Phuong Nguyen, CSUMB associate professor and chair of the School of Humanities and Communication, spoke near the end of the hour-long webinar. 

He recounted some of the plot of a two-person play called “Yankee Dawg You Die,” in which a veteran Asian actor and an up-and-coming Asian actor discuss the merits of playing stereotypes to get work. 

He said that in addition to independent, arthouse movies, popular and light movies made by Asian filmmakers with Asian casts are needed. 

“‘Paper Tiger’ is about three middle-aged Asian American men who used to be kung-fu masters in their heyday,” Nguyen said. “It’s great we have these types of films that are not so serious as well.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said. 

The webinar was emceed by Vanessa Lopez-Littleton, associate professor and department chair of Health, Human Services and Public Policy. The moderator was Lynnette Lathrop, an administrative analyst in CSUMB’s College of Business. 

Brian Corpening, the associate vice president for Inclusive Excellence, closed the event, saying, “Education is a never-ending journey. … When we open up our minds, the whole world is possible.”