Asian-Americans Demand to be Represented in Films

Hollywood is a tough place to get accustomed to. Not everyone can become a movie star overnight, like so many would like to hope it would. You got to have the right looks, the right figure, the right everything basically. Asian-Americans on the other hand haven't really broken into Hollywood fame. Unlike actors like Lee Byung Hun (G.I. Joe), Lucy Liu (Charlie's Angels), Bruce Lee (Fist of Fury) and Jackie Chan (The Karate Kid), many other Asian actors find it hard to find a role in such a uniform film industry. Slowly but steadily, Asian-American actors have been breaking into mainstream media, with shows such as Fresh Off The Boat, which features an entirely Asian cast. Yet, we still see some discrimination as Hollywood is taking Asian characters and instead of using Asian actors, they change the role to fit a white actor. This can be seen in the movie Aloha, where actress Emma Stone is portraying a quarter Chinese, quarter Native-American pilot Allison Ng. The popular Japanese manga, Death Note, is set to have an adaptation done, but many are outraged as the hero of the book, Light Yagami, is gonna be played by actor Nat Wolff; someone not of Asian descent whatsoever. We see this a lot in films and TV shows but many of us don't even think twice about it. It's normal, it's just how it is in the industry, we say. Yet, if we don't get diversity now, when will we ever? I feel that in order for us to feel less alone in society and more accepted that we should break the cultural barriers that we've grown so accustomed to. It's time for everyone, no matter race, gender, or sexuality, should be able to be represented the way they see themselves.

For the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/29/movies/asian-american-actors-are-fighting-for-visibility-they-will-not-be-ignored.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0