Searching For Anna May Wong provides a comprehensive overview of the Asian-American experience in Hollywood today. For the most part, the film offers a very half-empty perspective on the issue. Not that the facts don’t warrant this perspective, but that’s how it feels throughout the first half. On the back end, it transitions into taking matters into one’s own hands. Jason Tobin states, “If you want to be part of the club, you’ve got to make your own club.”
As COVID began shutting down the industry, Liu takes this opportunity to develop her personal creativity by writing and directing her own short film. She embraces the fact that you can’t wait for opportunities anymore; you have to make them.
“…a comprehensive overview of the Asian-American experience in Hollywood today.”
The system is still racist, and honestly, that’s not going to change anytime soon. I kept asking myself why anyone would want to work in the big studio system knowing how the “sausage is made.” It still feels like Hollywood only wants diversity to avoid bad PR and, at the same time, will hire only what they think are the pretty people rather than the most talented. It’s an industry still run by greed and vanity, and yet, it’s the dream.
To all our Asian filmmakers and actors, make an independent movie, send it to us at Film Threat, and we’ll review it. We’re here to spotlight new and emerging talent in film. F**k, Hollywood! And check out Searching For Anna May Wong and know you’re not alone out there.
"…check out Searching For Anna May Wong and know you're not alone out there."
