Comments on: Am I “retarded” for making Asian American films?

By: We need more balance in Asian American media « doorhalfopen

We need more balance in Asian American media « doorhalfopen — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:42:20 +0000

[...] things are looking up, and the reason is financial. This is in contrast with what Justin Lin wrote just a couple of years ago about Asian American films in general. In his blog entry, Justin received rather discouraging [...]

By: Are we too focused on Asian American entertainment, and not enough on Asian Americans in entertainment? « doorhalfopen

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:47:36 +0000

By: watwat

watwat — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 11:32:43 +0000

Just make films. Do you think the mainstream calls their movies White-American films?

Stop attaching labels to everything and you might just broaden your audience.

By: Does Asian America Need a Brand Makeover? | Nanoomi.net

Does Asian America Need a Brand Makeover? | Nanoomi.net — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 10:17:33 +0000

[...] current situation is such that, from an financial vantage point, you would have to be “retarded” to be making Asian American [...]

By: Fixing the Asian-American Culture Machine | subject object verb

Fixing the Asian-American Culture Machine | subject object verb — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 01:58:23 +0000

[...] situation of the industry is that, from an financial vantage point, you would have to be “retarded” to make Asian American [...]

By: The Two Percent Solution and Building Asian American Arts | bigWOWO

The Two Percent Solution and Building Asian American Arts | bigWOWO — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 05:34:05 +0000

[...] about how we need Asian Americans to support Asian American art. He links Justin Lin’s YOMYOMF essay on how he’s lost money on Asian American films, as well as Oliver Wang’s Two Percent [...]

By: Anthony

Anthony — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:42:58 +0000

Justin,
I understand how you feel. You grow up in a culture that is not adequately represented by Hollywood and you want to validate your experience and perspectives through your craft. My homeland was not recognized as a country until the 1990 and only get to see a cultural representation if an actor makes the leap, like ER or if you hit the film festivals that cater to foreign films. But rarely is the American experience of my nationality represented.

Better Luck Tommorw was a great movie because is translated your Asian experience through a unique and interesting story which a lot of people could relate to. Now you could sell out and do Jackie Chan movies or you go broke and self finance but I would compromise by putting your story in a vehicle that attracts Hollywood (through their greed) as well as gives you a way to relate your experience and tell non-stereotypical asian stories.

One example is sports movies. Jeremy Lin is the first American born Asian to play in the NBA. He played basketball at Harvard and it now a hero at Golden State as there are many Asian American basketball fans in the Bay Area. It is an amzing story that is uniquely Asian and truly American, and I feel could make a great movie when you look at the factors. It is more of a Rudy than a Rocky but both of those movies were great, and well received by wide audiences.

If you can make it happen, and need a sterotypical Croatian-American for the next door neighbor, please let me know.

Good Luck!

By: No Love for Asians at the Oscars? So What? | You Offend Me You Offend My Family

Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:08:23 +0000

[...] Is it naive to have this attitude? Well, perhaps as my fellow Offender Justin previous wrote, it is “retarded” to actually want to make Asian American projects and maybe we’ll crash and burn and fail miserably, but so fucking what?! In the end, I think [...]

By: PAM

PAM — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 10:24:24 +0000

Growing up here in the states, SF to be precise, and watching tons of TV, I always felt uneasy about there never being Asians on TV speaking English. Then came BLT and I was excited and totally into it, expressing my joy loudly at the theater watching it. Seeing yourself or others who look like yourself portrayed positively on TV and on the big screen does have a beneficial impact on us in that it gives us confidence and reassurance of our place in society.
With the advent of affordable HD recording devices and easy distribution on cyberspace, perhaps we can circumvent the traditional means of distribution so that those who want to watch Asian American films can!!!

By: Thom

Thom — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:37:14 +0000

I have always seen the lack of Asian American specific products of any type as a byproduct of how well Asians have assimilated to American culture, and I see that as a good thing.
I view it as a bad thing that Blacks and Hispanics have created a separate culture, based on the color of their skin.
And I would also view it as a bad thing, if Asian Americans were to divide themselves away from American culture and ghetto-ize themselves.
To many damn hyphens.