8 Asians

San Francisco’s National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate KQED had Forum’s Michael Krasny interviewed Director Ang Lee recently after a screening of his soon-to-be-released The Life of Pi at the Mill Valley Film Festival to discuss about adapting novels to film, and about his past works including The Ice Storm and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The trailer for the movie looks visually terrific – let’s hope the movie itself is as well!

In the Q&A call in session, the first question came from an Asian American asking Lee why there weren’t that many Asian Americans in American film today (despite the progress that African Americans and Hispanics have made relatively) and that many roles are very stereotypical (martial arts related). Lee’s answer was pretty blunt – Asian Americans are a minority of a minority. It’s pure numbers. That’s just facts. Lee added that his son just graduated from college and wants to be an actor. Lee’s advice to his son was equally as blunt: “It is difficult…If you want a good part, you are  going to have to write it yourself.” But the director later also added that there have been huge changes even in the past twenty years since the beginning of his own career.