Asian actors should play Asian roles, Cho said in a statement to EW on Friday evening.
I am grateful that the debate has now entered the national discussion and remain a huge fan of Tildas.
Cho added, It was so weird …
Credit: Anthony Harvey/Getty Images; Angela Weiss/Getty Images
I was like, B, I cant tell them ….
I dont have a yellow phone under a cake dome.
The conversation made Cho feel like a house Asian, she said.
Like Im her servant … like I was following her with an umbrella.
I am told that you are aware of this.
I would really love to hear your thoughts and have a private conversation about it.
Are you up for this?
She added, I am as sick as anybody at the lack of a properly diverse cinematic universe.
Oh like, I have a black friend, I can do this,' Lee chimed in.
The emails painted a slightly different picture.
I hope and believe it will.
Read Swinton and Chos full email exchange (reproduced with their permission) below.
The diversity debate ALL STRENGTH to it has come knocking at the door of Marvels new movie DR STRANGE.
I am told that you are aware of this.
I would really love to hear your thoughts and have a private conversation about it.
Are you up for this?
No wrong answer here.
Tell me to fuck off if you feel like it.
Im a big fan of yours since orlando!
Well, what do you know so far?
I can tell you from my perspective whats happening!
The larger part of the debate has to do with the whitewashing of Asian and Asian Americans in film.
Protest seems to be the only solution- we just want more representative images of ourselves in film.
TV is getting better in terms of diversity but film is lagging behind.
Anyway hope this helps!
We can totally email and we can be private!
Best, m
Thank you so much for your reply!
So grateful to have a chance to chew this cud with you.
Heres the situation I reckon Marvel was in.
The film like any film adaptation is a riff on the books.
They cast Chiwetel Ejiofor as the second lead a white Transylvanian in the books.
And wrote a significant Asian character to be played by Benedict Wong.
Presumably on Ancient grounds.
I am as sick as anybody at the lack of a properly diverse cinematic universe.
So
How best might we focus this thing?
To offer intelligent and empowered thinking.. And see something constructive coming out of this moment?
Ducking the issue is not what I am about.
I want to meet it, but, if possible, move things forward by how I meet it.
the most significant and damaging misunderstanding out there, it seems.
Beyond that, I dont feel it appropriate for me to add anything, certainly at this point.
The debate is so important for all of us.
It needs to build itself on strong ground.
Hopefully that comes up more when the film comes out and is finally brought to audiences!
Social media has grown to the point where we can use it effectively to express well whatever.
And its not just you Its also directed at Scarlett Johanssen for Ghost in the Shell.
Id even suggest getting into producing content that would give Asian American voices a platform?
Thats really what is being asked for.
Asian Americans feel as if we have no place in film and so we want one to be created.
I cant thank you enough for this.
It really helps me sort out the lay of the land.
I hope and believe it will..
Sent: Fri, 13 May 2016 22:30
Hey thats great about OKJA!
