Emerson College Library: AANHPI Heritage Month: Acting and the Film Industry

Books at Emerson

Asian American Actors by Joann Faung Jean Lee
Many of the roles available for Asians today tend to be stereotypical: kung-fu sidekicks, emasculated or gang-member males, sexually accessible females, comic characters with a poor command of English. Seldom are Asian actors cast in race-neutral roles. Despite these obstacles, many excellent Asian actors continue to seek their places on screen and stage. This analysis of Asian American opportunities and experiences in the acting profession features the narratives of both aspiring and established Asian-American actors, providing a detailed examination of the opportunities, prejudices, and fears they face and the goals they set for themselves.
Indian Accents by Shilpa S. Davé
In American media, South Asians vacillate between being cast as racially foreign while simultaneously being praised as a model minority because they are highly educated, speak English, and can economically succeed in America. In American cinema and television, Shilpa Davé serves how contemporary images of South Asians build upon, modify, and at times diverge from previous stereotypes of Asian Americans as immigrants and model minorities
Performing Asian America by Josephine Lee
At a time when Asian American theater is enjoying a measure of growth and success, Josephine Lee tells us about the complex social and political issues depicted by Asian American playwrights. By looking at performances and dramatic texts, Lee argues that playwrights produce a different conception of Asian America in accordance with their unique set of sensibilities. Discussed are better-known plays such as Frank Chin's "The Chickencoop Chinaman," David Henry Hwang's "M. Butterfly," and Velina Hasu Houston's "Tea," and new works like Jeannie Barroga's "Walls" and Wakako Yamauchi's "12-1-a.""

Media @ Emerson

Long Story Short
As presented by their daughter Jodi Long, the story of Larry and Trudie Long, successful stage and screen actors who also headlined a popular husband-and-wife act of the '40s and '50s. The film provides a personal family history that also examines the racist attitudes and cultural difficulties that Asian-Americans face.
You Don't Know Jack: The Jack Soo Story
You Don't Know Jack tells the fascinating story of pioneering American entertainer, Jack Soo, an Oakland native who became the first Asian American to be cast in the lead role of a television series. Soo's life experiences and acting resume caused him to speak out against negative ethnic portrayals and even led him to refuse roles that were demeaning to Asian Americans.
More Than a Face in the Crowd: The Fifty Year Career of Asian American Actress Jane Chung
A filmmaker explores the life of her great-aunt, Jane Chung, an actress who made a career for herself at a time when Asian-Americans faced widespread racism in Hollywood. Through the story of Jane Chung's life and career, More Than a Face in the Crowd reveals a larger untold story of Asian-American actors and extras in Hollywood.
Hollywood Chinese
History of Chinese American participation in the film industry, from the first Chinese American film produced in 1917 to contemporary directors, writers, and actors. Includes clips from over 90 films, including some believed to be lost before this documentary uncovered them.