Turning Japanese

[nesuphyn]

Above is a recording of an excellent interview with my personal role model George Takei. There's this other guy too, but I don't know what's the deal with him.

Growing up as an Asian-American in the 80's I didn't have many asian role models on TV. It was mostly just George Takei and Martin Yan. (This may explain why I like cooking and Sci-Fi so much

Comments

[sleepy_bird]

Part of me understands this yet part of me wonders why anybody would care about the racial makeup of the Dragonball Z movie, because it is a story based on a cartoon about some dudes punching each other in the sky

[nesuphyn]

Well, it's not that anyone consuming the movie really cares, but it sets up an odd precedent for Asian-American actors.

"I can't cast you for this role because you haven't been in enough lead roles in movies"
"There are never lead roles available in Hollywood, and when there are, Asians are never cast as them."
"Well that's not our fault is it."

[sleepy_bird]

I guess maybe it is very sad that Asian people must be disappointed about losing roles in movies based on cartoons and video games aimed toward children, there should be Asian people in stuff that is not based on programs aired on Nickolodeon

[nesuphyn]

Of course this is bringing up the question I've had for awhile. Why was Tom Cruise in the movie "The Last Samurai" other than to have a character the audience could relate to. (Marketing shows that Americans can't relate to Asians.)