Are they still underrepresented in film, television, and mainstream print media or is it about right? If it's not right, is it just business or something else?

Current Recognizable ladies...

Eva Longoria - television, film
Eva Mendes - film
Jennifer Lopez - music, film, fashion
Penelope Cruz - film
Salma Hayak - film, activism

Gong Li - actress
Zhang Ziyi - actress
Lucy Lu - acress



Current Recognizable fellas...


Bejamin Bratt - film
Javier Bardem - film
Antonio Banderas - film, music
George Lopez - televsion, stand-up

Jackie Chan - film
John Cho - film
Russell Wong - film, television


that Asian dude from Linkin Park (can't remember his name) Dr. Han or something - music
Doug Robb - music, lead singer of Hoobastank

It's not that Asians don't appear in film. They certainly do. And the representation has become more and more 'normal' over time.

But when I see an Asian in a movie I always brace myself expecting to see an impending martial arts scene or some other ridiculous stereotype.

so hollywood and mainstream media only showcases asians in martial arts films. that IS stereotyping alright and they're making money off of it.

DesireeNevermind said:

Well, Asians only comprise 3% of the US population from what I'm told. And by Asians (to my European friends), I'm speaking specifically of the 'Oriental' variety and not the 'Indian' variety. (I know folks who get really piseed off about the use of that word, but we use it in Thailand, and Asians that I know don't take issue with it--it describes the yellow variety of Asians from my point of view)

But anyway, Asians only comprise 3% of the US population. So I understand why we would often get stereotyped. And the stereotypes are now at least not completely offensive or hurtful like they used to be when I was growing up.


So, it's not that I want to see other Asians on T.V.--I honestly don't give a rats ass what race the person is on T.V. But when Asians are shown, it's always refreshing when it's not a kung fu artist or a rocket scientist.

Didn't Alba ask that she not be referred to as Latina?
I don't know if she took it back, but there was some bruhaha about that.

johnart said:

We can take her Latina card away.... we did it Jennifer Lopez.. we decided to let Marc Anthony keep his since he did Hector so damn good

IAintTheOne said:

johnart said:

Tell me im wrong

Don't forget Kal Penn. Although his not acting anymore and doing stuff for Obama but he still did a fair few movies and 2 seasons on House

You forgot Sandra Oh,B.D Wong,Roselyn Sanchez and some others..but there shouldn't be a "quota" for certain races or anything like that.That's what African Americans have been talking about for years.It should be about an equal chance to get roles and hopefully not the stereotypical black,Asian,and Latina

What about Polynesians, y'all must think they are invisible over there, or they are all more represented in Hawaii and New Zealand. Isn't the Rock Samoan. When I say Polynesians, I mean Maori, Hawaiians, Tongans and Samoans.

[pedantic]

Strictly speaking, the term 'Hispanic' doesn't refer to people from Spain, so that gets rid of Cruz, Banderas and Bardem from the list.

[/pedantic]

Imago said:

For that to happen Imago, you need more Asians in positions of power behind the scenes(writers, directors) - like an Asian Spike Lee. Otherwise, it's business as usual in Hollywood.

Funny - I stopped using 'oriental' years ago, because I was told it's offensive. It should be used to describe inanimate objects, not people.

In major Hollywood productions, sure! All minorities are still underrepresented.
Thats why it's nice to break away from those! There are other movies out there

oh and...

DesireeNevermind said:

You forgot...

Keanu Reeves
Ken Wantanabe
Margaret Cho
Maggie Chueng

I'm trying to think of who else I've been accustomed to seeing through the years in mass media ...

Imago said:

I hear ya.

Ottensen said:

I left him out because I think he's managed to convince himself and others that he is white.

thekidsgirl said:

did you see him in the film Blindness? Ooh he was a bad boy.

DesireeNevermind said:

I haven't seen it yet, but I have read about it and I want to see it
Was it a good film?

If we (Hispanics) and Asians want more representation in Hollywood, then we need to get off our butts and;

A) get to WRITING more ethnic-themed screenplays, as opposed to wishing that Hollywood insert ethnic actors into caucasian-penned roles.

B) start SUPPORTING more ethnic-themed movies!!! When a studio releases a major motion film of ethnic content (i.e. "Mí Familia" or "Joy Luck Club") - if every Hispanic or Asian went to go see the film & make it a box-office success, then there would be a reason for the studio to make more of the like (instead of another "Fast & Furious" sequel). OK, so maybe you don't like "serious" epic films? Well, 2003's "Chasing Papi" with a nearly 100% Hispanic cast (including our very own Sheila E as a cameo) was a lighthearted romantic comedy that no one went to see.

here are some ladies off the top of my head

thekidsgirl said:

IMO it started out good then went quickly downhill.

Judy Reyes


Gina Torres


Kat Von D


Paz Vega

.
[Edited 8/19/09 11:03am]

thekidsgirl said:

looks like julia roberts brother...

DesireeNevermind said:

Yeah, it's ratings were very mediocre, but I still need to see it for Gael. I'm sure it can't be so bad. He's never in a bad movie

kimrachell said:

thekidsgirl said:

Huggiebear said:

The Rock is half black and half samoan. There is a Maori actor but I can't recollect his name. He plays everything from a Mexican to an Arab to a Puerto Rican. He's got that kind of look where if you didn't already know what Maori's looked like you wouldn't be able to identify his race. He played a Mexican in Training Day and Blow, then an arab I think in Three Kings.

JessieJ said:

I was waiting for you to chime in!

but he's MINE sista