Why Asian Oscar Awards Will Make A Huge Difference

By Jennie L. Ilustre

Watching an Asian film win seven major Oscar awards, and India taking home two Oscars recently, arts advocate Wuiping Yap knew she was witnessing a truly historic moment. The awards will have long-lasting changes in society, she thought. They will inspire generations as well.

She said the historic, stunning success of “Everything Everywhere All at Once” in Hollywood “goes beyond Asians and Asian Americans, and it goes beyond the movie industry–it is for anyone who dares to dream.”

         Fellow Malaysian Michelle Yeoh’s speech resonated with Yap, executive director of the Asia Heritage Foundation, based in the nation’s capital.

“No matter what ethnicity, race, gender, age one is, when there’s a dream you want to achieve, just go for it,” said Yeoh, noting it took her 20 years to reach her goal. Accepting her trophy, she said, ”Dream big,” because her award is proof that “dreams do come true.”

Glass Ceiling

Yeoh is the first Asian to win the Best Actress award since Hollywood’s prestigious film academy was founded nearly 100 years ago. She is the second actress of color–after Halle Berry in 2002–to win that award.

Among the seven awardees, Yeoh’s achievement stands out. It will make an impact for women everywhere all at once, because she shattered the glass ceiling.

          Yeoh, who is 60, also achieved a unique feat. She said, to cheers and applause, “Ladies, never let anyone tell you that you are past your prime. Never give up!”

At a press conference, martial arts expert Yeoh said, on scoring a big victory for women, that she “shattered the glass ceiling, I kung fu’d it out!”

Executive Director Yap stressed: “Michelle’s success is a culmination of years of hard work, dedication and sheer will power to be the best of the best at her chosen field. As a Malaysian, as an Asian American, as a working woman, as a performer and arts advocate, I’m very happy. I’m very proud of her.”

“IT IS HUGE to see Asians being recognized for their talents and hard work,” she added in an email interview.

Awards Open Doors Wider

At the press conference after accepting her award, Best Actress Yeoh thanked the Academy for “acknowledging, embracing diversity and true representation…We deserve to be seen, we deserve to be heard, we deserve an opportunity to have a seat at the table.”

Nicholas Lepham, Co-President and Co-Founder of the National Organization for Vietnamese American Leadership (NOVAL-DC), pointed out in an email interview: “Before, the biggest hurdle for Asian American and Pacific Islanders was often convincing studios, executives and other gatekeepers in the industry to take their stories and ideas seriously from a creative perspective, entertainment perspective, and most importantly, the box -office perspective.”

“’EEAAO’ smashed that paradigm,” he added, “and the impact for current and future Asian and AAPI stars, directors, and other creative will be that the next project, the next role, and the next pitch will become easier and will allow a multitude of future stories to be told and sold.”

Asian Pacific American Film President/Executive Director Christian Oh said: “Asian and Asian American stories and actors are indeed, economically viable. We proved that with the critical and commercially successful “Crazy Rich Asians,” and now with this film. And they are being recognized for their acting and directing talents, and other talents behind the camera.” APAFilm is known as the “Home of the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival.”

Box-office Winner, Too

The science-fiction, multiverse film about a female immigrant and laundromaut owner with mundane and family problems conquered Hollywood. It was pop culture, irreverent, fresh. Made for $23 million, it has already grossed $100 million globally so far.

The most-talked about Asian film with an Asian cast nabbed 11 nominations, and won seven major awards, completely dominating the Oscars. That’s seven awards, seven major awards, including the No. 1 trophy.

         Best Picture, the No.1 Oscar award. Best Director: Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, also known as The Daniels. Best Actress: Yeoh. Best Supporting Actor: Asian American Ke Huy Quan, Best Supporting Actress: American Jamie Lee Curtis. Best Original Screenplay: The Daniels. Best Film Editing: American Paul Rogers.

         Best Suporting Actor Ke Huy Quan won hearts all over the world with his speech, which went viral. AP reported 1.3 million people watched him on YouTube. Holding back tears, he said his mother, who is 84, was back home in Texas watching, adding as he held up his trophy: ”Mom, I just won an Oscar!”

He recalled that his journey started on a boat. He became a refugee when the Vietnam conflict ended. As a kid, he starred with Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”  Then the roles for Asians like him dried up. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” was his comeback film.

He added, “I cannot believe this is happening to me. This, this is the American Dream.” He said he almost gave up, and exhorted everyone watching: “Please, keep your dream alive!”

2 Oscars for India

India also made history at the 95th Oscars. It won the Best Documentary Short Film award for “Elephant Whisperers.” RRR group won for Best Original Song for “Naatu Naatu.”

         Asia Heritage Foundation Executive Director Yap is in awe of the phenomenon of Asian singers winning fans all over the world.

“What is significant is that the global trend of entertainment consumption and preference is becoming more universal” she said. “Whether it’s BTS’s ‘Butter,’ Burna Boys’ ‘Last Last,’ or Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava’s “Naatu Naatu,” it is all well-received in its original language and context by fans around the world, and that is truly incredible!”

She said the future is even brighter. She commented on the global phenomenon of Korean and Japanese pop groups: “There will be a greater global wave acknowledging Asian and Asian American talents in the very near future.

“Actually, it has already started,” she added. “Simply look at the KPop and JPop performers making influential inroads around the world. After all, Asians make up 60 percent of the world. Watch out world, we are coming!”