Asia Abridged Podcast: Audiences Are Ready For Diverse Storytelling. Is Hollywood?

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The film adaptation of Black Panther — a Marvel comic about the people of the mythical nation of Wakanda — has done more than just impress critics and fans. It has also set a precedent for representative storytelling in Hollywood, showing that films and stories featuring people of color and women have broad appeal.

While Black Panther is hugely popular among African Americans, the film’s huge box office success shows that the movie has been a hit with all audiences. This success stands in stark contrast to the traditional belief in Hollywood that movies with predominantly minority casts will fail at the box office.

The Asian American community is looking to replicate Black Panther's success with the upcoming film adaptation of the popular book Crazy Rich Asians. Written by Kevin Kwan, the film tells the story of an Asian American woman thrust into the opulent world of Singapore's elite. Is the production of Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther a sign that mainstream America is ready for diverse storytelling? Or are these one-off movies that won't change the fundamental problem?

On this episode of Asia Abridged, the former Disney ABC Television Group creative talent development and inclusion manager and current director of global talent development and inclusion at Universal Pictures Emerlynn Lampitoc, co-chair of the Asian American Media Coalition Daniel Mayeda, Hollywood Reporter columnist Marc Bernardin, and Hollywood film producer Janet Yang discuss how to get Hollywood interested in telling more stories about Asians and Asian Americans.