AAPI immigrant representation on TV more than doubled since 2020, study reveals
Broadway's KPOP Sets Abrupt Closing Date
“Almost half of all Asian roles serve as a punchline, study finds.”
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🏆 The Headlines
AAPI immigrant representation on TV more than doubled since 2020, study reveals — The number of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrant characters on TV rose from 12% in 2020 to 27% in 2022, according to a new study by immigrant-focused nonprofit Define American.
Characters that portray Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrants on television have more than doubled in the last two years, according to a new study published this week.
Define American, a nonprofit focused on humanizing conversations about immigrants, found that AAPI representation jumped from just 12% in 2020 to 28% — becoming consistent with the 27% of U.S. immigrants who are AAPI.
AAPI immigrants were the most underrepresented group compared to their real-life counterparts in 2020, the study said. The “substantial increase” is primarily attributed to a general increase in Asian American representation on TV.
While the research showed gains for the AAPI and Black communities, it also revealed that Pacific Islander representation is “often erased” in the broader AAPI discourse. Additionally, it found that Latino representation had plummeted from 50% in 2020 to 34% this year.
Broadway's KPOP Sets Abrupt Closing Date — The musical's final performance will be dedicated to the Asian American and Pacific Islanders community.
KPOP has announced that it will play its final Broadway performance December 11. The musical opened at Circle in the Square Theatre November 27 following the beginning of previews October 13. While in previews, the show cancelled multiple matinee performances. As of the final performance, the musical will have played 44 previews and 17 performances.
The final performance will be dedicated the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community. It will be a special event featuring a panel discussion that will celebrate and reflect on AAPI representation on the Broadway stage. Panelists include David Henry Hwang, the first Asian American playwright to win a Tony; KPOP's own Helen Park, the first Asian female composer on Broadway; Korean playwright Hansol Jung; and Pun Bandhu of the Asian American Performers Action Coalition. 200 complimentary tickets are being offered to community members for the performance, which is supported by The Asian American Foundation with Gold House, Asian American Performers Action Coalition, and Ma-Yi Theater Company (which co-produced the premiere of KPOP Off Broadway).
News of the closing is unusually abrupt, and follows public discord between the show's company and New York Times theatre critic Jesse Green, whose negative review was described by KPOP's producers as "casual racism." The show has struggled at the box office throughout its run, both before and after Green's review was published.
Donnie Yen almost quit acting after a movie flop left him with only $13 — The international action star made the revelation on Saturday during a speech in Hong Kong.
International action star Donnie Yen recently shared he once considered quitting the film industry after failing to earn profits from the films he was making.
Yen revealed the low points in his career during a speech at the graduation ceremony for the 2022 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area International Film Marketing Certificate course on Dec. 3, reported AsiaOne.
The 59-year-old martial arts legend, who set up his own film company in the late ‘90s, said that at one point his bank account only had HK$100 (approximately $13) due to a failed movie investment.
“At that time, I only had HK$100 in my bank account, which dealt a big blow to me,” the actor said. “I couldn’t make any money and I was so frustrated. I asked myself if I entered the wrong business and considered quitting. Fortunately, I didn’t leave the industry and persisted in pursuing my dreams.”
According to Yen, better opportunities eventually came his way and turned his career around.
He then reminded the aspiring filmmakers in the audience of the importance of studying the course: “No matter how much you enjoy filming, you can’t do it without funds and market demand.”
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👋, Lea @ Crushing the Myth