James Hong, 94, could have easily basked in the applause at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and moved on. The 94-year old saw the award for best cast for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, which was won by a mostly Asian cast, as an chance to remind of the fact that Hollywood hasn’t always been so welcoming.
Hong said to The Associated Press that it was “just a revelation” for her after years of working as a producer and director with people who always told her, “Oh, the Asians, the Chinese aren’t good enough to be the lead role.” “But Michelle (Yeoh), and all of these colleagues, now come forward to be acknowledged… you can’t but say ‘Look us now’.”
Hong has had a crazy year. He received a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame. The overwhelming success of “Everything Everywhere at Once” propelled James Hong to every major award event. He saw the film receive seven Oscars including a historical best actress award for Yeoh.
Hong will be heard in the animated prequel to the Gremlins movie series, “Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai”, which is streaming on Max. He is also featured in an episode of the Disney+ series “American Born Chinese,” and he is the producer of the upcoming film “Patsy Lee and the Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms.”
Tze Chun, the showrunner of “Gremlins,” is among several Asian American film makers who were moved by Hong’s Walk of Fame. Melvin Mar, a producer of “American Born Chinese”, cried when he talked to Hong just before the Walk of Fame ceremony.
Mar said, “That guy is beyond legend.” He was so funny, quick and a joy to work with. “Just the sweetest man.”
Gene Luen Yang is the author of “American Born Chinese”, a graphic novel, and a producer for the show. He says Hong’s story epitomizes Asian American History.
“His journey as an Asian American is really symbolic for us.” “The kind of roles he was given in the beginning and now that he has his own Hollywood star shows the progress that we have made,” Yang said.
