Yeah, if it was a fictional movie, it would star a white guy. The majority of white people and Hollywood can't stand a positive movie centered around an Asian guy. Lynnsanity, starring Justin Bieber as Jeremy Lynn. A film based on a true story.
The fact that it is a documentary about an Asian American guy who plays basketball is probably why they can't get any studio backing the project. Unless the Asian man is a martial arts stereotype they have no chance in Hollywood
I think he'd rather spend his money on charity projects for his foundation than on a doc that he was reluctant to participate in in the first place.
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Asians in Hollywood are pretty much stereotyped into Martial arts dudes that could possibly be a lead (Jackie Chan, Jet Li) or maybe a comedy sidekick. Any other movie and the Asian guy hasn't got a chance. Remember the movie "21" about the MIT blackjack card counters? It was based on a true story and the lead guy was an Asian American. When they decided to make a movie based on the book, it was quickly decided that the lead was going to have to be a white guy or people wouldn't go to see the movie. I still cringe when I watch the old Charlie Chan movies and even Bond's "Dr No", where you have white guys pretending to be Asian. (BTW I'm an asian american in case you haven't figured it out by now)
this is pretty much true. that and to mention a vast majority of Lins hardcore fans are Asian american/Asian. So making a movie that appeals to a small audience isn't the greatest idea for a movie that you want to make money off of.
That's difficult, because most aren't even given a shot. The one's who are and perform extremely well such as Hiep Thi Le in Oliver Stone's Heaven & Earth are immediately discarded by Hollywood afterwards. Performance doesn't matter. Being Asian and an actor/actress is the kiss of death in Hollywood.
Think about the target audience though. Do you b**** and moan about how foreigners don't often get to star in movies in Asia?