Diversity starts in the writing room. Inclusion is in the gatekeeping. This message circulated at the Asian American Writers Network Dinner at the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) on Monday night.
“TV writing and screenwriting are already incredibly difficult industries to break into for anybody and therefore, when you’re a woman, a person of color, or marginalized in any other way, it becomes exponentially so,” WGAE co-host Lisa Takeuchi Cullen told The Knockturnal. “What we hope to do here is to create a community, a network of people, of Asian Americans who all are striving to be successful, to make a career in Hollywood, although we’re based in New York.”
The first of its kind to take place in New York City, the Asian American Writers Network Dinner welcomed its creatives with traditional cuisine, floral Asian silk embroidery- inspired cakes by Simply Jeanius, Ancient Chinese whole flower teas by The Qi, and with hope for a more inclusive entertainment industry.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and Derek Nguyen (photo credits: Jordan Mendoza)
“The goal was to create a deep sense of community among all of the different Asian American cultural groups,” said Jennifer Hsu, West Coast Doctor and co-founder of the Los Angeles Asian American Writers Brunch, “My other goal is to break the glass ceiling for them.” Hsu developed the L.A. Asian American Writers Brunch along with Executive Producer Melinda Hsu Taylor, and Executive Director of CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) Michelle Sugihara. New York-based Journalist Mary Park reached out to Hsu to bring the movement to the East Coast.
Co-hosts Lisa Takeuchi Cullen (Law & Order) and Derek Nguyen (The Housemaid) led a discussion with acclaimed showrunner Diana Son on her life and current project in development, the HBO pilot Slanted, inspired by the true story of 3.1 Philip Lim CEO Wen Zhou. The panel was followed by a Q&A and networking reception.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen and Diana Son (photo credits: Jordan Mendoza)
“In 2020 we feel like we’re on the cusp of great change, we had movies come out in the recent past, Farewell was so successful, Crazy Rich Asians was so successful… we also have the new avenues in streaming where we’re seeing more and more Asian American faces,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. Farewell may not have made it to this year’s Oscars, but that does not hinder the movement. All the more, it provides further impetus to push for inclusivity, and goals are coming into fruition. In December 2019, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo passed the Television Diversity Tax Credit Bill championed by the Writers Guild of America, East. Effectively, qualifying projects may receive a reimbursement of up to 30% of costs for hiring a New York-based minority or female creator.
The Asian American Writers Network Dinner was co-sponsored by Amazon, Toni Wang, and WGAE. The event was produced by co-host Derek Nguyen who in addition to his writing, producing, and directing credits, is also Co-Head of the Asian American Salon at WGAE, and co-founder of The Population production company.
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen affirms “The time is now for us to be stepping up and to be making our voices heard.”