###⣠A Conversation with Jon M. Chu: From Family Roots to Hollywood Heights
####⣠Earlyâ Life and Family Influence
When Jon⢠M. Chu walks into the restaurant,⤠he blends in seamlessly with⤠the other patrons.â Despite hisâ Hollywood success, he⣠carries himself with the humility of a regular customer. Chu, the director of the 2018 âhit “Crazy Rich⢠Asians,” grew⣠up around this family-owned ârestaurant, âwhich âŁhas become a localâ institution frequented âby families âand tech workers alike. On weekends, the parking lot is often⤠filled with red cars, a⢠sign thatâ manyâ Asian families dine here.
#### A Family âŁAffair
Chef Chu, Jon’s father, shares stories aboutâ creating a menu that balances authenticity with popularity. âJon points to a small table and mentions to his âassistant, âThatâs where I used âto do my homework,â signaling his arrival without interrupting his father.⢠After Chef Chu finishes,⢠Jon introduces himself.
“Whenâ I do cook â˘I think I could be⣠good if âŁI just focused,” says Jon âM. Chu, whose brother and â¤fatherâ run the family restaurant. “But no, I am not a good cook.”
#### The Journey to Hollywood
Jon Chu looks âyounger than his 44 years, and his voluminous hair is enviable. He speaks softly and thoughtfully,â often using “we” whenâ discussing his projects. Thisâ “we” reflects the collectivism instilled by Asian immigrant parents, a theme echoed⢠in Michelle Yeohâs character in “Crazy Rich⤠Asians.”
Chu’s forthcoming memoir, â”Heavyweight,” delves into his journey from the University of Southern California, where he⣠caught the âattention of Steven Spielberg, to directing a big-budget reboot of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Although the project fell through, Chu persevered, eventually becoming knownâ for directing sequels like⣠“Step Upâ 2.”
#### Breaking Barriers in Hollywood
The success of ⢔Crazy Rich Asians” proved that âŁmovies about Asian Americans could be box office hits. This paved theâ way for other successful filmsâ like “Minari.”â Chu emphasizes theâ importance of âŁstorytellingâ in filmmaking:
“You are saying things with every cut. Those things can be dangerous. They can be inspiring.”
#### The Impact of Representation
Chu recalls a pivotal âmoment at USC when a short film depicted⢠an Asian man as a joke, highlighting⤠the specific â˘humiliations Asian men faceâ in the U.S.⤠This experience was an awakening for him, âŁmaking him realize the importance⤠of representation in media.
Thanks to Chu,⤠actors like Henry Golding, Simu Liu, and Steven Yeun â˘areâ now âtaking on significant⢠roles. His brother Larry was moved to tearsâ by “Crazy âRich Asians,” realizing the âimpact of seeing a confident,⣠attractive Asian man on screen.
#### The Future of Storytelling
Chu believes that the new âŁgeneration âofâ storytellers, equipped with advanced technology, has the responsibility to create content that reflects âdiverse experiences. âHeâ acknowledges the âongoing cultural⣠identity crisis inâ America and stresses the â¤importance of âconfronting these issues through storytelling.
#### Thoughts on AI âin Entertainment
Regarding âAI⤠in entertainment, Chu sees it âas a tool that can enhanceâ creativityâ rather than diminish it. He â¤emphasizes the âŁneed for young, tech-savvy individuals toâ fillâ the content pipeline, ensuring that AI reflects diverse human experiences.
“We â¤are creative beings, and every⣠innovation we thought wouldâ takeâ away from our creativity didnât. â¤AI is different for sure, but itâs âa thinking tool. Weâre going âto have to learn how âto use it.”
#### Final Thoughts
Jon M. Chu’s journey from â˘a family restaurant to Hollywood success is a testament to perseverance, the importance of representation, and the power of storytelling.⤠His insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring filmmakers and storytellers.
The Journey of Jon M. Chu: From Family Stories âto Directing “Wicked”
Family History and Immigrant Experience
Connecting with Parents’ Past
Jon M. âChu’s book âŁdelves into his parents’ â˘history, written with a screenplay-like ambiguity that reflectsâ their reluctance to discuss their past. As a â˘child of⣠immigrants, Chu understands âthe difficultyâ of reminiscing about the lives left behind. He â˘believes his â¤parents still protect him by⤠altering their stories, blocking out the harshâ realities they faced. Chu’sâ motivation â˘to âŁconnect these dots is driven by his desire toâ leave a record⣠for his children, â˘viewing his parents as young âadults rather⣠thanâ untouchable âfigures.
“It mightâve crushed⣠them to give me the⤠flaws. I think the book as a wholeâ is how I resolve⣠my journey, because itâs so â˘full of dead ends and loose ends.”
Filmmaking Philosophy
Dissecting Happy Endings
Chu’s work often ties up storiesâ with satisfying endings, but he acknowledges that real life is more complex. Reflecting on “The Wizard of Oz,” he explores the idea of happy endings âand the discomfort of change, particularly in “Wicked.” The⤠character Elphaba’s journey symbolizes necessary growth through expressing pain and frustration.
“Something has changed âwithin me.â Something is not the same.”
Personal Anecdotes
Family Moments
During the interview, Chu’s mother interrupts âto kiss him â¤on the forehead, a touching moment thatâ highlights their close bond. Chuâ humorously notes that she didn’t criticize⤠his appearance, â˘a common âŁexperience with Asian relatives.
Cooking and Family
Despite growing up in⢠a restaurant, Chu admits he’s a terrible cook. He enjoys setting⣠the table and discussing dishes but lacks the focus to cook well. Food plays a significant role in his movies, like the hawker market scene⣠in “Crazy âRich Asians.”
Dance and Choreography
Dance Influence
Chu’s background in dance, though not extensive, influences his filmmaking. He appreciates great dancers and understands their expressions, even if he’s âŁnot a⣠skilled dancer himself.
Tap Dancing
Chu’s tap dancingâ experience was limited to lessons with his sister, feeling embarrassed to dance with girls. Heâ offers to teach the interviewer how to shuffle, showcasing his willingness to share his skills.
Directing⤠“Wicked”
Casting Challenges
Casting for “Wicked” was a meticulous process. Chu initially considered unknown actors but realized the roles â¤required top-tier talent. Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande were eventually chosen for their exceptional⢠abilities.
Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba
Chu hesitated âŁto meet Erivo, unsure if she could portray theâ vulnerable Elphaba. However, her⢠youthful and cool demeanor convinced him. Her performance⣠of “Wizard and⣠I”⣠left a profound impact on him.
Ariana âGrande as Glinda
Grande’s casting journey was â˘more challenging. Despite her fame, Chu wanted toâ ensure she could embody Glinda’s character.â Her dedication and willingness⣠to adapt impressed him, ultimately earning her the role.
Conclusion
Jon M. Chu’s journey from exploring his family’s immigrant history âto directing major films like “Wicked” showcases his deep âŁconnection to his roots âand â¤his commitment to⣠authentic storytelling. His experiences and insights offer a uniqueâ perspective âon the â¤complexities of life, family, and art.
Photograph: YURI âHASEGAWA
### The Evolution of Silicon âValley and Hollywood
#### A New Perspective âŁon Spatial Computing
Spatial computing⢠offers aâ unique way âŁto experience âŁmedia. Imagine working⤠on a screen as large asâ a 60-inch monitor,⢠pulling back to view it like⢠a⢠TV, or expanding it to the size of a movie âtheater screen. This technology makes you feel like you’re in a boxing ring with â¤the movie, â˘providingâ different emotional experiences based on the viewing scale.
It feels like Iâm in a boxing ring with⢠the⣠movie.
#### Silicon Valley: Then and Now
##### The Golden⢠Era of Innovation
Growing up in Silicon Valley was â˘like â˘living the American dream. It was a place of âcreation âand innovation, surrounded by institutions like âStanford and NASAâs Amesâ Research Center. Weekends might include seeing a âsolar-powered car, âand the focus â¤wasâ on creativity⤠rather than flashiness. The â¤community was more âŁrelaxed, and people âŁweren’t obsessed with money.
##### âŁThe Shift to Flashiness
Returning to Silicon Valley now, there’s a noticeable change. âThe atmosphere has become more flashy, âand even the dress code⤠at bars has evolved. âThe focus has shifted towards financial gain, which âmight â˘be⤠more apparent with age.
#### âHollywood’s Transformation
##### The Maverick Era
Hollywood used to be a place where mavericks made âbold artistic choices. Movies âfrom theâ ’70s â¤and ’80s⤠often â˘had â˘social messages. The industry was about âtaking big bets on filmmakers, art, and statements. When I arrived âŁin Hollywood in 2002, there â˘were stillâ traces of this era.
##### The Data-Driven Age
However, the landscape âchanged as conglomerates âtook over telecommunication companies, turning themâ into â¤tech companies. Now, the focus is⣠on mining data, which is moreâ valuable than oil. The goalâ is to attract⢠as many eyeballs as possible, often at the expense of making meaningful statements. The incentives and the way executives maintain their positions have shifted dramatically.
#### A Love for âTechnology
Despite these âchanges, my passion for technology remains strong. Silicon Valley â˘provided me with the⤠tools to succeed in â˘Hollywood.⤠Innovation and progress are timeless and continue to inspire me.
Innovation and progress never get old.
1 Comment
So, what’s nextâAI-generated horror films in Silicon Valley?