Loving Sister: What do you think the Academy should do to address the issue of diversity in order to avoid the same mistakes in the future?
Yung Chang: The Asian members of the Academy are currently in the process of presenting concrete ideas as to how the Academy can use its sway to help increase diversity. A meeting is scheduled with the Academy in the coming week. Take a look at Marcus Hu’s letter to Indiewire: http://www.indiewire.com/article/marcus-hu-open-letter-oscars-academy-diversity-20160316
I can’t go into too many details right now but after our sit-down with Dawn Hudson, I think we’ll have a better idea of what can be done by the Academy. Certainly, the Academy has already taken active measures before the awards broadcast to attempt to address diversity in the Academy but the racist jokes at the ceremony seemed to be a sideswipe against the Academy’s positive pursuit for change. It only seemed to highlight the inherent problems within the industry, namely, that Hollywood’s whiteness/ignorance is a systemic problem. If we want to affect change in Hollywood then the industry must adopt a policy, an active and aggressive policy, of inclusion. That means hiring people of color and from diverse backgrounds not just in front but behind the camera from the bottom to the top of the industry. When the executives and the head honchos start initiating and governing a widespread push then will we begin to see a more inclusive Hollywood and Academy Awards.
Loving Sister: How would you like to compare the current status in terms of diversity in film industry in Canada and USA? In terms of diversity, what can the industry in USA learn from the experiences of the industry in Canada if there are any? What lessons the film industry in Canada can learn from the industry in USA if there are any?
Yung Chang: Complicated question. Firstly, I think Canada distinguishes itself from USA as a multi-cultural society as opposed to a melting pot. As a result, there’s an immediate assumption, on my part, that Canada is more attune to diversity issues. But I don’t know the hard numbers. I’d be interested in a statistical breakdown similar to what USC did recently: https://t.co/YHDPDGOKlY. Can you shed some light on this? (Please see the attached links below--by the author of this interview) If you take a look at this year’s Screenies, we didn’t fair too badly, I suppose. 2 persons of visible minority background in the best supporting actor and 1 female minority in the best supporting actress category. Better than nothing. Canada and USA are very different film industries. Of course, we’re a much smaller industry and rely on government support. But generally, speaking from personal experience, I’ve benefitted immensely from programmes initiated by the National Film Board of Canada back when I was trying to get my start. I was supported by minority internships and diversity mandates from back in the early aughts. Not sure if the USA had any organizations that were doing this, certainly in Hollywood. Let’s remember that they don’t even have a National Film Board nor a Canada Council for the Arts. I think I’ve been able to get my foot in the door because this awareness. I couldn’t imagine the extra struggle I would have faced in the dog-eat-dog mentality in the USA. Hopefully things will change for the better. And also diversity won’t only be focused on the black/white hegemony and will be more inclusive to other cultures, gender and backgrounds.