I'm working with a bunch of racists... *sigh*

[PropellerheadCP]

My daytime job is in embroidery, screenprinting and fashion.

My nighttime job is trying to break into film. I'm currently part of a group of 6 writers, that are being hired to write a martial arts movie. Last night was our first ever meeting with everyone (I've met a few others before). I was disappointed, to state the least, at the people whom I was working with.

When I walked in, I introduced myself to everyone and was very excited in working with professionals, outside of the comic book industry, which was my writing background, before I got jaded. My first impression of them was that they were excited to get together as well and really wanted to create something great. There was the ring leader, which was the head writer, who was essentially the guy who was going to pull everything together. Then there were 2 screenwriters who worked on various films. There was a very conservative guy, who was more worried about the budgets than the producer.
This is where I started getting suspicious about the project. There was a writer who taught English in Tokyo for 14 months and then another writer who lived in Hong Kong during his teen years. My question was, "Why were they there?"
I knew before hand, that somehow, the Yakuza was going to be an element in the story, but what I didn't know was that they were attempting to write a Yakuza story. I was then quickly made aware of my race, because the writers really had no idea how the Yakuza functions, outside of the little research that they did, over the internet.

The 2 hours that followed were rather painful, as they started spewing out very ignorant things, due to the lack of knowledge. I slowly corrected them, but I doubted that most ever really listened. I soon found out that one of them was involved in creating the trainwreck called, "Bulletproof Monk" and loves Asian women. That guy, in particular, wanted to put in twins Japanese girls in the movie, because it was his fantasy. The head writer really wanted a white guy, or at least a half white guy, to play the lead. "A white guy, who's part of the Yakuza family, in a story set in North America???" I thought.

Oh, did I mention that I was the only minority there, let along an Asian person?

Luckily the guy who lived in Hong Kong for a while, was easier for me to relate to, in terms of creativity and thinking. If it weren't for that element, I doubted anyone would listen to what I have to say, anyway. It's been a long time since I walked into a room and really felt my race, which usually isn't even a concern. Sure, I've faced a lot of racism in the past, but Canada, especially Toronto, is a very multicultural place. People of all races are everywhere, all the time. Most of the time, I don't see "races". I just see human beings.

It was really sad, when the guy who was in Japan for 14 months, was considered to be more of an "expert" in Japanese culture, than I was. Hello! Asian dude, sitting right there! I knew a hell of a lot more than that guy, but no one cared. It was just a bunch of ignorant white men writing an Asian-esque movie.

The thing is, do I quit, or do I stay and try to steer it towards a better direction? I don't want to go along with the crowd, just so that I can get ahead in my career. I'm no "Uncle Tom". I'm just frustrated at what's happening. I want to fight against all this shit... I'm just lost at the moment, in how I can fight.

[rice cracker]

Do you think you can actually steer this project towards something more truthful and less typical?

[PropellerheadCP]

Originally Posted by rice cracker

Do you think you can actually steer this project towards something more truthful and less typical?

I'd love to, but their research has been through the internet. I mean, for all they know, anything can be the truth.

[younggiftedandblack]

1st thing: You write comics?? That soo cool. That's what I want to do, but I get soo lazy at times.


As for your question. How much power do you have within the group? What I mean is if you don't have that much and they aren't really listening to your ideas then I don't forsee your future with that group as being too productive. Then again on the other hand if you up and quit or make enemies in that group it could lead to you getting a bad rep in the writting community.

I would try to get them to take this a bit more seriously. Better yet see if they'll let you be like the research guy and get more exacting details on the groups and areas you all are to be writting about. They can still come up with the base of the story, but this way the outcome will have some ring of truth to it.

[rice cracker]

Originally Posted by PropellerheadCP

I'd love to, but their research has been through the internet. I mean, for all they know, anything can be the truth.

They probably think Chinese people can fly.

A bitter little part of me wants you to sabotage their movie, but I know that that won't accomplish anything that will be beneficial in the long run. Good luck, man.

[SunWuKong]

just tell them that their fucking ideas are boring because they've been done and done again in the 80s.

[Tao]

Originally Posted by younggiftedandblack

As for your question. How much power do you have within the group? What I mean is if you don't have that much and they aren't really listening to your ideas then I don't forsee your future with that group as being too productive. Then again on the other hand if you up and quit or make enemies in that group it could lead to you getting a bad rep in the writting community.

I would try to get them to take this a bit more seriously. Better yet see if they'll let you be like the research guy and get more exacting details on the groups and areas you all are to be writting about. They can still come up with the base of the story, but this way the outcome will have some ring of truth to it.

yeah i think that's the major thing, how much influence and control can you really wield.

I guess you can try to convince them to make a less cliched film, argueing that it's been so played out, that it won't be able to really draw out much of a crowd. Sure the teenage population would probably watch anything with boobs and guns in it, but if you have a more serious (and if they agree at this point, you can veer them towards a less stereotyped film) script then it will appeal to a larger demographic.

and if that works, you can be the guy who does all the research, and come up with at least a semi watchable movie. I feel for you man, hang in there.

[SunWuKong]

but i have to say, i wouldn't mind twin Japanese girls either...

[PropellerheadCP]

Originally Posted by SunWuKong

but i have to say, i wouldn't mind twin Japanese girls either...

Ha, ha... well, in a sense, I wouldn't mind, either.

It's just that in this situation, we're talking about twin Japanese female assassins, who are experts in random Japanese weapons (I mean literally, this guy randomly selected Japanese weapons and had no bloody clue what they do). He also referred to the "Fuk Mi" and "Fuk Yu" twins from Austin Powers, adding the words "brilliant" after mentioning them. Brilliant??? Is that another word for racist, these days? Arg...

BTW: To answer the question of how much power I have in the group... I'd say very little, since the 2 most vocal guys (which also happen to have THE WORST ideas) just don't want to hear that what they thought up was wrong. This is especially difficult, since 1 of them is the head writer.

I like the idea of shooting down some of their "brilliant plotlines" from the 80's. I swear, this is the stupidest group of people that I've ever worked with. I used to think that half the people in the comic industry were idiots who need to grow up. Thinking back, it wasn't so bad, compared to this group.

Did anyone see "An Evening With Kevin Smith", which documents his tour around various American universities? He spoke about the idiots that he came across in the film industry. Man, the dude's so right.

[SunWuKong]

Originally Posted by PropellerheadCP

Ha, ha... well, in a sense, I wouldn't mind, either.

It's just that in this situation, we're talking about twin Japanese female assassins, who are experts in random Japanese weapons (I mean literally, this guy randomly selected Japanese weapons and had no bloody clue what they do). He also referred to the "Fuk Mi" and "Fuk Yu" twins from Austin Powers, adding the words "brilliant" after mentioning them. Brilliant??? Is that another word for racist, these days? Arg...

BTW: To answer the question of how much power I have in the group... I'd say very little, since the 2 most vocal guys (which also happen to have THE WORST ideas) just don't want to hear that what they thought up was wrong. This is especially difficult, since 1 of them is the head writer.

I like the idea of shooting down some of their "brilliant plotlines" from the 80's. I swear, this is the stupidest group of people that I've ever worked with. I used to think that half the people in the comic industry were idiots who need to grow up. Thinking back, it wasn't so bad, compared to this group.

Did anyone see "An Evening With Kevin Smith", which documents his tour around various American universities? He spoke about the idiots that he came across in the film industry. Man, the dude's so right.

all i have to say is, if these people's ideas disgust you so much, why are you working with them? you don't depend on this project to put food on the table or to put a roof over your head.

[Tao]

Originally Posted by PropellerheadCP

Ha, ha... well, in a sense, I wouldn't mind, either.

It's just that in this situation, we're talking about twin Japanese female assassins, who are experts in random Japanese weapons (I mean literally, this guy randomly selected Japanese weapons and had no bloody clue what they do). He also referred to the "Fuk Mi" and "Fuk Yu" twins from Austin Powers, adding the words "brilliant" after mentioning them. Brilliant??? Is that another word for racist, these days? Arg...

hahahaha....hmmm i've got an idea! why don't you make a movie about this...your current situation! sorta like an art imitating life sorta thing. A sorta sardonic independent film about trying to make uncliched hollywood bull crap

[SunWuKong]

Originally Posted by Tao

hahahaha....hmmm i've got an idea! why don't you make a movie about this...your current situation! sorta like an art imitating life sorta thing. A sorta sardonic independent film about trying to make uncliched hollywood bull crap

hey that's not bad.

[krome]

WOW, so THIS is how such movies get made?

We REALLY need to start our own media here, we will never take over the established Ho-Wood system.

[rice cracker]

Originally Posted by krome

We REALLY need to start our own media here, we will never take over the established Ho-Wood system.

Go for it.

[mr. x]

wow, propellor i feel for u man. if theres an immediate goal u can gain from this that wont make u go apeshit then wait it out just a bit, but if u have a good alternative ready go ahead and leave.

i know you are probly about ready and just scream "asia phucking philes!" out loud but yeah no need to antagonize them. if u wanna educate them whatever u do dont do the "u wouldnt do it to black/jewish people" comparison. it does NOT work. it always makes u look like the racist