Jon M. Chu's memoir 'Viewfinder' traces his journey to making movies
Jul 31, 2024
auto_awesome
Jon M. Chu, the acclaimed director behind hits like Crazy Rich Asians, shares insights from his memoir, Viewfinder. He discusses his upbringing as a teenager juggling life in a Chinese restaurant and a passion for filmmaking. Joined by NPR's Ailsa Chang, they delve into the complexities of assimilation and cultural identity. Chu reflects on navigating parental approval while pursuing his dreams, highlighting the delicate balance between embracing heritage and fitting into American culture.
Jon M. Chu highlights how his mother's shift from strict academic focus to supporting his filmmaking dreams reflects a more nuanced Asian parental perspective.
Reflecting on his Asian identity, Chu discusses the challenges of navigating cultural experiences in a predominantly Asian environment, shaping his understanding of representation in media.
Deep dives
Breaking Stereotypes of Asian Parenting
The discussion challenges the stereotype of Asian parents as solely strict figures focused on traditional academic success, such as math and science. Director John Chu shares his personal experience, highlighting how his mother encouraged a balance between academic responsibilities and his passion for filmmaking. This support came through a pivotal moment when she transitioned from enforcing strict study habits to providing him with resources about filmmaking, demonstrating a willingness to embrace his creative pursuits. This shift illustrates a more nuanced view of parental expectations within the Asian community, showing openness to diverse career paths beyond conventional norms.
Cultural Identity and Community Influence
John Chu reflects on his upbringing in Silicon Valley, where the presence of many Asian families allowed for a unique cultural experience that sometimes blurred the lines of minority identity. He emphasizes the complexities of navigating his Asian identity in a predominantly Asian environment, sharing insights into the challenges and lack of terminology to define his cultural experiences. This feeling of being both part of a larger Asian community while also feeling different from the mainstream made it difficult for him to articulate and embrace his identity. Through this journey, he recognizes how cultural representation in media plays a crucial role in shaping perceptions and building connections.
The Journey of Self-Discovery in Storytelling
Chu describes his journey toward embracing his identity and creativity as a 'sleeping dragon' that needed awakening, which became pivotal in the creation of his film Crazy Rich Asians. This moment of self-discovery was intertwined with his family roots, particularly the meaningful connection he had with his grandmother and experiences at his family restaurant. As he matured, he gradually recognized the growing confidence among Asian Americans in various fields, which inspired him to take charge of his narrative and legacy. Today, with upcoming projects like Wicked, Chu aims to reflect on his life lessons, focusing on how stories can be re-envisioned through diverse perspectives, thus encouraging others to write their own narratives.
Before he was the director behind films like Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights and Wicked, Jon M. Chu was a teenager in Los Altos, California, playing around with a camera and working at his parents' Chinese restaurant. That's the journey behind his new memoir, Viewfinder. And in today's episode, he speaks with another kid from Los Altos – NPR's Ailsa Chang – about how his parents' attitude towards assimilation shaped his upbringing and how they ended up supporting his dreams of making movies.
To listen to Book of the Day sponsor-free and support NPR's book coverage, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday