Do Oscar wins by 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' equate to recognition of AANHPI?

SCREEN CAPTURE / ABC

Co-directors and writing team Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan give thanks to the Academy.

When the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once won the Screen Actors Guild Best Ensemble award earlier this month, 94-year old James Wong, veteran of over 600 movies and TV shows, reminded the audience about how White actors used to go Yellowface to portray Asian characters. He reveled at the acting award, "Look at us now!"

After winning seven Oscars last night, including the big prize for Best Picture and two of the four acting awards, you could not blame the AANHPI communities repeat Hong's exclamation, "Look at us, now!"

"This is for my dad, who like so many immigrant parents, died young. He is so proud of me, not because of this, but because we made this movie with what he taught me to do... and no one is more important than anyone else." said co-producer Jonathan Wang upon receiving his statuette for Best Picture.

History was made when Michelle Yao was named Best Actress, the first Asian* to win this award.  

(*When Indian American Merle Oberon won Best Actress in 1936 for The Dark Angel, she was "passing.") 

"For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities," the Malaysia-born Yeoh said as she held up her Oscar. "Dream big and dreams do come true."

The 60-year old actress who has been acting for 40 years also gave a shout-out to women, saying, "And ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up."

Ke Huy Quan won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, only the second actor of Asian descent to win this award. Haing Ngor won for The Killing Fields in 1984.

In his emotional acceptance speech, Quan said, "My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refuge camp. And somehow, I ended up here on Hollywood's biggest stage."

"They say stories like this only happen the movies. I cannot believe it's happening to me. This -- this is the American dream," he added.

In addition to Best Picture, EEAAO won best director, best original screenplay and best supporting actress Jamie Lee Curtis for her role as the IRS agent and Editing.

“There is greatness in every single person,” Daniel Kwan said as he accepted best director with co-director Daniel Schenert,. “It doesn’t matter who we are. There is genius in every single person, you just have to find it. Thank you to the people who unlocked my genius.”

Kwan becomes the third winner of Asian descent to win a directing Oscar. Chloe Zhao (Nomadland, 2021) and Bong Joon (Parasite, 2020) have also won the coveted statuette, the highest recognition in the movie industry.

The acting Oscars won by Yeoh and Quan marks the most given to Asian actors in a single year. 

In addition, Stephanie Hsu, the daughter in EEAAO and Hong Chau (The Whale) were also nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category making the most acting nominations ever in the same year.

Asian Americans believe this year's Academy Awards and EEAAO popular success was a watershed moment in representation and recognition of the AANHPI communities because Everything Everywhere All at Once is decidedly an Asian American film about an Asian American family. 

Following the critical success of 2018's Crazy Rich Asians  which opened the door for Asian American and Asian movies like Minari and The Farewell and the award-winning Parasite, have helped paved the way for general acceptance despite the surge of anti-Asian incidents that continue to occur.

In a way, Academy recognition could be interpreted as another step towards the recognition of all AANHPI people who are too often perceived as perpetual foreigners, no matter how long they have lived in the US.

Other Oscar winners with Asian themes this year include: RRR, an Indian production, which won for Best Song, "Naatu Naatu;" and The Elephant Whisperers for Best Short Documentary, which is about a Tamil couple raising an elephant in India

EDITOR'S NOTE: Updated, March 13, 12 pm. For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Oscar bet 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' may get upset, cautions director

Everything Everywhere All at Once co-directors Daniel Scheinert abd Dabuek Jwab

By most metrics, Everything Everywhere All at Once should win some of the major  Oscars at tonight's Academy Awards show but, one of the movie's directors cautioned fans about an upset.

“I know for many, this story and characters mean a lot so any slight towards the film feels like a personal attack,” posted Daniel Kwan on social media, “but lashing out does everyone a disservice.”

“No movie deserves to sweep, no matter how good it is, and I am rooting whole heartedly for my fellow nominees. Thank you for coming along with me on this wild ride, all of your support has meant the world to me,” continued Kwan, who shares directing duties with Daniel Scheinert.

The sci-fi film, set in a multitude of universes and featuring a largely Asian and Asian American cast, has been in an unprecedented roll leading up to Oscars night. Last weekend, for example, the film won all of its categories at the Indie Spirit Awards. the motion picture now holds the record for most wins in Indie Spirits history—a good sign as it heads into the Oscars.

It now has won more awards and accolades than any other film, chalking up 158 victories, beating out The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, which earned 101 major awards.

The film has its detractors. To some eyes, maybe EEAAO has won too many awards. Maybe some Academy voters are sick of hearing about the history of Asian and Asian American representation in the movies.

A series of tweets from Daniel Kwan, who is Daniel Scheinert who formed the directing team known collectively as The Daniels, seems to indicate that there may be a backlash against the film's unprecedented success. The idea of a single movie sweeping the Oscars bugs some Academy voters and there is that residue of the old guard who just don't "get" EEAAO.

In January, the unconventional film Everything Everywhere All at Once was nominated for 11 Oscars —including for Best Picture, Best Director (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as the Daniels), Best Actress (Michelle Yeoh), Best Supporting Actress (Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis), and Best Supporting Actor (Ke Huy Quan), best original screenplay, editing, score and costume —the most of any film this year.

Out of all the nominations, only EEAAO's Ke Huy Quan, who is nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category, appears to be a lock after winning in almost all the different award shows leading up to the Academy Awards

Even Michelle Yeoh, who won the Screen Actors Guild Best Actress trophy for her role as the lead protagonist in EEAAO, is not a sure bet. 

Two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett nominated for her over-the-top performance in Tar, has strong industry support among Academy voters, which despite recent efforts to include more members of color, is still dominated by older, white members.

Dark horse Andrea Riseborough is being pushed by some big Hollywood names for her role in the unglamorous role in To Leslie. Among her A-list fans are Edward Norton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Adams, Jennifer Aniston and Kate Winslet

Still, Everything Everywhere All at Once's detractors have pointed out flaws. Some are upset by the idea of a sweep, advocating for films like White-dominated films Tár and The Banshees of Inisherin in categories like Best Actress and Best Original Screenplay. Others have problems with the film’s alleged anti-Semitism, in which Jewish actress Jenny Slate plays a character named “Big Nose.”

In a recent New York Times interview, Stephanie Hsu, who played Yeoh's daughter in the movie and who herself is a contender in the Best Supporting Actress category, cautioned that AANHPIs shouldn't assume that film industry's long standing issues with racism and representation have been resolved, 

In the interview, the Asian Australian actress described being mistaken on the red carpet for Lana Condor, star of "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," and a moment at a New York screening for "Everything Everywhere" when her Asian publicist was approached and praised for a performance he never gave.

"Listen, this ride is amazing, but that is real. We have not transcended this moment, right?" Hsu told the Times. "James Hong (who plays her grandfather in EEAAO) started acting at a time when people wouldn't even say his name, they would literally just call him 'Chinaman' and say 'Get on your mark.' Michelle waited almost 40 years for her first chance of being No. 1 on the call sheet, and Ke left acting for (nearly) 20 years. As successful as this film has been, the biggest fear on the other side is, 'What if this is my last chance?'"

In his cautionary note, Kwan couldn't resist a clapback against the Hollywood establishment critics. He signed off:

“P.S. to the people who hate the film with their entire being: I’m sorry we ruined cinema for you forever. I hope we can make it up to you on the next one <3”

TO  WATCH: The Hollywood Reporter has all the different ways and stations fans can watch, stream or record the 95th Academy Awards starting hours before the official telecast at 5 p.m. PDT.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

11 Oscar nominations for 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' tops all movies

 

The Asian American universe-switching science fiction film Everything Everywhere All At Once is poised to make history after receiving  11 Oscar nomination Tuesday morning.

After each nomination, the cast and crew, united by Zoom, let out cheers and applause. The movie was picked for Best Picture. The directors and writers, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schienert were nominated Best Director and for Best Original Screenplay.

As expected, still basking from their Golden Globe wins, Michelle Yeoh was nominated for Best Actress and Ke Huy Quan landed a Best Supporting Actor. Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis were both nominated for Best Actress.

Should she win, Yeoh would become the first woman of Asian descent to win a Best Actress Oscar.

"Of course, I’m over the moon, but I feel a little sad because I know we know there have been amazing actresses from Asia that come before me, and I stand on their shoulders,” reports the New York Times interviewing Yeoh, who was in France. “I hope this will shatter that frigging glass ceiling to no end, that this will continue, and we will see more of our faces up there.”

“I was jumping up and down, screaming at the top of my voice, exactly the same way that I did when I got the phone call from my agent that the Daniels wanted me to play Waymond,” Quan told the NYTimes. He described his Oscar nomination, “It’s so surreal. I am ecstatic.”

The film's nominations also included behind-the-camera Asian Americans for Best Original Score by Son Lux, Best Costume Design by Shirley Kurata, Best Original Song "This Is A Life" which was co-written by Japanese American singer-songwriter Mitski. The movie also won Oscar nods for Best Editing.

The 11 Academy Award nominations is the most by an Asian or Asian American production.

AANHPI REPRESENTATION

With EEAAO earning the most Academy Award nominations, the AANHPI presence will be stronger than usual this year.

Joining EEAAO's Hsu and Curtis in the Best Supporting Actress category is Thai-born actress Hong Chau from The Whale.  

Other Asian and AAPI nominated for the Academy Award include: 

• Chinese Canadian Turning Red filmmaker Domee Shi in Best Animated Film;  
• Judy Chin for Make-up/hairstyling for The Whale, 
• Japanese born-UK scribe Kazuo Ishiguro for Living in Adapted Screenplay, 
• Indian producer Aman Mann and filmmaker Shaunak Sen for All That Breathes  in Best Documentary Feature, 
• Indian film producer Guneet Monga and Kartiki Gonsalves in Best Documentary Short for The Elephant Whisperers,
• “Naatu Naatu,” from RRR, for Best Song with music by M.M. Keeravaani and lyric by Chandrabose.
• Judy Chin, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, The Whale.

ACTORS & MONTEREY PARK

The day before the announcement of Oscar nominations, the cast of EEAAO gathered for dinner at a restaurant in Monterey Park a city still reeling from the mass shooting that killed 11 Lunar New Year celebrants.

The event for the EEAAO cast and crew was planned weeks earlier but it was decided to go ahead with the dinner.

“It was so sad when we saw the streets were empty. We walked into the restaurant, and it was empty,” said Quan, who lived in Monterey Park for many years. “I’m so glad we went. We didn’t shy away from it. We didn’t cancel. We went there, we showed them our love, we supported the business, and I think that’s what people should do. That’s what I hope.”

"This is not the time to stay away from Monterey Park," quan told the LA Times. "Instead we should go there and support them and show them our love. The local businesses need us.”

Yeoh expressed hope to the LA Times that the EEAAO's message of intergenerational healing will offer a “beacon of light.”

“We must hold hands, hold each other and have hope in our hearts that we can step forth and make things better,” she said. “Hopefully this will be a little beacon of light, that we can collectively embrace each other and say, ‘Let us lift each other out of this grief and sadness.’ We have to usher in hope, love and forgiveness."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.

Critics Choice Awards: Everything, Everywhere All At Once wins best picture

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The cast and some behind-the-scenes crew of Everything Everywhere All At Once accepted the Critics Choice award for Best Picture.

The awards season is heating up and it looks like Everything Everywhere All At Once is in a good position to contend for an Oscar on March 12.

The top prize for the LA Critics Choice award, Best Picture, went to Everything Everywhere All At Once, the adventures of a Chinese American immigrant through the multiverses. The film won the most awards and nominated for 14 categories  including Best Supporting Actor, which went to Ke Huy Quan, still beaming from his Golden Globe win. 

EEAAO's Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert also won Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.

So far the science fiction movie about a Chinese American immigrant woman's adventures in the multiverse. has won 215 awards and received 317 nominations as of January 17, according to IMDB.com.

The film's star, Michelle Yeoh, who played Evelyn Wang, a hard working laundromat owner was nominated for for Best Actress but lost out to Cate Blanchett for her role in Tor. These two actresses appear to be the frontrunners for an Oscar.

“This award is dedicated to my dad, a Taiwanese immigrant who worked himself into an early grave,” producer Jonathan Wang said as part of the cast’s Best Picture acceptance speech. “And this is really dedicated to the Evelyns, the Waymonds, the immigrant parents who would kill themselves for us immigrant children to give us a better life.”

In accepting the award for Best Picture, co-director Kwan thanked his mother for inspiring Yeoh's character of laundromat owner Evelyn Wang.

“This is dedicated to my mother, who not only inspired the movie, but was the first person to plant the seed in my head that I could be a director. She told me, maybe the first Asian American immigrant mother to tell her son to go to film school,” he said.

Kwan went on to thank all immigrant parents who worked hard so that his generation could pursue their dreams.

The adventure movie from India, RRR, won Best Foreign Language film. The song from the movie, "Natu Natu," won Best Song, the same award it won at the Golden Globes.

Pachinko, Apple-plus' dramatic multi-generational epic filmed mainly in Korean and Japanese, won Best Foreign Language Series.

Nominations for the Academy Awards will be announced on Jan. 24. For a complete list Critics Choice winners, click here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.