In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the article chronicles the response of early Asian Americans to their unfair representation in Hollywood. Frustrated by demeaning and one-dimensional portrayals, Chinese leaders petitioned the National Board of Review, which suggested they create their own films. This led to the founding of the Great Wall Film Company in 1921 by Harold Lee and his uncle, aiming to showcase authentic narratives and experiences of the Asian community. The legacy of this studio represents a significant cultural shift towards greater self-representation in film.
In the 1920s, Chinese leaders wrote to the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures, disappointed by yet another unfair portrayal of their community in film.
The representations of Chinese and Asians in early Hollywood were really kind of one-dimensional and really demeaning.
The film company the Lee family created is really reflective of a kind of 'do-it-yourself' mentality, showcasing the desire for accurate representation.
By the 1880s, her ancestors moved from San Francisco to settle in New York City's Chinatown and opened a business at 31 Pell St.
#asian-american-heritage #hollywood-history #film-representation #cultural-identity #great-wall-film-company
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