Exhibition tracks Hollywood Chinese

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As you probably know, there was a time when Chinese actors made up a paltry presence in Hollywood productions. But now, these pioneering actors are in the midst of a transformation from outsider to an increasingly central influence. Their footprints are charted in a current exhibition at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles. In today's Spotlight, we check out an exhibition of movie memorabilia called "The Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection." The exhibits were collected during the ten-year research for Arthur Dong's documentary on Chinese artists in American feature films.

From the filmmakers archive of over 1,000 items, a selection of posters, lobby cards, stills, scripts, press material, and other artifacts dating from 1916 to present day offer graphic examples of how Chinese have been imagined in the movies during the last century. The show also documents the work of Chinese and Chinese American film artists through the decades who have triumphed as well as struggled in Hollywood.

The Chinese presence used to be sinister and carried a kind of mystique. Characters were restricted to ignominious roles in the lower strata of society. "Chinatown," a 1974 production from Roman Polanski and "Captured in Chinatown" are typical examples.

The livelihood of Chinese actors were sometimes challenged by native actors, who were often preferred when an Asian characters were needed in Hollywood.

The turning point came as Chinese kungfu films began making considerable headway at the U.S. box office. The Chinese image was reincarnated into kungfu heroes, led by Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

Actress Lisa Lu said, "The white people had their face painted yellow to play Asians. But now, we play our people and sometimes people from the rest of Asia."

Chinese filmmakers have been making headway with the Academy Awards since 1955. Chinese American photographer James Wong Howe, in particular, has won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography twice with the "Rose Tattoo" in 1955 and "Hud" in 1963.

Chinese director Ang Lee walked away with the prize for Best Director with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2004.

Mainland directors, despite their solid box office performance, are having a hard time making it in Hollywood. The cultural clash between East and West is their main consideration.

Lisa Lu said, "A film, not exactly Hollywood style, has to provide a full image of valuable content and recognizable characters for it to move audience the world over. Chinese films should contain Chinese elements, but never try to imitate others. "

"The Hollywood Chinese: The Arthur Dong Collection" runs at the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles until May 30th, 2010.