An Asian-Australian writer, actor and screenwriter extraordinaire, we had the privilege to sit down with Michelle Law (writer of the smash-hit play Single Asian Female, and co-creator of the SBS series Homecoming Queens, just to name a few). Join us as we discuss the importance of Asian representation, storytelling, her relationship to her brother, Ben Law, the landscape of Asian oriented narratives in Australian media, and its future.
TIMESTAMPS
(1:18) Being in "Deadline City"
(2:03) Michelle's New Play: Miss Peony
(2:56) Chinese Australian Beauty Pageants
(4:27) Her first play: Single Asian Female and Asian representation in theatre
(6:11) Using Asian leads and Asian-orientated stories in her writing and Michelle's background in writing
(9:03) The universal narrative of immigrant children rejecting their background in their struggle with their identity through the younger years
(11:10) Changes in the landscape and appetite for Asian media over the last decade
(12:36) Tokenism in representation
(14:05) Diversity in hiring and casting
(16:23) Cultural appropriation and the potentially harmful effects of the trend of diversity
(20:49) The future of Asian-made media
(22:29) Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling and overlooked Asian talent
(23:20) Asian YouTubers in America and Australia - WongFu, Community Channel, MyChonny, etc.
(26:30) Michelle's favourite content and recommendations
(29:33) Michelle's other projects
(30:22) Michelle's opera on the Brisbane anti-Asian race riot in 1888
(33:17) Relationship with her brother Benjamin Law and family
(37:25) Politics in the industry and the gap between younger and older generations
(43:41) The complexity of BIPOC and why the term is problematic
(45:22) Michelle's guest pick
Have thoughts or concerns? Send us an email: contact@asiam.me
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asiam.podcast/
Visit our website: https://www.asiam.me/
Find us on:
Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/as-i-am-podcast/id1506747439
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4Hw3zKWqz1eN2udaUvXDCX?si=0z2-K8j-TDmxBv_nfj2SnQ
Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL2FzaWFtcG9kY2FzdC9mZWVkLnhtbA
As I Am
