This weekend is the opening weekend for 'Crazy Rich Asians,' the first Hollywood major film featuring an all Asian/Asian-American cast in 25 years. The last one was 'The Joy Luck Club.'
The movie centers around a young Asian-American women who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family. What she doesn't know is that his family is among the richest (if not the richest) in the country.
Jeffrey Fong and Victoria Suan are Asian-Americans in Sacramento who run a production company calledThe Film Squad.
For Fong, seeing a charming male Asian lead is a big deal, especially since most Asian and Asian-American actors are casted in very stereotypical roles.
"Young Chinese boys see martial artists or nerdy guys that don't get the girl," said Fong, who is half Chinese. "What does he expect to see as himself, what society expects of him?"
Fong believes the Asian-American cast of this film presents characters who are much more relatable to the everyday Asian community.
Suan agrees, even though the two joked that they aren't 'crazy rich'.
"Seeing these characters realized on screen in such a serious but comedic way felt so full in my heart," said Suan. "I think it deserves to happen way more."
Fong said this movie has also been important to his father, who is Asian, and the older generations.
"They talk about representation all the time [in the sense of] 'You won't see us on screens,'" said Fong. "They just accepted it. Now that it's there, it's a big deal."
At the core, the film is a rom-com meant for everyone to enjoy, but it's the Asian community that is depending on the movie's success; hoping to see doors open in Hollywood for more Asian/Asian-American actors and stories.
Fong said he was mostly relieved after the film because it was so great.
"Since it's mainstream and hasn't been done in so long like this, [there was] a lot riding on it," said Fong.