As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but be awestruck by the incredible journey of Michelle Yeoh. Her story is not just about martial arts and action movies; it’s about courage, determination, and breaking barriers.
Michelle Yeoh spoke about “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon,” James Bond, “Wicked,” Jackie Chan, and Ang Lee during the fourth installment of the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday. She also shared her experiences of combating stereotypes surrounding Asian women, advocating for increased female representation, promoting diversity, and encouraging Hollywood decision-makers to take action.
In the heat of our engaging conversation, I proudly declared, “I’ve broken through that long-standing barrier, smashing the glass ceiling.” It’s exhilarating to witness the transformation unfolding now, with a surge in diversity, more women stepping into roles behind the camera, and daring narratives being brought to life.
During a lively discussion titled “An Evening with,” the trailblazing actress who became the first Asian woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in “Everything Everywhere All at Once” shared insights into her professional journey, Hollywood experiences, and personal life. The audience warmly welcomed her with enthusiastic applause and cheers.
She expressed her surprise and excitement about the ‘Everything Everywhere’ script in a passionate way, leading her to express interest in meeting filmmakers known as the Daniels. She mentioned that they originally wrote it for Chan, but noted that having male stars attached can make it easier to secure financing and approval for projects.” Yeoh then commented that the movie resonated with many different generations.
Speaking directly to those with decision-making power in Hollywood, she was clear and straightforward: “As women, our plea is for equal chances. Let us demonstrate what we’re capable of! If we’re not deemed worthy enough to be included due to lack of ability, that’s understandable. But the real issue is that we’re often denied even a chance to show it.” In conclusion, she passionately urged: “Open the doors and let us join you!
Director Jon Chu challenged me with the task of reading a phone book, and I’d still give it a go, she admitted as she discussed her involvement in the hit film Wicked. She reminisced about telling him that she wasn’t accustomed to singing and had never met Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande prior, but she agreed to be part of the project when informed that a quick decision was “essential.
She stated that the final movie provides a genuinely engaging cinematic adventure, complete with harmonious co-stars often likened to yin and yang perfectly intertwined. In essence, this film represents a voyage of self-exploration, carrying the underlying theme: “Overcome the pull of gravity, embrace yourself wholeheartedly, and others just might follow suit by loving you as well.
In Yeoh’s view, the film mirrors the contemporary world. “Many aspects of that narrative were set in motion, not just recently, but about 20 years ago,” she commented. “I believe as time passes, we are increasingly recognizing its relevance to our society and the challenges we face. There’s a fear of expressing one’s true self, and this film, interestingly enough, even though it’s not about Marvel, seems to depict characters that remind me of some world leaders. They are powerful liberators, yet they also harbor dreams and ambitions. However, what strikes me most is their inability to see beyond the allure of power and hope, which can often cloud their judgment.
Growing up in the vibrant, multicultural landscape of Malaysia, I was fortunate to immerse myself in a wide array of global films, much like many young individuals in Saudi Arabia. This diverse background set the stage for my journey, which initially steered me towards dance, before an unfortunate spell with back problems compelled me to reconsider my aspirations as a ballerina and channel my creativity into choreography instead. However, I soon found myself grappling with stage fright – a debilitating fear that left me trembling and sleepless. Consequently, I questioned whether acting was truly where I belonged.
In Hong Kong, while filming an ad, she encountered Jackie Chan and received a movie contract. Her response? “Why not!” she reminisced. She described that period as a trial by fire, referring to the golden era of martial arts and action films in Hong Kong. However, not everything was to her taste. Reflecting on the past, she said, “The men were very protective of women,” which only fueled her desire to show them that “women can stand their ground and deserve equal treatment.” This statement received a round of applause.
In my reminiscing, I’d say that back then, we’d barely get five minutes for rehearsals on action sequences. But looking back, that whirlwind Hong Kong experience turned out to be a fantastic precursor to what lay ahead in my career.
She mentioned that she doesn’t dwell on it with a sense of longing, but instead, in a few weeks, she plans to visit Hong Kong, which she refers to as her “second home.” There, she’ll be filming a movie, and she also shared that she and some associates are striving to create platforms for fresh perspectives and emerging talents in that part of the world.
Appearing in the James Bond film “Tomorrow Never Dies” marked her entry onto the global stage. However, before “Crouching Tiger,” she turned down numerous roles due to them being stereotypical portrayals of Asian women, as she stated. “The ability to say ‘no’ is incredibly powerful,” Yeoh expressed.
She referred to Ang Lee, the director of “Crouching Tiger,” as a “masterful” and “poetic” filmmaker who is incredibly meticulous and subtle in his work, with an undying passion for cinema. When he shared his desire to create “Sense and Sensibility” with martial arts, she simply replied, “When will you start?” Despite her need for a tutor due to speaking Mandarin, she humorously admitted, “I was terrible.
Yeoh added that Ang is quite serious and doesn’t often joke. When Ang displayed a wall adorned with weapons, intending them for a scene, she giggled, but soon realized he was being sincere. Ang prefers to fully immerse himself in his characters, as demonstrated by his approach – if a character needs to know calligraphy, he requires the actors to learn or practice that skill, according to the actress.
In addition, she remembered sustaining an injury on set that was severe enough to necessitate sitting in a wheelbarrow for certain martial arts scenes in a movie. However, when she got hurt during the production of “Crouching Tiger“, Lee granted her time to heal and promised to wait until she recovered. Furthermore, she disclosed that Lee invested all his savings into the film, leaving him so drained that he required a wheelchair by the end.
Yeoh expressed her thoughts on the reaction as follows: “Perhaps America wasn’t quite prepared for it,” she suggested, pointing out that Lee was advised to make the movie in English, which he chose not to do. “Maintaining authenticity is crucial,” she emphasized. “The story needs to be told in its original form.” She encourages people to appreciate it for what it truly represents and open their minds to learning about diverse cultures.
Speaking about “Crazy Rich Asians,” Yeoh expressed that it didn’t quite align with her preferences at the time, due to its romantic comedy genre and entirely Asian cast. She questioned, “Why serve everything up on a platter?” She also mentioned that Netflix played a significant role in bringing the movie to life. Furthermore, she stated that the film provided her an opportunity to portray a mother character that is easily relatable, and added that playing a fearsome mother role was “a bit thrilling.
One of the notable stars gracing the fourth installment of RSIFF is our actress. Joining her are Viola Davis, Emily Blunt, Olivia Wilde, Andrew Garfield, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, and Spike Lee, who serves as the jury president.
During the same festival day, Yeoh’s “Wicked” costar, Cynthia Erivo, also talked about the movie’s success and spoke out against the online harassment directed at their fellow cast member, Ariana Grande.
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2024-12-06 16:25