CHUNKY: Playing the Asian Stereotype
An interview with director Phil Wong
by Justin Lin
Phil Wong was born in Los Angeles in the Year of the Dragon. He worked with his parents at their small coffee shop on the outskirts of Korea town after high school. When his parents decided to retire after 22 years, he decided not to continue in the food business and enrolled in a film program at the Los Angeles Recording Workshop. After completing the program, he attained a job at Post Logic Studios in Hollywood where his is still currently employed.
What inspired you to create the main character?
The character mirrors my ambitions of becoming an actor. I used to deal with issues of weight and casting directors asking me if I knew kung fu.
Why did you decide to play the main character?
Actually, it has always been my dream to be a director and an actor, so this provided a great opportunity for me. It was a low budget film, so I had a lot of control. I got to do what I wanted to do. The production only cost me about $2,000.
What’s going on between the main actor and the casting assistant with the camera?
Haha. That’s actually my sister. She is getting aroused by my kung fu faking antics, which she thinks are real.
How, in the movie, are you combating the stereotype of type casting. (i.e. the kung fu main character)?
I am combating the stereotype by having the casting of the main character happen. It is a constant stereotype to have kung fu type casting associated with Asians. The fact that the white casting director doesn’t know the difference between good kung fu and bad kung fu helps to support this.
