WHAT'S NEW - March 2006

SHERIDAN PRASSO: As I explain in the chapter of my book called "Matters of Men and Country: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Portrayed," in Hollywood movies, over and over again, action heroes such as Jet Li and Chow Yun-Fat save the girl but don't even get a romantic kiss at the end. I have read that in the finale of "Romeo Must Die," the kiss scene between Jet Li and Aaliyah was cut after it fared badly in front of test audiences, and the director decided that American audiences weren't ready yet to see an Asian man acting the same way that a white hero would.

There is no such prohibition between white men and Asian women on screen (witness "Sideways" as the most recent example). These images from Hollywood need to change before male sex symbols from Asia can be fully regarded as masculine heroes in the eyes of Hollywood and in Western culture in general. I argue that such images - of Asian males as asexual and/or emasculated in Hollywood movies - have an impact on interpersonal relations, such as the low prevalence of Asian male/Caucasian female couples in the West.

US ASIANS: When do you feel that the attitudes that you've described above and at the review of "Romeo Must Die" will change where AM/WF relationships will be accepted, like in the past pictures such as Cecille DeMille's "The Cheat," "Hiroshima Mon Amour," James Shigeta/Victoria Shaw in Crimson Kimono and/or James Shigeta/Carol Baker in "Bridge to the Sun?"

SHERIDAN PRASSO: I do not know when it will change. Having contemporary movies from Hollywood showing equitable relationships between Asian males and Caucasian women might help.
To read the entire interview with Sheridan Prasso, click HERE

Could you share your views on participating on the Calgon "Ancient Chinese Secret" commercial?
The audition process never made me feel that this was stereotypical. In fact, I went to the audition in my overalls, hair down to my shoulders and wearing clogs. I fooled around with the text, they loved it and hired me. I never expected to get this commercial since they had a room filled with "chinky types" sitting in the room. The producers never asked for an accent, just straight ahead dialogue.

Did you consider it a stereotypical role?
No, never even gave it a second thought. The fact that you had an Asian couple speak without accents was advanced for that time. Forget about stereotypes, just having Asians speak without accents was a major breakthrough.

How is it different than other stereotypical roles?
At that time, a commercial with no accent broke a pattern. I can name a number of actors (but won't) who volunteered accents on "copy" that was written straight ahead (no accent required or written) and got the commercial because the people thought it was funny.

Could you elaborate on the fact that it was/is the longest running commercial
The "hook line" was what captured everyone and made it one of the most popular commercials. People, to this day, still remember the spot when I tell them I was the "Ancient Chinese Secret" guy. Since the initial "shoot" - they have re-shot the spot to upgrade/update it a number of times, while never calling me in once, just lifting my "take" and moving on. The hook "Ancient Chinese Secret" was poking fun NOT at Asians, it was just humore. I feel if you're offended by this - you'd better learn to see what's really racist and what isn't. The commercial ran from 1974 to 1986 and is in the TV Museum in New York City with other classic commercials such as "Speedy Alka-Seltzer," "Mother Nature," "Can't Believe I Ate the Whole Thing," etc.
To continue this interview, click HERE
To learn about Calvin Jung, click HERE
To discover the Calgon commerical, click HERE

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