The issue has crystallized in a word — “whitewashing” — that calls out Hollywood for taking Asian roles and stories and filling them with white actors. After doing a lot of research, she shifted her focus “from self-interest to Asian-American interests.”In the past year, Ms. Wu and a number of other Asian-American actors have emerged as fierce advocates for their own visibility — and frank critics of their industry. “I wasn’t really conscious of it until I booked the role,” Ms. Wu said. Paramount and DreamWorks, the studios behind “Ghost in the Shell,” said that the film reflects “a diverse array of cultures and countries.”But many Asian-American actors aren’t convinced. “It changed me,” Ms. Wu said.

Source: New York Times May 25, 2016 05:30 UTC