Jon M. Chu's memoir 'Viewfinder' traces his journey to making movies

Jon M. Chu shares insights into his upbringing as an Asian American and his parents' efforts to integrate their family into American society after immigrating from Taiwan.

Chu's parents immigrated from Taiwan and sought to assimilate their children into American culture

Jon M. Chu talks about his family's move from Taiwan to the United States. His parents, who initially did not speak much English, wanted their children to seamlessly fit into American culture. Chu was the youngest of five children, and his mother, in particular, wanted her children to feel a sense of belonging that she did not feel initially upon her arrival in the U.S.

To this end, she enrolled her children in a variety of classes to encourage them to be “as American as possible.” Chu's parents operated Chef Chu's, a Chinese restaurant that has been running for 52 years and was seen by them as not just a business, but also a means to radiate American-ness and to assimilate into the community. They used the restaurant as a platform to act as ambassadors for Chinese culture, aiming to show that Chinese families are "worthy."

Chu grew up in a predominantly Asian community in Silicon Valley, which made it harder to feel like a racial minority

Despite his parents' efforts to assimilate, Chu experienced confusion regarding his identity while growing up in a predominantly Asian community in Silicon Valley. The prevalence of Asian families in his local area often blurred the lines of how he felt as a minority withi ...

As a young child, Chu found himself immersed in the world of filmmaking, often forgoing his studies to film and edit movies. Initially, this was a point of contention between him and his mother, who held the strong belief that he should be focused on his studies.

As a child, Chu would skip studying to film and edit movies, much to his mother's dismay

Chu’s dedication to filmmaking occasionally came at the cost of his schoolwork. His mother, noticing his diverted attention from studying, would express her dismay. In one notable instance, she unplugged his computer during a late-night editing session, driven by her conviction that his academic studies should take precedence.

Chu's mother would sometimes unplug his computer and force him to stop editing, believing he should be studying instead

This act of unplugging his computer was a clear message of her initial stance on his burgeoning passion. She wanted him to pursue a more conventional path, one that typically promised more security and was a familiar script for success.

After Chu explained his passion for filmmaking, his mother started supporting him by providing filmmaking books and encouraging him to pursue it as a craft

However, the dynamic shifted after Chu opened up about his deep passion for filmmaking. His mother’s understanding of his love for the craft grew, culminating in her ...

Chu's narrative of personal growth reflects a profound connection to his Asian American heritage, sparked by community developments and solidified through intimate familial experiences.

Chu felt he had "ignored the sleeping dragon" in him, referring to the part of his identity connected to his Asian American roots

Chu reveals that he had long overlooked a crucial aspect of his identity – the "sleeping dragon" representing his Asian roots and familial ties. This dormant part of himself symbolized his childhood spent in his family's restaurant and the cherished moments with his grandmother as they folded wontons together. The empowerment and rising voice of the Asian American community, along with its storytellers, resonated with him, instilling a sense of duty to portray his own heritage authentically.

Chu's experiences in Taiwan and with his family's restaurant helped him rediscover and embrace his Asian American i ...

Filmmaker Chu harnesses his cinematic platform to spotlight Asian-American narratives and challenge traditional storytelling through his directorial choices and project selection.

Chu's decision to direct "Crazy Rich Asians" was driven by his desire to tell stories that represented the Asian American experience

Chu’s directorial choice of "Crazy Rich Asians" was a conscious effort to contribute to the growing narrative of Asian American identity, seeing it as an opportunity to redefine the “American fairy tale.” Chu sought to flip the conventional narrative to focus on the perspective of a person of color, thus bringing a fresh and representative take on a familiar genre.

Chu's upcoming project, "Wicked," is another chance for him to tell a classic story from a new, diverse perspective

With his upcoming project, "Wicked," Chu is interested in continuing his efforts to present classic stori ...