Jung Woo Sung Speaks His Honest Thoughts on Debuting in Hollywood

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

Actor Jung Woo Sung spoke his honest thoughts on debuting in Hollywood during an interview for his latest film “Scarlet Innocence.”

When asked whether he has gotten any offers to venture into Hollywood during his 20-year career, Jung Woo Sung replied, “Going abroad should not be an actor’s ultimate goal.”

He added, “Of course, filming foreign projects is up to the individual, and they will have a reason for doing so.” Then he frankly stated, “Hollywood is a white-dominated industry, so unfortunately the main character has to be white. But I want to be a main character.”

He further explained, “I’m not sure why Asian actors must make it their goal to enter Hollywood, if it means that they will end up playing villains and supporting characters.”

Lastly, he commented, “Obviously, advancing to foreign industries isn’t something that can be deemed right or wrong,” emphasizing, “but it’s necessary that there is someone who thinks from this point of view.”
source: soompi

Comments

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Perfect comment! :3

In the other hand, I wish he will stop acting in all these slow motion movies and give us something drool worthy instead. His last movie that I actually like is Daisy and that was like 5 years ago?

[revertigo.livejournal.com]

cold eyes?

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

aha I haven't watch that one yet. OTL

I keep forgetting to watch it. ;~;

[nekokonneko.livejournal.com]

Then he frankly stated, “Hollywood is a white-dominated industry, so unfortunately the main character has to be white. But I want to be a main character.”

He further explained, “I’m not sure why Asian actors must make it their goal to enter Hollywood, if it means that they will end up playing villains and supporting characters.”



the racism in the industry is why a lot of asian-american actors are seeking jobs in asia instead

[e-bone (from livejournal.com)]

Your last point is really saddening. Daniel Henny blew up in Korea before he was even remotely fluent in the language, and he's had a handful of roles in the states but nothing really substantial...

[love-keiko.livejournal.com]

the saddest thing fo real tho. i'm glad he kept it 100.

[e-bone (from livejournal.com)]

This is why I always get nauseous when my favorite foreign actors get Hollywood roles b/c I know they'll be trash. Also a bummer that I have to go to foreign films to see POC b/c the US still ain't with it smh

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

my flawless boyfriend speaks no lies

[torontok.livejournal.com]

He ain't lie. Half of bollywood has a hard time breaking into Hollywood and most Indian actors are fluent in English. It's the accents, I tell you

[e-bone (from livejournal.com)]

I have no basis but I totally agree with you on the point about accents. Every time I hear them used in American media there's this underlying comical approach (if they happen to be brown). Doesn't sit well with me.

[imienazwisko.livejournal.com]

tons of european actors have tried breaking into hollywood but usually they end up playing stereotypical characters and it's not use for them imho. it's better to stay here but america is so tempting, with better pay and bigger projects
is there anyone apart from anil kapoor or irrfan khan who actually did it? maybe aishwarya but her american movies weren't that huge...

honestly when i speak english i change my accent so i sound less eastern european. people treat you differently when you have a neutral accent that can't get picked on

[tempestdance.livejournal.com]

ugh it bothers me so much that english and french accents are considered sexy even if spoken by the ugliest actors (I'm looking at you, benedict) while asian accents are always viewed comical.

[miwa201.livejournal.com]

not bollywood, but i am so sad dev patel never really broke out. he's so talented yet he's nowhere.

[fraudandfantasy.livejournal.com]

It's really true. I'm Caribbean-American and a lifetime ago I decided to be a model/actress and I was about 11/12 when my acting coach told me in no uncertain terms lose the accent (which I barely had at that point). That's another one of the accents that just can't simply exist. It always comes with a ridiculous stereotype attached to it. And in America it's better to sound like you're from nowhere especially if you have your skin color going against you.

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

this whole thread with people sharing their experiences is proof enough re: accents!

[angela-derp-otp.livejournal.com]

MTE.

[hellociara.livejournal.com]

preach. we all know it's true. there is no denying it. it's still hard for black actors and actresses to get roles. especially Black women. i know that someone above pointed out that it would be hard for Americans to accept an actor who isn't fluent in English with no accent. while that may be true, there are Asian-American actors in this country, who are awesome, who still don't have lead roles. accents don't have anything to do with it when you still want minorities to stay the minority. the industry (and i mean everything - not just movies and music) is still highly eurocentric. it's annoying and frustrating.

[edanz-castle.livejournal.com]

+1. Because of this, I think this is important that we have to keep supporting minorioty independent film makers.With each success, I think they will be the ones to change holy wood little by little when it comes minority's not only playing lead roles but good roles that aren't there for comedic relief or sterotyped. L z

[45s.livejournal.com]

These past few years alone prove that people will watch and enjoy media with diverse casts but these old white men refuse to acknowledge it and chalk it up to a fluke

[atopworld.livejournal.com]

He is telling these truths, and it's quite sad. I can literally count the Asian actors/entertainers/journalists, that are well known, on my hand, who do not have accents. Even so, in general it is hard for minorities to get actual roles, and I can only imagine how hard it is for SK actors to get roles that don't involve a stupid stereotype or martial arts.

[leighbee333.livejournal.com]

I absolutely agree with the point everyone is making of Hollywood being white dominated and there being an under-representation of ethnic/racial minorities, but I'm not sure I understand why the North American movie industry aka Hollywood, even taking into account its global reach, is being faulted for revolving around Anglosphere natives...seeing as how it's an Anglosphere-situated industry?

Do Korean or Japanese movies often star foreigners? Do French, German, or Bollywood movies habitually star foreigners? Or is it, you know, mostly Korean/Japanese/French/German/Bollywood actors (or actors believably passing themselves off as those nationalities or native language speakers) performing, respectively, Korean/Japanese/French/German/Indian stories? If anything, I think Hollywood movies have become too global; I mean that in the sense of big studios trying to appeal to as broad an international audience as possible and thus watering down any cultural specificity (and in equal measure, ramping up the CGI special effects) so that the movies will hit fewer snags or obstacles in translating them across many cultures.

Instead, I think Hollywood distributors should be more open to picking up and marketing foreign films that come with their own cultural specificity to North American audiences, and stop relying on the conventional wisdom that these audiences don't want to read subtitles (I loooove foreign films, and it's such a shame how little access there is to them aside from at arthouse theatres).

[e-bone (from livejournal.com)]

I'm a bit confused by your statements. You'd previously agreed that Hollywood is racist but don't see any issue with the fact that most major films star white people, or as you put it "revolving around Anglosphere natives"?

Also given the ethnic makeup of the USA vs the other countries you mentioned should answer your question as to why there are no foreigners starring in their films (although I'd argue they have issues with representation but I'm not familiar with any one foreign industry to speak on it)

ETA: My bad, looks like you were talking specifically about foreign/non native English speaking actors (although I do think racism/xenophobia is tied up in some of this). I apologize for the mis-read!

[cherrypop.livejournal.com]

PREACH. Your comment is so on point.

Hollywood films have too far of a reach and foreign films don't, at least theatrically.

I would point out though that Hulu and Netflix dominate peoples' choices of at-home entertainment and are slowly but surely steamrolling over traditional movie ticket sales with the exception of children's films and blockbusters. Both Hulu and Netflix have a wide, wide range of foreign films to choose from. It's just that Netflix specifically needs more Korean dramas.

[cherrypop.livejournal.com]

He's right though. Hollywood isn't a medium that's necessary for success. Nowadays people are paying less attention to Hollywood films and more attention to foreign and indie flicks than ever before thanks to Hulu, Netflix and more choices in general.

And honestly Hollywood's power is constantly declining and has been for a long time. That's why these days you see a lot of famous actors working on indie films rather than big budget ones.