Renegades | AMPAS President Janet Yang Reflects on Joy Luck Club and 2024 Oscars
The legendary film producer fighting for a more diverse Hollywood
Welcome to Renegades, a series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. In honor of the 2024 Academy Awards, we chat with Academy President Janet Yang for a Renegades special edition. Tune into the 96th Academy Awards live on Sunday, March 10, 7PM EST/4PM PST, on ABC.
Janet, your commitment to inclusion and representation has been evident throughout your career – from brokering deals between foreign cinema and Hollywood to executive producing the iconic Joy Luck Club – and you are lovingly known as the “godmother of Asian Americans in Hollywood.” Was there a particular moment in cinema that inspired this passion within you?
There was, interestingly. I grew up not thinking I could have anything to do with the movie business: growing up on the East Coast, being Asian, never seeing any role models. But my first real inspiration came when I was living in China, and I started seeing films and television shows with people who looked like us, made by people who looked like us. I can't believe I didn't know it was possible, but I truly didn't. I never connected the two. I never thought Asians could be part of movies because all the movies I saw were basically without our image.
The movie that sparked my interest in actually being able to have some sort of business relationship with movies is the movie by Chen Kaige, called Yellow Earth. It was considered one of the best movies that came out in 1984. I thought, “Oh, if only other people could see this movie, they would see us differently.” Even though it was set in the countryside of China, and obviously culturally there were no direct relationships between my life and that life, just being able to see a three-dimensional portrait of an Asian person on screen was so enlightening. It just kind of awakened this DNA in me that said, “oh, I must do this.”
That led to a job running a company in San Francisco that represented Chinese cinema, which, led to another job, bringing American cinema to China, which led to a job working with Steven Spielberg on the movie Empire of the Sun in China. This all happened in a space of a year in this kind of mid-'80s period, and doors started opening up. It was purely out of a very raw desire for us to be represented on screen.
How did that then lead to Joy Luck Club?
Interestingly enough, after that experience working with Steven, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall, I was asked to be a production executive working on Amblin projects (Spielberg’s company at the time). Kathleen Kennedy took me to New York to explore upcoming books for development. We met with the publisher Putnam, and during our meeting, they turned to me and said, “Oh, by the way, we just optioned a book (bought a book) from a first-time novelist.” And they actually said, “and we paid more money than we've ever paid before for a first-time novelist, but we don't even have the whole book yet. We just have discrete chapters.”
They gave me these typed manuscript pages, and said “maybe you want to take a look at it.” I took them on the plane with me back to LA and I was a mess by the time I arrived at LAX. I was crying. I think I said in the past that it was almost a frightening experience because I had never read anything that so reflected my own life. There was always this distance. I think a lot of children of immigrants understand this sort of bifurcated life. You have your public life, you have your private life. And for a long time, for me anyway, and for many others, I think the two don't meet. So it was almost scary. I felt like, “oh, my life is being exposed.”
The Mahjong tiles, for starters, and all of the things that we grew up with. And it's such an incredible time that we can be proud of all of this now. But back then, it was all slightly embarrassing.
Well, thank you for leading that progress. You really have been such a trailblazer and inspiration for so many of us.
As President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which you were elected to in August 2022 as the first Asian woman and second person of color in this role, how have you scaled this commitment to diverse storytelling within the organization and beyond?
Fortunately, I feel like I'm in the right place at the right time. The Academy had already been looking a lot at its membership. When I got involved, they had already launched an A2020 initiative to double the number of women and people of color. So it very much aligned with all the work that I had already been doing, which by the way, I didn't even feel like it was work. I just felt like it was what we should be doing. It was community building. It didn't exactly feel like a professional objective until a lot of vocabulary started forming around it, like diversity and equity inclusion.
I've now been a[n Academy] member for two decades. I got involved because a group of us protested some of the jokes at the 2016 Oscars. And a whole group of us got together. I learned then what Asians were in the Academy. We just all started writing and calling each other saying, “Oh, are you in the Academy? Do you want to participate in this letter writing campaign? And do you want to go meet with the Academy, et cetera, et cetera.”
So just one thing led to another, led to another. I got to know how the Academy worked, and the fact that there was this initiative and got to know then-CEO Dawn Hudson, who I had known for a little bit before, but she was making great strides, and a woman who was in charge of membership at the time, Lorenza Munoz. And they were really wonderful and very embracing and really encouraging of the activities that we were doing on the side.
In the beginning, we were secretly meeting. I'd send out emails to all the people I knew who were Academy members and we didn't even know if we could officially call ourselves Academy members. We'd gather and talk about what we could do to support one another, and now this is just commonplace and it's institutionalized: we have affinity groups, we have an equity inclusion committee.
It's incredible to be recognized and to have the buy-in and the resources behind making sure that everyone feels seen and heard and has a voice, being a part of the Academy now.
That really is. I know what it's like to not have a sense of belonging, and I know what it's like to have a sense of belonging. Everyone deserves to have a sense of belonging.
Along with that, you've also emphasized a proactive approach in engaging with the younger generations. Why is it so important for you to reach younger generations?
We can never get complacent. We have to always think about the future. The future is in the hands of the younger generation. We have to nurture talent. We have to encourage them to speak up and speak out. We have to remind them that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and they're looking at us and we need to remind them it takes work. It takes work. It takes awareness. It takes community building. It takes advocacy. And we just have to keep doing the work because things can slip easily.
I think, in this particular period we're in now, some people have already noticed that the bigger companies are more risk-averse. There's been a lot of retrenchment because of both the pandemic and the double strikes, and quickly people revert to a kind of conservative mindset. And we have to keep reminding everyone, the industry at large, that we still matter, that we are still successful, and that we're still a positive additive to the industry. Because it is easy for people to slip back into a prior mindset.
I have to ask because the Academy Awards are coming up this Sunday …
Really, because I’ve forgotten!
Depending on what you can share with us, what are you most excited for the audience to see at this year's Oscars ceremony?
I think I have to keep most of it a secret. Well, we've already announced the presenters. We've announced, of course, that Ryan Gosling is going to perform “I’m Just Ken”, and that's never happened before. And we have all the songs that were nominated that are going to be performed, and we have an incredible roster of presenters.
One of the most important things that Bill Kramer, the CEO, and I talked about in the very beginning, because we started around the same time, was to set a different tone. We want the Oscars to be celebratory. We want the feeling to be very inclusive. And we have found so much greater member engagement than previously, and that makes us very happy.
We've also seen an incredible globalization of both membership and nominations. So this year we have two movies that are international that are in the Best Picture category as nominees (Anatomy of the Fall and Zone of Interest), and then we have one that's largely non-English (Past Lives). We have huge blockbusters (Barbie and Oppenheimer). We have really interesting personal films, like Past Lives, and so many films that are so interesting and the growth of a very unique kind of auteur vision (Poor Things).
I'm really excited to watch, especially what you mentioned about the global nature of content. It really is reflective of your journey and what you've done over the last few decades as well. It's incredible to see that come to a culmination at the awards.
It is interesting how, once there was an active initiative to globalize membership, it showed up right away in nominations, like Parasite winning best picture in 2020, and then Everything Everywhere [All at Once]. Amazingly, every awards category has a nominee from outside of the US, and then some are replete with people of color and people from outside of the US. So yeah, it's a good feeling.
You mentioned that one of the most life-changing experiences you have had was your time living and working in Beijing. What piece of advice would you share with your younger self that you learned from that journey?
That opened up my eyes to the fact that we weren't a minority, but part of a global majority when I was surrounded by people who looked like me. I'm much more American than I am Chinese, for sure. I'm a Chinese American, but just seeing the faces and being amongst a population that looked like me, I was like, “Oh!” It became a touchstone for me. So, you know, I came to Hollywood, with China on my sleeve.
I encourage young people to fully realize themselves, to fully explore who they are and fully explore their identity. There are no more barriers to that. There's no “they” and “us” and “can we belong to them?”. And I think everyone is interested in finding out just who you are, and not who they are, you know? There is no big “they” out there. It's all about us.
Lightning Round
Favorite snack: There are these crispy coconut rolls that are made in Thailand, that once were at Trader Joe's, now you can get them on Amazon. These crispy little wafer things, and they're so delicious. And they happen to be gluten and dairy free. The other thing I love are these dark chocolate barks with seeds and sesame that I get at Trader Joe's.
Favorite TV show that you recently watched: I binged Expats. I have to give Lulu Wang a lot of credit for bringing to life, not just the place, but the characters were so interesting and complex. I was completely drawn in. I haven't seen Shogun yet, but I can't wait to see it. And it's not like I just watch Asian shows either. There's a ton of shows out there that I'm dying to watch, [like] Slow Horses and Tears of God. You know, I've been so immersed in watching movies. Now I get to watch some television shows and I'm really happy about that.
Play a mahjong game or a tennis match: First of all, I know this is controversial: I'm not a great tennis player so pickleball has been great as a sort of substitute for tennis, but mahjong is my game. I mean, it's my jam! My mother lived to 104. I am absolutely convinced that the reason for her longevity is that she played mahjong every day almost until the pandemic. And I think if it hadn't been for the pandemic, she'd still be alive. It's the perfect game. It's the perfect blend of skill and luck, and the companionship. I mean, I grew up with the sound of Mahjong tiles rumbling and peals of laughter. I'm a total addict.
Best purchase you've made this year: I have to be camera ready so much more than I ever have in my entire life. So I have this thing that's like a combination blow dryer and brush that’s really helped with my unruly hair.
Beach or mountains? Mountains. I have literally had this debate with myself. I bought a house in Ojai during the pandemic. I love the quiet of the mountains and the stillness and the solidity of mountains. I also love the beach, of course, and I love strolling on the beach, but it evokes a different thing. It's more stimulating, whereas I find the mountains really calming. And I think I need that these days, more than the stimulation.
The Oscars airs this Sunday, March 10th at 7 PM EST/4 PM PST on ABC. We encourage you to watch the multicultural-led films nominated for Academy Awards!
American Fiction (watch on Apple TV or Prime Video) - trailer
AMERICAN FICTION is Cord Jefferson's hilarious directorial debut, which confronts our culture’s obsession with reducing people to outrageous stereotypes. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a frustrated novelist who’s fed up with the establishment profiting from “Black” entertainment that relies on tired and offensive tropes. To prove his point, Monk uses a pen name to write an outlandish “Black” book of his own, a book that propels him to the heart of hypocrisy and the madness he claims to disdain.
Killers of the Flower Moon (watch on AppleTV) - trailer
At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Also starring Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion, Killers of the Flower Moon is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book.
Past Lives (watch on AppleTV or Prime Video) - trailer
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrest apart after Nora's family emigrated from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life.
Perfect Days (watch on AppleTV or Prime Video) - trailer
Hirayama is content with his simple life cleaning toilets in Tokyo. Outside of his structured routine he cherishes music on cassette tapes, books, and taking photos of trees. Unexpected encounters reveal more of his story in a deeply moving and poetic reflection on finding beauty in the world around us.
The Boy and The Heron (watch on AppleTV or In-Theaters) - trailer
Mahito, a young 12-year-old boy, struggles to settle in a new town after his mother's death. However, when a talking heron informs Mahito that his mother is still alive, he enters an abandoned tower in search of her, which takes him to another world.
Elemental (watch on Disney+) - trailer
In a city where fire, water, land, and air residents live together, a fiery young woman and a go-with-the-flow guy discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common.
Nimona (watch on Netflix) - trailer
A knight is framed for a crime he didn't commit, and the only person who can help him prove his innocence is Nimona, a shape-shifting teen who might also be a monster he's sworn to kill.
Godzilla Minus One (watch on Netflix) - trailer
Japan has barely recovered from the Second World War when a gigantic peril emerges off the coast of Tokyo. Koichi, a deserter traumatized by his first confrontation with Godzilla, sees this as an opportunity to redeem his conduct during the war.
To Kill A Tiger (watch on Netflix) - trailer
Indian farmer Ranjit takes on the fight of his life when he demands justice for his 13-year-old daughter, the victim of a brutal gang rape. His decision to support his daughter is virtually unheard of, and his journey unprecedented.
Maestro (watch Netflix) - trailer
From Director Bradley Cooper, Maestro is the towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between cultural icon Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro, at its core, is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko (watch at the IFC Center and in select cinemas) - trailer
WAR IS OVER! is an 11-minute animated film, set in an alternate WWI reality where a senseless war rages on, two soldiers on opposite sides of the conflict play a game of chess. A heroic carrier pigeon delivers the soldiers’ chess moves over the battlefield as the fighting escalates. Neither soldier knows his opponent as the game and the war builds to its climatic final move. Whoever wins the game, one thing is for certain: there are no winners in war.
Our Uniform (watch on Youtube)
Directed by Yegane Moghaddam, Our Uniform follows an Iranian girl unfolding her school memories on the wrinkles and fabrics of her old uniform.
Red, White and Blue, Nazrin Choudhury (watch on RedWhiteBlueTV)
Rachel is a single mother living paycheck to paycheck. When an unexpected pregnancy threatens to crumble her already precarious situation, she is forced to cross state lines in search of an abortion.
Island in Between, S. Leo Chiang and Jean Tsien (watch on Youtube)
S Leo Chiang reflects on his relationship with Taiwan, the United States and China from the islands of Kinmen, a few kilometers from mainland China.
Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó, Sean Wang (watch on Disney+ or Hulu) - trailer
A personal love letter from director Sean Wang to his Nai Nai and Wài Pó, a grandma super team that dances, stretches, and farts their sorrows away.
The Barber of Little Rock, Christine Turner (Black) (watch on Youtube)
Barber Arlo Washington forms a nonprofit community bank, with a visionary approach to a just economy that could reshape the future of banking. The People Trust fosters economic progress for underserved residents in Little Rock, Ark.
The Last Repair Shop, Kris Bowers (Black) (watch on Disney+ or Hulu) - trailer
In Los Angeles, a few devoted craftspeople keep over 80,000 student instruments in good repair.
Oppenheimer (watch on Peacock or Prime Video) - trailer
During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appoints physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spend years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work comes to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witness the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history.