Chinese Theater 88th Birthday and Handprint Ceremony - H 2015
Getty Images/Courtesy of ID PRThis story first appeared in the June 19 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
On June 3, Justin Lin placed his hands in cement alongside Chinese superstars Zhao Wei and Huang Xiaoming at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre, marking a milestone that the filmmaker didn’t take lightly. “As an Asian-American, representation has always been a big issue,” said Lin, whose parents are Chinese and who grew up in Orange County.
He talked to THR before the ceremony, which also celebrated the Chinese production Hollywood Adventures, starring the two actors (Lin produced). “When I was starting out, there wasn’t a lot of representation, but it was never an issue of talent — it was always an issue of opportunity.” Chances for minorities in Hollywood is an ongoing concern, said Lin. “I’m excited about where it’s going, but there’s a lot more to be done. Working with Zhao Wei and Huang Xiaoming, they’re not just Chinese stars, they’re movie stars. Hollywood should be global.”
