text: [Themes: modern, socially important]
  
  [Author's Note: An Asian American Women's Studies final project depicting the rise to fame of a young Chinese-American adult female. Based upon true stories of Asian-Americans in the media.]
  
  > Continue
  Welcome to Hollywood! Well, not quite Hollywood, you actually live in one of the smaller cities surrounding Los Angeles known as Pasadena. But it is close enough that you have been bit by the fame bug and want nothing more than to see your name in lights.
  
  You've just graduated from UC Irvine with highest academic honors, while still managing to maintain a steady career on your college's stage. You know you've got talent, if you could just be noticed.
  
  Unfortunately college managed to hit you where it hurts, straight in the wallet, and you've been forced to move back home for a while. Your parents approve of this decision, but keep badgering you about what your next move will be. You are afraid to admit that graduate school is not your first choice, and keep stalling whenever the topic comes up.
  
  So now comes the first decision--where to start on your path to fame. Hiring an agent would be expensive but would most likely net you at least a bit of work. Or you could attempt to get lucky and hit it big on the internet.
  
  Hell, maybe you should just give up now. You know your parents aren't going to be happy with this.
  
  > Hell, you're a poor college student, you don't have money for agents -- to teh interwebz!
  You love the idea of being in videos, but getting an actual job in Hollywood might be a bit ambitious at this point (plus your parents would rather you spend your time looking for a "real" job). You decide that, for now, you should just try putting yourself on YouTube and see what happens.
  
  But the question is, what sort of videos should you make? You've seen women like Christine Gambito get popular by making fun of their Asian families, and Michelle Phan get even more popular by posting makeup tutorials (and even get a corporate sponsor from it). You don't think makeup is really your thing, and are more interested in actually acting than in looking pretty... but you're not sure if people will want to watch that.
  
  > create a silly skit
  You decide trying to be funny is probably your best bet for popularity, and making a skit of some sort will be a good way to show off your acting skills.
  
  But what should it be about? You begin to realize that, when people see your face on Youtube, the first thing they'll notice is that you're an Asian woman. And then they'll think of the stereotypes. You'd rather not perpetuate such stereotypes, but will you get more hits if you acknowledge your Asian identity than if you try to separate yourself from it?
  
  > use stereotypes to make fun of your family
  It worked well for women like Christine Gambito, so maybe it can work for you too! You like this idea because it allows you to use stereotypes in a humorous way, but without directly making fun of yourself.
  
  You write and perform a video exaggerating your family's Chinese accents and some of their more stereotypical Asian habits.
  
  > post video to Youtube
  You post the video about your family. And people like it! You score a bunch of views and positive comments about your sense of humor and your imitations. You even get some subscribers. If you can keep this up with more videos, Youtube fame might be within reach!
  
  But now your parents are on your case about getting a job. You consider showing them the video and positive comments so they know you're doing something, but that would also mean showing them how you're making fun of them.
  
  > show your parents the video
  You know this is risky, but you decide if you're going to be Youtube famous, you probably shouldn't hide it from your parents. More importantly, if you can convince them that you're working toward getting a real job, they might get off your case a bit.
  
  You approach the matter as carefully as possible. You let them know you've been working on a project on Youtube (you've tried explaining to them what "Youtube" is, though you're not sure they quite understand). You tell them it's been received well, and that if you keep making things people like, you could make money directly through Youtube or get offered a paying job.
  
  They're skeptical about you posting a video of yourself where anyone could see it and demand that you play it for them.
  
  > play it
  Your parents are horrified by you talking about them in such a way. You try to explain that you were joking, that no one will judge them for it, but to no avail. They demand that you delete the video and don't post any more.
  
  > delete the video
  You succumb to your parents' demands and take down the video. Despite your best efforts, it seems there's no way you can please both your online audience and your family. You'll have to either try a more conventional route to fame or abandon acting altogether.
  
  > get an agent
  So you decided to get an agent. You can feel the reserves in your bank starting to run low, but you know that you'll have a job soon enough, or why else would you have an agent?
  
  Your agent informs you that you also need to join the Screen Actors guild for maximum benefit. You never realized that becoming an actor would cost so much, but your will of fire will not be dampened! As it is, you will either have to take out a loan or go to your parents for help.
  
  > take out a loan
  You know this loan is going to be eating at your funds for years to come, but it's not like you really had a choice. At the very least you now have an agent and are protected by the guild.
  
  So what now? What steps are you going to take to get noticed, to get your face out there? You don't really have a support network at this point, and even your family isn't willing to help.
  
  Maybe you should start small and hope someone sees your worth as an extra. I mean, at the very least, it is a paying job.
  
  Or maybe it's time to go big or go home? You recently saw an audition for a new T.V. pilot, but it was specifically asking for 'twenties, blonde, beautiful girl', code for 'white'. Is it worth the risk?
  
  > Audition as an extra
  You audition as an extra for a new T.V. pilot, and they seem to like your headshot. You overhear one of the casting directors mention that this is set in L.A., and you'll do wonders for the authenticity. You aren't sure if this counts as a step in the right direction for Asian-American actors. Sure, it means more screentime and exposure of Asian-Americans on T.V., but are we really just something needed for diversity and authenticity? Does that mean if the casting director doesn't believe any Asians belong in that situation, you'll never be cast?
  
  You shake your head. You don't have time for this nonsense, you have guild dues to pay. You step onto that stage and do your best to both blend in and stand out.
  
  At the end of the day one of the actors walks over and hands you a water bottle.
  
  "I loved your work today, I'm working on a small independent film and we are looking for more of your type for small bit roles, are you interested?" he says.
  
  Your type? Female? Pretty? Asian? Good actress? You are not quite sure what he means, but money is money. The other option would be to just return to your agency and look for more work...
  
  > take offer
  You arrive on set for your bit part in the independent film. When you are handed the script, you realize that you are to be a "sassy Vietnamese manicurist, young, exotic."
  
  A casting assistant walks over to speak with you, and when you open your mouth to voice your concerns she speaks first.
  
  "This is a comedy, so if you have the ability to pull off an accent, that'd be fantastic," she says, completely serious.
  
  You stand looking calm on the outside while seething on the inside for a minute before pulling out your cell phone to text your agent.
  
  "Not what I signed up for. Script super racist, makes fun of asians. what do?"
  
  You quickly receive a reply. "Not what casting people originally said. So sorry. Possible to give best interpretation?" You can tell your agent is just as angry as you are, but you don't quite know what to do in the situation. You're already here with a guaranteed role and paycheck...
  
  > accept role
  You accept the nail salon technician role, but inform them that you are unable to do any type of accent as you are Chinese, not Vietnamese. You attempt to make an extremely two dimensional character as nuanced as possible, but it's not really possible with only a few lines.
  
  Eventually you realize you are starting to pander to the director, raising the pitch of your voice and making little quips about your 'asian homelife', parroting things you've heard in comedy sketches and on youtube before. The cast and crew eat it up. Suddenly, the day is over and you realize you have an offer to be the star in a political commercial for your local senator. You aren't even sure how that came about, but it's your first real chance for some mainstream screentime.
  
  > go to political commercial filming
  You arrive in a field that has been set up to look like a rice paddy. Extras are being outfitted in Chinese farmer uniforms, pointed hats and all. You are handed a script, and start to read it over.
  
  "Thank you Michigan Sen. Debbie Spend-it-now. Debbie spend so much Ah-mer-i-can money -- you borrow more and more from us. Your economy get very weak; ours get very good. We take yo' jobs,"
  
  Another script that demands an accent. At least it matches your ethnicity this time? You aren't sure if that's actually consolation, or you are just rationalizing. You really, really want this role since it will be aired in the Super Bowl in a month. It could lead to bigger and better things.
  
  > star in a commercial that will be in the Super Bowl. SUPER. BOWL.
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrbdXUWryXk
  
  Why did you ever accept that role? The backlash from that one commercial has essentially ruined your career. You've had to answer numerous questions from so many media outlets. You've found your fame, but not quite where you wanted it. Your friends love teasing you about it, asking 'Do... you... speak... English?' whenever you make any type of grammatical mistake.
  
  The worst was the reaction from your parents. When they saw the ad on T.V., they stopped speaking to you for quite a while. You realize that even though you are an individual, you managed to misrepresent an entire culture and country. You aren't quite sure if you can be blamed for something quite that large, but you know your parents think so. You aren't quite sure when the sting of this dishonor will wear off.
  
  Med School is looking pretty good right now.