There's so little representation of people who look like me behind the camera that it makes you want to say yes to any opportunity out of desperation. It puts you in a situation where you can't make your best work. Diversity for cheap.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the lack of representation in the film industry and its impact on creatives.
Lulu Wang's quote reflects the struggles faced by underrepresented individuals in the film industry, emphasizing that the scarcity of people from diverse backgrounds behind the camera often leads to a sense of desperation for opportunities. This lack of representation compromises the quality and authenticity of artistic work, suggesting that a tokenistic approach to diversity fails to honor the true depth of varied experiences and stories.
In practice
Using this quote in a panel discussion about diversity in the film industry.
All I try to do is portray Indians as we are, in creative ways. With imagination and poetry. I think a lot of Native American literature is stuck in one idea: sort of spiritual, environmentalist Indians. And I want to portray everyday lives. I think by doing that, by portraying the ordinary lives of Indians, perhaps people learn something new.
Because you have things like 'American Idol' and you've got radio stations that play music made entirely by computers, it's easy to forget there are bands with actual people playing actual instruments that rock.
I was literally 3 years old when I started drawing. I did it all my life, through primary school, secondary school, all my life. I always, always wanted to be a designer. I read books on fashion from the age of twelve. I followed designer's careers. I knew Giorgio Armani was a window-dresser, Emanuel Ungaro was a tailor.
My art springs from my desire to have things in the world which would otherwise never be there.
If somebody wants to sing my songs after I'm gone, nobody will be happier than my dead body.
What do I care if you are good? Be beautiful! and be sad!
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