Pitch Perfect: The Almost Perfect Movie
“Pitch Perfect” was the almost perfect movie. It had the perfect cast, an ensemble of young, good looking female and male actors. It had the perfect script. Tightly written, it had witty dialogue. It had the perfect subject matter: college choirs, music, and singing.
It had the perfect editing. There were no extraneous scenes, and you were entertained from beginning to end. It had the perfect songs, a blend of popular and classic songs sung perfectly by each soloist or a cappella group. It had the perfect audition, displaying each individual’s singing talents. It had the perfect romance between two college students bonding over “The Breakfast Club” and music. It had the perfect storyline about a women’s college a cappella group that updated its style and songs to win competitions.
It was the perfect movie except for one aspect. The only Asian-American female in the a cappella group, named Lilly Okanakamura and played by Hana Mae Lee, did not have a voice. When she spoke, she was inaudible. It was upsetting for me to see her on the big screen. She was only heard as a beatboxer, an accompaniment to the singers of the Bellas.
Asian-Americans are 6% of the population, and Asian-Americans were instrumental in building the infrastructure for this country. In 1868, one hundred forty-nine years ago, Chinese men came to the United States to build the transcontinental railroad. America is only two hundred and forty years old, a country founded by immigrants. This year is the 118th year of Los Angeles Chinatown’s lunar new year parade. Los Angeles, the home of Hollywood. Asian-Americans’ contributions, presence, and culture are engrained in the fabric of this country.
Yet, Asian-Americans only have 3% of the screen time on TV and in movies, typically in supporting and minor roles, as was the case in “Pitch Perfect.” Many times, Asian-Americans are in a TV show but have no speaking lines. For example, the Mike Chang character played by Harry Shum Jr. on the first few seasons of “Glee.” When I saw him on TV, I wanted him to say something. Anything. I wanted him to have a voice.
In “Pitch Perfect,” the Lilly character had speaking lines, but she had no pitch in her voice. The other characters couldn’t hear her when she spoke, and I couldn’t hear her. It plays to the negative stereotype that Asian and Asian-American women are quiet and submissive, which could not be further from the truth.
I wish this character had been whitewashed. Whitewash is a term used to describe when Hollywood casts white actors or actresses in roles written for Asian-Americans. Of course, the casting director was specifically looking for an Asian-American to play this voiceless part. To take away a minority’s voice on screen is incredibly degrading.
Unfortunately, this disgrace was carried over to “Pitch Perfect II” and probably will happen again in “Pitch Perfect III,” out later this year. Lilly’s character further perpetuates negative stereotypes about Asian-Americans and is so unnecessary in 2017.
If Lilly had spoken her lines in a normal voice, like all the other characters in the movie, “Pitch Perfect” could easily have been the perfect movie. Sadly, it missed this easy mark. In a movie about college students, all I wanted to see was an Asian-American student speak in a regular voice. Is this too much to ask for in 2017 when 40% of UC Irvine and UC Berkeley’s students are Asian-Americans? How about 2020?
It was the loud voices of many Asian-Americans during the late 1960s and 1970s that brought forth the term Asian-Americans and Asian-American studies at many college campuses. Currently, there is the “Roots Asian American Movements in Los Angeles 1968–80s” exhibit on display at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles, across from Union Station. I encourage you to visit the museum to better understand Asian-American history.
In an industry where there are barely any Asian-Americans on screen and when they rarely have speaking lines, it is imperative that they actually speak with they do have speaking lines. It’s important to give this character a voice because Asian-American have and continue to be marginalized in the media.
I won’t be watching “Pitch Perfect III” because it’s a movie I can’t support, and I hope you choose to support Hollywood projects that tell diverse stories with actors and actresses from all backgrounds with speaking parts.
