*By Max Godnick* Asian and Asian-American actors find themselves on the front lines in the fight for more inclusion and diversity in Hollywood. [Whitewashing](https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/hollywood-whitewashing-25-roles-emma-stone-jake-gyllenhaal-scarlett-johansson/) scandals continue to emerge as producers cast actors of other races in roles written for Asian people. According to one [study,] (https://deadline.com/2017/09/asian-americans-in-television-study-diversity-representation-inclusion-master-of-none-fresh-off-the-boat-1202165584/) people of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage made up just 4.3 percent of TV series regulars in 2017. While the success of shows such as "Fresh Off the Boat" and "Master of None" prove progress is possible, there is still a lot of work to be done. "I think it has to come from top down," said Chin Han, the Singaporean actor of Chinese descent, in an interview with Cheddar on Tuesday. "If we had more producers, more Asian financiers, more writers, more Asian directors, then we'd be able to tell a story that's authentic to the Asian experience," he said. Han stars alongside Dwayne Johnson in the new action movie, "Skyscraper." The film focuses on a terrorist attack in the fictional world's tallest building in Hong Kong. It's the latest in a series of movies including "Pacific Rim," "The Martian," and "The Great Wall," to take place in and/or prominently feature China in its plot. "There's no denying that \[China\] is a very very huge market that can be tapped," Han said about the country's role in American storytelling. Hollywood's powers-that-be are beginning to take notice of the shifting international entertainment landscape. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the governing body of the Oscars, just invited a record 928 new members to its ranks in an effort to increase diversity. Han is one of those new invitees. "It's a huge honor," he said. "To be now in a community of actors who I respect and adore, from Meryl Streep to Al Pacino, it's still very surreal to me." Han quoted the character he plays in "Skyscraper" when offering advice to the next generation of Asian artists hoping to follow in his footsteps. "You're only limited by the scope of your imagination." For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/chin-han-on-asian-representation-in-hollywood)

Share:
More In Culture
Florida Swan Check-Ups
Back in 1957, the late Queen Elizabeth II gifted a pair of swans to Lake Morton in Lakeland, Florida. Now there are around 50 swans from the original royal pair and each year they are rounded up and given an annual medical check-up to make sure they're all healthy.
On The Scene: Apartment Therapy's Small/Cool NYC Exhibit
Design and lifestyle company Apartment Therapy has brought back its annual Small/Cool NYC exhibit to showcase some of the biggest interior design trends. Maxwell Ryan, founder of Apartment Therapy, joined Cheddar News to show some of the designs the company has come up with as well as some unique choices for living spaces of any size.
CEW Beauty Awards Finalist: Hero Cosmetics
It's the last day to vote for the annual CEW Beauty Awards. Ju Rhyu, co-founder and CEO of Hero Cosmetics, a finalist in the Launch of the Year category, joined Cheddar News to discuss the company's Mighty Surface Patch which has become a sensation.
Load More