At the same time, we all knew that had our movies failed, our efforts could have very well been pushed back to square one. Minorities have always faced the unfair burden of absolute success, because failure meant our whole community was unworthy of opportunity at all. For the longest time, the decision makers in Hollywood have chosen to whitewash or erase any existence of minorities on screen rather than to actually represent the diverse reality of American society. The trickle down effect of that is undeniable, as ignorance and lack of awareness are fuel for misunderstanding, fear, and dismissal. that he was taken to New York Presbyterian Hospital for treatment for minor injuries. was released on the big screen around the world. The phenomenon that ensued changed the trajectory for our film and for so many others that would follow. It took one film’s success to show that change was possible, if enough people believed in it and took the scary first step. When we premieredThe Farewell and adapt to my surroundings. Then, we moved to the United States. My first day of school happened to land on Halloween, a Western holiday I had only a vague idea about. I remember feeling so foreign and out of place with everyone around me dressed up like princesses and wizards (it was the year theHarry Potter