Making a Scene
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
From influential and iconic star Constance Wu, a powerful and poignant memoir-in-essays full of funny and intimate observations that will resonate with readers everywhere.
Growing up in the friendly suburbs of Richmond, Virginia, Constance Wu thought that girls were supposed to be reserved, graceful, and polite. Everyone around her praised ladylike behaviour while seeming to disapprove of the louder, rougher girls – the kind of girls who made scenes. And while she spent most of her childhood suppressing her bold, emotional nature, Constance found an early outlet in local community theatre. The stage was the one place where big feelings were okay – were good, even. As she continued to reconcile her personality with the expectations of daily life, acting became more than a hobby. It was her refuge, her touchstone, and eventually her vocation. She went to New York to study classical theatre and pursue an acting career while waiting tables, dating, despairing, and embracing city life. In 2015, she was cast in the ground-breaking TV sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, a touching, funny story about an Asian American family in the ’90s. Another historic role followed when she starred in the smash hit film Crazy Rich Asians, which featured an entirely Asian cast. These two pivotal moments in Hollywood history opened up a new chapter for Constance, who continues to explore the complexities of Asian American representation.
Through raw, hilarious, and relatable stories, Constance fearlessly shares her experiences of growing up in suburban Virginia, scraping by as a struggling actress, falling in love again and again, confronting her identity and influence, and navigating the pressures and pleasures of existing in today’s world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wu, star of Crazy Rich Asians, dazzles in this essay collection about love, family, and her hard-won path to Hollywood success. The daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Wu was discouraged from calling attention to herself while growing up in 1980s Richmond, Va., but found an outlet in acting. Despite "assimilating very well" in her predominantly white hometown (doing "all the normal American stuff like cheerleading and... sleepover parties"), Wu couldn't ignore the discomfort she felt when watching Asian characters on screen. As she writes in "Welcome to Jurassic Park": "My face always burned with shame, especially if that character spoke with an Asian accent." It wasn't until 2015, when Wu took a starring role in the sitcom Fresh off the Boat as Jessica, a Taiwanese immigrant and mother to three Asian American children, that her mindset changed: "Off the Boat wasn't race-neutral. It was race-relevant." While the show was groundbreaking—centering an Asian American family's story on American television for the first time in more than 20 years—Wu reveals in "You Do What I Say" that it didn't protect her from the harassment of a producer, or from later having to fight for filming dates that worked for her with Crazy Rich Asians. Even still, Wu remained undeterred, and it's that dogged determination that radiates from every page. Fans will feel lucky to be in on the action.
Customer Reviews
A book I would want my daughter to read
This book in all is super. I cried over two chapters. I love her experiences and narratives on love, friendship and sisterhood. It deeply moved me because it reminded myself experiencing all those things. Better she put it into words that I would love to read it again.
I appreciate her insights on race and life in general. It’s was quite special and insightful.
Two things I found annoying are: 1) a few words were frequently used or frequently appeared - it kind of felt boring and somehow gave me wrong idea of connections to previous parts. 2) although I love her narratives and felt very sympathetic toward her life and experience, I sometimes, as I read, I found her whiny. But hey, it’s her book and her life - it’s up to her how to put it in words - I had to keep reminding myself that.
Anyway, I really enjoy reading it. I would read it again for the parts that moved me.