“The five years is because I knew jack s—.
I had no idea what I was doing.
It’s not like I was submitting my script.
Michelle Krusiec and Lynn Chen in ‘Saving Face’.Sony Pictures Classics/Everett
I had no one to submit to.
I was just learning what it took.
She tells EW “no one was paying” for the jot down of films she wanted to make.
‘Saving Face’ director Alice Wu.Stefanie Keenan/Getty
They were definitely more like, ‘Can you do this thing with a known star?
Maybe it’s possible for you to pitch for that.’
“So I left the industry.
Michelle Krusiec and Joan Chen in ‘Saving Face’.Sony Pictures Classics/Everett
I just thought, ‘Well, I guess that was fun.
I made that movie.’
I’m fundamentally very practical.
I’m an immigrant.
I’m the child of immigrants and so I very much wanted to get myself… “I do think things are different,” she says.
“I think if nothing else, there are more executives and producers who are people of color.
I think there are also just more voices in general.”
Whereas I felt like, okay, I was born here, but I spoke Mandarin.
It’s my first language.
That was a different time.
I was like, ‘Alice,'” she recalls with a smile.
“They’re like, ‘Are you Alice Wu?’
I was like, ‘Yes.’
I swear I’m not using hyperbole when I say they both squealed.
These people were like 1 whenSaving Facecame out!
My friends were laughing so hard because they are not impressed with me, legitimately should not be.
I just live a fairly normal, quiet life, but every now and then that happens.”
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