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https://blacknerdproblems.com/honored-and-grateful-an-interview-with-warriors-dianne-doan/
It’s a well known fact that we here at Black Nerd Problems adore Warrior. It’s unique blend of genres and fantastic production has made it a stand out show of Spring 2019, so when we were given the opportunity to talk with Dianne Doan, the actress bringing Mai Ling to life, we pretty much jumped at the chance…
Black Nerd Problems: What does it mean to you help tell the story of 18th Century Chinese immigrants, based on Bruce Lee’s writing, in 2019 with Warrior?
Dianne Doan: I think it’s kind of the perfect time to be telling this story. There are a lot of amazing things in media in terms of inclusion and diversity. For me personally, to be able to tell this story of Chinese American immigration… it’s never been told before. I think Justin Lin mention that in history books it takes a couple of paragraphs or maybe half a page in the book. To tell the story in the way that we’re telling it, this poppy, pulp fiction Martial arts drama; it’s never been done before. Personally, it couldn’t have come in a better format.
I feel very honored and grateful to be a part of this project. Looking at our cast list, the first eight out of eleven series regulars are Asian, whether it’s Asian American or Asian Canadian, it’s such a diverse international cast. Turning up to the table and seeing so many familiar faces and relatable faces, it got emotional. There’s a movement right now, but to know that we’re one of the first out of the gate is incredible.
BNP: Specifically to your character, Mai Ling, her backstory and arc see her trading her life in exchange for her brother and eventually becoming this key player in the Long Zii gang. How do you prepare for such a complicated role and what elements of Mai Ling resonate with you?
Dianne: With Mai Ling, I wanted to make sure that I understood the time period and what rights we would have as women. The main thing that came across was not many women got to immigrate to America. You had to be either a purchased bride or a prostitute. For Mai Ling specifically, Jonathan and I came up with this backstory that what happened to Mai Ling, being married to a warlord and being abused and raped, that I have to escape to another world so I got on a boat and being a prostitute wasn’t an option. I’d never be in that vulnerable state again.
To find power in the Long Zii and to make sure that I would maintain power or garner more and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t like the typical Dragon Lady, a trope in my eyes, or a mustache twirling villain. I wanted to make sure that she was grounded and hope the audience could understand the past and see her brother mess up her plans and dealing with that with the different Tongs and the upcoming war between the Tongs and the war between the government and the Irish workers.
BNP: Mai Ling is essentially the power behind the Long Zii, as you mentioned, during a time where women were constantly underestimated, especially Chinese women. No one expected her to be this sort of “mastermind” character. In a show full of “warriors,” what is it like being the one who drives the plot in the back and foreground.
Dianne: It’s interesting. In the tong, she is married to the leader, but the rest of the world doesn’t know if she’s a trophy wife or her exact role. And given Mai Ling is older now and I would know better. And I think initially, we see Li Yong (Joe Taslim) is the right-hand man in the tong, and it begs question why is Mai Ling given the opportunity to call all the shots.
There is there is a beautiful story that comes from her need of power and in the end, take control. But I think it’s really fun playing her, because she’s so underestimated. She has a lot more plans than anyone expects. What is her plan? What is she doing? She’s clearly has this deeper power in her pocket. There’s a big spiderweb around Mai Ling, and it’s exciting reading a new script and seeing what the writers have planned for her.
BNP: At the time of the interview, we’ve about four or five episodes in. What are some of your favorite moments that you can talk about?
Dianne: My favorite episodes are four and seven, but my favorite scene that people have seen, it’s actually a simple scene, but it shows so much of the relationship and dynamic between the siblings of Ah Sahm and Mai Ling, but that carriage scene outside, where Ah Sahm leaves Penelope’s apartment and I kind of wrangle him into my carriage. It’s so civilized and it’s two real brother and sister bickering with each other. It was so fun to play. Any scene with Andrew Koji is always great. I think it’s important that it shows the dynamic between the two.
BNP: Did you find it challenge to work with the historic set pieces with the different lexicons and languages switching, all of the different elements that you weren’t necessarily familiar with.
Dianne: No. Not at all. With the language barrier, the show editors and writers have used language as such a clever tool to weave you in and out of the experience. As the audience, you’re watching from the outside and then get immediately immersed into Chinatown. All of the costumes and set pieces made it easier to work, because you were in the world. We weren’t working with green screen, there were tangible things you can touch and feel to transport back to the 1800’s.
BNP: You could say there’s an authenticity to it?
Dianne: Exactly.
BNP: For anyone somehow still on the fence, why should they tune into Warrior this spring?
Dianne: I think, personally, there’s nothing really like it on TV. We’ve said it before. It’s like Gangs of New York meets Kill Bill. There’s a little bit of everything. It’s martial arts and action with drama and elements of comedy, and tie Bruce Lee’s name it kind of sparks anyone’s reaction to what the could be. And the fact that we have the stamp of approval… It’s this world that’s never been shown before.
What have you thought of the show?
BNP: Oh. I was entirely in the love from the moment I started watching. The opening Ah Sahm beating up a racist white police officer was very cathartic in this day and age, I’ve been very invested in how it turns. It’s been my honor to interview you today.
Dianne: Thank you so much. And I hope you stay tuned. Episodes nine and ten are pretty juicy.
BNP: Oh, I will be.
See Diane on Warrior playing on Cinemax now, with new episodes on Friday nights.
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The post Honored and Grateful: An Interview with Warrior’s Dianne Doan appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
It’s a well known fact that we here at Black Nerd Problems adore Warrior. It’s unique blend of genres and fantastic production has made it a stand out show of Spring 2019, so when we were given the opportunity to talk with Dianne Doan, the actress bringing Mai Ling to life, we pretty much jumped at the chance…
Black Nerd Problems: What does it mean to you help tell the story of 18th Century Chinese immigrants, based on Bruce Lee’s writing, in 2019 with Warrior?
Dianne Doan: I think it’s kind of the perfect time to be telling this story. There are a lot of amazing things in media in terms of inclusion and diversity. For me personally, to be able to tell this story of Chinese American immigration… it’s never been told before. I think Justin Lin mention that in history books it takes a couple of paragraphs or maybe half a page in the book. To tell the story in the way that we’re telling it, this poppy, pulp fiction Martial arts drama; it’s never been done before. Personally, it couldn’t have come in a better format.
I feel very honored and grateful to be a part of this project. Looking at our cast list, the first eight out of eleven series regulars are Asian, whether it’s Asian American or Asian Canadian, it’s such a diverse international cast. Turning up to the table and seeing so many familiar faces and relatable faces, it got emotional. There’s a movement right now, but to know that we’re one of the first out of the gate is incredible.
BNP: Specifically to your character, Mai Ling, her backstory and arc see her trading her life in exchange for her brother and eventually becoming this key player in the Long Zii gang. How do you prepare for such a complicated role and what elements of Mai Ling resonate with you?
Dianne: With Mai Ling, I wanted to make sure that I understood the time period and what rights we would have as women. The main thing that came across was not many women got to immigrate to America. You had to be either a purchased bride or a prostitute. For Mai Ling specifically, Jonathan and I came up with this backstory that what happened to Mai Ling, being married to a warlord and being abused and raped, that I have to escape to another world so I got on a boat and being a prostitute wasn’t an option. I’d never be in that vulnerable state again.
To find power in the Long Zii and to make sure that I would maintain power or garner more and I wanted to make sure it wasn’t like the typical Dragon Lady, a trope in my eyes, or a mustache twirling villain. I wanted to make sure that she was grounded and hope the audience could understand the past and see her brother mess up her plans and dealing with that with the different Tongs and the upcoming war between the Tongs and the war between the government and the Irish workers.
BNP: Mai Ling is essentially the power behind the Long Zii, as you mentioned, during a time where women were constantly underestimated, especially Chinese women. No one expected her to be this sort of “mastermind” character. In a show full of “warriors,” what is it like being the one who drives the plot in the back and foreground.
Dianne: It’s interesting. In the tong, she is married to the leader, but the rest of the world doesn’t know if she’s a trophy wife or her exact role. And given Mai Ling is older now and I would know better. And I think initially, we see Li Yong (Joe Taslim) is the right-hand man in the tong, and it begs question why is Mai Ling given the opportunity to call all the shots.
There is there is a beautiful story that comes from her need of power and in the end, take control. But I think it’s really fun playing her, because she’s so underestimated. She has a lot more plans than anyone expects. What is her plan? What is she doing? She’s clearly has this deeper power in her pocket. There’s a big spiderweb around Mai Ling, and it’s exciting reading a new script and seeing what the writers have planned for her.
BNP: At the time of the interview, we’ve about four or five episodes in. What are some of your favorite moments that you can talk about?
Dianne: My favorite episodes are four and seven, but my favorite scene that people have seen, it’s actually a simple scene, but it shows so much of the relationship and dynamic between the siblings of Ah Sahm and Mai Ling, but that carriage scene outside, where Ah Sahm leaves Penelope’s apartment and I kind of wrangle him into my carriage. It’s so civilized and it’s two real brother and sister bickering with each other. It was so fun to play. Any scene with Andrew Koji is always great. I think it’s important that it shows the dynamic between the two.
BNP: Did you find it challenge to work with the historic set pieces with the different lexicons and languages switching, all of the different elements that you weren’t necessarily familiar with.
Dianne: No. Not at all. With the language barrier, the show editors and writers have used language as such a clever tool to weave you in and out of the experience. As the audience, you’re watching from the outside and then get immediately immersed into Chinatown. All of the costumes and set pieces made it easier to work, because you were in the world. We weren’t working with green screen, there were tangible things you can touch and feel to transport back to the 1800’s.
BNP: You could say there’s an authenticity to it?
Dianne: Exactly.
BNP: For anyone somehow still on the fence, why should they tune into Warrior this spring?
Dianne: I think, personally, there’s nothing really like it on TV. We’ve said it before. It’s like Gangs of New York meets Kill Bill. There’s a little bit of everything. It’s martial arts and action with drama and elements of comedy, and tie Bruce Lee’s name it kind of sparks anyone’s reaction to what the could be. And the fact that we have the stamp of approval… It’s this world that’s never been shown before.
What have you thought of the show?
BNP: Oh. I was entirely in the love from the moment I started watching. The opening Ah Sahm beating up a racist white police officer was very cathartic in this day and age, I’ve been very invested in how it turns. It’s been my honor to interview you today.
Dianne: Thank you so much. And I hope you stay tuned. Episodes nine and ten are pretty juicy.
BNP: Oh, I will be.
See Diane on Warrior playing on Cinemax now, with new episodes on Friday nights.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here!
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
The post Honored and Grateful: An Interview with Warrior’s Dianne Doan appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Giant dust storms on Mars, including the one that put NASA’s Opportunity rover out of commission and blocked sunlight for weeks, may have blown away some of the Red Planet’s ancient water, according to […]
The post NASA: Mega Dust Storms Could Have Blown Away Some of Mars’ Ancient Water appeared first on Geek.com.
There are a lot of things the X-Men comics do well. Since their inception, the mutants of X-Men have long stood in as a powerful parable of discrimination. It’s a metaphor that has found endless applications in the decades-long history of the comics. Mutants have represented a long list of marginalized groups based on religion, race, sexuality, gender, and ability. The “mutants as other” metaphor endures thanks to its child-like simplicity: don’t treat people differently just because they are different from you.
And most of the time, the parallel works. In their thousands of permutations, the X-Men have spent just as much time fighting super-powered baddies as they have defending themselves to humanity. They have been ostracized, “cured”, imprisoned, monitored, and experienced genocide at the hands of countless corrupt authority figures.
But that doesn’t mean they always get it right. Like many other comics franchises, X-Men can fail when trying to make a point. And that’s exactly what happened in Uncanny X-Men #17. The issue sees fan favorite character Rahne Sinclair aka Wolfsbane murdered by a group of men. After trying to hit on her, the men discover that she’s a mutant and attack her using the language and imagery of transmisogyny.
Rahne is accused of trying to “trick” or manipulate the men, an accusation often leveled at trans women. It is also an unjustifiable excuse for “trans panic”, which men have used for years to condone their panicky reaction, rage, and violence against trans women. And what’s all the more horrifying is it works. Only three states (California, Illinois, Rhode Island) have banned the use of the “trans panic” defense, which has led to the acquittal of countless murders and violent acts.
“Trans panic” and the endemic violence against the trans community (which is so much worse for trans folks of color) is a serious issue. It’s a subject that needs to be handled with authenticity and thoughtfulness. That’s the opposite of what writer Matthew Rosenberg did. Instead, he shoehorned transmisogyny into the murder of a character who is NOT trans, in a misguided attempt at allegory.
Not only is the transmisogyny metaphor incompetently handled, but it also does a grave disservice to the character and spirit of Rahne Sinclair. Sinclair is a trained fighter and a powerful mutant who has overcome her share of abuse and trauma at the hands of men afraid of her power. The idea that she would not fight back against her attackers is patently absurd and poor characterization.
And here’s the thing: characters we love die all the time. And that’s okay. But to kill them off in a way that betrays their very character only to make a ham-fisted point about discrimination is just plain wrong. And to cap it all off, her death is merely used as a catalyst for Wolverine and Cyclops to feel their feelings. It’s textbook fridging, wrapped in an ignorant and ill-conceived trans metaphor.
The issue was met with outcry from fans, causing author Matthew Rosenberg to tweet out an apology.
Also, if you've been reading our book and enjoying it, or disliking it I guess, I'd urge you to consider making a donation to @TransLifeline and help support the vital work they do.https://t.co/9PYNTF2HMF
— (@AshcanPress) May 2, 2019
If anything this event reminds us how important it is to incorporate trans authors and creators when telling trans stories. Inclusivity in the comics industry isn’t just a liberal buzzword, it’s about creating authentic and real stories that don’t traumatize and alienate audiences. It’s really not that hard.
Have you read Uncanny X-Men #17? What were your thoughts on its treatment of Rahne Sinclair?
(via CBR, image: Marvel)
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