Shirley Cora explains why Joy Journey is an important moment for the Apia community

Diversity does not equal representation, and it's an unfortunate fact that Hollywood's Asian-American and Asian-American actors have struggled for decades. While... When she realized she was playing the lead role in Happy Hour, which was released on July 7, the psychological transformation required to deal with the reality was shocking.

"THERE WAS A MOMENT WHEN ASHLEY (PARKER) AND I WERE HAVING A LONG DAY, AND THE TWO OF US WERE IN THE VAN, BACK TO OUR HOTEL, AND WE WERE SO TIRED BECAUSE IT HAD TAKEN 12 HOURS TO SHOOT THIS INCREDIBLE RARE MOVIE," COKE TOLD POPSUGAR. "I told Ashley, 'Wow, everything we've shot so far is important, like every scene is a big scene.' I was just shocked and thinking.

"Asian actors rarely do this: multidimensional, doing different things in one project."

For Coke and Park Ji-sung, they are both in their early 30s, and their previous acting resumes were mainly supporting roles, and this recognition is important. "It was a time of epiphany and gratitude, and we were able to be a part of this film, which was unprecedented," Coke said. "We've just been thinking about the fact that everything in this movie is a big moment, from a nightclub to a K-pop dance to a drug ride on a train, and a scene with a hot basketball boy — in fact everything is such an important moment. It's a wake-up call when you're still surprised that people want to see this [story] because I think we've been brainwashed by the industry and this country, and frankly, our story doesn't matter, and we're almost starting to believe it. So when we see the appearance on the page, we have to pinch ourselves and look at it carefully. ”

This epiphany resonated with all the starring actors, including Coke, Park, Stephanie Heo and Sabrina Wu, who brought the character's influence to every scene. "We didn't take it lightly, we gave it our absolutely all," Coke said. The opportunity to improve, sing together in the studio, and "shine in such a bright, comedic way" is "liberating," Cora adds, "Asian actors rarely get to do that: do so many things in one project." ”

For the uninitiated, "Happy Journey" is the story of four friends who, while traveling through Asia, find themselves embarking on an unapologetic journey of self-discovery. At its core, the film is about friendship, but the trailer features a joy-filled drug smuggling adventure, including a K-pop rap scene in colorful costumes. So why did being part of such a funny, chaotic movie resonate so much with Coke and her cast?

"When I got the call that I booked the role, tears welled up because the journey wasn't something that could be done overnight," Coke explained. "I can't believe I can be a part of this film, which is going to make history in so many ways because of what it is, what it represents, how wild it is, how chaotic it is, how imperfect all the characters are. It's really a journey to discover who your chosen family is and discover how to feel comfortable in your own skin. ”

In addition to the film's "humor, passion and eroticism," "Joy Journey" is one of the rare examples of Apia actors being given depth on screen. "It's everything we want as actors, and more," Coke said. "As fans of TV and movies, we want characters that resonate with you, not as a whole, but as multi-dimensional. What we want to do is tell universal stories, and it would be great if we happened to represent our people. ”

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However, Coke acknowledges that this moment of celebration and progress did not come easily. "I want the younger generation to know that it's okay to be friends with each other," Cora said, referring to Asian actors, especially Asian women, who have historically been forced to sideline each other in order to become famous in Hollywood. "No need for beef. We can all shine in our own way. ”

This harmful work environment creates unnecessary competition, further restricts the on-screen performance of Asian actors, and inhibits the possibility of forming friendships with other actors. But that is changing. "We see this collective group — Project Energy," she said. "We're really in the same boat and we realize we're stronger together. We cannot settle for anything less than we deserve. ”

Cola continued: "I feel very fortunate that I'm in this industry right now, where we leave competition behind and we support each other, support each other, inspire each other. It is because of the pioneers, that we stand on their shoulders, that today I am able to amplify my own voice and the voices of others. I feel very grateful and fortunate for the inspiring idols – like Michelle Yeoh, Margaret Cao, Yuling Liu, Sandra Wu, Wen Mingna, and so on. - I'm now able to carry with me that energy that ensures everyone gets some light. ”

In addition to filming "Joy Luck Club", Coke, Park, Heo and Wu also had the honor of presenting the "Joy Luck Club" awards party in May in 1993. For Coke, the honor of awarding her hero to her was a surreal experience. "They're lifelong sisters, and they're going to always have something special that they've made that influences culture," she said. While filming "Happy Journey," Coke and her cast recreated that sisterhood, further paving the way for the descendants of the Apia actor. "Hopefully this will have a ripple effect and the industry will have no choice but to make more movies and TV shows like this," Coke said. "Representation brings us together; Having scripts for these characters brought us together; A studio that believes in change brings us together. It's really special. ”

"Happy Journey" is a truly wild journey from start to finish, but the film's humor pales in comparison to the agency it gives back to the actors. "I can't wait for the world to be blown away," she said. "I can't wait to stun all the audience, walk out of the theater, can't wait to tell their friends, can't wait to go back and see it again, can't wait to make more works of art like this, represent us in a way that breaks stereotypes, breaks any kind of stigma, and helps us rediscover who we are, redefine ourselves."

As Coke concluded: "I think this movie is the best example of making fun of ourselves because, for so long, society has been making fun of us." But now it's like, 'Oh honey, sweetheart, let's start here. ’"