The State of API Representation in Film – A New Report by the Geena Davis Institute
On May 29, 2025 the Geena Davis Institute convened industry leaders, creatives, and change agents for a powerful evening centered around advancing Asian and Pacific Islander (API) representation in Hollywood. Titled “Rewriting the Script: A New Era for API Voices in Hollywood,” the event featured compelling research, dynamic storytelling, and actionable strategies to shift the narrative for API communities in entertainment. The program opened with a land acknowledgement honoring the Tongva Nation, and remarks from Founder and Chair Geena Davis emphasized the Institute’s mission to foster inclusivity through data and advocacy.
Speakers and Panelists
Panelists:
Event Highlights
- Groundbreaking Research Premiere: Dr. Meredith Conroy presented new data from the Institute on API representation in family and children's media, spotlighting key gaps and growth opportunities across platforms and formats.
- Opening Remarks: Michelle Sugihara emphasized the importance of cross-industry collaboration in creating sustainable change.
- Jonathan Sposato’s Reflections: As a storyteller and entrepreneur, Sposato underscored the power of intentional leadership in rewriting cultural narratives.
- Diverse Storytelling Journeys: Each panelist brought unique insights—from Poorna’s experiences navigating stereotyping and being redefined as a “diversity hire,” to Maggie’s journey from story artist to director of a culturally rich, genre-bending animated film.
Key Takeaways
- Representation is Evolving, but Slowly: The Institute’s research revealed that API characters remain underrepresented, especially in children's media, and often lack narrative depth.
- Leadership Matters: Albert Cheng’s trajectory from tech to entertainment exemplifies how leaders with nontraditional paths can champion innovation and inclusion in high-level decision-making.
- Authenticity Drives Impact: Poorna Jagannathan’s role in Deli Boys—a character originally written as male but rewritten after inspiration from a Geena Davis Institute talk—illustrates the real-world impact of inclusive frameworks.
- Cultural Specificity Enhances Universality: Maggie Kang’s KPop Demon Hunters integrates Korean folklore and pop culture while challenging gender tropes, showing how deeply personal stories can achieve global resonance.
- Mentorship & Advocacy Open Doors: Grant Torre’s ascent from the CAA mailroom to producing major studio projects was fueled by mentors and a personal mission to uplift Pacific Islander storytelling.
Actionable Insights
- Support Emerging API Creators: Establish mentorship pipelines and development funds to elevate first-time directors and storytellers from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Revisit Character Assumptions: Creatives should regularly interrogate casting defaults and gender norms when developing characters—especially in children’s content.
- Diversify Greenlighting Power: Production companies and streamers must prioritize inclusive leadership in development, programming, and marketing roles.
- Create Culturally Grounded Content: Leverage the global appetite for culture-rich stories by hiring creatives with lived experience and deep cultural ties.
- Track Progress with Data: Use research like that from the Geena Davis Institute to set benchmarks and measure real-world change over time.
For those looking to drive change in their own organizations, we strongly recommend exploring the Institute’s research-based toolkit inspired by the findings premiered at this event. The toolkit offers actionable steps for studios, writers, producers, and educators to champion API inclusion in children’s media and beyond.
Be the first to hear key findings, gain insights from industry experts, and engage in a meaningful discussion about the evolving landscape of API representation in entertainment.
