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Justin H. Min, Ally Maki on staying true and starting a conversation in 'Shortcomings'

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Yong Chavez | TFC News Hollywood

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KAF273WjRhs?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>For many years, Asian actors were given very few opportunities in Hollywood to work.</p><p>And when they were hired, not only were they often cast as inconsequential or sidekick characters, but they also had to play repetitive model-minority roles.</p><p>The industry shift to be more inclusive happened in recent years. But the pressure to offer positive representation only for the community remained.</p><p>“Shortcomings” is a step in another direction where Asian American characters have flaws and are allowed to have growth.</p><p>In short: They represent people we may know in real life. Based on the graphic novel by Adrian Tomine, the movie tells the story of a struggling filmmaker whose own unacknowledged loneliness affects his life and the people around him.</p><p>&quot;I didn&#x27;t want to be too consumed with that while filming,&quot; said Justin H. Min on playing a flawed character. &quot;I didn&#x27;t want to get too [much] in my head about how this character is going to come across. I tried to just stay in the truth of the moment.&quot;</p><p>Being able to play roles with flaws or unlikable moments was a privilege not automatically enjoyed by talents of color.</p><p>Movies like “Shortcomings” fearlessly claim a space only enjoyed by other artists who’ve always been allowed to play complicated characters.</p><p>Min, who also starred in “The Umbrella Academy,” “Beef,” and “After Yang,” explains how he related to his character.</p><p>&quot;At the beginning of my career, I was really hyper-critical about a lot of things. And you realize that a lot of that criticism comes from a place of insecurity,&quot; he said. &quot;Ben can seem a certain way, but he&#x27;s that way because at the end of the day, he is someone who&#x27;s in a lot of pain.</p><p>Ally Maki, who’s also a standout in the Apple TV+ series “The Big Door Prize,” plays Miko, a woman who explores her own identity away from a long-term relationship.</p><p>&quot;I think &#x27;Crazy Rich Asians&#x27; and all of those amazing projects really opened the door for us,&quot; she said. &quot;And now, we always say we&#x27;re not a monolith. There&#x27;s so many different stories and characters we can explore.&quot;</p><p>The movie features a strong ensemble cast including Filipino-American actors Jacob Batalon and Mike Cabellon.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="shortcomings" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/shortcomings2.jpg"/><figcaption><address style="text-align:left">Filipino-American actors Jacob Batalan and Mike Cabellon also star in Sony&#x27;s new film &quot;Shortcomings.&quot; (Courtesy: Sony&#x27;s &quot;Shortcomings&quot;)</address></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Shortcomings&quot; is directed by Randall Park. The movie also stars Sherry Cola.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="shortcomigns post" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sony-shmi-21_altdigitalposter_1934x2866_071123.jpg" style="width:1000px;height:1481px"/><figcaption><address style="text-align:left">(Courtesy: Sony &quot;Shortcomings&quot;)</address></figcaption></figure></div>

'Shortcomings' explores a fairly new territory for Asian representation in Hollywood. 