Rise of Kal Penn, no lawyers needed
Penn [1] made a name for himself in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, had a role in Superman Returns and will be a villian in next season's 24 on TV.
As an Asian American actor, Penn's gotten rare opportunities in Hollywood. A study [2] by a UCLA professor says minority actors could have grounds to sue over studio casting practices.
"Casting directors take into account race and sex in a way that would be blatantly illegal in any other industry," said study author Russell Robinson [3], UCLA acting professor of law.
It would be interesting to see the outcome if an actor were to sue. At the very least, it might be a wake up call to studios and producers in Hollywood.
Until that happens, there's a ray of hope with Penn's new movie. It's bound to be a flick filled with alcohol induced, adolescent fun. If you're into that, go see it. And even if you're not, go see it. Short of a lawsuit, the box office may be the only way to send a message to the entertainment industry on how it needs to more inclusive of Asian Americans and other minority groups. Taj is a rare opportunity to send that message.