*By Max Godnick*
Asian and Asian-American actors find themselves on the front lines in the fight for more inclusion and diversity in Hollywood.
[Whitewashing](https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/hollywood-whitewashing-25-roles-emma-stone-jake-gyllenhaal-scarlett-johansson/) scandals continue to emerge as producers cast actors of other races in roles written for Asian people. According to one [study,] (https://deadline.com/2017/09/asian-americans-in-television-study-diversity-representation-inclusion-master-of-none-fresh-off-the-boat-1202165584/) people of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage made up just 4.3 percent of TV series regulars in 2017. While the success of shows such as "Fresh Off the Boat" and "Master of None" prove progress is possible, there is still a lot of work to be done.
"I think it has to come from top down," said Chin Han, the Singaporean actor of Chinese descent, in an interview with Cheddar on Tuesday.
"If we had more producers, more Asian financiers, more writers, more Asian directors, then we'd be able to tell a story that's authentic to the Asian experience," he said.
Han stars alongside Dwayne Johnson in the new action movie, "Skyscraper." The film focuses on a terrorist attack in the fictional world's tallest building in Hong Kong. It's the latest in a series of movies including "Pacific Rim," "The Martian," and "The Great Wall," to take place in and/or prominently feature China in its plot.
"There's no denying that \[China\] is a very very huge market that can be tapped," Han said about the country's role in American storytelling.
Hollywood's powers-that-be are beginning to take notice of the shifting international entertainment landscape. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the governing body of the Oscars, just invited a record 928 new members to its ranks in an effort to increase diversity.
Han is one of those new invitees.
"It's a huge honor," he said. "To be now in a community of actors who I respect and adore, from Meryl Streep to Al Pacino, it's still very surreal to me."
Han quoted the character he plays in "Skyscraper" when offering advice to the next generation of Asian artists hoping to follow in his footsteps.
"You're only limited by the scope of your imagination."
For the full segment, [click here.](https://cheddar.com/videos/chin-han-on-asian-representation-in-hollywood)
The courtroom drama "All Rise" is returning for a brand new season and has a new home on OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network. The stars of the series, Wilson Bethel and executive producer Simone Missick, discuss what to expect.
API platform RapidAPI recently became a unicorn with a $1 billion valuation after raising $150 million in a Series D funding round led by Softbank Vision Two Fund. Microsoft's Venture Fund, M12, and Andreessen Horowitz also participated. RapidAPI says it provides the world's largest API hub which enables millions of developers and companies to build software faster. Iddo Gino, founder and CEO of RapidAPI, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Sports merchandising company Fanatics announced it will be making trading cards featuring college athletes, a deal made possible by the NCAA's change to NIL rules for its players. Anchors Kristen Scholer and Ken Buffa break down the deal for Cheddar.
In a recent Bumble survey, more than a third of respondents revealed that they would be willing to date people in other cities. Shan Boodram, a sex and relationships expert for the app, joined Cheddar News to talk about the long-distance dating trend and tips on how to go about taking part. "I think this is the magic of what we experienced over the past couple of years, is that we have already learned the tools necessary to stay connected with people despite not being able to be close to them," she noted. Boodram also pointed to Bumble's travel mode and using video conferencing in order to ease into such relationships.
Amanda Victoria, co-founder and CEO of Siponey, joins Cheddar News to talk about the company's canned cocktails. The spritz is made with only four ingredients — wildflower honey, aged rye whiskey, sparkling water, and fresh lemon juice.
Rick Pauls, President & CEO OF DiaMedica Therapeutics, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss a new ischemic stroke treatment option that expands the window for effective therapy for stroke patients.
John Bencich, CEO of Achieve Life Sciences, joins Cheddar Innovates to discuss a new plant-based compound that's being used to fight nicotine addiction.
On this episode of Cheddar Innovates: CEO of Achieve Life Sciences discusses a new plant-based compound that's being used to fight nicotine addiction; President & CEO OF DiaMedica Therapeutics explains a new ischemic stroke treatment option that expands the window for effective therapy for stroke patients; Cheddar gets a look at Curiosity Stream's 'Asteroid Rush.'
