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Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen
From visionary director Jon M. Chu comes a powerful, inspiring memoir of belonging, creativity, and learning to see who you really are.
Long before he directed Wicked, In The Heights, or the groundbreaking film Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu was a movie-obsessed first-generation Chinese American, helping at his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Silicon Valley and forever facing the cultural identity crisis endemic to children of immigrants. Growing up on the cutting edge of twenty-first-century technology gave Chu the tools he needed to make his mark at USC film school, and to be discovered by Steven Spielberg, but he soon found himself struggling to understand who he was. In this book, for the first time, Chu turns the lens on his own life and work, telling the universal story of questioning what it means when your dreams collide with your circumstances, and showing how it’s possible to succeed even when the world changes beyond all recognition. With striking candor and unrivaled insights, Chu offers a firsthand account of the collision of Silicon Valley and Hollywood—what it’s been like to watch his old world shatter and reshape his new one. Ultimately, Viewfinder is about reckoning with your own story, becoming your most creative self, and finding a path all your own.
Long before he directed Wicked, In The Heights, or the groundbreaking film Crazy Rich Asians, Jon M. Chu was a movie-obsessed first-generation Chinese American, helping at his parents’ Chinese restaurant in Silicon Valley and forever facing the cultural identity crisis endemic to children of immigrants. Growing up on the cutting edge of twenty-first-century technology gave Chu the tools he needed to make his mark at USC film school, and to be discovered by Steven Spielberg, but he soon found himself struggling to understand who he was. In this book, for the first time, Chu turns the lens on his own life and work, telling the universal story of questioning what it means when your dreams collide with your circumstances, and showing how it’s possible to succeed even when the world changes beyond all recognition. With striking candor and unrivaled insights, Chu offers a firsthand account of the collision of Silicon Valley and Hollywood—what it’s been like to watch his old world shatter and reshape his new one. Ultimately, Viewfinder is about reckoning with your own story, becoming your most creative self, and finding a path all your own.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 2024
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September 1, 2024
Very mixed feelings about this one. I’ll start with what I appreciated: Jon Chu sharing about the highs and lows of a creative career as well as the anti-Asian racism he witnessed and experienced as he progressed as a director. The writing in Viewfinder, while not phenomenal, was easy to read. There’s some reflection about cultural identity I found honest and a little compelling at times.
However, I had big issues with what seemed to me to be Chu’s internalized racism throughout this experience as a director. It was odd for me to read this because I think Chu does name his initial shame about his Asian identity and his initial attempt at directing Asian-focused films. But he doesn’t really ever unpack the source of that internalized racism or the steps he took to overcome it. You can imagine that he eventually did confront these issues because of how he directed Crazy Rich Asians, but he has a line about feeling lonely even though he’s surrounded by other Asian people on set, which motivated him to pursue marriage with his wife, who is white… he doesn’t mention his wife’s race, but still it was odd to read. Also, he referred to Henry Golding as the Asian Cary Grant, which is just a pet peeve of mine because why are you reinforcing white people as the norm?
Maybe I feel negatively about these aspects of the book because I grew up around a lot of Asian Americans and haven’t contended with internalized racism (because I choose to surround myself with fellow people of color who also don’t have internalized racism). It was also odd for me to read about Chu essentially unilaterally praising white people in tech and white people in the film industry. I get that it’s a memoir and he’s still in the profession so he may feel uncomfortable popping off on people or naming white privilege more directly, and I too have also worked with some wonderful white mentors in my field, but it didn’t sit right with me that he didn’t name more explicitly the role of white supremacy in film overall.
Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re really interested in film or something like that. I’m glad that Chu acknowledged the criticism he received for erasing dark-skinned Latinx people in In The Heights, which at least showed a little lack of defensiveness/openness to criticism. This was overall a mildly entertaining read but not one I’ll cherish. Two memoirs that come to mind by Asian American men that I really enjoyed instead are Sign, Gone by Phuc Tran and Stay True by Hua Hsu.
However, I had big issues with what seemed to me to be Chu’s internalized racism throughout this experience as a director. It was odd for me to read this because I think Chu does name his initial shame about his Asian identity and his initial attempt at directing Asian-focused films. But he doesn’t really ever unpack the source of that internalized racism or the steps he took to overcome it. You can imagine that he eventually did confront these issues because of how he directed Crazy Rich Asians, but he has a line about feeling lonely even though he’s surrounded by other Asian people on set, which motivated him to pursue marriage with his wife, who is white… he doesn’t mention his wife’s race, but still it was odd to read. Also, he referred to Henry Golding as the Asian Cary Grant, which is just a pet peeve of mine because why are you reinforcing white people as the norm?
Maybe I feel negatively about these aspects of the book because I grew up around a lot of Asian Americans and haven’t contended with internalized racism (because I choose to surround myself with fellow people of color who also don’t have internalized racism). It was also odd for me to read about Chu essentially unilaterally praising white people in tech and white people in the film industry. I get that it’s a memoir and he’s still in the profession so he may feel uncomfortable popping off on people or naming white privilege more directly, and I too have also worked with some wonderful white mentors in my field, but it didn’t sit right with me that he didn’t name more explicitly the role of white supremacy in film overall.
Anyway, I wouldn’t recommend this book unless you’re really interested in film or something like that. I’m glad that Chu acknowledged the criticism he received for erasing dark-skinned Latinx people in In The Heights, which at least showed a little lack of defensiveness/openness to criticism. This was overall a mildly entertaining read but not one I’ll cherish. Two memoirs that come to mind by Asian American men that I really enjoyed instead are Sign, Gone by Phuc Tran and Stay True by Hua Hsu.
August 4, 2024
I’m not usually much of a fan of celebrity memoirs, but Jon M. Chu’s memoir
Viewfinder
is one that I’ve been looking forward to since it was announced. Seeing that “Crazy Rich Asians” was (and still is) one of my favorite movies, plus we share a similar background in that we both came from Chinese immigrant families and grew up/lived/went to school/worked in Southern California, I was really interested in learning more about Chu’s journey (outside of what I was able to glean through interviews during the CRA promos) and his experiences breaking into an industry that has traditionally been less than welcoming to Asians. Much of what Chu talks about in the book resonated with me deeply, especially his struggle reconciling the two sides of his identity – Asian and American – and the various successes as well as failures that contributed to the person he chose to become: one who learns to embrace both sides of his identity, in both life and work.
Of course, being a fan of CRA, my favorite part of the memoir was the chapter where Chu goes into detail about his experiences making the movie. Even though I already knew a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the movie (of course I don’t call myself a “fan” for nothing, lol), what I didn’t know was how much the movie reflected Chu’s personal journey as a Chinese American trying to come to terms with his cultural identity. As such, there were many details that he added from his own life as well as from the lives of his family members that weren’t in the book – as a purist, I’m usually wary about adaptations that stray too far from the book, but in this case, the many personal touches that Chu added to the movie version worked wonderfully (to the point that – and you won’t hear me say this often – this was one of those extremely rare cases where the movie was actually better than the book). What I found most interesting in reading this memoir is that many of my favorite scenes from the movie (“favorite” because those scenes resonated with me the most) were actually the ones that Chu added from his personal background: for example, the scene where the family gathers together to make dumplings (which he based on his own family’s gatherings and dumpling-making lessons led by his late maternal grandmother); the climactic mahjong showdown scene between Rachel and Eleanor (which was especially fun to read about knowing how the game is played and seeing how my understanding of the symbolism behind that scene aligned with Chu’s intention for it); and the kitchen scene where Nick first introduces Rachel to his mother (the significance of that scene is that Chu indirectly pays homage to his family’s restaurant, Chef Chu’s, which has been a Silicon Valley mainstay for more than 50 years – though the bit about the MSG appearance in that scene and both Michelle Yeoh’s as well as Chu’s father’s reaction to it was hilarious). There were also some CRA “fun facts” that Chu revealed in his memoir that I had no idea about (for example, Chu’s daughter Willow – who was a newborn at the time -- has a “blink-and-you’ll miss it” cameo in the movie, as does CRA author Kevin Kwan’s family). Reading all this behind-the-scenes stuff made me want to go re-watch the movie again, this time as someone with more “inside knowledge” that will undoubtedly enhance the experience even further for me.
I wanted to close this review with two quotes from Chu’s memoir that resonated most with me, precisely because they reflect my own struggles as an Asian American constantly trying to reconcile the two sides of my cultural identity.
The first quote is from the chapter about CRA, where Chu talks about the significance of Rachel’s journey in the movie – he refers specifically to the scene on the staircase where Eleanor (played to wonderful effect by one of my longtime idols Michelle Yeoh) tells Rachel (a role which Constance Wu also embodied perfectly): “You will never be enough.” Chu explains how this one line of dialogue (and the brilliant way Michelle Yeoh delivered it) had the powerful effect of causing all the Asian Americans on set (including himself) to go silent because of how deeply it cuts to the core of the Asian American experience, in a way that those who’ve never had to navigate those two worlds will never understand. He writes: “Eleanor’s line and Rachel’s reaction expressed what I hadn’t been willing to express before and had rarely seen expressed by anybody else. When you grow up the way I did – torn between Asia and America, trying to shed what you are, trying to be what you’re not – the world can make you feel worthless. You’re not Asian enough. You’re not American enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re not talented enough. If you’re an Asian man, you’re not attractive enough. And then, louder than all the rest: You don’t belong here. You hear that one all the time. Everywhere.” I cried when I read this part because of how succinctly it expresses my own lifelong identity struggle.
The second quote comes later in that same chapter, when Chu talks candidly about some of the criticisms that CRA received – specifically the one where people complained that CRA simplified the complexities of the Asian culture and in presenting the insular world of wealthy Asians, it reflected an “outsider’s version of Asian life” and therefore was inauthentic (notably, the movie was slammed in many of the overseas Asian territories that screened it). Chu explains that the CRA story is about an Asian American going to Asia for the first time and we are seeing the world through her “newcomer” eyes – the movie was not meant to provide a comprehensive view of Asian culture, but rather an “Asia 101” type of glimpse into one aspect of the culture, with the hope that the opportunity to explore the “deeper layers – the true change that comes from broader awareness” can become more accessible in the future. Hearing this particular complaint gave Chu insight into what his parents went through with their restaurant, which endured similar criticisms throughout its existence. This prompted Chu to have a heartfelt conversation with his father, of which he writes: “’This is how you grew up,’ my dad told me. ‘Respecting two worlds because we are of two worlds. People who aren’t of those two worlds can’t see that’s what we’re trying to resolve.’ To make a life in this country, they had needed to find a way to integrate Asia and America….After so many years of trying to be like Spielberg and Lucas, I came into my own as a filmmaker only once I started trying to be like my parents – when I started thinking of myself as an ambassador, treating my position between two cultures as something to cherish, not something to hide or resent. They showed me how to tell stories that would open the door for other stories.”
This was an insightful memoir, one that I enjoyed not just because of the resonance from a cultural perspective, but also because of Chu’s unflinching honesty when recounting his successes and failures (whether in life or work). Chu’s passion, enthusiasm, and love for filmmaking truly shines through in this memoir -- the way he recounted his movie-making experiences as well as his encounters with various famous people (Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, etc.) gave me serious “kid in a candy shop” vibes; this, combined with Chu’s self-deprecating humor (which was on full display throughout the book), made his memoir a lot of fun to read.
Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley
**Note: The quotes above are from the final published copy of the book, which I ended up reading instead of the ARC version. Also, Chu and his co-writer Jeremy McCarter did an interview with Ariana Grande (hosted by bookstore Book Passage) where they provide additional insights about the memoir and their experience writing it – I would recommend watching that interview if you have access to it, as it definitely enhances the reading experience!
Of course, being a fan of CRA, my favorite part of the memoir was the chapter where Chu goes into detail about his experiences making the movie. Even though I already knew a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff related to the movie (of course I don’t call myself a “fan” for nothing, lol), what I didn’t know was how much the movie reflected Chu’s personal journey as a Chinese American trying to come to terms with his cultural identity. As such, there were many details that he added from his own life as well as from the lives of his family members that weren’t in the book – as a purist, I’m usually wary about adaptations that stray too far from the book, but in this case, the many personal touches that Chu added to the movie version worked wonderfully (to the point that – and you won’t hear me say this often – this was one of those extremely rare cases where the movie was actually better than the book). What I found most interesting in reading this memoir is that many of my favorite scenes from the movie (“favorite” because those scenes resonated with me the most) were actually the ones that Chu added from his personal background: for example, the scene where the family gathers together to make dumplings (which he based on his own family’s gatherings and dumpling-making lessons led by his late maternal grandmother); the climactic mahjong showdown scene between Rachel and Eleanor (which was especially fun to read about knowing how the game is played and seeing how my understanding of the symbolism behind that scene aligned with Chu’s intention for it); and the kitchen scene where Nick first introduces Rachel to his mother (the significance of that scene is that Chu indirectly pays homage to his family’s restaurant, Chef Chu’s, which has been a Silicon Valley mainstay for more than 50 years – though the bit about the MSG appearance in that scene and both Michelle Yeoh’s as well as Chu’s father’s reaction to it was hilarious). There were also some CRA “fun facts” that Chu revealed in his memoir that I had no idea about (for example, Chu’s daughter Willow – who was a newborn at the time -- has a “blink-and-you’ll miss it” cameo in the movie, as does CRA author Kevin Kwan’s family). Reading all this behind-the-scenes stuff made me want to go re-watch the movie again, this time as someone with more “inside knowledge” that will undoubtedly enhance the experience even further for me.
I wanted to close this review with two quotes from Chu’s memoir that resonated most with me, precisely because they reflect my own struggles as an Asian American constantly trying to reconcile the two sides of my cultural identity.
The first quote is from the chapter about CRA, where Chu talks about the significance of Rachel’s journey in the movie – he refers specifically to the scene on the staircase where Eleanor (played to wonderful effect by one of my longtime idols Michelle Yeoh) tells Rachel (a role which Constance Wu also embodied perfectly): “You will never be enough.” Chu explains how this one line of dialogue (and the brilliant way Michelle Yeoh delivered it) had the powerful effect of causing all the Asian Americans on set (including himself) to go silent because of how deeply it cuts to the core of the Asian American experience, in a way that those who’ve never had to navigate those two worlds will never understand. He writes: “Eleanor’s line and Rachel’s reaction expressed what I hadn’t been willing to express before and had rarely seen expressed by anybody else. When you grow up the way I did – torn between Asia and America, trying to shed what you are, trying to be what you’re not – the world can make you feel worthless. You’re not Asian enough. You’re not American enough. You’re not smart enough. You’re not talented enough. If you’re an Asian man, you’re not attractive enough. And then, louder than all the rest: You don’t belong here. You hear that one all the time. Everywhere.” I cried when I read this part because of how succinctly it expresses my own lifelong identity struggle.
The second quote comes later in that same chapter, when Chu talks candidly about some of the criticisms that CRA received – specifically the one where people complained that CRA simplified the complexities of the Asian culture and in presenting the insular world of wealthy Asians, it reflected an “outsider’s version of Asian life” and therefore was inauthentic (notably, the movie was slammed in many of the overseas Asian territories that screened it). Chu explains that the CRA story is about an Asian American going to Asia for the first time and we are seeing the world through her “newcomer” eyes – the movie was not meant to provide a comprehensive view of Asian culture, but rather an “Asia 101” type of glimpse into one aspect of the culture, with the hope that the opportunity to explore the “deeper layers – the true change that comes from broader awareness” can become more accessible in the future. Hearing this particular complaint gave Chu insight into what his parents went through with their restaurant, which endured similar criticisms throughout its existence. This prompted Chu to have a heartfelt conversation with his father, of which he writes: “’This is how you grew up,’ my dad told me. ‘Respecting two worlds because we are of two worlds. People who aren’t of those two worlds can’t see that’s what we’re trying to resolve.’ To make a life in this country, they had needed to find a way to integrate Asia and America….After so many years of trying to be like Spielberg and Lucas, I came into my own as a filmmaker only once I started trying to be like my parents – when I started thinking of myself as an ambassador, treating my position between two cultures as something to cherish, not something to hide or resent. They showed me how to tell stories that would open the door for other stories.”
This was an insightful memoir, one that I enjoyed not just because of the resonance from a cultural perspective, but also because of Chu’s unflinching honesty when recounting his successes and failures (whether in life or work). Chu’s passion, enthusiasm, and love for filmmaking truly shines through in this memoir -- the way he recounted his movie-making experiences as well as his encounters with various famous people (Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, etc.) gave me serious “kid in a candy shop” vibes; this, combined with Chu’s self-deprecating humor (which was on full display throughout the book), made his memoir a lot of fun to read.
Received ARC from Random House via NetGalley
**Note: The quotes above are from the final published copy of the book, which I ended up reading instead of the ARC version. Also, Chu and his co-writer Jeremy McCarter did an interview with Ariana Grande (hosted by bookstore Book Passage) where they provide additional insights about the memoir and their experience writing it – I would recommend watching that interview if you have access to it, as it definitely enhances the reading experience!
May 20, 2024
May 10, 2024 ARC Review:
As a Chinese-Canadian millennial, this book made me feel seen.
Jon M. Chu is a well known director, particularly amongst the Asian American and YouTube community (circa 2008). Chu's journey to becoming a filmmaker, from growing up surrounded by emerging cutting edge tech in Silicon Valley to garnering Stephen Spielberg's attention right out of college was fascinating and reminded me a lot of Spielberg's movie, The Fabelmans.
But what made me really connect with Chu were his stories about his parents, his Chinese-American upbringing, his work ethic and passion for storytelling, and finding his community amongst other Asian Americans. Although Chu and I lived in different parts of the continent with very different career paths, I found his childhood stories and insights and struggles with being Asian in America extremely relatable.
I've been a long time fan of Chu's and reading this book made me realize that I had a lot in common with him (and I'm sure many other Asian Americans/Canadians will feel the same way). Our childhoods, family dynamics, exposure to Asian American YouTubers and dance crews, and perfectionism and work ethic, all felt so familiar. I loved that he gave a shoutout to OG Asian American YouTubers Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and Kina Grannis (I would also like to mention other favourites of mine, including KevJumba and Happy Slip) and shoutout to OG ABDC Asian dance crews like Jabbawockeez and Kaba Modern (he forgot about Quest Crew!)
In many ways, I think this sparked Chu's path to making sure that Asian-Americans were represented in mainstream media, which led to the worldwide blockbuster movie, Crazy Rich Asians.
I'll be honest - Crazy Rich Asians was one of those books where I thought the movie was way better. Learning some of the behind-the-scenes of how the movie came together really made me want to rewatch the movie.
There was a lot that I loved about this book but most of all, I loved that this book was very introspective and focused a lot on Chu's personal growth and his outlook on his career and Asian-American identity. Overall, this was a fantastic memoir that I urge other Asian-Americans/Chinese millennials to read.
My only complaints with this book is:
1) Chu mentions in passing his disappointment with how poorly Jem did but doesn't really go into any details (I would prefer more details, or no mention of it at all - his mentioning of it in passing has sparked my curiosity and now I want to know more about how he feels about it and lessons learned!) I suspect Chu still hasn't fully healed from his experience with Jem and doesn't want to dwell on it.
2) the ebook formatting includes random 'blurbs' sprinkled throughout the book which throws me off whenever they appear because they disrupt the flow of the book (I also kept mistaking the blurbs as chapter headings and the mark of a new chapter...)
Along with the mainstream movies that Chu has directed, here are some additional videos for you to watch while reading this book:
Silent Beats
ACDC - The first dance
M&M Cru
ACDC - Dance Battle 2
M&M Cru Final Dance Battle
ACDC Teen Choice Awards Performance
M&M Cru Teen Choice Awards Performance
TED Talk (LXD)
LXD Trailer
LXD Oscars Performance
John Chu Keynote Speech
TED Talk - The pride and power of representation in film
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
------------------------------
If you like the following, then you might enjoy Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen or vice-versa:
------------------------------
April 1, 2024 Pre-Review:
I'm so excited to have received an ARC of this book!!!
I can count on one hand the number of Hollywood movie directors I can name, and Jon M. Chu is one of them (the others are Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and James Cameron). I think the fact that he's a successful Chinese director who made it big in Hollywood has kept my interest - not to mention that I love his works.
I've been following Jon M. Chu's work since ~2008 (The Adam/Chu Dance Crew vs. M&M Cru YouTube Dance battle was EPIC - also, 2008 was the peak for creative YouTube content imo and this dance battle is proof of that), I loved Step-Up 2 and 3D (I had a huge crush on Adam Sevani) and I was obsessed with The League of Extraordinary Dancers. I also thought Crazy Rich Asians was one of the rare movies that ended up being way better than the book (thanks to Chu, no doubt). Not to mention that I am beyond excited for the movie adaptation of Wicked to come out later this year!
As you can tell, I'm a fan and I can't wait to get started on this book.
As a Chinese-Canadian millennial, this book made me feel seen.
When you grow up the way I did - torn between Asia and America, trying to shed what you are, trying to be what you're not - the world can make you feel worthless. You're not Asian enough. You're not American enough. You're not smart enough. You're not talented enough. If you're an Asian man, you're not attractive enough. And then, louder than all the rest: You don't belong here. You hear that one all the time. Everywhere.
Jon M. Chu is a well known director, particularly amongst the Asian American and YouTube community (circa 2008). Chu's journey to becoming a filmmaker, from growing up surrounded by emerging cutting edge tech in Silicon Valley to garnering Stephen Spielberg's attention right out of college was fascinating and reminded me a lot of Spielberg's movie, The Fabelmans.
But what made me really connect with Chu were his stories about his parents, his Chinese-American upbringing, his work ethic and passion for storytelling, and finding his community amongst other Asian Americans. Although Chu and I lived in different parts of the continent with very different career paths, I found his childhood stories and insights and struggles with being Asian in America extremely relatable.
I've been a long time fan of Chu's and reading this book made me realize that I had a lot in common with him (and I'm sure many other Asian Americans/Canadians will feel the same way). Our childhoods, family dynamics, exposure to Asian American YouTubers and dance crews, and perfectionism and work ethic, all felt so familiar. I loved that he gave a shoutout to OG Asian American YouTubers Ryan Higa, Wong Fu Productions, and Kina Grannis (I would also like to mention other favourites of mine, including KevJumba and Happy Slip) and shoutout to OG ABDC Asian dance crews like Jabbawockeez and Kaba Modern (he forgot about Quest Crew!)
Without a central organizing force, one video at a time, Asian Americans began shifting the way they were perceived by American society - and by one another. Watching those videos, reading the comments, gave me something I'd never had before: proof that other people could relate to my in-between identity. YouTube soothed my still-unresolved cultural identity crisis, the feeling that I didn't fit in with other Asians - or other Americans - that had dogged me since I was a kid. I began to understand that many, many other young Asian Americans were proud of their family heritage and eager to immerse in mainstream American culture. They - we - didn't pit one side of themselves against the other but yearned to reconcile the two.
In many ways, I think this sparked Chu's path to making sure that Asian-Americans were represented in mainstream media, which led to the worldwide blockbuster movie, Crazy Rich Asians.
It was time for the Asian Avengers to assemble.
I'll be honest - Crazy Rich Asians was one of those books where I thought the movie was way better. Learning some of the behind-the-scenes of how the movie came together really made me want to rewatch the movie.
There was a lot that I loved about this book but most of all, I loved that this book was very introspective and focused a lot on Chu's personal growth and his outlook on his career and Asian-American identity. Overall, this was a fantastic memoir that I urge other Asian-Americans/Chinese millennials to read.
My only complaints with this book is:
1) Chu mentions in passing his disappointment with how poorly Jem did but doesn't really go into any details (I would prefer more details, or no mention of it at all - his mentioning of it in passing has sparked my curiosity and now I want to know more about how he feels about it and lessons learned!) I suspect Chu still hasn't fully healed from his experience with Jem and doesn't want to dwell on it.
2) the ebook formatting includes random 'blurbs' sprinkled throughout the book which throws me off whenever they appear because they disrupt the flow of the book (I also kept mistaking the blurbs as chapter headings and the mark of a new chapter...)
Along with the mainstream movies that Chu has directed, here are some additional videos for you to watch while reading this book:
Silent Beats
ACDC - The first dance
M&M Cru
ACDC - Dance Battle 2
M&M Cru Final Dance Battle
ACDC Teen Choice Awards Performance
M&M Cru Teen Choice Awards Performance
TED Talk (LXD)
LXD Trailer
LXD Oscars Performance
John Chu Keynote Speech
TED Talk - The pride and power of representation in film
*All quotes are taken from an Advanced Readers Copy and may change prior to the release of the final copy.*
**I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration, but all opinions are my own.**
------------------------------
If you like the following, then you might enjoy Viewfinder: A Memoir of Seeing and Being Seen or vice-versa:
------------------------------
April 1, 2024 Pre-Review:
I'm so excited to have received an ARC of this book!!!
I can count on one hand the number of Hollywood movie directors I can name, and Jon M. Chu is one of them (the others are Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Tim Burton, and James Cameron). I think the fact that he's a successful Chinese director who made it big in Hollywood has kept my interest - not to mention that I love his works.
I've been following Jon M. Chu's work since ~2008 (The Adam/Chu Dance Crew vs. M&M Cru YouTube Dance battle was EPIC - also, 2008 was the peak for creative YouTube content imo and this dance battle is proof of that), I loved Step-Up 2 and 3D (I had a huge crush on Adam Sevani) and I was obsessed with The League of Extraordinary Dancers. I also thought Crazy Rich Asians was one of the rare movies that ended up being way better than the book (thanks to Chu, no doubt). Not to mention that I am beyond excited for the movie adaptation of Wicked to come out later this year!
As you can tell, I'm a fan and I can't wait to get started on this book.
May 18, 2024
THANK YOU NetGalley, Jon Chu, and Random House for this ARC. What an incredible memoir by the incredible Jon Chu! I am a fan of Jon M. Chu as an incredible filmmaker, who to date has directed "Crazy Rich Asians," "In the Heights," and "Wicked," with an anticipated adaptation for the Broadway musical set for release later this year. It should be noted he is also the genius behind Justin Bieber's Believe documentary, and many other great projects. I am now an even bigger fan after reading Mr. Chu's memoir. I was intrigued when I came across Viewfinder and loved its cover, and found it was indeed Jon M. Chu's memoir about growing up a creative, first generation Chinese American, and becoming one of Hollywood's biggest directors. Viewfinder is a page turner from beginning to beautiful epilogue ("I grew up in the future. But I do not live there anymore.") Mr. Chu is a visionary and master storyteller, both on the big screen and here in Viewfinder. This is more than a memoir, it is narration at its finest and a lens into Mr. Chu's real life, as his family's American dream evolves in real time. He navigates growing up obsessed with movies and technology, while helping his parents at Chef Chu's, their Chinese restaurant located in wealthy Silicon Valley, the tech hub of the world. Viewfinder is a fascinating, emotional read as Mr. Chu faces his own cultural identity crisis growing up as a 90's child of immigrants surrounded by both Hollywood and Silicon Valley. He sees and hears things that will enlighten the reader, and uses every project as an opportunity to learn and grow. I loved his Wizard of Oz parallels, and how he describes his Mom reminiscing of watching The Wizard of Oz growing up in Taiwan. He views it as a fairytale, just like millions of others who believed in the magic of the Wizard. I sincerely enjoyed his included photos and descriptions of his family, and the way he intertwines his memories to "try to find a better way into the future." He gives honest insight into the ups and downs of dreams and reality for movie lovers and aspiring filmmakers everywhere. Mr. Chu goes on to make his mark as a student at USC's famed film school, and shares what it was really like being discovered by Steven Spielberg when his early work in 2002 caught Mr. Spielberg's attention. After viewing his short, Mr. Spielberg decides to mentor him, bringing him into the A list of Hollywood and studio executives. What an incredible dream come true moment for a filmmaker. This week while reading Viewfinder, Mr. Chu was unintentionally caught in USC's turmoil, and as a result he was unfortunately canceled as this year's keynote speaker- through no fault of his own. I was very much looking forward to his commencement speech. Viewfinder is not all about winning at The American Dream. Mr. Chu is incredibly honest as he finds himself struggling to comprehend who he really is as his dreams become a reality. He is honest as he shares the ups and downs of both Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and is hard on himself at times as his identity develops along with his storytelling. In this ever evolving world, he is still very much in the learning process. I loved Viewfinder, Mr. Chu’s honesty, and how even as a superstar director in the Top Gun elite still possesses feelings like all humans- especially about social media: "I knew it was time to log off and stay off. But the damage to my sense of self, and the kind of positive impact that I thought my work could have, had been done." Thank you, Mr. Chu, for taking your fans on your incredibly creative journey with you. We cannot wait for the sequel. 4/5
June 20, 2025
A warm, joyful voice. This book gave me much happiness. Some takeaways:
His mother was an important figure, creating a bubble around the family, offering advice in adversity.
Mix of Palo Alto area ( Silicon Valley) plus LA (Hollywood)
"Stuff" is not very important to the youngest child, who is used to hand me down items.
"Some leaders feel the need to flex their authority--such a firstborn child move--" 45
Astonished and dismayed by the amount of anti Asian prejudice Chu encounters.
At a mega church with video enhancements, he says "I could spot all the tricks they were using, the subtle manipulations. If this were really the revealed Word of the Almighty it shouldn't have needed the techniques I've been using in my videos." 64
Authentic, personal Storytelling. His stories are about kindness and optimism.
Finding his own voice.
Loves Meet Me in St Louis!
Kindness, patience, joy in life and work
Learn a new word every day
Walk your dog.
Foundation of discipline is routines. You are what you do every day.
Creativity is a fire that needs constant feeding.
Discussions of Netflix, YouTube and Hulu and streaming generally, as opposed to the strengths of the legendary Studios.
Movies are the light in the dark.
Computers are the bicycle of the mind.
Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson anecdote that affirms my love of both of these guys. 168
"In trying to be the embodiment of what others expected of me, I'd lost my way. I'd lost myself." 183
Crazy Rich Asians: the sleeping dragon from the opening of the movie is within Chu; Eleanor is like his mother, "knowing exactly what she stood for, which gave her a quiet force that compelled everybody's attention" 237; little signs that said JOY sprinkled around the movie set; when he stopped trying to control everything, it made him the director he had always wanted to be; in the mah-jongg game at the end of the movie, Rachel showed everybody her tiles so that Eleanor understood that Rachel could have won if she had tried (I thought Rachel did win!); the message of the movie is if you embrace all the parts of yourself you can create your own path; of the first viewing of the rough assembly of CRA, Chu says "Though I knew every inch of every scene and every nuance of every performance, it felt totally new, as if I hadn't known a thing about it. I found it moving and hilarious" 246 ( and that's how I feel too every time I watch it! )
From his father (and his restaurant), he learned that Silicon Valley's obsession with growth and Hollywood's obsession with success are two versions of the same disorder. Neither of them considers values, or a lasting sense of worth... in that world view, more is always more. His father wanted him to see that the opposite is true: that enough can be enough. 249
For his children, his hope is that they won't grow up thinking that there's safety or value or beauty in trying to be like somebody else. They'll learn to embrace all the traditions that make them who they are. They'll know that they are enough. 276
All the things his parents kept, in a huge pile, in the garage, were never junk, because his parents said they weren't. Each item was a link to a person, usually one of their children. Hanging onto the things was a way of hanging on to the person, to the disappearing past. It's the mess that shows we were here. His view is that we need to look at the past to see the present more clearly, to try to find a better way into the future, as a daily practice, in order to try to find a vantage point to see it all: the messy past, the confusing present, the unknowable future.
His mother was an important figure, creating a bubble around the family, offering advice in adversity.
Mix of Palo Alto area ( Silicon Valley) plus LA (Hollywood)
"Stuff" is not very important to the youngest child, who is used to hand me down items.
"Some leaders feel the need to flex their authority--such a firstborn child move--" 45
Astonished and dismayed by the amount of anti Asian prejudice Chu encounters.
At a mega church with video enhancements, he says "I could spot all the tricks they were using, the subtle manipulations. If this were really the revealed Word of the Almighty it shouldn't have needed the techniques I've been using in my videos." 64
Authentic, personal Storytelling. His stories are about kindness and optimism.
Finding his own voice.
Loves Meet Me in St Louis!
Kindness, patience, joy in life and work
Learn a new word every day
Walk your dog.
Foundation of discipline is routines. You are what you do every day.
Creativity is a fire that needs constant feeding.
Discussions of Netflix, YouTube and Hulu and streaming generally, as opposed to the strengths of the legendary Studios.
Movies are the light in the dark.
Computers are the bicycle of the mind.
Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson anecdote that affirms my love of both of these guys. 168
"In trying to be the embodiment of what others expected of me, I'd lost my way. I'd lost myself." 183
Crazy Rich Asians: the sleeping dragon from the opening of the movie is within Chu; Eleanor is like his mother, "knowing exactly what she stood for, which gave her a quiet force that compelled everybody's attention" 237; little signs that said JOY sprinkled around the movie set; when he stopped trying to control everything, it made him the director he had always wanted to be; in the mah-jongg game at the end of the movie, Rachel showed everybody her tiles so that Eleanor understood that Rachel could have won if she had tried (I thought Rachel did win!); the message of the movie is if you embrace all the parts of yourself you can create your own path; of the first viewing of the rough assembly of CRA, Chu says "Though I knew every inch of every scene and every nuance of every performance, it felt totally new, as if I hadn't known a thing about it. I found it moving and hilarious" 246 ( and that's how I feel too every time I watch it! )
From his father (and his restaurant), he learned that Silicon Valley's obsession with growth and Hollywood's obsession with success are two versions of the same disorder. Neither of them considers values, or a lasting sense of worth... in that world view, more is always more. His father wanted him to see that the opposite is true: that enough can be enough. 249
For his children, his hope is that they won't grow up thinking that there's safety or value or beauty in trying to be like somebody else. They'll learn to embrace all the traditions that make them who they are. They'll know that they are enough. 276
All the things his parents kept, in a huge pile, in the garage, were never junk, because his parents said they weren't. Each item was a link to a person, usually one of their children. Hanging onto the things was a way of hanging on to the person, to the disappearing past. It's the mess that shows we were here. His view is that we need to look at the past to see the present more clearly, to try to find a better way into the future, as a daily practice, in order to try to find a vantage point to see it all: the messy past, the confusing present, the unknowable future.
July 28, 2024
Overall, this book reminds me of Hua Hsu's "Stay True" in that the beginning is a beautiful retelling and introspection about Jon's childhood, but then the latter half feels a little underdeveloped.
This book is about three main topics:
1) The tension between old vs new (LA vs Silicon Valley)
2) Jon's experiences as a filmmaker
3) Jon grappling with his Asian American identity
Jon does a great job describing and reflecting on the first two themes, but it seems like his journey understanding his Asian American identity is still nascent (which is fine! We all have to start somewhere!).
I think there are primarily two types of audiences that would gravitate toward this book:
1) People who know Jon from Crazy Rich Asians
2) People who know Jon as a filmmaker more broadly (i.e., they know his other movies)
I would guess that's he's more well-known for CRA vs. his other movies, which is why the underdevelopment of Asian-American themes leaves more to be desired from me.
The positives:
- I really loved the first half of the book, because Jon told a really engrossing story that I just wanted to devour. I loved reading about his childhood and getting the behind-the-scenes of his film career. I love how self-deprecating he was and how he didn't shy away from showing the good, the bad, and everything in between. Jon talked about his quick ascent to filmmaking fame, only to basically crash and burn and not make a movie for many years. But I love how honest and unflinching he is in describing all of that!
- I also loved all the commentary on old vs. new and on filmmaking, because I'm not a huge film buff, but I do still love watching movies. I like his reflections on how watching a movie just isn't the same experience as watching 30-second content on your phone. This year, I watched Challengers and Inside Out 2, and both movies made me appreciate the power of how immersive and wonderful movies can be.
The meh:
- Jon is not nearly as unflinching in the Asian American sections as he is in the filmmaking sections. When he describes his parents' immigration story, he describes it as how he would set a film. I honestly found this to be the most boring part of the book - not because of the story, but because of how he told the story. It seemed like he needed to tell the story this way to put some distance between himself and his parents' immigration story instead of confronting it head on. This is another example of why I feel like he's still processing his Asian American identity.
- I would've loved to hear more about Crazy Rich Asians, since I think that's what he's most well-known for. He also briefly mentioned the Asian hate crimes that happened during Covid, but again, he covered those so quickly and it felt like he was shying away from those topics
- I was curious to know more about his wife - specifically the fact that she's white (I think? I gleaned from Googling) and he's mostly not. Was he interested in dating Asian women? How does he think about raising mixed-race children? Jon mentions a few times about how often Asian men are not seen as desirable (although has this been disputed from the last Coffee Meets Bagel survey? I only saw the headlines but I didn't dig in) -- did this come up while he was dating Kristin? Do his parents care if he dates an Asian girl or not?
- Jon and I are part of separate generations: I've noticed that in his generation, there are a lot of Asian American guys (usually guys) who start thinking more deeply about their identity in their early/mid/late 30s. Versus I think in each subsequent generation, we start thinking about identity sooner. Now, there are so many Asian American CPG companies; Korea is winning the soft power game with their skincare, kdramas, kpop, etc. --> so I think younger generations are more proud to be Asian American and Americans have accepted Asian Americans more (unless you're still saying things like China virus). No shade to Jon, because I'm happy for him that he's leaning into his identity more. But because I know about Jon because of CRA, I would've been interested in more developed perspectives on being Asian American. But I am grateful for him and CRA and all the advocacy work that he has done and hopefully will continue to do.
When I was reading the first half of this book, I was ready to give it five stars and say it was one of the best books that I've read this year. But for the second half (or starting around the time when he was coming into his Asian American identity and describing his parents' immigrant journeys), I started to feel like this book is a little lacking. Overall though, I still enjoyed reading it, and it's a fun, quick read.
This book is about three main topics:
1) The tension between old vs new (LA vs Silicon Valley)
2) Jon's experiences as a filmmaker
3) Jon grappling with his Asian American identity
Jon does a great job describing and reflecting on the first two themes, but it seems like his journey understanding his Asian American identity is still nascent (which is fine! We all have to start somewhere!).
I think there are primarily two types of audiences that would gravitate toward this book:
1) People who know Jon from Crazy Rich Asians
2) People who know Jon as a filmmaker more broadly (i.e., they know his other movies)
I would guess that's he's more well-known for CRA vs. his other movies, which is why the underdevelopment of Asian-American themes leaves more to be desired from me.
The positives:
- I really loved the first half of the book, because Jon told a really engrossing story that I just wanted to devour. I loved reading about his childhood and getting the behind-the-scenes of his film career. I love how self-deprecating he was and how he didn't shy away from showing the good, the bad, and everything in between. Jon talked about his quick ascent to filmmaking fame, only to basically crash and burn and not make a movie for many years. But I love how honest and unflinching he is in describing all of that!
- I also loved all the commentary on old vs. new and on filmmaking, because I'm not a huge film buff, but I do still love watching movies. I like his reflections on how watching a movie just isn't the same experience as watching 30-second content on your phone. This year, I watched Challengers and Inside Out 2, and both movies made me appreciate the power of how immersive and wonderful movies can be.
The meh:
- Jon is not nearly as unflinching in the Asian American sections as he is in the filmmaking sections. When he describes his parents' immigration story, he describes it as how he would set a film. I honestly found this to be the most boring part of the book - not because of the story, but because of how he told the story. It seemed like he needed to tell the story this way to put some distance between himself and his parents' immigration story instead of confronting it head on. This is another example of why I feel like he's still processing his Asian American identity.
- I would've loved to hear more about Crazy Rich Asians, since I think that's what he's most well-known for. He also briefly mentioned the Asian hate crimes that happened during Covid, but again, he covered those so quickly and it felt like he was shying away from those topics
- I was curious to know more about his wife - specifically the fact that she's white (I think? I gleaned from Googling) and he's mostly not. Was he interested in dating Asian women? How does he think about raising mixed-race children? Jon mentions a few times about how often Asian men are not seen as desirable (although has this been disputed from the last Coffee Meets Bagel survey? I only saw the headlines but I didn't dig in) -- did this come up while he was dating Kristin? Do his parents care if he dates an Asian girl or not?
- Jon and I are part of separate generations: I've noticed that in his generation, there are a lot of Asian American guys (usually guys) who start thinking more deeply about their identity in their early/mid/late 30s. Versus I think in each subsequent generation, we start thinking about identity sooner. Now, there are so many Asian American CPG companies; Korea is winning the soft power game with their skincare, kdramas, kpop, etc. --> so I think younger generations are more proud to be Asian American and Americans have accepted Asian Americans more (unless you're still saying things like China virus). No shade to Jon, because I'm happy for him that he's leaning into his identity more. But because I know about Jon because of CRA, I would've been interested in more developed perspectives on being Asian American. But I am grateful for him and CRA and all the advocacy work that he has done and hopefully will continue to do.
When I was reading the first half of this book, I was ready to give it five stars and say it was one of the best books that I've read this year. But for the second half (or starting around the time when he was coming into his Asian American identity and describing his parents' immigrant journeys), I started to feel like this book is a little lacking. Overall though, I still enjoyed reading it, and it's a fun, quick read.
August 25, 2024
“It was time for the Asian Avengers to assemble.”
~Jon M. Chu
Excellent biography read. Like him, he represents all those of us who are “too American” and “not Asian enough.”
What he discovered is, that he is Rachael Chu from “Crazy Rich Asians.” He brilliantly added three pivotal scenes that enriched Kevin Kwan’s novel.
Jon M. Chu talked about his highs and lows and how he found himself through the movies and defying expectations.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
~Jon M. Chu
Excellent biography read. Like him, he represents all those of us who are “too American” and “not Asian enough.”
What he discovered is, that he is Rachael Chu from “Crazy Rich Asians.” He brilliantly added three pivotal scenes that enriched Kevin Kwan’s novel.
Jon M. Chu talked about his highs and lows and how he found himself through the movies and defying expectations.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
February 17, 2025
Most of us know Jon Chu from directing Crazy Rich Asians or his most recent movie, Wicked, but little did I know that he has been a fantastic director in the making for the past decade. Vetted early on by Steven Spielberg, he's also been a long-time musical fan, and I was surprised to learn he also directed Step up 2, Step up 3D, In the Heights, and both of Justin Bieber's live concert films.
Reading about the film industry, specifically from an Asian American perspective, was extremely eye-opening, as it's the industry I've always wanted to immerse myself in but neglected to due to circumstances. Jon’s reflections on his journey as a Chinese American navigating his cultural identity resonated deeply with me. But what captivated me most was his passion—for filmmaking, for grand storytelling, and for crafting an unforgettable audience experience. It made Wicked even more special, as I felt every emotion he described when I walked out of the theater. The book also gave certain behind the details on CRA that were really fun to know
The book also gave behind-the-scenes details about Crazy Rich Asians that were really fun to learn. The first half of the book had me ready to give it five stars, but as I got into the second half, certain aspects felt a bit underdeveloped. Still, it was an enjoyable, quick read that I’d recommend.
Reading about the film industry, specifically from an Asian American perspective, was extremely eye-opening, as it's the industry I've always wanted to immerse myself in but neglected to due to circumstances. Jon’s reflections on his journey as a Chinese American navigating his cultural identity resonated deeply with me. But what captivated me most was his passion—for filmmaking, for grand storytelling, and for crafting an unforgettable audience experience. It made Wicked even more special, as I felt every emotion he described when I walked out of the theater. The book also gave certain behind the details on CRA that were really fun to know
The book also gave behind-the-scenes details about Crazy Rich Asians that were really fun to learn. The first half of the book had me ready to give it five stars, but as I got into the second half, certain aspects felt a bit underdeveloped. Still, it was an enjoyable, quick read that I’d recommend.
December 14, 2024
I got off the library waitlist for this memoir on the day that I saw the Wicked movie! This lightly touches on Wicked but we’re definitely going to need a full post-Wicked epilogue.
This man deeply loves filmmaking, musicals, and Steve Jobs. He really believes movies are powerful but I think he underestimates the true enjoyment of watching Netflix at home in your pajamas.
This book is a testament to great parents. His parents raised Chu in a loving, nurturing, creative home and provided everything they could (symphony tickets, film editing equipment) even when resources were scarce and spread thin in a large family of 5 siblings. Chu’s parents offered him unconditional support for his dream of being a movie director, even when it initially brought failure after failure.
This is crazy: Kevin Kwan knew of Chu’s family and based the background of the character of Rachel partly on them. Apparently a character says about Rachel that “one of her cousins is a famous filmmaker” and that was referring to Jon Chu!!
Obviously this is a must read for my mom.
This man deeply loves filmmaking, musicals, and Steve Jobs. He really believes movies are powerful but I think he underestimates the true enjoyment of watching Netflix at home in your pajamas.
This book is a testament to great parents. His parents raised Chu in a loving, nurturing, creative home and provided everything they could (symphony tickets, film editing equipment) even when resources were scarce and spread thin in a large family of 5 siblings. Chu’s parents offered him unconditional support for his dream of being a movie director, even when it initially brought failure after failure.
This is crazy: Kevin Kwan knew of Chu’s family and based the background of the character of Rachel partly on them. Apparently a character says about Rachel that “one of her cousins is a famous filmmaker” and that was referring to Jon Chu!!
Obviously this is a must read for my mom.
March 29, 2025
3.5 stars.
This might sound harsh, but it's not meant to be. I enjoy Jon M. Chu's movies significantly more than his writing - but mostly because his movies leave me in awe, and I just didn't get that from his book.
This memoir was good, but maybe not what I had expected. I felt like parts of the book were longer than they needed to be (particularly the chapter about his parents meeting, written as if he was directing their movie); and the parts that I wanted to be longer (the creation of Crazy Rich Asians/In the Heights/and maybe even Wicked) only took up a small portion of the book at the end.
I think what I'd probably really love is a coffee table book of all of Jon's works one day.
This might sound harsh, but it's not meant to be. I enjoy Jon M. Chu's movies significantly more than his writing - but mostly because his movies leave me in awe, and I just didn't get that from his book.
This memoir was good, but maybe not what I had expected. I felt like parts of the book were longer than they needed to be (particularly the chapter about his parents meeting, written as if he was directing their movie); and the parts that I wanted to be longer (the creation of Crazy Rich Asians/In the Heights/and maybe even Wicked) only took up a small portion of the book at the end.
I think what I'd probably really love is a coffee table book of all of Jon's works one day.
July 20, 2025
Audiobook. 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book and hearing about places I recognize in the Bay Area where Jon Chu was raised. His parents own a famous chinese restaurant which he references often. The middle of the book lost me and was hard to want to keep reading but the end which hit on Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights, and Wicked was interesting.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book and hearing about places I recognize in the Bay Area where Jon Chu was raised. His parents own a famous chinese restaurant which he references often. The middle of the book lost me and was hard to want to keep reading but the end which hit on Crazy Rich Asians, In The Heights, and Wicked was interesting.
August 19, 2024
This is one of the best books I've read in biographies since Michelle Obama's "Becoming". Joyful and personal. Jon Chu takes us into his family and on a journey. Growing up in Silcon Valley is not the same for all families. Jon lives in the future. I loved the story of his family and the restaurant and how it grew after much sacrifice and nearly closing. Meeting his older siblings and the roles they played in how he looks at life, especially through Howard's eyes. Learning to make films at UCLA and getting to meet his hero Steven Spielberg, lucky change. By now you think Jon has it made. I appreciated the way he tells his story including how the pandemic hit "In The Heights", the movie-goer experience and his world view very hard.
Highly recommend it.
Highly recommend it.
September 25, 2024
"Once you see the world as it really is - and really was - you have a chance of helping it to become what it might be."
Viewfinder is one of the best memoirs that I've read to date. I didn't know much about the author, aside from being "the Crazy Rich Asians guy", but so much about what he wrote about resonated in this cohesive biography.
From how his upbringing in his parents' restaurant in Silicon Valley changed his worldview to being inspired by and meeting Steve Jobs and working with Steven Spielberg, the intersection of technology and storytelling is a natural thoroughfare that runs throughout this book. Beyond that, Viewfinder explores familiar identity questions from a refreshing point of view, where the author suggests how taking ownership in how you present yourself can be a more important and effective angle to respond than simply challenging the way others represent your community.
Finally, the chapter where he describes how he'd shoot a movie about his parents' story was a highlight, totally immersive and unique.
Viewfinder is one of the best memoirs that I've read to date. I didn't know much about the author, aside from being "the Crazy Rich Asians guy", but so much about what he wrote about resonated in this cohesive biography.
From how his upbringing in his parents' restaurant in Silicon Valley changed his worldview to being inspired by and meeting Steve Jobs and working with Steven Spielberg, the intersection of technology and storytelling is a natural thoroughfare that runs throughout this book. Beyond that, Viewfinder explores familiar identity questions from a refreshing point of view, where the author suggests how taking ownership in how you present yourself can be a more important and effective angle to respond than simply challenging the way others represent your community.
Finally, the chapter where he describes how he'd shoot a movie about his parents' story was a highlight, totally immersive and unique.
January 4, 2025
I didn't realize what an impact Jon Chu had on my experience with Asian American representation in entertainment. He's done so much for the community and his movies have made a big impression on me. It was a good read, learning about his life.
April 24, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ Everyday, I am thankful for Jon M. Chu for creating “Crazy Rich Asians” (aka my favorite plane movie of all time)
April 26, 2025
My first-ever audiobook! If you like Jon's movies, you will like his memoir. Read by Jon himself, too, which was a treat.
February 20, 2025
Viewfinder, Jon M. Chu’s debut memoir, goes beyond the usual Hollywood narrative, profoundly exploring the connection between cultural heritage and artistic expression. Through vivid personal stories, the Chinese American filmmaker reflects on his parents’ unwavering support—whether investing in his first film equipment or exposing him to cultural experiences like symphony concerts—which became the bedrock of his creative journey.
At its core, the memoir champions authenticity as a driving force in artistry. Chu illustrates how embracing one’s unique identity, rather than conforming to expectations, enriches creative vision. Tracing his journey from an imaginative child to the director of films like Wicked, he reveals how personal truth elevates storytelling. For creatives navigating their own cultural narratives, Viewfinder offers a compelling guide to transforming perceived limitations into distinctive artistic strengths.
At its core, the memoir champions authenticity as a driving force in artistry. Chu illustrates how embracing one’s unique identity, rather than conforming to expectations, enriches creative vision. Tracing his journey from an imaginative child to the director of films like Wicked, he reveals how personal truth elevates storytelling. For creatives navigating their own cultural narratives, Viewfinder offers a compelling guide to transforming perceived limitations into distinctive artistic strengths.
September 13, 2024
This was fine. Mostly well written. But the story blatantly glosses over bad things in Mr Chu's life.
I'm a bit older than our star of the story but I have eaten at his parents restaurant and they are far from a broke family business. The family is a pillar of the community. The kids went to a very expensive, very elite, very prestigious high school. It is that kind of school. Chu's mom once said he was not doing real homework at that school. Anyway, the whole book he acts like he was brought up by people who could barely keep the lights on. At the same time having season tickets to the SF Ballet and Orchestra - the kind of seats that if you were not rich and let your children run amuck you would not be offered those seats next season. So that kind of rich.
Mr Jon M. Chu is the youngest of the family and it shows. He keeps doing all this dumb stuff and getting away with it suffering little consequences. Even after he makes it to Hollywood he continues to get away with crap that would get others unemployed. But from reading the book you would think everyone was against him. The world was out to stop him making movies! His vision!
He is so focused on the "Me, me, me" thing that he turns down a Netflix 3 movie deal. Which really hurts his "people" when Mr Chu decides to take the WB deal with a rather racist (big budget cut!) how dare you talk to Nexflix hit. He was so in his own bubble he white washed In the Heights. But the problem was that he took a stage musical and tried to improve it. The movie version was just not as good as the stage production. Then expecting people to risk COVID to watch his movie and not watch it on MAX is disheartening. There are then a few pages where he sounds exactly like one of those "big shots" he mocks earlier in the book. At this point I'm thinking he really should have taken the Netflix deal as we see what happened at HBO Max / WB soon after.
Just remember this is really a cleaned up story and really reads like an advertisement for his next movie Wicked! Its not a bad read, but I grew up in the same area a few years ahead of him so I see him and his but I'm the baby world view.
I'm a bit older than our star of the story but I have eaten at his parents restaurant and they are far from a broke family business. The family is a pillar of the community. The kids went to a very expensive, very elite, very prestigious high school. It is that kind of school. Chu's mom once said he was not doing real homework at that school. Anyway, the whole book he acts like he was brought up by people who could barely keep the lights on. At the same time having season tickets to the SF Ballet and Orchestra - the kind of seats that if you were not rich and let your children run amuck you would not be offered those seats next season. So that kind of rich.
Mr Jon M. Chu is the youngest of the family and it shows. He keeps doing all this dumb stuff and getting away with it suffering little consequences. Even after he makes it to Hollywood he continues to get away with crap that would get others unemployed. But from reading the book you would think everyone was against him. The world was out to stop him making movies! His vision!
He is so focused on the "Me, me, me" thing that he turns down a Netflix 3 movie deal. Which really hurts his "people" when Mr Chu decides to take the WB deal with a rather racist (big budget cut!) how dare you talk to Nexflix hit. He was so in his own bubble he white washed In the Heights. But the problem was that he took a stage musical and tried to improve it. The movie version was just not as good as the stage production. Then expecting people to risk COVID to watch his movie and not watch it on MAX is disheartening. There are then a few pages where he sounds exactly like one of those "big shots" he mocks earlier in the book. At this point I'm thinking he really should have taken the Netflix deal as we see what happened at HBO Max / WB soon after.
Just remember this is really a cleaned up story and really reads like an advertisement for his next movie Wicked! Its not a bad read, but I grew up in the same area a few years ahead of him so I see him and his but I'm the baby world view.
May 10, 2024
I loved this memoir and felt it was really well done. Jon M. Chu talks about his childhood growing up in Silicon Valley, his lifelong love of movie making, his struggles grappling with his identity and it's impact on the choices he made in his career. I connected deeply with Jon's story because of the parallels with my own life - growing up in the bay area, being distinctly Asian American and reconciling both parts of that identity, being an early adopter of YouTube and finding myself in the Asian American creators that were early utilizers of the platform. However, even without these parallels I think Jon's experience and the insight we get into the behind-the-scenes of some of his widely popular films makes this memoir such an engaging read.
2024
October 6, 2025Memoir March TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Random House
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Random House
Want to read
June 8, 2024have not received (won) my copy yet
September 2, 2024
*thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC in exchange for my review*
I think Jon Chu is a modern hero. I am so moved by his storytelling and his desire to empower others to tell their stories too. His memoir reads like a movie, which is no surprise. I was swept away with the tales of his childhood in Silicon Valley and his uphill climb through film school. But his story only gets more inspiring and challenging as it keeps progressing. (Though he might disagree if he heard me say so. Self-important he is not.)
Upon seeing Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s groundbreaking 2018 film, my life was forever changed. Sitting with my husband in a Wisconsin movie theater where I was likely (and still am typically) the only Asian present, seeing someone that looked like me on the big screen that voiced feelings like my own was an experience that unlocked parts of me that I had previously shut away. And while Crazy Rich Asians is just one chapter in Chu’s life, it’s the one that has impacted mine the most.
Reading about how he wanted his viewers to feel during the film confirmed that—even though most of my friends saw the film as just a charming romcom—there was something deeper and bigger at the film’s core. The reason why I weep every time I watch it. A message about straddling two worlds and two value systems and not having to choose, but making a new way. A way that honors and empowers. A way that puts us in the driver’s seat for whatever happens next.
The whole of Chu’s story, as he presents it, builds up to the idea that our gift is to embrace all the parts of ourselves—especially the parts that we think are too messy or vulnerable or even too pointed to share—and use all of those parts to frame our own unique perspective on life and the world around us.
Chu presents a unique Asian American story, and it inspires me to climb into the driver’s seat and tell my own unique Asian American story. While I’m certainly not on my way to becoming a filmmaker, I have my own voice and way of seeing the world. And I hope that the way I voice my own perspective will someday move someone the way Chu has moved me.
I think Jon Chu is a modern hero. I am so moved by his storytelling and his desire to empower others to tell their stories too. His memoir reads like a movie, which is no surprise. I was swept away with the tales of his childhood in Silicon Valley and his uphill climb through film school. But his story only gets more inspiring and challenging as it keeps progressing. (Though he might disagree if he heard me say so. Self-important he is not.)
Upon seeing Crazy Rich Asians, Chu’s groundbreaking 2018 film, my life was forever changed. Sitting with my husband in a Wisconsin movie theater where I was likely (and still am typically) the only Asian present, seeing someone that looked like me on the big screen that voiced feelings like my own was an experience that unlocked parts of me that I had previously shut away. And while Crazy Rich Asians is just one chapter in Chu’s life, it’s the one that has impacted mine the most.
Reading about how he wanted his viewers to feel during the film confirmed that—even though most of my friends saw the film as just a charming romcom—there was something deeper and bigger at the film’s core. The reason why I weep every time I watch it. A message about straddling two worlds and two value systems and not having to choose, but making a new way. A way that honors and empowers. A way that puts us in the driver’s seat for whatever happens next.
The whole of Chu’s story, as he presents it, builds up to the idea that our gift is to embrace all the parts of ourselves—especially the parts that we think are too messy or vulnerable or even too pointed to share—and use all of those parts to frame our own unique perspective on life and the world around us.
Chu presents a unique Asian American story, and it inspires me to climb into the driver’s seat and tell my own unique Asian American story. While I’m certainly not on my way to becoming a filmmaker, I have my own voice and way of seeing the world. And I hope that the way I voice my own perspective will someday move someone the way Chu has moved me.
September 22, 2024
Jon M. Chu (b. 1979) is a first generation Chinese-American filmmaker best well-known for directing the 2016 film Crazy Rich Asians and the upcoming two-part film series based off the Broadway musical Wicked. In his memoir, cowritten with Jeremy McCarter, he explores his complicated feelings about his Asian-American heritage, reminisces about growing up in Silicon Valley, and traces the ups and downs of his directorial career. The writing style is vivid, creative, and engaging, and though I'd never heard of Chu before picking up this book (I rarely watch movies except on airplanes, where I do recall seeing Crazy Rich Asians), I found this memoir quite interesting. Though no one's self-discovery and self-acceptance journey is ever fully complete, it does sound like he's made strides in reconciling his various identities.
Further reading:
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard (another child actor-turned-director)
My statistics:
Book 218 for 2024
Book 1821 cumulatively
Further reading:
The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard (another child actor-turned-director)
My statistics:
Book 218 for 2024
Book 1821 cumulatively
July 17, 2025
mmm i have complicated thoughts on this one - i really enjoyed reading about is life and his passion for his movies but the first half rubbed me the wrong way with sense of entitlement. he clearly grew up never worrying about about money, went to the opera/arts as a kid (and admits they were rowdy in the theater), was supported and able to go to USC - creates a short film that Speilberg watches and immediately sets up a project and meets everyone in the business - then when his first two movies don't go (something that probably happens to 99% of directors) he gives off a bratty attitude that he should just give up. before even making a movie he was given a pay or play deal and able to buy his own apartment!! that NEVER happens and he never really reflects on how lucky he had it - only that the kept almost quitting but persevered. then when he has his first flop (jem and the holograms) he almost quits again !!! i love his movies and his story but i just wonder if he didnt have the support network he had (like most people starting out in the industry) would he have ended up where he is now?
July 16, 2025
First of all, I really enjoyed Chu’s thoughts and stories about growing up in Los Altos because I am also a Silicon Valley kid. Although I am a few years older, and there are some key differences and what things were like I would say that his views and experiences are very similar to mine. (And we sometimes ate at his family’s restaurant!)
On to reviewing: it was nice to read a memoir that while it was about struggles was not about horrible traumas. I think that Chu does an excellent job explaining how stereotypes and pressure to succeed are away at his self image. In that sense, the book is very universal. But he also does a very good job of showing how he was impacted by the way stereotypes of Asians affected him as well as other people working in the movie industry, college, students, etc. If you are interested in reading us to learn about how the movie industry works, he does a great job of explaining the ups and downs. He goes through and lessons he learned from different projects. My overall impression is that this is a great book for any creative person trying to establish themselves or anyone who enjoys movies and wants to learn a little bit about the behind the scenes of how they get made or sometimes don’t get made.
4.5/5
On to reviewing: it was nice to read a memoir that while it was about struggles was not about horrible traumas. I think that Chu does an excellent job explaining how stereotypes and pressure to succeed are away at his self image. In that sense, the book is very universal. But he also does a very good job of showing how he was impacted by the way stereotypes of Asians affected him as well as other people working in the movie industry, college, students, etc. If you are interested in reading us to learn about how the movie industry works, he does a great job of explaining the ups and downs. He goes through and lessons he learned from different projects. My overall impression is that this is a great book for any creative person trying to establish themselves or anyone who enjoys movies and wants to learn a little bit about the behind the scenes of how they get made or sometimes don’t get made.
4.5/5
November 15, 2024
Wow, I didn't realize how much I needed to read this book till I was actually in the thick of it. I knew I liked his movies that he directed but hearing what it was like being an American Born Chinese from the Bay Area, specifically Silicon Valley, with immigrant parents I related so much to his story because I experienced a lot of the same struggles being from the same background. The struggle to survive mixed in with the desire to blend in was so real. No surprise that the memoir is well written, the audiobook narrated by Jon himself was great. I loved hearing about his rise to fame and the challenges/failures he learned from along the way. The Crazy Rich Asians backstory was so fun. Fantastic read that was well timed before I watch his latest release Wicked.
December 20, 2024
Jon Chu is now on the list of people I would love to grab coffee with. You can tell this man has so many thoughts and passions and just genuinely wants to give people a voice by telling their stories. He seems like such a kind person who just wants to share his experience and give little bits of wisdom from growing up in Silicon Valley, working in Hollywood, and how those two things have influence on one another.
This book also made me so happy that he was chosen to direct wicked. I actually feel giddy for him — Jon Chu deserves to live out all of his dreams. Loved hearing his thoughts on the modern movie landscape. Makes so much sense that he wanted wicked to be an actual set with 3-D buildings and millions of flowers.
Good book!
This book also made me so happy that he was chosen to direct wicked. I actually feel giddy for him — Jon Chu deserves to live out all of his dreams. Loved hearing his thoughts on the modern movie landscape. Makes so much sense that he wanted wicked to be an actual set with 3-D buildings and millions of flowers.
Good book!
September 1, 2025
3.5 stars; I think this is a good memoir for people who are interested in Jon M Chu and his work. I wish he’d waited to write and publish until after directing and releasing Wicked, because that would have been the most engaging part of the story for me personally. I’m sure folks will relate to aspects of his life (e.g. Asian immigrant parents trying to make it in California), I loved the moments where we got to feel his creativity and vision, and I appreciate hearing his very linear trajectory through the industry and the development of his passions starting with editing and creating films as a child. Crazy to hear what he was doing/ who he was working with by his late 20’s! However, the blind idolization of Steve Jobs, Hollywood, etc and lack of depth and context at times made me less interested, and if I was reading this as a physical book I would have skipped over most of the long singular storyboard chapter of his parents’ journey.
January 22, 2025
3.5? this was def a self-serving promo gimmick for wicked but yknow it worked!
don’t love his voice & I think he glossed over some stuff but always interesting to read about a successful person’s journey. It genuinely motivated me to get my ass up and do more readings for school so bonus points for that. his love for Apple is kinda giving “Worldbuilder At The Intersection Of Art And Technology 🤓☝🏼” but understandable based on when/where he grew up lol.
still figuring out how I feel about his #AsianAmerican takes too- it basically was what I expected lol (not super comprehensive or intersectional). as Thomas another reviewer said, he didn’t rlly resolve his internalized racism…
but I deeply appreciate what Jon Chu did for the Step Up franchise and tap dancers all over!!!!! And wicked is truly beautiful…..
don’t love his voice & I think he glossed over some stuff but always interesting to read about a successful person’s journey. It genuinely motivated me to get my ass up and do more readings for school so bonus points for that. his love for Apple is kinda giving “Worldbuilder At The Intersection Of Art And Technology 🤓☝🏼” but understandable based on when/where he grew up lol.
still figuring out how I feel about his #AsianAmerican takes too- it basically was what I expected lol (not super comprehensive or intersectional). as Thomas another reviewer said, he didn’t rlly resolve his internalized racism…
but I deeply appreciate what Jon Chu did for the Step Up franchise and tap dancers all over!!!!! And wicked is truly beautiful…..
February 1, 2025
Jon M Chu is a very good storyteller and I enjoyed this easy to read account of his life in Los Angeles, growing up as an Asian American in a space where he wasn’t sure where he belonged, and then undertaking a journey of following his passion for movie making. Admittedly I’ve only seen Crazy Rich Asians, but even so, his Hollywood stories are accessible and make this book a fine escape into a different world.
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