AGES ANNA MAY WONG: MOVIE STAR AND ICON 13+

Anna May Wong (1905-1961), considered the first Asian American female movie star, revolutionized the film industry. This photograph depicts Wong wearing a costume from The Flame of Love (1930), a tragic story of Chinese dancer Hai Tang (Wong) who sacrifices her own happiness by become a Russian aristocrats’ mistress to save her brother’s life. In 1928 after years of typecasting and prejudice, Wong left America to live and work in the European film industry that was more accepting of her Asian American heritage. It was while she was working on a film in Germany that artist Lotte Jacobi made this portrait. Jacobi, a Jew, had similar experiences facing anti- Semitic prejudice in her native Prussia, and fled to the United States in 1935 to avoid persecution from the rising Nazi party.

Lotte Jacobi (American, born Prussia (now Poland), 1896-1990), Anna May Wong, c. 1928. Gelatin silver print. Gift of Stanton B. and Nancy W. Kaplan, 2019. SN11678.36

ANNA MAY WONG KEY TERMS

Throughout her career, Wong was outspoken against yellow face, or the ANONYMITY common practice in Hollywood of casting white actors in Asian roles OBSCURED saying, “There seems little for me in Hollywood, because rather than real Chinese, producers prefer Hungarians for Chinese roles.” Watch MEMORY

the 11-minute clip, Anna May Wong: The First Asian American Movie PERSONA Star from the PBS series Unladylike2020: The Changemakers to learn TYPE CASTING more about Anna May Wong and the role she played as movie star, celebrity, and fashion icon. YELLOW FACE

HTT | August 2020 IT’S YOUR TURN MATERIALS: SMARTPHONE, COSTUME MATERIALS SILENT FILM STARS

Anna May Wong got her start in Hollywood during the age of silent films. Using stop motion technology or traditional video, we can make short silent films today that speak out against the prejudice that actress Anna May Wong and photographer Lotte Jacobi faced.

DIRECTIONS

1. Write a storyboard for a short silent film. Fold a piece of 1 paper into four segments. In each segment, sketch an idea for a short, 30-second scene. You can use images, color palette inspiration, and key words to illustrate that aspect of the story. Use the story and portrait of Anna May Wong as inspiration for your own original story, making sure to avoid Hollywood pitfalls such as yellow face or stereotyped roles. Consider, what would a world without 2 racial prejudice look like? 2. Decide if you are going to use video or stop motion. If using stop motion, apps like Stop Motion Studio and Life Lapse Stop Motion Maker are good free options. To edit video clips, the apps Splice, or InShot have free options as well.

3. After storyboarding, gather costumes and scenery for your silent film. Use items you have laying around your home in new and interesting ways. Consider how you can manipulate your surroundings on camera rather than building a set.

4. Shoot your silent film, asking family members to help as 3 actors as needed.

5. Use video editing apps or software, or stop motion apps to edit your final version of the silent film. While editing, ask yourself how the story flows. Does it make sense? Does it flow from scene to scene?

6. Share your final video with others. After the short film, discuss the message you were telling through a silent film. 4

Discover more activities at ringling.org