How to American | Jimmy O. Yang | Talks at Google
Jimmy O. Yang discusses his journey from Hong Kong to LA, finding his passion in stand-up comedy, acting on Silicon Valley, and advocating for Asian representation in media.
00:00:00 Jimmy O. Yang shares his experience moving from Hong Kong to LA at a young age, learning English and adapting to American culture.
Jimmy Oh Yang discusses his experience of moving from Hong Kong to LA and his journey of learning English.
He shares his cultural shock and assimilation experience upon arriving in the US, including his first American restaurant visit.
Jimmy talks about his middle school and high school experiences, including his discovery of diverse cultures and finding a group of friends.
00:09:02 Jimmy O. Yang talks about his journey from college to finding his passion in stand-up comedy, overcoming the fear of disappointing his parents, and the importance of having a mentor.
🎵 Started a rap group called the Yellow Panthers
💰 Sold beats online and made first paycheck from adult entertainment business
🎓 Studied economics in college but didn't want to pursue a job in finance
00:18:06 Jimmy O. Yang discusses his journey from stand-up comedy to acting, including finding mentors, developing unique material, and overcoming challenges. He shares how he transitioned to LA, got an agent, and ultimately landed a role on Silicon Valley.
📚 Finding a mentor and developing unique material based on one's own story is crucial in comedy.
🎭 The transition from stand-up comedy to acting in LA was challenging but eventually led to breakthrough opportunities.
💰 Struggling financially, the journey to success involved low-paying gigs and auditioning for stereotypical roles before landing a significant role on Silicon Valley.
00:27:17 Jimmy O. Yang discusses his immigrant background and how it influenced his character on Silicon Valley. He also talks about his experience on Crazy Rich Asians and gives advice on taking chances.
Jimmy O. Yang shares how his own immigrant story influenced his character in Silicon Valley.
He discusses his favorite moments working with TJ Miller and the challenges of continuing the show without him.
Jimmy O. Yang talks about his experience filming Crazy Rich Asians and the importance of representation in Hollywood.
00:36:23 Jimmy O. Yang discusses his reverse culture shock when returning to Hong Kong after living in LA and his hopes for more representation of Asians in media and entertainment.
🏙️ Returning to Hong Kong after being in LA for a long time was a culture shock, but it still feels like home.
🇺🇸 Becoming an American citizen made me realize that people don't see me as American because of my appearance.
🈲 Stand-up comedy in Hong Kong is growing, but it's challenging to adapt jokes to a different cultural context.
💪 In the face of setbacks and discrimination, I focus on improving myself and creating opportunities.
00:45:26 Jimmy O. Yang talks about his journey in Hollywood, being the best actor, representing Asians, and dealing with expectations. He emphasizes the importance of hard work and enjoying the moment.
🎥 Jimmy O. Yang discusses his journey in the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of being the best actor in the room rather than only focusing on his ethnicity.
🌟 He shares his perspective on success, stating that hard work and talent are key factors in achieving one's goals.
👥 Jimmy talks about his experiences as an immigrant and how he addresses questions about his background.
00:54:34 Jimmy O. Yang shares his experiences as an immigrant in his book, highlighting the importance of cultural identity and representation. He emphasizes the power of storytelling to humanize the immigrant experience and bridge cultural divides.
🗒️ Jimmy O. Yang discusses his experiences as an Asian software engineer in Silicon Valley and the challenges of maintaining cultural identity.
👪 He shares his thoughts on raising multicultural children and the importance of language and cultural traditions.
🌍 Yang emphasizes the need for personal storytelling and humanizing the immigrant experience to bridge the gap in understanding.
Want to deep dive into this video?
