On Saturday August 3rd, 2024, I saw Jonn Chu on stage in conversation with Awkwafina at the Sydney Goldstein theater in San Francisco. 

I had bought my front row center ticket based primarily on how much I love Awkwafina and her comedy.  I quickly read that Jon Chu was the director of Crazy Rich Asians but really didn't pay much attention to his full resume. 

But I am writing this right now (in part) because of something that Jon Chu said during the conversation on stage.  He was encouraging a member of the audience who had asked a question on how to get through those dark times when you are stuck creatively, and you are a writer or a filmmaker. And his answer was very simple and so true he said “You just have to do it. It's going to be messy. It's not going to be perfect. It's going to take many tries, but you just have to start doing it.  And you have to do it every day.!”  And that really got me to thinking about my hesitations and stops/starts working on this blog.   

Jon Chu was an absolutely engrossing, charming, emphatic, earnest and heartfelt speaker.  Of course I loved “Crazy Rich Asians”, and I am looking forward to “Wicked”, but the depth and the layers of the man who directed these films made me walk away from that evening with so many new feelings about ethnic culture diversity in the Arts and in the world, embracing your passion and being authentic to one's true self. "You are what you do every day" is one of the things that he said, and it rings in my ears.  I'm usually not a fan of a Tony Robbins motivational speaker but I felt like Jon Chu reached a personal chord inside of me that was motivational. 

My ticket came with a signed copy of Jon's book “Viewfinder”, and I had brought two great photos of Awkwafina for her to sign … just in case there would be any possibility.  I was on the fence about pursuing her autograph since her signature is a little more than a scribble. This is not a punch down on Awkwafina; it is just one of my autograph collecting pet peeves.  Watching her in conversation with Jon was very different from watching her on-screen.  Perhaps it was nerves, or maybe she had a little bit of stage fright, but she seemed a bit awkward and uncomfortable and was relying on a sheet of paper with notes to ask Jon questions and many times he rescued her to bring the question to fruition.   

Her discomfort was palpable; I could see and feel it being so close to the stage.  You never know what is going on with somebody personally, and celebrities (just like the rest of us), can have off-nights or be very different in person than they are in their social media or performances.  I decided that it might not be a great time to ask her for an autograph. But I am 100% am still a big fan of Nora Lumm and will continue to light up anytime I see or hear Awkwafina. 

I will be doubly interested in watching “Wicked” when it comes out now that I know more about the Jon Chu’s backstory. And when I came home and read his Wikipedia page, I was like "Of course!" When I saw that he was the director of the safety video that used to play on Virgin/ Alaska Airlines that incorporated singing and dancing of all ethnicities.  As somebody who flies many times a year, I was charmed and always paid full attention watching that video when it came on. Because Jon Chu LOVES dancers, cultural diversity and is a passionate messenger and artist. If you haven't seen this safety video, watch it now ...so good!  The song is poppin’, the dancing is outstanding, and it makes a boring situation into a fun 5 minute musical.  Check it out …. 

Jon Chu was also the director of the 2021 movie “In the Heights” … which reminded me that I have the original Broadway cast soundtrack on CD signed by the main cast, including Lin-Manuel Miranda (who won his first Tony for that show).  A thrift store find for $1.50!