"I represent one considerable spot of yellow that's come to stay on the silver of the screen," declared the legendary Chinese American actress Anna May Wong (1905–1961) early in her career. Intricately constructed and visually rich, Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words chronicles the life of the first Asian American actress to grace Hollywood screens in the early twentieth century. Eight years in the making, this documentary features insightful commentary from prominent Asian American actors, artists, and film scholars and from Wong's acquaintances and studio colleagues. A treasure trove of images from Wong's cinematic career draws viewers into the magic of her screen presence, while actress Doan Ly re-enacts Wong's cabaret performances and makes Wong's words, culled from interviews and letters, literally come alive. Hong allows audiences to imagine the challenges confronting Wong as an unconventional Chinese American woman in the eyes of her community, and as an Asian American actress during a time steeped in racist and sexist attitudes.

• Written by Hong. Photographed by Erin Lin, Liam Dalzell. (57 mins, Color/B&W, Video)

Preceded by short:
Slaying the Dragon Reloaded (Elaine Kim, U.S., 2010). This documentary revisits the pioneering 1986 work on media representation of Asian women, Slaying the Dragon, to determine what has (and has not) changed. (30 mins, Color, Video)