>> Phoebe Coleman: Good evening. Good evening, everyone. My name is Phoebe Coleman. As this year's President of the Library of Congress Asian-American Association, I want to welcome everyone here tonight. Thank you so much for joining us. We're very excited for this program. I also want to thank everyone who's tuning in on our YouTube and Facebook Live stream. Thank you as well. Tonight's program is co-hosted by the Library of Congress and the Library of Congress Asian-American Association. This is one event in a series of programs offered in celebration of Asian-American, Pacific Heritage Month. Before I introduce -- [ Applause ] Before I introduce tonight's speakers, a quick housekeeping note. Please silence your cellphones. We do want to encourage you to post during the discussion on social media, with hashtag changemakers. But please do so with your cellphones on silent and make sure that that screen is turned down as well. This evening, the Library's Chief Communications Officer Roswell Encina will be speaking in conversation with international best selling author Kevin Kwan, whose book trilogy has forced the world to refocus its attention onto the complexities of Asia's elite. Crazy Rich Asians is now a major motion picture, directed by Jon M. Chu. Both the books and the film have made such an international splash that they've garnered a place for Kevin on the 2018 Time 100, an annual list of the most influential people in the world. [ Applause ] Kevin Kwan was born and raised in Singapore, where he attended Anglo-Chinese school in the mornings and spent his afternoons either hiding from his Chinese tutor or riding his bike after the neighborhood dogs. When he was 11, he moved to the United States, where he survived high school by immersing himself in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Joan Didion. Keven has degrees from both the University of Houston and the Parsons School of Design. So I shall stop there. Without further ado, please help me welcome on stage Roswell Encina and Kevin Kwan. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: Well, good evening, everyone. Thank you for coming. So we have our special guest here tonight, Kevin Kwan. You've been having a fabulous several years, I should say. You've been the toast of the literary world, from Anna Wintour to Hollywood. How's it been? >> Kevin Kwan: I'm still in shock, I think. It's pretty -- it's been pretty amazing and I feel really, really grateful that, you know, people showed up tonight. You know? Thank you. Yeah. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: During Phoebe's introduction to you, she mentioned that you were born in Singapore. Then you moved to Houston when you were about 11-years-old, I thought. Correct? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Tell me more about your family, just to give us some background and give us a little genesis, leading up to the book. Just based on the books, you can say that, were you part of Asia's one percent or was your family part of it? Did you experience anything in the book? >> Kevin Kwan: We were comfortable, as we would say. Yeah. No, you know, as growing up as a kid, you don't really have a context of what is really privilege and who's really well off and who's not. And I would say as a child, I did not feel like I came from the one percent. To clarify, I don't come from the one percent. But, you know, I think I grew up in a very old money family. You know? The money was many, many generations old and by this time, dusty and dissipated. And, you know, we lived in my grandparent's house. And by this time, it was very, you know, it was all about thrift. Like I didn't have any toys growing up. I didn't have any clothes. I ran around naked -- no. You know, a lot of, you know, I wore hand-me-downs, because I had two older brothers. I wore their clothes, basically. I played with toys that were like three decades old. But I didn't -- I wasn't conscious of the fact that I was like deprived or anything like that. I had a very happy, idyllic childhood. It's only in contrast to, you know, I would go over to friend's houses, for example, and then I would get very jealous, because I grew up in this big old house with, you know, strange wood floors and old antiques. And my friends had wall-to-wall carpeting. You know, they lived in apartments, with elevators and to me, that was cool. You know. They got to sleep in bunk beds. You know, I got to sleep in this old antique wooden bed. So, as a child, you just want what's different. >> Roswell Encina: But thinking back... >> Kevin Kwan: But thinking back, thinking back was very cool. I wish I'd taken more pictures. >> Roswell Encina: Instagram only. >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. I wish I still had my childhood bed, you know? Stuff like that. But it was only after leaving Singapore and settling in suburban Houston, that I realized, "Oh, wow. I did have a privileged upbringing because, you know, only five percent of the population of the island actually lived in houses." 95 percent had to live in what I thought were cool apartments, you know? So I was very sheltered, in a way. >> Roswell Encina: Let's talk about the books here. And the movie, of course. So most of the books are seen from the eyes of Rachel, an Asian-American woman who grew up here in the States, and was that a conscious decision? I feel like most Asians here in America feel like, "Oh, we're Asian." Until you pretty much go to Asia, go to our native countries, and you feel -- I don't want to say we feel less Asian. But we feel like completely fish out of water. Was that the point that you wanted to show? >> Kevin Kwan: Absolutely. Absolutely. And I specifically wanted to show the experience of an Asian-American experiencing Asia for the first time and seeing a different side of, you know, her cultural heritage. Actually, it wasn't her cultural heritage, because her family came from Mainland China. And she was experiencing this very different, you know, group of overseas Chinese living in Singapore. And so I wanted her to be a complete outsider, not realizing she was an outsider until she stepped into that world, which in many ways, is how I felt after I left Singapore. You know, I really did become an outsider of the country. And I would remember cousins coming to visit from Singapore and things like that. And they'd always go, "Oh, you know, you're just so white. You're a banana." You know, you're so -- you're too Americanized. You don't really get it. And so I really had a kinship with Rachel in that sense. You know, of not really belonging to those people anymore but also not really fitting in in America, because I wasn't American-born Chinese. You know, I was this other. >> Roswell Encina: I could relate a little bit. I was born in the Philippines. Then we moved here, then we moved back there. Anyways, that's another story. But you are -- >> Kevin Kwan: It's probably more interesting. >> Roswell Encina: I don't know about -- we're viewed differently. You do stick out like a sore thumb. But I should say though, after reading these books, I had two feelings. I wanted to call my mother. I'm not sure why, but I don't know. My mother's not like Eleanor. Maybe a little bit, but I was hungry after reading these books. And I feel like you nailed it, from the food to the jewelry to the clothes and to the geography, and to the real estate. How much pressured were you to get this all right and all correct? I should say, you know, Asians tend to be a little critical if you do this a little wrong. >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. It really -- because I was writing this for myself and it was just this passion project, I really didn't feel any pressure at all. And this is me in the complete freak that I am. Do you know what I mean? Like if I thought I was actually writing this for an audience of readers, I really would have censored myself. I would not have put so many brand names in. I would not have spent two pages describing a living room, you know, or like a whole chapter on food and going to a party like. But I just had fun. You know, and I love reading about food. I love reading books that have scenes of parties and food, where they describe the food. And so, I was really truly writing this for myself. And so, if it made you hungry, then I'm so glad. Because I wanted to write an appetizing book. You know. >> Roswell Encina: I say keep on writing about the books and the fashion. I mean, you nailed it, from describing the jewelry, that I'm not really good at. But just describing the clothes and the designers. Did you have to get permission from the designers to mention them and kind of take liberty at [multiple voices]? >> Kevin Kwan: Not at all. It's, you know, it's fiction. You can do whatever you want. >> Roswell Encina: What kind of feedback did you get from the designers? I know Anna Wintour wrote something up in Vogue. So, that is a ginormous deal, I should say. >> Kevin Kwan: I mean, she was, you know, one of the first people that really championed the book, and I'm forever grateful, because she put it on the map. And, you know, serialized it in Vogue. And that was, I think, one of the few things that really helped make it, you know, succeed. But I think, over the years, I met many, many designers who have really been very grateful, because not only is it a look at Crazy Rich Asians, but it gets the fashion world right. And it gets that sort of consumer and that customer and client base right, and they've been happy. You know? Last year, I was able to meet Giambattista Valli, who I featured in a scene in Rich People Problems. You know? And he was very happy about that. So, you know, it's nice to sort of meet these people once in awhile. >> Roswell Encina: Now, one of the questions I was asking my friends, what should I ask you? "Ask him if any of this stuff is true." So there's a lot of over the top stuff, from the opening scene in Crazy Rich Asians of, you know, Eleanore -- Nick's parents, buying the hotel to Colin's wedding and further on in the books, to Nick's proposal to Rachel, to everything else. And the purchase of that $195 million piece of art in China Rich Girlfriend. Are any of this based on truth? Or is -- there's a little sliver of truth in any of these stories? >> Kevin Kwan: I would say it's absolutely based on truth. I mean, most of -- I don't really have an imagination. You know, I just -- I really don't. I mean, I observe and I sort of -- I've always been a sponge. And so all the stories I tell are rooted in an original truth and they're authentic to, you know, a famous scandal or a famous story. You know, so, and I think that's what makes it so fun for a lot of the Asian audiences from the Philippines or from Hong Kong or from Singapore, because they recognize these stories. And I've just re-spun them a little bit, you know, just to make them very fun, basically. >> Roswell Encina: Can you name one, which story's true? I know you told Terry Gross on Fresh Air that the scene, the hotel scene at the very beginning, is based on something real. Can you tell that story? >> Kevin Kwan: Absolutely. Yeah. I mean, the hotel scene that kicks off the whole series, Crazy Rich Asians, you know, Nick Young and his family arrive to London late one night. This was back in the '80's, when he was a little child and they're turned away at the hotel, because their last name, Young, you know, the hotel manager did not realize that they were going to be Chinese. You know. And so, they were turned away. And they ended up buying the hotel. And that's very much inspired by a real story of a Chinese family I know, which had an interesting, ambiguous, you know, last name, as well, that they were going to spend the entire summer in England, and they showed up late one night at a hotel on a rainy night and they were turned away. >> Roswell Encina: Then what happened? >> Kevin Kwan: So they threatened to either buy the hotel or put an ad in every English-speaking newspaper around the world, just recounting their experience. And they got the rooms. Yeah. But it's no, you know, it's no coincidence that at least three of the top hotels in London are owned by Singaporeans. So, yeah. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: It's really funny to find out that it was based on one of those experiences. Another thing what I loved the most about these books, it's like a to-do guide of -- it's like your own personal Professor Higgins of My Fair Lady. It pretty much tells you how to be a posh, rich Asian. There's one line here -- when I read this, I don't have my glasses, so excuse me that I'm squinting. So there's one here. It's -- there's in China Rich Girlfriend, there's a whole part here where -- I think her name's Corinna, is telling Kitty what to wear, what not to wear, what to buy, what not to buy. >> Kevin Kwan: She's the Social Consultant, you know. And these people really do exist in Asia. They, you know, they have these -- >> Roswell Encina: Before I talk about that, yes, let's talk about this, that these people really exist. Like, what do they do? Do they really go out there, "I'm going to turn you into my Eliza Doolittle." Is that what it is? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. You know, I think a lot of, especially new money families, they want to be taken seriously by, you know, the old society and then they want to enter society, especially a lot of the Mainland Chinese families. You know, they're trying to buy respectability. And so, they hire these consultants to really help them in a very tangible way. They get them into the best clubs, you know, they get their children to the best schools. >> Roswell Encina: They get them to the right church. >> Kevin Kwan: Exactly. >> Roswell Encina: So let me read a passage from here. It says pretty much what to discontinue. "Discontinue the use of nail polish in red or any shades of red. Yes, pink is a shade of red. This is non-negotiable. You must remember that we have the Herculean task of removing any connotations of talons, claws or grasping hands from your purse." And there's a couple more here, that "I stopped riding in to your Rolls Royce. Buy a BMW like everyone else." Where did you learn all this stuff? I mean, it's very detailed. This is not all out of your imagination. This has to be based on some real -- >> Kevin Kwan: Like I said, it's all from observation and eavesdropping and overhearing these conversations, you know, of various snobbish aunties, basically going, "Oh, did you see that person? Did you see them at church last Sunday and what she wore?" You know, or, "Did you see this person at this wedding?" And, "She changed four times." And, "She's not even related to the bride." You know, which has showed off like four different Chanel outfits. So, you know, it's a very curious, fascinating world to me. And so, I love to sort of capture it and put it in these books. >> Roswell Encina: One thing you did a great job is there's a lot of serious subject matters in here, but you were able to write about it in a fun way. But the main topic is the differences between class and race. You just mentioned, or between rich China Mainlanders over the rich Singaporeans, over old money versus new money, skin colors. So you were able to confront this issue, that most Asians don't like talking about, honestly, between being elitist and honestly being racist. How were you able to write about it, but still find some humor in it? >> Kevin Kwan: You know, I think snobbery in all its forms has always been fascinating to me. You know, because I don't understand it quite, you know. So when I meet someone that is snobbish, I just want to dissect them. You know. Like what makes them tick? Why do they feel this way? Why is their world view informed by achievement or wealth or lineage? You know, because of, you know, I think we're all the same, basically. You know, so to me it's very comical, almost, when I meet someone that's affected. So I love to make fun of them in my books and it gets you. >> Roswell Encina: But it's so true, I can see what you were talking about in Singapore. It's almost the same thing in the Philippines, like if you're living -- and you mentioned some of the exclusive subdivisions in the Philippines, like Forbes Park and Dasmarinas. If you live there, you really felt like you were something, compared if you were living, let's say, in Pasig City or another small part of metro Manila. But you can tell the tension of people just being a little -- thumbing their nose at these folks. So I think you nailed that perfectly. Were you able to talk to people from different parts of Asia, like how it is in Singapore over how it is in Shanghai over how it is in Hong Kong? >> Kevin Kwan: Oh, yeah, absolutely. And I traveled there too, so I really sort of experienced, you know, front row snobbery. And it's funny, because we [inaudible] one visit to the Philippines, where I was with, you know, a very, very stylish, posh lady and she wanted to get some fruit for us, for dinner. You know, and we passed by one of these street-side stands and she took off all her jewelry, took off her watch and she walked out and was buying some jewelry and there was a six-year-old kid and he was boss man and he would not lower his prices. You know. And she's trying and she's trying but he was like, "Nope. Nope. Nope." You know. That to me, these little moments, it's hilarious. And you see that -- those juxtapositions, you know, are fascinating. >> Roswell Encina: The snobby part is one. The racism is another big thing. I feel like we don't talk about it. But you nailed it well, with Astrid's brother, who married, I believe, a woman from Malaysia who had darker skin. Despite we chuckle about it in the book, this happens a lot. And did you have -- was this based on someone or were you able to see this a lot happening? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. I mean, this was based on someone I actually knew and it's unfortunately an all too common experience, you know, when families have expectations of their children, that they marry the right sort of person, from the right family, and they don't do that. You know, it leads to a lot of unhappiness, unnecessary unhappiness, for a lot of people. So, and, you know, there's all this sort of -- you know, very cross-ethnic racism that really does exist. >> Roswell Encina: It's very troubling. I mean -- and it's sad that many families disown their sons and daughters because of something really not important. Let's light it up a little bit. Another thing what you tackled in the book is the relationships or how it's focused on women. Because most of the books are, you know, focused on Rachel or on Astrid, on Colette, on Kitty, and the relationships among the women, between Eleanor and Rachel, Eleanor and her friends. Was that important to you, to showcase the Asian women in these books? >> Kevin Kwan: I think it was important, also just very natural for me. And it's part of my experience. I think, you know, growing up in a family where the women really ruled. You know, from my grandmother to my mother, these were extremely strong personalities. And I have lots of also very fierce aunties. You know, so growing up and even to this day, you really feel the influence of the women on the families and how they really sort of, you know, create the drama. >> Roswell Encina: I like the interaction between Eleanor and her friends, just between them being extravagant in purchasing jewelry, but particularly cheap in buying, let's say, something off the street or buying like a shirt or something from a cheap store. Was that the -- was that based from your family or any families that you know of? >> Kevin Kwan: I think it's definitely some people I know. Yeah. Yeah. Just the contrast between how rich you are and how extraordinarily cheap you can be is, to me, just so comical. You know? Because they will go out of their way to be uncomfortable or to inconvenience themselves to save an extra, literally, five cents. You know. >> Roswell Encina: Exactly. >> Kevin Kwan: And make other people suffer and it's almost this -- it's almost like a -- it's almost a strange form of snobbery. You know? Of this competition of like how cheap can I be and that reinforces how wealthy I am. You know, like -- yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Speaking of snobbery, some of this reads almost like the Real Housewives of, you know, Singapore or Hong Kong or Shanghai, between -- >> Kevin Kwan: I've never seen those shows. >> Roswell Encina: Well, you wrote the Asian version of that. So between what happens between Colette and Kitty, it is funny, the competition between these rich women. Have you experienced that firsthand? >> Kevin Kwan: Oh, yeah. >> Roswell Encina: Could you give us some stories? >> Kevin Kwan: I mean, I took those stories and I put them in the books. Really. But, yeah, I mean, you know, like I said, it's -- to me, it's just always so fun to see what people see as important in this world and the lengths they'll go to -- really, it's about acceptance. Really. It's, you know, Kitty Pong to me -- she's one of my favorite characters to write about, because I always root for the underdog. You know, and this was a girl that came from absolute nothing. You know. And she just wants to succeed and nothing is going to stop her. And, you know, she'll ingeniously try to just climb her way to the top. >> Roswell Encina: We're not giving away anything, by the way, if you haven't read the other books. I have to be honest. My favorite character is probably -- and I'm embarrassed to even admit this -- is Eddie. >> Kevin Kwan: He's a lot of people's favorite characters. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: I think I just want his clothes more than anything, but -- and I think I know several people almost like him. And I think about it. You don't have to be rich to have Eddie's mindset. His mind is all appearances. And I think, just based on how the world is now, it's a world full of Eddies, because they want to show off what they have on Instagram and everything else. And it seems to be like the perfect kind of platform for Eddies out there. >> Kevin Kwan: It is. And he's really -- he really became one of my favorite characters to write, because every time I would get to a chapter to write about him, I would just laugh myself, you know, silly, as I was typing, remembering something, you know, inspired by the real Eddies that I know. And it's interesting how he's become really a crowd-pleaser. People love to hate him. You know. So it's really fun to see that. >> Roswell Encina: There was an article in the Guardian that pretty much said that Crazy Rich Asians kind of threw away the normal stereotypes that Asians have. Do you agree with that? >> Kevin Kwan: Absolutely. I think we invented new stereotypes, right? >> Roswell Encina: Was that a conscious decision, so people will look at -- forget the old stereotypes and try to project something new? >> Kevin Kwan: Absolutely. Yeah. I just wanted to show, you know, beyond the stereotypes that you do see, I wanted to really show different facets of different types of people that exist in Asia. And I hope you can see that, you know, beyond the snobby Eddies and the Kitties, there are more nuanced characters that are hopefully, you know, much more realistic and have a whole spectrum of emotions and desires. >> Roswell Encina: I do want to ask you something. I won't call them serious questions, but they're -- it's what's happening in the world right now. You know, there's a lot of talk about the trade war or the -- and I'm not pretending that I'm an economist of any sort, or you are either, but just based on from who you've been talking to, how would that affect the one percenters of China? Would they feel it? Or would it be passed on to the average Chinese? How does it work? >> Kevin Kwan: You know, I think the world operates similarly and the one percent never seem to suffer, whether it's in China or America, and everyone else has to carry the burden, you know, especially the not one percents. So I think, you know. >> Roswell Encina: On the same kind of line, you know, these countries don't really have a good track record when it comes to human rights and LGBT rights. How do these one percenters face these -- you know, they clearly have to live there. Or do they? >> Kevin Kwan: But they don't, you know. I think there is a lot of sort of intentional myopia, you know, where people in these circles, you know, they live in gated communities. They don't really see how the other half lives. They get to their airports. They fly to Paris. They fly to New York. They fly to London. They take their children, they educate them in the West. So, you know, I think a lot of times, it's intentional, the oblivion that happens with the one percent. And that's not just in Asia. That's around the world, you know. >> Roswell Encina: It's easier just to move to London [multiple speakers]. >> Kevin Kwan: The rich just insulate, basically. >> Roswell Encina: Let's talk about the movie. So, the book came out, you know, 2013? 2012? >> Kevin Kwan: 2013. >> Roswell Encina: 2013. So, it's been a runaway best seller since then. So you must have been approached by Hollywood several times. How was that process? How hard was it to make this book into a movie that you wanted? >> Kevin Kwan: I wouldn't say it was hard. It was just -- we had to have a lot of patience and resilience. It took five years. You know, from the time I made the deal to adapt the book into a movie. That was 2013, June. And the movie finally came out in August of 2018. And I'm told, by a lot of Hollywood insiders, actually, it was fast. You know. Because the average book-to-movie is about eight to 12 years. So I consider myself lucky, in that sense. But I think we wanted to take our time and really -- because I felt like, if we have this opportunity to tell the story and assemble an all-Asian cast, we have to do it right. We have to really find the best screenwriters to relay down the story. We had to find the best director, to find the best cast. And all that took time. And so I think it really -- everything fell into place the way it did in the most magical way and in it's own time. And I'm very grateful for that. >> Roswell Encina: You mentioned all-Asian cast, which is not -- Hollywood does not have a good track record on this, I should say. The last movie that had an all-Asian cast was The Joy Luck Club, which was 25 years before this one and maybe 32 years -- >> Kevin Kwan: And it was a hit. >> Roswell Encina: And it was a hit. >> Kevin Kwan: And it was a hit. And Hollywood ignored that. >> Roswell Encina: 32 years before The Joy Luck Club, I guess the all other Asian-American cast was -- >> Kevin Kwan: Flower Drum Song. >> Roswell Encina: With your relative. >> Kevin Kwan: With my cousin, Nancy Kwan. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: So, if you -- it went from the '60's to the '90's to 2018. That's not good. >> Kevin Kwan: No. No. >> Roswell Encina: Was that a deal breaker for you, to make sure that the entire cast stayed all-Asian-American? >> Kevin Kwan: I don't even think it was a deal breaker. It wouldn't even have been a consideration. >> Roswell Encina: I heard some stories, though. You said no to Netflix and somebody -- some other -- I guess I won't say -- I'm not sure which studio, that offered to turn Rachel's character to a Caucasian woman. >> Kevin Kwan: That was very early on. So back in 2013, when Hollywood was first sniffing around, you know, a very important production team came to us, you know, with one of the first proposals. Like, "Oh, we're very interested in this story. But Rachel needs to be white." And my agent didn't even tell me about it for awhile, you know. Because she knew -- you don't even get it. And so, we're not even going to have this conversation. But after that, everyone that did want to do it, you know, they wanted to be true to the story. And I think, at that time, they were fascinated by the possibilities of doing an English language movie that would work really well in Asia. That was the one with the draw. They didn't know, either would be well in America. They didn't really care and we were going to make an independent movie. So Hollywood and what Hollywood wanted was irrelevant, at that time. >> Roswell Encina: This was one big headline that says that you and the director said no to Netflix and that was the big deal. What's that story about? >> Kevin Kwan: You know, it's been so blown up and -- I mean, it was a very interesting time, you know. This was after we had really assembled the team, Jon Cho was going to direct it. Michelle Yeoh and Constance Wu were going to star. We had an amazing script and we basically took it out to market. And at that time, many, many movie studios were interested in now taking on the movie, as was Netflix. And Netflix came to us with a very, very compelling offer and, you know, I love Netflix, first of all. >> Roswell Encina: I love Netflix, too. >> Kevin Kwan: I'm the number one [multiple voices] Netflix addict. You know, so, it wasn't about not wanting this to be on Netflix, because I think they do some incredible, very artistic boundary-pushing work. But we had this opportunity now, you know, for the first time. It's the first all-Asian cast in 25 years. So we asked Netflix, like what -- how do we quantify this success? How do we show that this is going to be a success? You know, because that's -- for us, that's important. You know, if we want there to be a future for other movies made by other Asian directors or other Asian writers, like we have to show some sort of financial track record. And they couldn't sufficiently answer that question at that time. You know, things have changed now, you know, since then. But at that time, you know, we really felt we needed to show the box office possibilities and you can only do that in an old-fashioned movie, where by Sunday evening, you know how well it's done. >> Roswell Encina: Was that important for you, that it had to be from a major studio? Because it does make a statement [multiple voices]. >> Kevin Kwan: No. It's not even that it was a major studio. We wanted to be able to show the world that, you know, either we fail and you can see that we failed, or we succeed, but you can see the success, right there, number one. Number two, I felt like because I wanted to be true to my readers, and I know my readers are multi-generational. You know, my books are read by, from teenagers to adults to, you know, older adults. I knew that this could be a community experience. I knew this could be a multi-generational community experience and I wanted that to happen. And that's -- it's just not the same, when you're sitting in your couch, clicking on a box than going to the movies. You know. And allowing our amazing actors to like walk the red carpet and have a premier and really sort of celebrate the victory of getting this movie made. >> Roswell Encina: And being nominated for Oscars and Golden Globes. >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah, exactly. So like we wanted, you know, we had to kind of go old-fashioned, to be able to prove that this can be done, so that other movies after us would have a chance. >> Roswell Encina: Rolling the dice paid off then? Right? >> Kevin Kwan: It ultimately did. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: So a lot of description's been saying like, "Crazy Rich Asians is historic. It's the tipping point." Do you think it is? You're more, I guess, in tune with how Hollywood is thinking now. Do you think this is changing -- is the wave changing? > Kevin Kwan: You know, I think it's a start. I think there is still a very, very, very tall mountain to climb. Because, you know, it's been how many months now? How many more movies have come out? You know, with all-Asian casts? You know. So there's more -- there's stuff in the works but there needs to be much more. And, you know, more people need to keep pushing and the community needs to keeping vocal, to say, you know, we want this. We want to see diverse stories being told. We want to see people of different skin tones represented on the screen and on TV. Because it's still, I think, to me, in my experience -- and I've been working in Hollywood now for the past two years, most of the people in power still do not get it. And I think a lot of them think that Crazy Rich Asians was just a fluke. >> Roswell Encina: The beauty is, I think we're seeing more Asian-Americans in movies. Though -- I can't remember her name. The woman -- the actress who played Astrid -- >> Kevin Kwan: Gemma Chan. >> Roswell Encina: ...was in Captain Marvel. She was playing a character who was not supposed to be Asian-American or Asian, and she was able to take that role. And Henry Golding was in that movie with Anna Kendrick. So I think we're seeing more -- them in more Hollywood-type movies. >> Kevin Kwan: That's two. That's just two. You know. >> Roswell Encina: You're right. >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah, and it's a start, you know. Awkwafina. Like the actors from Crazy Rich Asians have all done extraordinary well and I'm so happy for them. They've all blown up. They've all become superstars. But there needs to be way more. Other actors that weren't in my movie, I want to see them succeed. I want to see them on big movies and in TV shows and on Broadway, you know. >> Roswell Encina: Speaking of future movies, so when are these two books going to be turned into movies? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. So, you know, we are working now on adapting books two and three and the plan is to shoot them together, next year in 2020. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: Do you have a say in the screenplay and make sure, at least, the integrity of the books stays in the movies? >> Kevin Kwan: You know, I have a voice, basically. And, you know, like I said, we've always been a team. And it's a very interesting collaboration. And so, yeah, I think -- I feel like they want to be as true to the books as possible, knowing full well that, you know, a 500 page book is very different from an hour and 45 minute long movie. But I've always been involved. >> Roswell Encina: Before we take questions from the audience, I was scrolling through IMDB earlier and I had no idea you were in the movie. Were you? >> Kevin Kwan: Was I? >> Roswell Encina: You were credited. And I didn't see you. So I just want to [multiple voices]. >> Kevin Kwan: I was there for a millionth of a second. >> Roswell Encina: Where was it? >> Kevin Kwan: Blink and you'll miss it. I'm in the montage, when they start texting and the news goes around the world. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm in that montage. Jon Chu's daughter, you know, infant daughter was in the montage, too. So, you know, it's funny, like how -- we hid a lot of things in there. Yeah. >> Roswell Encina: And one last question from me. So, I read all three books. Will there be a fourth? I'm thinking, now that -- not giving anything away, it was all tied up nicely. There's possible grandchildren on the horizon. Like a sequel of Crazy Rich Grandparents, you know? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. I mean, I would love to revisit this family and these people again, but not right now. You know, at the moment, I'm writing two different TV shows and I have a whole new series of novels planned. That, you know -- [ Applause ] Thank you. There are other families I want you all to meet and read about and fall in love with, you know. >> Roswell Encina: Speaking of which, when could we expect your next book to come out or anything else? >> Kevin Kwan: The next book -- ohh, don't hold me to it. But -- >> Roswell Encina: Is your editor watching? >> Kevin Kwan: She might be. I don't know. Are you? Where are you, Jenny? 2021, 2020 -- I don't know. It depends when I start writing. If I go home and start writing now, you know, possibly. >> Roswell Encina: All right. Let's take some questions from the audience. So we have some staff members that will be going up and down the staircase with a microphone. So just raise your hand and Kevin will call on you. >> Kevin Kwan: There's even more people than I expected. Wow. >> Audience Member: Well, thank you very much for a very nice interview. I'm very curious about the role [inaudible] you created for Rachel Chu. So it's kind of unusual, to frame the lead character in a public movie as a Professor of Economics who specializes in Game Theory. Can you tell us a little about, you know, what made you frame her -- that role, in that way? >> Kevin Kwan: You know, Rachel was inspired by a few different women I know, you know, who are very strong, very smart, very beautiful. So I wanted to do them justice, number one, you know. And I didn't want her to be doing something that was just too typical. You know, like if she was just a lawyer or a doctor. I wanted to give her an interesting career. And I also live right by NYU, like I'm a block away. So, you know, it was very easy to sort of invent her character and visualize her in that world. Yeah. >> Audience Member: Hi, good evening. My name's David Yau. I'm the film -- the [inaudible] Director for the [inaudible] APA Film Festival, which incidentally is coming up May 31 to June 2 on the Naval Memorial. Come check it out. Kevin, about a month and a half ago, I had the pleasure of bringing Adele Lim to Washington, D.C. to give a couple of talks about her experience of working with you on the Crazy Rich Asians -- as the [inaudible] screenwriter. Can you tell me a little bit about who was working procedures, how to translate your book, with so much details, into the film which was not long enough. And a couple of inserts that she put in. How do you strike the balance? What was the process? >> Kevin Kwan: Well, for me, I really knew that I was not the expert to do this. And I was also too close to the material. So I really wanted to really give my book to the smartest kids in the room and the best in the business, to really adapt it. And so, I gave them, really free rein. You know, I said, take the book, find the stories in there you think will craft the movie that you want to make. And, you know, I was consulted along the way. I was always available for questions, so I had lots of, you know, conversations, particularly with Pete Chiarelli, who was, you know, one of the first to really work on the script. And slowly but surely, you know, a story was built. And I'm thrilled with the results. But I think the important thing was for me to step away and not screw with it. [ Silence ] Hi. >> Audience Member: Hi. Have you always wanted to be a writer, and how have your parents slash family responded to your success? >> Kevin Kwan: I really only wanted to start writing when I was in college. I was a Media Studies major, so I was, at that time, much more interested in journalism and working for magazines. And I always thought, in my mind, "Okay. I have a story to tell. I'll maybe tell it when I'm retired." You know, I'll try to write a novel in my 60's or 70's or something like that. And fate intervened and I ended up, you know, doing what I did, at an earlier age. The second part of your question was how has my family reacted? They've been really supportive. I mean, they've been really surprised, because I didn't tell anyone I was writing a book. So I think it was only -- maybe a month before the book was released, that I told my family, "Oh, I'm writing this book. It's called Crazy Rich Asians." And I remember my aunt from Singapore called me up several times, pleading with me to change the name of the book. And, you know, I didn't. >> Roswell Encina: How has the Asian-American community responded to the books, both here and Asia? Actually, Asian-Americans here in the U.S. and Asians in Asia? >> Kevin Kwan: From my experience, it was a very different experience. Because when the book -- when Crazy Rich Asians first came out, it was an instant bestseller in Asia. In Singapore, it was sold out. In Hong Kong, Malaysia, they got it, loved it immediately. I think the Asian-American audience is a little more skeptical. And, you know, and naturally so, because, you know, it's -- we've done such a shitty job for so long, representing Asian-Americans, that I think, naturally, when this book first came out in the U.S., there was a bit of skepticism amongst Asian-Americans, as to, like, "What is this?" You know, and why is it being called Crazy Rich Asians? But slowly, through word of mouth, you know, the popularity grew. And I think they don't really hate me that much anymore. >> Roswell Encina: I don't think they do. >> Audience Member: Hi. My wife and I saw your film. We loved it. It's fantastic. >> Kevin Kwan: Thank you. >> Audience Member: I was wondering, do you ever encounter anyone who's concerned that, particularly in Mainland China, with all the newfound wealth, that philosophy, history, culture, Confucian values might get displaced by hyperconsumerism? >> Kevin Kwan: I do encounter a lot of those people and actually, those are issues that are very much discussed in China Rich Girlfriend. You know, it's really that struggle between tradition and what used to be and this audacious society of new money, you know, where it's all about materialism and spending and showing off. So that really was one of the core issues I tried to look at in that book and have had many conversations with a lot of, you know, Mainland Chinese people who are concerned about the future of their country and the soul of their country. Thank you. Yeah. >> Audience Member: Thank you for speaking to us. So the book has received quite a bit of praise. I'm curious, in terms of the criticism that you've received, what sort of interesting pieces that you've taken away from folks who either don't like the book or just critical of the book in general? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. You know, I've been really, really lucky, because the books, for the most part, have been overwhelmingly liked, by critics and by, you know, the public, as well. The few criticisms I've heard are that it's really boring. You know, once in awhile, I'll get comments, it's boring, there are too many characters, you can't keep track of them, why so many brand names, you know. But those are the things that I think a lot of other people like about my book. So it's, you know, it's sort of hard. But beyond that, I think in Singapore, you know, there is a particular -- there's one faction that really feels like this overemphasizes the Chinese privilege that exists there and doesn't really look at the other minority groups that are in Singapore. And I think that's very valid. But that's not the world I wrote about or know about. So I could only write about the Chinese privilege that's in this book. >> Audience Member: Thank you. Could you shed some light about how was the publishing process? My general idea is that many people write, but it's very difficult to get it published. How was your experience? How did you sort of -- what was your breakthrough? >> Kevin Kwan: Yeah. I was tremendously lucky. So I had worked behind the scenes, you know, as a Creative Consultant. I had a lot of publishing clients. So I sort of knew how the business of publishing worked. And I've also published other books before the Crazy Rich Asian series. I wrote a book about luck. It's a non-fiction book. I've done other books for other authors. This was my first real passion project and, you know, of course, when you write something that's so personal, there's a lot of fear about, you know, who's going to want to read this or care about it? So I showed it to a few key people that I really respected. And the response was overwhelmingly positive. And they sort of -- you know, I had a really good friend. She sort of forced me to find an agent for the book. And I very luckily found an amazing agent. She was a very young, junior agent at the time. But is still my agent, and she really believed in the book. And, you know, really, really found the right publishers, that also believed in it. So, I was lucky from the start, in that so many authors, I think first time novelists -- it's the hardest genre to break into. You know, it's easier to sell a book about shoes or ties, you know, because there's going to be a captive audience of people that want to read about shoes or ties. But to create a whole world and to convince someone to spend money and time to invest in that world, it's always the hardest to break through. I have so many friends that, you know, have tried repeatedly to get their books published with, you know, with no success. But I've been just extraordinarily lucky. So I'm very grateful. >> Audience Member: Hi. >> Kevin Kwan: Hi. >> Audience Member: Hi. My name is Ann House Quinn, Q-U-I-N-N. I think I'm going to change it to Q-W-I-N-N because you are so impressive. But I wanted to tell you, I'm a guest of David Yau and Penny -- where's beautiful Penny from Singapore? Okay. Penny, my dear friend, said, "You're got to read Crazy Rich Asians for your book group." I said, "Penny, I work for NAMI -- the National Alliance on Mental Illness. That is so un-PC." Your book is incredible, but I want to ask you, when are you going to bring out the crazy rich Asians at the elite boarding schools in the United States? My daughter goes to one. So, the schools where JFK attended. They are now heavily populated by Asian students. And it's amazing how they're running the newspaper. They're running the orchestras, the Science Clubs. >> Kevin Kwan: I'm going to cut my hair and go back to school and like be a covert spy. Because that's the only way I'll be able to write about them. >> Audience Member: Or be a mom or dad. Thank you. >> Kevin Kwan: Thank you. Thanks for the idea. >> Roswell Encina: We'll take two more questions. >> Audience Member: Hi. >> Kevin Kwan: Hi. >> Audience Member: I think I need to overcome my introverted self or maybe shy self and -- >> Kevin Kwan: I'm an introvert, too, so. >> Audience Member: ...speak, even though part of me needs to say, just like Rachel Chu, that I am enough and this is going to be interesting enough to everybody. But I just have to say when I read about you and Jon Chu -- I'm going to get emotional. When I read about you crying on the phone, when you made the Netflix decision, it just made me cry, because, I mean, that's -- the whole thing is just making me feel like I'm in a new world. And also just the fact that it's just you never hear about people like just doing things for the right reason and not motivated by money. And I don't know, it just really meant so much to me. And then, also, just hearing you tweet out, you know, looking for the next Asian-American superstars. Like I never thought I would read something like that in my lifetime. You know? And I guess all my life, you know, I've said things like, you know, with God, all things are possible. But part of me is like, "Well, why did I really need to see Crazy Rich Asians," to really -- but I guess that's why, you know, it's important for there to be the first best actor and best actress that were African-American or, you know, the first -- there still isn't the first Asian-American on the cover of Vogue. It's like, these things are important to see, you know. And I just feel like now, you know, it gives me motivation to try, whereas before, no matter how much in any of the things that I'm good at -- like no matter how much positive feedback I got, it's just like, "Well, why is there motivation to work when there's no jobs?" It's like I do it for me, you know. But maybe this is like my motivation to, you know, put myself out there. And it meant a lot, your tweet. And I literally even flew from Los Angeles to be here today, because I didn't hear about your other events in time, and I just thought maybe kind of like Constance Wu wrote the letter to Jon too, like she just wanted to tell him how she felt, like I just wanted to tell you how I felt. >> Kevin Kwan: Thank you. Thank you. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: We'll take one last question. >> Audience Member: Hi. There's another lady up there. I'm going to let her speak. >> Audience Member: Thank you. Hi. I'd like to thank you so much, Mr. Kwan, for describing the [inaudible] Chinese, [inaudible] culture in your books and displaying its beauty in the movie. How is this unique overseas Chinese hybrid culture of East and West influenced your expression as an Asian author? As a proud [inaudible] myself, I'm curious to find out. >> Kevin Kwan: You know, the fact that people have embraced this world, and the fact that I'm hearing comments like this, it just -- it's so inspiring to me, to keep on wanting to do what I do. And to really tell more stories and really tell more diverse stories of different types of Asians from all over the world. So thank you. [ Applause ] >> Roswell Encina: I want to thank everyone who came here tonight. I know many of you were here earlier, during the screening of the movie, so we appreciate you spending the night with us. Also if you don't have a book, we're selling books outside. Kevin will signing books next door, in our Whittall Pavilion. So on behalf of the Library of Congress, thank you and good night. >> Kevin Kwan: Thank you. Thank you. [ Applause ]