Conference Presentation, Fireside Chat, Interview
A Conversation With "Crazy Rich Asians" Author Kevin Kwan
Milken InstituteKevin Kwan, Curtis S. Chin, Rich Green, Maria Amor, Ram, Josh Barrow, LC, Helena, JD Gladden, Amanda Bressler, Susan Lee, Jim Quick, David Sangali
- Kevin Kwan was recently named to Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People list, recognized for making "small things matter" in his Crazy Rich Asians trilogy to reveal inner lives and histories rather than just glitz.
- The Crazy Rich Asians book series serves as a narrative framework to explore Asia's rapid economic rise, contrasting "old money" traditions in Singapore with the "ultra-modern life" and "ancient traditions" of emerging wealth.
- Kwan's personal background spans three continents: born and raised in Singapore until age 11, sent to Houston, Texas, for schooling, and currently residing in New York City since age 21.
- The manuscript was written in 2010 while Kwan worked as a design consultant, often drafted in airport lounges during flight delays; it was completed in two months after his agent, Alexander Machin, insisted on a revised ending for an incomplete draft.
- Kwan's agent, Alexander Machin, intervened to save the manuscript from being rejected, requiring Kwan to finish the book in two months while still employed at his day job.
- Time magazine contributor Constance Wu described Kwan as a rare male writer who understands women and noted that his work focuses on making Asian stories "whole" rather than simply "cool."
- The Crazy Rich Asians film, released in August, is the first Hollywood romantic comedy with Asian leads and the first Hollywood studio film in 26 years to feature an all-Asian cast since The Joy Luck Club.
- Film casting included Constance Wu (known for Fresh Off the Boat) and Henry Golding, a former BBC travel host in his first lead role, sparking discussions regarding the definition of "Asian" given Golding's mixed Eurasian heritage.
- Kwan clarified that all elements in his books are 100% true, citing a real-life example of a $250,000 Super Red Arowana fish that underwent plastic surgery to improve its appearance.
- The production team, including director John Chu, utilized a $500,000 Paul Newman Rolex Daytona watch flown in with a bodyguard to ensure authenticity for a specific scene, demonstrating the commitment to detail.
- The film was shot entirely on location in Singapore and Malaysia, utilizing an international crew including makeup artists from Czechoslovakia and a Director of Photography from Croatia.
- Controversy arose in Singapore regarding the absence of "Singlish" (the local creole dialect) in the film trailer, though Kwan noted that Singlish-speaking characters are present in the full two-hour feature.
- The book has been translated into 19 languages, including a Thai edition titled The Edge of Peonies, which references peonies as a symbol for Chinese women.
- The trilogy concludes with Rich People Problems, which expands the geographical scope to include wealthy communities in Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia before returning to Singapore.
- Digital formats now account for approximately 60% of book sales, reflecting a shift toward e-books, with the U.S. remaining the top market and the Philippines identified as a "super fan" market.
- The Philippines market shows high engagement due to cultural similarities with the U.S. and a mix of Western and Asian influences, with the movie featuring celebrity Chris Aquino playing herself.
- Kwan plans to leverage his success to create a TV show with STX Entertainment, aiming to tell East-West stories and foster creativity among the next generation of Asian artists.
- Asian wealth philanthropy is historically rooted in family legacy and secrecy, though figures like Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing are beginning to re-establish a tradition of public philanthropy.
- Kwan noted a cultural distinction in wealth dynamics: while many Southeast Asian families operate on a patriarchal model where men earn and women control the household finances, China's market opening has created more female self-made billionaires.
- The film faced hurdles from producers who suggested casting white actors in Asian roles, but Kwan and his team successfully retained the all-Asian cast by partnering with Color Forest, Ivanhoe Pictures, and Warner Bros.
- Kwan revealed that the book was originally 250 pages longer but was cut for marketability, with some storylines regarding business scams and mistresses saved for potential future adaptations in TV or sequels.
- The Thai translation title The Edge of Peonies was chosen because "Crazy Rich" does not translate well, and the cover art features a peony flower with a hidden silhouette of a woman.
- Kwan addressed the fear of creating negative stereotypes, emphasizing that his characters are multilayered individuals with distinct motivations rather than monolithic symbols of "crazy rich" spending.
- In the Philippines, the character "Chris Aquino" in the film is played by the actual celebrity, a move expected to generate significant viral attention in the region.
- Kwan anticipates the film will act as a "lightning rod" to break the dam of Hollywood exclusion, hoping to spur a pipeline of diverse Asian stories beyond the initial "crazy rich" niche.
- Kwan identified that the primary obstacle for future Asian representation is the "bottom line" of Hollywood, requiring financial success to greenlight subsequent projects and a need to overcome historical guardedness among Asian audiences.
- The film cast included Asian comedians like Jimmy O. Yang, Ronnie Chang, and Awkwafina, aiming to showcase improvisational talent and break the stereotype of Asian men solely as "geeks" or "doctors."
- The Crazy Rich Asians movie was scheduled for release on August 17, with the Milken Institute Asia Summit planned for September in Singapore to discuss the "world in transition."