How does a small wooden sculpture—a gift from Wang Keping, one of China’s most celebrated artists—capture a lifetime of China memories and the origins of one of America’s leading filmmakers? Janet Yang was in Beijing in 1980, and the world of artists and intellectuals was a raucous scene—dance parties at the Summer Palace, artistic experimentation, and the thrill of freedom tinged with a frisson of danger. Janet Yang shares her story—from that cherished gift to old B&W photos of China’s top filmmakers and her life-long romance with China through film.
Janet Yang is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning Hollywood producer who sits on the Board of Governors for the Motion Picture Academy and is Chair of the Membership and Governance Committee. Yang’s extensive film and television credits include “The Joy Luck Club”, “The People vs. Larry Flynt”, “Shanghai Calling”, “High Crimes”, “Zero Effect”, and the recent animated feature “Over the Moon” for Netflix. Yang has been named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Hollywood” by the Hollywood Reporter. Committed to fostering global understanding, Yang has been a long-standing member of the Committee of 100; an advisory board member of Asia Society Southern California where she also chairs its highly regarded U.S-Asia Entertainment Summit; and co-founder of Gold House, the non-profit collective of the most influential Asian cultural leaders.
