In "Flavor of the Month," Nathan Xia addresses stereotypical casting.

      Recently, Nathan Xia had the opportunity to audition for a major franchise that was looking for an Asian American actor familiar with martial arts, and he fully committed to the audition process.

      Although he didn’t secure the role, he created a striking, poignant short film reflecting on that experience. Titled “Flavor of the Month,” it’s a perceptive and darkly comedic film featuring a young actor named Harrison Huang (played by Xia) who becomes embroiled in a fiercely competitive quest to become the next prominent Asian American lead.

      This competition is particularly intense due to the lack of Asian American leads in Hollywood, leading Huang into an identity crisis that mirrors one Xia has faced himself.

      As both a musician and filmmaker, Xia is a captivating performer and talented filmmaker with a knack for merging intricate ideas with straightforward narratives. The film has recently been selected by Short of the Week, and you can watch it above or here.

      We first encountered “Flavor of the Month” at the Ouray International Film Festival—one of our 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee—where I had the honor of being on the jury that recognized him as a Filmmaker to Watch. We spoke with him about clichés, becoming an actor from necessity, and how music has influenced his storytelling.

      “Flavor of the Month” writer, director, and star Nathan Xia

      MovieMaker: How did this idea come to be? How much does it reflect your own experiences as an actor auditioning?

      Nathan Xia: A few years ago, I woke up to an audition request for the lead role in a major blockbuster. I grew up watching this franchise, so landing the role would be a dream come true. I gave it my all, submitted my tape, and hoped for good news, joining thousands of other Asian actors.

      I didn’t expect anything to come from it, but weeks later, the producers finally contacted me for a callback, then a chemistry read, and eventually, they said those two words that many actors would do anything to hear: screen test. For an entire week, I was at the studio for rehearsals, martial arts training, and sessions with the director. It was thrilling.

      As the screen test approached, I felt invincible. There was no way I was going to let this slip away. I had to land this role. Deep down, I feared I wouldn’t get another chance like this for some time. Sure, Asian markets might be popular now, but how long would that last before "the powers that be" shifted focus to another minority group? As a filmmaker, I’ve always advocated for Asian American representation, but in that moment, I was focused on my own representation. To hell with everyone else—I was “the best Asian guy.” This role was mine.

      In the end, I didn’t get the part. When I found out, I was crushed… for a day. Then I quickly recognized my own hypocrisy and had to reflect inward. For years, I’ve spoken on panels, participated in Q&As at film festivals, and emphasized the significance of Asian American representation in the film industry. Yet, when faced with a life-altering opportunity, my mindset shifted to, “Forget these guys; I’m the best Asian.” This ultimately prompted the question—what do you do when your values clash with your ambitions?

      This contemplation led me to create “Flavor of the Month,” a dark comedy that delves into the absurdities of representation politics in contemporary Hollywood. Seen through the perspective of a Chinese American actor, Harrison Huang, the film tackles themes of performative activism, virtue signaling, and internalized racial inferiority.

      MovieMaker: While watching the casting process in your film, I wondered: Does Hollywood have an inherent expectation that Asian men have martial arts backgrounds?

      Nathan Xia: Absolutely – I believe every minority group in Hollywood faces certain tropes they are expected to embody, which is why, as a filmmaker, I feel both the opportunity and the responsibility to create characters that challenge outdated archetypes and reveal a deeper humanity within those groups. I draw inspiration from filmmakers like Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, Alexandra Qin, and Pranav Phasin, who effectively advocate for underrepresented groups through their art, creating depth and empathy for their communities.

      MovieMaker: As an actor, writer, and director, what did you aim to do first, and how did that lead to the others?

      Nathan Xia: I began as a filmmaker, writing and directing short films for years, but often faced challenges casting my projects. Since film is such an autobiographical medium, I infused my stories with a hyper-specific Chinese-American perspective. However, the lack of East Asian male actors compelled me to act in my own films early on, somewhat inadvertently launching my acting career. My first acting experience was in a semi-viral short film, “Goodnight America,” featuring Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand, which I directed in the summer following my freshman year of college. Collaborating