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

      Recently, Nathan Xia had the opportunity to audition for a large franchise that was on the lookout for an Asian American actor with martial arts skills, and he fully immersed himself in the experience.

      Although he didn't land the role, he created a powerful and resonant short film from that experience. “Flavor of the Month” is a thought-provoking and darkly humorous film that follows a young actor named Harrison Huang (played by Xia) who finds himself in a fierce competition to become the next leading Asian American star.

      This competition is particularly significant, given the scarcity of Asian American leads in Hollywood, and Huang grapples with an identity crisis that mirrors Xia's own experiences.

      Xia, who is both a musician and filmmaker, is a captivating performer and talented director with a knack for blending intricate ideas with accessible storytelling. The film has recently been chosen by Short of the Week, and you can view it above or here.

      We first experienced “Flavor of the Month” at the Ouray International Film Festival — recognized as one of our 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee — where I had the privilege of being on the jury that named him a Filmmaker to Watch. We discussed tropes, the necessity of becoming an actor, and how music has shaped his storytelling.

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

      MovieMaker: What inspired this idea? How much does it mirror your own audition experiences?

      Nathan Xia: A few years ago, I received an audition request for a lead role in a major blockbuster film. Having grown up watching the franchise, landing the role would have felt like a dream come true. I poured my heart into my audition tape, along with countless other Asian actors who were hoping for good news.

      I didn’t expect anything to come from it, but a few weeks later, the producers contacted me for a callback, followed by a chemistry read, and eventually, I heard the two words every actor craves: screen test. For an entire week, I attended rehearsals, martial arts training, and sessions with the director at the studio. It was exhilarating.

      As the screen test day neared, I felt invincible. I was determined that this role was meant for me. Deep down, I feared there wouldn’t be another chance like this for someone like me anytime soon. While Asian markets might be thriving briefly, how long before “the powers that be” moved on to another minority? As a filmmaker, I’ve always advocated for Asian American representation, but in that moment, my focus turned to my own representation. Forget everyone else—I believed I was “the best Asian guy.” The part was mine.

      Ultimately, I didn’t get the role. When I received the news, I was crushed… for about a day. Then, I had to confront my own hypocrisy. For years, I’ve spoken on panels, participated in Q&As at film festivals, and emphasized the significance of Asian American representation in film. Yet, faced with a transformative opportunity, my mindset had shifted to “Forget them, I’m the best Asian.” This conflict led me to question: what happens when your values conflict with your ambitions?

      This inquiry inspired me to create “Flavor of the Month,” a dark comedy that critiques the absurdities of representation politics in contemporary Hollywood. Centered around a Chinese American actor, Harrison Huang, the film delves into themes of performative activism, virtue signaling, and internalized racial inferiority.

      MovieMaker: In watching how the casting process is depicted in your film, I wondered: Does Hollywood inherently expect Asian men to have a martial arts background?

      Nathan Xia: Absolutely. I think every minority group in Hollywood faces specific tropes they are expected to embody. As a filmmaker, I feel both the opportunity and the duty to create characters that challenge outdated archetypes and reveal a deeper humanity within these groups. I’m inspired by filmmakers like Don Josephus Raphael Eblahan, Alexandra Qin, and Pranav Phasin, who compellingly advocate for underrepresented groups through their art, cultivating depth and empathy for their communities.

      MovieMaker: You work as an actor, writer, and director. What did you aim to pursue first, and how did that lead you into the other roles?

      Nathan Xia: I began as a filmmaker, dedicating years to writing and directing short films, but often faced challenges casting for my projects. Since film is such a personal medium, I naturally infused my stories with a distinctly Chinese-American perspective. However, the lack of East Asian male actors made it necessary for me to perform in my own films, inadvertently launching my acting career. My first acting experience was in the semi-viral short film, “Goodnight America,” featuring Xolo Maridueña and Jacob Bertrand, which I directed in the summer after my freshman year in college. Collaborating with these talented and supportive actors gave me a profound introduction to the craft and ignited my desire to explore it further.

      Soon after,