Michelle Yeoh master class explores impressive career, importance of identity

As award chatter swirls, Michelle Yeoh spent an evening at Dodge College discussing her life and expansive career. Photo courtesy of Alexis Golin

A flood of students could be found lined up on the sidewalk outside Marion Knott Studios Oct. 16, an otherwise quiet Sunday night. They were congregated in groups, some standing and some sitting on the ground. A buzz of excitement filled the air as they waited for the latest master class hosted by Dodge College of Film and Media Arts to begin. 

All was business as usual, except for one peculiarity: the single googly eye adorning students' foreheads. 

Googly eyes adorn students’ foreheads as they gather around Michelle Yeoh, the lead actress of “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” Photo courtesy of Kenia Suarez

A screening of “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” was followed by a Q&A with lead actress Michelle Yeoh, moderated by professor Scott Feinberg, who recorded the interview for The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast “Awards Chatter.” The googly eyes, seen all over the theater, were an homage to the film which places googly eyes on various objects, but most notably on Yeoh’s character during the climax of the film. 

While there were many reasons drawing students to Yeoh’s master class, freshman creative producing major Alex Footen told The Panther he was excited he finally had an actress of the same ethnic background to look up to.

“At Chapman you don't see too many other Malaysian kids,” Footen said. “So when someone asks me, ‘Do you know any other Malaysian kids?’ I can go, ‘Well I know one. This Sunday, Michelle Yeoh.’”

Topics of discussion during the Q&A portion varied from stunt work to the importance of representation. Yeoh noted that discrimination against Asian actors should be a thing of the past. 

“We are here,” Yeoh told Feinberg. “Why are we not up there too?” 

Much of the evening felt like a personal conversation with Yeoh, from her casual dress — platform, pink sneakers, jeans and a blazer — to her warm charisma and tendency to gesture with her hands as she spoke. 

A particular anecdote she told about coming to the U.S. and finding that people were surprised she spoke English well received hearty laughter from the audience. Yeoh recalled saying to someone who commented on her English, “The flight here is 13 to 14 hours, so I learned it on the plane.” 

No one in the audience could deny the impact of Yeoh’s career. She has paved the way for actresses, specifically actresses of color. Her time as a “Bond girl” changed the common damsel in distress narrative, as was noted by “Tomorrow Never Dies” screenwriter Bruce Feirstein, who at one point during the master class stood up in the audience to offer his praise of Yeoh. 

“So much of what made that movie great is the person you’re listening to tonight,” Feirstein said. 

Junior film studies major Gabrielle Charney Di Bernardo said she was excited to hear about the process of filmmaking from Yeoh’s unique perspective as someone who has worked in both American and Hong Kong cinema. 

“I was excited to sit down and listen to someone talk about their craft,” Di Bernardo said. “Especially someone so well regarded and, obviously, so good at what they do.” 

When speaking about “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once,” which warranted a standing ovation from the crowd, Yeoh recognized the importance of some of the film’s themes, like identity and generational trauma.

Yeoh recalled reading the script and insisting that the main character, who was originally named Michelle in her honor, be given a different name. 

“Let her have a voice,” Yeoh said. “She needs the voice.” 

As far as master classes go, Yeoh’s was one that students who attended will likely remember for years to come. The night was a whirlwind of emotions, from the scattered sniffles heard in the Folino Theater during the screening to laughter as Yeoh told entertaining on-set stories. 

Where might audiences see Yeoh next? Rumor has it she might be gracing the Oscar stage soon. For now, though, she said she looks forward to continuing her already impressive career. 

“I am often asked, ‘What is your best movie?’” Yeoh said. “I hope the one I haven’t done yet.”