It is always an awesome thing to see fellow Asian Australians do well, flourish and succeed. Despite career opportunities in Australia in many industries being limited for Asian Australians, many still push through to create their own career paths and not treading on the career limiting path. The media and entertainment industry is one of those, where substantial roles for Asian Australian actors, performers and artists are extremely dismal. But in the doom and gloom of this situation, there are a number of Asian Australian actors, artists and performers who have done really well. Western Sydney dynamo, MARIA TRAN is one of them.
Tran has created a very interesting niche for herself. Her film making and her acting have revolved around martial arts, action and a little comedy. One may say that martial arts is a “stereotype” attached to Asians, but I would beg to differ. Martial Arts should be something us Asians should be proud of because it represents our culture, traditions and history. If you are able to carry on the craft of martial arts in your film making, you are really carrying on a legacy left by so many legends – the most famous in modern film and television being the late BRUCE LEE.
But back to Tran. Tran has cleverly used her skills and education from being a martial artist and brings them into both Australia and Asian films. She recently featured in an SBS News article titled: ‘It helped me stand taller’: Martial arts took Maria from bullied student to action star, where she talks about how martial arts and the learning of it built her up as a stronger person, not just physically but mentally as she was going through school, and now adulthood making awesome films and television shows.
Here are some things which she mentioned in the article:
“I was able to learn a lot more about myself,”
“Having that bodily control, understanding the extension of your arms and legs and being able to develop that willpower of self-discipline. I feel those are the things that helped me get through school and see things beyond what the issue is.
“It allowed me to stand taller, and it allowed me not be afraid to look people in the eye.”
Tran has had her own television series feature on ABC, called “Maximum Choppage”, which is a comedy, based in Western Sydney and revolves around martial arts. In addition to making her own films, she has featured in Vietnamese produced film “Tacer”, and Network Ten series “Street Smart” among other films and television shows.
For Tran, she told SBS News that she believes martial arts can empower and inspire the younger generation of Asian Australians – building self confidence and passion. In addition to all this awesome stuff, she also has her own all female production company and is on track in developing an all female action film.
We will definitely be interviewing and supporting Tran’s career and projects, because she epitomizes what tenacity, hard work and smarts can get you in Australia as an Asian Australian.
Image via SBS News and Maria Tran Facebook page (public images)
To read the original article, please click on: ‘It helped me stand taller’: Martial arts took Maria from bullied student to action star