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Jon M. Chu Reflects on Belonging and Creative 'Spark' at Canva Create 2026

He says Crazy Rich Asians pushed him to trust culturally specific stories rooted in family.

Overview

  • Speaking on the Building Worlds: From Script to Spectacle panel at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Chu said he chooses projects based on whether they “spark” him or he feels he must tell the story.
  • He admitted he once felt he did not deserve to be in Hollywood and questioned whether he belonged.
  • He compared the breakthrough of Crazy Rich Asians to “winning the lottery,” which led him to redefine success by focusing on stories only he could tell.
  • He credited his team for believing in him and in Asian diaspora culture, trusting that viewers would connect with family meals, conversations, and humor.
  • He recalled wanting to match cinema’s greats early on while lacking the language and craft, a gap he says he continues to work on as his career evolves.