DEADLINE: When we spoke on nomination day, you mentioned what this nomination meant to the Asian community.
Can you expand on that?
I also feel like its just amazing seeing the reaction to our film from the Asian community as well.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for SCAD
Its just that the cast members happen to be of Caucasian ethnicity.
DEADLINE: Has this film had the same impact on your own family?
SHI: I like to think that instead of going to therapy, I made this movie.
The characters ofTurning Red, from left, Abby, Miriam, Priya and Meilin.Walt Disney Co./Everett Collection
I definitely think it brought me closer with my parents, especially my mom.
It was so beautiful.
Im so proud of you.
But she kind of kept it at that.
It would be simpler and more teenager-y if her goal was just to get to a boy band concert.
How do we dramatize this goal to make the audience feel that way too?
It was a really fun challenge, and it just felt so unique to our movie.
SHI: No, I should have.
I should have made a PowerPoint.
I should have done all of that.
DEADLINE: Weve talked about you being the inspiration for Mei.
What were the inspirations for her friend group?
SHI: They were all inspired by friends that Ive had growing up.
Miriam is that goofy, rebellious friend who pushes you out of your comfort zone.
I definitely had a friend like that.
I was really intoBuffyfor a while andInterviewWith the Vampire, so I definitely had that phase.
I feel like I dont see that specific girl friendship in movies or TV shows a lot.
DEADLINE: Then you also had Tyler, the bully, who changes throughout the film.
SHI: We redeem him or at least show another side of him.
Tylers character evolved a lot through the production of the movie.
He was her cousin, and his name was Leo.
But then we felt like that was competing with and overshadowing Meis story.
So, we stripped down his character and simplified him a lot more.
And I was like, no, thats awesome.
Boys should be proud, and they should be proud of the music and the musicians that they like.
Its OK, it shouldnt be a secret.
Be out and proud about it.
Mei became closer with her friends, and Tyler found a new friend group.
So hopefully, it encourages that in audiences when they watch the movie too.
DEADLINE: Did you have the idea of transforming into the red panda from the beginning?
SHI: Yeah, because I was really inspired by a lot of things.
So, I thought that would be the perfect metaphor for this girl going through puberty.
That was my initial intention with the idea.
So, I was definitely inspired by that.
DEADLINE: Whats your biggest highlight of working on the film?
SHI: Man, so much.
Thats what Im really the most proud of.
And we had fun doing it, too.
