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GR: Did anything weird happen to you at Sundance? RF: I had three films up at Sundance this year. One short film, "The Quest for Length," was a penis comedy that I co-wrote, co-produced, and acted in with my friend, Bree Turne (Deuce Bigalow, Sorority Boys, MTV's Undressed) that was directed by my buddy Gene Rhee. It was a huge hit. We got reviewed by Richard Roeper, The New York Post, The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, etc.--which is unheard of for a short. It may have been one of the first films at Sundance where the mainstream was laughing with an Asian guy and not at him. The Quest for Length, mixed with the success of Better Luck Tomorrow, made it very difficult for myself and the rest of the BLT cast to go anywhere without being stopped by moviegoers, asked for dates, etc. I could not get on a bus or walk up a street without being repeatedly pointed out as "the penis guy." The strangest part was being asked for an autograph. It was definitely a first for me, something that I was very flattered by. Why would anyone besides my mother want my signature? |
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GR: What does it feel like to return from a film festival after being treated like a star? RF: Coming back to L.A. after Sundance and other film festivals is exciting and depressing at the same time. The festivals are sort of Fantasyland-ish. However, the reality is how much further we all have to go. Traveling with BLT is good, but it's just one project. There are very few BLTs on the horizon, so it's back to the traditional paradigm of Hollywood--which isn't great for AA actors. GR: Do you ever think about what might happen to your career if the film does really well? What if it doesn't do well? RF: It's really hard to predict. What will happen to my career if BLT does well nationally? I don't know. I think the best thing I can do now is just keep plugging forward, do my best work, and continue to produce films and projects that I believe in. My greatest hope is that BLT will enable more Asian-American directors, writers, etc. to come forth with stories so we can work together to make films that can sustain exciting careers for all of us. If BLT tanks... That's not a scenario I like to think about. From our travels through several festivals, it's apparent that the hopes of many Asian Americans in entertainment ride on our film. Some directors have said to me that if BLT does not make it, they will have no hope for their careers. I realize that BLT is bigger than just the cast and crew of the film. I think it symbolizes the potential that many Asian Americans in entertainment believe can happen. I hope BLT can move all of us forward. |