This 1993 movie had its heyday, and many people felt its impact, including director and screenwriterAndrew Ahn.
Min needs a green card, but his boyfriend, Chris, is too much of a commitment-phobe.
As such, he decides to marry his friend Angela.
Image by Photagonist
In return, he would fund her and her girlfriend’s, Lee’s, IVF treatments.
However, things become awkward when Min’s mother throws a lavish wedding banquet for them.
Ahn also speaks about adjusting the characters for the actors and his heart-on-his-sleeve approach to editing.
Image by Photagonist
COLLIDER: How excited are you for this afternoon?
Because this is the culmination of all that work.
ANDREW AHN: I’m ready.
Image via Sundance Institute
Anita Gou, one of our producers, had a first conversation with me here at the festival.
It just feels really special to be premiering the movie here.
A lot of people are familiar with the Ang Lee film, but your story is different.
Image by Jefferson Chacon
AHN: I love the original film.
It really holds a special place in my heart.
I watched it when I was eight years old.
Image by Photagonist
We should see what it’s about.
We rented it, not knowing that it was a queer film.
I really thank the film for who I am today, who I am as an artist.
Image via Sundance
For those reasons, I kind of didn’t want to do the re-imagining.
I was scared about it.
But then I thought, so much has changed for the queer community since 1993.
Image by Photagonist
Today, gay people can get married here in the States.
So I thought about, now that we have the option of that choice, do we want to?
And then just thinking about having children, like building your family, growing your family.
As gay people, we have to be extremely intentional about it.
Any sort of hesitation becomes a giant obstacle.
The film is about four friends, two couples, living together in Seattle.
It’s about home.
One of the things that I found fascinating was you didn’t do any screen tests.
How was it with casting?
When were you confident this is all worked out, everything is good?
AHN: They’re just stars.
Everybody is a star.
There are conversations, of course.
For all the actors here, I’m sure all of you have read many scripts.
It’s so heartwarming.
It’s situationally funny, but sincere.
You don’t have to be funny.
The four characters in the film, the chosen family, is a very moving story.
They fight and they love.
I think, ultimately, one word: love.
My character is sort of an attention-seeking, clueless, bad mother.
Ultimately, she learned a bit from that chosen familywhy the daughter didn’t wantheras family.
But their chosen family taught me something in the end.
It’s a no-brainer.
Also, I did have a green card marriage myself, so it was all close to me.
HAN GI-CHAN: For me, the original film in 1993 was actually before my birth.
I could just see the Min character, which I was auditioning for.
Also, it was a really charming point for me to act in English.
This was my first film acting in English.
So it was a fantastic ride.
I want to be part of that."
My character, Kendall, is Chris’s rambunctious party animal cousin who would absolutely die for him.
I think Kendall really brings it out of him.
That was such a beautiful moment that we had in one of our scenes, as well.
AHN: Boba was so good in the audition that we adjusted the character.
Kendall used to just be Chris’s friend.
Then we realized maybe there’s a stronger bond and more opportunity if Kendall is Bowens cousin.
That was a really great discovery.
LE: It was really cool.
Just straight-up popping freestyle.
He was like, Where’d you learn how to do that?
I was like, YouTube.
AHN: We put it in the movie.
It’s in the movie.
LE: It’s in the movie.
KELLY MARIE TRAN: You’re a star.
It really just moved me in so many ways.
YOUN YUH-JUNG: My story is very negative.
I didn’t even read the script because [Andrew] sent me the script just through his friend.
I was about to say no.
Of course,I said no because I don’t want to be in an independent movie again.
I’m a 78-year-old lady.
Last time, I said, “I’m not going to be struggling with all the young kids.
They have a passion, and I lived too long.
I don’t have passion.”
Getting old is a job for me.
So, I’m not going to read it because reading English is giving me a headache.
I’m not an expert."
So, why don’t I ask my first son?
He’s good at it.
You met him, [Bowen].
BOWEN YANG: Yes, your son-in-law.
YUH-JUNG: Yes, my son-in-law.
He said, No, this script is really good.
It meant a lot to me.
And Bowen Yang is a good actor."
He mentioned you and Lily Gladstone and everybody.
“So I told Andrew, I would do it.
This is my story.
YANG: Oh my god.
Bowen, good luck.
YANG: Thank you, I cant beat that.
It’s an incredible movie that has a million different fulcrums.
Andrew and James balanced so many relationships.
I couldn’t believe that, there were just there was just nothing lacking in it.
I feel like I had to say yes.
I just want to say thank you for making a film like this, which reminds people.
It’s just really important.
AHN: Thank you.
YUH-Jung: By the way, Andrew, you gave me the lesson.
My promise was afterMinari, “I’m not going to do any independent thing in my life.”
So Ill do it one more time.
[Laughs]
Andrew, I’m fascinated by the editing process.
I know you only shot this in 25 days.
What was it like in the editing room?
How did the film change in ways you didn’t expect?
The editing process really is trial and error.
And then knowing when to lean into the emotion.
I felt like we had to do that in the process of making it.
I could not have asked for a better editor.
Geraud was my rock through the process.
He saw me cry way too many times.
The comedy remake centers around a fake marriage and also stars Han Gi-chan and Kelly Marie Tran.
I’m basically out of time, but Bowen, I do want to ask you an individual question.
And the last part, are you inWicked Part 2 [For Good]?
YANG: I’ll answer in reverse order.
I am inWicked Part 2and in a fun capacity.
I think my character gets his just desserts.
And when did we realize?
But then, I think when I brought a Glinda Lego set to my niece.
What does it mean to you to be part of a Best Picture nominee?
YANG: Well, Im no Joan Chenshe’s in a Best Picturewinnerbut what an honor.
I mean, it’s incredible.
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