Exclusive: On April 18th of this year, at a parole board hearing in New Hampshire, convicted murderer James Parker was granted parole for his role in the brutal 2001 stabbing murders of Half and Suzanne Zantop, a pair of married Dartmouth professors. After acquiring rights to Judgment Ridge, a work of nonfiction detailing the chilly story of those murders, producers Randy and Steven Toll have enlisted Matthew Gentile (American Murderer) to direct a feature adaptation from his own script.
Written by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff, Judgment Ridge evokes clear memories of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, as it delves deeply into the inexplicable behavior that led to these ruthless murders. It was at age 16 that Parker conspired with his best friend to commit the murders of the Zantrops. He and co-conspirator Robert Tulloch came to commit the crime after plotting to put together the $10,000 they needed to move to...
Written by Dick Lehr and Mitchell Zuckoff, Judgment Ridge evokes clear memories of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, as it delves deeply into the inexplicable behavior that led to these ruthless murders. It was at age 16 that Parker conspired with his best friend to commit the murders of the Zantrops. He and co-conspirator Robert Tulloch came to commit the crime after plotting to put together the $10,000 they needed to move to...
- 5/9/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Blue Bayou filmmaker Justin Chon has signed with WME and Blue Marble Management for representation.
Chon recently directed and executive produced the new Apple TV+ series Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa and produced by Chernin and Fifth Season. The series will premiere in 2024 on Apple TV+.
He also wrote, directed, and starred in the 2021 film Blue Bayou, which sold competitively to Focus Features and premiered at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard selection. In the film, Justin stars opposite Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. His fourth feature film, Jamojaya, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Sundance in 2023. Ms. Purple, which he wrote, directed and produced, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. His feature, Gook, premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Next Audience Award.
Chon also executive produced and directed episodes of Apple TV+’s Peabody Award winning Season 1 of Pachinko.
Chon began...
Chon recently directed and executive produced the new Apple TV+ series Chief of War, starring Jason Momoa and produced by Chernin and Fifth Season. The series will premiere in 2024 on Apple TV+.
He also wrote, directed, and starred in the 2021 film Blue Bayou, which sold competitively to Focus Features and premiered at Cannes as part of the Un Certain Regard selection. In the film, Justin stars opposite Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. His fourth feature film, Jamojaya, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Sundance in 2023. Ms. Purple, which he wrote, directed and produced, premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. His feature, Gook, premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Next Audience Award.
Chon also executive produced and directed episodes of Apple TV+’s Peabody Award winning Season 1 of Pachinko.
Chon began...
- 10/19/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Actors and filmmakers Steven Yeun, John Cho, Justin Chon and Lee Isaac Chung shared their thoughts on the appeal of Korean Diaspora cinema – as well as how they see the current wave of content coming out of Korea – in a philosophical but relaxed press conference at Busan International Film Festival.
Lee, who directed Oscar-winning Korean immigrant story Minari, said he was amazed by the reaction to the film whenever it was screened as “people from all walks of life would want to talk about their own experiences, people who’d never emigrated, but they’d moved to some place new and found it stressful. I wonder if the immigrant story just speaks to many experiences.”
Chon, an actor-director whose Jamojaya is screening at the festival, said: “It’s just an interesting dramatic situation – being in transition and also an underdog story. It was right there for the taking, to tell immigrant stories,...
Lee, who directed Oscar-winning Korean immigrant story Minari, said he was amazed by the reaction to the film whenever it was screened as “people from all walks of life would want to talk about their own experiences, people who’d never emigrated, but they’d moved to some place new and found it stressful. I wonder if the immigrant story just speaks to many experiences.”
Chon, an actor-director whose Jamojaya is screening at the festival, said: “It’s just an interesting dramatic situation – being in transition and also an underdog story. It was right there for the taking, to tell immigrant stories,...
- 10/6/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
In addition to her duties serving on the jury of Busan’s New Currents competition, U.S.-based producer Christina Oh will be meeting a group of Korean filmmakers at the festival to talk about upcoming film projects and attempt to build more bridges between the film industries of Korea and the U.S.
Speaking at the Busan New Currents jury press conference, Oh said she feels that opportunities are growing for filmmakers from Korea and other diaspora communities to make films in North America.
“With the success of films like Parasite, Minari and Past Lives there’s an interesting trend towards being more inclusive of films from, not just Korea, but other countries,” said Oh, a Korean-American producer who has credits including Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari and Bong Joon Ho’s Okja.
While Minari was successful at the U.S. box office and won a best supporting actress Oscar for Youn Yuh-jung,...
Speaking at the Busan New Currents jury press conference, Oh said she feels that opportunities are growing for filmmakers from Korea and other diaspora communities to make films in North America.
“With the success of films like Parasite, Minari and Past Lives there’s an interesting trend towards being more inclusive of films from, not just Korea, but other countries,” said Oh, a Korean-American producer who has credits including Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari and Bong Joon Ho’s Okja.
While Minari was successful at the U.S. box office and won a best supporting actress Oscar for Youn Yuh-jung,...
- 10/5/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s no exaggeration to say that Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (Biff) has been through a fair amount of drama this year.
The turmoil started in May when Biff chairman Lee Yong-kwan appointed a close associate, Cho Jongkook, as managing director alongside artistic director Huh Moonyung, a decision that proved highly unpopular with some sectors of the local Korean film industry.
Huh resigned, and in an apparently unrelated development, was accused of sexual harassment by a festival employee around the same time. Lee also resigned, Cho was dismissed by the Biff board, and Oh Seok-geun, director of Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm), who had supported Lee’s decision to hire Cho, also stepped down. By early July, four of the festival’s top management were out of the door.
Fortunately, the festival has a strong layer of middle management with many years experience. When the top brass departed,...
The turmoil started in May when Biff chairman Lee Yong-kwan appointed a close associate, Cho Jongkook, as managing director alongside artistic director Huh Moonyung, a decision that proved highly unpopular with some sectors of the local Korean film industry.
Huh resigned, and in an apparently unrelated development, was accused of sexual harassment by a festival employee around the same time. Lee also resigned, Cho was dismissed by the Biff board, and Oh Seok-geun, director of Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm), who had supported Lee’s decision to hire Cho, also stepped down. By early July, four of the festival’s top management were out of the door.
Fortunately, the festival has a strong layer of middle management with many years experience. When the top brass departed,...
- 10/3/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Steven Yeun has bucked stereotypes and carved a new niche as sexy Asian leading man with his roles in “Burning” and “Beef.” Justin Chon transitioned from a supporting role in “Twilight” to directing “Gook,” “Jamojaya” and half of Apple TV+’s “Pachinko.” And Busan-born Daniel Dae Kim has expanded from “Lost” and “Hawaii” to becoming one of Hollywood’s leading producers.
The stateside successes of Korean-born and Korean American talent are growing and are worth celebrating. But the Busan International Film Festival’s planned party is being dialed down a notch under the impact of the twin writers’ and SAG Actors strikes in the U.S.
Busan’s ‘Special Program in Focus: Korean Diasporic Cinema’ will go ahead with a screening schedule including six films, public talk sessions that include Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Isaac Chung, director of Oscar-winning film “Minari,” and John Cho, the Seoul-born “Star Trek” and “Searching” star.
The stateside successes of Korean-born and Korean American talent are growing and are worth celebrating. But the Busan International Film Festival’s planned party is being dialed down a notch under the impact of the twin writers’ and SAG Actors strikes in the U.S.
Busan’s ‘Special Program in Focus: Korean Diasporic Cinema’ will go ahead with a screening schedule including six films, public talk sessions that include Oscar-winning actor Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Isaac Chung, director of Oscar-winning film “Minari,” and John Cho, the Seoul-born “Star Trek” and “Searching” star.
- 9/20/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The festival will open with ‘Because I Hate Korea’ and close with ‘The Movie Emperor’.
The Busan International Film Festival has revealed the full line-up for its 2023 edition and announced that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.
The festival in South Korea will open with the world premiere of Jang Kun-jae’s Because I Hate Korea and close with Ning Hao’s Chinese film industry satire The Movie Emperor, starring Andy Lau, following its debut at Toronto.
At an online press conference today, organisers also revealed that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat...
The Busan International Film Festival has revealed the full line-up for its 2023 edition and announced that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat will receive the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award.
The festival in South Korea will open with the world premiere of Jang Kun-jae’s Because I Hate Korea and close with Ning Hao’s Chinese film industry satire The Movie Emperor, starring Andy Lau, following its debut at Toronto.
At an online press conference today, organisers also revealed that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat...
- 9/5/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Busan International Film Festival has unveiled its full line-up, including opening and closing films, and announced that Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat has been named as Asian Filmmaker of the Year.
Chow will be feted through the screening of two of his most iconic films – Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow – as well as recent release Once More Chance, directed by Anthony Pun.
In addition to Chow, international guests expected at the festival include Luc Besson, Japanese filmmakers Hirokazu Kore-eda and Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Korean-American filmmakers Lee Isaac Chung and Justin Chon, and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing.
The festival will open with the world premiere of Jang Kun-jae’s Because I Hate Korea, adapted from the popular novel by Chang Kang-myoung, and close with Chinese filmmaker Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, starring Andy Lau, which is receiving its world premiere in Toronto.
Chow will be feted through the screening of two of his most iconic films – Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and John Woo’s A Better Tomorrow – as well as recent release Once More Chance, directed by Anthony Pun.
In addition to Chow, international guests expected at the festival include Luc Besson, Japanese filmmakers Hirokazu Kore-eda and Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Korean-American filmmakers Lee Isaac Chung and Justin Chon, and Chinese actress Fan Bingbing.
The festival will open with the world premiere of Jang Kun-jae’s Because I Hate Korea, adapted from the popular novel by Chang Kang-myoung, and close with Chinese filmmaker Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, starring Andy Lau, which is receiving its world premiere in Toronto.
- 9/5/2023
- by Liz Shackleton
- Deadline Film + TV
Busan Funding Revealed
The Busan festival’s Asian Cinema Fund has announced 14 film projects to which it will give financial support. Three projects at script stage, black comedy “Chronicles of a Confession,” by Prateek Vats (India), “To Kill a Mongolian Horse” by China’s Jiang Xioaxuan and Suraj Paudel “Where the Rivers Run South” (Nepal) each receive a KRW10 million cash grant and will be invited to the 2023 edition of the festival’s Asian Project Market.
Four projects receive post-production funding and are expected to make their world premieres at Busan this year. They are “Concerning My Daughter,” by Lee Mirang, and “Lay Off” by Park Hongjun, both from Korea. They are joined by “Solids by the Seashore,” from Thailand’s Patiparn Boontarig and “The Spark,” by Indian veteran Rajesh S. Jala.
Seven feature documentary projects each receive up to KRW20 million from the Asian Network of Documentary Fund. The...
The Busan festival’s Asian Cinema Fund has announced 14 film projects to which it will give financial support. Three projects at script stage, black comedy “Chronicles of a Confession,” by Prateek Vats (India), “To Kill a Mongolian Horse” by China’s Jiang Xioaxuan and Suraj Paudel “Where the Rivers Run South” (Nepal) each receive a KRW10 million cash grant and will be invited to the 2023 edition of the festival’s Asian Project Market.
Four projects receive post-production funding and are expected to make their world premieres at Busan this year. They are “Concerning My Daughter,” by Lee Mirang, and “Lay Off” by Park Hongjun, both from Korea. They are joined by “Solids by the Seashore,” from Thailand’s Patiparn Boontarig and “The Spark,” by Indian veteran Rajesh S. Jala.
Seven feature documentary projects each receive up to KRW20 million from the Asian Network of Documentary Fund. The...
- 7/11/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Chinese film executive Han Sanping, who for a generation served as the boss of China’s powerful, state-backed studio China Film Group, will be the head of the competition jury for the next edition of the Asia World Film Festival. An annual showcase of Asian cinema held annually in Los Angeles, the festival is dedicated to driving greater recognition of Asian creative talent and foreign, independent filmmaking. Han served as head of China Film Group until 2014 and was involved in some of China’s biggest films during the decade prior to his resignation. In recent years, he has acted more as a behind-the-scenes cross-border producer, with recent credits including Midway (2019) and Greyhound (2020).
LA-based filmmaker incubator Stars Collective, launched in 2020 by the China-backed but Beverly Hills-based movie financier Starlight Media, has also joined the Asian World Film Festival as an official partner. In a new agreement spanning the next three years,...
LA-based filmmaker incubator Stars Collective, launched in 2020 by the China-backed but Beverly Hills-based movie financier Starlight Media, has also joined the Asian World Film Festival as an official partner. In a new agreement spanning the next three years,...
- 5/31/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Having premiered in Sundance, “Jamojaya” focuses on a topic that has been repeatedly dealt with both in music and sports films, regarding the corruption of the industries and how they can swallow talented youths whole when left unprotected, and at the same time, how the people around the talents, as in the case of their family members, occasionally can hamper their future with their meddling. Justin Chon implements these topics as his base, adding though, an Indonesian flavor through the roots of the two protagonists, while commenting on the generational and cultural gap between a father and a son who suffer from the same trauma, but in rather different ways.
“Jamojaya” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
James is an aspiring Indonesian rapper, who had some minor success in his country and is now at a resort in Hawai'i to produce his first album for a major US record label.
“Jamojaya” is screening at San Diego Asian Film Festival Spring Showcase
James is an aspiring Indonesian rapper, who had some minor success in his country and is now at a resort in Hawai'i to produce his first album for a major US record label.
- 4/22/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Rich Brian is an Indonesian rapper and actor. He is best known for his songs “Dat $tick” and “History” and his role in the film Jamojaya.
Rich Brian Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Rich Brian was born on September 3, 1999 (Rich Brian: Age 23) in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was the youngest of five and spent his childhood being homeschooled and working at his parents’ cafe.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Brian discussed how he got started as a rapper. “I started to listen to hip-hop music when I was 12 and I was still in Indonesia and learning English,” Brian revealed. “Me learning rap music helped me a lot with pronunciation because it forced me to talk fast all the time. By 15 I was like, ‘let me try to make a rap song because it seems fun.’ And I remember it being really hard to rhyme one word. And then when...
Rich Brian Biography: Age, Early Life, Family, Education
Rich Brian was born on September 3, 1999 (Rich Brian: Age 23) in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was the youngest of five and spent his childhood being homeschooled and working at his parents’ cafe.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Brian discussed how he got started as a rapper. “I started to listen to hip-hop music when I was 12 and I was still in Indonesia and learning English,” Brian revealed. “Me learning rap music helped me a lot with pronunciation because it forced me to talk fast all the time. By 15 I was like, ‘let me try to make a rap song because it seems fun.’ And I remember it being really hard to rhyme one word. And then when...
- 4/9/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
In the film Jamojaya, we follow Indonesian rapper, James (Rich Brian) as he tries to expand his career in the U.S. while not damaging the relationship with his father and former manager (Yayu Unru). In the film, Darren Darnborough plays James’ album photographer.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview at the Sundance premiere, Darnborough revealed his favorite moments when working with Brian.
Watch Rich Brian’s uINTERVIEW!
“So we shot in Hawaii right and the most grand moment was actually – Hawaii’s very small, it’s still a million people but when you live there, I lived there for a year, and when you live there you get to know people in the cultures,” he began. “And the most brilliant moment was when we just randomly ran into him [Brian]. Me and my friend had decided to go up north to a food truck that we wanted to see, a shrimp food truck,...
In an exclusive interview with uInterview at the Sundance premiere, Darnborough revealed his favorite moments when working with Brian.
Watch Rich Brian’s uINTERVIEW!
“So we shot in Hawaii right and the most grand moment was actually – Hawaii’s very small, it’s still a million people but when you live there, I lived there for a year, and when you live there you get to know people in the cultures,” he began. “And the most brilliant moment was when we just randomly ran into him [Brian]. Me and my friend had decided to go up north to a food truck that we wanted to see, a shrimp food truck,...
- 2/28/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
At the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, Kyle Mooney spoke with uInterview in an exclusive interview for his part in Jamojaya.
Mooney gained fame on SNL during the Weekend Update as Baby Yoda from the Mandalorian.
When asked about the possibility of a Baby Yoda movie, Mooney said, “If you’ve got the cash, we’ll make it happen. If you know George Lucas, or maybe the folks at Disney.”
The post Video Exclusive: ‘SNL’ Alum Kyle Mooney On Chances Of Baby Yoda Movie appeared first on uInterview.
Mooney gained fame on SNL during the Weekend Update as Baby Yoda from the Mandalorian.
When asked about the possibility of a Baby Yoda movie, Mooney said, “If you’ve got the cash, we’ll make it happen. If you know George Lucas, or maybe the folks at Disney.”
The post Video Exclusive: ‘SNL’ Alum Kyle Mooney On Chances Of Baby Yoda Movie appeared first on uInterview.
- 2/25/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Rich Brian stars in the film Jamojaya about an Indonesian rapper, James, trying to expand his career in the U.S. while trying to not damage the relationship with his father and former manager (Yayu Unru).
His new manager, played by Kate Lyn Sheil, tries to wrangle the business from James’ father, which proves to be increasingly difficult. And, as Kyle Mooney said, “I think I play someone in a recording studio.”
In an exclusive interview with uInterview at the Sundance premiere in Park City, Utah, Mooney and Sheil talked about how beautiful it was shooting in Hawaii.
“But right now it’s all about today and being here with you,” Mooney chimed into his wife.
The two also revealed what it was like working with Rich Brian.
“I mean, he’s amazing, he’s incredible,” Mooney started.
“Everyone loves him, he’s the best. It was exciting to watch him work,...
His new manager, played by Kate Lyn Sheil, tries to wrangle the business from James’ father, which proves to be increasingly difficult. And, as Kyle Mooney said, “I think I play someone in a recording studio.”
In an exclusive interview with uInterview at the Sundance premiere in Park City, Utah, Mooney and Sheil talked about how beautiful it was shooting in Hawaii.
“But right now it’s all about today and being here with you,” Mooney chimed into his wife.
The two also revealed what it was like working with Rich Brian.
“I mean, he’s amazing, he’s incredible,” Mooney started.
“Everyone loves him, he’s the best. It was exciting to watch him work,...
- 2/15/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
In the film Jamojaya we follow Indonesian rapper, James (Rich Brian), as he tries to expand his career in the U.S. without damaging the relationship with his father and former manager (Yayu Unru).
Henry Cusick plays Micheal, James’ new producer who is trying to get universal rights for all of James’ songs.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Cusick revealed what it was like working with Rich Brian.
“I didn’t know Brian beforehand so you know he was to me he was always James,” he said. “It was always James, you know, I have no differentiation of who he is. I had never heard of him or met him so it was all new to me.”
The post Video Exclusive: ‘Lost’ Star Henry Cusick On ‘Jamojaya’ At Sundance Premiere appeared first on uInterview.
Henry Cusick plays Micheal, James’ new producer who is trying to get universal rights for all of James’ songs.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, Cusick revealed what it was like working with Rich Brian.
“I didn’t know Brian beforehand so you know he was to me he was always James,” he said. “It was always James, you know, I have no differentiation of who he is. I had never heard of him or met him so it was all new to me.”
The post Video Exclusive: ‘Lost’ Star Henry Cusick On ‘Jamojaya’ At Sundance Premiere appeared first on uInterview.
- 2/13/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
In the film Jamojaya, we follow Indonesian rapper, James (Rich Brian) as he tries to expand his career in the U.S. while not damaging the relationship with his father and former manager (Yayu Unru).
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, director Justin Chon discussed why he wanted to make the film.
“He’s [Rich Brian] a dope rapper, and I’m friends with his manager, I’ve known his manager since we were 18 and we talked about you if there was a possibility to do a film so we built it over five years,” he said. “We started talking five years ago and then slowly built it. I got to know him, asked him questions here and there. I landed on a father-son story, because you know he has a very close relationship with his father, so I thought that be a good place to start.”
Chon also revealed his favorite moment when working with Brian.
In an exclusive interview with uInterview, director Justin Chon discussed why he wanted to make the film.
“He’s [Rich Brian] a dope rapper, and I’m friends with his manager, I’ve known his manager since we were 18 and we talked about you if there was a possibility to do a film so we built it over five years,” he said. “We started talking five years ago and then slowly built it. I got to know him, asked him questions here and there. I landed on a father-son story, because you know he has a very close relationship with his father, so I thought that be a good place to start.”
Chon also revealed his favorite moment when working with Brian.
- 2/10/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Jamojaya begins with a bang. In an interview, up-and-coming rapper James (Brian “Rich Brian” Imanuel) fires his father (Yayu A.W. Unru) as his manager. The story then shifts to Hawaii as the aspiring musician attempts recording an album with his new label. The father just hopes to stick around, believing his son needs him, that he’s currently indispensable. The first act of Justin Chon’s drama focuses on this relationship, and with two committed performers the film (literally) sings.
As Jamojaya progresses, though, messaging gets lost. The luster of the photography, the weight of images, loses power. It starts feeling like an empty exercise: a story with no sticking power, a waste of talented dual leads. The glitz and glamor of this life and this film wear off, leaving behind a sour taste.
None of this is a knock on the film’s cinematography, which amazes in nearly every scene.
As Jamojaya progresses, though, messaging gets lost. The luster of the photography, the weight of images, loses power. It starts feeling like an empty exercise: a story with no sticking power, a waste of talented dual leads. The glitz and glamor of this life and this film wear off, leaving behind a sour taste.
None of this is a knock on the film’s cinematography, which amazes in nearly every scene.
- 2/1/2023
- by Michael Frank
- The Film Stage
Rich Brian stars in the film Jamojaya about an Indonesian rapper, James, trying to expand his career in the U.S. while trying to not damage the relationship with his father and former manager (Yayu Unru).
James is forced to deal with more pressure and demands from the industry and his father’s unrelenting control for fear of losing his son.
At the film’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Rich Brian spoke with uInterview founder Erik Meers about his time shooting the film.
When talking about the best moments from the film, Brian said, “What I can never forget is how much time I spent with Yayu (Unru) the actor that played my dad and also Ryan, the producer from Indonesia that was helping us with a lot of stuff. It was like me, Yayu, and Ryan were the only Indonesian kids in Hawaii at the time. Getting to...
James is forced to deal with more pressure and demands from the industry and his father’s unrelenting control for fear of losing his son.
At the film’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Rich Brian spoke with uInterview founder Erik Meers about his time shooting the film.
When talking about the best moments from the film, Brian said, “What I can never forget is how much time I spent with Yayu (Unru) the actor that played my dad and also Ryan, the producer from Indonesia that was helping us with a lot of stuff. It was like me, Yayu, and Ryan were the only Indonesian kids in Hawaii at the time. Getting to...
- 1/29/2023
- by Hailey Schipper
- Uinterview
Exclusive: The Sundance Institute and Peter Luo’s Stars Collective (Crazy Rich Asians, Midway, Marshall, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark) have partnered on the new Imagination Award that grants 25,000 each to three metaverse-based projects that show innovation “in a rapidly evolving mediascape.”
Candidates were submitted to the Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier Program with winners were selected by fest programmers and reps of Stars Collective, a talent incubator.
The award extends a Sundance-Stars Collective partnership from 2020 that launched the Granting Fund to support diverse filmmakers from historically marginalized communities. The cash has provided project advancement and completion support to over 30 films so far, including works by Jamila Wignot (Ailey), Alison O’Daniel (Tuba Thieves), Nikyatu Jusu (Nanny) and Isabel Castro (Mija). Nine have premiered at Sundance.
Inaugural Imagination Award winners:
40 Acres: Lead Artist, Tamara Shogaolu. A multi-platform exploration of Black American farmers and herbalists and their changing relationship to the land.
Candidates were submitted to the Sundance Film Festival’s New Frontier Program with winners were selected by fest programmers and reps of Stars Collective, a talent incubator.
The award extends a Sundance-Stars Collective partnership from 2020 that launched the Granting Fund to support diverse filmmakers from historically marginalized communities. The cash has provided project advancement and completion support to over 30 films so far, including works by Jamila Wignot (Ailey), Alison O’Daniel (Tuba Thieves), Nikyatu Jusu (Nanny) and Isabel Castro (Mija). Nine have premiered at Sundance.
Inaugural Imagination Award winners:
40 Acres: Lead Artist, Tamara Shogaolu. A multi-platform exploration of Black American farmers and herbalists and their changing relationship to the land.
- 1/27/2023
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
Writer-director Justin Chon returns to Sundance with Jamojaya, a film about a father-son relationship that’s made fraught by recent losses and financial difficulties. James (Brian Imanuel) is an up-and-coming Indonesian rapper who’s visiting Hawai‘i to cut his debut album, which is set to premiere on a major record label in the US. His travel companion is his dad and former manager (Yayu A.W. Unru), who can see that James is drowning in debt due to this major label acquisition. While he’s still mourning the loss of his other son, James’s father becomes his de facto assistant, micro-managing his every move—and […]
The post “Intently Listening to ‘Mmmbop’ on Repeat”: Editor Reynolds Barney on Jamojaya first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Intently Listening to ‘Mmmbop’ on Repeat”: Editor Reynolds Barney on Jamojaya first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/27/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Writer-director Justin Chon returns to Sundance with Jamojaya, a film about a father-son relationship that’s made fraught by recent losses and financial difficulties. James (Brian Imanuel) is an up-and-coming Indonesian rapper who’s visiting Hawai‘i to cut his debut album, which is set to premiere on a major record label in the US. His travel companion is his dad and former manager (Yayu A.W. Unru), who can see that James is drowning in debt due to this major label acquisition. While he’s still mourning the loss of his other son, James’s father becomes his de facto assistant, micro-managing his every move—and […]
The post “Intently Listening to ‘Mmmbop’ on Repeat”: Editor Reynolds Barney on Jamojaya first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “Intently Listening to ‘Mmmbop’ on Repeat”: Editor Reynolds Barney on Jamojaya first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/27/2023
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
There is no shortage of stories about fathers and their kids, specifically sons. But in Justin Chon’s film, “Jamojaya,” the relationship becomes bogged down with the added aspect of career and ambition. There’s the duty that a father feels toward his son and a son’s desire to take care of himself and fly away from his father. But amidst all that, the relationship that drives the story can become a bit muddled in the imagery and silences in the film at times.
Read More: 25 Most Anticipated Movies At The 2023 Sundance Film Festival
The movie focuses on James (Brian Imanuel), a rapper from Indonesia with growing popularity in the States.
Continue reading ‘Jamojaya’ Review: Justin Chon’s Showcases A Complex Father/Son Relationship In Drama With Momentum Issues [Sundance] at The Playlist.
Read More: 25 Most Anticipated Movies At The 2023 Sundance Film Festival
The movie focuses on James (Brian Imanuel), a rapper from Indonesia with growing popularity in the States.
Continue reading ‘Jamojaya’ Review: Justin Chon’s Showcases A Complex Father/Son Relationship In Drama With Momentum Issues [Sundance] at The Playlist.
- 1/25/2023
- by Alani Vargas
- The Playlist
During his tenure as head of production at Columbia TriStar in the 1990s, Chris Lee oversaw such Hollywood classics as Philadelphia, Jerry Maguire and As Good As It Gets.
But behind the scenes, as the first known Asian American to lead production at a major Hollywood studio, the Hawaii native was also actively involved in nurturing the industry’s then-inchoate Aapi community of executives and creatives, co-founding in 1991 the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment.
Just over 20 years ago, Lee returned to his home state and continued his mission of developing Aapi storytellers by establishing the Academy for Creative Media across the University of Hawai’i system, where he still directs the program. Two ACM alumni have premiered features at Sundance over the past two years — Christopher Makoto Yogi with I Was a Simple Man in 2021 and Alika Maikau with Kaimuki in 2022.
This year Lee himself is returning to the...
But behind the scenes, as the first known Asian American to lead production at a major Hollywood studio, the Hawaii native was also actively involved in nurturing the industry’s then-inchoate Aapi community of executives and creatives, co-founding in 1991 the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment.
Just over 20 years ago, Lee returned to his home state and continued his mission of developing Aapi storytellers by establishing the Academy for Creative Media across the University of Hawai’i system, where he still directs the program. Two ACM alumni have premiered features at Sundance over the past two years — Christopher Makoto Yogi with I Was a Simple Man in 2021 and Alika Maikau with Kaimuki in 2022.
This year Lee himself is returning to the...
- 1/23/2023
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
As a director, Justin Chon has long trafficked in stories about fractured families in heightened situations. “Gook” was about a pair of brothers running their father’s shoe store in the aftermath of his death and in the shadow of the Los Angeles riots. “Ms. Purple” followed estranged siblings trying to make amends with their father before his death. “Blue Bayou” cast Chon himself as an immigrant father attempting to stay in the U.S. while the government tries to toss him out.
Fathers, children, and terrible outside forces are also at play in his fifth feature film, “Jamojaya,” which continues Chon’s traditional obsessions but wraps them in filled with predictable problems, obvious baddies, and trite lessons. In expanding his viewpoint beyond his typically smaller-scale stories — both in terms of the film’s general plot, which follows a rising young rapper who learns (gasp) that the music industry is bad,...
Fathers, children, and terrible outside forces are also at play in his fifth feature film, “Jamojaya,” which continues Chon’s traditional obsessions but wraps them in filled with predictable problems, obvious baddies, and trite lessons. In expanding his viewpoint beyond his typically smaller-scale stories — both in terms of the film’s general plot, which follows a rising young rapper who learns (gasp) that the music industry is bad,...
- 1/23/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Up-and-coming Indonesian rapper James (Brian Imanuel) has taken a major professional leap signing with an international label. But just as the music execs are eager to take his music global, they demand he dilute his cultural identity to appeal to industry trends in the West. Yet “Jamojaya” –the new feature from director Justin Chon, premiering at Sundance — is only partially about James’ tug of war with the greedy forces impatient to exploit him. A familial fissure haunts him as well.
The rising star has chosen to part ways professionally with his father and now former manager Joyo (Yayu A.W. Unru), a decision the latter hasn’t taken well. Under pressure to record his album in Hawaii, James initially welcomes his dad’s presence during an unexpected visit. The more time they spent together, however, the more toxic their exchanges turn.
Chon tries to bridge the two thematic threads — the parent-child...
The rising star has chosen to part ways professionally with his father and now former manager Joyo (Yayu A.W. Unru), a decision the latter hasn’t taken well. Under pressure to record his album in Hawaii, James initially welcomes his dad’s presence during an unexpected visit. The more time they spent together, however, the more toxic their exchanges turn.
Chon tries to bridge the two thematic threads — the parent-child...
- 1/23/2023
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Wrap
After 2 years of in-person viewing, the red carpet has made its return to the Sundance Film Festival 2023.
The film industry, actors, and lovers of all things cinemas braved the snowy Park City, Salt Lake City, to view the 130 films, docs, and short films that are now available to view on demand for online viewers.
Audiences came together in-person over the weekend in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance Resort with talent that included Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Alia Shawkat, Skye P. Marshall, Jonathan Majors, Jason Momoa, Michael J. Fox, Daisy Ridley, Alexander Skarsgård, Gael Garcia Bernal, Randall Park, Brooke Shields, and more who walked press lines and red carpets for their world premieres.
Related: Deadline Studio at Sundance Film Festival 2023 – Day 3 – Jennifer Connelly, Ben Whishaw, Alia Shawkat, Cynthia Erivo & More
The 2023 program available online includes all dramatic competition films featuring the buzzed-about movies and docs that include Sometimes I think About Dying...
The film industry, actors, and lovers of all things cinemas braved the snowy Park City, Salt Lake City, to view the 130 films, docs, and short films that are now available to view on demand for online viewers.
Audiences came together in-person over the weekend in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Sundance Resort with talent that included Anne Hathaway, Mia Goth, Alia Shawkat, Skye P. Marshall, Jonathan Majors, Jason Momoa, Michael J. Fox, Daisy Ridley, Alexander Skarsgård, Gael Garcia Bernal, Randall Park, Brooke Shields, and more who walked press lines and red carpets for their world premieres.
Related: Deadline Studio at Sundance Film Festival 2023 – Day 3 – Jennifer Connelly, Ben Whishaw, Alia Shawkat, Cynthia Erivo & More
The 2023 program available online includes all dramatic competition films featuring the buzzed-about movies and docs that include Sometimes I think About Dying...
- 1/21/2023
- by Robert Lang
- Deadline Film + TV
Justin Chon has signed on to direct and executive produce the upcoming Jason Momoa Apple series “Chief of War,” Variety has learned exclusively.
The show was first reported as being set up at Apple earlier in April. Chon was in negotiations to join the series at that time, with his deal now officially closed. It is said to follow the epic telling of the unification and colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view.
Chon will direct and executive produce the first two episodes of the series. It marks his latest directing venture with Apple, as Chon helmed and executive produced multiple episodes of the critically-acclaimed Apple series “Pachinko.” Chon most recently wrote, directed, and starred in the feature “Blue Bayou,” which also starred Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien, Linh Dan Pham, and Emory Cohen. The film sold to Focus Features and made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
The show was first reported as being set up at Apple earlier in April. Chon was in negotiations to join the series at that time, with his deal now officially closed. It is said to follow the epic telling of the unification and colonization of Hawaii from an indigenous point of view.
Chon will direct and executive produce the first two episodes of the series. It marks his latest directing venture with Apple, as Chon helmed and executive produced multiple episodes of the critically-acclaimed Apple series “Pachinko.” Chon most recently wrote, directed, and starred in the feature “Blue Bayou,” which also starred Alicia Vikander, Mark O’Brien, Linh Dan Pham, and Emory Cohen. The film sold to Focus Features and made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival.
- 4/14/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Kyle Stroud and Frank Ponce of production and finance outfit Carte Blanche, which has credits including Paul Schrader’s The Card Counter, are partnering with Joey Tuccio and Dorian Connelley’s Roadmap Writers to launch a genre screenwriting competition.
Carte Blanche will greenlight and finance at least one feature that comes through the initiative at a budget of sub-1M, though this figure could be increased depending on the elements involved such as cast.
Scripts should have no more than five characters and five locations, and will focus on a contained, character-driven story. Projects including Timecrimes, Buried, and Monsters are all cited as comps, the producers said.
The competition’s jury will consist of producer Liz Cardenas of A24’s A Ghost Story, Carolina Groppa, who is in charge of production at Issa Rae’s ColorCreative, Giselle Johnson of Sony/Screen Gems (Don’t Breathe), and Pixar alumni Colin Levy.
Carte Blanche will greenlight and finance at least one feature that comes through the initiative at a budget of sub-1M, though this figure could be increased depending on the elements involved such as cast.
Scripts should have no more than five characters and five locations, and will focus on a contained, character-driven story. Projects including Timecrimes, Buried, and Monsters are all cited as comps, the producers said.
The competition’s jury will consist of producer Liz Cardenas of A24’s A Ghost Story, Carolina Groppa, who is in charge of production at Issa Rae’s ColorCreative, Giselle Johnson of Sony/Screen Gems (Don’t Breathe), and Pixar alumni Colin Levy.
- 4/7/2022
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Hollywood-based Chinese film financier Peter Luo and Oscar-winning producer Donna Gigliotti (“Shakespeare in Love”) have boarded upcoming female-led Syrian war drama “Nezouh,” directed by Soudade Kaadan, whose debut “The Day I Lost My Shadow” won the 2018 Venice Film Festival’s Lion of the Future.
“Nezouh,” which is Kaadan’s followup to “Shadow,” is set against the backdrop of the Syrian conflict in Damascus where a young woman named Zena and her family reside in a zone that is about to be bombed. Her father takes the firm stance to stay home. With little time left, Zena and her mother Hara face a very tough decision.
Kaadan’s new film was shot in Turkey, produced by Kaadan, Yu-Fai Suen, and Marc Bordure (“Gloria Mundi”), and lensed by ace French cinematographer Hélène Louvart.
“Nezouh,” which is being presented to distributors and festival programmers at the Cairo Film Festival’s Cairo Film Connection co-production market,...
“Nezouh,” which is Kaadan’s followup to “Shadow,” is set against the backdrop of the Syrian conflict in Damascus where a young woman named Zena and her family reside in a zone that is about to be bombed. Her father takes the firm stance to stay home. With little time left, Zena and her mother Hara face a very tough decision.
Kaadan’s new film was shot in Turkey, produced by Kaadan, Yu-Fai Suen, and Marc Bordure (“Gloria Mundi”), and lensed by ace French cinematographer Hélène Louvart.
“Nezouh,” which is being presented to distributors and festival programmers at the Cairo Film Festival’s Cairo Film Connection co-production market,...
- 11/22/2021
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
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