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Archives for : July2019

Interview: Director/ Writer Lulu Wang talks “The Farewell”

After seeing the trailer for “The Farewell”, I was hooked into the idea of seeing this original movie. A Chinese family lying to their grandmother, who only has months to live, and deciding to not tell her. As a way to gather before Nai Nai’s (Shuzhen Zhao) final months, the family schedules an impromptu wedding.

I can tell you now, the anticipation was warranted as the film delivers in performances, emotion and overall story.

The film is based on a real lie that director/writer, Lulu Wang, and her family came up with 6 years ago. Audiences are invited into this family gathering, and will feel as though they are sitting in on private conversations.

Lulu Wang (Writer/Director of “The Farewell”)

I sat down with Wang while she was in Dallas to promote “The Farewell”.  She explained why she wanted to share this story. “I think the set-up, first of all was so ridiculous. I felt like I needed to share it; in a way like “this is so crazy can you believe it?” It was also the humor and joy that’s juxtaposed with the grief. And how this family has such a light-hearted wonderful perspective on life, that even in the darkest moments they’ve certainly taught me to not focus on the negative and to find the joy and humor in whatever levity you can.”

No matter what culture or background you come from, anyone will be able to relate to the characters in “The Farewell”. Wang described how she wrote with such authenticity. “The key is to make them (the characters) complex and not one-sided. I didn’t set out to make anyone good or bad. I just found the things that I love about them; the things that are kind of irritating sometimes and frustrating and explored all of that.”

Though we are used to seeing Awkwafina (“Crazy Rich Asians”, “Oceans 8”) in comedic films, the actress shines in a more dramatic role as Lulu Wang’s character, Billi. Awkwafina had expressed interest in the role after reading the script, and sent Wang an impressive audition tape. “In the tape she did a couple scenes, and it was really the moments where she wasn’t even talking. She was reading with this woman off screen. And when this woman was delivering lines, Awkwafina was listening. But sometimes with actors, when they’re just listening it feels like they are just waiting for their turn to speak. I mean in real life, too, sometimes people are just waiting for their turn to speak (laughs). But with Awkwafina, you could really tell on screen that she was just listening, and processing, and she had all of this conflict just going on internally. And it was amazing that she was able to do that without saying a word,” explained Wang.

There’s a line in the film about how, “If it’s for good it’s not a lie. It’s a good lie.” Wang expressed how she felt about that quote. “I think the one thing I’ve learned from working on this film is; I set out to find an answer, but I came out on the other side realizing that it’s not about the answer. It’s really just about asking the questions. I think that I’ve just come to really respect my family’s decision (to not tell Nai Nai about her illness) and recognize that it’s not my decision to make. And I feel fortunate that it’s not my decision, because it is not an easy one to make.”

Though “The Farewell” can be sad at times, there is a lot awkward laughs throughout the film. A fun moment of comic relief is seeing different family members karaoke during the not so typical wedding scene. Wang discussed her love of karaoke and her favorite songs to perform. “I have a lot. Awkwafina has been talking a lot in the press about my Bloodhound Gang song (laughs). Which like, I didn’t start singing that until my producer started singing that, and it became like an inside joke. But I have quite a few. I really like Day Dream Believer by the Monkeys. I like some good oldies. I’ll also once in a while do like Halo by Beyonce. That’s a very good karaoke song!”

The movie expresses a powerful message recited by Nai Nai, “Life is not about what you do, it’s how you do it.” Wang discussed how she’s currently living life the way she’d hope, by trying to get the most out of every moment. “I recently watched Aziz Ansari: Right Now, which was such a great show and such great title. But in the stand-up, he says that “the only thing that matters is this moment and the people that we’re with”. I was really moved by that, because after everything he’s been through and the state of the world that were in right now. I just don’t want to make work, or do anything that continues to cause divide. Like, I don’t want to spend time fighting, and so just trying to stay level headed and enjoy the moment.”

Audiences will enjoy every moment spent during “The Farewell”. It’s a must see for the entire family.

“The Farewell” opens in select theaters on July 26!

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Interview: JD McCrary & Shahadi Wright Joseph talk “The Lion King”

Image result for the lion king

“The Lion King” returns as a live-action re-imagining of the Disney classic. The actors who voice the roles of young Simba and Nala, JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph, talk with me about the film and their favorite Lion King music.

“The Lion King” opens in theaters July 19!

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Interview: David Harbour talks “Stranger Things” Season 3

STRANGER THINGS Production still Season 3

The sleepy town of Hawkins, Indiana …and Upside Down… are back! And fans of Stranger Things can finally exhale on July 4 when the Netflix hit returns for season three. I had a chance to sit down with with David Harbour (Sheriff Hopper) and talk about the hit series and his Texas roots.

“Stranger Things” Season 3 releases on Netflix July 4!

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Dallas Film Hosts Kickoff Event for First-Ever North Texas Film Festival

DALLAS, June 28, 2019 – Dallas Film, a nonprofit organization that exists to celebrate the past, present and future of film in our community, is pleased to announce a new film festival debuting this fall in Plano. The North Texas Film Festival (NTXFF) powered by Capital One will be held September 26 – 29, 2019, at the Cinemark West Plano and XD theatre (3800 Dallas Parkway, Plano, TX 75093). A kickoff event for the festival was held featuring a red carpet and a private screening of “Men in Black: International.”

“We are excited to serve a broader audience and expand the love of film to North Texas, which is centered upon the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the largest metropolitan area in Texas,” said Johnathan Brownlee, CEO & President of Dallas Film and Executive Director of North Texas Film Festival. “At the North Texas Film Festival, attendees can expect a lineup of more than 20 curated films including films related to sports, family, date night, Indian, veterans, horror, Best of DIFF (popular films from the 2019 Dallas International Film Festival), shorts, and Oscar contending films. There will be nightly red carpets, Q&As with filmmakers, an exclusive festival lounge, live music stage, theme nights.”

This will be the first film festival to represent North Texas and, since the North Texas economy is booming, the location makes perfect sense, say organizers of NTXFF. As home to several major corporate offices including Capital One, it’s a community full of opportunities and welcoming to people of all ages. North Texas is comprised of 150 cities with over 7.1 million residents in a 9,000-square-mile, 13-county region.

“Overall, North Texas is the fourth largest region in the United States and is the most diverse economy in Texas,” said Brownlee. “Our goal with this new festival is to spark meaningful engagement with film, have a full house for each screening, bring in incredible talent and filmmakers from around the world, expand the love of film in the North Texas region, and create a festival experience like no other for all who attend.”

Proceeds from NTXFF will benefit the Veterans Institute for Film and Media, a program that prepares veterans for careers in film and media production through education, mentorships, and job placements. For details about VIFM, visit www.vifm.us.