A CAST MEMBER'S LETTER
>
> What the April 4 and 11, 2003 release of "Better
> Luck Tomorrow" really means.
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> In our lifetime, it is rare that we bear witness to
> an event, much less be a part one, that might change
> society. When the film "Better Luck Tomorrow" opens
> on April 4, 2003; it will be one of those events. On
> that day,"BLT" will be released in New York,
> Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. And open the
> following week, April 11, in: Washington D.C.,
> Boston, Houston, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Diego,
> Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis.
>
> The release will set a benchmark for a number of
> "firsts". 1) It is the first Asian American film
> ever to be picked up at the Sundance Film Festival.
> 2) It is the first film ever purchased and
> distributed by MTV Films. 3) It is the first all
> Asian-American cast to be widely distributed by a
> studio in a long time. It is because of all these
> "firsts" that I am drafting this memo, to shed light
> on just how essential it is that our community
> support this film. The first 3 weeks' attendance
> will determine whether or not we'll be setting a
> benchmark record for "firsts--and lasts".
>
> I know it sounds extremely self-serving that an
> actor in the film have the audacity to draft such a
> plea to see his film. But it is because I have been
> so close to the film through production and have
> personally seen people from all ethnicities react so
> positively to it; that I truly believe this event is
> exactly what we as a community have been yearning to
> get behind for years. Whether you are Asian or not.
> To send a message to the world. It is not "just" a
> movie. What hinges on the release is so much larger
> than the film itself.
>
> The power of cinema is colossal. Whether you realize
> it or not, billions of people shape their outlooks
> on life from what they see on film. Their beliefs.
> What is important in life. Differences between right
> and wrong. And when the world is exposed to the
> clichéd images of Asians that currently occupy the
> screen, these images subconsciously encapsulate for
> them what Asian people are. The martial- artists
> practitoners. The nerdy students. The exotic sexual
> prizes. The guy that delivers the food to your door.
> And it becomes a self-fueling process because
> audiences continue to pay admission to see them.
> While unfortunately, these are the only roles that
> are available for Asian Actors to portray.
>
> Fans of "BLT" and major film critics have all
> praised the film for being an accomplished and
> engaging universal story centered on teen violence.
> The film is not a judgmental piece of the actions,
> but a narrative of how real life teen violence is
> set in motion. The film represents stories from
> headlines that we've all read that just happen to be
> told by Asian actors.
>
> "Best and most provocative--a funny-sexy-scary
> powerhouse."
> -Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Magazine.
>
> "Extraordinarily accomplished and
> thought-provoking."
> - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
>
> "Stylish and very well acted."
> - David Ansen, Newsweek
>
> "The hottest, most stylish and smartly twisted
> film."
> - Duane Bygre, The Hollywood Reporter
>
> "A damn fine movie."
> - Harry Knowles, Ain't it Cool News
>
> Phrases, such as how the film "broke all the rules
> in Hollywood" and "after the first 5 minutes, I
> forgot that the cast was Asian" are repeated over
> and over again. For the first time, our true voices
> are being heard and understood by the Hollywood
> decision makers. That we're just regular people and
> we too, have stories that all human beings can
> relate to. Where we don't have to go around
> everyday, basically saying, "Hey, I'm Asian" through
> our actions depicted on screen.
>
> MTV Films' vice president, Michael Cole summed it up
> best, "You've got a universal story in terms of what
> these guys are experiencing, and I think that's why
> people respond to it so strongly. It's told from a
> perspective that we haven't seen before and that we
> often don't see." He observes, "I thought ["BLT"]
> was incredible for our brand and for our audience.
> When I saw the movie I just said: 'You know, we
> really need to buy this movie. This movie is what we
> are.'"
>
> I, as do MTV Films and other studios that bid for
> the film, recognize that the film is on the cusp of
> a new beginning in cinema that has yet to be tapped
> into. Everywhere we've traveled across the country
> (and Canada) with the film at festivals, Asian
> audiences thank us for giving them a new voice on
> screen for the world to see.
>
> But this film needs a base -- legs to help it rise
> and be heard. And your voice can only be heard
> through the box office. Let's be frank, for the
> first few weeks, a majority of the people that will
> be open to seeing the film, based on face value
> alone, will be Asian Americans. When non-Asian
> people see images of the film or the cast,
> occasionally we hear them ask, "Is it subtitled?" or
> "Is it like a Jackie Chan movie?"
>
> When I hear those comments, I realize they're not
> intentionally meant to be malicious, but it goes to
> show what has been established in the minds of the
> public when they see Asian faces on a movie poster.
> And it's that mentality which illustrates the very
> reason why we need to support good films with Asian
> casts; whether we agree with the films or not.
>
> I know in my heart that we as a community are large
> enough of an audience to overwhelm Hollywood; make
> them do a double take and realize there is a market
> they have not been catering to. Hollywood's eyes
> will be tracking the opening of the film very
> carefully because it loves a trend. So we beat them
> at their own game--make it impossible for them to
> ignore the numbers. They will be forced to make
> similiar projects based solely on a fiscal point of
> view. They'll jump on that bandwagon to repeat a
> successful formula that has been established by
> "BLT". But this will only happen if we want it to by
> coming out in full force.
>
> In turn, three-dimensional Asian characters that
> audiences genuinely care about as people and not
> just as functional props, will emerge and slowly
> change narrow Asian perceptions. The Black
> community's current successes in cinema stemmed 20
> years ago because they were passionate about the
> films Spike Lee and John Singleton were making.
> Films that were true to their communities. Hollywood
> took notice to the box office numbers and it led to
> more projects which told of the African American
> experience besides being a slave or living in the
> ghettos.
>
> For the past decade, my schooling and acting has
> exposed me to hundreds of Asian American
> organizations at colleges across the country. I've
> been witness to sooo many China Nights, Asian club
> meetings, ECASU, ACAASU, APEX conferences, panels by
> Amy Tan, Ronald Takaki, Jude Narita all discussing
> and theorizing the same topics of assimilation and
> perceptions--all those years have finally culminated
> into something tangible: This is that "something" we
> can get behind and will have a huge impact. And it's
> a very simple thing to do--just see the film. That
> is your vote. Tell people about it and have them do
> the same.
>
> The Details:
> April 4th 2003, "BLT" will open in:
> New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco
>
> The following week on, April 11, it will expand
> into:
> Washington D.C., Boston, Houston, Honolulu,
> Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Portland,
> Minneapolis
>
> You should be seeing MTV FILMS running our trailer
> in theatres and playing them on their channel
> shortly. Based on the box office attendance after
> the first 3 weekends, the studio will then see if it
> is worth rolling out into more theatres across the
> country, the same way "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
> did. Once it rolls out nationally, others unlikely
> to see the film will have then heard the
> buzz/acclaim and go to just see a good movie. And
> they will tell others and so on.
>
> Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that as
> many people see the film during those first 3
> weekends to get the momentum going. If you do not
> happen to reside in the initial cities, spread the
> word to those you know who do live there. And with a
> bit
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