Looking through the S&A archives, I came across a profile of director J.P. Chan's sci-fi short for Futurestates, titled "Digital Antiquities." I enjoyed that film, so I started looking into Chan's past work. In doing so, I found his 2010 gem-of-a-short, "Empire Corner" which premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival in April 2010, and was on the festival circuit for most of that year. "Empire Corner" features some earlier work from Teyonah Parris (who we last saw starring in Spike Lee's "Chi-Raq" late last year) and Alexis Camins in the lead roles, while Shalita Grant and Jo Mei give supporting performances. Mei and Corey...
- 3/22/2016
- by Emmanuel Akitobi
- ShadowAndAct
The World of Extreme Happiness Directed by Eric Ting Written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig Manhattan Theatre Club - NYC Center Stage February 3-March 29, 2015
A boy is a child. A girl is a thing. These words greet the birth of Sunny Li in The World of Extreme Happiness, the new play from award-winning Playwright-in-Residence at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. Sunny’s arrival into the world in 1992 rural China puts her place in her father’s heart somewhere below the female racing pigeon about whom he rhapsodizes and dreams. Accordingly, it is not even clear at first that he is talking about a pigeon and not a woman, while the newborn girl is quickly, albeit temporarily, consigned to a slop bucket to die. When we next meet Sunny (Jennifer Lim), she is 18 and part of the janitorial staff in an urban factory with a PR problem due to employee suicides.
A boy is a child. A girl is a thing. These words greet the birth of Sunny Li in The World of Extreme Happiness, the new play from award-winning Playwright-in-Residence at the Manhattan Theatre Club, Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig. Sunny’s arrival into the world in 1992 rural China puts her place in her father’s heart somewhere below the female racing pigeon about whom he rhapsodizes and dreams. Accordingly, it is not even clear at first that he is talking about a pigeon and not a woman, while the newborn girl is quickly, albeit temporarily, consigned to a slop bucket to die. When we next meet Sunny (Jennifer Lim), she is 18 and part of the janitorial staff in an urban factory with a PR problem due to employee suicides.
- 3/9/2015
- by Leah Richards
- www.culturecatch.com
There’s nothing forced or sentimental here, and more than a modicum of bleak humor, but as laid-back indies go, this one may be a tad too laid-back. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Siblings Jen (Jo Mei) and Kyle (Andrew Pang) haven’t been the best of friends, but now they’re forced into uncomfortable close proximity during a weekend retreat from New York City to rural Pennsylvania to pack up their mother’s house after her recent death. There’s a lovely effortlessness with which director J.P. Chan — Mei cowrote the film with him — eases us into the siblings’ awkward relationship and the poignance of their task: there’s nothing forced or sentimental here, and more than a modicum of grief-induced humor as they make a discovery among her belongings about their mom...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
Siblings Jen (Jo Mei) and Kyle (Andrew Pang) haven’t been the best of friends, but now they’re forced into uncomfortable close proximity during a weekend retreat from New York City to rural Pennsylvania to pack up their mother’s house after her recent death. There’s a lovely effortlessness with which director J.P. Chan — Mei cowrote the film with him — eases us into the siblings’ awkward relationship and the poignance of their task: there’s nothing forced or sentimental here, and more than a modicum of grief-induced humor as they make a discovery among her belongings about their mom...
- 10/22/2014
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
Sensitive and understated, J.P. Chan's A Picture of You balances humor and sentiment with an instinctive hand, skillfully unearthing honest, unexpected laughs amid intense grief.
Old resentments fuel fires between estranged siblings Kyle (Andrew Pang) and Jen (Jo Mei) as they prepare their childhood house for sale after their mother's passing. They needle one another over trivialities — how much tape to use to pack boxes, what to eat for dinner — both so stubborn that they mourn in isolation despite the enormity of their shared sorrow.
Packing away the household knickknacks brings back hazy memories of their mother. Here is where the film's title becomes a sly wink, suggesting sweet remembrances, but revealing the picture in question as a racy, X-rat...
Old resentments fuel fires between estranged siblings Kyle (Andrew Pang) and Jen (Jo Mei) as they prepare their childhood house for sale after their mother's passing. They needle one another over trivialities — how much tape to use to pack boxes, what to eat for dinner — both so stubborn that they mourn in isolation despite the enormity of their shared sorrow.
Packing away the household knickknacks brings back hazy memories of their mother. Here is where the film's title becomes a sly wink, suggesting sweet remembrances, but revealing the picture in question as a racy, X-rat...
- 6/20/2014
- Village Voice
Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. "A Picture of You" Tweetable Logline: A serious movie about life that collides head-on into a funny movie about death. Elevator Pitch: Kyle and Jen, estranged siblings, travel from New York City to rural Pennsylvania to pack up the home of their recently deceased mother. While there, they inadvertently make a shocking discovery that turns their world upside-down. Production Team: Writer/director: J.P. Chan Story by: J.P. Chan and Jo Mei Producers: Yasmine Gomez, Robert M. Chang ("Half-Life"), J.P. Chan Executive Producer: Duane Andersen ("Surrogate Valentine") Director of Photography: Andrew Reed ("Cold Weather") ...
- 10/23/2012
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Here's your daily dose of an indie film in progress; at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a movie you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. "A Picture of You" Tweetable Logline: A serious movie about life that collides head-on into a funny movie about death. Elevator Pitch: Kyle and Jen, estranged siblings, travel from New York City to rural Pennsylvania to pack up the home of their recently deceased mother. While there, they inadvertently make a shocking discovery that turns their world upside-down. Production Team: Writer/director: J.P. Chan Story by: J.P. Chan and Jo Mei Producers: Yasmine Gomez, Robert M. Chang ("Half-Life"), J.P. Chan Executive Producer: Duane Andersen ("Surrogate Valentine") Director of Photography: Andrew Reed ("Cold Weather") ...
- 10/23/2012
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
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