Announcement
- "the older I get, the less I know..."
My blog
-
Grassroots Day 1 - LA to NYC!
Tuesday, Sep 25, 2007 9:34AM / Standard Entry

Today, our Grassroots Tour Begins! We travel from Los Angeles to NYC.
Every journey has a beginning, and ours began with a 4 am wakeup call to meet at Sung's to catch a car to the airport. We were happy and very excited to start our grassroots tour. Unfortunately for us, our driver to the airport was in a rather surly mood and didn't seem to want to join us in joyous celebration (he, instead, decided to reenact "Fast & The Furious" for us in a Toyota Sienna). We hopped a Jet Blue flight from Los Angeles to JFK at the crack of dawn. We were delayed for over an hour in the air because Air Force One was making it's way to NYC for the United Nations summit as well as the president of Iran. Frickin dignitaries...

A Jet Blue's eye view of Manhattan
So we got into Manhattan in the late afternoon and settled into our new home for the next few weeks. Julie, Sung, and I are sharing a super cool flat in Hell's Kitchen. It's a rather pimp pad, even if it does have lime green walls. After settling in, we went to what may be the best Thai meal of our lives (at Yum Yum's btw) and then cruised over to Food Emporium to pick up the essentials...like toilet paper (Sung prefer's Charmin Extra Soft).

Our new pad (with lime green walls) in Hell's Kitchen

If you want great Thai food in Manhattan, try Yum Yum's in Hell's Kitchen. It's awesome and not expensive.

I wanted to get the cheap toilet paper. Sung convinced me otherwise...
Justin's getting in to NYC in about 2 hours. I think we're all going to kick it tonight. We've got a few interviews in the morning and then we're speaking to the students at Hunter college and then going over to the AA Film Lab where we'll be speaking to many of the cool filmmakers and artists in the NYC community. Gnite! -Roger
-
LA Comic Book Madness!
Monday, Sep 24, 2007 7:37AM / Standard Entry

What better way to spend your Sunday than at the annual LA Comic Book festival! It was very cool indeed. The festival invited FTG to speak to their peeps and to show our new Theatrical Trailer. There were lots of people there...loads of comic book and anime lovers. They were all very nice indeed and gave all of us FTGers a warm and loving welcome.

Tomorrow Justin, Sung, Julie, and I are leaving to NYC to start our grassroots tour. So it was really great to connect with the entire FTG family one more time before we head on out. Dustin just got back from shooting a movie in China and it was really good to see him too. He was there, Monique, Brian Tee, McCaleb, Joe McQueen, and a whole bunch of other folks. Anyway, it was definitely a lot of fun. I've got to go pack now...a bit confused on how to pack light for a 6 week grassroots tour trip. Check back in about 24 hours. I'll post up our new digs in NYC when we arrive! -Roger

-
Past Reflections...Building Into The Future
Sunday, Sep 23, 2007 10:07AM / Standard Entry
It's Saturday night. I'm currently watching the USC game...the Trojans are totally destroying Washington State (I went to neither school).

Justin and I on the BLT Grassroots Tour in 2002. We both look like children.
I'm in a bit of a reflective mood right now. It's been 9 months since Sundance and we've technically been "on the road" and doing our grassroots promotions for FTG that entire time. But in less than 48 hours, Justin, Sung, Julie, & I are flying out to NYC to begin our OFFICIAL Grassroots tour for FTG and our OCT theatrical release. A tour that is going to take us all over the USA...from big cities to small towns. McCaleb, Candi, Tom, Dustin and many of the rest of the crew will be joining us in different cities along the way. Whew! It's been quite busy on our end to get T-shirts printed, posters made, stuff shipped, accommodations booked, coordinating with the many colleges and organizations that have invited us to spend time with them and speak to their communities.

John, Sung, me, and Parry at the BLT Theatrical Premier in LA (2002).
The last time time we did the Grassroots Tour was in 2002 prior to the release of BETTER LUCK TOMORROW. It was such an innocent time. We really didn't know what we were doing. We were just going from college to college, town to town, speaking to anyone and everyone who invited us to hang out. Reflecting back now, 5 years later, I'm just amazed anyone even showed up to these gatherings. It was, to say the least, an unexpected surprise.

Parry, me, Karin, Sung & Jason at Premier Magazine photo shoot in Toronto in 2001. Check out Jason...he looks like he's 13.
So here we are again, about to embark our our Grassroots Tour for FINISHING THE GAME. This time we're a bit older and perhaps a bit wiser (not me...Justin definitely). I'm not really sure what will happen. I'm a bit nervous but definitely looking forward to the journey. For some reason I decided to dig up some photos from 2001/2002 during the whole BETTER LUCK TOMORROW days. Figure I'd just share some with you. : ) Hope to see you on Tour! - Roger
The coolest thing about the world premier of your Own Movie...you get to hang out on the red carpet and just chat. This is Justin, Sung, and myself at the BLT world premier in LA in 2002.
-
Gettin' some SATISFACTION - FM/FTG music video shoot!
Monday, Sep 17, 2007 6:17AM / Standard Entry
Our final day on FAR EAST MOVEMENT'S "SATISFACTION" music video shoot

I have never been in a music video before, so I really didn't know what to expect. Initially, I thought I would be a pimp with a gold tooth cruising around in my El Camino with a fur coat on. You know, something cool like that. But my first day of shooting was far from glamorous. Evan Leong, our director and creative visionary, had me picking up garbage on the side of a freeway in my yellow jumpsuit in one of Los Angeles' more dangerous and gang-infested neighborhoods. The whole time I felt like a big roaming yellow bulls-eye waiting to be used for target practice. Needless to say, my fantasies of music video pimpdom did not start out well at all.

Our final day of shooting was this morning. I was overjoyed by the fact that we would be INSIDE at SiHo studios shooting green screen stuff. I was there with Sung and Mousa...brothas of the FTG clan. Evan had us doing strange and weird dance moves...much like interpretive tantra. God knows how this is all going to weave into a Hip Hop Video. We then got to shoot a few scenes "performing" with FAR EAST MOVEMENT. I use the word "performing" quite loosely. Obviously Jay, James, & Kev of FM knew what they were doing. Sung, Mousa, and myself did not. There is a reason why the three of us are actors and not rappers. -Rog

Photo of the FINISHING THE GAME & FAR EAST MOVEMENT CREW making some "SATISFACTION"
-
Picking Up Garbage on the Freeway - FAR EAST MOVEMENT Style
Saturday, Sep 15, 2007 1:17AM / Standard Entry
Yesterday, I spent my morning picking up garbage on the side of a Los Angeles freeway. No, I was not on probation and doing community service. I was actually shooting a scene for the next FAR EAST MOVEMENT music video called, "SATISFACTION". FM's SATISFACTION is in FINISHING THE GAME and they're also in the movie as well! Kinda strange really. The director of the video, Evan Leong, called me up and asked me if I would take part in the FM video. My immediate reaction wasy, "HELL YEAH DAWG!" Here I was, thinking I would be crusin in a low rider with a fur coat on, gold tooth sparkling, with shades to boot, and rockin to the FM beat. It was going to be rad (at least in my mind). Once the film crew arrived and picked me up, they whisked me away to the side of a freeway and told me to pick up some garbage. Not exactly the fantasy I had in mind. We're shooting the rest of it this Saturday. This time, I'm going to keep my fantasies at bay.
This is a really cool interview I found with FAR EAST MOVEMENT. They talk about their world and their life. I find it strangely identical to our journey with FINISHING THE GAME. Enjoy!
Stats
- Roger Fan is one of the industry’s most interesting and exciting young personalities, redefining the leading man aesthetic through a wide variety of projects as an actor, host, and motivational spea...Roger Fan is one of the industry’s most interesting and exciting young personalities, redefining the leading man aesthetic through a wide variety of projects as an actor, host, and motivational speaker. Rave reviews from international critics such as Roger Ebert, Richard Roper, Peter Travers, and Elvis Mitchell have pointed out that Roger is a “charismatic and fearless persona with a limitless future.” His film credits are impressive, including lead roles in IFC Film’s FINISHING THE GAME, Paramount’s BETTER LUCK TOMORROW, Disney’s ANNAPOLIS, and Touchstone’s CORKY ROMANO. Roger also co-wrote, co-produced, and adventure-hosted the surprise, Sundance comedic hit, THE QUEST FOR LENGTH. Most recently, Roger wrapped production on Judd Apatow’s DRILLBIT TAYLOR and Academy Award Winner, Jessica Yu’s PING PONG PLAYA (2007 Toronto International Film Festival). Roger’s progressive work in film has endeared him as a role model to many of America’s youth. He dedicates his free time spreading the message of self-empowerment and hope as a motivational speaker, inspiring nearly 100,000 young adults, in person, over the past 5 years. Roger has been honored with the “PACE-SETTER Award”, the “Multicultural Prisim Award”, an AXA nomination, and, most recently, the “Distinguished Moviemaker Mentor Award” by The Creative Coalition, alongside actors Joe Pantoliano, Lea Thompson, & Ione Skye. Roger has been spotlighted in numerous publications, including Premier & Vibe Magazine, and guest hosted on MTV Chi and the International Channel. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
* * * * * * * *
Here’s what CRITICS are saying about ROGER FAN…
“…young actor, Roger Fan, is excellent in Justin Lin’s ‘Better Luck Tomorrow’.”
--Todd McCarthy, DAILY VARIETY
“One of my favorite actors…”
--Capone, AIN’T IT COOL NEWS
“…he steals the entire movie. With one indie film he has shown he could well go on his way to being one of Hollywood’s funniest and liveliest working film comedians.”
--TWITCH
“Fan is particularly good in ‘Finishing The Game’.”
--J. Lowe, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“Fan is so funny he can make you spit…a comic genius.”
--CINEMATICAL.COM
"(Roger Fan's) intense crying jag while on the toilet is a riot. It is to bathroom crying jags what the French Connection car chase is to car chases."
--The San Jose Metro
“…Fan is aptly slick as the manipulative Daric.”
--Duane Byrge, THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
“…the star of the film, one Roger Fan, has to be the bravest actor in history.”
--Richard Roeper, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
“If there were a Sundance MVP award, then actor/producer/writer/stud Roger Fan would be crowned king.”
--YOLK MAGAZINE
“…Better Luck Tomorrow is boosted by a very good cast, notably the charismatic Fan as the risk-taking Daric.”
--Todd McCarthy, DAILY VARIETY
- Occupation: Actor , Film/TV Producer
- Gender: Male
- Total visits: 123,018














