Boy, it's been a long time since I've updated this blog. I really must make a habit of doing this especially since AND makes it so easy for us. Anyway, here is what I've been up to.
More theatres have requested to open the movie because we've been doing surprisingly well no matter where we open. Since Arizona, I've been to Palm Springs, CA and Des Moines, IA where "Grace" opened as the No. 1 film in the respective theatres. Next up, La Jolla where we've been invited to screen at the San Diego Cinema Society -- and then will open commerically on November 7th in San Diego somewhere. I've been basically filling requests now from film buyers across the country -- but because I'm still pretty much doing this on my own, I can only do one town at a time. The very good news is that all my hard work is starting to get recognized. The President of Universal Studios, Ron Meyer, actually saw the film and called me to congratulate me on my efforts. From everything I've read about Mr. Meyer, he seems to be one of the nicest studio heads and in my short telephone conversation with him, he definitely is living up to his reputation. Of course my dream now is to do a direct a romantic comedy for Universal. A phone call like that really can raise new hopes in this very tough industry.
What else?? I am working on a new romantic comedy - this time starring an Asian American male protagonist. I can't talk too much about this as it's in its very beginning stages, but I feel like I've learned so much from making "Grace" that I can't wait to improve upon my craft in the second one. I really am very excited about this! Once again, because I am who I am, I'll probably write something equally mainstream. I absolutely believe that the Asian community still needs its "My Big Fat Greek Wedding!" I was hoping Falling for Grace would become that -- but perhaps my next one!
The other incredibly exciting thing that I got to do since I last blogged, was that I got to go to Wimbledon and saw what the experts are calling the best tennis match in history. Yes, I'm talking Federer vs. Nadal. I also got to meet Roger Federer in New York right before the U.S. Open at a private event that I managed to get an invitation to. He is the Ron Meyer of tennis - classy, humble and genuinely a nice guy! It was fantastic to see him win the U.S. Open! Go Roger, I hope you break Sampras' record in 2009!
Anyhow, thanks for reading! I hope all of you will get to see Falling for Grace in a theater near you one of these days! Hope this finds all of you very very well!
FALLING FOR GRACE NOW PLAYING AT HARKINS' PRESTIGIOUS CAMELVIEW 5!
It's been a while since I've updated but when there are only a couple of people marketing a motion picture, sometimes, we simply run out of time. However, we do have some great news!
Last weekend, Falling For Grace, opened at a prestigious little theater called The Camelview 5 owned by the Harkins chain, the largest independently owned theater chain in the United States. It's actually quite an honor to have a film playing there as they have the reputation for opening only quality independent films, and their loyal customers expect the best.
Not only were we well-received on opening weekend, but we were No. 1 at the theater, earning us another week at Camelview. So, if you know anyone in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, please send them to Camelview to see our "Grace" and support this little film that will!
Also Falling For Grace made it onto the Apple Trailer site and our trailer has never looked more beautiful. Quality control on that site is truly superb. Here's the link:
The audience at Camelview has been great and the film is bringing in audiences that have never been to the Camelview 5 before which makes me feel really good about how the film is bringing new experiences for both audience as well as the theater! I love the Camelview. It's a very special theater run by very special theaters managers. I've never seen people who care so much about a movie theater! And the pop corn is GREAT!
Happy New Year Everyone! I hope 2008 brings a safer, healthier, happier planet for us all to share in peace and harmony!
So first stop in 2008 for Falling For Grace is Lakeside, Arizona!!! Yes, I met these wonderful theater owners in Florida at a theater convention and they were interested in opening Falling For Grace as long as I showed up to do Q&As. So off I go. I know Phoenix and Scottsdale pretty well - great desert country, but apparently where I'm heading to -- Lakeside, AZ, is supposed to be gorgeous! I had the opportunity to open Falling For Grace in Grass Valley, CA - another small town and I must say, it was a fantastic experience -- one of the best I've ever had. The town could not have been "whiter", but they all got the movie and loved the Chinese family. Yes, I must agree that the strength of the film lies with Grace's relationship with her family.
In November and December 2007, we had the wonderful opportunity to screen FFG in 5 different cities in Austria. Bizarre, right? The movie was not subtitled in German, but you know those Austrians -- they speak better English than the Americans! Word was that people really liked the movie and now it might actually travel to Germany... Well see.
So, if you are anywhere close to Lakeside, AZ, come say hi! I love small towns in America and if Lakeside at all resembles Grass Valley, I would be in for a huge treat! And if you live in Hong Kong and would like to request the film...by all means! I'll bring it to you too...
So, I've been getting to know Vancouver - was here two weeks ago at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival and I'm back this week to open Falling For Grace theatrically at Tinseltown - VERY EXCITED ABOUT OUR INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE!
I love Vancouver and I love Canadians. I've had the most exceptional welcome by native Canadians in this town. I've been speaking at different colleges, that's becoming a thing that I do and enjoy very much. I was at UBC, Emily Carr, Simon Fraser, and today, I'm even going to speak at a high school. I also was the featured guest speaker at the Organization of Vancouver Women's Business Owners - and I must say that was a great experience! I was asked to speak there because they wanted to hear an inspiring journey by a woman. I have to say that I was the one inspired by a roomful of women who set out to accomplish goals and are all going after them - many far more successful than I can ever dream to be. It was a great night.
And last night, as a result of my WBO dinner, I got invited to this most ecclectic party where every guest was a foreigner from different parts of the world -- so international, so inclusive, and so chic all at once. So, hopefully, there will be a dozen or so foreign sounding people coming to see Falling For Grace at Tinseltown this weekend!
And finally, I was on two T.V. shows in Vancouver - Urban Rush (the Kelly & Regis of Vancouver), and a wonderful talk show called Studio 4 with Fanny Kiefer (she's the Charlie Rose of Vancouver). Here are the links to my interview on youtube.
So, for all of you who live in Vancouver who can come out and see Falling For Grace at Tinseltown, I'll be doing Q&As after all the screenings on Friday (November 16th) and Saturday (November 17th). Please come out and join us!! Hope to meet some of you there...tonight...YIKES!!!
Hello All! So glad to be making new friends here! I've been slightly swamped (see below), but I really hope to respond to each of you in the NEAREST future!!!
I'm swamped because Falling For Grace is in full marketing mode to open up in our first international territory - Vancouver, Canada! I must say that I'm very excited about this not only because I've heard such fantastic things about Vancouver - beautiful, clean, kind people, etc, but that the Chinese food there is out of this world. Having grown up in Hong Kong, I'm a bit of a Chinese food snob thinking (whether true or not) that I've had the best and know what the best should be. But I'm hearing rumours about how the Chinese food in Vancouver is better than even that in Asia. So, anyone in Vancouver reading this, please let me know where the best dim sum is and where the best wonton noodle soup is?? Oh, and what I really miss is the Chinese style European diner food...do you know what I'm talking about? Chicken A La King, Black Pepper Steak, Baked Pork Chop with rice... I'll be spending at least a week there promoting "Grace" and a satisfied stomach would certainly help brain cells fire creatively.
And of course if anyone in Vancouver has any ideas about how and who to promote Falling For Grace to, we are all ears here at Team Grace. So far, our plan is to certainly reach out to the Asian communities in Vancouver (and if anyone has specific names and numbers, please either write me here or e-mail me privately at fallingforgrace@gmail.com). Our community outreach will also include colleges, women's organizations and film schools. Because I wrote and directed Falling For Grace as a mainstream romantic comedy fit for an international audience, we would like to reach as wide an audience as possible.
My producers have already scheduled for me to appear at certain colleges to talk to students about this crazy journey of mine - essentially, what it takes to chase a dream. And I must say, having spoken at many colleges in the U.S. already, this is one of the most gratifying experiences a filmmaker can have. I love to encourage students to actively go after their dreams because the journey is what means the most. I've learned so much about who I am as a person, how to weather storms and along the way, figure out who my true friends and great collaborators are. I get to feel every emotion as I continue my journey with the movie opening up in more territories - excitement, fear, pride, fear, encouragement, fear, success, fear...yes, opening a film is TERRIFYING! And emotions flip as easily as a coin. That's what makes the the journey full.
So, yes, I would love any ideas about Vancouver! Team Grace will most likely be hanging around the Tinseltown a lot the first week of November, so stop by and say Hi! We'd love to hear from everybody...and I bet you might even get one of our very special and personalized promotional fortune cookies! Aside from getting a good fortune, the cookies really are very yummy!
Until next time - Keep looking at the bright side of life!
I really want to watch <falling for grace>.I hope I can watch it one day in GuangZhou or maybe on the Internet. In china ,there are lots of fans of Gale harold, so we are eager to watch this film.
Fay, I just watched your profile video and I'm really touched by your effort to promote your cause of bringing Asia American work into the mainstream, as a female director/actor/writer,etc. Your determination is very inspiring. Cheers to all the luck and blessing to come =)
posted on Wednesday, Apr 23, 2008 11:08AM [Report]
Hi Fay Ann, was so nice seeing your film this weekend in Scottsdale, Friday night and Sunday with my parents, I was the guy who works for US Airways (hope the flight back was okay?). I hope that this wonderful little film gets some great distribution for you and can't wait for the DVD in the future! Drop me a line if I can help in any way!
Ciao!
Tim
Moovimn@aol.com
I'm a filmmaker from New York City, originally born and raised in Hong Kong. My debut feature film, Falling for Grace, premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival...
I'm a filmmaker from New York City, originally born and raised in Hong Kong. My debut feature film, Falling for Grace, premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Recently, it was featured at the VCFilmFest in Los Angeles and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. Falling for Grace is a romantic comedy about Grace Tang, a banker from NY Chinatown, who wants more than anything to be part of the elite Upper East Side Socialite world. She gets in only after being mistaken as an heiress from Hong Kong. We are currently in negotiations for a U.S. theatrical release. Please go to: http://fallingforgrace.com for more information.
I love movies of all kinds, especially romantic comedies - yes, I'm a true chick at heart. I'm starting to watch lots of Hong Kong films which I have been really enjoying. And it's a great way to keep up with my Cantonese. Favorite directors: Ang Lee, Ann Hui, Wayne Wang, Nancy Meyers, Mike Nichols, Ron Howard.
I love to sing, was on Broadway in Miss Saigon, and have performed throughout the U.S. I also worked with Lea Salonga in Into The Woods in Singapore, directed by the wonderful director, Glen Goei. One of my favorite musical theater composers is Hong Kong's own Leon Ko (who co-wrote the music for Perhaps Love). He's brilliant and I can't wait to collaborate more with him. I'm banking on him to be the first Asian composer to win a Tony Award! I worked with Leon on a really great musical called "Heading East". His writing partner, Robert Lee, is one of the best theatrical lyricists I've seen in a long long time.
I also love tennis, practically obsessed with Roger Federer. He's undoubtedly the best tennis player ever lived. I work hard on my game - play about 3 times a week in New York and still hope to play in tournaments in the future. I love working out HARD!
I'm very much into "The Secret". It took me 8 years to get my movie done and I really learned about the law of attraction, and how we create our own path, how mistakes can be the sweetest teachers. I need constant reminder still that our most powerful tool is within ourselves. We just need to believe in ourselves. Not easy to do but oh so true!
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