Filmmaker Quentin Lee.Where did the idea for your new feature, Ethan Mao, come from? Quentin Lee: I wanted to write something about a kid who [is kicked out of his parents' house and] goes back and robs his family. That was the basic thing that fascinated me--a character who is a teen gay Asian rebel, [because] I don't think gay teens are perceived as being incredibly rebellious re·bel·lious adj. 1. Prone to or participating in a rebellion: rebellious students. 2. Of, relating to, or characteristic of a rebel or rebellion: rebellious behavior. , Do you try to incorporate Asian characters into most of your films? For both political and personal reasons. Especially when the film is very low-budget, I can afford to use Asian-American actors. Why not? I understand that only one of the cast members is gay. Was that a challenge? Because of the homophobic ho·mo·pho·bi·a n. 1. Fear of or contempt for lesbians and gay men. 2. Behavior based on such a feeling. [homo(sexual) + -phobia. context of the world, [I can't] say which actor is gay and which actor is not. But I think that acting is a job, and gay people can act gay and straight people can act gay. As what genre would you categorize cat·e·go·rize tr.v. cat·e·go·rized, cat·e·go·riz·ing, cat·e·go·riz·es To put into a category or categories; classify. cat Ethan Mao? It seems to be a mix. It's like a psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the wide-ranging thriller genre. However, this genre often incorporates elements from the mystery genre in addition to the typical traits of the thriller genre. with a drama-based plotline. It's really about a family falling apart and sort of coming back together. What movies inspire you? I'm really into thrillers like Basic Instinct, and I really like horror flicks because I grew up watching them in the '80s. Horror and thrillers and the darker side of stuff--everything from Carrie to Femme femme adj. Slang Exhibiting stereotypical or exaggerated feminine traits. Used especially of lesbians and gay men. n. 1. Slang One who is femme. 2. Informal A woman or girl. Fatale. I also like teenage coming-of-age movies like My Life as a Dog or something like The Outsiders--teen rebel movies. So in some way Ethan Mao was a combination of a thriller and that kind of teen rebel drama. You've said that parts of Ethan Mao reflect your life experiences. Did you have a relationship with your parents like Ethan's? I have a very contentious relationship with my mom, so the stepmom was sort of based on my mom. In some ways I admire my mother for being a very glamorous woman. But being her son, it's difficult to accept the fact that my mom is a pretty mean lady. Did you ever try hustling hustling Medical practice The illegal soliciting of victims of accidents or dread disease, to provide them with services; after being hustled, the Pt's insurance company is usually billed for office visits and treatment. See Ambulance chaser. [as Ethan does]? Oh, it's every gay man's fantasy to be a prostitute! I have a lot of friends who hustled on the streets for fun. It's a very sad and in some ways lonely and poignant desire to want to be loved by someone who pays you money. Whether I did it or not--I shall not incriminate To charge with a crime; to expose to an accusation or a charge of crime; to involve oneself or another in a criminal prosecution or the danger thereof; as in the rule that a witness is not bound to give testimony that would tend to incriminate him or her. myself. [Laughs] Interview by Kevin Kumala. To read the complete Q&A click on LINKS at Advocate.com. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion