The year was 2006 which actually wasn’t too long ago. But thinking back, it seemed like another era. It was my first hands on experience on a feature length movie. Popping my cherry sorta speak. At this point, I’d worked on many music videos and a few short length documentaries and shorts but never a feature length. I knew this opportunity not just as an Asian American nobody but an inspiring filmmaker would change my stars one way or another. My skills from the military and from just being me…cheap chinese, funny guy, quick on my feet…would be what I could bring to the table. The word “independent” definitely brought new meanings. And although I already had little experience, most of the young crew members on Finishing the Game had no experience at all. But still everyone had the same goal in front of them, to make a good movie!

I came on as the Behind the Scenes videographer but knew I had more to offer. Since I was still in community college, and having Chinese running through my blood, I knew there were many student discounts and deals to be made to save every penny we could on the movie. I was then promoted to Associate Producer where not only did I document what was happening on set, but I was learning and experiencing how a movie was made from the ground up. But let me tell you, I quickly found the difference between a real Hollywood movie and an independent movie.

Comparisons were being thrown out which I didn’t understand til later. 19 day shoot versus a normal 80+ day with a 2nd unit. Plastic chairs and cramped hot spaces versus trailers and a/c units. Guerilla style filmmaking versus rules and permits (well, we did almost everything legit). But to me, this was the only way I knew how to make a film. Getting your friends together and making something out of nothing. If we actually had a real budget like a Hollywood movie, we could have made Finishing the Game part ten or even up to twenty. And if someone was cocky enough to think we were on a real Hollywood set and wanted to be pampered, well you don’t wanna know what I did to those people in the military. Or did I already tell you guys that with my pranks. But the family vibe where actors and PA’s eating together or the director and whoever were cracking jokes made it never feel like work. And that’s something I’ll always cherish.

I related very quickly with the jobs and responsibilities every cast and crew member held. Even if it was a college kid preparing snacks or the sound guy yelling at people, I knew coming from a structured military working environment every job brought your movie, or ship to a higher standard. Makeup and hair department were like combat systems always ready and on standby. Locations department were like the quartermasters steering the ship. And even the smallest job like refilling the cooler with rockstars and redbulls are like the supply department on a ship. Without them, how do you stay happy?

Seeing so many Asian Americans on set whether they were extras or crew members was so mind boggling at times. I never real realize the community I live in now with other filmmakers. It was almost like we were filming in China or something. Granted not everyone was Asian but it still felt like people were pretending to belong and fit in. But in reality, without those young eager-to-learn or just passionate crew members, who knows how’d we finish making Finishing the Game.

Overall, every experience in “Hollywood” is like any other experience in life. You take the good and the bad and figure out what will help you in the long run. Every opportunity must be treated as your last. When confronted with a problem, its much easier to have a team work on it instead of on your own. And lastly, you make good relationships and always reflect on the memories of your journey.

Here’s a clip I made way back when from the Porn Day Scene. Always a great moment in Finishing the Game history.