• openingnight

    Oct 18, 12:00 PM by administrator

    Opening Night

    Thur. Nov. 1st, 7:00 PM

    Justin Lin holds a BA and MFA in film directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television where he began writing, directing and producing numerous award-winning short films. Early in his career, Lin served as the Production Coordinator of the Media Arts Center for the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles where he created several educational television pilots and documentaries such as: PASSING THROUGH which was featured on PBS, and the multimedia J-TOWN RHAPSODY project, an eight-screen video installation, which received several awards including the Crystal Communicator Award of Excellence. He continues to speak at film schools and colleges engaging young filmmakers.

    Update (Nov 1): Due to circumstances involving the pending writers’ strike in Hollywood, Justin will not be able to arrive on time in Vancouver to attend this screening.

    Finishing The Game



    Director: Justin Lin | Producers: Julie Asato, Salvador Gatdula, Justin Lin | Writers: Justin Lin, Josh Diamond
    Narrative | 35mm | Colour | 2007 | 88 minutes | USA

    On July 20, 1973 at the zenith of his popularity amongst fans and continuing rise of his stardom both within and outside the film industry, Chinese American martial arts action star Bruce Lee – suddenly and unexpectedly – died while in Hong Kong. He was just 32. Within six weeks of his death, ENTER THE DRAGON was released and instantly became an international box office smash cementing his legend, albeit a posthumous one.

    At the time of his death, he was at work on a passion project entitled GAME OF DEATH for which a 12-minute action sequence had already been shot and vaulted at the film studio. Unfazed by this “minor” distraction, and perhaps equally shocking due to the star’s death, the film’s stony executives callously made the decision to complete the unfinished film by rushing to find a replacement for its deceased leading man and star.

    FINISHING THE GAME delves into the exhaustive, worldwide search for that replacement through a period reimagining of events as seen through the eyes of five somewhat unlikely yet, prime candidates. A wannabe b-movie actor who shares the same initials as the legend; a starry-eyed doctor; a traumatized refugee; a southern bumpkin with a penchant for chili fries and an Asian American activist of questionable ethnic origin — all vie to follow in the legend’s sizable steps, but ultimately fight for something far removed from a career-making role. As the lengthy audition process intensifies and good-natured camaraderie gives way to backstabbing rivalry, the five subjects’ eyes are opened as they learn that the scripted game pales in comparison to the real one.

    Previous Screenings:
    San Francisco Asian American International Film Festival, 2007

    Canadian Premiere | Roger Fan, star of FINISHING THE GAME in Attendance

    preceded by:

    Building A Journey: From Better Luck Tomorrow to Finishing The Game



    Director/Writer: Anson Ho | Producer: Julie Asato
    Documentary | Beta | Colour | 2007 | 14 minutes | USA

    After two big budget studio movies, Justin Lin is back with another independent Asian American feature film. This documentary follows Justin Lin and the ever-growing BLT (Better Luck Tomorrow) family from 2001 until present day working hand in hand with the Asian American community carving out a niche for themselves in mainstream American media.

    Canadian Premiere

    Celebrity Host for this program:

    Nelson Wong


    New Zealand-born Nelson Wong is a proud member of the sketch comedy group Assaulted Fish & has appeared in over 50 stage & screen projects. Is a regular on Here!TV’s DONALD STRACHEY Series, played a lead role in Lifetime TV’s MY SILENT PARTNER, and most recently appeared in the Bright Light Pictures feature film THEY WAIT.


    Commenting is closed for this article.