Front Cover

I've seen many depictions of the challenges of Asian American identity --in film, dance, theatre and even in a musical. Often it's a tall order to expect a thought-provoking blend of humor, believable dialogue, strong characters, a great story and a fresh approach. Front Cover, which I viewed during its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival, fulfills all of that for me.

Since the story takes place against the backdrop of the fashion industry in New York City, you will have to endure the requisite diva tantrums and photo-shoot dramas in the opening scenes. Once past those caricatures, you'll be rewarded by a story with a recognizable emotional cadence, yet with surprising twists and turns.

What I cheered most about was the depiction of the range of Asian masculinity and emotions. American actors Jake Choi and James Chen do a fantastic job--of traveling a journey of wariness, rejection, willingness, trust, intimacy and vulnerability--as the two main characters who in the end are faced, as movie characters always are, with difficult choices to make. The actions they choose render a story that will resonate for nearly anyone.

Really enjoyed the way this film deftly provides a window to the Asian American gay experience, which a mainstream audience may not necessarily be aware of.

Acting was also excellent, and what stood out to me most about the film. I was really surprised to know that James Chen was Asian American because his accent was spot on (from what I can tell of mainland China accents). Another great thing about the story line is that it doesn't provide your usual fairy tale ending. But regardless of whether or not you agreed with the choices made by the characters, you could, at the very least, empathize with their experiences and the pressures they face. Kudos to both leads on a job well done.

Each character is relatable in a different way.

Jake Choi and James Chen's portrayals of Ryan and Ning were very relatable and authentic. It was interesting to watch the character development since both of them had initially possessed or at least exuded a certain level of outer confidence although very different levels of confidence at the beginning of the film. This was apparent in their fashion and clothing choices throughout the length of time we get to spend with them. Ryan's fashion being an assortment of button up shirts and ankle length pants or capris, a fashion style seemingly considered to be more westernized while Ning's fashion sense is often a Chinese shirt with a medium-to-high neck collar or a silk robe which is more of an Asian style.

However, the story definitely shifts in perspective for both of the characters and for the viewer as Ryan and Ning become more and more transparent about their insecurities, flaws and fears, Ryan's insecurity being that he'll be treated differently or less of an important person if he discloses any information about his Asian heritage. Ning's insecurity on the other hand, isn't as obvious as Ryan's, but certain hints like Ning being surrounded by a group of familiar people with a similar Asian life experience suggest that he hasn't yet adapted to the western culture. It seems like the focus of Ryan's story, specifically, is on finding that balance that Ning seems to have when it comes to accepting his ethnic background while Ning's narrative is focused more on building up his confidence to accept his own sexuality. In both scenarios, these two men are seeking some kind of balance in their lives and it provides viewers with two different perspectives. Maybe, this is suggesting that we should take the time to listen to other people's perspectives on the world rather than being stuck in our own miniature worlds, so that we can gain a greater understanding of ourselves. In this way, once we see both of their true selves and find out that they also have their own set of insecurities, their stories and experiences become relatable to us and that feeling of uneasiness and not fitting in and/or even being bullied, I think, is one of universal experience.

Front Cover surfaces stereotypes, but doesn't compromise humor and sensitivity.

In regards to how this film dealt with stereotypes surrounding the Asian and Asian American identities, Ray Yeung, the director of the film, incorporated existing, modern-day stereotypes such as Asians always having to eat only Asian food and Asians only hanging out with other Asians, just to name a few. The story was told in an inventive way that utilized humor in between scenes to give the film a light- hearted, balanced feel while still being culturally sensitive to both identities. Yeung uses just enough stereotypes that it doesn't in any way make it seem like he's taking it too far. Also, in no way does it pose as a distraction from the overall story of the film.

Front Cover is definitely unique in its' approach when bringing up the conversation of race and racial stereotyping compared to conventional and in many cases, extremely offensive and one- dimensional portrayals of Asians and Asian American people in mainstream media. Although Front Cover isn't the first film, it is certainly one of few films that actually portrays Asians and Asian Americans in an accurate light and that is refreshing to see.

This film shows that there is more to a person than the superficial.

I was pleasantly surprised when I watched Front Cover at the 2015 Hawai'i International Film Festival (HIFF). To be honest, I initially went in slightly skeptical about this film, thinking that it would be another one of those sappy love stories about two gay men, except with a new, modern spin that comments on issues about some of the common Asian stereotypes that we see in today's media. However, as the plot continued building on itself, I found that this film was more about seeing the intrinsic qualities of a person behind all of the superficial– appearance, clothing, etc. and if there was anything to take away from this film, it was firstly, to see people for people, regardless of race, ethnicity, social class or any other social constructs that exist. Front Cover was definitely one of those movies that really made me think once I exited out of the theater and it is as transparent and real as the characters are when it comes to talking about race, racial stereotypes, sexuality and human identity; and hopefully, this film can open up a comfortable space where we are no longer afraid to talk about such issues.

This is an easy movie to watch and like. The story is about the modern west and the modern east. Two Chinese men - one from the traditional yet modern world of China and the other born an American but Chinese by heritage. These two men are thrown together because they share a like heritage but are vastly culturally different and they are expected to communicate on a like plain. That doesn't happen.

The American is very open about his sexuality, the Chinese one is very repressed about his true sexual desires. The setting is NYC, a big open city, with liberal neighborhoods where people can feel free to be. This is where the American lives. The other one is from a big country but is expected to fit in everywhere. These two men discover their common interest in each other but we know it will never work. The cultural divide is a major stumbling point for both.

Smartly cast, great dialog, nicely edited. Enjoy !

It was such a great pleasure to see a film that struck a personal chord with me at the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. Being an Asian American gay man myself, I loved that Front Cover touched on accepting one's identity in regards to both ethnic background and sexual orientation. I just don't think there are enough movies out there that touch upon both topics so this was a no-brainer for me to see at the festival. There are so many reasons why this film was amazing.

The acting by the two leads Jake Choi (Ryan) and James Chen (Ning) was top notch. The chemistry between the two was very believable and really contributed to this film being a great love story. In the question and answer portion after the viewing, we discovered that both actors are straight. Both of them were very believable as being gay in the film. Character development is also done really well as we get to know Ryan's background growing up with immigrant parents and his personal struggles later on in the film. James also does an extremely good job playing an actor from China. The accent is very realistic.

I also have to say that both the writing and directing of the film was impeccable. From start to finish, the viewer is taken on a journey the two main characters falling for each other. Not only is there a connection in the romantic sense, but they also get closer when discussing their cultural backgrounds and differences. Ray Yeung did a great job of making sure the movie flowed really well.

There are also light-hearted moments in the film as well as some comedy. We get a glimpse into the fashion world and some of the jokes made by the characters were really funny. If you liked The Devil Wears Prada then I'm sure you'll like this film as well. But for sure, this is one of my favorite films because it touched on a few personal topics that I relate with. I recommend this film to all LGBT, indie-movie lovers such as myself. I cannot wait until this comes out on DVD!