FORMER beauty queen-turned-filmmaker based in the United States Rachel Tan has just premiered an inspirational film about a towering Asian-American titled Sight.
Sight made its debut in cinemas around the US last May 24 and tells the story of the life and struggles of world-renowned eye surgeon Dr Ming Wang, a Chinese-American.
The 100-minute movie which opened in more than 2,000 American cinemas stars Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear (Little Miss Sunshine) and Terry Chen (House Of Cards) and it has grossed more than US$7 million (RM32.8 million) in the US.
ASIAN-AMERICANS
Tan a former Miss Malaysia and her husband Dan Mark founded Kingstreet Pictures in 2016, which has released five films with plots featuring Asian-Americans.
In a recent interview, Tan said that Sight was an inspiring true story that focuses on how Dr Ming overcame incredible adversity to become an outstanding eye surgeon.
"I picked Dr Ming's story because it is a great story to be told. He is a towering Asian American who founded a technology that restored sight to millions around the world.
"Meeting him six months before filming was great, he is wonderfully friendly and humble," said Tan.
The movie was shot during Covid-19, and Tan completed it in two months in Vancouver, Canada, despite facing many hurdles due to standard operating procedures (SOPs).
"This movie will be coming to Singapore on Aug 1, so I hope Malaysians can catch it there," she said.
FILMED IN KL
Tan is also working on her sixth film Worth The Wait.
Partly shot in Kuala Lumpur, it is a tribute to her homeland and stars Lana Condor, Andrew Koji, Ross Butler, Sung Kang, Elodie Yung and Karena Lam with Tom Lin as director.
"Worth The Wait is like my favourite movie Love Actually. It is a collection of love stories and we shot it over a few days in KL in June 2023," she said.
"Its ensemble cast is really talented. Each of them has vast experience and they all had a blast, like a summer camp, during filming."
LEAP OF FAITH
Tan, from Seremban, "leaped" from beauty queen to a lawyer to film producer.
"Being a lawyer was always something I thought I would like because it's what my family wanted for me.
"I was doing my first year of law school and tried out the pageant by Astro during my summer break.
"I then realised that I loved the entertainment industry.
"I was a TV host, actress, brand ambassador and a model," she said.
ALWAYS
When Tan was an assistant to a movie director in Hong Kong, she fell in love with the process of putting a movie together from script development to casting to production and post production.
"The first movie I produced was Always. It was a co-production between Hong Kong and the US.
"I liked how the movie depicted Asian protagonists in the east and the west who were well travelled, cultured, flawed and layered."
FETCHED COFFEE
Tan admitted that when she started her journey as an assistant to a producer, it was a true working from the bottom experience.
"I fetched coffee, I was the first one on set, I worked as a translator in script development.
"We then carried the project through fund raising, script development, casting and hiring crews," she said.
The best part of her job is that it does not feel like a job, as she loves it.
"I don't think about clocking out and charging by the hour."
HEALING
The common theme in all her films is healing and breaking stereotypical roles.
"I have been involved in four of the six movies we have made. I love stories that take viewers on a journey of healing and redemption."
Tan also loves biopics about inspirational people and romantic comedies.
"Basically, all movies that touch the heart, promote family values and give hope."
CRAZY RICH ASIANS
She said the representation of Southeast Asian talent in Hollywood was evolving for the better.
"Asians in Hollywood are definitely having their moment and that has helped Southeast Asian talent too.
"Since Crazy Rich Asians, the door was definitely open. It is our task now to keep the momentum going."
MOVIE HUB
Tan's future goals and dream projects are about making Malaysia a hub for Asian American and Asian movies.
"I hope that we can be a hub for Asian American and Asian movies and TV shows.
"We want to continue to bring the extraordinary talent we have in the East to Hollywood."
Tan is has two movies in development that tell Asian American stories.
"One of them will be shot this year and the other soon after. I hope to have the second one fully filmed in my home country."