Bang Bang (2011 film)

Bang Bang
Film poster
Directed byByron Q
Written byByron Q
Produced byByron Q
James Bak
Mark Battaglia
StarringThai Ngo
David Huynh
Jessika Van
CinematographyJeff Siljenberg
Music byAlexis Grapsas
Release date
  • May 3, 2011 (2011-05-03) (LAAPFF)[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Bang Bang is a 2011 American gangster film directed and written by Byron Q. It stars Thai Ngo, David Huynh, Jessika Van, Wally Randolph, Vanna Fut, Kitty Chu and others. It premiered at the 2011 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival from Visual Communications, where it won the Best First Feature Award. It has also been commented to be influenced by the French New Wave films, as Director Jean-Pierre Gorin was a teacher of the film's director Byron Q while at UCSD.

Plot

A story about a youth named Justin (Thai Ngo) who grows up on the streets of San Diego, and who dreams of becoming a rapper. Meanwhile, he befriends a parachute kid Taiwanese gangster named Charlie (David Huynh) and deals with other gang leaders such as Rocky (Wally Randolph or Walter Wong).

Production

The film was shot in San Diego.[2]

Release

The film screened October 21, 2011 at the San Diego Asian Film Festival.[3]

Reception

Awards

Nominations

  • Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA), Alexis Grapsas
  • Jury Award, Best Narrative Feature Film, 2012 San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (now CAAMFest)

Critical response

Carlos Cajilig at Hyphen Magazine said the film has "too many elements" but "is a serious and unflinching look at a side of Asian America that rarely gets portrayed in film."[5]

References

  1. ^ "The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival-2011". April 28, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "Pacific Arts Movement | LOCAL FILMMAKERS AND ACTORS SHINE AT 12TH SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL". Pacific Arts Movement. September 15, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  3. ^ "Asian Film Festival highlights". San Diego Union-Tribune. October 14, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  4. ^ Smith, Nigel M. (May 6, 2011). ""Living in Seduced Circumstances" and "The House of Suh" Top LA Asian Pacific Film Festival Awards". IndieWire. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  5. ^ Cajilig, Carlos (June 10, 2011). "Hyphen Film Review: Byron Q's 'Bang Bang'". Hyphen. Retrieved July 10, 2023.