Just this year, Sean Wang is already a Sundance breakout and an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker. Finally, Wang’s feature debut “Dìdi” will be in theaters thanks to Focus Features.
The semi-autobiographical coming of age story of “Dìdi” follows a Taiwanese-American tween (Izaac Wang) in 2008. At 13 years old, he’s just about to begin high school and he learns “how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love his mom,” during the last month of summer, per the film’s synopsis.
Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua, Raul Dial, Aaron Chang, Mahaela Park, Chiron Cilia Denk, Montay Boseman, Sunil Mukherjee Maurillo, Alaysia Simmons, Alysha Syed, Georgie August, and Joan Chen also star.
Wang writes, directs, and produces, with Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, and Valerie Bush also producing. The executive producers include Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Dave A. Liu, Jennifer J. Pritzker, Robina Riccitiello, Joan Chen, Chris Quintos Cathcart, and Tyler Boehm.
The semi-autobiographical coming of age story of “Dìdi” follows a Taiwanese-American tween (Izaac Wang) in 2008. At 13 years old, he’s just about to begin high school and he learns “how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love his mom,” during the last month of summer, per the film’s synopsis.
Shirley Chen, Chang Li Hua, Raul Dial, Aaron Chang, Mahaela Park, Chiron Cilia Denk, Montay Boseman, Sunil Mukherjee Maurillo, Alaysia Simmons, Alysha Syed, Georgie August, and Joan Chen also star.
Wang writes, directs, and produces, with Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, and Valerie Bush also producing. The executive producers include Chris Columbus, Eleanor Columbus, Dave A. Liu, Jennifer J. Pritzker, Robina Riccitiello, Joan Chen, Chris Quintos Cathcart, and Tyler Boehm.
- 5/14/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Deadline reports a new sports documentary is being planned for kickboxing champion and martial arts movie star Benny “The Jet” Urquidez. The names associated with the production almost seems like a bingo announcer called out randomly drawn names from my favorite childhood movies. Keanu Reeves, who himself is no stranger to the martial arts world and action genre, has partnered with Fisher Stevens, who is known for projects like Short Circuit 1 & 2 and Hackers, to produce the documentary on Urquidez, whom I’ve talked about before on my Dragons Forever retrospective.
The documentary, which is titled The Jet, is currently in production with the Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor turned filmmaker, Jennifer Tiexiera, directing the film. Tiexiera has most recently also directed a three-part series for HBO called Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo, which has also recently been nominated for an Emmy in the catagory of Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary.
The documentary, which is titled The Jet, is currently in production with the Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor turned filmmaker, Jennifer Tiexiera, directing the film. Tiexiera has most recently also directed a three-part series for HBO called Unveiled: Surviving La Luz del Mundo, which has also recently been nominated for an Emmy in the catagory of Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary.
- 3/28/2024
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Action megastar Keanu Reeves has partnered with Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens to co-produce a documentary on the life story of Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, the iconic athlete who introduced mixed martial arts to the world.
Titled The Jet, the film is currently in production under the direction of Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor turned filmmaker Jennifer Tiexiera. Its financiers are Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm of the newly formed Unapologetic Projects, a company dedicated to working with underrepresented creators. Maura Anderson and Zak Kilberg of Stevens’ recently launched production company Highly Flammable will also serve as producers along with John Scalise and his Faya Project. Nancy Weisler, Brian Maya and Chris Quintos Cathcart & Tyler Boehm of Unapologetic serve as executive producers on the project slated for release in 2025.
Nicknamed for his explosive spinning back kick, Sensei Benny “The Jet” Urquidez had a profound impact on martial arts in mainstream culture,...
Titled The Jet, the film is currently in production under the direction of Emmy-nominated sports documentary editor turned filmmaker Jennifer Tiexiera. Its financiers are Chris Quintos Cathcart and Tyler Boehm of the newly formed Unapologetic Projects, a company dedicated to working with underrepresented creators. Maura Anderson and Zak Kilberg of Stevens’ recently launched production company Highly Flammable will also serve as producers along with John Scalise and his Faya Project. Nancy Weisler, Brian Maya and Chris Quintos Cathcart & Tyler Boehm of Unapologetic serve as executive producers on the project slated for release in 2025.
Nicknamed for his explosive spinning back kick, Sensei Benny “The Jet” Urquidez had a profound impact on martial arts in mainstream culture,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Focus Features had landed the worldwide rights to Sean Wang’s feature directorial debut Dídi, which won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival.
The film is set in 2008 in the San Francisco Bay Area and, according to the film’s logline, follows an “impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.”
Izaac Wang (Good Boys) stars in the film, alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen and Chang Li Hu. The film was also awarded the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast.
THR‘s Sundance review of the film reads: “The film is a very solid entry in the annals of coming-of-age films, reminiscent of Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade in both its affection for its young characters and its willingness to meet them on their own terms.
The film is set in 2008 in the San Francisco Bay Area and, according to the film’s logline, follows an “impressionable 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy learns what his family can’t teach him: how to skate, how to flirt, and how to love your mom.”
Izaac Wang (Good Boys) stars in the film, alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen and Chang Li Hu. The film was also awarded the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast.
THR‘s Sundance review of the film reads: “The film is a very solid entry in the annals of coming-of-age films, reminiscent of Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade in both its affection for its young characters and its willingness to meet them on their own terms.
- 1/31/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Focus Features has acquired worldwide rights to Sean Wang’s popular Sundance coming-of-age tale Didi, winner of the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic special jury award for best ensemble cast.
Didi is set in California’s Bay Area in 2008 and follows a group of first-generation teens seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy.
Izaac Wang stars alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, and Chang Li Hua.
Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, and Wang served as producers on the Antigravity Academy and Spark Features production, with Chris Quintos Cathcart, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello,...
Didi is set in California’s Bay Area in 2008 and follows a group of first-generation teens seen through the eyes of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy.
Izaac Wang stars alongside Joan Chen, Shirley Chen, and Chang Li Hua.
Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush, and Wang served as producers on the Antigravity Academy and Spark Features production, with Chris Quintos Cathcart, Tyler Boehm, Robina Riccitiello,...
- 1/31/2024
- ScreenDaily
“Dìdi,” a coming-of-age drama that won the U.S. dramatic audience award at Sundance, has sold to Focus Features. The semi-autobiographical film was written, produced and directed by Sean Wang in his feature debut.
The film follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy in the throes of an awkward adolescence, as he enjoys the last month of summer before high school begins. He experiences the pangs of first love, becomes friends with some skaters (after promising to make videos of them), fights with his older sister and gets a hard-earned understanding of his mom. It is set in 2008, when MySpace was still a thing and TikTok had yet to explode.
Wang says he hopes that audiences will be able to see a version of themselves in the film, which stars Izaac Wang as the filmmaker’s cinematic alter-ego and Joan Chen (“The Last Emperor”) as his onscreen mother.
“’Dìdi (弟弟)’ is...
The film follows a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy in the throes of an awkward adolescence, as he enjoys the last month of summer before high school begins. He experiences the pangs of first love, becomes friends with some skaters (after promising to make videos of them), fights with his older sister and gets a hard-earned understanding of his mom. It is set in 2008, when MySpace was still a thing and TikTok had yet to explode.
Wang says he hopes that audiences will be able to see a version of themselves in the film, which stars Izaac Wang as the filmmaker’s cinematic alter-ego and Joan Chen (“The Last Emperor”) as his onscreen mother.
“’Dìdi (弟弟)’ is...
- 1/31/2024
- by Brent Lang and Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features said Wednesday that it has acquired global rights on Sean Wang’s Dìdi, which won the U.S. Dramatic Audience Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast at the just-concluded Sundance Film Festival.
Last week, Wang was nominated for an Oscar for his documentary short Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó, which premiered at SXSW last year and won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. That movie hits Disney+ and Hulu on February 9.
Dìdi is set in 2008 in the Bay Area, and a portrait of early millennial first-generation teenagers as seen through the lens of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, played by Izaac Wang. Pic is produced by Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush and Wang. It stars Joan Chen, Shirley Chen and Chang Li Hua.
Dìdi is an Antigravity Academy and...
Last week, Wang was nominated for an Oscar for his documentary short Nǎi Nai and Wài Pó, which premiered at SXSW last year and won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. That movie hits Disney+ and Hulu on February 9.
Dìdi is set in 2008 in the Bay Area, and a portrait of early millennial first-generation teenagers as seen through the lens of a 13-year-old Taiwanese American boy, played by Izaac Wang. Pic is produced by Carlos López Estrada, Josh Peters, Valerie Bush and Wang. It stars Joan Chen, Shirley Chen and Chang Li Hua.
Dìdi is an Antigravity Academy and...
- 1/31/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Carlos López Estrada is launching the Antigravity Academy Screenwriters Camp, a program designed to develop and package five features from first-time emerging filmmakers.
The program will be run by Abiram Brizuela, Antigravity’s head of incubator, and backed by independent film financier and Unapologetic Projects co-ceo Chris Quintos Cathcart. Brizuela is the executive director of The Unusual Suspects Theater Company and previously served as director of artist community at the Sundance Institute.
“This is a program built out of necessity. We’ve met hundreds of incredible filmmakers waiting to be seen. Filmmakers who anchor their stories on their own identity and explore the nuances of life from unprecedented perspectives,” stated Brizuela and López Estrada. “We’re proud to provide a platform where these storytellers can exchange ideas, engage in artistic practice, explore the power of their creative voice, and ultimately find a path forward for their films.
The program will be run by Abiram Brizuela, Antigravity’s head of incubator, and backed by independent film financier and Unapologetic Projects co-ceo Chris Quintos Cathcart. Brizuela is the executive director of The Unusual Suspects Theater Company and previously served as director of artist community at the Sundance Institute.
“This is a program built out of necessity. We’ve met hundreds of incredible filmmakers waiting to be seen. Filmmakers who anchor their stories on their own identity and explore the nuances of life from unprecedented perspectives,” stated Brizuela and López Estrada. “We’re proud to provide a platform where these storytellers can exchange ideas, engage in artistic practice, explore the power of their creative voice, and ultimately find a path forward for their films.
- 12/12/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Quiver Distribution has acquired North American rights to “Bitch Ass,” a horror movie that premiered at this year’s SXSW where it won the Midnighter’s Audience Award and earned praise for its sly reinvention of the slasher genre.
The film stars Teon Kelley (“Tyler”), Tunde Laleye (“Black as Night”), Me’lisa Sellers (“Split”), Tony Todd (“Candyman”), and Sheaun McKinney (“The Neighborhood”) and was written and directed by Bill Posley (“Cobra Kai”). Quiver Distribution is planning an October 14, 2022 release.
Quiver says the film blends comedy, horror and social commentary, while telling the story of a gang initiation gone wrong when a group of four recruits break into a house of horror and are forced by Bitch Ass (Laleye) to play deadly games for their lives. Win and you live – lose and you die.
Reviewers liked the movie with Bloody Disgusting praising its “gleeful sense of fun and creativity” and The Austin...
The film stars Teon Kelley (“Tyler”), Tunde Laleye (“Black as Night”), Me’lisa Sellers (“Split”), Tony Todd (“Candyman”), and Sheaun McKinney (“The Neighborhood”) and was written and directed by Bill Posley (“Cobra Kai”). Quiver Distribution is planning an October 14, 2022 release.
Quiver says the film blends comedy, horror and social commentary, while telling the story of a gang initiation gone wrong when a group of four recruits break into a house of horror and are forced by Bitch Ass (Laleye) to play deadly games for their lives. Win and you live – lose and you die.
Reviewers liked the movie with Bloody Disgusting praising its “gleeful sense of fun and creativity” and The Austin...
- 6/29/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
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