EP 231: Sung Kang’s (slow) drive
“He made me laugh, he made me sad, he almost made me cry — this was a superpower. I went on this wonderful, connective human experience with another person, just by watching him.”
Sung Kang is an American filmmaker - best known for his role as Han Lue in the Fast & Furious franchise, a character he first portrayed in one of the seminal Asian American films Better Luck Tomorrow. But Sung is also someone we’ve known - and had our eye on - for awhile. A thoughtful soul, originally a troublemaking kid from Georgia found his way thru package stores, garages, and street performers, becoming an early, indelible face of what Asian Americans could be - so much further beyond the model minority myth. Sung actually stopped by to talk about two pretty significant, personal projects dropping at the same time THIS week - a new podcast CAR STORIES, and a new independent film - SHAKY SHIVERS. Please note that Shaky Shivers, being an independent film was granted a promotional exception from the ongoing writers and actors strikes, which this pod fully supports. Sung’s new podcast podcast - CAR STORIES - was actually a project Raman was early involved in, and covers an an area Sung’s always been passionate about - how cars can be a vehicle (no pun intended) into the human condition and culture. And the film, SHAKY SHIVERS, is Sung’s d directorial debut, an almost throwback and love letter to the campy horror films we all grew up on. Hearing Sung’s humble origins, journey, and motivations will help you understand why so many are drawn to his approach and work. But be sure to check out his latest work - film and podcast - both dropping on Thursday, September 21st.
LEARN ABOUT SUNG
SUNG: imdb.com/name/nm0437646/
NEW FILM (director): Shaky Shivers - https://www.fathomevents.com/events/Shaky-Shivers
NEW POD: Car Stories: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/car-stories-with-sung-kang-and-emelia-hartford/id1707335580
SOCIAL: instagram.com/sungkangsta
MENTIONS
Gainesville, GA - wikipedia.org/wiki/Gainesville,_Georgia
Barstow, CA - wikipedia.org/wiki/Barstow,_California
Marcel Marceau - wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel_Marceau
FILM: Better Luck Tomorrow
WHY Roger Ebert rocks - youtube.com/watch?v=LSzP9YV3jbc
DOCUMENTARY: BLT Genesis - youtube.com/watch?v=YT2LsWsw0bU
Justin Lin - imdb.com/name/nm0510912/
Evan Jackson Leong - imdb.com/name/nm1456609/
Jeff Dowd - wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Dowd
Gabe Bartolis - imdb.com/name/nm0058396/
BOOK: Old Man and the Sea (Hemingway) - goodreads.com/book/show/2165.The_Old_Man_and_the_Sea