"38 At The Garden"
Director Frank Chi
Oscar short list
Jan 9, 2023.
32 Minutes.
In a recent interview with the director of "38 at the Garden," Frank Chi, discussed his background working for Barack Obama's presidential campaign and his transition to documentary filmmaking. Chi also shared the inspiration behind his film, focusing on the night Jeremy Lin scored 38 points at Madison Square Garden, and how the film addresses the stereotypes and cultural exclusion Asian people have faced in American society. The film has received positive feedback and is accessible to all viewers as it is only 38 minutes long. Chi emphasizes the importance of defying stereotypes, taking control of one's life, and learning from the experiences of others.
00:00:00 In this section, the director of the short film "38 at the Garden," Frank Chi, discusses his background and how his political experience led him to documentary filmmaking. He shares his story of working for Barack Obama's presidential campaign and his transition to filmmaking, specifically to create stories that are true through documentary filmmaking. He also touches on the origin story of his film, which focuses on a moment when society told a group of people they couldn't do something, and how someone shattered that notion.
00:05:00 In this section, the director of the documentary "38 at the Garden," Frank Chi, talks about the birth of the idea for the film, which centers around the night that Jeremy Lin scored 38 points at Madison Square Garden. He discusses the three parts of the film, which focus on breaking stereotypes, shattering them on a world stage, and the weaponization of those stereotypes against Asian people. Chi states that as an Asian American, the night that Jeremy Lin rose to fame was an act of belonging for him, just like Barack Obama's election. He also talks about the struggles of fitting in as an Asian American in a society that does not always include or represent them.
00:10:00 In this section, the director, Frank Chi, discusses the stereotypes and cultural exclusion that Asian people have faced and continue to face in American society. He explains that these stereotypes are unfortunately still rampant in American media, and Asian people have had to become accustomed to not seeing themselves represented as heroes in mainstream media. However, he shares that Jeremy Lin's success and the impact of the movie Linsanity broke through this psychological hack that Asian people had created to survive in this country, breaking the seal for many within the Asian diaspora. Chi also speaks about the process of convincing Jeremy Lin to participate in the documentary, given that he is still pursuing an active basketball career, emphasizing the urgency of meeting the moment and addressing the stereotypes that still exist.
00:15:00 In this section, the director discusses how the movie was not solely about Jeremy Lin, but the sense of doubt that anyone can relate to. The movie has received feedback from people who feel they have been doubted in their work life, and it has given them the confidence to take their shot at the right moment. The movie showcases how to confront stereotypes and take control of your life. The director shares how the funding for the movie was raised independently, and things did not always go smoothly with investors. The NBA had been in good conversation with the producers, and they recognized the inspiring story that could help the league's PR. Finally, Lisa Ling's involvement helped push the movie out since she has stayed involved in the project even after her interview.
00:20:00 In this section of the interview, director Frank Chi talks about the serious topics covered in the film and how they had comedians and serious commentators to provide commentary. He highlights the importance of Lisa Lane's contribution in the film as she provided a unique perspective on the effect of stereotypes on society and how they turn into anti-Asian violence. Chi also details the timeline of the project from its inception in 2020 to submitting to Tribeca in May 2022. He reveals that the initial amount raised independently was $120,000 and that the NBA footage costs a lot. Despite the tight budget, the film looks very professional and was a testament to their hard work.
00:25:00 In this section, director Frank Chi discusses the process of working with the NBA and how they were appreciative of the cooperation they received. He also talks about sticking to the "script" for the documentary and how people who understood the vision helped put the film together. Chi hints at his interest in making films about belonging and defying the odds and how experimentation is important after completing a project like "38 at the Garden." The editing process was quick, taking only a couple of months, and Chi talks about learning from the fast-paced and specialized work of people in the film industry.
00:30:00 In this section, director Frank Chi explains that one of the reasons they made the film a short documentary is to make it more accessible to viewers. They wanted to give people no excuses not to watch it, and by making it only 38 minutes long instead of 90, they achieved this goal. The film provides both an opportunity to relive the famous 2012 Knicks vs. Warriors game and to gain a deeper understanding of the experience that Asian Americans had to go through in order to celebrate and live that moment. Chuck Todd summarized the film perfectly when he said that people might come for the basketball but stay for an education.
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