Details

Release year: 2002

Storyline

A group of over-achieving East Asian American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extracurricular criminal activities.

Top credits

Directors

Justin Lin

Writers

Cast

Parry Shen — Ben Manibag
Jason Tobin — Virgil Hu
Sung Kang — Han
Shirley Anderson — Hot Dog Planet Customer

See all 334 credits →

Did you know

• According to an April 2003 NPR radio interview with Elvis Mitchell, Justin Lin's production company was on the verge of folding unless Lin could secure a certain amount of funding. Lin had essentially resigned himself to failure; but on a whim called a celebrity he had met once in Las Vegas. Lin got a call the day before the deadline from the celeb saying that he had read the script and wanted to provide some backing. Two hours later, the new investor had wired Lin the money and saved the production. The celebrity: M.C. Hammer.

• During a Q&A after the screening at Sundance, one audience member asked the filmmakers if they thought they were being irresponsible by portraying Asian-Americans negatively. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert stood up and shouted at the man that Asian-Americans can make whatever films they want, about whoever they want, and do not have any obligation to represent their people.

• The film was financed with credit cards and with money raised independently by the filmmakers. The actors deferred their salaries.