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"This is the next level, where we get to come
in and tell our authentic, specific stories," said Huang, whose
2013 autobiography was adapted into the ABC television sitcom
"Fresh Off the Boat."
"And then the other step I think the film takes for America and
cinema is that it's intersectional. We can tell a story that
feels real to Asian-American immigrants, immigrants all over."
The coming-of-age story centers around a high school basketball
star who dreams of playing in the National Basketball
Association while navigating family pressure, love, and rivals.
Taylor Takahashi, who plays the leading man, makes his acting
debut in the film, which will open in U.S. theaters on March 5.
"It was kind of like taking two weeks of swimming lessons and
then go jump into the deep end," he said. "But I had the support
of so many people, whether they're family and friends to me on
set, the producers, our director, everyone was there to kind of
always jump into the pool if they saw me drowning."
Huang said he cast Takahashi because of their similar
backgrounds. "I knew his experiences and I knew the emotions he
would draw on," said the director, who wants viewers to see
themselves in the film as well.
"I hope people walk out of it with a cathartic feeling, but also
feeling free to reflect and question all of the things people
tell us about our existence and our identity and race, because
none of us fit in that box."
(Reporting by Alicia Powell; Editing by Richard Chang and
Rosalba O'Brien)
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