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Director Jon Chu says he went into production for Crazy Rich Asians with a sense of purpose. He wanted more than just a romantic comedy, he told Variety.
“We had something to say. That was not just from the writers; that’s from the actors, the crew, everyone; there was a sense of purpose.”
The final product, and reaction to it, surprised even him.
“We had to make a beautiful story about self-worth while going through our own self-worth journey. Then we finished the movie and went, “Okay.” We hadn’t even thought about the cultural context at that point, again, because we had to put it in the back of our minds,” Chu said to Deadline.
“Then you show the movie, and the cultural context is immediately seized upon because it’s the first fresh air for so many people to see themselves on the big screen. They have to breathe and they have to let it all out, and they’re so happy.”
He didn’t expect to see people crying in the lobby after seeing the movie. He didn’t expect to see people congregating outside the theater still discussing the movie 30 minutes after the final credits rolled.
“That was so amazing and then you get caught up in that,” Chu continued. “Then after a few months of that, your movie is number one and all this stuff. Then we all look at each other like, “Oh, but do they understand also that it doesn’t just happen?” It’s because we did something with care and attention to detail and actually told a great story. “
Even more amazing, he directed Crazy Rich Asians without a crazy rich budget. He somehow turned a $30 million budget into $238 million worldwide box office.
WB Photo
His biggest frustration about the movie are comments that Crazy Rich Asians is representative of all Asian culture.
“Our movie is an example of that in terms of how Rachel Chu represents an American going to Asia for the first time,” he said to Deadline. “Then, not just having Asians that have Asian accents, but having accents from all around the world and speaking different languages from all around the world, it just shows the amount of layers and textures to Asian culture from all around the world, not just one place.”
So what’s the bottom line?
“We weren’t allowed to fail on this one,” he said to Variety. “I hope that burden is lifted; I hope it’s lightened the pressure on other films.”
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