GEMMA CHAN TO PRODUCE VINCENT CHIN PODCAST AND FILM

LOS ANGELES - April 8, 2021 -- Gemma Chan, A-Major and M88 are partnering with QCODE, a premiere podcast media studio, for a table read podcast of HOLD STILL, VINCENT, based on the tragic, true events of Vincent Chin’s murder. Johnny Ngo wrote the screenplay and twin brothers, Aaron and Winston Tao, are directing the podcast with an eye toward turning it into a feature film. Ngo’s manager, Bash Naran, is producing.

In the summer of 1982 in Detroit, Vincent Chin, a successful Chinese American engineer living out his American dream, is assaulted at a bar and killed by two white, disgruntled autoworkers, four days before his wedding. When the assailants are given lenient sentences and released without spending a day in prison, a pan-Asian movement ensues resulting in a historic civil rights case, the first where the Civil Rights Act was used to defend the rights of an Asian-American.

The team has partnered with Gold House and are implementing a strategy on supporting philanthropic efforts to combat the recent rise of Asian hate crimes. 

“The death of Vincent Chin occurred during a dark time in America's history with unsettling parallels to what we have seen happen over the past year with the stoking of hatred towards Asians and the scapegoating of Asians for Covid-19. However, it also brought Asian Americans together to form multi-ethnic and multi-racial alliances in the pursuit of justice and to advocate for change. It feels more urgent than ever to bring Vincent's story to a wider audience,” says Chan.

“Vincent’s story really hit home for me as a member of the AAPI community,” said M88 co-founder Phillip Sun. “I’m proud to stand side-by-side with Gemma, Gold House and all our partners to share this urgently-needed story and unite in our collective mission to stand up against injustice.”

The podcast will consist of a table read of the feature script, with an almost exclusively Asian cast, along with interviews with high profile artists and activists of the AAPI community.

Chan, Mary Lee of A-Major and M88’s Phillip Sun are producing the podcast with Brian Kavanaugh-Jones and Fred Berger of Automatik; QCODE’s Rob Herting and Sandra Yee Ling; and Writ Large’s Bash Naran. QCODE will also release the podcast on Apple Podcasts, and everywhere podcasts are made available.

Carmen Cuba will be casting the table read.  

“We started A-Major because we needed a platform for Asian American voices. This horrifying moment in time only reinforces how important it is to dispel the harmful stereotypes that have been perpetuated throughout history. Vincent Chin’s story is one we’ve always wanted to tell, but now the world needs to hear it. The Tao brothers and Johnny are the perfect team to share this story, and we are thrilled to partner with Gemma who is a champion of the AAPI community,” says Lee. 

"Vincent Chin's story is more than a podcast or film to us. It is a cultural landmark in our nation's history, turning the tide for Asian American civil rights. This is a story to remind our community of how we gained the confidence to collectively say, ‘We're here. We're proud of who we are. And we're not going anywhere.’ We are honored to bring this story to life with this undeniable team,” say Aaron and Winston Tao.

Gemma Chan is represented by WME, M88 and Independent Talent Group.

Aaron and Winston Tao are represented by CAA and 3 Arts Entertainment.

Johnny Ngo is represented by CAA and Writ Large. 

GEMMA CHAN
Gemma Chan is best known for her roles in BAFTA-nominated Channel 4/AMC artificial intelligence drama HUMANS; Warner Bros’ film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel, CRAZY RICH ASIANS, which won Best Comedy at the Critics Choice Awards and was also nominated for a Golden Globe and SAG Award; and Marvel Studios’ first female-fronted superhero film, CAPTAIN MARVEL. In 2019, Gemma returned to British television in I AM HANNAH, a deeply moving story which explored the societal pressure women face to have children. Her performance garnered rave reviews across the board. Last year Gemma starred opposite Meryl Streep in LET THEM ALL TALK, an original comedy directed by Steven Soderbergh. Gemma can currently be heard as the voice of Namaari in Disney’s latest animation, RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON. Later this year, Gemma will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe leading an ensemble cast in ETERNALS. The film will be released worldwide on 5th November 2021. Gemma recently completed filming Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller, DON’T WORRY DARLING. Gemma is also an accomplished theatre actress, she performed in the sell-out run of the critically acclaimed YELLOW FACE, by Tony Award winning David Henry Hwang at the Park Theatre and again in the National Theatre’s revival. In 2015, she starred in Harold Pinter’s THE HOMECOMING at Trafalgar Studios. Gemma is a Unicef UK Ambassador.

ABOUT GOLD HOUSE
Gold House is the premier nonprofit collective of Asian founders, creative voices, and leaders dedicated to unifying the world’s largest populace–Asians and Pacific Islanders–to fight for authentic multicultural representation and societal equity. Our ventures include membership systems and benefits to fortify relationships among Asians and with other marginalized communities (#StopAsianHate, All of Us Movement); championing authentic Asian representation through media to reshape public opinion (Gold Open, Gold Records, A100 List); and accelerating economic success and commercial representation through Asian founders (Gold Rush, Founder Network, Angel Network). To learn more, visit www.goldhouse.org or follow @GoldHouseCo on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

ABOUT A-MAJOR MEDIA
Formed in 2019, A-Major Media is a film and television production company dedicated to championing Asian American voices. A-Major strives to tell compelling and entertaining stories that explore universal themes and come from an Asian American perspective.

Projects include the adaptation of Celeste Ng’s first novel, “Everything I Never Told You,” which will be a limited series with Annapurna Television at Apple; feature adaptation of “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by Maurene Goo with Yulin Kuang writing and Lee Byung-hun and Charles Pak producing at Netflix; “Untitled Elliot San” with John Cho producing and set-up at New Line Cinema; and the comedy “We Stan” with producers 88rising and Jon “Dumbfoundead” Park and written by Lauren Moon.

Led by industry veteran Mary Lee, A-Major operates via an independent development fund from majority investor MRC in association with UTA.

ABOUT M88
In 2020, former WME Partner Phillip Sun and MACRO Founder & CEO Charles D. King launched M88 with the mission to support and amplify the next generation of artists and cultural leaders from the global new majority. The independently operated representation firm, led by Sun and Partners Oronde Garrett, Jelani Johnson and Gaby Mena, represents storytellers, actors, writers and multi-hyphenates. Their artists and creators push culture through collaboration, fearlessness and innovation. Their goal is to tirelessly advocate for the new ideas and paradigms that reflect the diverse world in which we live.

AARON AND WINSTON TAO
Aaron & Winston Tao are an Asian-American multi-award winning filmmaking duo that prides themselves with their unique ability to create emotionally touching films through relationally authentic storytelling. “Sleep Well, My Baby,” won silver at the Cannes YDA Awards for "Changing the world frame by frame," and was also shortlisted for "Best Short Film." It was awarded a Webby Honorable mention, Vimeo Staff Pick, and was distributed as the fourth installment of the FilmSupply Presents series. Their branded film, “SuperMaarko” won them a Webby Award for People’s Voice, as well as nominations for “Best Emerging Directors,” and “Best Narrative,” at the One Screen Film Festival.

JOHNNY NGO
Johnny is a former CAPE Writer’s Fellow where he developed his original KILLERS CAN DREAM. After his fellowship, Johnny signed a development deal with Pearl Studios where he worked on existing and new properties. Since writing HOLD STILL, VINCENT, he has developed a slate of original features and sci-fi short stories.

ABOUT QCODE
QCODE, a premium content studio and podcast network, was launched in 2019 by former Creative Artists Agency agent Rob Herting. The company is focused on working with creators to originate and innovate stories in audio format that have the potential to grow and be adapted in other mediums, including television series and feature films. QCODE has quickly become the leading destination for scripted fiction and immersive storytelling in the podcast space. The company has released ten scripted podcasts, all of which have been No.1 in the fiction category and top 10 overall on the Apple Podcast Chart.