00:00 The much-anticipated rom-com Asian Persuasion will hit cinemas soon.
00:05 Its star-studded cast includes our very own Dante Basco, Casey Concepcion, Rachel Alejandro and Toni La Brusca.
00:13 The film follows the story of a chef named Mickey who sets up a fake dating profile for his ex-wife
00:19 to avoid his alimony obligations by getting her to remarry.
00:24 To spill the beans more about this film, of course, we have no less than its director,
00:30 Tony-award-winning, Grammy-award-winning, everything, you name it, he's done it, Jetho Lentino.
00:36 Welcome back on the show.
00:38 Good morning, Christine. It's good to be back.
00:40 Okay, well, it's nice to have you. I mean, this is your directorial, feature directorial debut.
00:47 What, I mean, okay, we already did the short, been there, done that, and then what drove you to do?
00:52 Let's do a feature film. Why not?
00:54 Yeah, when, actually, when I read the script in March 2021,
00:59 I already thought about my 10th year anniversary in commercial producing.
01:03 The following year, I was like, okay, what else can I do?
01:07 What else can I evolve myself into?
01:10 And I thought, okay, let's, let's try this.
01:14 And, you know, as they say, another feather in my cap.
01:17 That's right.
01:18 But this is quite different because she didn't even go to film school.
01:21 I mean, of course, you've been exposed to it, you know, with how many years of being in the industry.
01:27 I mean, okay, can you, what did you have to do to prepare?
01:31 Oh, yes.
01:32 Well, I always think of some filmmakers who have not gone to film school either.
01:38 And I was like, okay, so I'm not the first to do, to do so.
01:42 Like Quentin Tarantino did not go to film school.
01:45 And, of course, I'm shy about asking that.
01:49 So I did online research.
01:51 I had to learn so much, you know, get into each characters.
01:56 We have 28 principal cast that I have to, you know, it's a lot of work.
02:01 But again, once you're done with it, it's empowering.
02:05 Okay.
02:06 So you kind of had to learn directing based on the script and what you had.
02:13 Well, I'm used to reading scripts.
02:15 So it's been 10 years since I've been doing that.
02:18 And what I do is I usually cast.
02:21 I put notes while I'm reading scripts.
02:23 And then I get to the writer, whoever wrote that.
02:27 And then I discuss with that person and see if they're collaborative.
02:32 And then that would be a go.
02:34 Well, you mentioned something about the writer.
02:36 This is also the first time, first time for Michael Ang to actually write a script.
02:44 Exactly.
02:45 Mike is a civil engineer.
02:46 He actually has a kick-ass job.
02:48 He's been a consultant with Mitsubishi in Japan.
02:51 They build these train stations all over the airports in the United States.
02:56 And I was just editing.
02:58 He has a studio in Brooklyn.
02:59 It was like, "Jet, I wrote a script."
03:01 I said, "Mike, you know, I'm busy."
03:03 Yeah, but, you know, he said, "We're friends, right?"
03:06 So he used that friend card.
03:08 And I knew what that meant.
03:10 And I was like, "Okay. All right. Send it to me."
03:12 So he wrote the script, and you said, "Okay, let me direct this."
03:16 And then once I was there, tell me a little bit about the story of Asian Persuasion.
03:21 How you persuaded people.
03:24 He did an elevator pitch to me first.
03:27 He said, "Mike, I'm busy. Tell me what is it. What is it about?"
03:30 And he spelled this pitch, and it was like--
03:34 And I said, "Mike, there's a movie like that on Netflix. So just watch."
03:37 I told the title, and he was like, "Man, you just crushed me.
03:42 This is my first pitch ever."
03:44 I said, "I gotta give it to you. I'm a New Yorker.
03:46 So I'm not gonna sugarcoat it."
03:49 And that's when he used--
03:50 So while I was reading the script, and I said, "We're still in the pandemic.
03:56 It'll be actually easier if I direct this."
04:00 Cutting that sort of saving time and resource.
04:04 Because I already know what to do with it.
04:06 And he agreed.
04:08 And that's where we got--
04:10 So Casey Concepcion is actually--
04:13 You persuaded him.
04:16 A great cast here.
04:18 Casey Concepcion is actually coming back to film after being on a hiatus for--
04:23 I don't know how many-- seven years or so.
04:26 Actually, it was supposed to be for Tony.
04:28 But of course, Tony is quite busy.
04:29 Then lucky for you, you were able to get Casey.
04:31 What was that like working with her again?
04:34 I mean, to work again.
04:36 Yeah, Casey--
04:38 I always say, "You gotta listen to what the universe is presenting to you or telling you."
04:44 And I didn't take it to heart when there was a schedule conflict with Tony.
04:51 And I embraced-- I called Sharon.
04:53 I said, "Where's your daughter?"
04:55 So you really sought her out right away?
04:57 I did.
04:58 And I knew of Casey, of course.
05:01 I did not know her personally.
05:03 So we just Zoomed.
05:04 I sent her the script, and she fell in love with it.
05:06 And I knew this also that her last film was 10 years ago in 2013.
05:11 And I also knew that she's been trying to make it to Hollywood on her own.
05:17 So again, all these things just lined up, and it's her.
05:21 Well, a lot to look forward to for Casey, for yourself, and of course the entire cast, for Asian Persuasion.
05:29 But what else?
05:30 Okay, so we know that it will make its world premiere September 16 and 17.
05:36 That will be in Soho.
05:37 Manila, it will be on November 29.
05:40 And not only Manila, but Cebu, right?
05:43 There's Ilo-Ilo as well.
05:45 So once we get that out of the way, what else are you preparing for?
05:49 Are you looking up anything new?
05:51 Yeah, I'll jump right on to my next film.
05:54 I've already announced it.
05:55 So hopefully that'll be either in Hawaii and Guam.
05:58 And that would be Maricel Soriano.
06:00 Oh, wow.
06:01 Okay, so it's done.
06:02 I mean, you kind of have a story.
06:04 Well, it's ready.
06:05 I'm producing with Rosario Dawson.
06:07 Wonderful.
06:08 Yeah, because my advocacy right now is, you know, give or to be a conduit to our actors
06:14 for them to be able to do a SAG-AFTRA film in the United States
06:17 and be emerged to the experience of what Hollywood is like.
06:20 You are definitely the guy for it.
06:22 You are our point person, Jet.
06:24 You're the one that can get this done.
06:26 Thank you so much for being with us and for sharing this wonderful news with us here on New Day.
06:31 We look forward not only to this Asian Persuasion, but of course to the upcoming film that you have for us.
06:37 Thank you so much for being with us.
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