A decade ago, I decided I wanted to make a film that was “guaranteed” to make money. Ghost stories always sell, so does sex, so does violence. To be true to myself, I had to put some Chinese people in the story as well but knowing that to appeal to a broader audience, I needed to put some white and black guys into the story as well. I also wanted to pattern the lead after a younger version of myself so these were the basics that I started with in Ghosts of Chinatown so the lead character is a musician who plays fusion jazz with Asian elements – just like me.
Well, over the course of ten years, Ghosts of Chinatown threatened to get financed several times, a couple of times in China and a couple of times in Canada. Unfortunately it never happened. The final straw for me was a couple of years ago when we thought we had a deal in China. My producer and I went to the Shanghai Film Festival and we thought we were going to make a splash announcement in front of lights, camera and media. I was dreaming of a Ferrari and the Sundance Film Festival.
Never count that damn chickens before they erupt up out of their little white prisons. Two days before the festival, the two principal investors met. Well, this is a story in itself. One of the investors didn’t feel the other investor gave him enough “face.” Face is a nebulous Chinese concept which has to do with honor, respect, being equal … which is the basis of most Chinese business relationships. Ghosts of Chinatown – the movie – became the deadest of dead ducks and I just didn’t have the energy to push for a film deal anymore.
I did however, want to explore these characters I had lived with for almost ten years and brought them to life in my first novella. It’s kind of interesting how one story inspires another and within a year or so, The Spirits of Chinatown Trilogy was delivered.
What did I learn? Stories never die. They just might not happen the way you thought they would happen.
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