About this project
Thank you for visiting the Kickstarter page for our film and watching our behind-the-scenes video!
ABOUT THE FILM
Written & Directed by Derek Nguyen
Producers: Blake Ashman-Kipervaser, and Shannon McCoy Cohn
Executive Producer: George Takei
Starring George Takei (Narrator), Ed Lin, Tina Chen, Ron Nakahara, Cindy Cheung, Michelle Ang, Soomi Kim, and Wai Ching Ho
Director of Photography: Sam Chase
Norman Mao is an overweight, and socially-awkward man-child from Hong Kong, who at the age of 33 is still unwed. Desperate to get him married, his parents take him on an international junket across the globe to find him a worthy Chinese wife. The Maos arrive to a New York City hotel, which is their final stop on their trip and their last hope to find Norman a bride. Having hired a professional matchmaking service, the Maos meet with three matches for Norman. Will one of these women be a potential wife for Norman or is he destined to lead a terribly lonely life?
The Potential Wives of Norman Mao is a quirky and heartwarming short film narrated by the legendary George Takei (Star Trek) and starring Ed Lin (A Waiter Tomorrow and renowned writer), Tina Chen (Three Days of the Condor, Face), Ron Nakahara (Hawaii Five-O), Cindy Cheung (Lady in the Water, Children of Invention), Michelle Ang (Xena, The Tribe), Soomi Kim (Law & Order), and Wai Ching Ho (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Flight of the Conchords). Beautifully shot by Sam Chase (Moonlight Sonata, Two Mothers, Almost Perfect), this comic fairytale was written and directed by of Sundance Screenwriters Lab alumni Derek Nguyen, and produced by Blake Ashman-Kipervaser (Prince of Broadway, The Lottery, Greg the Bunny) and Shannon McCoy Cohn (Sea Nation).
THE PRODUCTION
It’s a wrap! The cast and crew of Norman Mao are happy to report that we’ve finished principal photography! It was an exciting, challenging, and thrilling few days in New York City which garnered some fantastic performances and lush images.
But now that we’re in post-production, we need your help to finish the film! As many of you know, it’s expensive to make films and we’ve set a goal to raise a minimum of $6,000 (in just six weeks!) to pay for all the necessary post-production expenses to finish the film. Your contributions will help pay for editing, color correction, music composition, sound design, submissions to festivals, and all the other necessary expenses to make our little film into a reality.
Many of our cast and crew are industry professionals who’ve donated their time, energy, and talent to make Norman Mao. We’d love to share their incredible work with the world! If we reach our goal, you will be providing us with the resources to create an entertaining, touching, and high-quality film for everyone to enjoy. Not only will you be a part of our film, you can also enjoy some cool and unique gifts that you can only get here on Kickstarter.
If you don’t believe us when we say that our cast and crew are talented, check out their websites!
Mangusta Productions: www.mangustaproductions.com
George Takei: www.georgetakei.com
Ed Lin: www.edlinforpresident.com
Soomi Kim: www.soomikim.com
Sam Chase: www.samchasedp.com
Jennifer Lilly: www.jenlilly.com
Dan-ah Kim: www.dkim-art.com
Billie Budd: www.billiebudd.com
Alice Wood: www.alicenicholaswood.com
Tracy Toscano: www.tracytoscano.blogspot.com
And visit the official film site for full bios, updates, and news. www.normanmao.com
We cannot stress more that any amount is greatly appreciated! Even if you can only afford $1, it would get us one step closer to our goal.
And feel free to tell your friends and family! Post us on your blogs, Facebook walls, and Twitter accounts!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Potential-Wives-of-Norman-Mao/171098859575592
http://twitter.com/#!/NormanMao
Danke! Gracias! Arrigato! Merci! Thank you for your support!
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
80
Backers
$7,263
pledged of $6,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on January 5, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
A hearty pat on the back for supporting to the arts! Access to the production blog (with exclusive photos, behind-the-scenes footage, and more)!
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
All the above plus a Norman Mao postcard, and a heartfelt thank you on our website at www.normanmao.com.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
All of the above plus the postcard signed by the filmmakers, and a DVD of the film when it’s released (you can only get the DVD by contributing here on Kickstarter!).
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
All of the above plus the DVD of the film signed by the filmmakers before it’s released with behind-the-scenes bonus videos (you can only get the DVD by contributing here on Kickstarter!), and a production still signed by the filmmakers.
Pledge $100 or more Pledge $100 or more
All of the above plus a Thank You at the end credits of the film, and an official film poster.
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
All of the above plus an “I ♥ Norman Mao” T-Shirt! And if you're one of the first 10 backers at this level...
Pledge $150 or more Pledge $150 or more
...a signed copy of Ed Lin’s acclaimed book “This is a Bust!”
Pledge $250 or more Pledge $250 or more
All of the above plus a copy of the script signed by George Takei and the filmmakers, and an invitation to a festival premiere party (travel expenses and housing not included).
Pledge $500 or more Pledge $500 or more
All of the above plus an official film poster signed by George Takei and the filmmakers, and an invitation to the world premiere party (travel expenses and housing not included).
Pledge $1,000 or more Pledge $1,000 or more
All of the above plus an Associate Producer credit (closing credits & IMDB), and an invitation to all festival premieres and parties (travel expenses and housing not included).
Pledge $2,500 or more Pledge $2,500 or more
All of the above plus a Co-Executive Producer credit (closing credits & IMDB), and Derek Nguyen will cook you dinner at his NYC home! Enjoy it with a couple of the cast members (travel expenses and housing not included).
Pledge $5,000 or more Pledge $5,000 or more
All of the above plus an Executive Producer credit (closing credits and IMDB), an invitation to all premieres, parties, and festivals (After all, you are the Exec Producer), and an invitation to visit the set of Derek Nguyen’s next film.
Project By
Connected as Derek Nguyen (676 friends)
Derek Nguyen is a screenwriter, producer, director, and playwright. Derek was a 2004 fellow at the Sundance Institute’s Screenwriters Lab for the screenplay adaptation of his play, Monster (Edgar Allen Poe nomination) and a 2004 Screenwriting Fellow at the New York Foundation for the Arts. Seeing Red (co-written and directed by Liselle Mei and Joan Chen) was a part of the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival’s All-Access Alumni Program, the 2007 IFP Market’s No Borders Program, and will be produced by Joyce Pierpoline (Happy Tears, Teeth) and Richard Lormand. Derek received the 2006 Urban Artist Initiative/NYC fellowship and is working on several film projects including creative consulting on Sundance Institute project Ayiti, Ayiti (written and directed by Patricia Benoit), writing Noguchi with director Risa Morimoto (Wings of Defeat), and writing The Caretaker (directed by Liselle Mei). Derek was recently the Associate Producer of a short film entitled Mister Green (written and directed by Greg Pak). In theater, Derek’s plays include Voices: A Theatrical Quilt (Sherrill C. Corwin Award), Mother’s Milk (Mark Taper Forum commission), A Slight Itch (Y2K New Voices Award), and Lee/gendary (three 2009 New York Innovative Theater Awards including Best Production of a Play).
