Asian American Film: Features

East Coast Debut - Interview with Gene Cajayon

10.22 - Posted by Editor

Gene Cajayon, director of "The Debut"		East Coast "Debut" Gene Cajayon brings his Filipino American feature to New York and New Jersey Interview by Greg Pak "Debut" Play Dates

10.22.02 - Gene Cajayon's feature film "The Debut" has become a legend of independent film self-distribution, grossing close to two million dollars in tickets and merchandizing over the past two years. About to enter the second week of his New York/New Jersey run, director Gene Cajayon discusses the challenges of self-distributing an Asian American feature film.

AAF Gene, I understand you're at the end of your theatrical self-distribution whirlwind with "The Debut." Can you tell us what it's taken to get here and what your hopes are for the New York area?

Play Dates

(Showtimes valid from Fri, 10/25 to Thur, 10/31 only)

AMC EMPIRE 25 THEATRES
42nd St. and 8th Ave. in Times Square, New York
(212)398-3939
FRI, SAT: 12:15PM, 2:30PM, 4:45PM, 7PM,9:15PM, 11:30PM
SUN: 12:15PM, 2:30PM, 4:45PM, 7PM, 9:15PM
MON, TUES, WED, THURS: 1PM, 3:15PM, 5:30PM, 7:45PM, 10PM

LOEWS JERSEY GARDENS THEATRES
At the Jersey Gardens Outlet Mall
Exit 13A off the New Jersey Turnpike
(908)289-2004
FRI, SAT: 12:30PM, 2:55PM, 5:10PM, 7:30PM, 9:40PM, 11:55PM
SUN, MON, TUES, WED, THURS: 12:30PM, 2:55PM, 5:10PM, 7:30PM, 9:40PM

KEW GARDENS CINEMAS
81-05 Lefferts Blvd at Austin St. in Queens, NY
Across the street from the Long Island Railroad Kew Gardens Station
(718)441-9835
FRI, SAT: 1PM, 3:10PM, 5:20PM, 7:30PM, 9:40PM
SUN, MON, TUES, WED, THURS: 1PM, 3:10PM, 5:20PM, 7:30PM

LOEWS PLAZA 8 THEATRE
495 Harmon Meadow Blvd off Rte 3 East in Secaucus
Next to Courtyard Marriott & Bazooka's
(201) 902-9200
FRI, SAT, SUN, MON, TUES, WED, THURS: 2:15PM, 4:45PM, 7:30PM, 10PM

Links

"The Debut" official website

Joan Huang's review

GC  It's a cliché, but the fact that my promotions crew is so dedicated is the main reason why we're still alive and kicking - John Castro, Patricio Ginelsa, Jr., Melanie Fontanilla, Diana Fernandez, Lillian Prijoles, my producer Lisa Onodera - these folks have stuck with me through the good times and many more bad times. That they are still out there with me every day pounding the pavement in the community speaks volumes about how much we really care about getting our stories onscreen.

As far as New York goes, well, it's a tough market. Everyone knows that. It's huge and people can be so jaded here. We had a good opening weekend, but we've still got a long way to go. We're adding theaters in Queens and Secaucus this upcoming weekend to keep up with demand. We'd like to play here for at least a month and, as always, get as many people as possible to come out and see the film. We're also hoping that a successful run here in New York will finally help us close a good home video deal.

AAF   What are the challenges with opening the film in New York rather than, say, Los Angeles?

GC   Cost is the biggest challenge. Everything here is so ridiculously expensive, and we're always struggling to keep enough cash in the bank to cover our bills. But we've been blessed with a lot of grass roots support from the Asian Pacific American community. People have let my crew stay in their homes for free; we've received front-page coverage in the local Filipino papers; many community leaders have stepped up and helped us promote within their own organizations as well as in the community at large. So even though we don't have any money, for the most part, people are rallying behind the cause and helping us get the word out on a grass roots level. You can't put a price tag on that - that's another big reason why we're still around. In every city we release in, people in the community have embraced us with open arms.

AAF   How can our readers help?

GC   Three simple things:

1. Most important, GO SEE "THE DEBUT" THIS WEEKEND. All the theaters and showtimes are on our website - DebutFilm.com. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the key days - the busier we are on the weekends, the more likely we are to be extended for another week. We played for two months in LA and Chicago, three months in San Francisco. How long we play here in the Tri-State is completely up to the community - so come out this weekend and join the party!

This weekend (Friday 10/25 to Sunday 10/27/02) I'll be running our merchandise booth at our new theater: Kew Gardens Cinemas on Lefferts Blvd. and Austin St. in Queens. So come on down, buy a ticket, and say Hi!

2. Email everyone you know to come out and see "The Debut" this weekend. You can sign up for our mass email announcements at our website - DebutFilm.com. Word of mouth for us is absolutely critical. We can't afford massive print ads in the New York Times, or network TV ads, or anything like that. But if everyone who reads this article were to mass email their personal contacts in the Tri-State area and urge them to see the film this weekend, the effect will be massive. When you're a true independent film like we are, every ticket counts. Please don't take this for granted - how often can you go to your local state-of-the-art multiplex and see an Asian Pacific American-themed film? Don't wait - see us this weekend!

3. If you come across any of my crew out there doing their promotion work, stop them and say, "Hi" - they need the love. Better yet, buy them lunch, or a good stiff drink - Lord knows they need it. Grass roots promoting is a thankless job. A little love from the community goes a long way towards helping us all get through our days.

AAF   What's next for "The Debut" and what's next for Gene Cajayon?

GC   When I've been fortunate to have any free time, I've been doing some very preliminary research on a new script, but nothing concrete is lined up yet. I'm reading scripts, too, so if you'd like to send me something, email me through the link on the homepage of our website - DebutFilm.com. Completed feature length screenplays only, please.

Overall, I kind of feel like we're the underdog in playoffs, down 3 games to one in a 7-game series. In that situation, you can't think about the fact that you're David vs. Goliath. You don't think too far into the future. You just concentrate on getting through this release one week at a time. If we do well at the box office this weekend, we'll be around for the next. And the next. And the next week after that, hopefully. So the overwhelming majority of my time these days is devoted to making sure that our release in New York and New Jersey is successful.

Comments

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Posted by: tony on March 30, 2004 08:04 PM

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