Summary
The secret to getting a high-intensity crime thriller just right for first-time feature writer-directorJing Ai Ng?
Make itmoresimilar to her own life.
JING AI NG:Forgefollows two siblings in Miami who run an art forgery ring.
Image via SXSW
Meanwhile, an art crimes FBI agent moves down to Miami to investigate a string of forgeries.
I set it in my hometown of Miami and made the characters more similar to my life.
Definitely, I think the biggest change was the setting.
Image by Photagonist
It’s a cliche thing to say, but Miami’s a character in the movie!
Again, first feature.
It’s a really big deal to make something like that happen.
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The first step was developing it in the Film Independent Screenwriting Lab.
That was always my goal because they’re so supportive as an organization.
So, I spent a lot of time developing the script.
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I really appreciated that.
EDMUND DONOVAN: Jing is amazing.
We were very collaborative throughout the entire thing.
Another thing that’s great is the movie is really character-driven.
I remember early on talking to Jing about how many characters there are.
She’s the best.
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KELLY MARIE TRAN: Should we keep flattering Jing?
This is one of my favorite things to do during an interview.
TRAN: It was such an incredible experience.
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Truly, it was just such a joy to come to set.
There’s someone else I have to highlight who’s not sitting with us right now.
It’s Andie [Ju].
Brandon, your chemistry with her is the beating heart of this movie.
The chemistry that we had during the callback was like, Wow, this feels like my sister.
Even us talking outside in the waiting room, it was just so comfy.
Even on set, she was such a sisterly figure throughout the whole shoot.
I felt like we really were siblings.
Meet ‘Forge’s Cast of Characters
The stars share their characters’ strengths and weaknesses.
DONOVAN: That’s easy.
[Laughs] There are a lot of weaknesses, though.
I think Holdens biggest strength is that he doesn’t give up in spite of a lot of signs.
I think he gets a lot done that way.
TRAN: Emily is really good at her job.
That’s her greatest strength.
Stealing has never been so engaging.
Kelly, I want to come back your way to discuss the history behind your character.
I gotta get to work.
So yeah, we had lots of conversations about backstory and about little choices that created this person.
I’m alsoverycurious about the research any of you did into art forgery and what it takes.
Never been interviewed even once.
I think that’s fascinating.
TRAN: Jing is kind of the genius on this.
I will say she gave me a book to read while we were working on this.
It all just bled through to the rest of us.
We were taking her lead there.
DONOVAN: This relationship is something Jing and I spoke about a lot.
Eva [De Dominici] is great.
It’s too bad shes not here.
It was a really, really inspiring thing for him to say.
My last question is one that I love asking as much as possible.
I feel like when someone directs a first feature, it’s an especially important thing to bring up.
In film and television, we give each other awards.
Thats super cool, and we should keep doing that.
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