Experiencing Interruptions?

Becoming Eddie

In 1985 suburban America, a Korean American boy named Yong has trouble fitting in with his classmates who only see him as a foreigner. In an effort to become popular, Yong makes a wish to become his idol, the world’s most famous foul-mouthed comedian. But when his wish comes true, it brings results that are both unexpected and profane.

  • Lilan Bowden
    Director
    Andi Mack, Parks and Recreation, Futureman
  • Ed Lee
    Writer
    The Drew Carey Show, Norm, Hanazuki, Are You There Chelsea?, Class of 3000
  • Joyce Liu-Countryman
    Producer
    I Wanna Be a Soap Star, Running Shadow, Eat With Me, Days of Our Lives, Funny People
  • Joziah Lagonoy
    Key Cast
    "Yong"
    Baskets, SEAL Team, Fuller House, School of Rock
  • Amanda Misa Curtis
    Key Cast
    "Sumi"
    Lethal Weapon
  • Helen Hong
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Kim"
    Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, Untitled Jessica Gao/ABC Project, Inside Llewyn Davis Curious Georgina
  • Charles Kim
    Key Cast
    "Mr. Kim and Adult Yong"
    Grace and Frankie, NCIS: Los Angeles, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  • Lindsay Beamish
    Key Cast
    "Mrs. Bream"
    Shortbus, Gilmore Girls, Six Feet Under
  • David Michael Brown
    Key Cast
    "Eddie Meyers"
    The Elite Daily Show, The UCB Show
  • Patrick Ouziel
    Director of Photography
    Revenge Tour
  • Marc Sedaka
    Editor
    King of Queens, Overnight Delivery
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Comedy, Asian American
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    August 27, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, Korean
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lilan Bowden

Lilan is an actor/comedian who plays Bex on Disney Channel’s Emmy nominated show ANDI MACK (3 seasons/winner of GLAAD/nominated for Peabody Awards).
 
Her credits also include FUTURE MAN, LOVE, PARKS AND RECREATIONS, LIFELINE (YouTube Red), and I AM WATCHING YOU (Lifetime). She is a trained sketch and improv performer from Upright Citizens Brigade Theater LA. House teams include Rococo (Harold/improv) and Bonafide (Maude/sketch).

Lilan has written and directed material for FUNNY OR DIE, Samsung’s MILK app, and Casting Society of America with her writing and sketch comedy partner Wilder Smith. They continue to perform live as LILAN AND WILDER. 

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Director Statement

One of the things that attracted me to BECOMING EDDIE is that in TV and film, we are just beginning to see stories in the mainstream that represent the Asian American experience.

I was approached to direct Ed Lee’s script just after I had watched the show Pen15. It contained something I’d never seen on TV: a storyline of how isolating it can feel growing up Asian American when no one else at your school is. It was beyond compelling to see a young girl live through what felt like only my personal experiences. I felt seen. That my first time watching storyline about this experience, but I hadn’t yet seen the male Asian American equivalent represented in media. This is what I wanted to show with BECOMING EDDIE.

I wanted to combine the bizarreness and fantasy of identity swap movies (FREAKY FRIDAY, BIG) with the heartfelt quality of coming-of-age media (FREAKS AND GEEKS, THE WONDER YEARS). It’s my goal to take the audience on a ridiculous fantasy, but also to feel for the character of Yong in a very real way, reminding us of our own inner child’s need for love and acceptance.

As an actor in ANDI MACK, (Disney Channel’s first show to feature an Asian American family), I already felt how important it was to have representation on screen. I knew how important BECOMING EDDIE was to me, but what I wasn’t expecting was how personally cathartic it would be to make. Through development, it spurred a series of conversations between our mostly Asian American crew like choosing your English name over your Korean/Chinese/Japanese name, or what it was like to bring your mom’s food to school that looked and smelled different (“weird”) from the other kids’ lunches. We set out to make a movie, but by sharing our experiences of isolation, we ended up creating a community.

I hope by sharing this movie, it can help not just my fellow Asian Americans, but anyone who ever felt like they were an outsider, feel like they’re seen and not so alone.