Q&A
WITH ANDREW AHN, DIRECTOR OF FIRE ISLAND Andrew Ahn on the set of the film FIRE ISLAND.
Set in the iconic Pines, Andrew Ahn’s FIRE ISLAND is an unapologetic, modern day rom-com showcasing a diverse, multicultural examination of queerness and romance. Inspired by the timeless pursuits from Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice, the story centers around two best friends (Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang) who set out to have a legendary summer adventure with the help of cheap rosé and their cadre of eclectic friends. It premieres on June 3, 2022 on Hulu.
(From L-R): Tomas Matos, Matt Rogers, Joel Kim Booster, Margaret Cho and Torian Miller.
How did you bring your own lived experiences into directing Fire Island? When I read the script, I loved the focus on Asian American friendship and the celebration of queer joy. That was meaningful and special to me, and I wanted to bring it to life on screen. My experiences, coming of age as a gay man, building a group of queer friends — were all lovely material for me to draw upon to really make this film feel personal and specific in the way that I love to do in my film work. Which character do you relate to or connect with most? As the director, I think about who I am with all the characters. A lot of queer people will ask themselves if you are more a Noah or a Howie when it comes to love and relationships. I’m definitely more of the romantic, so I’m more the Howie, but I see parts of me in everyone. What was it like directing a comedy compared to dramas? My first two features were more dramatic, but I loved directing a
(From L-R): Matt Rogers, Zane Phillips, Tomas Matos, Joel Kim Booster, Torian Miller and Bowen Yang. All photos by Jeong Park. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved
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comedy. I think it’s a lot harder than directing a dramatic film. I loved getting to work with the talent on this film: Joel, Bowen, Margaret, Matt - they are all so funny. We definitely really loved Joel’s script, but the actors also improvised and ad libbed. They had fun with the scenes. How can we combat the hate targeting Asian and LGBTQ+ communities? As a queer Asian American, I’m really proud of the work that I’ve made and the collaborations I’ve created with other queer Asian American artists. I really encourage people to tackle the discrimination head on. I recommend supporting mutual aid funds, engaging in civics, volunteeering, voting, protesting; these are all an important part to how we build a more equitable world for queer people, for Asian Americans. Art is really great in allowing us to create strength and then we have to show that strength and use it. It’s something I feel very passionate about in conjunction with the art that I do.
I loved the focus on Asian American friendship and the celebration of queer joy. That was meaningful and special to me, and I wanted to bring it to life on screen. - ANDREW AHN, DIRECTOR OF FIRE ISLAND Movie | Asian Avenue Magazine
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