Fast Money

The cast of "Fast Money", for starters, is top flight, from top-billed to extra. I always knew the talented Archie Kao could "hit it outa the park", given the right role...and does he ever. I'd love to see a full length version of this story, although director Jerry Chan has told the story so beautifully and succinctly in 14 minutes that...well, suffice it to say, I want to see more of the Chan/Kao team working together! Howard Fong and Dana Lee are no strangers to movie fans...and lesser known Scott Ly, Jeanne Sakata and Mae Hi also put in beautiful performances - Ms. Sakata in particular does a touching portrayal as Jin's mother. Lively hip-hop soundtrack by Snacky Chan and Far East Movement, and the cinematography...WOW. Beautiful visuals, almost stylized on occasion. Making the festival rounds at this writing...if it's screening near you, please add it to your must-see list!! Come on, DVD!!

This small gem of a film is proof that a great story can be told even if you only have 15 minutes. Director Jerry Chan immerses you in a Chinatown full of sound and colour that is made much more believable by the strong cast. It's nice to see Archie Kao finally get the chance to flex his acting muscles away from the CSI Las Vegas lab. Chan/Kao - definitely a production team to watch in the future. It would be interesting to see what they could do with a full 2 hours...

But what really got my attention was the cinematography. Maximilian Gutierrez is a gifted artist that has transformed this short film into a delicious feast for the eyes. In fact, I was so blown away by his stuff, I've been inspired to check out all his other projects. If you have a spare 15 minutes, take the time to see Fast Money. You won't be disappointed.