Ping Pong Playa (2007)

Director:

Jessica Yu

Writers:

Jimmy Tsai (writer)
Jessica Yu (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Don't just win. Destroy.

Plot:

A kid dreams of playing professional basketball in order to escape his dead-end job, living in the suburbs, his bossy older brother and running his Mom's ping pong classes. |

Plot Keywords:

Ping Pong | Asian American

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jimmy Tsai	...	Christopher 'C-Dub' Wang
Roger Fan	...	Michael Wang
Shelley Malil	...	D. B. Reddy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alexander Agate	...	Loser kid 1
Percival Arcibal	...	Teenage Ping Pong Player
William Behlendorf	...	Another Kid
Adam Bobrow	...	Dan Furlie
Joey Brander	...	Kid-Basketball Player
Romeo Brown	...	Kevin
Smith Cho	...	Jennifer
Martin Chow	...	Jerry Lin
Catherine Dao	...	Mrs. Sun
Jordan Green	...	Loser Kid
Cici Lau	...	Mrs. Chen
Jim Lau	...	Mr. Wang
Scott Lowell	...	Tom
Peter Paige	...	Gerald
Khary Payton	...	JP Money
Javin Reid	...	Prabakar
Jordan Walker Ross	...	Basketball Kid
Esther Song	...	Miss Chinatown
Joseph Stephens Jr.	...	Referee
Jason Stuart	...	Doctor
Elizabeth Sung	...	Mrs. Wang
Elan Tom	...	Wilson
Andrew Vo	...	Felix
Stephnie Weir	...	Cheryl Davis
Tim Bearden	...	Merch Booth Vender (uncredited)

Directed by
Jessica Yu

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jimmy Tsai		writer
Jessica Yu		writer

Produced by
Anne Clements	....	producer
Jeffrey Gou	....	executive producer
Joan Huang	....	producer

Original Music by
Jeff Beal

Cinematography by
Frank G. DeMarco

Film Editing by
Zene Baker

Casting by
Jason L. Wood

Production Design by
Denise Hudson

Art Direction by
Gabor Norman

Set Decoration by
Michael Fitzgerald

Costume Design by
Jessica Flaherty

Makeup Department
Tina Fabulic	....	assistant hair stylist
Maya Murakami-Koons	....	key makeup artist/hair
Keiko Wedding	....	makeup artist (as Keiko Sakamoto)

Production Management
Steve Bartlett	....	post-production supervisor
Michael O. Gallant	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Johnny Haddad	....	second assistant director
Heather Kritzer	....	second assistant director
Lynnette M. Myers	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Rodney Ascher	....	storyboard artist
Mia Cho	....	assistant art director
Naoko Inada	....	assistant property master
Naoko Inada	....	set dresser
Alexander G. Lyle IV	....	set dresser
Peter Tahoe	....	lead man

Sound Department
David Barber	....	dialogue editor
David Barber	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brandon Barnts	....	sound mixer
Melissa Bylsma	....	post sound coordinator
Trevor Dowswell	....	post sound coordinator
Trevor Dowswell	....	sound effects editor
Samuel Ebnet Jr.	....	boom operator
Sean Gray	....	sound designer
Sean Gray	....	sound effects editor
David Kitchens	....	sound supervisor
Jeff Merritt	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Ardine	....	best boy electric
Matt Calonica	....	grip
Shaun Dallas	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Anna Ferrarie	....	additional second assistant camera
Nathan Dean Fetzer	....	electrician
Cameron Gordon	....	electrician
Peter Hawkins	....	camera operator
David Kane	....	electrician
Kristina Lechuga	....	second assistant camera
Nicolas Martin	....	Steadicam operator
Sergio Mendez	....	grip
Darryl Murchison	....	gaffer
Ryan Norris	....	electrician
Pat O'Mara	....	key grip
David Parker	....	best boy grip
Jaime Rauch	....	loader
Nicholas Rini	....	dolly grip
Michael Silva	....	best boy electric
Mike Silvo	....	best boy electric
Anthony Widmer	....	additional dolly grip
Alexander Yellen	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting director

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christina Hernandez	....	wardrobe assistant
Jo Rosen	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Emily Koonse	....	assistant editor
Joe Parisella	....	digital color timer

Music Department
Shaun Young	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Hector Gonzalez	....	transportation coordinator
Rick Lovoy	....	transportation captain
Stevelovoy	....	driver

Other crew
Charlsey Adkins	....	assistant to director
Renetta G. Amador	....	script supervisor
Mary Berry	....	assistant production coordinator
Sandra Daugherty	....	production assistant
Eric R. Evans	....	additional production assistant
Jamie Feldman	....	production coordinator
Natasha Giraldo	....	location manager
LeJon	....	stand-in
David Magdael	....	publicist
Gerardo Monzon	....	chef
Ashleigh Nichols	....	production secretary
Chris Solis	....	production assistant
Tara Stillions	....	production assistant

Thanks
Eric Olander	....	thanks
Cheri Oteri	....	the producers wish to thank
Dara Tallon	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Cherry Sky Films

Distributors

• IFC Films

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Juniper Post  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, including some sexual remarks and drug references.

Runtime:

Canada:96 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG | USA:PG-13

Company:

Cherry Sky Films

Movie Connections:

References Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Soundtrack:

Make Noise

At times I laughed out loud.

This funny movie plays on stereotypes... in a way that doesn't offend. The main character desperately wishes to be a basketball great, yet his hoop dreams are never fulfilled, due in part to his ineptitude and cultural background (lack of support culturally). When his mother is injured the protagonist is needed to teach ping-pong classes against his wishes, over time he slowly rises to the challenge, with some funny results. Thankfully it lacks the typical romantically driven plot associated with many comedies, thought a boy meets girl vibe does exist. In essence a "fish out of water" tale with surprising results. It is a comedy without rude and vulgar humor, yet still funnier than most that utilize such. Pleasantly surprising in almost every way.

(my first review. bare in mind that I judge movies by genre, i.e.: a "good" comedy may not be as "good" as an equally rated drama, or thriller, etc...).