BLT was accepted into the Asian American Showcase in Chicago (Chicago's Asian American Film Festival) in April last year, and they also came for a screening at Northwestern University - though, I don't know if that has anything to do with the re-editing.

I have some pictures of BLT cast and crew at NU on my website:
http://galileo.spaceports.com/~blt - it's in the "blt in chicago" section or something...

Cynthia

At 06:50 AM 3/6/2003 +0000, you wrote:

i haven't heard that rumor at all.. hmm, where did you hear it?
justin actually answers a similar question in the ASK BLT section on
the website:

http://betterlucktomorrow.com/html/index.php?
id=superfan&ImgId=08&banid=superfan

ASK BLT == 3/3/2003
I understand that this film was made in a true independent spirit.
But since MTV has purchased it, has it changed at all?
ANDY Y., LANSING, MICHIGAN

Dear Andy,
As with all independent films, we were always working on a shoestring
budget. We went with MTV Films as a distributor because we realized
at Sundance that they got what the film was about and the issues we
were trying to explore. MTV Films asked me what I would have done
with BLT if I had more money and time, and I feel fortunate to have
had the opportunity to realize what I initially set out to do.
-Justin Lin

you can also add your picture and high school story in the yearbook
section now.. they put up a bunch of articles and stuff as well.

APRIL 11th!!!!!!!!!!!

--- In betterlucktomorrow@yahoogroups.com, jql@e... wrote:
> "j"
>
> there's a rumor that mtv had reedited the film because of a test
screening
> in the midwest
>
> could you share (publicly or privately) if this is true
>
> congrats on your film!
>
> regards,
> j.lee / us asians
>
> ===============================
>
> PERRY'S LETTER
>
> A CAST MEMBER'S LETTER
> What the April 4 and 11, 2003 release of "Better Luck Tomorrow"
> really means.
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> In our lifetime, it is rare that we bear witness to an event, much
> less be a part one, that might change society. When the
> film "Better Luck Tomorrow" opens on April 4, 2003; it will be one
> of those events. On that day,"BLT" will be released in New York,
> Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. And open the following
> week, April 11, in: Washington D.C., Boston, Houston, Honolulu,
> Sacramento, San Diego, Seattle, Portland and Minneapolis.
>
> The release will set a benchmark for a number of "firsts".
> 1) It is the first Asian American film ever to be picked up at
> the Sundance Film Festival.
> 2) It is the first film ever purchased and distributed by MTV
> Films.
> 3) It is the first all Asian-American cast to be widely
> distributed by a studio in a long time.
>
> It is because of all these "firsts" that I am drafting this memo, to
> shed light on just how essential it is that our community's support
> this film. The first 3 weeks' attendance will determine whether or
> not we'll be setting a benchmark record for "firsts--and lasts".
>
> I know it sounds extremely self-serving that an actor in the film
> have the audacity to draft such a plea to see his film. But it is
> because I have been so close to the film through production and have
> personally seen people from all ethnicities react so positively to
> it; that I truly believe this event is exactly what we as a
> community have been yearning to get behind for years. Whether you
> are Asian or not. To send a message to the world. It
> is not "just" a movie. What hinges on the release is so much larger
> than the film itself.
>
> The power of cinema is colossal. Whether you realize it or not,
> billions of people shape their outlooks on life from what they see
> on film. Their beliefs. What is important in life. Differences
> between right and wrong. And when the world is exposed to the
> clichéd images of Asians that currently occupy the screen, these
> images subconsciously encapsulate for them what Asian people are.
> The martial- artists practitoners. The nerdy students. The exotic
> sexual prizes. The guy that delivers the food to your door. And it
> becomes a self-fueling process because audiences continue to pay
> admission to see them. While unfortunately, these are the only
> roles that are available for Asian Actors to portray.
>
> Fans of "BLT" and major film critics have all praised the film for
> being an accomplished and engaging universal story centered on teen
> violence. The film is not a judgmental piece of the actions, but a
> narrative of how real life teen violence is set in motion. The film
> represents stories from headlines that we've all read that just
> happen to be told by Asian actors.
>
> "Best and most provocative--a funny-sexy-scary powerhouse."
> -Peter Travers, Rolling Stone Magazine.
>
> "Extraordinarily accomplished and thought-provoking."
> - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
>
> "Stylish and very well acted."
> - David Ansen, Newsweek
>
> "The hottest, most stylish and smartly twisted film."
> - Duane Bygre, The Hollywood Reporter
>
> "A damn fine movie."
> - Harry Knowles, Ain't it Cool News
>
> Phrases, such as how the film "broke all the rules in Hollywood"
> and "after the first 5 minutes, I forgot that the cast was Asian"
> are repeated over and over again. For the first time, our true
> voices are being heard and understood by the Hollywood decision
> makers. That we're just regular people and we too, have stories
> that all human beings can relate to. Where we don't have to go
> around everyday, basically saying, "Hey, I'm Asian" through our
> actions depicted on screen.
>
> MTV Films' vice president, Michael Cole summed it up best, "You've
> got a universal story in terms of what these guys are experiencing,
> and I think that's why people respond to it so strongly. It's told
> from a perspective that we haven't seen before and that we often
> don't see." He observes, "I thought ["BLT"] was incredible for our
> brand and for our audience. When I saw the movie I just said: 'You
> know, we really need to buy this movie. This movie is what we are.'"
>
> I, as do MTV Films and other studios that bid for the film,
> recognize that the film is on the cusp of a new beginning in cinema
> that has yet to be tapped into. Everywhere we've traveled across
> the country (and Canada) with the film at festivals, Asian audiences
> thank us for giving them a new voice on screen for the world to see.
>
> But this film needs a base -- legs to help it rise and be heard.
> And your voice can only be heard through the box office. Let's be
> frank, for the first few weeks, a majority of the people that will
> be open to seeing the film, based on face value alone, will be Asian
> Americans. When non-Asian people see images of the film or the
> cast, occasionally we hear them ask, "Is it subtitled?" or "Is it
> like a Jackie Chan movie?"
>
> When I hear those comments, I realize they're not intentionally
> meant to be malicious, but it goes to show what has been established
> in the minds of the public when they see Asian faces on a movie
> poster. And it's that mentality which illustrates the very reason
> why we need to support good films with Asian casts; whether we agree
> with the films or not.
>
> I know in my heart that we as a community are large enough of an
> audience to overwhelm Hollywood; make them do a double take and
> realize there is a market they have not been catering to.
> Hollywood's eyes will be tracking the opening of the film very
> carefully because it loves a trend. So we beat them at their own
> game--make it impossible for them to ignore the numbers. They will
> be forced to make similiar projects based solely on a fiscal point
> of view. They'll jump on that bandwagon to repeat a successful
> formula that has been established by "BLT". But this will only
> happen if we want it to by coming out in full force.
>
> In turn, three-dimensional Asian characters that audiences genuinely
> care about as people and not just as functional props, will emerge
> and slowly change narrow Asian perceptions. The Black community's
> current successes in cinema stemmed 20 years ago because they were
> passionate about the films Spike Lee and John Singleton were
> making. Films that were true to their communities. Hollywood took
> notice to the box office numbers and it led to more projects which
> told of the African American experience besides being a slave or
> living in the ghettos.
>
> For the past decade, my schooling and acting has exposed me to
> hundreds of Asian American organizations at colleges across the
> country. I've been witness to sooo many China Nights, Asian club
> meetings, ECASU, ACAASU, APEX conferences, panels by Amy Tan, Ronald
> Takaki, Jude Narita all discussing and theorizing the same topics of
> assimilation and perceptions--all those years have finally
> culminated into something tangible: This is that "something" we can
> get behind and will have a huge impact. And it's a very simple
> thing to do--just see the film. That is your vote. Tell people
> about it and have them do the same.
>
> The Details:
> April 4th 2003, "BLT" will open in:
> New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco
>
> The following week on, April 11, it will expand into:
> Washington D.C., Boston, Houston, Honolulu, Sacramento, San Diego,
> Seattle,
> Portland, Minneapolis
>
> You should be seeing MTV FILMS running our trailer in theatres and
> playing them on their channel shortly. Based on the box office
> attendance after the first 3 weekends, the studio will then see if
> it is worth rolling out into more theatres across the country, the
> same way "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" did. Once it rolls out
> nationally, others unlikely to see the film will have then heard the
> buzz/acclaim and go to just see a good movie. And they will tell
> others and so on.
>
> Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that as many people see
> the film during those first 3 weekends to get the momentum going.
> If you do not happen to reside in the initial cities, spread the
> word to those you know who do live there. And with a bit of luck,
> it will make its way to your hometown after week 3. If the "I'll
> wait to watch it next week" mentality occurs with this film, chances
> are there won't be a next week. Every person helps.
>
> Since this is an unprecedented film, I can see it doing great things
> in terms of changing the way America thinks and opening doors for
> similar projects. But unfortunately, I can also see it easily just
> dying and going away if we allow it, just like we did with Margaret
> Cho's "All American Girl".
>
> Many planets have aligned for a project with Asian-American lead
> characters to come this far, and if this opportunity slips away, you
> can be certain it won't happen again for a long, long time. As I
> said before, Hollywood loves to jump on a successful formula but it
> will stay away from a scarcely attended "Pluto Nash" like the
> plague. If you've read this far, I sincerely thank you for your
> time. Please pass this letter on to inform others. It's an
> exciting time for us all. Let's keep the momentum going!
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Parry Shen
> "Ben" in "Better Luck Tomorrow"
> Visit www.betterlucktomorrow.com or www.parryshen.com for more
> details on
> the film and how to help.
>
>
> At 06:20 AM 3/4/2003 +0000, you wrote:
> >this just in- the opening weekend for BLT will be APRIL 11th, not
> >the fourth.
> >
> >there are also new pictures and articles on the official website.
> >http://www.betterlucktomorrow.com
> >
> >did a lot of you get Parry's letter emailed to you? we should post
> >it here, if anyone would volunteer to do that.


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