San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008

Christopher “C-Dub” Wang (Jimmy Tsai) is a young Chinese American man who spouts militant Asian American politics, dreams of becoming a professional basketball player, and sports the hip hop swagger 24/7. Unfortunately, he also constantly blames his inability to make the NBA on his genetics, struggles to hold down a low-paying job at the mall and spends most of his free time playing video games and daydreaming of easy money. In short, C-Dub is every Asian American parent’s worst nightmare. Thankfully for the Wang family, C-Dub’s older brother Michael (Roger Fan) is everything that C-Dub is not. He is a doctor and national ping pong champion, who generates business for his family’s ping pong school and store.

Unfortunately, things are turned upside down when Michael and Mrs. Wang are both hurt in a car accident. C-Dub is forced to step up and take over teaching duties at the ping pong school, and fend off a rival ping pong player who threatens the family business by stealing students. The stakes are taken even higher when C-Dub must shake off his reputation as a chronic underachiever and defend his family’s honor by replacing his brother in the national ping pong tournament.

Co-writer and star Jimmy Tsai steals the show with his incredibly charismatic performance as the unforgettable C-Dub. Sharply directed by Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Jessica Yu (IN THE REALMS OF THE UNREAL), making her narrative feature directing debut, PING PONG PLAYA is the rare sports comedy that will have you rolling with laughter, while effectively tackling important Asian American identity issues.

Co-presented by:
San Diego Table Tennis Association
Raytheon