San Diego Asian Film Festival 2009

In this new documentary from pioneering Asian American filmmaker and Academy Award nominee Christine Choy (Who Killed Vincent Chin?), we learn the story of Larry and Trudie Long, a popular husband-and-wife nightclub act from the 40's and 50's.

Narrated and framed by the experiences of their daughter, actress Jodi Long, the film depicts the couple's rise from performing in Chinatown nightclubs to an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Known as "The Leungs", they performed both a mix of tap dancing embellished by witty repartee and "Chinaman" caricature acts. The film also documents the lack of opportunities for Asian American entertainers of that time period by detailing an incident that caused Larry to miss a chance to play a major role in the premiere Broadway production of Flower Drum Song, the first musical with an all-Asian cast.

Although Larry's career never fully recovered from this blow, LONG STORY SHORT beautifully documents how the story came full circle when daughter Jodi was cast in playwright David Henry Hwang's Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song.

By combining priceless vintage footage depicting the discrimination and other obstacles that Asian American entertainers faced during the early post-WWII era with modern footage, Christine Choy and Jodi Long have created a remarkably moving and important documentary film.

Structurally, the film beautifully weaves together everything from Trudie's life-shaping experiences in a Japanese American internment camp to the stereotypes that modern Asian American actors face in Hollywood.

LONG STORY SHORT is not just a film about the historical experience of Asian American entertainers; it is a film with relevance to all people with a strong interest in the Asian American experience.
– Gene Huh

Actress Jodi Long is scheduled to attend.

Oct 19 Free screening made possible by Target.

Co-presented by:
San Diego Chinese Women's Association
Asian American Journalists Association
Chronos Theatre Group, Inc.