From Script to Screen: Lucy Liu, Andrew Corkin, Frank Shyong and Marilyn Wu Talk Rosemead
Set in California’s San Gabriel Valley and based on true events, Rosemead follows Irene Chao (Lucy Liu), a terminally ill Chinese immigrant and widow who is desperately trying to secure a future for her teenage son, Joe (Lawrence Shou). As Irene hides her worsening cancer diagnosis from him, she discovers that Joe — who is struggling with schizophrenia — has developed a dangerous obsession with mass shootings.
Faced with a failing medical system, cultural stigmas surrounding mental health, and the realization that she may not be there to guide him once he turns 18 and a legal adult, Irene is forced to contemplate a tragic sacrifice.
This roundtable discussion with actor and producer Lucy Liu, producer Andrew Corkin, executive producer Frank Shyong, and screenwriter Marilyn Fu illustrate the challenges in making a culturally relevant independent film in the modern age.