Love that Lumpia…(2 of 2)

Interview:
In response to the questions I posed, Ginelsa never really considered a reaction from the public about these issues. For him it was simply based on his experiences in his life in “Fogtown”, Daly City. The film got bigger than they expected. Flattered, Ginelsa stays down to earth explaining that he never expected the film to be measured at the level of “The Debut”, “Flipside”, or “Better Luck Tomorrow.” He plans to continue working on Asian American films as well as comic book related fictional films.

During “The Debut” DVD Release Signing, Francis Custodio, who plays James, adds that he did not imagine that he would be signing autographs or answering questions like these. He has a famous brother that is a member of the new Pinoy singing group, Next Phaze (who performed during the event). The actor emphasizes that events like “the Debut” DVD Release Signing in San Francisco help promote Filipino Americans in the mainstream media positively. He supposes that people are ashamed Fil-Ams that dis Lumpia. “It’s what we experienced in our neighborhood; this is how it was in Daly City.” Custodio continues that there were certain schools in Daly City where there were a lot of Filipinos that hung out with African Americans that share the same interests; these kids were more assimilated and Americanized, thus there was a gap between these children and the 1.5 immigrant generation. He believes that this is only the beginning “as long as there is a Gene Cajayon or Patricio Ginelsa.” Filipino American film is on the rise. The actor has confidence the Asian American films will continue to prosper, “One demographic can spread out all over the place.”

MAKING THE FILM
Patricio Ginelsa said that he directed Lumpia over the course of 5 years for 5-7 hundred dollars. The showing at Ohlone College in Fremont was one of the locations where the editor/cameraman A.J. Calomay, filmed interviews with some audience members on their thoughts for some of the special features for the upcoming DVD.

THE STORY
James tries dressing differently and pretending to be cool with Tyrone in order to impress Kelly. He tries to be a non-fobby person that looks like they’re from “the Crew”. Tyrone organizes an “FOB Bash” day, and “the Pack” (James and his friends) hide and act differently in order to keep from getting their asses kicked.

THEMES
Cultural clashes, assimilation, mid-teen identity crisis, and LUMPIA. Learning about life with interesting analogies. Lumpia was not intended to be discriminatory, “it was a satire. Fob bashing stating of mind.” Ginelsa insists.

Fact: Lumpia took 7 years to make on and off during summers, so it was extremely low budget in comparison to “The Debut”.