Tribeca Film Festival 2019: An Interview with Lucky Grandma’s Corey Ha

AT&T and Tribeca have partnered for a new film initiative, AT&T Presents: Untold Stories, which ensures diverse storytellers have a screen to shine on. Last year’s winning duo, Sasie Sealy and Angela Cheng, were awarded the $1 million dollar prize to fund their film, Lucky Grandma. Set in New York City’s Chinatown, Lucky Grandma follows an ornery, chain-smoking Chinese grandma (Tsai Chin) who lands herself on the wrong side of luck and in the middle of a gang war.

Pop Culturalist caught up with one of the film’s stars, Corey Ha, to chat about Lucky Grandma, making his American film debut, and the importance of culture and tradition.

PC: Tell us about your character in Lucky Grandma.
Corey: In Lucky Grandma, I play Big Pong. He has a gentle heart and his personality is very similar to mine. We’re both big guys who value our culture and its traditions, even though we live on different sides of the world. In Chinese culture, it’s really important to respect your elders and to never lose sight of that.

PC: Not only is this your first feature film, but it’s also your debut in America. What was it about this project or character that resonated with you?
Corey: It was an honor and privilege to film this movie. Tsai Chin, who plays Grandma, is a legend, Sasie Sealy is an incredible director, and Angela Cheng is a terrific writer and producer. I never imagined that I would fly to the U.S. to film a movie. For Taiwanese actors, it feels almost impossible. I’ve only done one other small film and two Taiwanese soap operas. I’m a relatively new actor, so I never imagined I’d fly to America to shoot a cool script.

PC: Was there anything surprising about filming in the States?
Corey: It was a completely different experience. In Taiwan, everyone on set has multiple roles. The director may also be the camera man, but in the U.S., everyone has one goal, and is very focused on their one job. All the actors are taken care of. Everything is very organized.

PC: How did you prepare to play Big Pong who’s not your stereotypical bodyguard?
Corey: [laughs] Like you just said, he’s not your stereotypical bodyguard, so that made it easier. Before I was an actor, I played basketball; my position was center. My job was to protect my teammates, so I took that experience and imagined Grandma as my point guard—I have to protect her all the time. Also, because I’m not a regular bodyguard, I don’t have to have a stern face or any characteristics that you associate with a “typical” bodyguard. Big Pong is actually really kind. Grandma is the mean one in the relationship.

PC: How does Big Pong and Grandma’s relationship change over the course of the film?
Corey: It changes a lot. Grandma doesn’t believe Big Pong is the best bodyguard, so at first, she doesn’t want him protecting her, but he’s the cheaper option. [laughs] She doesn’t trust him, especially after she finds out he’s a vegetarian. [laughs] But when she’s almost attacked, and he protects her, a trust is built. Also, she discovers he values a lot of the same traditions that she does, like respecting your elders. In a way, she becomes Big Pong’s grandma, and she feels that.

PC: Is there a particular scene you’re excited for audiences to see?
Corey: I’m excited for audiences to see the scene where I’m walking around with a small goldfish in a bag, covering Grandma with an umbrella. I think it’s really funny because I do it for my mom all the time. We do it any time we’re in the traditional markets in Taiwan. It really shows the traditional Chinese/Taiwanese culture. Going to the market with your parents or grandparents each week is very common. It’s a really simple scene, but it’s a powerful moment.

PC: You’re a breakout star in Taiwan where stories like Lucky Grandma are more common. What does being a part of this project mean to you? What impact will it have on this market?
Corey: It’s an honor. I can’t wait for audiences to see traditional Chinese/Taiwanese culture. They’re very different, especially when it comes to our elders. In Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China, there are so many elders that are eighty-five who are still working hard because it’s what they know.

To keep up with Corey, follow him on Instagram, and catch Lucky Grandma at the Tribeca Film Festival.