Crew

NADINE TRUONG | Director, Producer


A German-born Vietnamese filmmaker, Nadine Truong worked in talent representation and at various production companies prior to earning an education at the world-renowned American Film Institute. Nadine received her MFA degree in directing in 2009.

Her directorial credits include: CHOPSTICKS, THE MUSE, ONE NEVER KNOWS, IN THE DARK and INITIATION. In 2006, Nadine was one of only eight recipients of the ‘Armed With a Camera Fellowship’ grant under Visual Communications’ program for Asian Pacific Americans, and was nominated for its Golden Reel Award in 2009 and 2010. In addition, also in 2010, she received San Diego International Asian Film Festival’s prestigious George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award.

The proud winner of the Mary Pickford Scholarship for Excellence in Directing, Nadine was one of only three female directors in AFI’s competitive program, and the only fellow to write and direct two thesis films: the coming-of-age dramedy EGGBABY (co-written by Christine No) and SHADOW MAN, a Vietnam War drama.

Nadine received her BA degree in Anthropology from UCLA in 2003 and resides in Los Angeles, where she also works as a professional photographer.  Follow her blog: here.

WEST LIANG | Actor, Writer, Producer 

Originally from the San Francisco Bay area, West Liang studied at American Conservatory Theatre and Stella Adler Acting Academy.

In 2009, he received a Garlands Critics’ Choice Award nomination for ’Best Actor,’ for his ’outstanding lead performance’ in Chay Yew’s PORCELAIN at Celebration Theatre. His numerous professional stage appearances include leading roles in: CAVE QUEST (East West Players; Ovation Award nominated), TREEFALL (Rogue Machine Theatre; Ovation Award & LA Weekly Award nominated), BINGO WITH THE INDIANS (Rogue Machine Theatre; GLAAD Award nominated), ROMEO & JULIET (Odyssey Theatre; Shakespeare Orange County), THE ENCHANTED NIGHTINGALE (Falcon Theatre; produced by Garry Marshall), TAPE (Ivar Theatre), FLIPZOIDS (Lee Strasberg Theatre) and THE CHINESE MASSACRE [ANNOTATED] (Circle X Theatre). His work in film & television includes: NASH BRIDGES (CBS), THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL (CBS), JON BENJAMIN HAS A VAN (Comedy Central), INVINCIBLE SCRIPTURE (Golden Dragon Films; Gold Kahuna Award for Feature Films @ 2010 Honolulu International Film Fest.), CROSSING OVER (Weinstein Co.), LOVE SICK DIARIES (w/ James Russo), RETURN TO GRACE (PBS); NG (JaYo Films; multiple festival winner); S.F. (WonderPhil Films; Telluride & Hawaii International Film Fest. Winner), BOOK OF RULES (Unusual Pictures; San Diego International Asian Film Fest. Winner) and the upcoming LOVE, GLORIA (w/ Heather McComb).

In addition to having successfully produced several professional stage productions in Los Angeles, as an accomplished playwright, West has also written the plays: THE ATMOSPHERE OF HENRY (Ivar Theatre), THE LEGEND OF JANE & JOE (Ricardo Montalbán Theatre), THEIR EYES SAW RAIN (currently workshopped by Theatricum Botanicum & Rogue Machine Theatre) and [IN]CLOSURE (currently workshopped by Moth Theatre). Also, he has written several short films, including: THE SALE (directed by Justin Huen), BEYOND THE SILENCE (directed by Luci Kwak), THE DAY A YEAR ENDED (directed by West Liang) and US, ANONYMOUS (directed by Justin Huen). In pilot television, West has been hired to co-create & develop the comedy EL REY MOTORS as a starring vehicle for Mel Rodriguez (RUNNING WILDE, GEORGE LOPEZ, FLASHFORWARD).

A proud member of AEA, SAG & AFTRA, West is professionally represented by Station 3, and holds a BA degree in English Literature. He resides in Los Angeles.

BRIAN YANG | Actor, Producer, Executive Producer 

Producer and actor Brian Yang was born in Columbus, Ohio, grew up in Northern California, and currently works between several cities in the U.S. and Asia.

After studying biology and dramatic arts at the University of California, at Berkeley, he embarked onto Los Angeles and, eventually, Philadelphia and New York, where he has worked as a professional actor in television, film and theater. In 2008, Brian traveled to China and quickly landed a hosting role for SHANGHAI RUSH, the country’s most expensive reality television show to date, thus beginning his exciting film and television endeavors in the Greater China region. Most recently, Brian was cast in a recurring supporting role on CBS’ hit television series HAWAII 5.0.

In 2006, Brian helped found 408 Films, a film production and financing company that focuses on fare across the Pacific Rim. Thus far, his company has produced three feature films including: THE PEOPLE I’VE SLEPT WITH and FOG, and is currently developing several other projects, including one about Jeremy Lin, the first-ever Taiwanese American basketball player to make the NBA. 

Twitter:  @briflys
Blog:  alivenotdead.

EDDIE MUI | Actor, Producer 

Born in Hong Kong before moving to Seattle at the age of 13 months, with his parents having only two hundred dollars in their pockets, Eddie Mui’s American dream started as soon as he took his very first step as an infant.

Years later, after watching Francis Ford Coppola's THE OUTSIDERS with a childhood friend at a local cineplex, he knew immediately that acting would be his calling. Still in his late-teen’s, Eddie started taking acting classes and performing on stages all over the Seattle area. After moving to Los Angeles years later, he began appearing in various theatre productions, national commercials, television shows and feature films, including: ER (NBC), WOMEN’S MURDER CLUB (ABC), PARTY OF FIVE (FOX), THREAT MATRIX (ABC) and BEVERLY HILLS 90210 (CW), as well as working with actors Nicolas Cage and Delroy Lindo in the high-adrenaline, action-packed GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS, then, later, Kurt Russell -- one of his all-time favorites -- on the gritty-edge feature film DARK BLUE, directed by Ron Shelton. One of his darkest starring roles, however, was in the action-drama REDEMPTION, in which Eddie portrayed the psychotic lead villain ‘Joey Lam’ alongside James Russo and the late Chris Penn. In addition, because of his early devotion to NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Eddie was also the resident director for many years of the sketch comedy troupe OPM in Hollywood.

Most recently, Eddie appeared in Michael Mann's latest television drama LUCK (HBO), starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, which premieres in late-2011. As an associate producer, he just wrapped WHITE ON RICE, a raunchy and wacky adult comedy feature, in which he also plays the hilarious role of ‘Mas Mui.’ He also produced four very successful short films, including: MR. ISAAC, AN EYE FOR THE WHITE GUY, CHAPTER 21 and RED THREAD, in which he stars as its lead, ‘Riley Chu.’

Eddie is a proud SAG member of over 15 years, and resides in Los Angeles with his wonderful wife, Shireen Mui, who is also a professional actress.


FRANCES E. CHANG | Producer, UPM 

A first-generation American-born Chinese who was raised in Southern California, Frances E. Chang is a young filmmaker who has worked in the industry in, both, Northern and Southern California, and often strives to represent diverse, ethnic and underrepresented voices in her projects.

She entered filmmaking in her senior semester at the University of California, at Berkeley, while studying Mass Communications. Within only a year, Frances’s potential for success and hardcore work ethic led her to promising opportunities with ABC 7, Disney/ABC International Television and Pixar Animation Studios. Instead, she attended Berkeley Digital Film Institute on a full scholarship to pursue her passion. After moving back to the Los Angeles, Frances became involved with the festival favorite STRAPPED (2010), then worked for Cape Cod Films, LLC., where she participated in the distribution and marketing for multi-festival winner WILD ABOUT HARRY (2010), for which she attended the Cannes Film Festival & Market. More notably, in 2010, as part of its signature diversity talent development program Project:Involve, Frances was awarded with a fellowship by the esteemed non-profit organization Film Independent.  Under its rigorous producing track, she successfully produced multiple short films that premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival in 2011.

As a freelance producer and writer, Frances has worked on multiple media projects, including music videos and narrative filmmaking, and resides in Los Angeles.

KEVIN LEUNG | Producer

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Kevin Leung's parents immigrated from Hong Kong in 1972. As a young boy, he was always interested in and fascinated by the fine arts, and has passionately pursued this love ever since.

While only in fourth grade, Kevin began entering into speech competitions in his home county, but it was in high school when he was formally bit by the acting bug. Since then, he has performed in numerous plays, for television & film.

In 2005, Kevin expanded his role in film by developing and producing independent films, such as INVINCIBLE SCRIPTURE, starring West Liang, which earned an award for feature film at the 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival. He has a wealth of experience from various forms of production and an enviable network of friends in the film industry. 

TAL LAZAR | Director of Photography 

A professional director of photography, Tal Lazar has worked on a wide range of projects in genres spanning drama, horror and comedy, and holds an MFA degree from the world-renowned American Film Institute Conservatory.

During his final year of completion at AFI, he received the FotoKem Cinematography Grant and Panavision’s New Filmmakers Grant for his thesis film SHADOW MAN, directed by Nadine Truong. In 2010, Tal completed three feature films: ELENA UNDONE, THE PERFECT HOUSE and THREE BLIND SAINTS. Before relocating to Los Angeles in 2007, he also worked as a director of photography on television shows and music videos in Israel. In addition, he brings with him extensive professional experience from his work as a union assistant cameraman on internationally recognized films.

Tal began his film studies at Tel Aviv University. While pursuing his education, he received the Sharet Foundation prize for cinematography and participated in the 2005 Budapest Cinematography Masterclass, instructed by Mr. Vilmos Zsimond, ASC and Mr. John Schwartzman, ASC. In 2004, he participated and produced the Tel Aviv Cinematography Masterclass, which was instructed by Mr. Adam Greenberg, ASC and Mr. Ricardo Aronovish, AFC.

Prior to his film career, Tal proudly served the Israeli Defense Forces as a staff sergeant, for which he finished his services with a sign of excellence bestowed upon him by Israeli president Eizer Weizman.

408 FILMS, LLC. | Production Company

A financing, consulting and production company, 408 Films, LLC., structures capital investment and private equity for, both, traditional feature film productions and new media ventures.

The company is dedicated to cultivating unique, fresh and exciting voices in various mediums of narrative filmmaking, including, shorts, documentaries and full-length features, such as FOG, THE PEOPLE I'VE SLEPT WITH and SUPERCAPITALIST.  In addition to NIGHTDREAMBLUES, 408 is currently in production on a docu-series about the NBA player Jeremy Lin.

Supported by experts in the fields of film & production, law, business & marketing and venture capital, and firmly backed by a diverse syndicate of private equity investors and high net worth individuals, 408 Films aims to finance and produce high-quality, artistically meaningful and commercially viable products across all genres and new media content that can transform into viable businesses and profitable brand franchises.

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