From a groundbreaking vertical web series to a feature film screened at the Toronto International Film Festival, Rags 2 Richmond has taken an unconventional journey to the big screen. At TIFF, we sat down with actor, writer, producer and co-creator Jonathan Chee Hynn Wong, choreographer Joe Tuliao, actor Howie Lai, director and original series co-creator Simon Yin, to talk about the evolution of Rags 2 Richmond. The project began as a vertical digital series set in Richmond, British Columbia, following aspiring performers chasing fame through the city’s entertainment and pageant scene. Its success opened the door to a feature-length adaptation, expanding the story while bringing many of the original project’s creative ideas and talent to a larger format. In this conversation, we discuss the origins of Rags 2 Richmond, the decision to tell the story vertically, making the leap from short-form episodes to a feature film, the importance of Richmond and Asian-Canadian representation, the role of music and choreography, and what it means to bring the project to TIFF. Listen as the cast and creative team of Rags 2 Richmond take us behind the scenes of one of Canada’s most unconventional film journeys — from the phone screen to the big screen. Jonathan Chee Hynn Wong is a Hong Kong-born singer-songwriter, actor, dancer, choreographer, writer and producer who serves as one of the driving creative forces behind Rags 2 Richmond A graduate of Cornell University with double majors in Psychology and Modern Dance, Wong launched his musical career in Hong Kong in 2009. He has worked across music, television, film and live performance, and competed on China’s Sing My Song in 2016 as part of David Tao’s team, reaching the top six within his group. Simon Yin is an Atlanta-born, award-winning director, producer, actor and television host whose career has taken him across North America and Asia. His directing credits include the feature film Supercapitalist, as well as television projects for networks including History, Discovery Channel, FOX International Channels, AXN/Sony and Lifetime. He created The History Hustle, which won Best General Entertainment Programme at the Asian Television Awards, and directed the award-winning Beat N Path with Lupe Fiasco. Howie Lai is a Canadian actor whose extensive screen career includes work in film and television across drama, science fiction, horror and comedy. Lai is part of the cast of the Rags 2 Richmond feature film, appearing as Dominic. He has also appeared in television series including Earth Abides, Death and Other Details, The Irrational, Debris, Altered Carbon, Travelers, Arrow, Supernatural and Fringe. His feature-film credits include Monster Trucks, Death Note and Grave Encounters 2. Away from screen, Lai has also worked extensively in theatre. He appeared as Jung in the Arts Club Theatre production of Kim’s Convenience. Joe Tuliao is a Filipino-Canadian award-winning choreographer, director, performer and creative director whose work spans film, television, stage and music. Tuliao served as choreographer on Rags 2 Richmond, helping shape the project’s movement and musical sequences. His screen credits include choreography for Lionsgate’s Joy Ride, as well as work on productions including Avatar: The Last Airbender, Malcolm in the Middle, Off Campus, Scrubs and RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race. He has also performed on projects including Disney’s Descendants 2 and Descendants 3, Freaky Friday, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist and Riverdale. For Joy Ride, Tuliao choreographed the film’s K-pop fantasy sequence featuring Ashley Park, Stephanie Hsu, Sherry Cola and Sabrina Wu, earning a Leo Award nomination for Best Choreography. Beyond screen work, he is the founder of Illustrative Society and 8 Magazine and has been involved in developing platforms connecting dance, film and emerging artists.
