Justin Lin
Encyclopedia
Justin Lin (born 1971) is a Taiwanese American film director, best known for his work on Better Luck Tomorrow
, The Fast and the Furious franchise
and the television show, Community
.
and grew up in Orange County
, California. He earned an MFA in film directing from the UCLA Film School. His solo directorial debut Better Luck Tomorrow
(1997's Shopping for Fangs was co-directed by Quentin Lee) made a huge splash with critics and fans alike. However, his subsequent work, Annapolis
, scored mixed reviews from critics but found an audience on DVD, selling more than 4 million copies and landing on top 10-rental lists around the country. His directorial outing, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
, was released in North American cinemas 16 June 2006. Universal credits the film (along with The Break-Up
) for helping the studio stay in the black in 2006. It has grossed more than $158 million to date.
After Tokyo Drift, Lin went on to do an independent film Finishing the Game
, which is a comedic interpretation of the events surrounding the production of Bruce Lee's final film, Game of Death
. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
. He also directed a short film that also premiered at the Sundance Global Short Film Project, La Revolución de Iguodala! (2007), about one individual's message as that individual travels through time and becomes embodied in different races.
Lin returned to the franchise to direct the fourth in the Fast and Furious series, titled Fast & Furious which opened on April 3, 2009. On its first day of release the movie grossed $30.5 million, and peaked at the top spot of the weekend box office with $70,950,500. It held the title for the highest-grossing opening weekend ever in April (it was surpassed by Fast Five on the last weekend of April 2011 with an estimated $83.6 million, which he also directed) and of any car-oriented film. (The prior record was held by Cars
, which grossed $60.1 million.) As of May 24, 2009 the film has grossed a total of US $345,755,411 worldwide.
Justin Lin has also directed several episodes of the NBC comedy series Community
, most notably the critically acclaimed episode Modern Warfare
, which aired on May 6, 2010.
In 2009, he founded the popular Asian American blog: www.YouOffendMeYouOffendMyFamily.com (YOMYOMF).
On the 27th of April, he was announced as being the director for the next installment of the Terminator series, with the CAA as being the new distributors and potentially Arnold Schwarzenegger
back in the role as The Terminator. Megan Ellison's Annapurna Films won the rights to this Terminator film and the next installment as well.
(2006), directed by Jeff Adachi
, about the representation of Asian and Asian American men in Hollywood.
In 2000, Lin also wrote and directed a documentary, Crossover, which focused on the 70-year old phenomenon of the Japanese American Basketball Leagues, which were established in the 1930s.
Better Luck Tomorrow
Better Luck Tomorrow is a 2002 crime-drama film directed by Justin Lin. The movie is about Asian American overachievers who become bored with their lives and enter a world of petty crime and material excess...
, The Fast and the Furious franchise
The Fast and the Furious (film series)
The Fast and the Furious is a series of action films that focuses on street racing and heists. Produced by Universal Studios, the series was established in 2001 with the eponymous first installment, which has since been followed by four sequels, and two short films that tie into the series...
and the television show, Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
.
Life and career
Lin was born in TaipeiTaipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
and grew up in Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, California. He earned an MFA in film directing from the UCLA Film School. His solo directorial debut Better Luck Tomorrow
Better Luck Tomorrow
Better Luck Tomorrow is a 2002 crime-drama film directed by Justin Lin. The movie is about Asian American overachievers who become bored with their lives and enter a world of petty crime and material excess...
(1997's Shopping for Fangs was co-directed by Quentin Lee) made a huge splash with critics and fans alike. However, his subsequent work, Annapolis
Annapolis (film)
Annapolis is a 2006 drama film directed by Justin Lin and starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Donnie Wahlberg, Roger Fan, and Chi McBride. The film revolves around Jake Huard, a young man who dreams of one day attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland...
, scored mixed reviews from critics but found an audience on DVD, selling more than 4 million copies and landing on top 10-rental lists around the country. His directorial outing, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology...
, was released in North American cinemas 16 June 2006. Universal credits the film (along with The Break-Up
The Break-Up
The Break-Up is a 2006 American comedy-drama romance film directed by Peyton Reed, starring Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. It was written by Jay Lavender and Jeremy Garelick and produced by Universal Pictures.-Plot:...
) for helping the studio stay in the black in 2006. It has grossed more than $158 million to date.
After Tokyo Drift, Lin went on to do an independent film Finishing the Game
Finishing the game
Finishing The Game, an Official Selection of the Sundance Film Festival, is a 2007 mockumentary which focuses on Bruce Lee's final movie Game of Death. Lee died prior to finishing the movie, having shot only a few of the final fight scenes. However, the rest of the film was finished using a Bruce...
, which is a comedic interpretation of the events surrounding the production of Bruce Lee's final film, Game of Death
Game of Death
The Game of Death is a 1972 film starring Bruce Lee. It was almost the last film Bruce Lee had planned to be the demonstration piece of his martial art Jeet Kune Do. Over 100 minutes of footage was shot before his death, some of which was later misplaced in the Golden Harvest archives...
. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
2007 Sundance Film Festival
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18 until January 28, 2007 in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ogden, Utah. It was the 23-rd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival...
. He also directed a short film that also premiered at the Sundance Global Short Film Project, La Revolución de Iguodala! (2007), about one individual's message as that individual travels through time and becomes embodied in different races.
Lin returned to the franchise to direct the fourth in the Fast and Furious series, titled Fast & Furious which opened on April 3, 2009. On its first day of release the movie grossed $30.5 million, and peaked at the top spot of the weekend box office with $70,950,500. It held the title for the highest-grossing opening weekend ever in April (it was surpassed by Fast Five on the last weekend of April 2011 with an estimated $83.6 million, which he also directed) and of any car-oriented film. (The prior record was held by Cars
Cars (film)
Cars is a 2006 American animated family film produced by Pixar and directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Joe Ranft. It is the seventh Disney·Pixar feature film, and Pixar's final, independently-produced motion picture before its purchase by Disney...
, which grossed $60.1 million.) As of May 24, 2009 the film has grossed a total of US $345,755,411 worldwide.
Justin Lin has also directed several episodes of the NBC comedy series Community
Community (TV series)
Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
, most notably the critically acclaimed episode Modern Warfare
Modern Warfare (Community)
"Modern Warfare" is the 23rd episode of the first season of Community and originally premiered on May 6, 2010 on NBC. In the episode, after the Dean announces the prize for a friendly game of paintball, Greendale sinks into a state of all-out paintball war, with every student battling for...
, which aired on May 6, 2010.
In 2009, he founded the popular Asian American blog: www.YouOffendMeYouOffendMyFamily.com (YOMYOMF).
On the 27th of April, he was announced as being the director for the next installment of the Terminator series, with the CAA as being the new distributors and potentially Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
back in the role as The Terminator. Megan Ellison's Annapurna Films won the rights to this Terminator film and the next installment as well.
Documentaries
Lin is among the actors, producers and directors interviewed in the documentary The Slanted ScreenThe Slanted Screen
The Slanted Screen is a 2006 documentary film written, produced, and directed by Jeff Adachi about the stereotypical depictions and absence of Asian males in American cinema and other media from the silent era to the present day.-Interviewees:* Eric Byler* Gene Cajayon* Terence Chang* Frank Chin*...
(2006), directed by Jeff Adachi
Jeff Adachi
Jeff Adachi is the elected Public Defender of San Francisco, pension reform advocate, and a former candidate for Mayor of San Francisco.-Early life and education:...
, about the representation of Asian and Asian American men in Hollywood.
In 2000, Lin also wrote and directed a documentary, Crossover, which focused on the 70-year old phenomenon of the Japanese American Basketball Leagues, which were established in the 1930s.
Filmography
- Shopping for FangsShopping for Fangs-Cast:* Radmar Jao as Phil* Jeanne Chin as Katherine* Clint Jung as Jim* Lela Lee as Naomi* John Cho as Clarance* Peggy Ahn as Grace* Scott Eberlein as Matt* Daniel Twyman as Dr. Suleri* Jennifer Hengstenberg as Sammi* Dana Pan as May...
(1997) - Interactions (2000)
- Crossover (2000)
- Better Luck TomorrowBetter Luck TomorrowBetter Luck Tomorrow is a 2002 crime-drama film directed by Justin Lin. The movie is about Asian American overachievers who become bored with their lives and enter a world of petty crime and material excess...
(2002) - SpotlightingSpotlightingSpotlighting or Lamping is a method of hunting nocturnal animals using off-road vehicles and high-powered lights, spotlights, lamps or flashlights, that makes special use of the eyeshine revealed by many animal species. A further important aspect is that many animals Spotlighting or Lamping (also...
(2005) - AnnapolisAnnapolis (film)Annapolis is a 2006 drama film directed by Justin Lin and starring James Franco, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Donnie Wahlberg, Roger Fan, and Chi McBride. The film revolves around Jake Huard, a young man who dreams of one day attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland...
(2006) - The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is a 2006 street racing action film directed by Justin Lin. It is the third installment in the The Fast and the Furious film series and currently the sixth in terms of series chronology...
(2006) - Finishing the GameFinishing the gameFinishing The Game, an Official Selection of the Sundance Film Festival, is a 2007 mockumentary which focuses on Bruce Lee's final movie Game of Death. Lee died prior to finishing the movie, having shot only a few of the final fight scenes. However, the rest of the film was finished using a Bruce...
(2007) - La Revolución de Iguodala! (2007)
- Fast & Furious (2009)
- CommunityCommunity (TV series)Community is an American television comedy series created by Dan Harmon that airs on NBC. The series is about a group of students at a community college in the fictional locale of Greendale, Colorado. The series heavily uses meta-humor and pop culture references, often parodying film and television...
(2010) (TV) - Fast FiveFast Five (film)Fast Five is a 2011 action film written by Chris Morgan and directed by Justin Lin. It is the fifth installment in the Fast and the Furious film series. It was released first in Australia on April 20, 2011, and then in the United States on April 29, 2011...
(2011) - Untitled Fast Five Sequel (2013)