Evan Jackson Leong

{{Infobox person | other_names = Evan Leong | birth_name = Evan Jackson Leong | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|03|05}} | birth_place = [[Fresno County, California]], U.S. | education = [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (BA) | occupation = {{hlist|Director|Filmmaker|Film Producer}} | notable_works = [[1040 Movie|1040: Christianity in the New Asia]] (2010)<br>[[Linsanity]] (2013) | website = {{URL|https://www.arowanafilms.com/}} }}

'''Evan Jackson Leong''' (born March 5, 1979)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evan Jackson Leong — Born 1979, Fresno County, California |url=https://californiabirthindex.org/birth/evan_jackson_leong_born_1979_14092721 |access-date=2026-03-31 |website=California Birth Index |language=en}}</ref> is a Chinese-American producer, director, and documentary filmmaker. Leong is known for his documentary ''[[Linsanity (film)|Linsanity]]'' about [[Jeremy Lin]], which made its world premiere at the 2013 [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref> [http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13097/linsanity Linsanity, Sundance] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231020359/http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13097/linsanity |date=2012-12-31 }}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> He has also directed the documentary ''[[1040 Movie|1040: Christianity in the New Asia]]'' (2010), and the documentary short ''BLT Genesis'' (2002), which tracks the behind-the-scenes making of and trajectory of [[Justin Lin]]'s film, ''[[Better Luck Tomorrow]]''.

== Early life == Leong is a sixth-generation Chinese American.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evan Jackson Leong – American Film Showcase |url=https://americanfilmshowcase.com/filmmakers/leong/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=americanfilmshowcase.com}}</ref> Leong grew up in the [[Richmond District, San Francisco]], California.<ref name="sfgate_leong">{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Linsanity-lets-director-score-4337189.php |title=Linsanity let's director score |publisher=sfgate.com |first=James |last=Robinson |date=March 10, 2013 |access-date=September 19, 2019}}</ref>

== Education == Leong earned a bachelor's degree in Asian American Studies from [[UCLA]].<ref name="sfgate_leong"/> He transferred to UCLA from the [[University of California, Riverside]], where he was a member of the [[Pi Alpha Phi]] fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web |last=napahq |date=2013-10-02 |title=Alumni Spotlight: Evan Jackson Leong |url=https://www.napahq.org/alumni-spotlight-evan-jackson-leong/ |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=National APIDA Panhellenic Association |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career == ===Films and documentaries=== Leong directed the documentary ''[[Linsanity (film)|Linsanity]]'' about [[Jeremy Lin]], which screened at the 2013 [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>Tim Wu, (January 25, 2013).[http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/01/25/linsanity_review_documentary_film_by_evan_jackson_leong_follows_nba_star.html Linsanity Review] Slate</ref><ref>[http://www.mercurynews.com/movies-dvd/ci_22451482 Linsanity Review] San Jose Mercury</ref><ref> [https://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogssundanceblog/55706331-50/lin-rockets-documentary-jeremy.html.csp Jeremy Lin to appear at Sunday Screening of Linsanity]</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter">[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movie/linsanity/review/414155 Linsanity Review] The Hollywood Reporter</ref><ref>[http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13097/linsanity Sundance 2013 - Linsanity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231020359/http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13097/linsanity |date=2012-12-31 }}</ref> The documentary was also produced by [[Brian Yang (producer)|Brian Yang]] as well as Christopher Chen, Allen Lu, Patricia Sun, James D. Stern and Sam Kwok.

The documentary was several years in the making, and Leong started following Lin when he still played basketball at [[Harvard University]].<ref>[https://www.mercurynews.com/jeremy-lin/ci_22451478/linsanity-moviemakers-took-wild-ride-along-their-star Linsanity Moviemakers Took Wild Ride Along With Their Star] San Jose Mercury News </ref> When the film screened at Sundance, it received positive reviews from the [[Los Angeles Times]],<ref>Stephen Zeitchik [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-sundance-2013-linsanity-jeremy-lin-movie-rockets-knicks-nba-stats-20130120,0,1626846.story Sundance 2013: In 'Linsanity,' Jeremy Lin's extraordinary journey] Los Angeles Times</ref> [[The Hollywood Reporter]],<ref name="hollywoodreporter" /> [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]],<ref>Josh L. Dickey [https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118065200/ Sundance: Docu filmmakers hit 'Linsanity' jackpot] Variety</ref> and many more publications.

Leong has also directed the feature-length documentary ''[[1040 Movie|1040: Christianity in the New Asia]]'' (2010), a documentary that chronicles the rapid changes in Asia and the significant shift in the spiritual landscape in the area known as the [[10/40 window]] – the region between 10 and 40 degrees north latitude on the eastern hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://1040movie.com/1040-the-movie |title=1040 Movie : About |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304071621/http://1040movie.com/1040-the-movie |archive-date=2012-03-04 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=1040, Cast and Crew |url=http://1040movie.com/cast-crew |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219212323/http://1040movie.com/cast-crew |archive-date=2013-02-19 }}</ref>

Leong has also directed, from a script he has written, the 2021 drama ''[[Snakehead (film)|Snakehead]]'' which was initially slated to star [[Lucy Liu]] in a story about the underworld of human smuggling that takes place on the streets of New York City's Chinatown.<ref>Mike Fleming Jr. [https://deadline.com/2014/10/lucy-liu-human-smuggling-snakehead-1201267993/ ‘Elementary’s Lucy Liu To Star In Human Smuggling Drama ‘Snakehead'] Deadline</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2021-09-14 |title=Toronto: 'Snakehead' Director Talks Asian Representation in Hollywood: "I'm the Underdog" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/snakehead-director-asian-representation-hollywood-1235013832/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> Later Kickstarter campaigns of the film reveal that the lead actress has been switched from Lucy Liu to Shuya Chang (playing the main character of Sister Tse), and actors such as [[Sung Kang]] (playing a character named Rambo) and [[Jade Wu]] (playing a character named Dai Mah) have been added to the cast.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.snakeheadmovie.com/ |title=Snakehead Movie |access-date=August 14, 2017 |archive-date=October 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016040841/http://www.snakeheadmovie.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arowanafilms/snakehead-post-production Snakehead Post Production] Kickstarter</ref> The film was also produced by ''[[Linsanity (film)|Linsanity]]'' producer [[Brian Yang (producer)|Brian Yang]].

Leong directed the 2024 documentary ''The Bridge'', which celebrates [[East West Bank]]'s 50th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OIFF22 announces "The Bridge " to open at The Historic Grand Lake Theater – September 12th, 2024 {{!}} The Oakland International Film Festival |url=https://www.oiff.org/2024/06/16/oiff22-announces-the-bridge-to-open-at-the-historic-grand-lake-theater-september-12th-2024/ |access-date=2024-07-11 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=JJ Lin and Anderson .Paak to release collaborative track 'In the Joy' for documentary 'The Bridge' |url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/jj-lin-and-anderson-paak-to-release-collaborative-track-in-the-joy-for-documentary-film-the-bridge-evan-jakcson-leong-aapi-east-west-bank-2023 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=JJ Lin and Anderson .Paak to release collaborative track 'In the Joy' for documentary 'The Bridge' {{!}} Bandwagon {{!}} Music media championing and spotlighting music in Asia. |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Surej |date=2023-03-28 |title=JJ Lin and Anderson .Paak are teaming up for a new single, 'In The Joy' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/jj-lin-anderson-paak-teaming-up-new-single-in-the-joy-3421553 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Short films and music videos=== Among the other films Leong has directed include the short film, ''Manivore'' (2009) (starring Grace Su and [[C.S. Lee]]), and the documentary short ''BLT: Genesis'' (2002), which chronicles the making of and the rise of [[Justin Lin]]'s film, ''[[Better Luck Tomorrow]]'' (2002). Lin is cited as Leong's mentor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Evan Jackson Leong – American Film Showcase |url=https://americanfilmshowcase.com/filmmakers/leong/ |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=americanfilmshowcase.com}}</ref>

For ''BLT: Genesis'', Leong won a Jury Award for Best Documentary Short at the 2002 [[San Diego Asian Film Festival]]. Leong also directed the short film ''Suckerball 73'' as a [[Visual Communications (VC)|Visual Communications]] "Armed with a Camera" fellowship film, which screened at the 2003 [[Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival]] (or VC Film Fest as it was known back then).<ref>AWC Alumni, {{cite web |url=http://www.vconline.org/alpha/cms/index.cfm/programs/artist-services/armed-with-a-camera-fellowship/awc-alumni/ |title=AWC Alumni - Default |access-date=2013-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604092530/http://www.vconline.org/alpha/cms/index.cfm/programs/artist-services/armed-with-a-camera-fellowship/awc-alumni/ |archive-date=2012-06-04 }}</ref> Leong also directed a short documentary entitled ''Him Mark Lai: The People's Historian'' (2005) and a short PSA on the [[Asian law caucus|Asian Law Caucus]] entitled ''Empowering Communities: Asian Law Caucus in Action'' (2010).<ref>{{cite web |title=1040 Movie, Cast and Crew, Evan Leong Bio |url=http://1040movie.com/cast-crew |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219212323/http://1040movie.com/cast-crew |archive-date=2013-02-19 }}</ref> Leong also directed the "Fists of Fuhrer" segment in [[Justin Lin]]'s ''[[Finishing the Game]]'' starring [[Roger Fan]] as Breeze Loo, [[Nathan Jung]] as "Bob," Aiko Tanaka, and Nikita Esco (credited as Natalie Susko), with choreography from Don Thai.<ref>[http://arowanafilms.com/fist-of-fuhrer-starring-breeze-loo Fists of Fuhrer] Arowana Films {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212093242/http://arowanafilms.com/fist-of-fuhrer-starring-breeze-loo |date=2013-12-12 }}</ref>

Leong's banner is known as Arowana Films. He has also directed a number of music videos that have screened on [[MTV]] and other outlets for groups such as [[Far East Movement]] (music videos for the tracks "Round Round" and "Satisfaction" on ''[[The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift]]'' soundtrack; "Western", "Work Bounce" and "Far East Futura"), [[MC Jin]] (the tracks "Yum Dom Cha" and "Li Li Luan"/"Li Li Chaos"), [[Lyrics Born]] (the tracks "Last Trumpet" and "Bad Dreams"), and Estairy ("Hands Up" also feat. Equipto).<ref>[http://www.krop.com/arowanafilms/ Evan Leong, Arowana Films] KROP</ref><ref>[http://arowanafilms.com/ Arowana Films, Home]</ref>

He also co-directed, with [[Michelle Phan]], the Paris-shot ''Rouge in Love'', which has accumulated close to 3 million views on YouTube and was scored by [[George Shaw (composer)|George Shaw]].<ref>Michelle Phan [http://michellephan.com/blog/post/rouge-in-love Rouge in Love] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130629213532/http://michellephan.com/blog/post/rouge-in-love |date=2013-06-29 }}</ref>

Leong also used to be a segment producer for [[MTV News]] starting from 2010.<ref>Eric Ditzian [https://web.archive.org/web/20130130043759/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1700852/linsanity-jeremy-lin-documentary.jhtml Jeremy Lin Schools His NBA Haters In 'Linsanity' Doc Director Evan Jackson Leong tells MTV News he 'wanted to show the evolution' of how Lin dealt with racism] MTV News</ref>

===Producing and other work=== Leong was a field producer on the political documentary, ''[[...So Goes the Nation]]'' (2006) and has also assisted with or worked in the production department of films directed by [[Justin Lin]] including ''[[Finishing the Game]]'' (2007) (Co-Producer, Post Production Coordinator, 2nd Unit Director), ''[[The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift]]'' (2006) (where he was also Justin Lin's assistant), and ''[[Better Luck Tomorrow]]'' (2002) (where he was an Assistant Editor and also played the role of the "Slapper's Boyfriend"; he also directed a "behind-the-scenes" short documentary about the film entitled ''BLT:Genesis''). Leong is also a cinematographer and [[Steadicam]] operator, having done additional camera work on the documentary short ''Spotlighting'' (2005) directed by [[Justin Lin]].

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|1456609}} *[http://www.krop.com/arowanafilms/ Compiled Reels for Evan Jackson Leong] *[http://arowanafilms.com/ Arowana Films - Official Site]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Leong, Evan Jackson}} [[Category:American film directors of Chinese descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Film directors from San Francisco]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]