Bowen Yang And Kelly Marie Tran Open Up About Crew Members Sharing What It Felt To Work On A Queer Set For The Wedding Banquet: ‘It Just Felt Really Magical.’

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For quite some time now, there’s been a lot of discussion about the impact of recognizing oneself in media content. This ranges from portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals, to debates about authentic characters played by actors who identify as queer. However, this sense of empowerment isn’t limited to on-screen characters; it also applies to the crew members behind the scenes. As an example, Bowen Yang and Kelly Marie Tran, from “The Wedding Banquet,” have shared their experiences of finding strength in their chosen queer family while working on set.

The film titled ‘The Wedding Banquet’ received acclaim at Sundance and is scheduled for a wide release beginning April 18th. This upcoming comedy is a modern adaptation of Ang Lee’s 1993 film bearing the same name. The story revolves around two gay couples, Chris (portrayed by Yang) and Min (Han Gi-chan), and Angela (Tran) and Lee (Lily Gladstone). Their characters stage a sham wedding to secure a green card and funding for IVF, respectively. Notably, this production is spearheaded by LGBTQ+ talent in both acting and directing roles, an aspect that the cast and crew are particularly proud of. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Kelly Marie Tran shared some feedback she heard from her fellow cast members, stating:

On our set, various team members frequently approached us expressing delight at being part of a production predominantly staffed by individuals identifying as LGBTQ+, as they themselves were part of the community. It was an infectious atmosphere on set – truly enchanting and extraordinary.

What you said is genuinely encouraging, and although it might not be completely unexpected; Andrew Ahn, the director/writer, was also responsible for the underappreciated romantic comedy “Fire Island.” This film offered a genuinely authentic (and still humorous) portrayal of a group of friends on the famous gay vacation spot. If you’d like to revisit it, you can currently stream it with a Hulu subscription.

Fire Island and The Wedding Banquet feature Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live star Bowen Yang, who delved into the themes of romantic comedy and showcased the strength of creating a chosen family within the LGBTQ+ community. In these films, two couples work together to help each other in a mock wedding scenario, as Yang explained.

The four individuals seemed to bond effortlessly through kindness, which appeared to serve as their unifying force. In my opinion, this is a fundamental aspect of what makes up a chosen family, particularly within the queer community.

From the feelings expressed and Kelly Marie Tran’s comments, it appears as though the cast and crew of Andrew Ahn’s movie, The Wedding Banquet, may have developed a close-knit group during production, which could be reflected in the final film, potentially making it one of the most outstanding romantic comedies in recent times.

Great news for cinema enthusiasts! The long-awaited release of “The Wedding Banquet” is almost here. This film will be premiering in theaters on April 18th as part of the 2025 movie lineup, promising a delightful blend of humor and emotion.

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2025-04-17 02:37