Front Cover
{{Short description|2015 film by Ray Yeung}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Front Cover
| image = Front Cover poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Ray Yeung
| writer = Ray Yeung
| producer = {{Plainlist|
- Kaer Vanice
- Ray Yeung
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Jake Choi
- James Chen
- Elizabeth Sung
- Ming Lee
- Jennifer Neala Page
- Sonia Villani
- Li Jun Li
}}
| cinematography = Eun-ah Lee
| editing = Joseph Gutowski
| music = {{Plainlist|
- Paul Turner
- Darren Morze
}}
| studio = {{Plainlist|
- NewVoice Production
- Fortissimo Films
}}
| distributor = Strand Releasing
| released = {{Film date|2015|05|28|SIFF|2016|08|06|United States}}
| runtime = 87 minutes{{cite web|url=https://strandreleasing.com/films/front-cover/|title=FRONT COVER|website=Strand Releasing|access-date=February 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718171854/https://strandreleasing.com/films/front-cover/|archive-date=July 18, 2024|url-status=live}}
| country = United States
| language = {{Plainlist|
}}
| gross = $26,409{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=3185602|title=Front Cover|access-date=February 1, 2025}}
}}
Front Cover is a 2015 American romantic comedy-drama film written, directed, and co-produced by Ray Yeung. It stars Jake Choi and James Chen, with Elizabeth Sung, Ming Lee, Jennifer Neala Page, Sonia Villani, and Li Jun Li in supporting roles. It follows an openly gay New York City fashion stylist who, rejecting his traditional Asian upbringing, is assigned to style a famous Beijing actor for an important photo shoot for his firm.
The film had its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 28, 2015, and was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on August 6, 2016, by Strand Releasing. It received mixed-to-positive reviews from critics.
Plot
Front Cover tells the story of Ryan Fu, a gay Chinese American who rejects his Asian heritage and has learned to suppress it to climb up the social ladder. Through talent and hard work he attains his dream job as an assistant to Francesca, a celebrity fashion stylist. One day Francesca assigns Ryan to style Ning, an actor who has just arrived from Beijing, for a top magazine photo shoot. Ning dismisses Ryan's initial Western styling and demands Ryan create an image for him that represents the power of the new China. Their opinions clash, resulting in a strained working relationship.
Over the following days, they socialize while working together and discover not only do they have a lot in common, a mutual attraction begins to develop. As they get closer, Ryan reveals that he detests his Chinese heritage because he is ashamed of his impoverished upbringing. Ning also opens up and confesses that he is closeted. As they fall in love, a Chinese tabloid magazine exposes Ning as gay. Terrified of the impact it will have on his career, Ning begs Ryan to lie for him at a press conference. Ryan must now decide whether to help Ning or stay true to himself.{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/front-cover-2016|title=Front Cover movie review & film summary (2016) |last=Cheshire |first=Godfrey |website=RogerEbert.com |language=en |access-date=2019-11-09}}
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Jake Choi as Ryan Fu
- James Chen as Qi Xiao Ning
- Elizabeth Sung as Yen
- Jennifer Neala Page as Janet
- Sonia Villani as Francesca
- Ming Lee as Ba
- Li Jun Li as Miao
- Benjamin Thys as James
- Peter Benson as Tim
- Rachel Lu as Xin
- Kristen Hung as Ai
- Wayne Chang as Chun
- Scott Chan as Bao
- Ben Baur as Eddie
- Tom Ligon as Gus LaMar
- Brian Knoebel as Dex
- Shenell Edmonds as Amy
- Chris Kies as Colin
- Feiga Martinez as Margarita
- Jack Ferver as Pascal
- Susan Louise O'Connor as Reporter
- James Pravasilis as Technician
}}
Release
Front Cover had its world premiere at the 41st Seattle International Film Festival on May 28, 2015.{{cite press release|last=Eggers|first=Rachel|date=April 29, 2015|title=SIFF ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR 41st SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL|url=https://www.siff.net/press-releases/festival-lineup-2015|work=SIFF|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225134818/https://www.siff.net/press-releases/festival-lineup-2015|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}} It opened the 26th Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival on September 19,{{cite news|last=Lord|first=Richard|date=September 17, 2015|title=Hong Kong filmmaker Ray Yeung's new film, Front Cover, is a story about fitting in and identity|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/film-tv/article/1859048/gay-chinese-filmmaker-ray-yeungs-new-film-front-cover-story-about|work=South China Morning Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627085951/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/film-tv/article/1859048/gay-chinese-filmmaker-ray-yeungs-new-film-front-cover-story-about|archive-date=June 27, 2022|access-date=February 1, 2025}} and was screened at several film festivals.{{cite web|date=July 27, 2016|title=Screenings|url=http://www.frontcoverthemovie.com/category/screenings/|website=Front Cover's Official Website|access-date=February 1, 2025}}
In September 2015, Strand Releasing acquired North American distribution rights to the film,{{cite news|last=Frater|first=Patrick|date=September 12, 2015|title=Strand Releasing to Open Ray Yeung's 'Front Cover' in North America|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/strand-releasing-to-open-ray-yeungs-front-cover-in-north-america-1201591868/|work=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200028/https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/strand-releasing-to-open-ray-yeungs-front-cover-in-north-america-1201591868/|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}}{{cite news|last=Kilday|first=Gregg|date=September 12, 2015|title=TIFF: Ray Yeung's 'Front Cover' Goes to Strand Releasing|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tiff-2015-ray-yeungs-front-822582/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225195823/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/tiff-2015-ray-yeungs-front-822582/|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}} while Edko Films picked up Hong Kong and Macau distribution rights.{{cite news|last=Wong|first=Silvia|date=September 23, 2015|title=Edko to open 'Front Cover' in Hong Kong|url=https://www.screendaily.com/edko-to-open-front-cover-in-hong-kong/5094471.article|work=Screen Daily|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200312/https://www.screendaily.com/edko-to-open-front-cover-in-hong-kong/5094471.article|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}}{{cite news|last=Frater|first=Patrick|date=October 3, 2015|title=Busan: Edko Films Snags 'Cover' Rights|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/busan-edko-films-snags-cover-rights-1201609019/|work=Variety|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200606/https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/busan-edko-films-snags-cover-rights-1201609019/|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}} It was theatrically released in New York City on August 5, 2016, in Los Angeles on August 12,{{cite news|last=Murthi|first=Vikram|date=August 2, 2016|title='Front Cover' Exclusive Clip: An Openly Gay NYC Fashion Stylist Examines His Cultural Identity Through an Unlikely Friendship|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/front-cover-lgbt-asian-ray-yeung-clip-1201712638/|work=IndieWire|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229114605/https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/front-cover-lgbt-asian-ray-yeung-clip-1201712638/|archive-date=February 29, 2024|access-date=February 1, 2025}} and in Hong Kong on October 25.
Reception
=Box office=
Front Cover grossed $26,409 in the United States, and earned an additional $57,832 in domestic video sales.{{cite The Numbers|id=Front-Cover|title=Front Cover|access-date=February 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225195749/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Front-Cover|archive-date=December 25, 2024|url-status=live}}
=Critical response=
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|83|5.2|12|ref=yes|access-date=February 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241201234845/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/front_cover_2016|archive-date=December 1, 2024|url-status=live}} {{Metacritic film prose|52|9|ref=yes|access-date=February 5, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200736/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/front-cover/|archive-date=December 25, 2024|url-status=live}}
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times stated, "Front Cover still strains to surmount its thin narrative and unfortunate dips into clichéd cultural comedy. Yet the acting is reserved and sincere, the two leads exhibiting a believable attraction that Mr. Yeung takes care not to disrupt."{{cite news|last=Catsoulis|first=Jeannette|date=August 4, 2016|title=Review: In 'Front Cover,' Struggling for Self-Acceptance|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/movies/front-cover-review.html|work=The New York Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200921/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/05/movies/front-cover-review.html|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 5, 2025}} Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times described the film as "a root-worthy picture with its share of warm, amusing moments, an attractive pair of leads and a vivid use of Big Apple locales."{{cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Gary|date=August 11, 2016|title=Review: 'Front Cover' is a handsome, if wobbly, gay rom-com|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-front-cover-review-20160808-snap-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241225200917/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-capsule-front-cover-review-20160808-snap-story.html|archive-date=December 25, 2024|access-date=February 5, 2025}} Stephanie Merry of The Washington Post gave it 2 out of 4 stars and opined, "Front Cover is weighed down by heavy-handed dialogue and a melodramatic score."{{cite news|last=Merry|first=Stephanie|date=September 29, 2016|title=In 'Front Cover' a gay Chinese American comes to terms with his cultural identity|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/in-front-cover-a-gay-chinese-american-comes-to-terms-with-his-cultural-identity/2016/09/29/b4e8b07a-857e-11e6-a3ef-f35afb41797f_story.html|work=The Washington Post|access-date=February 5, 2025}} Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post gave the film 3 out of 5 stars and concluded his review by writing, "Front Cover does deliver as a nice little romantic comedy with a pair of endearing leads."{{cite news|last=Lee|first=Edmund|date=October 25, 2016|title=Film review: Front Cover - Chinese values reconsidered in gay romance|url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2039850/film-review-front-cover-chinese-values-reconsidered-gay-romance|work=South China Morning Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220081352/https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2039850/film-review-front-cover-chinese-values-reconsidered-gay-romance|archive-date=December 20, 2024|access-date=February 5, 2025}} Godfrey Cheshire of RogerEbert.com gave it 3 out of 4 stars and remarked, "Yeung's [screenplay] is subtle and assured, tracing an emotional arc that's believably nuanced." Cheshire also praised Choi and Chen for their "exceptionally strong lead performances."{{cite news|last=Cheshire|first=Godfrey|date=August 5, 2016|title=Front Cover|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/front-cover-2016|work=RogerEbert.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220081351/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/front-cover-2016|archive-date=December 20, 2024|access-date=February 5, 2025}}
=Accolades=
;Awards
- Best Screenplay, FilmOut San Diego, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.filmoutsandiego.com/2016-festival-awards.htm|title=FilmOut San Diego Sponsors|website=filmoutsandiego.com|access-date=2019-11-09|archive-date=2021-11-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120162214/http://www.filmoutsandiego.com/2016-festival-awards.htm|url-status=dead}}
- Jury Award Best Domestic Feature, Outflix Film Festival Memphis, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://www.outmemphis.org/outflix-2016-award-winners/|title=Outflix 2016 Award Winners!|last=OUTMemphis|date=2016-09-16|website=OUTMemphis|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-09}}
- Audience Award for Best Narrative Film, Boston Asian American Film Festival, 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0004211/2016/1/|title=Boston Asian American Film Festival (2016)|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-11-09}}
- Best Full Feature, Serile Filmului Gay International Film Festival Romania, 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/event/ev0002866/2016/1/|title=Serile Filmului Gay International Film Festival, Romania (2016)|website=IMDb|access-date=2019-11-09}}
- Best Actor (James Chen), Australia Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival, 2017{{Cite news|url=https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/event/golden-koala-chinese-film-festival-2017|title=Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival 2017|work=Concrete Playground|access-date=2018-12-04|language=en-US}}
;Nominations
- New American Cinema Award, Seattle International Film Festival, 2015{{Cite web|title=SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES AUDIENCE & COMPETITION AWARDS|url=https://www.siff.net/media/press/press-releases/awards-2015|access-date=2019-11-09|website=siff.net|language=en}}
- Q Hugo Award, Chicago International Film Festival, 2015{{Cite web|title=FRONT COVER WILL COMPETE AT THE CHICAGO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL|url=https://www.frontcoverthemovie.com/2015/09/25/front-cover-will-compete-at-the-chicago-international-film-festival/|access-date=2019-11-09|language=en-US}}
- Best Director, Australia Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival, 2017
- Best Film,Australia Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival, 2017
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|frontcoverthemovie.com}}
- {{IMDb title|3185602}}
{{Ray Yeung}}
Category:2015 independent films
Category:2015 LGBTQ-related films
Category:2015 romantic comedy-drama films
Category:2010s English-language films
Category:2010s Mandarin-language films
Category:2010s Cantonese-language films
Category:American independent films
Category:American LGBTQ-related films
Category:American romantic comedy-drama films
Category:Asian-American drama films
Category:Asian-American romance films
Category:English-language independent films
Category:English-language romantic comedy-drama films
Category:LGBTQ-related films about Chinese Americans
Category:LGBTQ-related independent films
Category:LGBTQ-related romantic comedy-drama films
Category:Films about Chinese Americans
Category:Films set in New York City