HBO Documentary Directed By Jean Tsien To Debut In October – Deadline
The HBO Original documentary film Aka Mr. Chow, directed by Nick Hooker (HBO’s AgnelIi), produced by Academy Award®-nominated Diane Quon (Minding The Gap), executive produced, written, and edited by Emmy®-winning editor Jean Tsien (HBO’s The Apollo, 76 Days), and executive produced by Emmy®-nominated Graydon Carter and Annabelle Dunne (HBO’s Everything Is Copy), debuts on HBO and will be available to stream on Max.
Aka Mr. Chow details the life of Michael Chow. Born Zhou Yinghua in 1930s Shanghai, he would use creativity to triumph over childhood trauma, personal loss, and systemic prejudice, growing up to become the actor and artist before inventing a new identity, Mr. Chow, when he opens the first of his iconic restaurants. Having found fame and fortune in the West, Mr. Chow celebrates his Chinese roots and finds catharsis by returning to painting, reemerging as the artist M.
Alongside images of celebrities as varied as Mae West, Calvin Klein, and Andy Warhol, the documentary includes interviews with artists Peter Blake, Julian Schnabel, and Ed Ruscha; family members Cecilia Zhou, Maximillian Chow, China Chow, and Vanessa Chow; author Fran Lebowitz; film producer Brian Grazer; friends, colleagues, and art world experts.
Aka Mr. Chow is a Pulse Films Production, produced by Diane Quon and executive produced by Graydon Carter, Annabelle Dunne, Jean Tsien. For Pulse Films: executive producers, Marisa Clifford, Miranda Soto. For HBO: executive producers, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, Sara Rodriguez.
