Street: Tell me about how Ciao came into being. Yen Tan: The idea came about because [actor] Alessandro [Calza] wrote me an email in 2003 to tell me how much he loved my first film, Happy Birthday, and then we just started corresponding. I came up with this idea of using him as a character reference, so I just started coming up with a story revolving around his character. Since the character was based on him, I was always asking for his input and at some point he just came and worked with me. We just co-wrote the script from that point.
Street: You and Alessandro actually met for the first time when you started shooting. Were you worried about the fact that you had never met in person? YT: Yeah, I guess, in hindsight. I was naïve; I wasn't aware that there were all of these things that could potentially go wrong. Like I could have been working with him and he'd not be who he had seemed to be. Or he could have not shown up and screwed us all up.
Street: In the film, Mark and Jeff come out of the closet during college. Do you think college is a good time to do that? YT: Yeah totally. I came out in college [laughs]. College… no, not necessarily. It's different for everyone. Today high school is probably okay. For me in the ‘90s college was the safest environment, because before college I was in Malaysia and I didn't feel comfortable coming out there. I was more okay in the States.
Street: There was practically no dialogue at the beginning of the movie. What effect were you going for? YT: Essentially the first ten minutes with no dialogue was a way to set the story, the tone of the film. It's crucial because it puts you in a state of mind, under a trance. For some people it totally works and pays off. Other people don't get into it. Watching a person is, I've had some people say, boring, not engaging. Most people like loud, with lots of words in it. I've had people watch the silence and get uncomfortable and unengaged.
Street: How does it feel to receive the Jury Award from the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival for the second time? YT: It's always a surprise to win something. I don't expect to win anything most of the time, so anytime someone wants to give me an award I'm always very flattered because I don't expect it.
Street: What do you hope the audience can get out of this movie? YT: I want the audience to become emotionally involved. Films I personally like tend to be emotionally insightful about people, and that's an area I always like to explore. If people watch it and become engaged emotionally and spiritually, then I think we've accomplished our goals.
