Sisters Bond in New Comedy Film

When their new comedy premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, stars Sandra Oh and Awkwafina found themselves unable to celebrate it due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. Now, with an Emmy nomination for outstanding television movie under their belts, they’re feeling a little more cheerful. “It’s so wonderful to be able to kind of like, ‘Yay,’” Oh shared over Zoom.

The film, which was written by Jen D’Angelo and directed by Jessica Yu, centers around the sisters Jenny (Oh) and Anne (Awkwafina) Yum. When Anne’s beloved pug, Mr. Linguini, is kidnapped by gangsters over their mother’s gambling debts, Jenny comes up with a plan for Anne to compete on her favorite game show, Can’t Stop the Quiz. The journey allows them to bond as Anne grows more confident amidst the chaos.

Awkwafina explained how her collaboration with Oh came about. Initially, the script was not written with Asian characters in mind. However, she was excited about it and insisted on casting Sandra. Their friendship goes way back, starting with a gala where Awkwafina felt starstruck by Oh’s presence. “She really was so warm,” Awkwafina recalled fondly.

Oh shared her excitement about embracing a wild character. “I really wanted to do broad comedy,” she said, emphasizing the fun of switching things up after grueling dramatic roles like in Killing Eve. Both ladies felt that casting them as sisters added a fresh dynamic to the film.

As for Awkwafina’s character Anne, she embraced the challenge of portraying a more reserved personality than what audiences are used to seeing her play. “There’s a lot of reluctance, a lot of self-doubt,” she admitted. She found the role fulfilling and credited Oh for making it feel real during filming.

Their friendship blossomed even more throughout the shooting process. Oh explained that true friendship develops through interest, vulnerability, and support, which they practiced on set. Awkwafina agreed, noting that their playful banter added to their comedic chemistry.

During production, they were fortunate to collaborate with the late Holland Taylor, whose character brought some humorous twists. The cast was thrilled to have Paul Reubens make a special appearance as well. Oh recalled the excitement of reaching out to him and how warm and ready to play he was.

Awkwafina, who grew up loving Pee-wee’s Playhouse, felt starstruck meeting him. His warm personality and willingness to be a part of their film made for a memorable experience that they cherish.