Roy Lee:
King
of the Asian Box Office Smash Remake
Roy Lee is the man Asian studios turn to when they want top dollar for a Hollywood reincarnation of their successful original films.
by Genessee Kim
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Roy Lee:
King of the Asian Box Office Smash Remake
or a guy who makes big bucks watching movies for a living, Roy Lee is overdressed and overgroomed. He's cleanly shaven and sports simple spectacles that give him an air of earnestness. He wears an elegant, fitted black shirt, expensive slacks and beautiful mahogany leather shoes. The only thing out of place is an unruly tuft of hair that bounces as he walks. Lee looks about 32. All in all, he looks more likely to gnosh gourmet Japanese than scarf down barbecue-flavored potato chips and guacamole dip. Apart from a few movie posters, the only thing about Lee's office that suggests his profession is the giant plasma screen that hangs from the wall on the far end, a gift from Cineclick Asia.
The name may not ring a bell, but you've probably heard of the horror flick The Ring (2002). Who hasn't? It grossed $129,094,024 in the U.S. alone. Roy Lee is largely credited with discovering the Japanese horror flick called Ringu and persuading Dreamworks to gamble on a remake for U.S. audiences. Lee's good instincts and familiarity with the largely untapped resource of the Asian film industry gives him an edge over other would-be producers.
“They had seen European horror movies and small U.S. horror films, but Asian horror films were an untapped resource,” he says.
“It's not very hard,” says Lee of his occupation. The most difficult thing? Finding worthwhile projects. These days though, he's down to watching only five to ten films a week. When the company was younger, he had to spend a lot more time in front of the screen.
“There's just so many ideas and people to execute all of it,” says Lee. “The most important thing in the filming process is getting the good script. Without the script you have nothing. The script stage is how it all starts.”
Roy Lee in his Beverly Hills office. Lee was billed as the Executive Producer of 2002's biggest hit horror flick The Ring. |
