BEHIND THE LENS #521: Featuring Jing Ai

BEHIND THE LENS #521: Featuring Jing Ai

From Behind The Lens by debbie lynn elias

May 18, 2026 · 53 min

About this episode

This episode features first-time feature director Jing Ai Ng discussing her film FORGE and touches on the Miami art world and the series Dutton Ranch.

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we turn our attention to the Miami art world and first-time feature director JING AI NG with her film FORGE. I thoroughly enjoyed this film from a story perspective and from a directorial and production perspective. As I've been seeing in quite a few films of late from first-time feature directors, once again, production values are high, but story and character are at the center of it all. On seeing FORGE, I would never believe that this was Jing's first feature directorial effort. And she is the screenwriter, as well! FORGE is written and directed by JING AI NG and stars Kelly Marie Tran, Andie Ju, Brandon Soo Hoo, and Edmund Donovan, among others. Some fabulous artisans showcasing their talents on FORGE, including cinematographer Leo Purman, editor Briana Chmielewski, production designer Arielle Ness-Cohn, and composers Marco Carrion & Ian Chang. BUT I'm not only talking about FORGE today, how about some DUTTON RANCH?? And yes, I did watch the first two episodes four times on Friday, starting at midnight on Paramount+ when it released, and then on linear television at 8pm Friday night on Paramount Network. This is THE series to…

People in this episode

Host: debbie lynn elias

Guest: JING AI NG

Topics covered

  • Miami art world
  • first-time feature director
  • film production
  • storytelling
  • Dutton Ranch
  • Yellowstone

Keywords

  • Jing Ai Ng
  • FORGE
  • Miami art
  • film production
  • Dutton Ranch
  • Yellowstone
  • first-time director

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Paramount+, Paramount Network

Books & works: FORGE, Yellowstone

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