Salpointe Catholic High School grad Dave Boyle is building a promising career on indie Japanese-themed comedy. • His new film, "White on Rice," a special-jury-prize winner at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, is about a ne'er-do-well 40-year-old man who lives with his sister's family. • Boyle made his filmmaking debut in 2006 with "Big Dreams Little Tokyo," about a friendship between a white man who is determined to become a Japanese businessman and a Japanese man who longs to break into sumo wrestling.
"Big Dreams Little Tokyo" played at several film festivals and earned DVD distribution last year. It's available on Netflix.
Boyle has made sure that "White on Rice"opens in theaters. In a system he calls "self-distribution with a partner," the movie will open in two Los Angeles theaters, then expand slowly around the country.
The Loft's one-night showing is among the first showings by a non-film-festival theater. Boyle says he hopes to bring the movie back to Tucson later on for a regular engagement.
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Boyle, 27, attended Brigham Young University and lives in Provo, Utah, where he works movie-industry jobs such as editing to make ends meet. He comes to Tucson a few times a year to visit his family.
Did you get a bigger budget for your new movie than your first?
"A little bit bigger. I didn't have to cast all my friends and star in the movie myself."
When I interviewed you about "Big Dreams Little Tokyo," I remember you were a little embarrassed that the Writers Guild of America classified it as "ultra low-budget category." Did you move up in rank for this film?
"This time the status was 'low-budget, modified.' We're moving up to a higher low-budget category."
For your first film, you raised money from friends and family. Same thing this time?
"This time around it was a co-production with three different production companies. We each could have made a really small movie on our own, but by pooling our resources we were able to shoot on film and get some really great talent."
How does your second movie compare to your first?
"I think the experience shows. I love my first movie, but it's a first movie. The goal with this one was — even though it was financed independently — my vision was to make it feel just like anything you'd pay $10 to see at the theater. I wanted to avoid the indie aesthetic and make it as polished as I could."
Why are you so interested in Japanese culture?
"I learned to speak Japanese on my Mormon mission. I was sent to Australia, and there was a Japanese church congregation there."
Have you met the highest-profile Mormon filmmaker living in Salt Lake, Jared Hess? He seems as interested in Latin American culture, with "Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre," as you are in Japanese.
"Most filmmakers based in Salt Lake know each other."
What's your next movie project?
"I've got a couple of books I'm chasing down the rights to adapt, but there's nothing really solid lined up. I'm pretty much going to spend the next six months making this movie as successful as it can be."
If you go
• What: "White on Rice." Director David Boyle will give a Q&A after the movie.
• When: 7 p.m. tonight.
• Where: The Loft Cinema.
• Admission: $8.75.
