Justin Lin: I Wouldn't Be Here If It Wasn't For MC Hammer

During my interview with hot shot movie director Justin Lin, I found out some cool, previously unreported info about the important role MC Hammer played in his career, especially in the making of Lin's iconic film about troubled Asian American youth, Better Luck Tomorrow. Here's an excerpt from our conversation:

I wouldn't be here talking to you if it wasn't for him. I met him seven years ago--I was in Vegas and writing Better Luck Tomorrow. I was checking out theequipment (in the studio) and Hammer just walked by, and asked, does anyone know anythingabout DV cameras? And we started talking. He asked me, what do you do?
And I said, I want to be a filmmaker one day. And he said, give me acall if you ever need anything.

I was like, whoa MC Hammer! It was just so random.
And two years later, I was making Better Luck Tomorrow, and I had maxed out all my creditcards, and had started an LLC to finish the movie, and at onepoint, I didn't have enough money to go on. If I didn't raise that money by the deadline, I was goingto have to give everything back.

Justin Lin's Hammer story continues after the jump!

At the time, I didn't know anybodywith any kind of money. So I looked at that paper I'd had for twoyears, and I said, I'm just gonna give Hammer a call and see. I'm pretty sure he didn't remember who I was, but we really connected over the phone. He could hear the passion inmy voice and everything, and at the end of the conversation he asked, how much do you need? I told him, and he just wired it to me. He didn't even signanything. He saved the project, and we became friends. I just love Hammer, and I've learned a lot from him. He's gone through a lot, but he's so positive--and hisperspective is earned. He's someone I really respect.

MC Hammer plays the role of Roy Thunder in Finishing The Game.