By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — Brandon Chin was busy last week getting ready for an event that was a first for his family’s landmark Troy restaurant. The Chin family has operated the Mon Jin Lau, noted for serving Nu-Asian cuisine, a blend of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese and Korean dishes, at the corner of Maple and Stephenson since 1969.

Chin, the third generation to work in the family’s restaurant, said that he and his staff weren’t quite sure what to expect during the movie premiere party June 25.

“Lots of married couples tell us they came here on their first dates, and a lot of guys propose here, but this is the first movie premiere party we’ve ever hosted,” he said.

The restaurant hosted the pre-premiere party for the film “Unbeatable Harold,” starring local actors Gordon Michaels, Jennifer Kincer and Mike Kelly. Actors Dylan McDermott, Charles Durning and Henry Winkler; comedian Phyllis Diller; and singing artist Gladys Knight also star in the film, which was shot at Universal Studios in Burbank, Calif., and in Reno, Nevada.

The film debuted at the Detroit Institute of Arts June 27 to kick off the first-ever Detroit Windsor International Film Festival and is expected to be released in theaters this fall. The romantic comedy tells the story of a would-be Elvis who meets his true love, the best waitress in the West.

“John Lauri, (founder and president of Michigan-based J. Lauri Filmworks) is active with the film festival, is a good customer and good friend, and he wanted to have the party here,” Chin said. Lauri worked as a director with Michaels on “Unbeatable Harold.” 

Kincer earned a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Oakland University. She’s done extensive work in commercials and finished work on a supernatural thriller feature film, “Born of Earth,” in which she plays the female lead role alongside actor Daniel Baldwin. She’s also taught at Kensington School of the Arts in Troy. 

Kincer has been busy with the recent spate of film companies coming to Michigan to make movies, due to the tax breaks the state approved for filmmakers this past January.

She landed a feature part in a sci-fi film titled “Red and Blue Marbles.”

“I’m working a lot,” she said.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” she said. “Gordon’s a native Michigander and he wanted to bring this back here.  I’m thrilled to be supporting Michigan, aside from the excitement of the film itself.”

Michaels wrote and stars in “Unbeatable Harold.”  He was born in Detroit, near the Ambassador Bridge, and attended John Glenn High School in Westland.

He performed as Harold in the Broadway play of the same name that was written by Randy Nugent in 1988, and wrote the movie screenplay based on the Harold character.

His other work includes appearances in the TV show “The Practice” and feature films “The Cooler,”  “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “Leaving Las Vegas.”

He said the response to “Unbeatable Harold” at the film festival was “so incredible it was beyond words.”

“People were clapping at the end of scenes,” he said. “I have a good feeling about it.”

“We were hoping the film community would embrace the festival, and they did,” he added. “It will only flourish.” 

He is currently developing another feature film that will be filmed entirely in Michigan. He lives in Hollywood and has enjoyed spending time with his family in Michigan.

“If somebody would have tried to tell me that filmmakers would be coming to Michigan … it’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s real exciting for Detroit and a long time coming.”

You can reach Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1054.