'Boogie' writer/director Eddie Huang on dedicating his movie to Pop Smoke

Eddie Huang's new movie Boogie is dedicated to one of his stars, the rapper Pop Smoke who was killed in a 2020 home invasion. Pop made his film acting debut in the movie, where he plays Monk, the on-court rival to Huang's protagonist, Boogie.

Huang recently spoke to Yahoo Entertainment about working with the rapper and being impressed by his acting chops.

"He has no fear ... he also probably had the fastest computer processor in his head I've ever seen," Huang said of Pop's innate ability to learn on-set. "I could tell Pop something and he would immediately adapt to make that change. And he didn't have an ego about it and he wouldn't get scared about it."

Watch more about Pop Smoke from Huang in the video above.

Video Transcript

- But anything else, we pick glass.

(SINGING) Because I've got it on me.

- But if you stick to our plans, and we beat Monk, we'll get our shot at the NBA.

KEVIN POLOWY: The film is dedicated to Pop Smoke. Rest in peace. Left us way too soon tragically only at the age of 20.

He plays Boogie's high school basketball rival Monk. What can you say about what struck you about Pop both as a person and as a performer?

EDDIE HUANG: He has no fear. Pop ain't scared of anything. He also probably had the fastest computer processor in his head I've ever seen. I could tell Pop something and he would immediately adapt and make that change.

And he didn't have an ego about it. And he wouldn't get scared about it. And he wouldn't have self-doubt about it.

He just did it. And it was like, yo, thanks, big dog. I see that.

And because he was so willing to take notes and so willing to adapt, he was the actor that I got to play with the most. I would give him lines off book. I would play pranks on the scene with Pop. I'd be like, all right, I'm not going to tell the actors you're going to do this, but roll in there and do this.

He was like, oh, I got you. I'm gong to do that. And not only would he do what I said, but he'd be like-- he'd add another layer or two because he's like oh, I like this joke. I like what we're doing to Boogie right now. Let's do that. And so because Taylor Takahashi wasn't naturally as emotive as Pop, I'd really send Pop in there like a missile to get under his skin.

And that's a lot of [INAUDIBLE]. And Taylor loved it too because it would get the performance out of him. But Pop was like a player, coach on the floor for the days that I had and man, I really miss him.

But I will tell you this, Pop's not a dude that would want you to be sad. He really is a person that was celebrating life all the time-- so happy, very sensitive, amazing to be around, and a lot of love. He got a lot of love. At first, I made this film, and I was like, look, this is for my family.

And this is to represent for all of us overseas, Chinese in America. But this is Pop's film. You know, it's absolutely dedicated to Pop. I really miss my brother.

Once I met him, the film just changed, totally changed. I just had to receive his energy. And it was a blessing. I just saw so much talent and potential. And he just changed the film.

KEVIN POLOWY: Did you change anything in the film after Pop Smoke passed to eulogize him?

EDDIE HUANG: No, no, not at all. But when he came, I definitely wrote a lot of for him off book on the day. And then also the sound of the film changed. Originally, this was going to be more of a golden era.

So if you listened to Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, the Rae Kwon album, it's narrated by John Woo The Killer. And my thing was I'm very obviously been inspired by black culture. And I feel like I'm a person that has done his part trying to push black culture forward with the blessing of the Black community and the black people I work with.

But I was like, man, I would love to pay this back because Jean Woo The Killer inspired and narrated a classic black hip hop album. But I was like man, that would be ill if that album came back around to narrate Asian cinema. And so that's what I was going to do. But once Pop came on board, it was yo, this is a Brooklyn drill film.

KEVIN POLOWY: I asked that question in terms of changing anything because his send off in the film is so profound given what happened. They have this really intense rivalry with-- and then with Boogie, and then he gives him props. And he says something along the lines of like, we're going to see you again. And it just-- it hits hard. I got like Paul Walker "Fast and Furious" like chills. It hits pretty hard.

EDDIE HUANG: It was really because I don't ever see Monk, Pop's character in the film, as a villain. He definitely pushes Memphis Houston and throws that dude in the floor. But that scene always cracks me up more than anything probably because of my relationship to violence. But I saw Monk's character as one that like is there to teach Boogie.

It's never even like a question who's the better player, very much like Apollo, Creed, and Rocky. Like [INAUDIBLE] the greatest boxer you know. And Rocky himself knows it.

But it's like he is this giant. He is this mountain that you sharpen your sword against. And so that's what Monk is in the film.

He ain't a bad guy. And I'm really glad that that moment resonated with you. That's important to me.

KEVIN POLOWY: Yeah, yeah--

EDDIE HUANG: Because I don't want people to see him as a villain, like he lost. He didn't lose. He's still the greatest player.

KEVIN POLOWY: I saw him as a rival, not necessarily a villain.

EDDIE HUANG: Yeah, for sure. For sure. That's dope. Good read.

[MUSIC PLAYING]