Kevin Kwan reveals whether or not there is a real 'Kitty Pong'

Countless Filipino readers’ lives have been touched and moved by the bestselling "Crazy Rich Asians" trilogy, for good reason. With the sequels "China Rich Girlfriend" (2015) and "Rich People Problems" (2017) already published, read, and digested, fellow Kevin Kwan fans are yearning for more.

In town for his Manila Book Tour, Singapore-born and US-raised author Kevin Kwan shares his thoughts on the trilogy, his favorite character, the upcoming film adaption of "Crazy Rich Asians", what the biggest “rich people problem” is, and his plans for the future.

Art by Jannielyn Ann Bigtas

Like how Astrid Leong, is Kitty Pong based on a real person?
Absolutely! I wouldn’t be able to fake Kitty. I don’t have the imagination to create someone like Kitty Pong.

Is there anyway you can hint from which country (the real) Kitty is?
I like to be in the land of the living. I like to survive and I don’t want to go to Hong Kong one day and go into a bathroom in the Four Seasons Hotel and suddenly someone takes me out and takes me into a so-so location. Of course I cannot say who (the real) Kitty Pong is.

Has the real Astrid read the book?
Astrid definitely has read the book, Kitty I don’t know. Excellent question.

What was the extent of the research? We know you experienced some of them growing up, hanging out in Channel, Balenciaga. But what about plastic surgery?
Well, there was a lot of reading. I read a lot of non-fiction books especially about the war, about World War II and what Singaporeans went through during the Japanese occupation. I really wanted to hit those details right. I also was able to talk to people who were survivors of that.

I went to Hong Kong and interviewed one of my uncles who is 94 years old, he was a teenager when the Japanese invaded Singapore, so I wanted to know his story and what happened. And part of his story made its way into the book. I think it’s important to get the history right.

Was there a lot of fear when you began writing this, (that) you might upset a couple of the characters in real life? Because you’re glamorizing something that means a lot to them. Was it something of a concern?
Not really. When I was first writing the first book it was such a personal project. I didn’t even know if it’s ever going to be published. It was really kind of a hobby writing this book, telling this story, maybe sharing the book with friends, and not really telling anyone’s deep, dark secrets. I’m not revealing any scandals that people don’t already know, and no one’s named, the names have changed.

The stories were changed enough so people are protected. And it’s so strange, people who are in the book or inspirations for the characters don’t ever realize that they are the inspirations.

And then some people that I’ve never even met, go up to me and say: ‘Hi! I’m the inspiration for Eddie (Edison Cheng)’ and I say: ‘Oh! Nice to me you. Who are you?’ Human nature’s so interesting, I think people don’t really have the insight how most people view them. That’s what I’ve noticed, at least in the books anyway.

Did you feel like you rushed the ending in the trilogy?
I personally don’t think so, some people have said that. It’s the thing that I wanted to write, for me, some books drag out the ending so long and for me, I almost see it as a movie. Sometimes a movie ends at a certain place and the end credits roll and you see what happens to these characters in the photographs or happy weddings, people having babies.

The Crazy Rich Asians trilogy. Photo by Stanley See

When you were writing "Crazy Rich Asians" did you envision it to be a trilogy?
Always! I knew the full story that I wanted to write and I knew that it would become an 1800-plus page novel, as a first time writer, I thought that it going to be three or four books. Three is always to me a nicer balance. So there we have it.

Now that your trilogy is done, how has Singapore reacted to the entire "Crazy Rich Asian" series?
I think that they’ve been very positive. The books have done very well there and I’ve heard a lot from the Singapore fans (from) all ages and social backgrounds. I think people are always excited when you showcase their culture, their country, their city in a real, authentic way that’s not just a tourist map, and people appreciate that. I’ve only heard positive things, maybe their too polite to tell me the negative things.

I’m sure some of the foodies might be upset about the choices I made, in terms of which restaurants that were showcased. But generally, it has been very, very positive.

Who’s your favorite character in the books?
I really don’t have a favorite character, I love them all, they’re like my babies. Even some of the lesser characters I really enjoyed writing their scenes, like Jacqueline Ling, a family friend, I love whenever she pops up in the books. So it’s very hard to say (that) there’s one clear favorite.

Did you include yourself (anywhere) in the books?
No, not at all. (If I did, it would be) the poor, struggling writer/cousin, maybe?

When is the movie coming out? Is there a date already?
There is no set date yet. Warner Bros. has said that they wanted to get it out as soon as possible and we’re thinking it’s going to be next year at some point.

How extensive then was your involvement in the selection of the bags, how the outfits would be made?
I was actually pretty involved. Nina Jacobson, the producer, asked me when we first began this adventure three years ago: ‘What do you want? What do you care about the most in this movie?’ And I think she was expecting to talk about (the) characters or the story, but I said the fashion. The fashion has to be perfect. So I really wanted to play a role in the fashion and set design because I think you have to get that right. Readers care so much about the details.

Kevin Kwan at the press conference of the Manila leg of his book tour.

What’s one thing that you can disclose then? Something that people can really look forward to?
I think the movie is really going to surprise people in a way they don’t expect. It surprised me because the actors are so talented, and the comedians especially (Fil-Am actor) Nico Santos and Awkwafina (Nora Lum). To me the comedic actors do these brilliant things that steal a lot of the moments that I think will really surprise a lot of people.

It was an incredible experience to walk into Tyersall Park and see how they created it. Nelson Coates was our production designer, he also designed the sets for "Fifty Shades Darker", and he took what was in the book and he dialed it up by about a million percent.

The creativity, the explosions, the different scenes, it’s been super-sized because it has to be. Because the experience in the book is intimate and quiet (but) in the big screen, it has to be big, it has to be crazy because it’s Crazy Rich (Asians) and I was just in disbelief with some of the things they came up with the sets.

Getting every outfit, every accessory, every handbag perfect for Astrid. It’s kind of mind-blowing to see characters and stories that you have invested come to life as real people. A very fascinating experience.

What would you say is the biggest "rich people problem"?
I think a lot of the people who have lived these lives of privileged and who have enjoyed so much of the world’s best, whether it’s travel, hotels, or food, it’s easy to become very jaded. You’re never satisfied, I know some people who no matter where they travel around the world, they stay at the best hotels, eating the top five-star restaurants, there’s an emptiness because they’re always looking for something different versus (thinking) ‘Oh, this is a treat!’ that most people in the world will never experience, they don’t see it that way.

So it’s interesting how having more money sometimes amplifies this glass half-empty effect. I see a lot more of that than the gratitude of having.

What’s next (for you) after the Crazy Rich Asian trilogy?
Well, I’m jumping into a new adventure. And that adventure is telling a story in a whole new way, through TV. So I’m co-creating a television series and actually my creative partner is here with us today. It’s kind of a collaboration but hopefully I want to bring my stories into 3D and really be able to show the world what I’m writing about and have control over the characters in a whole new way.

Is the story going to be centered (on characters from the "Crazy Rich Asians" trilogy)?
It’s going to be totally different. But I think you’ll recognize that it’s a Kevin Kwan project, hopefully. There’s going to be fashion, there’s going to be globe-trotting, there’s going to be good food, great locations but a very different story, totally new characters, and a different concept.

When do we expect this (to be shown)?
Hopefully, next year! At some point. That’s the dream. I think the movie will probably come out first. We finished filming (the movie) and Jon’s ("Crazy Rich Asians" directory Jon M. Chu) editing the movie now and Warner Bros. is so excited and they’re going to release it as soon as possible. — LA, GMA News