The intersection of queer identity and Asian diaspora representation in cinema has reached a critical turning point. For decades, our communities faced a double erasure. Mainstream Hollywood ignored us, while traditional family structures demanded silence. Filmmaker Quentin Lee is changing this dynamic.
With his upcoming feature The Way You Dance, Lee delivers a fierce, unapologetic look at identity, family trauma, and reconciliation. The project gained major momentum with 604 Records releasing the official soundtrack alongside Lee’s debut music video, “Can’t Stop My Dreams.”
This release is an emotional statement of survival and pride.
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A Cultural Collision in Vancouver
The film follows a choreographer who returns home to care for his dying father. While dealing with his own past, he teaches a group of misfit dancers, including a young transgender student. It stars industry veteran Tzi Ma, a man whose presence lends instant weight to any project.
The soundtrack brings together a powerhouse lineup of Canadian and international talent, including Lora Chow, Earl Chuck, and DJ Stonedog. Jonathan Simkin, CEO of 604 Records, recognised the importance of the project immediately.
“Quentin and Margin have a long track record of bold, boundary-pushing films that champion both the 2SLGBTQAI+ and BIPOC community,” Simkin said. “We’re excited to work closely with them to ensure the film’s incredible music reaches the widest possible audience—while continuing to support the community it represents.”
For an independent Canadian label like 604 Records—the powerhouse behind global hits like Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe”—to back a queer, Asian-led project is a massive win. It proves our stories have mainstream commercial value.
Stepping Into the Spotlight
The standout moment of this rollout is Lee’s own musical debut under the name Gay Hollywood Dad. The music video for “Can’t Stop My Dreams” is streaming now. It represents a bold, vulnerable step for a director accustomed to staying behind the camera.
Lee admitted the career shift was entirely unplanned.
“I never planned on becoming a musician, but somewhere during the development of the film, I was inspired to write the song ‘Can’t Stop My Dreams,’” Lee said. “LA-based musician Ernie Lee came on board to produce the track, and when the artist originally cast to play the singer in the film dropped out, I had to step in myself, mostly because I was free LOL. I’m incredibly honoured and thrilled that 604 Records wanted to include the song as part of the official soundtrack.”
That sense of necessity and humour defines independent film-making. When the industry leaves a gap, we fill it ourselves. Lee stepping into the role of performer is a literal embodiment of that truth.
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Our community needs these stories. We need to see Asian men who are queer, artistic, and emotionally complex. We need to see our elders, played by icons like Tzi Ma, engage with the reality of transgender youth.
Margin Films has spent thirty years building this foundation. From their 1997 film Shopping for Fangs to their recent Canadian Screen Award-winning Comedy Invasion, they consistently centre the voices the West tries to marginalise.
The Way You Dance demands that you look at the full spectrum of our lived experiences. It forces a conversation about grief, acceptance, and art. The soundtrack is the heartbeat of that movement. Go listen to it, watch the video, and support queer Asian art.
