Born to Korean immigrant parents in Los Angeles, Park started an Asian-American theatre company while attending the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). He continued to pursue acting while forming musical groups and finding a following on the internet.

The decision to direct had always been in the back of his mind, he tells the Post on a Zoom call.

“It was really Adrian Tomine’s book [Shortcomings, on which Park’s upcoming film is based], and the fact that he had written a script, that made me feel I had to throw my hat in the ring for this project,” Park says.

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“I came across his graphic novel in 2007, and it stuck with me all those years as something that would make a great movie.”

Shortcomings is, to a certain extent, a coming-of-age story, but it also dives into difficult topics like interracial dating, racism within the Asian-American community and the art-versus-commerce controversy.

“These conversations happen, they’ve happened with me and my friends,” Park says. “It’s less about me having a point of view about them than it is showing what happens with friends. Approaching these talks with an authenticity and honesty – that was what attracted me to the story originally.”

“Yes, Ben has clearly made his choice,” Park laughs. “I’ve known a lot of Bens, people who have a sense of resentment for feeling that they have to like a movie just because it’s been made by people who look like them.

“That scene is partly a testament to Adrian Tomine’s writing,” Park adds, “but I think we’ve all had that conversation. We’re all interested in art and entertainment and the kinds of movies that get made and that we get to see.

“To be able to depict this aspect of our community was really exciting, because we don’t get to have these kinds of conversations on the big screen.”

Shortcomings argues that Asian-Americans have earned their place in society. They can be just as good or bad, as conflicted and stubborn, and emotional and giving as anyone else.

For example, Ben’s character isn’t as wealthy as the other leads, which helps explain his prickly behaviour. Indeed, watching him try to recalibrate his actions is like an introductory course in abusive relationships.

“It’s tough to sit through a whole movie of someone being a jerk over and over again,” Park says, laughing. “At the same time, Ben can be charming. It’s such a complex, layered character, the type we don’t get to play that often.”

“It was really important for me that whoever played Ben really understood why he’s a jerk, why he sees the world the way he does,” Park says.

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“There’s a real feeling of vulnerability, of the pain underneath, that drives Justin to say the things he says. He is such a thoughtful actor, and he put so much care into crafting this character.”

As an actor himself, Park knows how to improvise and how to modulate performances. But as the director of a low-budget indie film, he didn’t have “the luxury of a lot of takes”, as he put it.

“We did have rehearsals and discussions, a lot of sitting down and talking through the characters, making sure we’re all on the same page about certain aspects of their roles. We all agreed about the general tone of the movie, for example.

“But when it came to individual scenes, like Ben talking to Alice [Sherry Cola] in a diner, there wasn’t too much opportunity to shape the character or performance. Really, a lot of my direction was technical. You know, maybe a pause here, move the light a little bit there, things like that.”

The limited budget for Shortcomings meant Park had to stick closely to his shot list. He usually couldn’t afford to shoot alternative jokes or improvised lines.

“We stayed tight on the script. But with a performer like Sherry, we did takes where we just played and improvised. A lot of her lines found their way into the final cut. You can’t have a performer as good as Sherry and not be able to let her loose every now and then,” Park says.

Park refuses to take easy choices in Shortcomings. Most of the film plays out in small settings: cramped apartments, bars and diners. Its characters make bad decisions. They turn their backs on friends. They pursue dreams that fail.

At the end of our interview, we ask Park if he thinks his movie is optimistic or pessimistic.

“That is a complicated question,” he says. “I think it’s leaning toward optimistic personally, because for someone like Ben, especially a character like Ben, to change even a little, is a big deal, you know?

“Ben definitely goes through some growth in this film. At the end, we don’t know what’s going to happen with his life, but I feel there’s a sense he’s headed in a more positive direction.

“I also think it’s left open to your interpretation as well. But I like to think that it’s more optimistic.”