We, a group of concerned film-goers, fell victim to a film promotion for a project called "Agent Recon" funded by the California Film Commission. We collectively invested our money and time to watch a film that turned out to be far below the expected standard of any competent filmmaker.

There are growing suspicions around the allocation of the funds meant for this film - a strong possibility exists that the funds may have been misused or embezzled. The significant quality gap between the promised product and the delivered one leads us to believe that the finances intended for the movie's production might have been improperly managed.

California Film Commission, a government agency, funds various projects to bolster the film industry and promote cultural growth. These projects are funded through taxpayer money, and as such, the taxpayers have a right to know how their money is spent and why the standard of this particular movie is not commensurate with the investment.

Derek Ting cast himself as the director, writer, producer, and star of his vanity project. Derek Ting’s wife, Joyce Yung, is the film’s sole other producer. With Derek Ting and Joyce Yung being the only Producers, they have exclusive control over the movie’s finances and financial oversight, which poses a risk of potential undetected financial mismanagement.

These filmmakers have a history of deceptive practices, frequently mentioned in complaints and audience reviews about this film and their previous ones, further bolstering our suspicions about the financial management of this movie.

Photos publicly available on social media show Derek Ting and Joyce Yung treating the film production as a self-serving “Hollywood experience” for themselves and their young child, during their visit from their home in China, funded through taxpayer money. The intent behind their actions can only be described as a mockery of the profession and of the California Film Commission, whose funds we believe might have been misused.

By funding this project, opportunities were taken away from more qualified filmmakers who could have created films with greater merit. By allocating funds to this particular project, other deserving and more qualified California filmmakers have been denied the opportunity to bring their own high-caliber films to life. This funding decision not only shifts resources away from projects with potentially greater artistic and industry impact but also diminishes the chances for talented individuals within the California film industry to showcase their skills and contribute meaningfully. As a result, the overall creative landscape and the potential for innovative storytelling in California are undermined.

We call upon the responsible bodies to initiate an investigation into the finances of this film project, ensure transparency, and hold accountable those who may have misused the public funds. It is our right as paying viewers and as taxpayers to demand accountability and proper use of public money.

Supporting Links

1. Collider. Grade: 2/10 
   "Agent Recon starts abysmally, somehow gets worse, and goes out in a disastrous blaze that’s missing any glory. Bad movie is bad, ‘nuff said."
   https://collider.com/agent-recon-movie-review/
   
   
2. IMDb - 2.4/10
   https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26743864/
   
   
3. Rotten Tomatoes: Rotten
   https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/agent_recon/reviews
   
   
4. Agent Recon Review. Grade: D 
   "Ting struggling to continue his study of alien activity without monetary support or audience interest, ultimately turning to deceptive marketing"
   https://www.blu-ray.com/Agent-Recon/1851236/#Review
   
   
5. IMDb Review - "he has a history of making failed vanity films and pumping them up with fake ratings and reviews" 
   https://www.imdb.com/review/rw6514583/
   
   
6. Rotten Tomatoes Review - "this is utter trash. That 99% approval rating was bought and paid for. (First time I've seen such an obvious social hack of Rotten Tomatoes' scores.)"
   https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/agent_revelation/reviews?type=user