When You Know You Know: Engaged after 7 months, without having even watched a film together

What would you do if you fell in love with someone who lived halfway (or more) across the world? Would you take the leap, risking distance, disapproval, and uncertainty, all in the name of love? 

In the new American film Worth the Wait, love takes centre stage as four couples navigate some of life’s most testing challenges: long-distance relationships, family rejection, loss, and the delicate process of healing and rebuilding trust. Featuring an all-Asian cast, the film delicately threads together stories of resilience and romance, offering a rare, authentic lens on love in the modern world.

At the heart of the story is Malaysian lawyer Kai (played by Ross Butler), who meets American nurse Leah (played by Lana Condor) during a brief trip to Seattle. They immediately feel a spark, but the circumstances surrounding them are anything but simple. Alongside Kai and Leah, the film also follows three other couples, each grappling with their own unique tests: a miscarriage that nearly breaks a marriage, a guardian’s disapproval that threatens the young love between two teenagers, and a betrayal that even after many years forces a couple to rebuild from the ground up, once they rekindle their love.

The film is inspired by the real-life love story of producers Rachel Tan, Malaysian beauty queen-turned-filmmaker, and Dan Mark, a Chinese-American entertainment lawyer, who met by chance in Hong Kong. Despite living on opposite sides of the world, the two felt an instant connection.

What followed was 7 months of long-distance relationship shaped by different time zones, between Los Angeles and Hong Kong, late-night phone calls, and a shared belief that when something feels right, it’s worth holding onto. There were no distractions, just two people showing up for each other, day after day, despite oceans apart. The most extraordinary part? After spending only a handful of days together in person, they made the life-changing decision to get married - without ever having lived in the same city or even watched a movie together.

Their bold leap of faith became the emotional foundation for Worth the Wait, a film rooted in the quiet strength of patience, the vulnerability of distance, and the courage it takes to trust love when logic says otherwise. Sharing not only values but also a passion for storytelling, Rachel and Dan co-founded Kingstreet Pictures in 2015, through which they’ve continued to champion Asian-American stories - including their own. 

To find out more about the film, we spoke with producers Rachel and Dan. Drawing from their own experience, they shared not only the creative journey behind Worth the Wait, but also the lessons they’ve learned about love, timing, and what it really takes to make a relationship last, on and off screen.

Worth the Wait, while it’s a romantic comedy on the surface, it goes much deeper, tackling grief, purpose, and connection. The title itself speaks volumes. Do you believe that love tends to arrive when we least expect it?

Dan Mark: Absolutely. That idea, that we wait a long time for something that can happen very quickly is something we experienced personally. Worth the Wait draws heavily from our real-life relationship. Lana Condor and Ross Butler’s characters are loosely based on us. We wanted to tell a story that reminds people not just why we love, but how love can transform us in quiet, everyday moments. I think it’s also about choices. Love may begin unexpectedly, but staying in love is intentional. So many of us spend our youth wondering when “the one” will show up. 

We wanted the film to emphasise not just the end result but the in-between—the growth, the waiting, the beauty of those uncertain moments.

The film touches on your long-distance relationship that began in 2010, when you met in Hong Kong and got engaged seven months later. What advice would you give to couples navigating distance?

Rachel Tan: We wanted the film to feel real, and many of the long-distance scenes come from our actual experiences – such as awkward reunions and communication challenges. Long-distance forces you to talk more, rely on an emotional connection rather than convenience. Our advice would be to focus on becoming whole as individuals. The more grounded and healed you are, the more you’re able to build a healthy relationship.

There’s pressure to make every moment magical because you don’t know when the next meeting will be. I remember how hard it was every single time we would meet up, Dan would create these hour-by-hour itineraries, just like Ross’s character.. But eventually, you crave something real, messy, honest, vulnerable. You want someone who sees your true self and still chooses you.

These days, many people turn to dating apps, which can feel emotionally draining. How do you stay grounded while looking for genuine love and not fall victim to endless swiping?

Dan Mark: It’s hard because dating has become so transactional. We come from a time before dating apps, so the idea of judging someone’s worth with a swipe feels alien. Real connection takes time and actual conversation. I feel like our society is not meant for those interactions, where you can judge someone from afar or you have no accountability and just have no respect. I always encourage people to invest in themselves first. Build your community, your identity, and then let love grow out of that. Real relationships, whether romantic or not, thrive on mutual respect and shared values.

Do you remember the moment you first met? Was it love at first sight?

Dan Mark: I asked Rachel to help with a nonprofit project I was working on, just to get her number, so I could talk to her more. “I’m only trying to get to know you, no one else, but no pressure.” I think clarity is underrated in dating today.

Rachel Tan: He made it very clear to me from the start, leaving no room for ambiguity – unlike with the previous men in my life, who would always text me really vague messages, without stating their intentions, and then slide into DMs later. And it made me wonder – are you asking me out? Are we in a courtship? I had no idea. But with Dan, it was different, and that’s what I really appreciated about him.

You’re not just partners in life, but also creative collaborators, who founded a production company together.  What’s it like working together?

Dan Mark: There are definitely pros and cons. We’re each other’s sounding board for everything, even late at night when one of us suddenly has a thought about casting! But it’s also comforting. I know someone always has my back. From the start, we’ve done this together. I truly believe our destinies are intertwined. We share the same vision and values, and that strengthens both our marriage and our work. If you’re in love with someone who helps you become the best version of yourself, it’s the ultimate collaboration.

In an era of “situationships,” lasting relationships feel rare. What makes love last?

Rachel Tan: People think once you’ve found “the one,” you’re set. But life doesn’t stop, it throws curveballs: there is illness, financial stress, miscarriages. Love that lasts is built on walking through those things together. That’s why we included older couples in the film, to show how vital mentorship and community are. We’ve learned so much from people further down the road, and now we try to pass that on. I would advise young couples to not shy away from the wisdom of people in their life, who are already married or in long-term relationships. I do see that younger people, even myself included, if I still qualify as young, we don’t like to take advice from people. Nevertheless, sometimes the wisest thing is to get some advice from those who’ve walked that road before. For example, they can even help you get out of an unhealthy relationship, which is what we portray with the movie star storyline.

Were there any real-life moments you especially wanted to incorporate into the film?

Dan Mark: Some moments were lifted straight from our life. I once randomly called Rachel while we were dating, she was crying, and I sang “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.” Turned out, it was a lullaby her dad used to sing to her. It became a moment in the movie. These quiet, meaningful moments are what we wanted to preserve.

Rachel Tan: There were so many. From puppy love to growing up, cross-cultural experiences, family tensions, even miscarriage and infertility, these are things we, or people close to us, have lived through. We wanted the film to reflect not just romantic love, but familial, adoptive, intergenerational love too. We also wanted to honor complicated parent-child relationships, especially in Asian culture. The mother who’s your fiercest critic but your greatest champion. The father who can’t say “I’m proud of you” but shows his love in other ways. And the strangers who become family.

What do you think sets Worth the Wait apart from other romantic comedies?

Rachel Tan: It’s authentic. Our movie doesn’t shy away from drama, even though most rom-coms wouldn’t show what happens after Happily Ever After, like misscarriage or stillbirth. We wanted to go beyond that, to the struggles, the grief, the perseverance. It’s life: you laugh, cry, fall, and get back up. And we took a risk. An all-Asian romantic ensemble is still rare. Studios might not have backed it, but we believed in it. Seeing audiences from LA to Taipei to Kuala Lumpur cry and say “this is my story” has been incredibly moving.

It’s also the first all-Asian cast film acquired by Tubi, which is an amazing success. Finally, what message do you hope audiences take from Worth the Wait?

Dan Mark: The message is – you’re not alone. Everyone in the film is coming from a place of brokenness, but there’s healing, connection, and hope. Love is for everyone. And it’s worth waiting for. We hope people find beauty in the in-between. Love is beautiful, strong, and messy, but it’s always worth the wait.

Worth The Wait opens in Golden Village cinemas on Aug 8 and EagleWings Cinematics on August 14.