How Zany

I grew up in the Silicon Valley, a Bay Area kid, and I went to UC Berkeley and studied Film Studies. I caught the acting bug while still in school and took time off to go live in LA and try the acting scene. I studied acting under Robert F Lyons and signed with the Talent Agency called The Polygon Group within 1 month of coming to LA. Later, while taking film production classes back in Berkeley I met an experienced cinematographer and mentor in the form of a fellow Berkeley student, Tobias Deml. My passion for acting was transformed into a passion and desire to make films that challenge audiences to think and to potentially make a change or impact on their lives. (I can't help it, I did try to triple major in Biology, Sociology, and Film Studies and tie them all together into a thesis on how media, politics, and science impact and change our society). While still an undergraduate, I wrote and directed 5 short films and worked on many student film sets and even a few independent films in the Bay Area that included one feature film.

 

I have since then relocated down here to live in LA and I am pursuing film making and acting as a full time career and passion. I got the chance to learn the hard way through both acting in and making indie films and short films and by making lots of mistakes along the way and learning through wearing "multiple different hats" on set, and I am constantly humbled by the depth and breadth of the art and language of film, and by the amazing people who dedicate their lives to story telling using media. 

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I am constantly inspired by stories that are real and come from painful truths, and I find the cathartic release and healing that can come from story telling to be a thrilling chase for both the creative people making the films and the people who watch them. I aim to better represent Asian Americans in mainstream media through both telling stories from Asian AMERICAN (not just Asian) perspectives as a film maker, and portraying relatable Asian American characters in American cinema as an actor. Whether I get to do that, time will tell, but I've been definitely putting in the work and making the sacrifices.

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Funny thing with people in Los Angeles that I'd like to share with the world, and it's almost an inside joke amongst LA people who I'm sure can relate with this... People in LA who are associated with the film making or even creative industries are SO commonly flakey and unreliable it is crazy! It's amazing how many people just don't show up. Will commit to "grabbing coffee" and then making last minute excuses about how "busy" they are, but then you see them posting random stuff on their instagrams in real time. There are of course people who really care deeply about their craft and love their work and are dedicated, and those tend to be those who are already successful, but for people like myself who got one foot in the door, and still trying to earn our screen creds to be taken seriously, it is a constant parade of people posing as they are somebody, but they never ever show up, and it's almost entertainment in itself in this entertainment industry to figure out who these jokers are. Of course a lot of that has to do with money and personal finances, but if I say I'm showing up for an audition, a coffee, lunch, or working on set, I'm SHOWING UP, PERIOD, even if I have to be homeless the next day. So, here's to hoping I get closer to my goals this year in 2020, and to all those out there who are truly serious about wanting to be a part of the creative community and are willing to put their work ethic where their mouth is.