For the past 14 years, I have been an actor in Hollywood. As with the career of any actor (famous, infamous, or unknown), it has been a roller coaster of ups, downs, victories, and losses. There is a reason why most parents would not encourage their child to become an actor. It is, at best, a completely unpredictable affair and most certainly not a meritocracy. When people ask me what it’s like to work as an actor in Hollywood, my best answer goes something like this – imagine the superficial, social politics of junior high…and with that, you have the key, critical success factors necessary to excel in Hollywood. Basically, it’s the exact opposite moral values that mom and dad tried to teach you as a kid. When asked what it’s like to be an Asian American actor in Hollywood, my best answer is – imagine being a white guy, going to China to be an actor, and expecting to have a career like Chow Yun Fat. Good luck round eye.
