Friday Five - Interview with film-maker Chye-Ling Huang

November 17, 2017

"It just makes sense for the stories we see and tell to reflect our world and the diversity of the human experience. Homogenous and whitewashed storytelling is exclusive, damaging and frankly boring."

Two One One Three creatives recently featured PAT co-founder Chye-Ling Huang in their monthly article series 'Friday Five', where fimmakers are asked 5 questions about their process, stories and practice. After making The Han Chronicles and Asian Men Talk About Sex, team Two One One Three asked Chye-Ling about how these projects got off the ground and why we need stories like this to thrive.

You can check out the full series here!

We loved watching your recent series The Han Chronicles (currently on TVNZ OnDemand). Where did this story come from, and what was the process of getting it onto this online platform?

The Han Chronicles is actually a true story of my Dad arriving in Christchurch in the 70’s, meeting my mum and falling in love. My Dad is a great storyteller with relentless optimism, huge heart and a massive sense of childlike humour and his experiences always stood out to me amongst other immigrant stories that I’ve seen on screen. There’s definitely a place for stories focusing on hardship and culture shock, but I was keen to show my Dad’s perspective which is full of discovery, fun and teenage antics – I think it’s important to have cool, positive Asian characters on our screens and my Dad was one swaggy young dude.

I was initially invited to a writer’s room where TVNZ were looking for new ideas for web content of any kind – as TV is mostly online now, they’re making a shift to creating more in-house local content which is awesome. About 8 ideas were chosen from that session, and from there it was all go. I had a lot of creative freedom and was able curate cast and crew and director which is always important to me when creating work with an Asian story at the centre. TVNZ launched it on youtube and their own platform, and it also got played on international channel Asian Crush.

In the past, you’ve done lots of theatre, but have recently turned to the screen. What’s behind this change in medium?

I grew up a very ‘analog’ kid with 3 sisters – we played in sandpits of rice, had a lot of toys and made our own games. Theatre always made sense to me as it’s a very hands on way of storytelling where you’re physically involved and can see it unfold in real time.

The technical side of film always scared me a little and as an English speaking Chinese New Zealander I never grew up with any particular screen heroes that inspired me to get into film. The Loading Docs initiative was the platform that got me making film – the callout was for stories around the theme of ‘diversity’, which led to my team being chosen to make our 3 min doco, Asian Men Talk About Sex, as one of 10 other films. This platform was an incredible mentoring opportunity and basically taught me everything from the story making process to marketing and distribution.

Chye-Ling Huang, director and Calvin Sang, DOP on the set of Asian Men Talk About Sex

With such a supportive network and a super fun topic it was easy to get past the technical worries – the team around me really made it easy and I could focus on what I love most, the story and the people involved. Screen is super exciting in it’s reach and scope and I’m pretty hooked now.

What’s the best thing you’ve watched recently, and why?

Aside from the genius that was Thor, The Meyerwitz stories really got me excited. The dialogue was always revelatory; every time a character spoke, you dug deeper into the weird corners of their minds – nothing was arbitrary.

I love ensemble pieces in general and this one felt really connected with each story adding to the next. The Big Sick was inspiring from a representation standpoint as well as being super charming and surprisingly weird.

You are the co-founder of Proudly Asian Theatre, a company dedicated to giving a voice to Asian theatre artists in NZ. Why is diversity in storytelling important?

Because stories aren’t homogenous. It just makes sense for the stories we see and tell to reflect our world and the diversity of the human experience. Homogenous and whitewashed storytelling is exclusive, damaging and frankly boring.

People don’t realise just how influential mainstream storytelling is – films especially. Stories have the power to change the way we think about people and seeing yourself as the hero of the story is not only empowering, it’s normalising.

To exclude and sideline POC, women or any other marginalized group is to passively ‘other’ us for whoever consumes media, and as much as we like to think we’re immune to it, those ideas do stick. Speaking as a POC filmmaker, it’s not enough to have one or two stories about POC experiences, because not every POC story is the same. It’s exciting to hear new voices and see things from different perspectives and we should embrace that.

Both Asian Men Talk About Sex and The Han Chronicles centre on male characters. Do you have any advice for young filmmakers wanting to create stories that aren’t necessarily their own? How do you stay relate to your subject if they are different to you (whether that’s gender, race, age etc)?

With AMTAS, myself and filmmakers Ruby Reihana-Wilson and Kelly Gilbride made 100% sure we were doing justice to the subjects and the story by folding in Asian men from the beginning. As an Asian woman I felt I had a strong place to stand from culturally, but I knew I could miss insights and nuances that come from the male perspective. James Roque, co-founder of PAT, advised us before we even begun.

Asian Men Talk About Sex kicks off with a casual pot-luck hosted by the team

We made sure our core crew were all Asian men, as well as having active advisor roles in Nathan Joe and Micheal McCabe who provided some great queer insights. Calvin, (our DOP and editor) and I had a fluid relationship to the storytelling and although I directed and interviewed, his input was key to making the story represent these guys in the way they wanted to be. So my advice would be to make sure you choose your team wisely, listen to them and create a community with like-minded intentions for the project you can trust to speak up.

Han Huang (left) meets Jarrod Lee (right), who acts as young Han in The Han Chronicles

Never be afraid to check your privilege & viewpoint on something you haven’t lived. I feel like I embark on projects I connect with regardless of gender or race, and if that connection is authentic I don’t feel like I have to force anything and find it easy to relate – I’m super interested in sex and race and it was great to look at it from another perspective.

Maybe because I’m from an acting background I find understanding easily in most stories, but there are of course stories I wouldn’t go for if someone else from that unique experience could do it better.

NZFC screening - Asian Men and The Han Chronicles

November 14, 2017

This month two PAT made films will feature in a New Zealand Film Commission screening at The Basement Theatre, alongside 10 other Kiwi-Asian made shorts:

The event is free to filmmakers and those interested in networking with Asian creatives

"The idea is to showcase the wide range of screen projects by our local “Asia aware” talents, as well as putting a spotlight on these guys – both the creatives and the hardworking cast & crew," says Raymond Suen, Asia outreach executive for the film commission.

Networking and celebrating Asian creatives, the film commission has put together the best shorts from Asian creatives made in the last year or so, to be presented in one incredible screening with drinks following.

We can't wait to see The Han Chronicles and Asian Men Talk About Sex once again on the big screen!

Upworthy certified! Asian Men Talk About Sex

November 14, 2017

We've been overwhelmed with the response to our short doco made with Loading Docs, Asian Men Talk About Sex, which was released a few months ago.

This month, we're stoked to be featured on Upworthy!

We've reached over 90k views and we couldn't be happier that Kiwi-Asian stories are spreading around the world. Stay tuned for more updates on more sexy stories!

Luck and Talent - Xana Tang talks about her challenging role on SBS series Dead Lucky

October 18, 2017

“I’d like to see more original stories that include multicultural and multi-dimensional characters. Completely flawed characters that have a need to make the world a better place for themselves or for others. I think that’s what we’re all trying to do”

Xana Tang’s had a hell of a year. Known for playing the delightfully offbeat assistant ‘Cherry’ in seasons one and two of Filthy Rich, Xana is a hilarious and nuanced actress and a force to be reckoned with. Xana had her big break when she was still in high school, being cast in a leading role in Kiwi feature ‘Matariki'. Soon after she appeared as the lead in thedownlowconcept’s Greyhound racing television comedy series 'Hounds'.

After working her way through New Zealand TV and film and joining the world of casting and editing, this year she was cast on ABC-Netflix comedy series ‘The Letdown’. She then went straight into shooting for SBS series ‘Dead Lucky’, starring Rachel Griffiths and fellow Kiwi Yoson An.

After a whirlwind year, PAT's director Chye-Ling Huang caught up with Xana about her most recent project, life on set and the differences between shooting a series in Australia and New Zealand.

Tell me about your role on Dead Lucky, what is your character like, and are you similar?

I play Bo-Lin Tan a Chinese international student who is a talented Violinist and aspiring musician. She’s adventurous, free-spirited and isn’t afraid to stand up to injustice and take matters into her own hands. I think we’re both incredibly cheeky and can make light of any situation. Other than that, she’s way cooler than me.

How did you get cast? What was the audition process like?

I was in Sydney on another project (The Letdown) and was tossing up between going home a week earlier or to stay. When I wrapped the project, the Dead Lucky audition came up (my first audition in an Australian casting studio!) and they recommended that I should stay in case I got a callback. If I left to come home that week, things would have turned out very differently!

Yoson An, fellow Kiwi on Dead Lucky, talks about his character, Charlie Fung, being a refreshing, multi-dimensional Asian role. Did you feel the same way about Bo-Lin?

When I read the brief, it sounded like the typical Asian girl, wanting to play music but her strict parents won’t let her. But then, reading the script I instantly fell in love with the character because it wasn't just her wanting to follow those dreams - her deciding to come to Australia was about a desire for freedom. Her having a boyfriend, of a different culture, the way they speak to each other about each other and their future, that added more layers and made her more human.

Your character is an immigrant to Australia, recently becoming a contentious topic over the election. What was it like being in those shoes?

I think it’s important to tell those stories; to be honest everyone is an immigrant from somewhere. They all have a unique story to tell of where they came from, why they chose that country, and what they see for their future. They all have reasons why they had to leave, and what that place means to them; with the likes of my family, my Dad didn’t have a choice to come here, whereas my mum did. But again, it’s those stories of sacrifice, sacrificing everything they knew and had to have a better tomorrow, and then there are people, locals who will say “why are you here?” and question them. It’s like, you didn’t leave everything behind so that you could get bullied in a new country. You want to start afresh and you want to become a part of a community that wants you.

What’s surprised you or what have your learnt on Dead Lucky?

Straight off the bat, I have no special skills other than acting. My character, Bo-Lin is the super cool Asian your mum would compare you to growing up. I had to learn to swim (in the ocean), play the Violin, speak Mandarin and have an authentic Chinese accent. I worked closely with Mojean Aria (plays Mani, Bo-Lin’s boyfriend), who won the Heath Ledger Scholarship this year. I never met him at the callback stage, so he was the biggest surprise. I have so much respect and admiration for this guy, because not only did we form this naturally strong connection, but he also developed into a mentor-like figure for me. Working with him in rehearsals and on set was both a challenge (in the best way possible) and a dream.

How do you approach acting a love story with an person you’ve only just met?

We understood that, yes the show follows the two detectives (Yoson and Rachel) solving this crime, but the crux of the whole series is the love that these two characters have for each other. We knew that if we didn’t work on it and the chemistry wasn't right, the whole story would fall over. When we started to shoot, majority of the time we only got two takes max for every scene, so we both decided that we needed to rehearse off set and know exactly what we’re doing before we got on set.

I think being emotionally open and finding things you genuinely love about another person’s soul is the best way to act like you’re in love. That way you don’t need to force yourself to love them or act at all infact, you just do and that’s one less thing to worry about.

What’s been the most fun shoot day you’ve had so far on Dead Lucky?

The nature of the show rides on relatively high stakes so the whole shooting process was a lot of fun. One scene that will always stick with me is when Bo-Lin and Mani (Mojean’s character) get into a very heated argument. Without giving too much away, the scene is a pivotal point in the story shifting the mood for the rest of the series. I remember I was so in Bo-Lin’s headspace, that when they called ‘cut!’ I just crumbled to my knees and wanted to cry. I was emotionally exhausted. I know - very dramatic. But that’s how much emotional and mental energy it should take to truly be immersed in someone else’s world.

Who are your heroes on screen?

Growing up I watched a lot of Hong Kong TVB Dramas. Journey to the West 1996 version with Dicky Cheung and Wayne Lai are still my favourite actors of all time. I love Sandra Oh, Adelaide Kane, Viola Davis. All incredible, smart and strong humans.

Xana on Matariki (top left), Friday Night Bites (right) and Filthy Rich.

Do you find the Australian screen industry much different to New Zealand, and if so what are the main differences? Do you think there are more opportunities for non-white or Asian representation in Australia compared to New Zealand?

Hands down - New Zealand productions have a better biscuit/snack station than Australian productions. I know that’s irrelevant but I just needed to get that off my chest.

Australia is a much bigger country that has more money to fund projects, and I feel that means they have more creatives to generate original content than in New Zealand. They have the supply for the demand. As far as Asian representation goes, I think when New Zealand thinks of ‘diversity’ they mainly show white and Maori and/or Pasifika. When Australia thinks ‘diversity’ they show white and Asian.

What’s the funniest or worst casting brief you’ve gotten this year?

I’m very fortunate that I get to audition for a range of different roles and not get boxed into any stereotypes. I think it helps that I look 15 but can also play a 25 year old. The funniest casting brief I got was “Hot Asian Girl”, I’m not sure how the States define ‘hot’ or if they have a scale to measure the hotness, but I ticked the other two boxes.

What would you like to see more of on New Zealand screens?

Original stories that include multicultural and multi-dimensional characters. Completely flawed characters that have a need to make the world a better place for themselves or for others. I think that’s what we’re all trying to do, it’s human, it’s interesting and it’s so relatable.

What were the barriers you faced in becoming an actor?

The biggest barrier will always be the one I put in front of myself. It’s a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. I think all actors would have gone through a similar process when they get a chance to audition for something, and they start doubting their capabilities to become this character before they even get in the room. I’m still learning to tell those thoughts to take a back seat and I’m getting better at it. If you don’t believe in your own potential, then why would anyone else?

Has race played a role in your acting career so far?

It hasn’t been a ‘thing that I play’ or that I got cast because I was from a certain cultural background, it was always “and you just happen to be Asian” end of story. It was only recently on Dead Lucky that I got to explore what it meant to be from a certain culture, embrace it and fearlessly bring that into the character and story.

Photos by Jen Huang.

Check out our interview with Yoson An, Kiwi actor who plays Charlie Fung on Dead Lucky, here.

Dead Lucky - Kiwi actor Yoson An talks about his role on a new SBS series and sharing the screen with Rachel Griffiths

October 13, 2017

"I believe filmmakers and storytellers have the power to either unite or divide humanity, and we need to be aware of that."

Yoson is fast becoming Aotearoa's next big thing.

Calm, collected but fiercely driven, Chinese-Kiwi Yoson An has been acting since 2012 and already has an impressive list of credits to his name. Locally, you might know him from Flat 3, Mega Time Squad and cult classic Ghost Bride. A skilled martial artist and speaker of Cantonese and Mandarin, Yoson's natural charm on camera has landed him roles on international features Meg, Mortal Engines, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2 and the HBO Asia mini-series Grace.

Speaking with him about his career so far, what is most remarkable is that Yoson has consistently broken the tired stereotypes that Asian actors are often cast in, having the chance instead to play leading romantic roles, action heroes and nuanced characters that are far from the nerdy, one dimensional tropes, something he focuses on when writing and directing his own film projects, as well as curating his new media site for short films called 'SkyRise', something the driven actor works on when he's not on set.

Yoson recently landed a leading role, Charlie Fung, in the new SBS crime-thriller series Dead Lucky, acting alongside Rachel Griffiths. After arriving back in Auckland from the shoot in Sydney, Chye-Ling, co-founder of PAT, caught up with Yoson about the experience.

Firstly, congratulations on shooting Dead Lucky! Tell us about the series.

DEAD LUCKY is a gripping crime thriller told from multiple perspectives. Detective Grace Gibbs (Rachel Griffiths) is obsessed with catching the armed robber who killed her junior officer. Charlie Fung (Yoson An) her new trainee, blames Grace for the death of his best friend.

Meanwhile a share house of international students think that they have found paradise, until one of their housemates disappears. A couple of greedy convenience store owners resort to deadly measures to defend their business. While on the outskirts of the city, a violent fugitive is hiding.

Over one week, the paths of these characters collide, leaving Grace and Charlie to find the killer, the missing girl ... and a way to rebuild their lives.

What was the casting brief for Charlie Fung - did it specify race?

Yes, they specifically wanted a Chinese male. SBS shows are quite consistently multi-culturally accurate in terms of casting, I believe they accurately represent Australia on screen.

How did you get the role - what was the audition process like?

It was through a self-tape audition. I sent the tape, they liked what I did and booked me (with no call back - which was extremely lucky and unusual at the same time).

What surprised you about working with Rachel Griffiths and the team on Dead Lucky?

I don’t think I was surprised about anything because I went in with no expectations. I really enjoyed working with Rachel, and the whole team was amazing. Rachel and I got along quite well - I think she’s an awesome person. It was a real honour for me to be co-starring with an academy award nominated actress; being around her and observing her process has taught me so much, and have also inspired me to go deeper into the craft. She was also really generous with providing me with some constructive guidance every now and again on set.

What’s been the most fun shoot day you’ve had so far?

This entire shoot has been a dream come true. The cast was stellar and the crew was amazing. Unfortunately, I can’t disclose the plot too much.. But one of the most memorable days of filming was when Rachel and I did our big confrontational scene (of the show) on the rooftop - it really reflected the depth of Charlie as well as Grace (Rachel’s character).

In terms of cultural diversity (accuracy) on screen, I feel like Australia has more opportunities for non-white actors to break into the film industry than we do in New Zealand (since they’re constantly making new shows - creating more content than NZ). In saying that though, I also believe Australia has a lot more actors in general than we do in New Zealand. I was lucky to be involved in a SBS original series; they’re known for having accurate multicultural representation of Australia on screen.

Yoson on set of Dead Lucky - wearing Rory McCann's (The Hound in Game of Thrones) jacket to keep warm

As an actor I’m aware of the amount of auditions you have to go through before you book a role. Previous to this role, what kind of casting briefs were you getting through, and from what countries?

I’ve been quite fortunate with my auditions. There have been a few stereotypical Asian characters, but a lot of my briefs have been from US productions and most of the characters’ personalities have been quite multi-layered.

What would you like to see more of on New Zealand screens?

More original content and a more truthful representation of multi-cultural casting to reflect the real world (if the story is based in our geographical reality).

What were the barriers you faced in becoming an actor and a filmmaker?

I’m a big believer/experiencer of “what you put out, is what you get back”. The only barriers I’ve faced were the barriers I’ve imposed on myself. In my experience, this goes for anything and everything in life. Our personal beliefs can either accelerate us or hold us back. There have been many times where I’ve felt anxious on going into an audition or taking on a role (which may be seemingly too big - there’s really no such thing), but I’ve realised it always stems from a lack of self-worth. So I consciously do my best to let go of limiting beliefs that doesn’t serve me.

Charlie Fung is part of the new wave of POC characters breaking away from screen based stereotypes. Do you feel a certain pressure taking on this role?

I’ve certainly felt a pressure to do the best I can for this role - but it was more from the fact that the script itself is so amazing, and the cast members are all so talented, I just really wanted to do the best I can for the series. I was really excited about playing Charlie because he had so many layers to him; it definitely penetrated much deeper than the usual Asian stereotype - that’s also one of the reasons why I absolutely loved about being a part of this show.

Yoson on the set of 'Asian Men Talk About Sex'

What role do you see yourself playing in changing the way that Asian men are perceived on and off the screen?

I don’t have a particular plan as to how I can change the way Asian men are perceived, but I’d like to be of service by being the most truthful version of myself and create from that space. I feel like film and TV is a beautiful medium that can inspire and influence us to gain a deeper perspective of our surroundings. If ideas and cultures are represented falsely on screen - this may influence a false reality into viewer’s mind and create an illusion of separation in our world. I believe filmmakers and storytellers have the power to either unite or divide humanity, and we need to be aware of that.

In Asian Men Talk About Sex (a Loading Docs documentary), you speak candidly about sex from an Asian male perspective. What makes a good date, and have you been on any good ones lately?

A good date to me is when two people are attracted to each other (in whatever way they wish to define attraction), and at the same time, both totally comfortable with each other (where they can just fully be themselves). Unfortunately, I haven’t been on any lately..I’ve been too busy!

Check out Yoson in Asian Men Talk About Sex here