Key Insights
Why did Jimmy O. Yang feel a strong connection to the character of Willis Wu in 'Interior Chinatown'?
Yang related to Willis's feeling of invisibility and struggle to break out of background roles, mirroring his own career journey from minor parts to leading roles.
How does 'Interior Chinatown' subvert Asian-American stereotypes?
The show plays with stereotypes by having characters like Willis Wu use background roles (delivery guy, tech guy) to gain access and influence, challenging societal expectations.
What personal experience did Jimmy O. Yang draw from to prepare for his role in 'Interior Chinatown'?
Yang bought a beat-up Toyota Corolla to experience the daily struggles of someone like Willis Wu, who has never left Chinatown and lives in an SRO.
How did Jimmy O. Yang's father become an actor?
Yang's father, Richard O. Yang, started acting after seeing his son succeed, booking roles due to a lack of older Asian actors in the talent pool.
What was the turning point in Jimmy O. Yang's relationship with his father?
Working together on projects, such as a Toyota commercial and 'Patriots Day,' allowed them to bond and have open conversations about their lives and careers.
How did Jimmy O. Yang approach his character in 'Silicon Valley'?
Yang based his character on authenticity, drawing from his own observations of immigrants and people he knew, aiming to create a real human rather than a caricature.
Why does Jimmy O. Yang believe in playing characters with accents?
Yang, having been a foreigner himself, feels a soft spot for immigrant characters and believes portraying them authentically is important, even if it challenges stereotypes.
What was the challenge for Jimmy O. Yang in the fight scenes of 'Interior Chinatown'?
Yang had to learn martial arts to realistically portray a character who has trained in kung fu but is not very good, understanding the language of kung fu to look believable.
Chapters
- Yang felt a strong personal connection to the character Willis Wu.
- The book and script by Charles Yu were highly engaging and spoke to his experiences as an Asian American actor.
- Yang saw parallels between his own career struggles and Willis' journey from background to main character.
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