Asian Actors & Thespians

Being a working artist ain’t easy. You gotta believe in yourself, and have faith in your work. Lily Tung Crystal joins me on the show to talk about her decorated career as a multi-hyphenated theater artist.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Lily on Instagram @lilytungcrystal and check out East West Players @eastwestplayers.East West Players’ Flower Drum Song is playing now through May 31 at the Aratani Theater in Los Angeles. Click this link to get tickets!

Filipino-American playwright, Nicholas Pilapil stops by the show to talk about his artistic journey, and he breaks down his exciting new play, “God Will Do The Rest.”For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And follow Nicholas and Artists at Play on IG @nicholaspilapil and @artistsatplayla.

Contrary to popular belief, being a “jack of all trades” can be a good thing, especially if you’re an artist! Legendary playwright/screenwriter Carla Ching joins me on the show to talk about how her various talents have helped her during her career.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Carla on Instagram @carlaching and check out her website at carlaching.com.

Many of the great filmmakers of our time have a distinct style that audiences can readily identify. So how does one begin to develop their own style and artistic voice? Writer/director of “Lucky Fish” Emily May Jampel joins me to share her thoughts.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Emily on Instagram @emilymayjampel and check out her website at emilymayjampel.com.

Teamwork makes the dream work! From basketball teams, to church choirs, to film crews, the key to success is seamless collaboration. New York filmmaker Kathy Meng stops by the show to talk about how collaboration helps her solve problems on set.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Kathy on Instagram @kathy_meng.

Are you feeling stuck in your acting career? Wondering how to accelerate your career and move forward? Actor Simon Shih joins me on the show to talk about how he’s managed to consistently book work in just one year of professional acting.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Simon on Instagram @simon.actorish and visit him at www.simonshih.net.

Is it better to be a one-trick pony or to try one’s hand at becoming a master of multiple disciplines? Actor/filmmaker Anna Mikami joins me on the show to discuss how she balances both.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Anna on Instagram @annamikamika and check out her website at annamikami.com.

As actors, we know that having a “type” is a great strength. But for genderqueer/non-binary actors, the casting process can provide some unique challenges. Enby actor Josephine Chiang joins me on the show to share their thoughts.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to check out Josephine at josephinechiang.com and follow them on Instagram @josephineyuting.

Time for some unbridled, unapologetic Wasian Pride! Wasian playwright Alex Lin joins me on the show to talk about how her background has shaped her artistry, and how that artistry got her into Juilliard.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And be sure to follow Alex on Instagram @hemeling and check out her website at alexandralinholden.com.

Do you have a story to tell? What’s keeping you from telling it? Fear of rejection? Fear of not being “interesting” enough? Actor/writer/director/producer, Mahima Saigal, joins me on the show to tell us how she creates work that honors her story.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Mahima on Instagram @thesaigal and check out her website at mahimasaigal.com. 

Are you the main character in your own story? If not, what’s holding you back from fighting for your dreams? Emmy-winning actor/poet Suzen Baraka joins me on the show to talk about how she has committed to creating a life as an artist.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to check out Suzen at suzenbaraka.com and follow her on Instagram @suzen_baraka.

Sure, “Crazy Rich Asians” was live but where are all my Filipinos at?? Filipino-American filmmaker Justin Quizon joins me on the show to discuss how to increase Filipino/Southeast-Asian representation in TV and film.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And follow Justin on Instagram @justinquiz and TikTok @justinquiz.

Are you an aspiring AAPI filmmaker who wants to take off in your career? Tricia Lee joins me on the show to discuss how she started making her first films, how she developed her craft, and how she started getting work.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Tricia on Instagram @tricialeedirector and check out more of her work at tricialeedirector.com.

Hollywood! La La Land! City where dreams go to…die. For most actors, anyway. Only a select few find a way to make it in the City of Stars. Star of Hulu’s “Reboot,” Krista Marie Yu, joins me on the show to tell us about how she did it.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Krista on Instagram @kristamarieyu, and see her in “Reboot” on Hulu!

I want to stage plays! I want to make movies! But how do I start? How does one found a theater/production company? Co-founder and artistic director of Ma-Yi Theater Company, Ralph Peña, joins me on the show to tell his incredible story.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And be sure to follow Ralph on Instagram @ralphb.pena and check out Ma-Yi Theater at ma-yitheater.org and on Instagram @mayitheater.

Part 2 of my conversation with Christina Calcote, in which we discuss the intersection of their status as a social media influencer and their artistry. We also talk about navigating this crazy world as an Asian person, K-Pop stanhood, and BTS!Content Warning: mentions of anti-semitism and racismFor more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And be sure to follow Christina on Tiktok @tik.tok.tina and on Instagram @christinacalcote and visit them at christinacalcote.com.

Why do basketball players always make the best actors? Ray Allen, LeBron, Jordan. It’s gotta be the shoes, right? AAPI hooper-turned-film actor, Taylor Takahashi, joins me on the show to share his  fascinating story.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And be sure to follow Taylor on Instagram @_taylortakahashi and check out his brand at ototoclothing.com.

Why are there so few biracial Asian characters on stage and on screen? Why so few bisexual and genderqueer characters? Don’t they have stories to tell too? Wasian actor/influencer Christina Calcote joins me on the show to share their insights.Content Warning: mentions of queerphobia, racism, cyberbullyingFor more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And be sure to follow Christina on Tiktok @tik.tok.tina and on Instagram @christinacalcote and visit them at christinacalcote.com.

Pooya Mohseni joins me on the show to detail her remarkable journey as a woman/artist of transgender experience and to share her insights on the women’s rights crisis in Iran.Content warning: references to political violence, assault, suicide attempt, and queer/transphobiaFor more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts.And make sure to follow Pooya on Instagram @pooyaland and visit her at pooyaland.comOrganizations promoting women’s rights in Iran:www.change.orgunited4iran.orgAlso, check out this link to read about Pooya’s current project in London:

Being an actor is horrifying. It’s not just overcoming the stage fright - it’s living a life of uncertainty, obstacles, and rejection. New York-based actor Christine Lee joins me on the show to share their thoughts.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts. And be sure to follow Christine Lee on Instagram @christinehillarylee.And be sure to tune in next time, as we talk to Pooya Mohseni about her journey as an Iranian-American actor, and the current women’s rights crisis in Iran.

In what ways do plus-sized actors face discrimination in the industry today? What can we do to enact change? We’ll answer these questions, and more, as I invite my friend and colleague, Cori Menzies, on the show.For more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram @chaseleeacts and on TikTok @chaseleeacts. And be sure to tune in next time, when we talk about the existential dread of starting out as an actor.

Why would anyone in their right mind choose such an impractical profession? On this inaugural episode of Asian Actors & Thespians, I introduce myself, tell my story, and talk about what got me into acting and led me down this whimsical, wonderful path.Some bullet points on me, Chase Lee...Pronouns: he/theyHometown: Berkeley, CACurrent Location: Brooklyn, NYEthnicity: Chinese-AmericanFor more content, check out my website at chaseleeacts.com and follow me on Instagram and TikTok @chaseleeacts. Be sure to tune in next time, when we discuss what it’s like to be a plus size API actor in the industry today.