Can You Do an Asian Accent?

A couple months ago, I was really pumped up for an audition in a great office. When I went in the room, I was asked, "Are you okay with doing an Asian accent?"

Naively, I wasn't expecting to hear that, even with the role being for an Asian nail salon worker, but I automatically replied with, "I can try." Not exactly confidence inducing, I know, but I wasn't expecting to break one out as it wasn't specified in the breakdown. Silly me. I have reservations about doing Asian accents professionally since I haven't properly trained my tongue for them, but I gave my best attempt at a non-stereotypical Mandarin Chinese accent. I'm not sure I could consciously Ken Jeong it, though the project genre probably was a Ken Jeong kind of comedy. (By the way, I've always felt like Dr. Ken Jeong has me beat forever, being a working actor doctor and all.) In my personal life with friends, I have no problem breaking out an awful stereotypical Cantonese accent. You know what I mean-ah?

Needless to say, I didn't book the role and I'm sure there were other actresses sitting in the waiting room with legit Asian accents. Of course, American television networks don't really seem to care how legit the Asian accent or even how good the actual foreign language is (Have you heard the Chinese spoken on TV??), so I don't really know what I'm ranting about with the legitimacy. I suppose that is good news for us Asian American actors who don't speak an Asian language or the accented English language as well as real Asians do. For those who don't know what I mean, I define real Asians as the Asians who were born and raised in Asia.

In any case, at one point I was really against the idea of doing Asian accents because I thought it would be linked to something racist. And yes, if the accent/character is so stereotypical and awful, it wouldn't be something I would want to do unless it was my own project and not some non-Asian person's comedic vision of what an Asian should be like. Long Duk Dong, huh? However, doing an accurate, non-demeaning portrayal of an Asian person with her accent would actually be a mark of good acting. Versatile actors would be able to speak with an authentic accent.

If you'd like to see me make my best attempt at a non-stereotypical Chinese accent, you may view this pilot of a series intended for China VTV. Did you know that doing the Mandarin Chinese accent can be really hard for a Chinese American like myself? The Cantonese accent is the one most widely imitated - Russell Peters got that one down. Legitimately doing any accent, however, needs real work. I know I'll have to work harder at being a real Chinese, but the fact is that I'm not a real Chinese and I never will be. However, here is my real Chinese imitation which I am by no means claiming to be good or authentic. But I tried, that I did.

Making Talent Known and Changing the Team!

Greetings from my new home in Redondo Beach! I have a bit of a long story as to why I had to give up my sweet, rent-controlled apartment of three years in Franklin Village - but the funny thing is that once I moved down to the South Bay, I've had to be in Los Angeles more than ever for auditions. Yes, of course the moment I moved an extra forty minutes out, I was auditioning more than I was when I lived in the heart of Hollywood! LA logic indeed.

I'm happy to announce that I have new management with Debra Manners Talent! Also, a few months back, I signed with Robertson Taylor commercially and I absolutely love my new agents. It's so important to have a good rapport!

If you ever follow my Twitter, you may have also noticed I'm now a member of the We Make Movies film collective. It's basically my second home and family in Los Angeles now. I get to read on stage on a regular basis! Also, with some WMM family this past weekend, I performed in a street health fair skit. I got to entertain some kids as an overgrown pink bully! How's that for size?

I'm a big pink bully!

One of my resolutions this year was to make my talent known. And by golly, it's already more than halfway through April! Believe me, I am working on it. I've even started to write again (I've been in two writing groups!). In any case, I must retire to bed as I must make a 10 AM callback in Glendale...so from Redondo Beach to there in rush hour traffic, you can do the math! :) I was just so pumped I had to update.

Sharing My Voice with You

Merry 2015! I'd like to share my inner voice with you and my inner eye. This is a personal piece I wrote and recorded almost three years ago. It's simply called, "Dear Love of My Life." I just put together a compilation of photos I've taken over the past six years to accompany my raw sounding voice. Anyway, as an artist, I like it with all its imperfections. I only have eight views though, I guess poetry and the title "Dear Love of My Life" isn't a strong selling point.

What do you think?

Also, I'd like to share a poster that my director JJ posted for the short film I worked on in the fall - coming soon!

Lending a Grieving Voice to a Story

Last month, I auditioned for ADR roles for the film About, based on fifteen true life stories, produced by Rareform Pictures, and starring Academy Award winner Mo'Nique.

The wonderful director, V.W. Scheich, was in the house and offered to help me take some pictures for my social media outlets.

Ready for some ADR!

I just got word this week that one of my improvised lines may make the final cut! I'm glad because I did pour some heart into my wild lines. I was leaving a message for a friend, expressing my grief over the death of her brother in the film. I blended bits of real messages that I received when my dad died years ago. I know it's always awkward expressing your sympathy - especially when there really aren't any good words to say. But I always hated "Stay strong" - so that definitely won't be coming from me!

Without wanting to divulge too much, I thought the scene was very poignantly written and I'm looking forward to being a voice in it. I love films which focus on real human experiences. Losing a family member and missing the last call that he made to you is absolutely heartbreaking. I held onto my dad's last voicemail as long as I could - making another recording of it when I couldn't save it any longer on my phone.

Needless to say, I'm glad I could lend my voice to About. Films that tell true stories are powerful - and great filmmaking is all about storytelling. 

Sweet Carmel-by-the-Sea and a Missed Flight

I had a wonderful post-Thanksgiving trip with my mom, followed with a semi-disastrous trip back to the City of Angels. However, everything ended well!

After spending Thanksgiving with my family (and making some excellent mashed potatoes, avocado salad and cranberry sauce all from scratch to contribute), I traveled for the first time ever to Carmel-by-the-Sea with my mom.

It was a really sweet town - and I crossed one thing off of my bucket list - visiting The Cheese Shop. I had read about it over a year ago on SFGate and felt compelled to make it to this fabled Cheese Shop. I ended up sampling probably two dozen or so different types of cheese from all over the world. I felt a bit ashamed for my shameless sampling (we did buy three types of cheese in the end), but it was excellent and so worth it. I was in cheese heaven!!

The Cheese Shop, Carmel-by-the-sea. I sampled over a dozen cheeses, felt a bit sheepish!!! Was on my to-do-list since last year!! #cheese #carmel #cheesegasm

A photo posted by Felicia Hom (@feliciahom) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:41pm PST

We tasted wine, dined out, and roughed the rain as we visited Point Lobos State Reserve and the beach. Our bed and breakfast was really cute too - with a gas fireplace. I loved it! Time with my mom is always precious.

The morning after we left Carmel, I was scheduled to fly out of San Francisco. I also ended up having an audition scheduled an hour and a half after my scheduled landing time. But there had been a heavy storm in the Bay Area that night, so the streetlights were out on 19th avenue and also on Junipero Serra. So...a normally twenty minute drive became an hour and twenty. And unfortunately, I arrived just a few minutes late so I missed my very first flight in my life!! Talk about a milestone.

As luck would have it, the following two flights were cancelled and the next flight I was on standby for was delayed well into the afternoon at 3:40 pm! Of course, I wouldn't be able to make my 11:30 am audition (I had informed my manager of the situation). Amazingly I wasn't too upset or frustrated, just very tired. I was amused by conversations I overheard at the airport and also appreciated the "Oh shiet" reactions of fellow travelers when I told them my missed flight and cancellations ordeal. I heard one older man who had missed his flight exclaiming, "Well of course insurance has to cover this! The highway was flooded!"

But as the storm abated, my flight was bumped back up an hour and I ended up still being able to audition after I rushed through the wetness to Santa Monica and up the stairs panting just before 5 pm! I'm an actor who hates missing auditions for any reason! I am very glad I hustled as I enjoy every opportunity I can get and grateful the office still let me audition. After missing my very first flight and staying at the airport for a good 5+ hours, the day actually turned out not so bad!

In fact, during the rainy weekend I saw not one, but two rainbows. When the rain brings out rainbows, what else can you do but smile?

A photo posted by Felicia Hom (@feliciahom) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:32pm PST

Acting as a Lead and My New Favorite Undies

Hello my happy readers! 2014 is coming to a close and I'm happy to report that I've been making some small gains - actually booking lead roles in projects! It has been a while since I've been a lead, so it's cool that I've had two projects in a row in which I'm a lead! Wow!

Credit to Luo and Jerry for making this!

First off, we have "Born a Chinese Girl," a short film by USC MFA candidate Qianzhu Luo. It's about a girl who grew up only knowing how to study and not knowing how to really identify herself outside of her studies. I had a blast shooting it! It will be screening on December 14! And there's me as the poster girl, wearing a real Chinese high school track suit!

Then, I recently wrapped another shoot this month called "Thirty Years Later" by Jocelyn Jia. I play a young adoptive mother who makes a sacrifice to have her child. Updates to come as it is currently in post production!

While not a lead, you will also see me in an upcoming episode of season 2 of "Introverts" by Rachel Tucker, shot this month as well. I've also already booked a small role in another project shooting the first week of December, too! Yay for acting projects!

And since I realize I haven't been up to speed with updates since...January...I'll also add that I shot a print campaign for AT&T a couple months ago. So, if anyone ever ends up seeing a random image of me lounging about on an AT&T ad, let me know.

Finally, let me add my MAD BUM selfie as one more thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving and holiday season. Did I mention I got it for free from Jockey because I posted about the Mad Bum undies on twitter?? Sent it right to my place! THANK YOU, JOCKEY. Man, Twitter has paid off. This is my new favorite underwear. I love my San Francisco Giants and I was really thankful for them going all the way yet again! They helped me get through a tough October!

I bought some plants, too!

End of 2013, Hello 2014!

I've been meaning to post an end of 2013 wrap-up, but alas it seems 2014 has already arrived!

Very quickly, in 2013 - I had my semi-national theatrical debut with Ghost Team One, a crude and sometimes racist comedy! (I don't condone L+R Asian humor, so this is your disclaimer that it shows up.) I play the ghost Lady Azalea. The film debuted at the Slamdance Film Festival and then had a limited theatrical release across the country in October. Really cool and exciting to know that I was briefly gracing the movie screens in the likes of New York, Boston, Miami, Orlando, Dallas, Seattle, Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix and my hometown San Francisco! Check the movie out! :) It's available on Amazon for digital rental and purchase.

Then, in the holiday season late December I became ill and delirious and one-shot filmed my latest installment of FEFE TIME. I have all of 83 glorious views at the moment in my rather lame and brief holiday wish to you. Remember that your health is #1 in life! And yes, that is Mechagodzilla and not Robogodzilla.

Happy New Year to all! May we all have good health this year. We actually just ordered two large pizzas so we didn't ring it in too healthily.