Life Update + Leo Lands His First Lead Role in Short Film (Mike Travels to Asia, Leo tries out LA for a month, Leo recalls jumping into acting and stepping out of his comfort zone) | BARBERSHOP TALK

In this Barbershop Talk episode, Mike and Leo share what they've been up to these past couple of months. 

In this episode, we discuss:

0:50 - Mike talks about his trip to Asia

3:00 - Food in Thailand wasn’t as great as Mike thought

4:45 - The difference between traveling as a young man vs. an older man

10:25 - Leo gives his life update (moving to LA, acting)

12:00 - Intro to the episode 

14:00 - Time is going to fly by anyway, whether you make that leap or not

15:00 - People want things but aren’t willing to do what’s necessary to make them happen

17:25 - Mike asks Leo to demonstrate an acting exercise for the audience

19:40 - Acting is like sports; you have to have the mentality of understanding your fundamentals first before doing anything major

 20:16 - Leo shares what his first short film lead experience was like 

21:48 - Leo describes his first lead role in a short film 

23:32 - Having experience as a model and doing commercials helped Leo feel comfortable on set 

29:50 - Failure is a part of the process. The more you fail, the closer you are to your goals

31:57 - Recent announcement of an Asian male lead for the revamped show ‘Quantum Leap.’

35:15 - Way more opportunity for Asian actors in LA vs. NY

37 - You have to start

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Transcript

Mike Tran: 0:00

What's up, everybody. Welcome back to the Asian men's wear podcast show. Um, Mike, your host and I'm back with Leo. My co-host what's up Leo. It's been a minute. I bought I've been. A month and a half.

Leo Chan: 0:12

What? So, man, well, we, we basically took like a summer vacation. I think it was a much needed break for both of us mentally, but also physically, I think you've been traveling a little bit,

Mike Tran: 0:24

I think the last episode I was talking about, okay, we're gonna get consistent again, but honestly work really took over. So I was really focused on trying to, you know, trying to get my bearings, trying to get comfortable in the role.. but yeah, we're back now. Yeah. And, and we have a couple of updates. Uh, so I've been traveling with my girlfriend. Um, we've been traveling all over Asia for the past three weeks. We went to Thailand, we went to Vietnam and it was a great experience. Um, but I do wanna update everyone, That I'm actually no longer in the start up life that's for another discussion. Uh, you know, things didn't work out. It ended up being something that, uh, we didn't have the right expectation set from the start, but it's all right. Um, and you know, I had that vacation now we're back back in San Francisco recording again,

Leo Chan: 1:17

What were some of the quick highlights of your trip? Cause you don't post that much on social media. so you know, like I definitely wanna know what was your favorite spot? Favorite experience highlights.

Mike Tran: 1:27

Yeah. Um, so all in all we stayed at, think we stayed at like nine hotels. We had like 10, 10 different flights. So it was packed, man. Um,

Leo Chan: 1:39

Whew.

Mike Tran: 1:39

I gotta say my most favorite, Experience was the Fifi islands in Thailand. We were so lucky that the weather was beautiful. I mean, it was perfect. I mean, it was something like out of like a Google image. Type of thing. It felt very weird. We got to see, uh, the beach.

Leo Chan: 1:56

is this SP is this

Mike Tran: 1:58

yeah, it was crazy. The boat was like going up and down. I mean, I get motion sickness. So like, thankfully I, I took my motion sickness pills, but I mean, the boat was like rocking up and down. I mean, the water was like as blue as can be. The beaches were white sand. I mean, I I'm sure you've seen beaches like this Leo, but the Fifi islands man, incredibly beautiful. We got to see, um, I guess the beach where Leonardo DiCaprio filmed the beach and I guess we got to see that. That was pretty cool. Um, we had a chance to go see like James Bond, like beach area too

Leo Chan: 2:30

oh, the JPO island

Mike Tran: 2:32

Yeah, exactly. We didn't get to do that one, But it was fun. I mean, Just seeing how everything, how, you know, obviously from Thailand to America is it's completely different in some places, like, just like the areas where it's like extremely poor and then the areas where they're

Leo Chan: 2:45

then some areas, super touristy.

Mike Tran: 2:49

It, I will say though,

Leo Chan: 2:50

How was, uh, how was the food? How was like the prices? How was the weather.

Mike Tran: 2:55

you know, honestly, Thailand wasn't as cheap as I thought it was actually. Almost as, you know, it's like, the us the food was okay. Like I usually like Thai food here in America, but over there it just seemed like it was the same dishes. I don't know. I don't know if it's, you know, cuz obviously it's like, Chinese American food is like different from.

Leo Chan: 3:18

Mm,

Mike Tran: 3:19

Chinese food in China. Right. And I felt like the dishes didn't have, I don't know. It seems like I was always eating rice and fried egg in some sort of

Leo Chan: 3:28

uh, Okay. Okay. I see

Mike Tran: 3:29

And that was like the only thing that was like served. I don't know. Maybe I wasn't looking enough, but

Leo Chan: 3:34

Maybe that's like, maybe that's like their usual like fast food or like there's the, that's their like their local specialty versus back home. But especially in the, bay area, you probably get so much good Thai food that you're comparing. Maybe even the seasoning. I feel like food in America is even more seasoned and maybe saltier than Asia, maybe, maybe even stuff like that is different.

Mike Tran: 3:55

I mean, the, the food was good. It just seemed like the variety. Like I got tired of Thai food, Quickly,

Leo Chan: 4:01

Oh, yeah, like. you were eating the same thing

Mike Tran: 4:02

Yeah, over and over and over. And then, uh, you know, we were like ordering, like we were trying to, we were getting like the cravings of like American food. So we would order from like the Uber eats of, of Thailand, which is called a grab the grab app. It's like an Uber, it had Uber eats, but it was like a it's called grab. It's like. They took over and I guess they kicked out Uber, but that's like their, their app for it. So we would order like KFC and stuff.

Leo Chan: 4:29

Uhhuh it it's fair. I get

Mike Tran: 4:31

yeah.

Leo Chan: 4:32

After a while you're eating the same thing over and

Mike Tran: 4:35

yeah. it it, it did. Yeah. Thailand started getting a bit tiring with the food and, and honestly, my last time outta out of the country going to Asia was when I was like, maybe, I don't know when it was like seven, six years ago. The experience is so much different. I don't know. It's because I'm older now, but I,

Leo Chan: 4:51

Mm.

Mike Tran: 4:53

I enjoy the nicer things a bit more, you know, like I, I enjoy,

Leo Chan: 4:58

You've left all up. You level up, you want more luxury? You're like. I don't mind spending a few more bucks for this and that and that.

Mike Tran: 5:05

it could been, it could have been the weather too, cuz man, I don't do well in humidity and it was hot, like

Leo Chan: 5:11

Whew.

Mike Tran: 5:11

Going in August to Thailand and Vietnam is like low season, cuz it's just hot. Right. It's just not good. So that was, that was like every time I, I take a shower step out, like I needed to shower again, like right away. like it was just that

Leo Chan: 5:25

you already sweating.

Mike Tran: 5:28

Um, but yeah, I, I think the difference from me being younger, like I enjoyed, I, I wanted to be in the grim. I wanted to be in, you know, the areas where the locals were eating, but now I'm just like, I'm just trying to find a restaurant that

Leo Chan: 5:41

were more, you were probably more adventurous. You were probably way more adventurous back then. And now you want a little bit more comfort, um, Yeah. Especially with your girlfriend and all that. So probably

Mike Tran: 5:51

Yeah. That's what I, that's what I, I was feeling. And I was like, damn, am I getting older? Like, I didn't. I was like, I'm realizing this, but I'm like, damn. Now I understand why the, the older people were always like looking for the comfort. I don't know. What about you? Do you like, what about you? Are you

Leo Chan: 6:07

no for sure. I, agree with you. I think like, in my early twenties, when I was traveling, I will eat all the street food and like, I don't care, staying at Airbnb, just like cutting calls, safe money, and like limiting it up in that way. But now it's like, I rather not risk getting food poisoning or I'd rather not. This or that like, I can get a place with, I, I can go to restaurant with AC, like, I, I know what you mean. Like, I'm thinking about it. Like, I'll have the bottled water versus the tap water, like things like that. And even obviously like now it's like, no, I'd rather stay at a hotel that is safer and you know, better amenities and whatnot. And so I totally get it. And, uh, I think that's part of us growing up but the experience is very different now.

Mike Tran: 6:52

feeling like an old man. I mean, my most enjoyable was staying at this resort. Is it was the Marriott. Um, oh my God. It was like, I know that's what I'm saying. Like, wow. Like I'm one of those guys now, right? Like,

Leo Chan: 7:03

We, we don't have to put you on the spot. We don't have to expose you.

Mike Tran: 7:06

But, but the funny thing, one, one thing I've noticed traveling is that they'll have like these really nice hotels, right. That have high ratings. And one thing I've noticed is that I feel like they're Asian owned. Right. They're super nice in terms of like a Asian owner would consider. But then, you know, we get used to the hotels back in the states and they have certain amenities. They know how to make Americans comfortable. and then you compare it to a nice one, that's owned by an American or a Western brand. Like it's night and day, like,

Leo Chan: 7:37

it is

Mike Tran: 7:38

I don't. Oh, so I'm sure you, I don't know if you noticed, but like,

Leo Chan: 7:41

No, no.

Mike Tran: 7:42

there's like this night and day of like the quality, like, I don't like the Marriott seems so night. Like they had their private beach. They had their entire, they had their own,

Leo Chan: 7:50

it, it, has the same. It has that same like global standard throughout, which obviously compared to Asia is very different in that way. So I totally get it.

Mike Tran: 7:58

So that's one thing I noticed right away. I was like, damn, like, there's a huge difference. Like moving forward or like the hotels that we had a book outta nowhere, like I'm looking for these well known, hotels that I know from back home to book and it's that standard,

Leo Chan: 8:11

So. from the different places you went to, did you like Vietnam more? You like Thailand more? Like, what was your kind of favorite if you had to rank them really quick?

Mike Tran: 8:22

So we started in Bangkok, then we went to Bette. And then for Bette, we went to Danang, Vietnam, which is the central part of Vietnam. I would say it's like, um, Hawaii, I guess. The Hawaii, Vietnam's like a beach area. And then from there we went to, uh, OI, which is the Northern part of Vietnam, which I'd never been to my family's down in the south. So they're from HoChi min or Saigon as most people know it.

Leo Chan: 8:46

Hmm. Hmm.

Mike Tran: 8:47

Um, I would say in Bangkok, I feel like we extended this day for too long. Like I, I was like getting tired of it. And then, foraying it was just a heat. I think the heat was a little bothersome for me. Um,

Leo Chan: 9:02

Mm

Mike Tran: 9:03

the, the food was a little better, but eh, by the time we got toay, we were kind of over like the beach water because we, we, we basically did that all of Thailand. Um, and then when we went to Hanoi, Hanoi was. Architecturally, like it was beautiful. Like there's just old quarters like this French, influences. Um, it was, yeah, it was beautiful but yeah, I mean, overall, it was a good trip. Just a lot of relaxing. It felt like we were just there forever. I mean, three weeks was a pretty long time.

Leo Chan: 9:30

Mm. It is a long time. Especially around and it's also the hot weather. Yeah.

Mike Tran: 9:36

Yeah. I'm, I'm getting old, man. The hot weather and the comfort was a huge thing for me. You know, the temples in Thailand was beautiful too. Um, we did a couple of hikes, you know, we did a couple of tour things we went to oh, how long bay, which is a lot of times you, if you look up Vietnam on Google, there're basically, uh, like these rock formations out in the water and it's just like, you're just selling through.

Leo Chan: 9:55

cool.

Mike Tran: 9:56

That was pretty cool too. So we ended our trip doing that, but overall, yeah, it was cool. I think, better to go, during a time when the weather's a little bit nicer, I would recommend if you can, if you can squeeze that, but yeah, that's what I've been up to glad to be back now. Glad to be, you know, running back podcast episodes. But before we jump into today's topic, what's going on. I know you're in LA right now, but.

Leo Chan: 10:19

Yeah. Uh, so right now we're recording this episode in LA I'm in LA for the month of September. Um, really just trying to feel it out. See, if we like living out here, what is it like to live out here versus just visiting for a few days at a time? So that's, that's what we usually do when we come to LA. Just like, if it's like a work trip we extended for a few days crash at my brother's place. Um, so we wanted to see like, what is it to really like, live here? You know, how, how is it like to really hang out with friends and family? And just kind of get a few of the lifestyle here. Meanwhile, at the same time my brother's birthdays this month. So it's like, okay, we gotta celebrate. Um, and also just trying to see, like, if I can also get some, uh, acting opportunities out here too as well. So yeah, just a month to fill it out before we. Make a big move across the country. So, uh, yeah,

Mike Tran: 11:09

Damn so. So this is the test, but okay. Let's say you enjoy it. How soon after that, would you make that decision to come long term?

Leo Chan: 11:19

um, I think the earliest could be a year. But honestly, We really love New York. If I don't have to move here, I don't want to. But I understand like the opportunities are out here, but if this kind of works out, I know I can at least just come a month at a time, two months at a time and do like short term rentals and things like that. Um, but long term wise, I mean, like, you know, we'll see how all the opportunity, uh, goes with acting, how. Things pick up. Um, you never know. so if it's necessary, then I'll probably move earlier. But if not, maybe I'll wait it out. Um, but like, I feel like maybe easily, like within five years, like I've never had a five year plan before, but now it's like, okay. Like I just can't imagine not being LA in the next five years.

Mike Tran: 12:11

That's crazy, man. And yeah, this is pretty much the focal point of today's episode. Um, on top of just the life updates, but one thing that I wanted to kind of. Uncover. And hopefully you guys can pick some tips and tricks, but you know, like, like this, this podcast as this evolved, like, we always talk about ways. You know how to get better or, or like how to, you know, like make decisions that are gonna help you, you know, level up or things like that. And one of those things is like, you know, we talked about the intro of like Leo making that transition, you know, from not, not transition, but adding on to your resume that you want to go into acting. Right. Uh, where, you know, you're completely new. You're at zero. So anything you're taking as a model or, or any of your experiences. Irrelevant to acting right? Like there's no way around it, but to start at square one, uh, to learn how to be an actor and, and now, you know, trials and tribulations, like as you're getting better and better, recently you landed a short film, like lead, like that's pretty crazy. Right? So that's one thing I wanted to, to show, like, the things that we talk about in the podcast, like they work, you know, and Leo's living proof as we speak right now about his acting career, like, and who knows where he will be. But I think the, the main point in today's episode is like, There's no time. There's no better time than now. If you're making a decision to make a transition in your career or wanting to do something that you've been putting behind or you're thinking, oh, it's too late. Someone could tell Leo, like acting you supposed to start. Like when you're a teenager, you know, or blah, blah, blah. And let's say he listened to that. He was like, okay, yeah, you're right. I'm too late. I'm too old or whatever. It may be like, he wouldn't be able to land or make progress in what he's doing now. So this is a Testament. A part of this episode is just hearing from Leo, what his mindset is coming into something new and starting at square one and understanding that it's a process with anything in life it's not just acting or, or a career change it's in anything. And if you make that move] you'll be where you want it to be. Um, at some point, right? Like, oh, I wish I was this. And I think the big thing is like, time's gonna fly by anyway. So might as well do it. Let's jump into it. So. Acting career, like we're talking about you going to LA we're talking about you landing the lead in the short film, but talk to me about the beginning steps of this acting thing, right? Like, walk me through how it started in the beginning and what we're at now.

Leo Chan: 14:29

Yeah. So I started acting classes less than a year. So, like I started last year in October. And, um, that was really coming outta COVID when like studios are kind of back to opening up for, in person. So I was like, okay, like, I don't wanna do zoom classes. I wanna do it in real life and I still remember the first class I took, it was scary as hell. And I even had that moment before I had to go out and do like this acting exercise in front of people. I was like, what the hell am I doing here? Like, what am I thinking doing this? Like, I'm so out of my comfort zone, it felt so different, but I'm just. This is it like if you're scared, that means that is. what you should do. cause you, have to push yourself out of it. and honestly it's been like week by week and even changing the schedule because the classes I go to are on Saturday afternoons. So you think about most people, what are they doing on Saturday afternoons? They want their weekends to relax and enjoy and have fun. But for me, It worked best for my schedule as an influencer, just cuz I may have work that pops up on the weeknights, these events on weeknights. So I thought at the end of the day, Saturday is actually my most day. Like I know I don't have work events. I know I can go. And it's a good commitment cuz it's like I'm sacrificing part of my weekend. And so like I think that alone is a mentality change. Cause a lot of people don't wanna. Their life. Like you have a comfort zone, you have your schedule, you have your routine, but if you are really serious about something like that alone is already like step one. So, yeah I've been doing the classes on the weekends and it's been really fun in the way, like it's been kind of challenging me every week. Um, every week we do different scenes. One week could be comedy. One week could be drama. One week could be all kinds of stuff. Right. And I think that? really prepared me, um, leading up to my first, short film, because it's just so much practice. And then like, so say I, I come prepared to the class and I'm doing it in front of my class. And, I do it if it's good or bad, my teacher will be like, okay. And then he'll gimme feedback. So he would be. He could say you nailed it. It was amazing. Um, so let's try a different take. Let's do it a little bit more subtle or a little bit more dramatic at this part. And that's really like what a director is like on set. So you have to take the direction and you can adjust it on the fly for another take. Uh, now it sounds so normal, but like at first doing it, you're like, what? And then sometimes I do terrible in the scene.

Mike Tran: 17:04

Could you give us a demonstration? Could you do that?

Leo Chan: 17:08

Demonstration. I

Mike Tran: 17:09

like, like a sentence and then you act out that sentence and then let's say, I say, uh, more subtle. What would that sound like? Could you do that for us or, nah, you're not trying to do that or gimme, tell me what, what that sentence is. I, I just kind of wanna hear it if you're cool with that.

Leo Chan: 17:23

I'm trying to think of a sentence right now off the top of my head, but, um, let's just say, I don't know. I'm I'm, I'm literally looking at a box of donuts. Over here. Right? So let's just say, let's just say, if I'm just talking to somebody, that's like, Hey man, you can order the donuts online.

Mike Tran: 17:39

Okay, cool.

Leo Chan: 17:40

So it could be very subtle or serious. Or, or if the scene you think it leads up to the point where you're like at a breaking point and you need to shout at your friend. So you could be like, Hey man, you can order those donuts online. So it, it just depends on. The director and what they want in that scene. right. So you have to bring that emotion and you have to prepare it. So it's like, does it make sense that you yell at this line? Does it lead up to this point? So, if you're yelling at this point, then in the previous lines, you need to slowly lead up to it. People don't just yell outta nowhere. They, they can still build up their frustration. So a lot of study of like human nature and obviously studying. Other people's acting. You have to understand the writing cuz the writing is a big deal. Um, but Yeah. but it's just like things like this where it's a lot of practice of controlling your emotions when to dial it up when to dial it down, understanding the pace of it. Or if you're talking about the same thing three times in a scene to do it differently. So.

Mike Tran: 18:45

Yeah, Yeah. yeah.

Leo Chan: 18:47

Yeah. It's just like little subtle things. Um, but Yeah, it is been a lot of practice and and recently I've just been applying for a lot of things cuz now I'm at the point where my teacher's like. You're doing really well for your level. You should just start applying for things just to get experience and start doing it. Um, cuz especially like a lot of times you don't just start off and you're like the main and you have like, you know, a lot of lines, you start off only having a few lines and like. And it's not like you you're, you're prepared to do small roles like that. So I've just been applying, applying, applying for things. You know, I think of it as sports, really with acting and also I think a lot of things you Can apply, like the sports, analogy, mentality behind it is that like I have to lay out. I have to have the foundation down. I have to learn how to dribble the basketball before I want to do a lay and I have to learn how to run and dribble, do the layup before I can play a practice game. And I have to know how to play a practice game before I'm ready for a real game. So it's like all these little steps along the way in classes to lay down the foundation. And now I'm ready to play in a game. And so like, it was great, you know, filming my first short film, finally playing in my first game

Mike Tran: 20:04

Can you talk about that first

Leo Chan: 20:05

and

Mike Tran: 20:06

I saw it was pretty dope. Like it looked like you were like James Bond style, like

Leo Chan: 20:10

yeah, So, um, yeah, it was cool. So they had, um, So it's a short film. It's not super big or long, but, um, we, we filmed in Virginia. So I traveled down with the crew. Most of the crew members were in New York, Philadelphia area. So we all traveled down there. Um, they rented out this like rural area gas station, like old school kind of gas station, like. I don't how explain it, like it's, it looks like in the middle of nowhere, America gas station with like a store. So that was like the main setting of the shore film. I play a character. His name is sharkskin as in shark skin suit. So that was like my cold name, my role name, and, in my audition. Literally cuz like this film, the director's style, is very much heavy on the acting and the emotions and the, I work like very subtle things in my audition. I had to act out one of the scene, which was literally, I am basically like a hired Hitman gangster type and I have a partner. Um, so we pull up in this gas station in the middle of nowhere, America, and then this gas attendant comes out to help us. I have a hostage in my car. So I'm smoking at the gas station, staring him down to make sure that he doesn't do anything suspicious. Cuz if he does anything, I'm gonna have to kill you. So literally in my audition was like, okay, pretend like you're staring this guy down for 30 seconds smoking. You're just staring him down. And any sudden movement that he does, you will kill him on the spot. and I had to do like two lines in the audition part and he was like, yo, you nailed it. That was like the pace, the look we're going for. Like, that's exactly it. And so. All right. so then, uh, fast forward, we're at the set. Uh, this was literally just last weekend. So we're in Virginia. What's crazy is we, we only have like four cast members, but like crew members, we had like 10, 12, 15 people that's because it's almost like even then that's the minimum that you need just to get, a film done, cuz you need a director, a producer, a camera person, uh, a camera assistant. Like three people just for light, just like lighting the scene, cuz like we're shooting all day. So, you know, it's like sometimes at noon is super high up with the sun. So you need to block the sun to make sure we're in perfect lighting the whole time. So three people for lighting, they have a sound person. Then you have a prop master cuz there were guns involved and there were cigarettes, so I don't smoke, but I learned to smoke so that I. Good smoking. Um, but they had like fixed cigarettes, like all the different props that they needed. And it's just crazy. Even for a short film, it takes a village like it's, uh, it's a whole production. It requires at the end of the day, basically 20 people on set. Um, so Yeah. that's kind of like, the start of it. Um, and I have to say really, like, from my work, from my influencer work, being on set for like commercials and photo shoots as a model for me, this wasn't that big of a difference because it was like, okay, like, I know the cameras here and I know that the person I'm acting with is here. I don't look at the camera obviously. So I just, I just have to focus on. And trust that the director and the camera person is shooting it in their vision, in, in their angle that they want. Right. Like, I don't have to be like, oh, do I look here? No, like you. focus on the acting. Um, so like a lot of it, like the set of it, like felt very similar to the commercial and the modeling. So if that, for me, like, I felt comfortable. It wasn't like oh my God, like fresh out the water, never done it before that

Mike Tran: 24:07

nervous energy or anything. Like it was pretty

Leo Chan: 24:10

No, I was not, I was not super nervous. If anything. I felt Like a seasoned veteran already. Um, just because it was like, okay, like I, I get it. This is the set. This is what's happening. And like, you get to kind of walk through. The scene with the director. And I think That's where like all these years, like when I watch movies, you see behind the scenes, like, Oh, like the actor and the director have a really good collaborative effort cuz they talk through the scene. If anything, they kind of wanna match up the vision that they're going for. So a lot of it's like, okay, like if the car is here, I'm gonna come out of the car. I'm gonna go here. I'm gonna start smoking. I'm gonna stare, like all these actions, you kind of talk through, you walk through and then like action. And we were on a really tight schedule. We were shooting everything in like two days and it's like 12 hour days. And so some of the scenes, as much as they wanna nail down, like multiple camera angles, like it takes a lot of time to set up a camera here, then switch everything over this way. Like every time you switch the camera at a different angle. It's like a 1530 minute setup. So that eats up your time. So some of my takes as much as I would've loved to do it a few more times, some, some of my takes ended up being just honestly like one take. So, and I think like's the preparation as a lot of the preparation ahead of time of like understanding your character, understanding the script, um, talking it through with the director and then like when you know, action. You get it, you got it done. And like, it's just such a good feeling that director's like, cut. All right good. We're moving on. Like one, take one. There it's like sweet. Like I wish I, we could do another one, but alright. I guess we got it. yeah, so,

Mike Tran: 25:56

into the hole. The first, first try. I forget what they call it hole in one

Leo Chan: 26:00

Hold in one.

Mike Tran: 26:01

Yeah. Yes.

Leo Chan: 26:03

so, a lot of the preparation, even for my classes really, really prepared me. So like I already. You know, really did my homework with the character, with the scene, with the intention coming in, like, like what, what is his character thinking coming into this scene when we start the film, and then what's the character thinking by the time he's leaving, what's the character thinking in this specific scene, like all those things, you really have to do the homework, cuz the director doesn't always have time to like talk you through it. Like that's part of your job as the actor. Um, so Yeah. so I think I, I felt very prepared. I felt. It just, it, it went very smooth and I, I was really, really thankful that that was like my first short film experience, cuz it really, yeah.

Mike Tran: 26:45

cool. And congrats. And did you, did you feel like this was like a huge, like milestone for you or, you know, um,

Leo Chan: 26:52

I mean, like it's, uh, it's the first step. Like I don't think it's a big milestone or anything. Like, I feel like. It's the first of many, um, I mean, like, of course it's, it's cool. And it's like, yeah, great. Like I'm finally doing it. But again, again, I, I have that sports mentality, right? Like this is my first game. Like I'm gonna have many games. Um, if it's a good game, it's a good game. if it's, you know, like it's just like, all right, what's next?

Mike Tran: 27:15

Yeah. Cuz I think you were talking about like how many would you say, like you auditioned for. Like it's, I mean, it's almost like a job, right? You send a ton of applications out there and then you just hope to hear back. I mean, what was that process like?

Leo Chan: 27:27

Oh like that's also another kind of mentality and the work week change. Is that like, as long as I'm done with my influencer work, like, am I free time now? I'm always looking at casting. I'm always looking at new opportunities that's posted and I'm applying. Every day, every week, just seeing what's out there and like you kind of have to, or else, you know, no, one's just gonna hand it to you. Um, yeah, I mean, I probably easily applied to a hundred. right. Like, and, um, even from the beginning, I think like in my acting class, a lot of people come from like theater background or they've been doing acting like you were saying earlier, they've been doing acting since they were in school. right. Like high school or they were kids. So at a certain time, you know, um, I'm sure they've dealt with it, like where they get frustrated cuz they don't get anything. But for me, I, I get it from my influencer work and from sports side, like yeah. you're not gonna get everything. That's, that's just how it is. My acting coach really prepared us in the beginning is like, Hey, if your other actor is a certain look or a certain. You're not gonna get it because they want balance in the film. They want balance in the TV show. So you can't take it too personally. It could be the fact that like you're a little bit taller than the main lead. They can't have a supporting or small role be taller or better looking than that. Right, Like, or.

Mike Tran: 28:54

yeah,

Leo Chan: 28:55

Or you're you have brown eyes, but like they mainly, already have brown eyes. So they need someone else with blue eyes. Like, it's just like, they need a contrast. They need a balance thick. Hey, look at not everybody on the show can look the same. So It could be the slightest thing that you don't get the

Mike Tran: 29:11

It makes me think about food. Like you need a balance of everything, sweet, salty, you know, crunchy, you can have crunchy, crunchy, crunchy, you get tired of it. Right. So it's like, it's a Way to

Leo Chan: 29:20

That's true. That's true. So like that alone is like really good mentally preparing yourself. Right? Cause if you're expecting yourself to go out there and just. Get everything, you know, Kill everything and get everything and book everything. Like it's a good reality check. And I think it's really mentally healthy to have a balance expectation that way you're not killing yourself over every little, uh, failure per se, like failure is part of the process. It is what it is. And you just gotta, like, I, I don't even think about it. all the auditions I do if they don't call me back. I, I don't think about it. Like I only think about the ones that call me

Mike Tran: 29:57

Right. That's your approach, right? like, you said these expectations, like, Hey, I'm not gonna get every single one and the ones I don't get, like, I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm not gonna spend an extra 10 seconds on it. That's it. We're moving on. It happens. Is that how you go into it for those listening?

Leo Chan: 30:09

Yeah. Yeah. And like I'm sure you can apply that same mentality for like businesses, right? Like if you're emailing brands, if you're emailing sales and, uh, if you're trying to do different projects, art projects, whatnot, right? Like you can do a hundred of them. You can email a hundred people and. You don't focus on the one that they don't email you back, you focus on the one that do email you back. It could be the one of a hundred that nails. It, it could be, you know, like, but that is the one that we need. We don't need all hundred. We need the one. Um, and so like, I just feel like all my experience throughout the year is kind of mentally prepare me at this healthy stage at least, um, But Yeah. it went really smooth and I'm really happy that I was able to, I literally squeezed in this short film thing. Cause this is like seven and a half hour drive from near city. It was far, um, and we squeezed this in literally Friday and then

I got back Sunday at like 3: 31:00

00 AM. Cuz then Monday I had to go to us open for the tennis, uh, tournament. To do whole collaboration thing with American express, then we shoot two more projects. And then Tuesday we flew to LA, like it was like in the middle of like the busiest week, um, just back to back, but I'm just so glad I did it cuz now I have the experience. Um, Yeah. man, I'm an actor now I did it.

Mike Tran: 31:26

Yeah. I mean, that's the stepping stone and I wanna be able for us to kind of document everything on the podcast so we can revisit these conversations so that we can, you know, not only tell you these things, but have. Proof that it works, you know, and, and again, I think it's cool that this conversation comes at a time when, you know, um, the quantum leap show with NBC, they have an Asian lead, Raymond, his name is Raymond Lee. And I guess it's a show that's, um, they're revamping it. So this is a show that they've had in the past, but from what I see, it looks like it's just an Asian American. Doesn't look like he knows Kung Fu or anything yet. I didn't see that in the trailer or anything. I don't think so. He's just a regular guy. Right. But he just happens to be the lead of this show. So I think it's great that, you know, you're working on your thing and we're seeing Asian Americans breaking through taking on these lead roles and these, um, shows and all that. So I think it's a pretty cool

Leo Chan: 32:15

Yeah, that, that, actually made me think of something else too. Cuz uh, my partner in my singing, uh, he was also Asian. So. And it was cool because we were so different. So like, I was the one in my suit. I was cool, calm, collected, very observant. I'm smoking, staring out the guy. Like, I don't want to kill him, but like, I'm like just chill. But my partner who was also an Asian he's like aggressive, like he was kind of like my right hand man. But even he described himself in the film, he was kind of like my. My attack dog. He was my driver. He was pumping the gas. He was like, searching the scene for me. Like he was searching the location, but he was very aggressive. Like he was ready to kill it any time he was that like crazy guy. So like, it was kind of cool to have that contrast of two Asian characters in the same film. And it was cool. Cause like we were chatting. How often do Asian guys get roles, let alone two Asian guys. Um, and it was just cool to even have that contrast between the two of us and when you see the behind the scenes and when you watch it, when it's done, you can really see the difference between the two of us. Um, it's like very different And I, and I love that because we need more of that. And we were chatting about how like real representation is coming where it's not just a kungfu Asian guy. The Asian guy in every kind of scene in every kind of way. And that's what we want.

Mike Tran: 33:41

Damn. So when do we get to see the short, can we see it? The short film? I mean

Leo Chan: 33:46

I have no, I have no idea cuz like we just wrapped on Sunday, we just finished on Sunday. So I have no idea what their, uh, post production is gonna look like But. I would assume soon

Mike Tran: 33:59

Yeah.

Leo Chan: 33:59

shouldn't take that long, but, um, Yeah. I mean, like I saw some of the shots they took. I mean, like I watched some of the other scenes that they were shooting the, to actors, it looks good. Like the quality is amazing and they have a really good eye on the storytelling. Um, and again, I think it's really impressive for short film. That's not dialogue heavy. It really tells the story with the visual and the actual. Storytelling yourself. So

Mike Tran: 34:27

Hmm,

Leo Chan: 34:29

I'm excited.

Mike Tran: 34:29

that dope and tell, and tell me

Leo Chan: 34:31

I'm curious

Mike Tran: 34:31

yeah. And tell me about this pretty big substantial move to LA. Like that just means you're gonna have exposure to more, auditions. Right? is that

Leo Chan: 34:39

Yeah. So. Yeah. so that, that was another big thing. It's just, uh, at least in my experience on the east coast, I feel like there's just not as many roles specifically looking for Asian characters. But like, on the other hand, I feel like whenever I look at LA castings or, you know, the west coast casting, I, it feels like nine, eight out of.

Mike Tran: 35:02

Oh, sh

Leo Chan: 35:03

always looking for Asian or like just looking for more open diversity, like they don't have a specific set of like a white male or a black male for the character. They just like open ethnicity. And it's like, it's just very encouraging. Cuz when I look at them, I'm like, whoa, like. All of a sudden I'm applying for so much stuff. Uh, or like all of a sudden I have so many audition requests and guess what they're all out in California. So, you know, at the end of the day, you kind of look at what the market is, right? It's everything is applying demand. You look at the market and you're like, okay, well, there's more opportunities here. Sure. There's probably way more Asian actors out here as well, but it's just like, it's just still more opportunities. Um, but at the end of the day, you know, I. Ideally it is Bial anywhere really. Like I can live maybe in LA, but still have acting opportunities everywhere, but baby steps. you know, I, I think expectation expectations. What kills you? Because if you're expecting to be like SHK or crazy rich Asian in a year, That's just, that's like one of the lottery, like, and like, even these guys they've been in the industry for years, like, You know, SIU has been doing it for a long time, long time. And then that was his break break. And even Henry Golding has been on the travel channel for years before he just did crazy rich agents, You know, I'm I, I joined the process. I understand it. Um, just enjoying the grind and see where it goes.

Mike Tran: 36:27

You have any, uh, piece of advice for anyone that's, you know, like at this moment, think I feel like, you know, it's funny. I think, I feel like everyone has that something that's like they wanna do. So what, what will be a piece of advice for that person? You know, if you could tell 'em

Leo Chan: 36:43

I mean, like we, we definitely talked about it before, but I think like time management and really just focusing on your wand versus you need, you don't need to drink. You don't need to go party on the weekend. You don't need to watch TV at night. You want to, but what else do you want, do you really want to try out this business idea? Do you want to start a podcast? Do you want to start an Instagram profile? Do you wanna start acting, you know, like there's so many random things, do you wanna start and like, Nothing wrong with starting as a SI hustle. Like, you know, they starting is the first step, because again, less than a year ago, I had no idea how acting works. I had no idea how to apply for things. I, where does it. begin? But now I'm like, oh Yeah. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ABCD. And it's like, and now I did much your first store. It's just like all these baby steps. Prepared you. And like, you understand that now I'm here, but like that's with everything in life. I feel like, unless you're starting with something completely brand new, which is like, you know, unless you're like starting a brand new like startup or Uber. Right. But even then you can learn from other startups in the past how to start and things like that.

Mike Tran: 37:55

Yeah.

Leo Chan: 37:56

Google is your best friend. And like, I think like all this kind of experience that we try to share openly on podcasts and on social media, I think like, it, it, it hopefully encourages people to break out of that and, and do a little something different,

Mike Tran: 38:10

Yeah, well said. Oh yeah. Um, congrats again. I think when I saw that I was like, damn, it was awesome. And I think that screenshot or like that picture that I saw was like, damn, that looks pretty cool. Like, I can see the, the James man style, like, was that your suit or the, the suit that they provided you? Cuz that was like a nice fitted suit too.

Leo Chan: 38:28

This was, my, soup because they really liked what I did in my audition. Um, so they didn't wanna try to mess it up by trying to get another one last minute. Um, oh, and you know, of course, you know, me, I love all these little, little, like homage things. So being on set, they didn't really care about what watches and little things like that. I were. On set. I wore the vintage say called Bruce Lee watch. I was like, this is gonna feel very powerful to, to put that watch back on the screen. Right. It's like, this is what he

Mike Tran: 39:04

this is the one that you said you wanted to

Leo Chan: 39:06

gonna wear it.

Mike Tran: 39:07

So you, got it. I think last time

Leo Chan: 39:09

I got it. I got it. Yeah. So yeah. So Maybe life update too. This is a 1971 Sacco Bruce Lee vintage. This is wahe war mostly when. When he was alive and I was like, okay, this is such a cool time piece. So I wore in the, I wore in the movie

Mike Tran: 39:27

dope. Dope. That's pretty cool.

Leo Chan: 39:29

Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, yeah. But yeah,

Mike Tran: 39:32

The clean. All right guys. Well, yeah, hopefully, you guys learn a little bit from this episode. Glad to be back. It's always nice to talk again with, uh, Leo and catch up. Um, if you guys enjoy today's episode, if you haven't already make sure to subscribe guys. And, yeah. We'll catch you guys for the next episode. All right guys. Peace.