PART
I - The News
It came very
unexpectedly. Just like any other day, I sat at my computer with the usual
green tea beverage by my side as I downloaded my day's electronic mail. Then,
something caught my eye. It was an email with a subject title of, "Jason
Scott Lee in Singapore! I'm interviewing him!" The very thought of JSL
being on my island hometown was foreign to me and I blinked in disbelief. As
the read the mail, I contemplated the possibility with much doubt. I was unsure
of whether to be happy or not. The next few thoughts that came to mind, were my
chances of even getting to meet him. The last thing I wanted to do was to BE a
fan! Having to hang around his hotel room, or chase his vehicle, etc. At the
same, I did want to meet him badly. The next day, I received word from another
friend that she was going to be interviewing Jason Scott Lee as well! It was
only this time around that I actually started believing that he was really
coming to town. Already, I was thinking, if I was going to have a chance to sit
in any one of the interviews at all. Things were very uncertain and I felt I
had to get something done. Things got done and everything started falling into
place. In a nutshell, my name was passed to Jason's publicist (thank you, you
know who you are) and I managed to get an interview with Jason myself for this
website. With the support of friends, I managed to equip myself for the
interview. The only thing left was finally coming face to face with the man
himself.
PART
II - Face to Face
I was given the
location Jason's photo taking session. It was at Russel Wong's studio. Russel
himself is an acclaimed photographer, having taken pictures of Michelle Yeoh,
Cindy Crawford, Matt Dillon, Jackie Chan, the list goes on. Not many people
were present at all. I looked around for Jason and was told he was at the back
of the studio, getting his hair done. Sitting patiently with my friend and
Jason's publicist, I couldn't help but feel a little excited. And it didn't
take very long before he walked into the room. It wasn't a grand entrance or
anything. It was just Jason in his most casual manner. There was a point when
he noticed me sitting there but I couldn't even bring the edges of my mouth
into a smile because I simply switched off - no reaction. And maybe that was
best because if I allowed myself to feel what I was feeling, I'd probably have
made a fool of myself. I distracted myself with the television and the food and
the talking. Rather unexpectedly, Jason caught sight of the "Rapa
Nui" book I brought, with the intention of him signing it. And that's how
a conversation got started.
PART
III - The Establishment
Jason asked aloud who
the book belonged to and I very meekly raised my hand taking the opportunity to
tell him that I had been a fan of his for 7 years already. I also mentioned
that I had a webpage dedicated to him. The surprising thing was that he
actually gave me a friendly slap on the shoulder and said, "So you're the
one! Glad to be finally meeting up with you." He also recalled that I
tried to arrange for an interview with him a few years ago, when we were both
in Hawaii. Due to time constraints, the interview couldn't be made possible.
Nonetheless, I told him I was going to be interviewing him the next day and
before I left, he wrote a personal message to me in my Rapa Nui book, shook my
hand and said, "See ya tomorrow!" The whole episode didn't really
tell me very much about Jason because I didn't talk to him that much either.
But he seemed like a very warm and down to earth person. And basically I was
content to have met him. Back home, I got my set of questions ready for my
interview with him the next day. I was told, I was only allowed ten minutes, so
I did my best to condense my questions into "bite-size chunks". If
anything, the following day was going to be THE day because it would be my one
on one session with the actor I have truly grown to respect.
PART IV
- The Interview
I met up with the other
friend at the hotel Jason was residing at. We had a little lunch before we made
our way to the meet up with Jason. He was already seated when we arrived, but
engrossed with the photos taken from the day before. Then he looked up, greeted
us and pointed us to the photos that he was sorting through. Joining him, we
leaned over the table and got busy, as well, with the numerous pictures spread
all over. They were very well taken and Jason didn't stop singing praises of
Russell's skill. We got into one of the rooms. It was just the four of us,
Jason, his publicist, my friend and myself. I asked if I could video tape the
session. Jason wasn't too in favour of it but he was nice about it and told me
it wasn't meant to be personal. The interview lasted a good one and a half
hours. Jason was actually quite talkative. He was more comfortable when the
tape recorder wasn't on. (Interview below!!). My friend and I left Jason's
company and told him we'd see him later at Four Seasons Hotel for the Arabian
Nights press conference.
PART
V - The Arabian Party
I turned up on time at
the party. I got a press pass and walked into the room. It was a small room. A
few reporters (presumably) were picking at food. Jason's publicist spotted me
and dragged me into a corner. She wanted me to get painted by the make-up
artist. So I got my forehead tattooed - Arabian style. Everyone I talked to after
that seemed distracted by the tattoo. More and more people started turning up.
I bumped into a couple of friends, exchanged some name cards, and ate some
food. Very soon, the programme started. Jason came out from hiding and started
talking about his role as Aladdin on Hallmark's Arabian Nights. Clips from the
show were also screened to us. He later talked about other things - Bruce Lee's
influence on his life, herbs he uses and filming in Thailand. Later, reporters
took their turn at interviewing Jason whom started to look a little worn out
from the day's work. I met a couple of friends so I caught up a bit with them
before everyone started to leave the area. I ran over to the toilet to wash off
my tattoo and grabbed for myself a little Arabian Nights goodie bag which had
an autographed poster, a magic lamp, t-shirt, CD-ROM, among other treats. At
this time, Jason was heading out for supper at the hotel's restaurant. How
could I miss out on that right?
PART
VI - The Supper
It was a nice place for a supper; cosy and not extremely well-lit either. One would imagine I'd feel comfortable but I was feeling awkward at first, wondering if I was being intrusive on the supper. Jason's friend, assured me it was okay. So I relaxed a little. The group was made up of myself and this other writer. Russel himself was there. Most of the others were people from Hallmark Entertainment. We ordered pasta or rice. Conversations ran from how ready Jason was for King and I to what to do next. Jason talked about how life was going to be different with the forthcoming musical. He's never had a schedule so fixed before. He talked a little of other concerns as well. When everyone was done with their food, some of us agreed on checking out Singapore's night scene over at Mohamed Sultan Road. That's where the split happened. I was tired and I didn't want to be seen as a sticky fan, so I excused myself, bid everyone farewell and that was the last time I saw Jason Scott Lee. But I was content. I was very content.
THE END
Acting is all about creating characters. So how did you create Aladdin. What is he like?
(laughs) Aladdin is a lot like me. He's sort of a swaggering kind of a character. Something's always going on at the back of his mind. He's always scheming, calculating and I think that's the thing that gets in his way. That's sets up him for an encounter with a magician.
So in similar terms would you say you meet many "magicians" in your life?
I wouldn't call them magicians in a traditional sense but as far as teachers are concerned, what's going on in my mind is, as far as what they are teaching, are they giving me really what they know or only a portion of what they know. And it's these kind of thoughts that stimulate the Aladdin character.
So what kind of acting methods do you subscribe to? Did you start with Stanislavsky?
Yeah, with that and a couple of other techniques. After that I started to explore my own formula for capturing and finding spontaneity of feeling and emotion. But I found that in other avenues. I found acting classes to be limiting. And that it gave you one program or design through different exercises or techniques. I found that the martial arts I learnt through "Dragon" a complete enhancement of that process.. in a more practical sense. I was learning the art in physical form but the essence of it is to complete thought and action. Much in same way as when you do a tea ceremony. Everything is so deliberate to the point that the action is so commitment that the thought and action of the practitioner is whole. That's what you're trying to attain. The essence of the whole interaction happening at once and closing in on that line. And that's where I've been exploring my power as an actor and spontaneity.. is through the martial arts.
So you still practice Jeet Kune Do?
Yeah it's part of my mental training.
What do you see your move into musical theatre as? It is a challenge an interest?
Definitely challenge..something I haven't done. I did a musical in college. But it wasn't to this degree. It wasn't the lead position. It wasn't a solo out there on the stage alone with 2000 seats… so definitely challenge. I'm definitely concerned at this moment about how I'm going to fare or whether I can put everything that I want together.. as far as my aspirations to create this character go. And tell this story with as much conviction as I think it should be, and not making a caricature like how it has been in the past or what I've seen. Yule did it somewhat as a caricature. Not to hold anything against their performance or anything. But I think it can be brought to a much more real approach.
How did your role come about? Did it just come to you?
They actually asked me to do it for Broadway two or three years ago. At that time I was much more involved in film making and feature films. The timing was just wrong and I didn't see the benefit of it back then. And now that it is in London, I thought wow.. this is kind of neat. Instead of playing in New York, it's playing in Europe.. which is .. in a way I prefer it to America. But also it will be a way to make contacts in film in Europe while I'm there. And also it's kind of a prestigious thing performing at West End.
So what is your next move? Theatre or film?
I'm pretty comfortable doing both. I think the repetitiveness of theatre is good. As far as workshoping your talent and honing your skills. Because it's the repetition that makes you sharp. And you don't get that in film. So a lot of times as a film actor you can become dull. There's actors who continue to do it and pull it off. Especially because of the image that film makes, you're asked to do a lot of repetitive performances in the same character that you create because of marketing and selling. But theatre, because it's such an established script can vary drastically from one story to the next. It's much more challenging. You can explore. And you're fully aware. You've got a whole symphony behind you, you have the full stage. And the largeness of the space so your character can extend out. Whereas for camera, you have to bring everything in, it becomes very tight.
On another note, you do speak to children about creativity and the arts. What do you hope to see in them in terms of that?
You just try to give them a foundation of support and encouragement to explore. And that's all really you can do. Cause things are changing so fast. I don't even have a clue like what the computer generation age is doing and how they're tapping that into.. I mean.. where is the combination of technical knowledge and then comparing it to physical theatre. And physical movement and acting and things that are organic and how it can be enhanced technologically. I mean.. *phew* that's a whole 'nother world that I don't want to figure out. And that's their duty. They are going to figure it out somewhere down the line. So long as you administer the approach to their gaining freedom for themselves. I think they'll find a way. It's the trust factor that we instill in the young people that allow them blossom.
Was that something that your parents taught you?
No! I'm so restricted. They didn't even want me to become an actor. I don't hold anything against them. But it's a bit of the upbringing that they had. It's just all a cycle in that you're hardworking people, you work for what you get and that kind of thing. You don't go and frolic in the theatre thinking that you are going to build a future or some kind of financial security which is really what that generation is all about. So get a good paying job, stick with it, work at it and they're actually less demanding than our generation. Now our generation, we have all these choices and we're more demanding.
Nevertheless, they did support you. You mum manages your fan mail..
In the present. But it was never like that. It was never like that. It never is the same. They hate for me to say this. But I was actually kind of disowned by them for a while because I did my own wishes and I abided by my own thing. And everyone in the neighbourhood was like, he thinks he's going to be a movie star, hah hah, at the very beginning. And then when it happened, their foot were in their mouths, and it was like I'd see them for reunion when I come back for holidays and I'd look at them and like, what are you going to say about me now? You know, so most of my career I'd face adversity. That's how I become strong. But it was through that, through conflict that I came up with my own ideas and my own things. I realise how to recycle my own creativity and when you do that you are self sufficient. And you don't have to rely on anything. You can give without being tapped. A lot of times that's why a lot of famous people don't have the right attitude and perspective so they get tapped. And then people approach them for autographs, they feel frustrated and like.. I'm always being bugged. Oh really? That's an attitude that you have. It's not anything anyone is bringing into your favour or your realm of perspective. It's the way you see things.
Are you close to your mum now though?
Yes now. Oh yeah. They are lovely people. And they help me out so much. They bend over backwards and they do this and that. I don't even have the time to thank them. Because it's so continuous now.
I saw her on Emmy's Island Moments and she was tearing when she was talking about how you started out.
She's a saint my mother. She's put up with a lot with us. She's a very proud mum. And she's beginning to more and more to realise the reality of her children's characters. A lot of times parents tend to block out that. They don't want to see their children for what they are, they want to see them for what they can be. So it becomes more fun eventually when they can look at it that way.
Are you afraid of the stigma attached to you as a kung-fu actor. That you won't be able to break out of playing such roles all the time?
Not really. Cos I really feel that "Dragon" was a stepping stone. It was a platform for my physical work. The knowledge that I've gained up to this point since that film as far as still practicing in the Jeet Kune Do. I know how proficient I am now. And when I look back at "Dragon", I realised I really didn't know what I was doing. So if you look at it that way, if you look at that film, people think it's so sensational and I really didn't know what I was doing. I can only imagine what I'm going to do next. And it might be really special as far as the physical movement and the story of having really dramatic action. I'm teaching now. And I see my abilities for what they are. And I know what I can do. And I know why Bruce Lee became a sensation. Those people don't know. They just think oh he's so good. I say yeah but why was he so good. Oh because he was fast. How did he get so fast? Oh well he was just natural. No. Do you think everything was so haphazard that he just threw things together? No. A person of that calibre is very pin-point accurate in what he wants to show and what he doesn't want to show. And that was the revealing factor to me in understanding the broken rhythm that he had and the timing and the distance that no one can compare to. Not even Jet Li or Jackie Chan. There's something, other thing that Bruce Lee did was he took of his shirt. And he had the physique and he worked on his physique because he knew that by taking off his shirt, it created a primal feeling that when in combat in conflict, it's the resource of where you go to. So visually if you're looking at it as a film, that primal quality of him flexing and tensing and that whole thing, makes it that much more. You see Jet Li, never takes off his shirt. And there's not a whole lot of intensity behind his performances. They're very placid. So now we're talking about orchestration of emotion and expression. Bruce had that gesture and face, (Jason makes little noises here) little things like that. It's theatre. He knew how to create theatre. For that purpose, for entertainment. And that's where I'm thinking about. Those aspects of performance.
How do you find all the time to do all you do?
I don't have a girlfriend and I don't have a wife. I don't have children.
Say the past three days in Singapore. Had you
found time to gym or exercise?
I did a workout this morning. I don't go to the
gym. I do my own exercises. I combine sort of tai chi, yoga when I don't have
partners to work with. When I can't work with Jeet Kune Do. Just to keep the
tone and flexibility. I don't use weights. But I do take vitamins and herbs. I
want lean muscle with strength. So I take a steady oatmeal in the morning and
an even diet. Not alot, just enough. And also the quiet in the evening is also
an extension of the physical work. I sit and listen and watch my thoughts go
by. And throw away the ones that I don't need. The rubbish thoughts. Okay, that
can go. That can go. My attitude about things, life. My attitudes towards
people, if I harbour any kind of envy or antyhing. I throw it out. If you don't
catch it early, it carries on so it's a constant battle with yourself. And
that's where I found the most joy. That's what Bruce said. In a practice,
you're overcoming your own barriers. It's not about beating people up.