|
This A-Profiler we bring you actor and host of MTV's Silent Library, Zero Kazama. Find out how he got started, what barriers he sees out there, and what advice he has for those interested in acting.
Your site URLs:
www.zerokazama.com/
How did you get started in the entertainment industry? Have you always been interested in acting, even as a young child?
I got started by doing small independent and student films while I lived on O'ahu. In 2005 I was one of the actors on the Hawaii International Film Festival opening trailer; at one of the wrap parties, I met the stunt coordinator of the project named Darin Fujimori - after conversing with him about stunts, he started training me to apply my martial arts background to fighting for film/tv. After switching from acting to stunts for awhile, I moved to Los Angeles in '07 to pursue a career focused mainly as a stuntman, but my passion to be more creatively involved and to tell stories ultimately made me pursue acting as my main focus again. I also realized that this is probably the most effective presently that I can help to progress "Asian-Americans" to be seen as Americans in the media.
I've always knew since I was a kid that I wanted to work in entertainment, in one way or another. The thought of going through college and having an office job always terrified me; even to this day, if I imagine myself working in a cubicle I get pretty bad anxiety. Looking back I remember being inspired by anime like Dragon Ball when I was a child and wanting to be like one of the characters. I guess that's what inspires a lot of people in this field - being part of something that's creates another world, where the rules of our everyday life can be changed.
Growing up in Hawaii where being Japanese American is not really anything usual, what have you found when coming to the mainland in terms of being cast for roles? What barriers have you seen that you might not have seen in Hawaii?
From my experience in Hawaii, Japanese Americans are so common they're accepted to play "normal" roles usually cast by Caucasians to play everyday roles. I've seen some things where it's "backwards" in mainland terms - where the white guy is the "out of towner" and Asians and others of mixed descent native to Hawaii are the "normal" ethnic pool.
The barriers I've seen would probably be the opposite of Hawaii; outside of the coastal cities and major metropolitan areas with varying ethnic heritages established over generations of immigrants, it seems that anyone not white or black isn't accepted as being American by default and therefore reflected in castings; most ethnic variations are just because they need someone to play a character from that country their ethnic "look" could portray. That being said, I feel that Asians, as a whole, SUCK at helping each other out; there's too much pride, ego, need to maintain status and division, refusal to adapt to different cultural codes and elitism in individuals and varying Asian groups to be adequate cohesion, empathy and humility to work towards a common goal. I always hear of people saying that "the Jews own Hollywood" - in my experience, the reason they do is because their culture is based on helping each other. We could learn from example. You ever been to a Korean restaurant in K-town with a bunch of non-Koreans? Even if you're Japanese, they ignore you at many venues or give you bad service - apply that to the entertainment industry and it's no wonder we're not making any huge strides. I'm not talking just about Koreans and Japanese, this goes on back and forth across the board. Then there's people that "make it" and are all of a sudden too cool to help anyone else out, forgetting that their status could be used for other reasons that glamor and money.
 You are the stone-faced host of MTV's Silent Library. How did that come about and what was the auditioning process like? Will we be seeing more of you in season 2 of Silent Library?
Right now, I'm typing this interview behind my desk on the set of Silent Library s.2 while a guy is in a full-body panty hose suit with balloons exploding inside the outfit; yesterday we had the 15-year old singing prodigy Justin Bieber throw up on the table and eat it. So yeah, you'll be seeing that and me hosting it...incidentally; I really feel I'm just supplemental to the madness that these contestants bring to the show. We also have porn star Ron Jeremy in one of the pranks as well as rapper Jim Jones.
The auditioning process was straightforward (go to a open casting call), but I decided to read the material (which was different from the actual pilot) in a way I could just have fun and honestly, screw with it. I got the whole process on my blog - from audition, to the pilot during a shoot in Vancouver and the madness of getting me to NYC while halting production, all the way to first season. It's more than I can fit in one interview.
What projects are you currently working on that fans can look forward to?
Aside from Silent Library season 2, I'm going to Hawaii in a month after this shoot to work on a webseries called Virtuous; a scifi action series that revolves around a cosmic device able to start and maintain life on different planets in an interstellar conflict for control of the device's power. This device is based on a toy called "Jitter Ring" ever heard of it? Other than that, I'm just going to keep doing my best once I get back to LA again; I'm still looking for a new film/tv agent since leaving my last one. It's a bit frustrating knowing how much work there is out there and not having access to most of it.
What sort of training have you had that you've used for your roles? You obviously are skilled in martial arts. Do you see more roles available as action actor rather than a non-action actor? Do you see more roles expanding for you? Perhaps a romantic lead in the future?
I started martial arts when I was around 6 years old, and honestly I've barely used any of it for the roles; fighting for film is very different than what you learn in traditional martial arts that it's no wonder many people hire dancers and gymnasts instead of fighters. Obviously, with my appearance and skill set, I'm usually type casted as a serious Asian guy....and everyone knows that serious Asian guys ALL know martial arts, right? I just don't "fit" most of the meek or geeky roles (with glasses and pocket guard of course) that other Asians are type-casted as so I really haven't been asked to do much outside of it....or even been asked to audition for them when I do submit. I would love to do other roles; I think I'd rather do comedy than a romantic lead since, honestly, romance movies bore the hell out of me. For instance, one of the reason why sci-fi/fantasy/action is my favorite genre is because there's so much more at stake (end of mankind, civilization, large scale war, etc) than just two people being emo. I mean, who cares about that when it's all about "if you fail, EVERYONE dies....horribly." I'm not saying I'm opposed to it - any story, of any genre; if it's written well to transmit ideals and lessons that are told through people overcoming circumstances in any way, is definitely worth all of my attention.
I'm sure you get asked this a lot but is Zero your birth name? It must be cool to have the name Zero.
I should get a legal name change already. It's not my birth name, but for all intents and purposes it's the only name I identify with; the reason why is similar to changing your name when you go through a rite of "manhood" in tribal societies. You let go of a lesser self and you're given a different name, so I think of it like that. With an old name, it has all your past - once you change it, your life can symbolically re-start.
...and yeah, Zero is an easy name to remember.
Many of your roles require you to be more serious. Do you have any desire to do less serious roles to expand out of the "stone-faced" roles?
YES YES YES; after an interview with Kevin at channelAPA - he told me "uhhh....we need see you in other roles because Silent Library doesn't get across your personality." People take you for face value in day to day life and even more so on tv and I really don't want to be pigeonholed into just intense stoic roles. Unless someone's seriously mentally damaged or has the emotional depth of an iguana, they probably have more "range" than the roles I usually get. My friends know I do have an intense side, they also know me having a strong philosophical side and a twisted sense of humor. I'd really like to integrate that with the future material I get.
When you aren't busy with your acting and stunt coordinating, what do you like to do to wind down and relax? What is one of your guilty pleasures?
Walking in nature, playing PS3, driving aimlessly, yoga, but honestly I feel like the only time when I can really really relax is taking a little time off at some place quite after working on something, while knowing I'm about to work on something next. I've forced myself to make a living doing freelance work for over 7 years without working for anyone else; when you get used to that, NOT having worked line up can be stressful. Almost any freelancer can understand this.
What advice do you have for other aspiring APA actors out there?
People are confident in you to the degree that you are, don't wait to be ready; continue to hone your craft while letting the work teach you. Do things for the right reasons, whatever that may be for you and don't get caught in the mindset that any job you get will give you a lasting sense of self or happiness; you have to own those no matter what's going on in your life. Make your own material and create things for the joy of creating them. Know your limits and let people know yours. If you need a kick in the butt - give yourself the option of making a living on your craft or starve, and don't collect unemployment. Be willing to be uncomfortable, even scared, but never let your dignity be compromised. Don't give yourself the option of going back. Get enough sleep and don't survive off of fast food. Most problems can be solved by taking long walks in nature. Ask yourself what your desire wants of you instead of complaining about what you want that hasn't happened.
Would you like to be featured on this site? Click here for more info.
This issue of A-Profiler is brought to you by Nelson Wong.
Special thanks to Zero Kazama.
Photos used with permission.
Copyright retained by original copyright holder(s).
|
