This article isn't about Johnny, but I thought it would be of interest to post an article on Dustin Nguyen from 21JS in case anyone is wondering
"Whatever happened to Dustin?"
http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/20/tvnradio/21280220&sec=tvnradio
Dustin Nguyen On the Move
Actor Dustin Nguyen is probably best known for his starring role in the TV series, 21 Jump Street alongside Johnny Depp, back in the late 1980s. While it may seem like the Vietnam-born actor has laid low since then, truth is, Nguyen has continuously worked on both television and films including V.I.P., JAG and Oliver Stone's Heaven and Earth.
He has also been busy with his work with The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (ever since his wife became a quadriplegic after a car accident) and running his exclusive custom silver jewelry line, Imperial Rose Collectons. And late last year, he directed the film titled Monk on Fire in Vietnam from a script he wrote, which is currently in pre-production.
His profile picked up within the film circle when he participated in a little Australian film, Little Fish, co-starring Cate Blanchett, San Neill and Hugo Weaving, back in 2005.
That film made its round at many film festivals, collecting five Australian Film Institute Awards and three Film Critics Awards. That film gave the Asian media the opportunity to catch up with the actor when he came down to Singapore in April this year.
The critically acclaimed Little Fish is going to be shown on Star Movies in line with its slot, Indie Spirit, showing every Tuesday at 10:00 pm.
The 45-year-old actor was in Singapore to act as a jury at the recent Singapore International Film Festival. During the interview, Nguyen admitted to revelling in being exposed to different kinds of Asian films other than the ones made in Hong Kong or China - "They're just so different in nature." He also talked about the challenges of being an Asian in Hollywood (being typecast the most obvious ones) and the direction he plans to steer his career towards next.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you face in Hollywood being an Asian actor?
DN: When it comes to Asian Americans, the one sure formula is action - martial arts. Because of that, Hollywood tends to make a lot more films that they consider safe to make with Asian Americans. It's difficult to find roles because there aren't really many choices for three-dimensional actors, so it's a tougher choice because how do you continue to work but at the same time be picky. What I mean by picky is, I try not to do roles that portray Asian people in a stereotypical way. There's nothing wrong with doing martial arts if you do it in a three-dimensional way. I'm actually a big fan of the martial arts genre; there's a few I like, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Q: You have been venturing out of Hollywood lately. Why?
DN: For me, {it's always been about} the material. The Rebel (a Vietnamese film) I thought was a good story that you could still do action and the character I got to play was very three-dimensional. The Australian film, Little Fish, the script was one of the best I've seen for an Asian American man. I love the way the Asian culture is portrayed in the film. It's a terrific little film. So, I usually just follow the material. I think I'm still going to work in Hollywood but I would venture to say the more interesting roles for me would probably be in Asia or outside the Hollywood system. Certainly the last three films I've done in the past few years have been non-Hollywood films because the scripts were quite compelling.
Q: What is Monk on Fire about?
DN: It is a fable action film that involves a mythology of monks who have put away their spiritual practice to go to war to defend their country. It is an examination of what happens to very spiritual people when they go through war.
Q: What took you so long to go behind the camera?
DN: I actually started out wanting to be a filmmaker...through a series of accidents I ended up becoming an actor, which I've enjoyed quite a bit, but through the years I've been paying a lot of attention to a lot of directors I've worked with and learned quite a bit. One thing I learned is that if you're going to direct a film, it's really three to four years of your life from the time you develop the film to the time you're shooting, post-production, then you got to travel the film. If you're going to direct a movie, it should be something you're truly passionate about or a certain story you're dying to tell. As a director, one thing I've learned is that you have to work hard. For acting, you just have to show up, do what you have to do and then go home. But with a movie it's like giving birth to a child, sort of having to carry it through all these stages and if your heart is not in it, I can't imagine directing a movie, a story you're not passionate about. It's so much work but we'll see. It could be the end of my career. (laughs).
http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/20/tvnradio/21280220&sec=tvnradio
Dustin Nguyen On the Move
Actor Dustin Nguyen is probably best known for his starring role in the TV series, 21 Jump Street alongside Johnny Depp, back in the late 1980s. While it may seem like the Vietnam-born actor has laid low since then, truth is, Nguyen has continuously worked on both television and films including V.I.P., JAG and Oliver Stone's Heaven and Earth.
He has also been busy with his work with The Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation (ever since his wife became a quadriplegic after a car accident) and running his exclusive custom silver jewelry line, Imperial Rose Collectons. And late last year, he directed the film titled Monk on Fire in Vietnam from a script he wrote, which is currently in pre-production.
His profile picked up within the film circle when he participated in a little Australian film, Little Fish, co-starring Cate Blanchett, San Neill and Hugo Weaving, back in 2005.
That film made its round at many film festivals, collecting five Australian Film Institute Awards and three Film Critics Awards. That film gave the Asian media the opportunity to catch up with the actor when he came down to Singapore in April this year.
The critically acclaimed Little Fish is going to be shown on Star Movies in line with its slot, Indie Spirit, showing every Tuesday at 10:00 pm.
The 45-year-old actor was in Singapore to act as a jury at the recent Singapore International Film Festival. During the interview, Nguyen admitted to revelling in being exposed to different kinds of Asian films other than the ones made in Hong Kong or China - "They're just so different in nature." He also talked about the challenges of being an Asian in Hollywood (being typecast the most obvious ones) and the direction he plans to steer his career towards next.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you face in Hollywood being an Asian actor?
DN: When it comes to Asian Americans, the one sure formula is action - martial arts. Because of that, Hollywood tends to make a lot more films that they consider safe to make with Asian Americans. It's difficult to find roles because there aren't really many choices for three-dimensional actors, so it's a tougher choice because how do you continue to work but at the same time be picky. What I mean by picky is, I try not to do roles that portray Asian people in a stereotypical way. There's nothing wrong with doing martial arts if you do it in a three-dimensional way. I'm actually a big fan of the martial arts genre; there's a few I like, Hero, House of Flying Daggers, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Q: You have been venturing out of Hollywood lately. Why?
DN: For me, {it's always been about} the material. The Rebel (a Vietnamese film) I thought was a good story that you could still do action and the character I got to play was very three-dimensional. The Australian film, Little Fish, the script was one of the best I've seen for an Asian American man. I love the way the Asian culture is portrayed in the film. It's a terrific little film. So, I usually just follow the material. I think I'm still going to work in Hollywood but I would venture to say the more interesting roles for me would probably be in Asia or outside the Hollywood system. Certainly the last three films I've done in the past few years have been non-Hollywood films because the scripts were quite compelling.
Q: What is Monk on Fire about?
DN: It is a fable action film that involves a mythology of monks who have put away their spiritual practice to go to war to defend their country. It is an examination of what happens to very spiritual people when they go through war.
Q: What took you so long to go behind the camera?
DN: I actually started out wanting to be a filmmaker...through a series of accidents I ended up becoming an actor, which I've enjoyed quite a bit, but through the years I've been paying a lot of attention to a lot of directors I've worked with and learned quite a bit. One thing I learned is that if you're going to direct a film, it's really three to four years of your life from the time you develop the film to the time you're shooting, post-production, then you got to travel the film. If you're going to direct a movie, it should be something you're truly passionate about or a certain story you're dying to tell. As a director, one thing I've learned is that you have to work hard. For acting, you just have to show up, do what you have to do and then go home. But with a movie it's like giving birth to a child, sort of having to carry it through all these stages and if your heart is not in it, I can't imagine directing a movie, a story you're not passionate about. It's so much work but we'll see. It could be the end of my career. (laughs).
