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Actress Lela Lee may not yet have the name recognition of Ming Na Wen or Michelle
Yeoh, but she happens to be one of the hottest up-and-coming Asian American Actresses
with roles in the popular Asian American movies, Yellow and Shopping for Fangs.
More recently however,
Lela has attracted the attention of many Asian Americans with her cartoon, Angry
Little Asian Girl, which is about a young Asian girl with an attitude living life
being stereotyped by her Asian ancestry. She responds by not putting up with it.
The cartoon is gaining more exposure and can be seen in Spike & Mike's Sick
& Twisted Festival of Animation. Just think of it as South Park meets Margaret
Cho.
Lela also filmed a television series pilot for 20th Century Fox, which co-stars
popular comedian/actress Margaret Cho. Lela plays the 15-year-old angst ridden
daughter Lisa, with Margaret Cho as her busybody high fashion mom. The pilot is
currently in the process of finding a home.
You can also see Lela in the latest American Express commercial.
I recently had the opportunity to interview Lela and talk about the movie, Yellow
and her plans for Angry Little Asian Girl. DENNIS:
Let’s
start with the basics. Where were you born and raised?
LELA: I
was born in Los Angeles and grew up in San Dimas.
DENNIS:
Is there a large Asian population in San Dimas?
LELA:
I was the only Asian person there
aside from two other Japanese kids. People were confused when I told them I was
Korean. They had never heard of Korea. They thought I had to be Japanese or Chinese.
People are very easily confused out there. DENNIS:
You are a very talented person. How did
you become interested in acting? What preparations or training did you go through
to accomplish your goal in becoming an actress? LELA:
I took an acting class my senior year in high
school. I didn't like the class because I didn't like the teacher. So I gave up
on it. Then when I went to college, there was a play that was being cast. Someone
suggested I audition, so I did and I got the lead. That play was magic to me.
It was that play and the reaction to it that sealed my fate. From that moment
on I knew I had to act. DENNIS:
What was it like to be part of the film, Yellow?
Movie critic, Roger Ebert commented that Yellow was "A different kind of
culture shock, the film is fascinating in the way it manages to be both about
Korean-American society and about young Gen-Xer's who could be of any race."
The Los Angeles Times called Yellow "Fantastic". A movie critic for
The New York Times said, "The voice of a new generation of Asian Americans
is heard loud and clear." Were you and the other actors aware of how big
this film was going to turn out? LELA:
Working on the project "Yellow"
was a fantastic experience. We all knew that it was going to go somewhere. The
script had a lot of spirit and we all individually and collectively as artists
had so much spirit. I believe that anything with spirit and heart will get noticed
and endure. In this world of flashes-in-the-pan, the way an artist sticks out
is with their soul. That's what people are looking for. And they hope to see genuine
spirit. DENNIS:
You recently worked on a TV pilot for 20th Century
Fox with the comedian, Margaret Cho. What was it like to work with her? LELA:
She is hilarious and she can come up with the funniest
stuff at the snap of a finger. DENNIS:
It was interesting to see her bring All-American
Girl to ABC in 1994. It was a big step for Asian Americans when she had the
lead role on television. LELA:
I have nothing but respect for her. There have
been a few Asian American pioneers in acting, but she is one of the pioneers that
has affected the younger generation. DENNIS:
Let’s talk about your unique project, Angry
Little Asian Girl. I was really impressed with ALAG. Many of us have
lived through the same experiences. How did you come up with the idea?
LELA:
The idea came when I was in college. I went to an animation
festival and as I was watching, it occurred to me that the animation was very
simple. Something I could probably do. So I thought about doing a cartoon about
my experience. At the time I was very unhappy about everything, so that’s
why it’s called Angry Little Asian Girl.
DENNIS:
Do you have any future plans for ALAG?
LELA:
My future plans for ALAG is to get it on a network.
I realize that a show just about ALAG would be a hard sell, and I have
encountered that feedback from network people. So, now I have a whole gang of
"Angry Little Girls." Because if you think about it, all minorities
have similar misunderstood experiences. We can all be angry together regardless
of color. DENNIS:
Many Asian Americans actors and actresses have discussed
their obstacles in pursuing a career in acting. What obstacles have you encountered? LELA:
The type of obstacles I encountered is that
if an agency already has an Asian actress, their quota has been met. I go out
a lot less than Caucasian counterparts and sometimes I’m not even considered
because they will usually give it to a Caucasian person, but I find that it is
getting better. Occasionally you will encounter a producer who sees your talent
and not your race. Also, being Asian has been to my benefit. If you look at anyone
who is a star, they were different whether it be their essence or their looks.
DENNIS:
There has been an increase of Asian Americans
appearing in movies and television. Unfortunately, in some instances, Asians are
usually portrayed only as martial arts experts, villains, or the token one-episode
Asian. What is your opinion of the people who criticize those type of roles?
| LELA: WRITE!
BE AN ARTIST! SUPPORT OTHER ASIANS WHO ARE IN THE ARTS! People sure can do a lot
of complaining and analyzing about stereotypes, but if it makes you mad, then
do Something about it! The only reason we have inaccurate, one-dimensional portrayals
are because people who don’t know our experiences are the ones writing about
our experiences. We
need to support and be happy for each of our successes. There is power in numbers.
The more talented Asians that are out there, the better it is for all of us.
DENNIS: Let’s
dig into the life of Lela Lee. What is a typical day for you?
|  |
LELA: I get
up. Do some homework for an hour. Then I exercise. Then depending on what stage
I’m at in a cartoon, I’ll either draw, write, edit or call people begging
for favors. Then if I have auditions, I go to my meetings and then come right
back so I can keep drawing, writing, or editing. DENNIS:
What kind of music are you currently listening to? LELA:
I’m getting into country music. DENNIS:
Country? LELA:
I know it sounds repulsive, but there's something really interesting about country
music and the people that are into it. I'm interested in just about everything.
I wish I could learn about everything, but I don't have all the time in the world. DENNIS:
What are your personal and professional
goals for the future? LELA:
My immediate goal is to have my cartoon be on a network. That's my
first and foremost goal. Then after that, I would like to do independent
films. I would like to act in them as well as produce the two scripts I
have. Then maybe I'll take a breather and travel, read, learn and have a
family or something. DENNIS:
What words of advice would you like to give to
people who want to pursue an acting career in movies or television? Also,
any final words to your fans? LELA:
Just keep at it. You have to believe with all your heart that you
can do it. No one else will. It all starts with YOU. When you
believe you can do it, then soon, others will believe that you can do it too.
And if they don't, well then forget `em and keep going. Get validation from
yourself. Stay away from toxic people. Surround yourself with GOOD
people. Keep learning about people, countries, artists, art and music.
Just keep learning and impart the knowledge you acquire to us. That's really
what life is about. That's why we have novels, paintings, teachers, museums,
etc. It's all about sharing our stories. Get interested in other things
besides yourself. ### |
Note:
All
celebrity photos on nt2099 Entertainment has been supplied to us by the artists,
their agencies or their recording companies. --
Dennis
A. Amith is the former Editor-in-Chief of Asian Pacific Review and an
entertainment writer and celebrity interviewer for several publications. Dennis
A. Amith is known for his knowledge of pop culture especially Asia pop culture.
He is also known for his conversation-style celebrity interviews in which he was
inspired by popular entertainment writer, Lawrence Grobel. He continues to stick
with his formula of promoting artists and professionals who are well-known to
the up-and-coming, his goal of helping to smash the barriers that exist for Asians
in the entertainment industry and to ask questions that will definitely grab your
attention. Copyright
© 1993-2001. nt2099 Entertainment - All Rights Reserved.
Amith Kennedy
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