January 24, 2005

• Evolution of a Stage Name (and a bad one at that…)

  
  

  After surfing through my updated website below, several people have asked why I’m sometimes credited as: “Parry Allen“ .  It’s long story but it fills up an entry I suppose.  *Sigh*, here we go…

  
  

  In 1997, I booked a lead in this direct-to-video feature called, “Shrieker“.  Looking at the cover, you can kinda gather why I wanted to distance my name from the project.  The film itself wasn’t horrible but then again, it’s not in the “Store” section on my site.  So, for the sake of protecting my “career”, I had to come up with a fake stage name.  (The reason for the “quotations” is because it was my first film ever, the term “career” had to be used loosely).

  
  

  I always liked how Nic Cage came up with his name.  Born Nicholas Coppola, Nic wanted to distance himself from his famous surname.  He was a big comic buff and always liked the character Luke Cage from the comic “Power Man and Iron Fist”.  Hence: Nic Cage was born.

  
  

  I thought, “Hmm, I like comics.  Let’s see what I can do”:  Parry Parker (Peter Parker)?  Nope.  Parry Wayne (Bruce Wayne)?  Nope.  Parry Kent (Clark Kent)?  Nope.  How about Parry Allen (Barry Allen aka The Flash)?  AND it ryhmed with the original name!  Ah ha!  Genius!!  Hence: Parry Allen was born.  Hmm, just doesn’t have the same ring, does it?

  
  

  Incidentally, “Barry Allen” was the fake FBI name Leo DiCaprio’s character used in “Catch Me if You Can” that ultimately led Tom Hanks’ character into realizing Leo was just a kid — but I digress.

  
  

  But all that is now moot since someone on the IMDB figured out that Parry Shen and Parry Allen was one and the same person –  AND now the name “Parry Allen” will be forever attached onto all my bios out there!

  
  

  Flash foward 8 years and do you see me changing my name on that SaberTooth Tiger project?  Nope.  ’Cuz over those 8 years I’ve learned one truth and that’s: As an Asian American actor, in general, it’s almost impossible to do something to hurt your career – because the general public isn’t even paying that much attention to you in the first place.  But unfortunately on the flipside, it’s almost impossible to do something to advance your career — because the general public isn’t even paying that much attention to you in the first place.  

  
  

  So recently, my mantra’s been this: Go out — do whatever you think is right for yourself and let the chips fall where they may.  And all the whilst, have fun doin’ it!

  • 2:14 pm
  • 22 Comments