June 23, 2005

• Lead VS. Supporting Role 

  
  

  This role as “Jackie” on “The Gene Generation” has allowed me to stretch out from what I’m usually cast for — mostly being classified under the “quirky sidekick/best friend” archetype.   

  
  

  I forgot how challenging it is to play a lead role (I’ve only played supporting roles since “BLT“).  Because as the lead, you have to basically carry the entire film and make sure that all of your scenes are pulled together in some sort of cohesive arc. 

  
  

  Here’s one example: In this film, I have many scenes in which I argue with my sister (Bai Ling).  And I always remembered a quote from Paul Newman when he was on ”Inside the Actor’s Studio“, which was, “It’s tough to make a point if you’re always crying or yelling or pausing.  You need levels and must be selective about them.  It’s hard to make someone laugh if you’re always laughing.” 

  
  

  So once I read the script, my first priority was to make sure each argument scene was a little bit different while following along with the overall storyline — ex: one scene being more of a flippant argument with a sibling and another a really heated one — to give them different levels and separate them.  Because it’s a very easy trap when you shoot these scenes (which can be weeks apart from each other) that you just start yelling the same way in all of them.  And when it’s all edited together — it winds up just looking and sounding like a bunch of noise.

  
  

  You ever notice, especially on Soap Operas, when an actress is crying?  And initially, you’ll buy into the sympathy for her character.  But when she continues to cry and then some more and then some more after that – that sympathy quickly turns into annoyance and you roll your eyes thinking, “Omg, we get it — enough already!”  And the audience stops rooting for the actress.  So making sure all the scenes constantly serve the larger picture is one of the big responsibilities of a lead role that the supporting characters really don’t have to deal with as much.  

  
  

  Supporting characters are sporadically peppered along the lead character’s journey and provides the color and life with a short quip or a few great scenes.  That’s why Michael Caine has always stated that he’d rather be ”second banana” – because: 1) You don’t have the weight of the entire film on your shoulders and 2) As a supporting actor, you work half as many days as the lead, do your thing and usually wind up stealing the show — and he’s right.  Just think of Ken Leung (the Karaoke Salesman) in “Keeping the Faith“.  His 2 minute scene is the most memorable part of the 2 hour film.  (Incidentally, Ken’s also been recently tapped to play the lead of a film called “The Shanghai Kid“ – a very good script.) 

  
  

  Now, even though I’m SAYING that I’m trying to make the scenes different — who knows if I’m really achieving it?  In the end, it may all come out sounding the same.  But know that I was conscious of it and regardless, am grateful I was given the opportunity to give a concerted attempt at it — because I’m not the usual “go-to” leading man. 

  
  

  And I have to admit, when I read the supporting character’s dialogue in the “TGG“ script, it was a pretty cool feeling when I realized, “Hey, I’ve got a side-kick in this — I’d usually be playing this guy!”        

  • 3:29 pm
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