(Interview) – A native Burmese film actor and producer in Hollywood, Adrian Zaw, has a dream to establish a Burmese Youth Foundation in Films. Born in Rangoon in 1984, he migrated to the US in 1989 with his parents. Recently, he had the lead role in ‘Burmese Refugee’, a film which is scheduled to be released ths month. In 2007, he worked on a Web Series that received an Emmy for Outstanding Broadband Drama titled ‘Satacracy 88’. He’s played unconventional roles breaking stereotypes of being an Asian American. He lives in California, where he works as a TV presenter, anchorman and teaches debate and speech. Mizzima reporter Ko Pauk interviewed him about his acting and his career.
Question: How did you become interested in acting?
Answer: We had a ‘Career Day’ when we were in middle school. People who were doctors and police visited our school and talked about their careers. Among them, was one actor. He said that his work was like playing all day, and there was free food when you worked. Then he asked if anyone wanted to be an actor. I quickly said yes. At high school, I took drama and acting classes and speech and debate. All of that changed my life.
Q: What kind of roles did you get in high school?
A: I played all available roles. Some were dumb, some were minor and some were extras. At that time, I didn’t have enough experience. I spent a lot of time in theatre and drama. At college, I went to community college where I studied theatrical arts. Then I got roles in movies at the University of Southern California.
Q: You never had any ambition to be a medical doctor like your father?
A: It’s interesting, but I didn’t have such ambitions. I thought everything will be okay if I can become an actor. I thought I could become a doctor, cop, soldier, bad guy, everything while I acted.
Q: What kind of roles did you get at first?
A: Mainly cops and bad guys.
Q: What kind of roles do you enjoy most?
A: The role of good guys is more valuable, but the bad guy role is more fun.
Q: What are the most important skills necessary to be a good actor?
A: You must have self-confidence, you must read, you must see movies and you must have a passion. In the beginning, you might not earn much money. You have to have a deep motivation and you must be patient too.
Q: What type of books do you read?
A: I read books on directing and acting when I was in school.
Q: Your film ‘Burmese Refugee’ will be released at the end of this month.
A: I want people to know about Burma. I’ve worked here for a very long time, but whenever I said, ‘I’m from Burma’, people would be confused. ‘China?’, ‘Japan?’. I hope people will know our country more after seeing this film.
Q: What is the movie about?
A: My character is San Aung. His wife and child are in a refugee camp in Thailand. San Aung worked as an electrician when he was in Burma. He is smart and good in his work. He wants to bring his wife and child to the US. But he gets only a dishwashing job because he can’t speak English. No one knows that he is a good electrician. I found many people like him, facing a lot of difficulties here.
Q: Where was the film shot?
A: Only in Los Angeles, not in refugee camps.
Q: Your father taught the Burmese language and pronunciation to two actors, one Laotian and one Thai.
A: It was funny. They made little mistakes in the actual shooting. For instance, one said, ‘Do you want to die’ instead of ‘Are you sure?’
Q: Was it difficult to find Burmese actors in the US?
A: Yes. Sometimes I come across Burmese who want to act and I want to try to help. I want to give young Burmese actors role models so they can be successful. I want to establish a foundation to teach acting and how to make movies. I want to build a ‘Burmese Youth Community’ here. I’d also like to create a network to promote and uplift the lives of youths, and people can contact me on Facebook to learn more about that.
Q: Do you see many Burmese films?
A: Not too many. Sometimes I watch them with my parents.
Q: How do you see the Burmese film industry?
A: The technical aspects are important and also the stories. There are many plots but most of them are identical. There are many restrictions by the government so the opportunities are automatically limited. It’s very difficult for them to excel. Their creativity is limited. There must be freedom. Without these things, there will be no progress.
Q: You speak Burmese fluently. How do you keep it up?
A: I speak only Burmese at home. I’d like all Burmese in foreign countries not to forget their identity and where they come from.
Q: Now there’s news of a plan to repatriate refugees to Burma and close refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border.
A: The refugees have a hard life. I hope the government treats them well when they are repatriated.
Q: What thoughts would you like to leave with young Burmese?
A: There is an English expression, ‘Be the change you want to see’. Young Burmese around the world should change themselves first, if they want change. Please join me in Facebook, and we can work for change.
