September 16, 2005

• PARRY SHEN

  Parry played the role of Jackie, the lead in the movie opposite Bai Ling. A lot of people see this is a Bai Ling movie. For me as a director, the movie is about Michelle (Bai Ling) AND Jackie (Bai Ling). They both play the protagonist for me. And like many movies when the protagonist is being torn apart, I literally did it to my protagonist by tearing Bai Ling and Parry apart.

  I think Parry was the actor that I enjoyed working with the most on The Gene Generation. So here's a little xanga just for him!
  

  
  

  I think this picture represents my working relationship with Parry Shen the best. I guess it is my job as a director to not only put him in situations of pain, discomfort and of course heartache but to poke at the wounds too. My only regret in this particular scene was using a tad bit too much blood. It covered up the detail of the bruising and infection. But you can still see it later in the film when Bai Ling who plays his sister washes him up. YES! To me, Parry was an actor that took me by surprise. There were people on set who were very hesistant about Parry because he didn't come across as your typical leading man who is hunky with the best kept hygiene in the world. I kinda did the opposite with Parry. He's a good looking man, so I almost deliberately (at times) "uglify" him. I think part of a great working relationship is Parry's trust for me to let me do it to him. Most actors are very hesistant about it.

  Parry also makes my job a whole lot easier. Many times on set, we have to cut back on dialogue because of time constraint or change blocking because we moved to another set when the previous one was not ready. Parry never once complained about it, although deep down inside, he was probably swearing at me. But at the very given time, he went out and did his job brilliantly that helped kept the pace of the film on time and on budget. A good actor (even though you pay him lots) can ultimately save you more money than it cost to hire him.

  I take Parry's suggestions on his character very seriously only because he does the same to me. At times, I would tell him "No, I think this way is better" and he would leave it at that, no complains, no arguments, Nothing! At times, I think he has a great idea and I would just say "Show it to me" or "Knock em' dead", "Make me cry". So I have to kind of juggle and decide what I think it's appropiate or not, but at the same time knowing that I need the collaboration of my actors to help me out too. After all, what makes a film fun to watch is the diversity of characters. Each individual actor would bring a diversity to it, one director cannot do that. He has to trust his actors to help him out and think for him too. I find a lot of my other director are too afraid to ask their actors for help for fear of looking bad. The way I see it, the only way you can look bad is is when the film looks bad. As long as the actors know you are always looking out for them and you have things under control, set the playground up for them and trust them to do their magic.

  
  

  I have to admit though that I took a risk on Parry as the producers did on me. Before I decided on Parry, I watched every single one of his films with the exception of his work on TV. Although my producers had someone in mind, there was something about Parry that I could sense. Some sort of a drawstring effect. I wondered what would happen if I gave Parry a character that he had never really played before and where he would take it. I rolled the dice and jackpot! Even up till now, my editor and me would be laughing at Parry's hilarious acting performances as well as fall dead silent in his dramatic scene. No actor stir emotion from me everyday on the editing room, since I see the takes over and over. I have to say that Parry is the first. So if you are reading this Parry, *salute* to a fine actor!

  Would I work with Parry again? I don't know. I won't write a script for him, that's just the wrong thing to do. Writing is a story not a character. The actor would help fill in the blanks with the collaboration of the director afterwards. But if he fits into the story, of course I would. I wouldn't cast him as another Jackie though, won't be any fun and challenge for Parry. I would still audition him again, and everything else. Parry never has to earn anything from anyone who has worked with him (cast and crew), he never has to earn trust and respect again. Everything else, well, it's just business

  Parry Shen has a xanga webpage too at http://www.xanga.com/parryshen he provides some very interesting takes on the business. I read it everytime he updates it too! Actually, he got me hooked me this...asshole!

  • 2:38 pm
  • 2 Comments