Interview - Jason Tobin, actor, director, films, movies, videos, music

GIANT ROBOT - Transmissions
Published March 2003

Jason Tobin has appeared in Nash Bridges, Beverly Hills Ninja, and Yellow, but his biggest role to date has been Virgil Hu in Better Luck Tomorrow. Sporting his sometimes bleached blond hair and a happy disposition, he's probably the most talked-about character in the film. Jason was in Buenos Aires when this interview was conducted.

GR: How's the reception for BLT in your neck of the woods?
JT: BLT hasn't been released here but I was at the Buenos Aires Film Festival a few weeks ago and a few people knew of it and were really keen to see it. Unfortunately, I don't know if BLT will ever make it down here. I think selling Asian-American faces is hard in the U.S. and maybe even harder abroad.

GR: What's the character of Virgil like compared to you?
JT: Some people watch the movie and think I must be just like that character and I should take it as a compliment because they thought I was believable as Virgil but we're quite different in terms of our backgrounds and behavior. Virgil is from So. Cal, I'm British from Hong Kong. I went to boarding schools in the U.K. and he probably went boarding in Huntington Beach. But what I related to the most was his need to prove himself amongst his peers. I sort of used all my years of frustration trying to make it and prove myself as an actor into Virgil.

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JT: I had always wanted an opportunity to act a challenging role. I was itching to prove myself in a role larger than "Here's your kung pao chicken, that'll be $6.50." When I actually got the part of Virgil and I read the whole script I was so excited, but the very next moment I questioned whether I would be able to pull it off. The places I had to go emotionally with Virgil I hadn't been to in any other part. I wasn't sure if I would be able to make him completely detestable and likeable at the same time. How could I make him scary one moment, funny the next, and then break your heart in another scene? As an actor, the role of Virgil was a dream role for those very reasons. I don't think I could have played Virgil a few years ago; I needed to be a better actor. As immature as Virgil is, I had to be a mature actor to be him.

GR: Is there more to your life besides acting?
JT: I used to think acting was my life, but I don't anymore. I think that makes for a boring actor. I have to live and do other things so that I can bring experiences to my acting. I travel a lot. I've spent a year backpacking in South America. I backpacked India last year. My family live in London and Australia, and I visit them when I can.

GR: Has anything come out of BLT for you? People seem to like your character most. Is your agent, manager, or whomever bugging you about things?
JT: There's been interest but I haven't been in the States to take meetings, etc. My manager and I will be in London next month meeting with agents. He's been bugging me a bit because there have been some projects that I would have been good for.

GR: Do people know that you're part non-Asian? What do people think most of the time?
JT: Some people see it right away, others don't believe me if I tell them. I think most people in the States have no idea. In Hong Kong, they can tell right away.

GR: What will life be like if you get back to the US?
JT: I'll be back. It's just a matter of time. I have no idea what it will be like. Fun, I hope. Challenging roles and some cash would be nice.

GR: If you don't come back, what will you do?
JT: I'm going to London to continue acting and I'm also developing a project.

GR: What's up with your Bruce Lee collection?
JT: I collect Bruce because he's the ultimate badass and he inspired me as a kid. He did what no Asian in Hollywood could do or has done since. And he's from my hometown. It's said that he used to pick fights with kids from my school. I used to get into fights after school roaming the streets of Mong Kok. Of course I got my ass beat a few times. Most of all what I like about Bruce was his intense fire and passion, and I want to live like that.

In my collection I have a everything from little toys to a Bruce Lee snowboard. Posters, pictures, videos of him training. I have a cheesy Green Hornet ring, too. Of course, I also I have a Bruce Lee T-shirt from Giant Robot.

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