Tzi Ma
Tzi Ma is one of my favorite actors. Some of you have seen his work and may not even have realized it was Tzi Ma. Then you have that “a-ha” moment when you see him over and over again in different projects.
What's special about Tzi Ma is that he can be detected OR fly under the radar. So stealth. I freakin' LOVE it! I have no idea how he does it, so that's part of the mystery and excitement.
Okay, okay, okay! Let's dig right in while I still have the chills!
You have so much going on, I don't even know where to start. So let's begin with this -- What's your favorite place that you only go to by yourself?
My mind. What I mean is I can find solitude anywhere when I need it which is important to me since I’m around a lot of people including a cast and crew of a couple hundred people most of the time. I’ve been able to zone out and block everything out anywhere. Safely of course. I did grow up in New York City, so I’ve learned to be aware of my surroundings.
I LOVED you in 24 as the villain Cheng Zhi. At what point did you know you were a fan favorite?
I’m glad you loved Cheng Zhi and I enjoyed playing him, but I didn’t know I was a fan favorite. LOL. Am I? I have run into people who mention Cheng Zhi in passing, but they usually like some other characters I’ve played as well in the same breath (i.e. Counsel Han in Rush Hour, the Dragon in OUAT, Kingman Tau in Rapid Fire, President Lu in Veep, Dillon’s dad in Akeelah and the Bee, etc.)
Did anyone ever make fun of you while you were growing up?
Yes, and it felt awful especially when it’s racially motivated. Growing up in NYC is no easy task for any kid. Back then, everybody called everybody names. It was an equal opportunity offender in a rough neighborhood. I never let that get in my way. I was always very active from elementary school, Junior High, High School and College in Drama Club, Honor Guard, track and field, Art Club, school orchestra, etc. I was able to counter those negatives with my participation in those activities and people got to know me realizing we have much more in common, so after that inclusion and acceptance came more readily. I had a few fights here and there, but nothing major.
You've been in show business forever. What differences do you see now vs. when you first started?
I believe the landscape of “show business” has changed somewhat speaking of Asian roles and we still have a long ways to go, unfortunately. Some stereotypes continue to rear their ugly heads from time-to-time. It ebbs and flows like the tides. One problem is Asian roles vs. Asian-American roles. Generally speaking, the quality of the roles are growing but Asian-American roles still need to grow a lot more and faster. I believe it contributes to misunderstandings and misconceptions of Asian-Americans by the lack of. We are still seen as perpetual foreigners no matter how many generations of us continue to mount on American soil or how many meaningful contributions we make to this nation of ours. This subject deserves more time then what I am able to do here, so I’ll leave it for now. I’ll be glad to discuss it if you like down the line.
“Show business” has changed dramatically for the better from when I first started in terms technology! Take this example, we, all of us, from writers, actors, producers and different production aspects of creating a show have benefited from the internet! We used to have to go the library for books, periodicals, microfilm and look at reference books we can’t even check out of the library to do our research. Now, we don’t need to leave the comfort of our own homes and offices to do the same research that can help us with developing our stories and characters.
The development and expansion of SVOD makes “Television” really exciting to be an actor today. We benefit from better storytelling because writers are free from the restrictions of the public airwaves. That allows us to tell a different kind of story. Now the networks, and online content providers are so competitive that I believe it’s giving us the opportunity to create more excellent works.
You play General Shang (aka Big Domino) in Paramount's 2016 feature film Arrival, which is now available on Blu-ray and Digital HD. Did you audition for this role?
The role was offered to me. I accepted the offer to play General Shang because of the story and how it was written. It was an adaptation of a wonderful short story by Ted Chiang titled Story of your Life. I was attracted by the humanity of it. I was intrigued by how time is seen and translated. I loved the fact that it’s an intimate story painted on a large canvas. I was taken by the message that peaceful communication among nations is essential to our existence. I loved the fact that we are able to overcome our fears through effort, patience and compassion. I liked the outcome of General Shang’s journey in the film which is pivotal and surprising. Last but not least, a great cast and director to work with.
You joined Season 2 of Amazon's The Man in the High Castle. Tell us about your character.
I play General Onoda. He is the new head of command sent by Japan to oversee the Pacific territory in our parallel universe. He brings with him a plan to ensure the Japanese empire will be on top for a long time.
What do you do on your days off?
I don’t have any days off really. I’m always reading another script or looking at different project ideas I find interesting. I’m on the artistic board of a non-profit organization, The Asian Pacific American Friends of Theatre (APAFT). We are dedicated to the promotion of casting Asian Pacific American (APA) actors to play non-ethnic specific American roles in American plays on main stage theaters. APAFT believes this casting change will enhance the positive image of the entire APA Community. APAFT encourages the development of the theater arts skills of APA actors, writers, directors and other performers; and strives to educate the public and advocate for changes in access to the main stage theaters.
Did your wife or other family members ever tell you to get a 'real' job? Were you ever afraid that you wouldn't be able to pay the bills?
LOL. Early in my career, getting a “real job” was on a loop from my family. And yes, there were times I was very afraid of not being able to pay the bills.
You played The Dragon on ABC's Once Upon a Time. Tell us a behind the scenes story.
Not much to share here I’m afraid since the audience is so sophisticated today. We are a CG heavy show, so we often have to react to nothing or empty spaces. That can be hard after a long day.
What kind of tech do you use?
I use an Android phone and Windows OS for my Notebook. I have an iPad.
Anything else you'd like to say?
I really like the Huffington Post. [NOTE TO TZI FROM ILANA: But what about me? Do you really like ME? :) ]