Yeah. I find many biopics done that way, where the character walks the narrative line, and then the external forces kind of chip away at that character. I always find that less interesting than the actual person. Hedy, when Hisonni approaches you about beefing up your character, what were you thinking? What did you think? And we there some pressure there now?
Wong: Well, I deferred to his advice and suggestions because this is my first script ever. I watched a YouTube video to learn how to format a script. I haven’t been writing scripts for years. I’ve always been a story person, but I haven’t been writing screenplays like that. I understood what he was trying to do. Of course, there would be moments where I’m like, Because it’s from such a personal place, sometimes you want the things you saw in your head to happen, on the paper, or on-screen. That’s just part of the journey when it’s a collaboration. You have just to let it flow more. You could ask for a specific something, but depending on the budget and time, you just got to let it flow. And that’s also been a learning experience.
“…you can never let your fears paralyze you because life is going to happen anyway…”
But look at where we are now. We crossed the finish line. Everybody seems to like the story, and not just Tera’s character, but the Nate character, and everything. So for me, I let it-
Johnson: She got nervous. She got nervous.
Wong: Oh yeah. Oh yeah, I did get nervous, but I mean…
Johnson: She did almost every scene, and I think she had a minor panic attack.
No, I get it. We talk a lot about carrying a movie, and there’s a lot of pressure on that. So-
Johnson: She worked so hard. She shot in 40 days. Being there every single day. I think she had one day off.
Oh, wow. So, in terms of being an actor, did the passion for the story just kind of win out for you? Helping you give such a good performance.
Wong: I had enough experience as an artist. Where my acting experience lacked, I had enough experience as an artist. And I knew that when he said, “Action.” I have to push all my fears and doubts aside, try to come from a real place, put my stuff, or relive certain things.
But before that, outside of “Action.” Yeah, we all have our disbelief, and as an Asian American female, I don’t have high self-esteem most of my life. But one thing I did learn is that you can never let your fears paralyze you because life is going to happen anyway, and death is guaranteed.
