Parry Shen is the hottest Asian man to ever appear in a horror film. It's a fact. While Ichi the Killer's Tadanobu Asano gives him a run for his money, Parry steals the niche with his stellar performances in The Hazing (2004, alongside Tiffany Shepis), Attack of the Sabertooth (2005), Shrieker (1998), Hatchet (2006) and the recent thriller Rule of Three (2008). Parry's also been on TV in episodes of awesome genre shows like Tru Calling, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sabrina the Teenaged Witch, and Veronica Mars as well as Mad TV. You might be thinking, 'I'll bet he usually plays 'Hot Asian Dude''. Well, you'd be right. But not always right. Because Parry's sense of humor and real acting talent has given him lead roles in movies that usually don't go to Asians. He's got a sci-fi flick called The Gene Generation coming out on January 9th from Lionsgate, as well as Adam Green's (Hatchet) latest concept: Fairy Tale Police, in which he co-stars with Rachel Leigh Cook. Parry's just friggin' awesome, basically. Enjoy this hot guy with EXTRA soy sauce – he's that good (was that tacky?)…What's the most romantic thing your wife has ever done for you?
We're really not into the whole 'romantic thing' – its more reactions that I gauge from her that I know she cares. Like crying in the theater when I was onscreen in my first lead role in Paramount's Better Luck Tomorrow. Buying me the 2 pound bag of Twizzlers, getting me Grape soda or unexpectedly stopping at Mickey D's to grab me a Filet-O-Fish on a randomFriday.
The most romantic thing I've ever done – I know it wasn't asked but I have to brag because it's pretty kick ass and I've done nothing romantic since – is that I proposed to my wife through a scene in Better Luck Tomorrow: link
You'll have to excuse Parry - he was just slowly buttoning his shirt sexily when you walked in.
In which film do you feel you most earned an Oscar Nomination that you didn't get, and why? Attack of the Sabertooth or Shrieker? If you could describe a particular scene, that would be great.
I was robbed in Attack of the Sabertooth – the scene where I accidentally lock myself in the incubator to escape being eaten and was running low on air and come out gasping was some pretty nifty stuff. But unfortunately, the Academy doesn't really vote for stuff that's perfect fodder for Mystery Science Theater. I also should've scored a golden statue for being able to keep a straight face and pretending that I was terrified being chased by a pre-historic cat that looked like Cheetos' Cheester the Cheetah.
Parry and Tiffany Shepis in 'The Hazing'
Tell me what Tiffany Shepis is REALLY like! Any funny onset stories she'd be embarrassed at you telling?
Tiffany is usually smoking hot and seductive in her films but many may not know that she is one of the most nurturing and caring people on the planet. There is no story I could tell that she'd be embarrassed by, she's 110% pure confidence – but we've done 3 films together and she's been naked in all of 'emand I keep telling her, 'Stop being naked in my movies! My kids can't watch any of them!'
Tiffany Shepis, Parry Shen, and Nectar Rose in 'The Hazing'
How can people tell whethersomeone's Chinese or Japanese just by looking at an Asian person? It would really help some of us out if we knew...
It's actually fairly easy if one hangs around Asian folks with any great frequency. Folks who have trouble, usually don't have any Asian friends – it's nothing to be ashamed about, it's just a fact.
My wife's Caucasian and when we worked at a boarding school together, that had a lot of international students – it became real obvious and easy to tell. Even the entire Caucasian administration/staff could tell. That one white guy who hang out exclusively with Asians? He can tell.
It's like if you hang out at a Starbucks for a week, you'll just know the difference between a: Tall, Grande and a Venti and also if you attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) a.k.a. The University of Caucasians Lost among Asians.
As a HUGE generalization, I'd say Chinese folks have rounder faces. And Japanese folks tend to have more chiseled features… and they love to shop like crazy. Language is also a big tip-off. If it sounds like they're arguing, chances are good that they're Chinese.
Parry, wondering why there aren't more hot Asian dudes on TV these days
Why aren't there more super-hot Asian American leading men like you out there in mainstream cinema and TV? What gives?
I think it's more a result of the roles that Asian American males get placed in that makes them seem unattractive and non-existent. Because if you really care about someone's journey in a story, he's gonna become attractive no matter what he looks like – as long as he's progressing the narrative and not just there for an 'Asian' reason – to deliver food, to be in the Triad/Chinatown Episode of CSI or to be the 'Tech Guy' spouting jargon on a show and wind up just blending in the background cuz he's nervous around women.
I mean, in the movie MILK that's out right now with Sean Penn, here were the 2 Audition breakdowns for the one Asian Guy in it, Michael Wong:
"Chinese-American (Chinese- American Actors only). Michael is fiercely intelligent (a nerd, even) and asexual. He is one of Harvey Milk's political advisors.
MICHAEL WONG] 18 to 22 years old, Chinese-American. THE ULTIMATE DORK. Very, very nerdy. ACTOR MUST BE CHINESE-AMERICAN."
Even if the guy it's based on wasa dork-- I mean, honestly. Isn't just 'very nerdy' enough? It makes you wonder sometimes how the hell Asian Males on screen even have a chance when all the decision makers onlyfocus on presenting a certain type of Asian Male?
A good example is Daniel Dae Kim (Lost) and Masi Oka (Heroes) – both totally different types, yet they have their respective female fans because their natural charm/personality comes out within their meaty roles. It's really hard to be attracted to a guy who pops up on camera for 2 seconds and just says, 'Delivery from Happy Garden!'
There, that was my soapbox moment.
Secret Identities: The first Asian Superhero Comic. It's Parry's fault
Secret Identities: this sounds super fucking awesome possum. Can you tell me more about why you wanted to be a part of this anthology project and why people should be buying it? When will it be released and where can we get it?
We're putting the finishing touches on it as we speak -- It's a creator-owned Asian American Superhero Anthology that is created and drawn by Asian American writers and artists. It'll be published by The New Press in April 2009.
I'm one of the editors and co-creators and have got a story in it that follows these kids who are the descendants of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings during WWII who start developing abilities from the radiation. And these Asian American kids are conflicted about how they received their powers in the first place (basically their newly adopted homeland bombing the crap out of their ancestors). There's another about a super-powered coolie who helped the legendary John Henry beat the steam engine in the 1800's. A lot of cool shadow history stuff with a superhero twist to it. Other contributors include: Keiko Agena (Gilmore Girls), Leonardo Nam (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 1and2), Sung Kang (Tokyo Drift), Kelly Hu (X2), Yul Kwon (Winner of Survivor Cook Islands), Dustin Nguyen (21 Jumpstreet, Viper)
As mentioned in the previous question, it was just frustrating auditioning for stereotypical emasculated Asian Males either being awkward around woman or the opposite extreme of using kung-fu to kick everyone's ass. This was a great opportunity to showcase stories of how I and other AA's see ourselves – just as regular folks who have universal stories to tell but also from an Asian American perspective.
I used to work at Marvel comics on the Beavis and Butthead book and have always been interested in the medium – and in a sense it makes sense why I got into film/TV because comics are basically storyboards.
It's one of those projects that's entertaining but in the end you wind up learning a bunch of stuff and being enlightened without knowing it. For example, when I was 8my mom gave me this huge comic version of the Bible – and the next thing you knew, I knew every single story and was kicking tail in my Religion Classes despite being one of the fewnon-Catholics in a Catholic school.
It'll be in bookstores everywhere in April – you can visit: www.secretidentities.org for more info and pre-order copies here.
Parry and Rachel Leigh Cook in 'Fairy Tale Police' by Adam Green
Can you tell us aboutFairy Tale Police - the role you play and where/when people can watch you in it?
I play Officer Chad Pappas and my partner – Officer Stacy Duffy, is played by Rachael Leigh Cook andwe patrol fairy tale characters. Whether it's taking a report about a missing glass slipper and profiling the Reporting Partyas a stripper (because who else wears clear heels?) or investigating into a potential homicide of a certain Mr. Hump T. Dumpty – FTP is on the job.
It's shot like COPS and created and directed by Hatchet's, Adam Green and can be seen during Christmas on Xbox and then online everywhere. If we get picked up by Xbox/Microsoft – we'd churn out another 36 of 'em.
You can see a few pictures here and the trailer's here.
Incidentally, I just finished doing another crazy piece with Adam for Halloween called The TiVo. It's been great working with Adam again because hethinks of me forout-of-the-box characters that I do want to play but usually never get the chance to. Hell, my name is Pappas and I get to sport a 'stache!
Parry as 'Jackie' in The Gene Generation
While we're at it, tell us about The Gene Generation?
It comes out on DVD from Lionsgate on Jan 9th – it takes place in the future where DNA Hacking has become rampant and Bai Ling is an assassin employed to stop them all. I play Jackie, her thieving and gambling little brother who also gives Flock of Seagull aficionados relief in knowing that the hairstyle will once again return to popularity in the future. (www.genegeneration.com) -- here's the red band trailer.
Parry in 'The Truth Behind Saw: The James Wan story', which will air on Lifetime this Christmas! Just kidding. It's from The Gene Generation (unrated version, probably)
What's something your female fans would NEVER guess about you just from watching you in films and on TV?
That Ilike kissing girls. I think in the 12 years that I've been in the business, I've only gotten to kiss the girl 5 times onscreen.
Parry in his first gig - a CandR commercial back in 1992!
What are your turn-ons? Turn offs?
Turn-on: When I shake a woman's hand andever so slightly and subtly, my hand smells of her perfume.
Turn-off: When the woman washing your hair at the salon accidentally drools a big rope of saliva into your hair as she's talking to you and you're looking up at her upside down wondering the whole time, "Did what I think I saw, just really happen?" And then to have it confirmed an awkward7 seconds later with her saying, "Sorry about that." (Really happened to me and the reason why I cut my own hair)
Parry practicing 'contemplative' for acting class
Extra credit!
Please answer the following question correctly in no more than 5 sentences. Make sure to use the words and/or phrases"Beef With Broccoli", "Hi-Ya!" and "Origami" at least one time each:
Who would win in a fight: Bruce Lee if he were still alive or Godzilla? Explain you answer.
Before Bruce could even yell a 'Hi-Ya!', Godzilla would flatten him like an Origami paper crane and would inhale him like we all do with Beef with Broccoli at Panda Express. I mean come on – he's a friggin' mutated, fire spouting dinosaur. Even his son Godzuki, who I think was a little bit retarded, could take down Bruce.
Extra Parry!
Visit www.parryshen.com for more Parry Shen goodness!
