John Cho, known for his roles in 'Star Trek' and 'Harold and Kumar', discusses the unique challenges of his new movie 'Searching' filmed entirely on computer screens. He shares his connection with co-star Haley Lu Richardson in 'Columbus', and talks about the persuasive effort by director Aneesh Chaganty to cast him in a movie. Cho also compares working on big budget and small budget movies, and shares his desires in acting like performing action-packed scenes on a moving train.
Emotional investment is crucial for fully committing to a role.
Building close relationships with directors and fellow actors enhances performances and authenticity on set.
Deep dives
Importance of internal motivation
Having an internal reason to say yes and being emotionally connected to the script or the person is crucial for fully committing to a role. Without emotional investment, it is difficult to give oneself fully to the job.
Process and preparation for a role
John Cho emphasizes the importance of spending uninterrupted time with the script, creating a mental image of the movie, and understanding the primary impression it should convey. He also discusses the challenges of working with green screens and the need for specific eye lines in a computer-based film.
Collaboration with directors and fellow actors
Cho highlights the significance of building close relationships with directors and fellow actors to create a sense of intimacy and trust on set. The connection between actors contributes to the authenticity of their performances, and the collaboration with directors helps in understanding the story and maintaining focus on set.
John Cho is perhaps best known for playing Sulu in the “Star Trek” reboots and Harold in the “Harold and Kumar” films. His new movie “Searching” takes place entirely on computer screens. Cho’s performance is one of the reasons why it is a successful piece of true cinema and not a novelty. We discuss the unique challenges of performing alone in some scenes and trusting director Aneesh Chaganty to navigate him through the space. We also talk about one of my favorite recent indie films “Columbus” (directed by Kogonada) and the connection he felt with co-star Haley Lu Richardson that truly powers the film.
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