So, here’s a thing that’s come up a bunch of times in my life that I find funny, or at least amusing. I’ll often get tweets or tumblr messages like the one I posted here, or I’ll get comments like the title of this post. I even got told this by director, Stephen Dypiangco, “I think my wife started dating me because she had a crush on you growing up!” Which, was awkward… then I said, “You’re welcome…” Which made it more awkward… Hahaha…
It just got me thinking, it’s strange way to think of how I might of impacted my generation. I’ve been told I was the first cool Asian actor many people actually saw on film and television in the 1990’s… No accent, no stereotypical roles… Just a cool kid. I actually did a movie called, “Extreme Days,” and when I went in to audition and met the director, Eric Hannah, told me, he didn’t realize till I walked in the room but, I was the guy in his head the whole time he was writing the character. You only see an Asian character a few times in movies and films… Especially in those days, and odds are if you remember any, I was probably one of them… and if was a cool Hip Hop kid… It was probably me. (Or one of my brothers, which I usually get credited for… but that’s another story)
But now the idea that I somehow helped this big melting pot of America, I somehow was the reason some girls (or guys) started dating Asian guys… Well, if this is in any way true. I have to be proud of that! It’s got be one of my finest accomplishments! It’s all funny… but cool.
I guess, part of this is the reason why I started my own production company and make movies. There’s way more to Asian America than what is so narrowly portrayed in mainstream media. Go watch Hang Loose, there’s a bunch of new Asian guys for you to fall in love with!
Dante Basco: My take on life... 