Me as a burnt victim on set

Actress as Asian prostitutes

Rayfil Wong and Derek Luke from Antwone Fisher

Rayfil Wong in the Make up room, made from wax

When the telephone rings at 12am, it is either really bad news or really good news. It was both.

My casting agency asked me to wake up in six hours and play the part of a burning chef in Chinatown San Francisco. What the heck, but I agreed.

The bad, I had to wake up at 6am.
The pro, I am going to experience fun on a set and meet great people.

The set was on Washington street in Chinatown. Just like a set of Universal Studios, the set was amazing. Fake steam, fake ambulance, it was all there.

I enjoy meeting actors on the set. Jeremy who played a firefighter proudly said, “I am going to get a masters in film.” I was in a way jealous.

Growing up in an Chinese household, we were encouraged to be professional. Either be the a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.

Boring! No wonder why the Chinese has the stereotypes as nerds.

I am blessed, my parents don’t put that much pressure on me.

The reality is, Hollywood is addicting. You just feel the rush and excitement when “action” is called.

The day
So how does the day look for me starting at 6am
wardrobe } make up } holding area (extras chill here) } on set } waiting when they don’t need me } lunch buffet } more waiting on set } talk to other extras } exchange business cards } picked to be on set} act in scene after action called } do it over 12 times until director is satisfied

3 Notes

1. Trauma is looking for extras. Sign up at SF Casting
2. I did not get paid well as an extra, do it for fun. It might even boost your confidence and you will meet people from all walks of life.
3. Whether you’re in Hollywood, a dog walker, or an office coffee maker, take some risk, you’ll be surprised what you get out of life

Funny moments
-A few Chinese ladies panicked thinking that it was a real fire
-A news video crew showed up to report a fire, later to find out it was all Hollywood baby
-Chinese pedestrians in the park thought I was really burned

2 Cool People I met
-Ariane Tom played a prostitute. But I got to know her more, she is a college student at Stanford and boy, her eyes light up when she talks about science. lesson learned, you just can never just a book by their cover
-Patrica Lam rocks. She is doing something she loved, teaching music. Often times, I find that successful people do something they love.

more thoughts

I have done a few film related things in the past two years.
-American Inventor
-Apple Corporate commercial
-Biotech GTCA (Karate kid)

and I have found a new respect for actors. Many go to auditions and wait in anxiety for the next big call or even next paycheck.

Most truly seek this lifestyle for the fame but those who seek this dream for the craft, I admire even more.

Commercials, films, they can instantly inspire us. So to aspiring actors/actress, producers, director, I salute you guys.

Steve Jang, my buddy who is a talent producer, keep on going.

“Twenty years from now, I will be more disappointed by the things I didn’t do than by the things I did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trail winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
- Mark Twain