Hyphen magazine - Asian American arts, culture, and politics

Randall Park is an oddity.

You wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He’s quite handsome, in a pleasant non-threatening way. His demeanor can be shy, though with none of the aloofness of the pompous. No, appearances are quite normal. Supporting that image is a beautiful wife, the alluring Jae Suh of the OPM comedy troupe. They’re frequently seen at events, hand-in-hand, like an Asian real-life Ken and Barbie.

But the characters that he brings to life -- and with Randall Park, never has been an expression been more accurate -- all just short of a full plate. His trademark is angst-filled awkwardness, which he imbues with such humor-filled intensity that audiences feel sorry for him even as they laugh at him. He does off-kilter so well, it makes you wonder: he's gotta be odder than he looks, right? Well, two dead giveaways: he's also a stand-up comic. And a writer. You know those types are odd.

But it all seems to be working for him. Recently seen in Dinner With Schmucks and The People I’ve Slept With, Park frequently tours with OPM and has filmed several television pilots, including Tax Man for FOX. Park co-wrote the Esai Morales movie American Fusion; the script was a quarter-finalist in the prestigious Nicholl Fellowships. Park has just been named the 2010 CAPE New Writer’s Award Winner in the Television Category.

Your acting career is going full-steam ahead. Yet you produce, direct, and star in your own shorts; do stand-up; perform sketch comedy, and write. First, where do you get the energy and drive? Second, do you think this is the new paradigm of today’s artists, that of a multi-tasker?

I don't know where I find the energy to do so many things. I guess it's all fun for me, so it never feels like work. My background is in writing. It's what I majored in as an undergraduate. Also, I've always just naturally veered towards writing comedy -- it's one of the few things that I feel very confident in. As an actor, things can get slow from time to time. I, however, don't like to slow down. Maybe it's because I'm an Aries. But when things do get slow, I write projects specifically for myself to act in. Or I get on stage and try out material. I am also blessed to have a lot of talented friends in all arenas of digital film making. So I've always had the resources to get projects done. With the technology we have today, I feel like there's no excuse for actors to just sit around and wait for opportunities. I don't think multi-tasking is necessarily the new paradigm for artists. It's been a reality for creative people from Woody Allen to Michelangelo. Not that I'm trying to compare myself to Michelangelo, but my web show Dr. Miracles is kind of like my Sistine Chapel. (See it at www.randallparkplace.com!)

Your characters are always unique, fresh, and… slightly disturbed but in a “poor dude” kind of way. Where does that come from? Do you consciously think, “How can I make this guy weird but still likeable?”

I've never consciously tried to make my characters more likeable. I think that just comes from approaching things from an honest place. People identify with vulnerability, and for some reason, I can easily tap into that. Maybe because I've been hurt a lot. I was an overweight kid, and I definitely have had my share of embarrassments. I'm crying as I type this. I'm also not really a social person either. I'm not the type to go to parties and schmooze. I'll do it if I have to, but I'd rather stay at home and let my work speak for me. Better than me speaking for me. It fills me with anxiety. I guess I bring that awkwardness to some of my characters. I'm still crying.

What people admired most about your work is that even though your characters are slightly odd, they’re grounded in some manner, however demented. There seems to be an intelligent and conscious thought-process in your creation. You’re just not being funny and bizarre for the sake of being funny and bizarre. How do you go about creating characters even when not written on the page?

I think going for the joke is never as funny as being a real person in a funny situation. It's a tough tendency to fight. But that's what I learned from stand-up comedy -- when you're desperate for the laugh, the audience can sense that weakness and then they lose respect for you. But when you're confident in who you are, and when you present yourself as a real person, they'll usually go along for the ride. I try to bring this to my acting as well. For example, when I did Curb Your Enthusiasm (which is a fully improvised show), I wanted so much to be "funny." It is one of my favorite shows and such a great chance to show off wit and my training in improvisation. But I decided not to go for laughs and instead approach the character as a real person, reacting to a very weird situation. Instead of trying to be funny, I just listened to Larry David and reacted, in a real way. They seemed to really appreciate that. And the scene came out funny. 

Would you like to be known more as an actor (who writes) or a writer (who acts)? How do you envision writing fits in with your career goals?

I consider myself an actor. It's what I find most fun. But I also enjoy writing. But my personal rule is that I'd never write anything that I couldn't act in. For example, I would never be a staff writer for a television show that I'm not also a series regular in. I would never write a feature that didn't have a part for me. ... My future career goals are to write movies and be in them. I also want to write for a TV show that I'm in. I also want to put out a solo rap album. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's true. So yes, writing will also be a part of my program. 

The CAPE New Writers Award will be presented at Japanese American National Museum on August 19 at 6:30 PM