Russell Wong takes his turn behind the camera
Posted: 28 April 2009 1958 hrs

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SINGAPORE : "The Joy Luck Club" star Russell Wong was voted one of the top 50 most beautiful people by America's "People" magazine in 1995.

Fourteen years later, the Asian-American actor is still active on the big screen, playing one of four estranged siblings whose mother has just died in the indie film "Dim Sum Funeral", which was recently screened at the Singapore Film Festival.

Coming from a large family with seven children, Wong says this is a role he can relate to.

"You know family, squabbles with mom and dad, those kind of things that everyone goes through if you have a family so there were a lot of things to draw on for my character."

The 46-year-old was born in Troy, New York, to a Chinese father, a restaurateur from Shanghai, and an American mother. Though Wong was brought up in the US and spends most of his time there, there is no doubt that his Chinese roots have had an impact on his life.

"I find myself more drawn to Buddhist teachings and things like that. I know martial arts have influenced me a lot growing up. And also studying in China, martial arts in China.

"I met a lama when I was in Tibet, a sixth life time Rinpoche... I don't think you meet someone like that just by accident. Even past life things, I think about that a lot, in that respect."

Best known for films such as "The Joy Luck Club", "Romeo Must Die" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor", Wong worked as a photographer and a music video dancer, before landing his first role in a Hong Kong musical 24 years ago.

"I don’t know why I chose to be an actor, after 24 years of having second thoughts," he said.

"Usually the work I get is for TV and film, 'Romeo Must Die' is the most well known. I’ve done other guest spots here and there... they’re mostly martial arts-oriented so it's kind of stereotypical, [there’s always] the gangster element to it. And that’s the thing with Asian actors in America. These roles are kind of the norm and they kind of present a bit of a challenge because it's like... do you want to keep doing this?"

These days, Wong works on the other side of the camera, trying his hand at other aspects of the movie business, including financing and producing.

"I'm actually working with a writer, the same writer of ‘Dim Sum Funeral’ who is also developing a character like a franchise kind of thing, more action oriented story... It kind of has a 'Bourne Identity' feel to it."

Despite his busy life, Wong was in Singapore last week to judge at Singapore Film Festival’s Silver Screen Awards and was really impressed with the films by Asian directors.

"'The Month of Hungry Ghosts' [produced by Singapore’s Genevieve Woo] really impressed me. I like the content, I think it’s interesting – the Buddhist approach, the spirits and things like that, after life...

"The standard [of Asian directors] is on par with the rest of the world, everyone is on the same page and is creating quality work and product. I was very impressed."

- CNA/il