Going Against The Grain: Jack Yang

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Jack Yang is an actor, writer, producer and director. He has been seen on various televisions shows, movies and video games over the past 17 years. Jack started early-on as a model and commercial actor while doing extra work on television shows. He studied Directing and Photography at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and then transferred over to Theatre and Film Studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and South Coast Repertory Theater. He has guest-starred on Law and Order: SVU, CSI Miami, Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy. He has written many movie scripts, directed small budget projects and is currently working on his own personal project that has taken over a decade of research and preparation. He plays the leading man in indie film, A Leading Man, which has been doing well in festivals from Taipei to Philadelphia. He just wrapped up ADR for the new Jesse Eisenberg/Kristen Stewart film, American Ultra, which opens on August 21st.  (Look for him in a fun part at the end!)

Full name: 
Jack Jung-Kai Yang
Hometown: 
Toronto, Canada
Current City: 
Los Angeles, California
Ethnicity: 
Taiwanese

What does it mean to you to “Go Against The Grain?”

You do whatever it is that inspires your desire to create and live life with eyes wide open, regardless of what the rest of the herd is doing.

What made you decide to pursue a career in this industry?

I didn’t see Asians in movies or on T.V. much except as a stereotype, and I felt like making a change and seeing if I couldn’t turn it around by playing real non-stereotypical characters.

What have been some of the challenges you faced/lessons you learned as an Asian American in this field?  

Being Asian is hard. European Caucasians can look like anyone under the sun.  Asians look like asians period.  Anytime more than two of us work together, it’s because there’s an “Asian episode.”

What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment, and why?

Being able to succeed at acting and getting my mug on T.V. despite myself.

What’s up next?

Guest star on Nightshift on NBC Monday 2/23 after The Voice!

Quote to live by:

“In war we prepare for peace, in peace we prepare for war.” ~Sun Tzu

Sign (Eastern Animal Sign & Western Zodiac):

Tiger/ Cancer

Passionate about:

History and War

Favorite food:

Ramen!!

Can’t live without:

Youtube!!

I Go Against The Grain #beCAUSE:

The grain sucks, and everyone following it is heading off a cliff.

Check out more of Jack’s work on his IMDB.com. 

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