It's been a long time...

...I shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to! *

Wow! It's been over 2 months since I've given you all some quality bloggage to munch on (slapping my own wrist!) I owe you some goodies, and no doubt these past couple weeks have been chock full of fantastical events for y'all to marinate on!

I'll be sure to fill you in with the details in upcoming posts. In the meantime, here's a taste of what's been going on in my world!

(*great line from the soundtrack of Jet Li's "Romeo Must Die")

Slim Jim!

Here's the commercial I shot for Slim Jim (referenced in previous post "Up, Up, Here We Go!")

I was cast as a principal role in the spot, but what's really fun is that at the audition they asked my experience with doing my own stunts.

"I'm limber, fly really well on wires, and move like an educated monkey."

And with that I was hired. LOVE. MY. JOB.

"Work is no longer work when you're doing what you love!"

Party Rockin' with LMFAO!

Every day I'm shufflin'! It just so happened that today I shuffled with the guys who invented the Party Rock Crew, LMFAO!

the gang and I gathered around my storyboard sketches (accurate down to the hair!)

 RedFoo and Sky Blu walked into the studio like true rock stars - entourage and all! But when it came time for business, the boys were nothing short of gentlemen and professionals. Good energy all around!

Playing off one of the station's popular catch phrases, the "New @ 2" promo spot I directed stars the fellas with my buddy Mando Fresko and Power106 all stars Yesi Ortiz (Single with 7) and DJ Felli Fel!

From A Star To The Moon

Ever since I was five years old, I've had the same dream: to bring people together, entertain, and give back to this world. It's a personal mission of mine to brighten the lives of the people I come into contact with every day. I'm truly grateful to be able to share my gifts and blessings with audiences all over the world through my work, and I thank God for every moment that I get that opportunity.

So when I was asked by my good friends - spoken word artist In-Q and acting coach Anthony Gilardi - to share what my motivation is, I wanted to express my thoughts and feelings through my artistry.

Here is the personal monologue that I shared.

Up, Up, Here We Go!

Another great day hanging around the office...

I just wrapped shooting a hilarious commercial where I play a paramedic that saves the lives of emasculated men by swooping in and reviving them with a popular snack food. So much fun!  I still pinch myself sometimes when I'm awake to see if I'm dreaming!

Behind-the-Scenes: Stunts with Ken Jeong

I’ve penned quite a few handfuls of blog entries about my experiences with the remarkably talented Ken Jeong, so this time I’ve decided to share a short video of he and I working together. Enjoy!

Fit For Fun Magazine

 

"Alex Huynh is a stellar young actor and stuntman who arrived in Hollywood on the wings of a Pegacorn. That's something like the love-child of a Pegasus and a Unicorn. Pretty magical. He trained in Wushu, and the technique he is performing is called 'puff face-limber legs' which is wildly popular in America."

Okay, maybe that's not the exact translation, but the German fitness magazine Fit For Fun did include me in their California Lifestyle piece in their June 2011 issue! Here's a more accurate translation of the article:

"With other martial artists, the Wushu master founded Reelkick Stunt Team, in which they train each other in a variety of disciplines. But Alex, who has been a stunt double in cinema hits like "Pirates of the Caribbean III," is not just a fighter. Recently he's been training with others at the first freerunning academy in LA."

Britney's Snake Charmer

The project's working title was "Desiree." Now I have no clue who Desiree is, but I did know that the director I was auditioning for was someone I really wanted to work with. I've followed his career for years now, so to work with him was a big honor.

When I first moved to Los Angeles, I used to train at LA Valley College's open gym with a colorful mix of gymnasts, martial artists, and breakdancers. That's where I met Daniel "Cloud" Campos, one of the absolute sickest dancers I know. 

 

So when I heard that I was going to be auditioning for Cloud, needless to say, I was excited. With his choreographer, Tamara Levinson, by his side, I vibed out to the music and gave them the best show I could. 

A couple days later, I was on set for what I later learned was a music video for Britney Spears' "Femme Fatale" concert tour! Check out the screens behind her during her performance of "Boys!"

Just what the doctor ordered

Time and time again, I've gone on and on about how Ken Jeong is hands-down my favorite person to double in my career as a stuntman. People have asked me if it was because of the wild characters he plays on screen, from the B-team doctor in Knocked Up to the insanely hilarious criminal "Mr. Chow" in The Hangover and The Hangover 2, now out in theaters near you :)

But this article truly captures the reason I love the guy. I'm sure you'll feel a thump in your heart for him, too, after reading this touching letter.

For My Wife, in Celebration of Mother's Day
by Ken Jeong


If you don't mind, I'm going to take a step back from the naked Asian gangster persona you've come to love from those heartwarming Hangover films. I realize my temporary departure may be difficult for many of you, but given it's Mother's Day tomorrow, I'd like to do something nice for my wife, Tran. Something that doesn't involve me cursing like a sailor or exposing myself on movie screens across America. (Though Tran really appreciates that stuff too.)

In the middle of the most challenging time of our lives, Tran stood strong for our family and encouraged me to pursue my dream of leaving behind my career as a doctor to become a comedian. (I don't know how many wives would encourage that kind of insanity. But I was lucky mine did.)

Three years ago, as my wife and I were eagerly adapting to parenthood with our then 1-year-old twin girls, Alexa and Zooey, we received the most devastating news. Tran was diagnosed with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer. We were both in shock, and I was angry. How could this be happening to her? How could this be happening to us now, at what should be the happiest time of our lives? But her grace and poise in how she faced her own diagnosis made me realize I'd have to stand up and be the man she needed me to be -- the man who would match her strength and be her constant throughout her battle. We were in this together.

Throughout her grueling treatments -- 16 chemotherapy sessions, a mastectomy, followed by radiation -- I stood by her side in complete amazement as she drew from a strength I didn't know she possessed, until she became a mother. She fought back against cancer with everything she had for our girls, so that they would grow up knowing a mother's love, a mother's instinct, a mother's touch.

It was difficult to comprehend why this was happening to her at a time when she should be enjoying the first years of motherhood with her young children. I now believe there was a reason she was diagnosed when she was -- she had a mother's strength to draw from, and a stronger will to fight.

I won't lie, I was scared out of my mind -- worrying that in spite of her best efforts, the cancer would be too much for her. And I thought, how could I lose my wife, my best friend, the mother of my children? How would I explain this to Alexa and Zooey? How would I ever compensate for her not being in their lives? And I realized I couldn't... I would always fall short, because Tran is the most unbelievable mother. In the two years she battled this disease, she never once let it take away from the moments she had with our girls.

Then, the call came. A few months into her treatment, I was offered The Hangover. I was going to turn it down, but Tran encouraged me not to. She would not let her diagnosis change our lives or strip us from our dreams. For as long as we'd known each other, she'd been my biggest champion in my efforts to pursue a career in comedy. She knew this was my chance, and again, she selflessly put herself second. It was the hardest decision I had to make, and there were days I thought I'd made the biggest mistake, ready to pack my bags and come home. But, she wouldn't hear of it and continued to give me her love and support. I used my time on The Hangover as therapy -- channeling all of my frustrations into that insane role which allowed me to act out in ways no human being ever should.

When Tran was told she was cancer-free, it was the greatest moment of my life. In a way, it surpassed our wedding and the birth of our girls because it meant that we would be able to celebrate both of those moments, for the rest of our lives. In those two years, I fell in love with my wife all over again and discovered a deeper love and appreciation for her than I ever had. For that, I am thankful.

As doctors (Tran is a family medicine physician and I am an internal medicine physician), we're very aware that one out of every three women is affected by cancer, and about 39,840 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer. And so as we celebrate Mother's Day in our house tomorrow, I'm reminded of how things could have been -- and so grateful for how they are. 

Let's reflect on the memory of all those moms we've lost, the moms who are in the fight against this vicious disease, and the moms we're so lucky to have with us, cancer-free. Launch a star in memory of someone you love at su2c.org.

Happy Mother's Day, Tran.
Love,
Alexa, Zooey and Ken

(Published from Huffington Post - http://huff.to/mQE2Zr)

Train hard. And when you're done, train some more!

Here's a peek into part of my weekly physical training regimen...enjoy!


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