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

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


.

Detroit Jim

This is something I wrote when I was shooting Red Dawn in late fall of 2009. This man’s story really moved me and I just wanted to share it...

Detroit, Michigan

I was unusually late for work today. 

I’m almost never late. As a matter of fact, if I have a 5:00pm pickup, I’ll be there at most by 4:30pm just to be safe.

But it was 5:05pm, and I was late.

The first van had already taken off. When I got downstairs I threw my bag into the second van and jumped in. Myself and the driver sat for another ten minutes to see if anyone else would join us, but then I realized that all seven of the other guys had squeezed into that first van. So we were off, just me all by my lonesome in the van with just my driver. 

We sat in silence for a few minutes. He coasted through the Detroit rush hour traffic as I scurried through my things for work. Amongst my fumbling about, I pulled out my little prayer book to take a moment to collect my thoughts before the workday. The quiet was then broken by, “I got my first paycheck in four years today.”

It took a second to register what I had just heard. In a flash I thought about the rate of unemployment in Detroit and how this city’s been overlooked and left to wallow in its jobless decline. Once all of this processed, I was fascinated by the optimism of this statement and proceeded to talk with my driver. Little did I know that the conversation to follow would be one of the most unexpected moments of enlightenment of 2009.

His name’s Jim, and he’s had quite a challenging past few years.  Since 9-11, misfortunate has plagued this guy. It all started with his family business of 53 years being shut down because of economic hardship. Following that, his marriage of 30 years ended in divorce.

These events tore his spirits apart, and it took him years to muster up the courage to move forward. When he was finally ready, he fell deeply for someone. He was seeing her for about a year and a half, but one night she was killed in a terrible car accident. Knocked down again. But he continued to look forward. He’s been seeing his current girlfriend for about a year now, and they’re doing well. Sadly, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have both of her breasts removed.

It sounds unearthly the trials this man has had to deal with. I listened intently as I connected with him through the rear-view mirror. I could feel his heart wrenching with each blush of red flushing through his face, his eyes becoming glassy with each tale.

But there was something else I saw that I didn’t expect to see: an unyielding amount of hope, optimism, and lots of faith. It seemed like no matter what this world threw his way, he looked upward and pressed forward. Never did it sound like he was bitter or blaming anyone.

When he told me the story of the deconstruction of his family’s business, he also mentioned that amidst all the financial withdrawals he had to make to try to salvage the shop (pulling out his entire life savings) he saved enough to put both of his children through college.

When he discussed the tremendous pain of his marriage dissolving, he reminded me that though the gravity of the breakup weighed down on him, he eventually rose out of the situation with a great friendship and the experience of an enriching relationship.

When he recounted with great difficulty the loss of his girlfriend in the car accident, his crumbled voice gathered enough strength to lightly murmur, “At least I met my soulmate.”

And when he informed me of his current girlfriend’s anguishing surgery, he told me that he still adores her with the same devoted eyes and that she’s absolutely beautiful to him.

He’s proud to have been able to see his children graduate with his hard-earned financial support. He’s thankful that he still has a life’s friend in his ex-wife. He appreciates his spirituality through the blessing of being able to know his soulmate. He loves his girlfriend unconditionally, no matter what the circumstances.

“I could have died a thousand times,” he said. “I might have never seen what I saw or went through the pain of half of those experiences.”

“But there’s someone up there watching me. Someone cares about me. God wouldn’t have challenged me if He didn’t think I could handle it. There’s a reason for everything, and I’m thankful to know that.”

In that moment, when I looked at his eyes through the rear-view mirror and saw him opening up his heart to me, I felt my own heart. The feeling of love, gratitude, pride, and spiritual connection resonated throughout my entire body.

I experienced a prayer of thanksgiving without even having to crack open my little prayer book.

Hearts all over the world...

The people of Japan have been devastated over the past couple months with extraordinarily terrifying natural disasters. Initially the news channels jumped all over the tragic events, responding with a great outpouring of aid. But as of recent, media coverage has dissipated. I'm not sure as to why, because the small country continues to get ravaged by one disaster after the next.

But it doesn't mean we can't do anything to help! Tonight I and my good friend/mentor James Lew attended a benefit concert to raise funds and awareness for the tsunami and earthquake victims in Japan. My homie Steve Terada and his group, Quest Crew, headlined the Thousand Hearts Japan Relief Benefit Show with talented artists such as Paul Dateh and Hiroshima.

It was a night filled with amazing performances and several Asian-American personalities, such as Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, my Wushu brother Mark Dacascos, and (my personal favorite) Tamlyn Tomita!

Meeting a childhood crush of mine, Tamlyn Tomita (from Karate Kid 2)!

I've mentioned this in previous posts, but I really believe that we're all here in this world for a greater purpose. Each and every one of us can make a difference! Even if we touch one person's life with just a simple smile, that can make a lasting impression. We are more powerful than even we know!

"Your life will become better by making other people's lives better!" Will Smith

"Do you remember?" (these kids sure will!)

"Those are the years when you can become anything you want," says international pop sensation Jay Sean in regards to the importance of those pivotal years teenagers spend in high school.

Get Schooled, an organization driven to improve the graduation rates of high schoolers all around the country, and Power106 LA put together a pep rally to congratulate the students of Santee High School for their increased attendance over the past two years. What the students didn't know was that Get Schooled and Power had a bit of a surprise up their sleeves...Jay Sean! And I was fortunate to join him with my friend Mando Fresko as he donated $10,000 worth of computer equipment to the students of Santee High!

It's really inspiring to me when I see an artist who's achieved great success give back to the community. I truly believe that we all have a social responsibility (especially if there are folks who look up to us) and this isn't Jay's first altruistic deed! He works with Keep a Child Alive (founded by Alicia Keys) and for his birthday he asked people to donate to charity instead of giving him gifts. The gift itself is giving and that doesn't only brighten one person's life...it touches so many more!

If you drop a pebble in a pond, ripples cross the entire pond. See the joy of giving back and drop that pebble...your ripples will reach beyond your own imagination!

Young Storytellers Big Show 2011

Together with Zachary Knighton (Flash Forward/Happy Endings), Craig Anton (Phil of the Future) and several other incredibly talented actors and actresses, we brought a handful of kids' original scripts to life once again! 

The Young Storytellers Foundation is a non-profit organization that fosters the development of imagination and teaches children that anything is possible...and it is! One of the great things about being a part of this program is that you simply live in the moment, enjoy life and are game for anything...just like in acting! Art truly imitates life! 

The kids in this program impress me every time with their clever scripts and have such a vivid imagination that it's really refreshing. It's fun taking my audience on an adventure without having to leave their seats!

Dragon Age: Redemption

Strike up the band and commence the parade, Felicia Day’s new web series has been announced! After an appearance on the Jimmy Fallon show - as well as several write ups through notable media outlets such as USA Today and Time - the trailer for Dragon Age: Redemption is spreading like wildfire! I won’t say too much about my role in the series just yet (*insert dramatic buildup) but let’s just say there’ll be action that’s sure to have your toes curling and pulse pounding. And maybe it’s just me, but come on, I’m a sucker for girls with elf ears!

 

Community!

I got to work again with my favorite actor to double, Dr. Ken Jeong, on his hit NBC comedy Community over the weekend! Watching him inspires me as a young Asian American actor as he approaches his work with remarkable professionalism and a fun loving spirit. It was a quick shoot but a great reunion for the both of us!

"Serenade" starring Bruno Mars

My directorial debut!

Here’s the video that I directed and wrote with my friend DJ Mando Fresko and the fedora-donning Grammy winner Bruno Mars!

REWIND: Hanging out with Davey Jones on Pirates 3

Bill Nighy and I after a long night of shooting

Here's a photo I found from the first movie I ever worked on, Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End!

What a blessing it was to work on that movie! Over the span of two years while we shot the movie I got to travel to the Bahamas and worked with amazing stuntmen and women who continue to provide me with guidance and inspiration.

Subject 6

Me and my amigo Matt Kohler getting fashionably fitted

Over the weekend, my friend Seda put the gears of his filmmaking vehicle into drive with his original screenplay, Subject 6. I play an insidious technician that infects the minds of experimental subjects in this dark sci-fi thriller. Quite a departure from the norm, but a fun acting challenge I wanted to take on for sure! I recently saw a brief screening of the footage and it looks amazing!