Actors With Issues with Juan Ayala Juan Ayala

This week we are joined by Conor Sherry, star of the new coming-of-age comedy ‘Snack Shack’ where he plays AJ, a middle America teenager trying to make some fast money with his best friend during their summer break, leading them to winning an auction for the snack shack at their local pool. Their success is soon upended when they both fall in love when a new girl moves to town and starts working as a lifeguard at the pool.

“The role of AJ was really special because not only was it my first lead in a movie, but he goes through such a great arc. The ups, the downs, every first of a 15-year-old. I got to experience every kind of emotion and show that.” A key takeaway for Conor was, as the lead, seeing the countless hours of work put in by the entire production crew, from production designers and set decorators to the hair and makeup artists. “I got to see a movie get made. I was the first actor called and the last to leave every single day and I knew [making a show/film] was a lot of work because you see everyone running around, but seeing it every day, the consistency that a crew needs to have, really changed my perspective. There are a lot of people who can go unappreciated [by viewers].”

Conor shared some poignant advice for young actors, particularly those who may be treating their career pursuit passively. “I have friends who have said ‘I don’t know if this is what I wanna do’ as they’re pursuing it. I’d say to give yourself a time period and 100% go for it. You can’t just try. The line of people who are really going for it is so long. Use that fearlessness and don’t wait. Even if you’re in college, just start auditioning. Use that energy. People love it and it’s really refreshing. I hope I don’t lose that and get jaded,” he laughed.

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From his groundbreaking role of Ricky Vasquez in the 90s series “My So Called Life” to his commanding performances on Broadway and in television series like “13 Reasons Why”, “Red Band Society” and the critically-acclaimed “Star Trek: Discovery”, which premieres its fifth and final season today on Paramount+, Wilson Cruz has continually pushed boundaries and shattered stereotypes, cementing his status as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. Beyond his undeniable talent, Cruz's journey is a testament to resilience and advocacy, as he fearlessly uses his platform to champion Afro-Latino and LGBTQ+ representation and social justice causes. In this conversation on Actors With Issues, we delve into the early days of his career, insights into how he’s overcome adversity and remained resilient, and guidance for young actors looking to break into the business.

We are delighted to be joined by actress, filmmaker, and author of 'The Brink: A Memoir" Jaime Andrews who delves into her book which explores her childhood and teen-year struggles with depression, mental health, and substance use issues. It's a darkly funny, emotional, and incredibly vulnerable look into the many trials and tribulations she overcame. "My mom would rather I didn't do that, she won't even read it. She said 'I lived through it the first time'", Jaime laughed. "I knew it was a crazy story so it had entertainment value but I really wanted to put it out there because I know people who struggle could find value in it, it could give them hope to go on and overcome the things that I overcame and that so many of us go through."

From collegiate athlete to sitcom star, Nyambi Nyambi’s career has ebbed and flowed through a variety of genres, mediums and roles, whether it was starring alongside Melissa McCarthy and Billy Gardell in Mike & Molly or joining the ensemble cast of acclaimed drama The Good Fight to returning to his sitcom roots in season two of NBC’s reboot of Night Court, streaming now on Peacock.

Warrior quietly took the world by storm in 2019 after the premiere of its first season, so much so that it was renewed almost immediately for a second season which premiered in 2020. A few episodes in, the series introduced us to soon-to-be fan-favorite character Hong, played by Chen Tang, a smiley-but-deadly newcomer to San Francisco who joins the Hop Wei. Chen joins us on Actors With Issues to look back at his time on the show, the hopes for a future home as the show dropped on Netflix last month, and discuss the many lessons learned throughout his career working on iconic shows like 30 Rock, Agents of Shield and one of his proudest projects besides Warrior, the live-action adaptation of Disney’s Mulan. 

Chen’s first TV role was on an episode of 30 Rock in 2011 where he played Jake Hu, a character in a show within the show who is an investigative reporter without a sense of smell and “has to get the story using his eyes, ears, and other senses”. The role didn’t call for him to perform with any of the series core cast, but he recalled how he still felt a tad nervous coming on to an established show as a guest star. But an encounter with series star and creator of the show Tina Fey made him feel welcome and put his nerves at ease.

“I remember Tina was walking by and she had a bunch of people following her, since she was also the producer and writer of the show, so she was busy. She actually stopped by and took the time to talk to a little guest star and that always stuck out to me. I always try to emulate that. I believe it’s our sacred duty to send the elevator down and to be kind and respect other artists and people. I remember being blessed that being my first gig in New York.” (34:20)

Speaking about his casting in Warrior, Chen shared that because the series had been renewed so quickly after its premiere, he didn’t have a chance to watch the show before booking the role and dove right into his preparation to play Hong and join the world of 1870s San Francisco and Chinatown.

Playing the role of Hong in Warrior, Chen said his approach to the character had constant duality, as he was a sensitive, caring person with a positive attitude but also a ferocious warrior, “you can always play off your internal life and it was fascinating to look at it through that lens. It was fun to zig when everyone else was zagging. You always have a cool choice to make.” 

During the ‘Dear Chen’ Q&A segment of the episode, we turn to fan questions who asked Chen to delve more into his character-building process for Warrior, pivotal moments from throughout the series, and the impact of portraying a gay character that was completely devoid of harmful stereotypes. 

“We never wanted to put a microscope on his sexuality. He just so happens to like men, but that’s not all he is. It was such a pillar of the creation process because that was the first thing that opened up this sense of duality and gave me so much as Hong,” he explained. “You look at the world he came from, Ching Dynasty China, which was already a very stereotypically masculine-dominated sphere, and then you’re also in a gang. You’re a soldier for the mafia. You’re already inhabiting this world that’s very masculine but deep down there’s other things around that life, how could those two things play off of each other? And that’s where I found humor, that’s where I found everything based on Hong’s sexual identity.”

Watch the full episode or tune in on your favorite podcast platform, and be sure to watch all three seasons of Warrior on Netflix to help secure a new season!

Few actors can say they’ve worked with some of the most notable names in entertainment like Morgan Freeman, Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Mel Gibson, Emile Hersch and Tye Sheridan. Meet Dylan Flashner, a charismatic and talented star on the rise who has appeared in over a dozen feature films in the last five years, with another seven projects soon-to-be released. Not only is he a talented actor, he’s also a gifted singer-songwriter and musician, and through his production company, has produced nearly 40 films with the goal of highlighting stories from those who are underrepresented.



Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe to the channel, give us a thumbs up and leave a comment!

🖥️ Check out our website: www.actorswithissues.com
▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube channel: http://bit.ly/actors-with-issues
🍎 Listen on Apple: https://apple.co/3iC2Gml
🔊 Listen on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3iC3Qya
📸 Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/actorswithissues
🎙 Follow Juan Ayala on Instagram: www.instagram.com/juanayalaofficial
💻 Actors With Issues on Facebook: www.instagram.com/actorswithissues