We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kevin Cheng a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve worked on is “A Journey of Jack,” an indie feature film written and directed by Taiwanese director Chin-En Gau. I had the privilege of portraying Tom, one of the lead characters in the film. The story follows two Taiwanese high school students who travel to New York City behind their parents’ back in search of the American dream, but they are instead faced with cultural differences and hardships that force them to reevaluate their friendship and the attainability of their idealized future.

This project is incredibly personal to me, not only because I shared similar sentiments of my character when I first arrived in the U.S., but also because I resonate deeply with what the film is attempting to capture: the fragility of young dreams. Being an immigrant artist living in America, I remember vividly how excited and scared I was to explore a new country for the first time. As a storyteller of Taiwanese heritage, the project became more than just a film; it became an opportunity to shed light on immigrant and teenage experiences that ineluctably shape our identities.

We finished filming the project a few weeks ago at the end of April. Prior to our actual shoots was a month-long process of dissecting the script, which involved weekly rehearsals and guided exercises that helped us dive into the inner lives of our characters. Working on the film encouraged me to reflect on my own high school years and reconnect to my Taiwanese roots. It also reminded me of all the people that contributed to my growing up during that period.

The actual filming process was fun and challenging at times, in terms of the physicality it requires to portray the characters and the emotional depth we had to sustain over long shoot days. Even though we had two overnight shoots that wrapped at 4 a.m. in the morning and a few 12-hour days, the crew was extremely professional and worked tirelessly to ensure our well-being, and I am very grateful for them. Our film was shot at various locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. My personal favorite day of filming was at Coney Island, where we got to experience the wonder of New York nightscape as well as acted in a car chase scene.

Filming this project remains one of the most profound experiences of my life. Having spent so much time thinking about and embodying my character, I’ve developed such an intimacy with him that I know I will carry into my future works.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an actor and playwright based in New York City, born and raised in Taiwan. My acting journey began when I took a scene study class in college, where I truly fell in love with this form of story-telling. For the last two years, I have been a part of professional theater and film productions across the state of New York. While initially starting my career as an actor, I am now equally invested in playwriting and developing new theater works.

My one-act play “Dear Diary” was selected to premiere at the Chain Theatre Winter One-Act Festival in February, and I had the opportunity to portray one of the lead characters alongside Elizabeth McBryde. It was such a rewarding experience to see my writing manifest on stage at a prestigious theater and seeing the impact my play had on the audience. After four sold-out performances at the Chain Theatre, the play will now transfer to The Players Theatre for its Off-Broadway run in June with the original cast.

I also recently starred in the short silent film “CLARITIES” directed by Daniel Jaffe and Michelle Uranowitz. The film will be screened on Isabella Rossellini’s Mama Farm this summer, along with works by other distinguished filmmakers.

Currently, I am rehearsing for “Sunset Diner,” a new one-act play I wrote that examines romantic relationships and how we approach and preserve love. I will play one of the lead characters opposite Jennifer Analise Roberts. The piece is set to premiere at The RAT in Brooklyn on May 30th before making its festival run.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is having a community where support is prevalent. I think this is especially true for the theatre industry in New York City. I have formed countless meaningful friendships with collaborators who I have enjoyed working with and simply being around. For me, there is nothing more exhilarating than working with people I love and respect on projects that resonate deeply with my artistic impulses. I often share my writing with playwright friends and sometimes actor friends for feedback, and it has profoundly increased the density of my work.

Another gift of being an actor is the opportunity to experience other people’s lives, which in terms catalyzes our growth as individuals and expands our empathy. I have noticed myself becoming more open and receptive, and less judgemental of others after starting my acting career. Being an actor and playwright has enhanced my understanding of human nature and the world at large.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by a deep desire to tell stories that highlight human connections and explore how people grope their way toward a sense of equanimity in face of unexpected life events. I’m particularly interested in how ordinary people with big, sometimes unfulfilled, dreams make sense of their indivudal lives amidst loss and confusion.

Having lived in the Midwest for six years, the mission behind some of my work is also rooted in amplifying the voices of small town Americans and their resilience. At the same time, I’m equally passionate about telling Eastern narratives that can spark empathy and important conversations from Western audiences. Many of the topics I cover in my work are influenced by theatrical productions and films I have seen that moved me emotionally.

Ultimately, my artistic goal is to create works that remind the audiences of the beauty of life and our connectedness as a community. Through my work, I hope I can inspire more love and kindness in the world we live in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.backstage.com/ching-tse-cheng/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevbot_cheng/