Actor Lee Shorten on Swan Song, Ghost of Tsushima’s Kazumasa Sakai

Fred Richani of TSC. We have right here on the line a very special guest. You may know his work for man in the high castle from Ghost of tsushima for amc’s the terror we are talking to actor Lee Shorten Lee. Thank you so much for your time. How’s everything going? That’s great. Thank you. Thanks for having me. How are you I’m good is that your dog or your cat. Oh, what’s that sorry, hey, we’re cat people here. So, that’s a totally fine by me. Sorry, sorry guys all good. Life’s good. It’s getting a little cooler here, but LA cooler is not like East coast cooler.

So, yeah, you know, how it is surviving the pandemic, I guess as a gamer I gotta ask you about your role and Ghost of sushima. It was a thrill for me, too because I was part of the director’s cut and I played the base game as well and loved it. Like I was a huge fan of the game and I’ve been a huge fan of sucker punch for years. So then I got this audition for and at the time, you know, they don’t tell you what it is or whatever, but I was like, oh, is this Ghost of sushma is this a sequel or something.

And then it was the dlc the iki island expansion and then to be playing like because of Sakai was kind of like an unreal kind of dream come true thing. It’s pretty incredible and how different has that been from some of your other work whether it be in voiceovers or just acting in general in terms of like the overall process. Most voiceover I done before was cartoons and this is my first, you know, aaa video game. I’ve done some mobile games and stuff, but nothing like this. So this was the first time I’d been down like the mocap stages and done all that kind of thing and it was really cool.

The only unfortunate thing was that because it was in the pandemic. We couldn’t record together like in the original they’d recorded together even, you know, even when they were mocapping, but I was just by myself, which was a bit of a bummer because I wanted to work with everyone. But it was still a wonderful experience. That’s awesome. And another cool thing here I’m even involved a lot of cool things. But another cool thing you’re involved in specifically is a little show called squid game and you were telling me off the air. You did some English, dubbing. I don’t think a lot of people. Know, which is pretty freaking cool.

I mean, it’s only the number one or number two, most streamed Netflix series of all time. What was it like getting hooked up with squid game. And when you were doing the English, dubbing did you have any idea of the scope of this production, you know, again. That was just the usual like edition came in and oh, no. Actually, I don’t think I did audition. I do a little bit of dubbing for Netflix, you know, and I think I just done a show with the same director. And then they just asked me to come in and do squid games. So I didn’t audition for that one actually and I do remember in the session just watching a couple of scenes and I thought this looks like a really cool show.

I had no idea it would be, you know, the level that squid game was going to go. But I did think oh, this is pretty cool. I think people will dig this I interviewed a few of the voice actors and they told me that they only essentially did their scenes. So, whatever they saw was the perspective of their character was that the case for you where you kind of thought it was one type of series and then all of a sudden you realize the scope after watching it. I did a bunch of characters on that show. So I came in and it’s a lot of just like randoms and guest stars and stuff.

So I guess I got to see maybe a bit of a broader perspective than some of the others, but then I maybe didn’t see the depth because I wasn’t, you know, like well, it wasn’t like guyana or anyone. So, and of course, as I mentioned before you’re part of amc’s the tear amazon’s the man in the high castle. You were part of Swan song as well. I mean, very impressive resume up to this point been really cutting your teeth props to you. But of course, every journey has a beginning. So growing up, did you want to get into acting, I did not I did not when I was when I was really little.

I wanted to be a doctor and then I wanted to be a musician. So acting was never really on the radar were you a lawyer studying to be a lawyer prior to getting into acting. I was a lawyer. Yeah, I went to law school and everything. And then worked as a lawyer for a couple of years and then hated it. Wow. So when did you realize like, okay, like I want to be an actor, right? Did you have like a period where you were exploring other career paths or did you know, as soon as law was making you miserable like damn it. I gotta get into showbiz, look, I’ve always loved film and TV.

Like when I was a kid, I had, you know, the dvds and I’d watch all the extra features and the DVD commentaries and everything. And you know, I was super into it. So then my liberal arts undergrad major was film studies and I, you know, even loved it even more and I always thought that if I ever went into the arts. I’d be a director. Because that’s kind of like the what I’d grown up thinking about, you know, I think about film more critically, but then, you know, it made sense to my lawyer brain, but like now? I know what I know about the industry.

It’s really stupid. But when I was thinking about transitioning into film. I thought, well, you know, if they make one movie, there’s only one director, but there’s like 30 actors in the movie. So statistically it must be easier to be an actor. So, I’ll just try acting to get my foot in the door was like the original kind of thought process. And as far as your law background. What law did you practice specifically the most exciting kind tax law. Oh, Boy. All right, so, I’ll I would like to assume and correct me. If I’m wrong that means. You might be pretty good at when it comes to negotiating contracts keeping track of your finances anything like that.

I’m assuming. That’s kind of helped you when being in Hollywood? You know, obviously I have agents and stuff that look out for me, but it has been useful in terms of like indie filmmaking and a lot of my friends are indie filmmakers. So, you know, I’ve been good at looking at their contracts and that kind of thing. So that’s where it’s been useful. Hey, it worked out in the long run, right, you know, yeah, a couple years ago, exactly. What would you say was your big break. I don’t think I’ve had it yet, man. I don’t you know, I don’t know what a he’s what would you say what would you say is you helped you really get your foot in the door where now you are a consistent working actor.

Who’s really getting some notoriety. That’s very kind of you to say I mean, I think it all really started with man in the high castle. I, you know, I was lucky to get that early on in my career. And it turned into something. It wasn’t supposed to be and I just learnt a lot on that show and I think that show had a bit of pedigree. So, I think it’s been kind of my calling card in a lot of respects was it tough for you to go all the way from Australia to l.a. Did it happen like, right away or did you initially take acting gigs there before transitioning to the states.

No, I’d never acted in Australia and the market there’s kind of small and it is like super super White like even wider than the American market. Although. Wow, obviously it’s better these days. But I went to Vancouver first and then I transitioned to LA after a few years in Vancouver I’ve interviewed a few guys from Vancouver one of my good friends as a stunt person and actor there. And yeah, I mean, that is loki one of the bigger cities and better cities when it comes to showbiz totally. I mean, I think it’s the biggest hub outside of new York and LA isn’t it? Yeah, I think you’re right?

Yeah, I think it’s like, right behind them. You mentioned Australia very White I look at America and while things have gotten better and show biz and workplaces in general. There’s still a long way to go. So comparatively, let’s just stick with America when it comes to diversity do you think that we’re heading towards a good place as an asian actor lately definitely it seems like we are. I’m always a little hesitant and like you know, I’m the cynic of our little group because I you know, every after crazy situations everyone was like, oh, this is it everything’s going to be different and I, you know, remember they said the same thing when joy luck club came out and I said the same thing when better luck tomorrow came out and you know, there was a law where you know gently and jackie chan were everywhere.

So, I mean, I hope like things are better right now, but I hope it’s like a permanent change and not a flash in the pan if that makes sense realistically speaking. It’s not just about getting more representation, but also making it the norm, right? Like making it normal like one day we hope it’s not a big deal that there’s like an asian or Black lead film or lgbtq presence that should just be standard right? Exactly like, you know, reflecting the world around us totally. I love that. Yeah, for sure. Awesome. Well, we always like to ask our guests some kind of random rapid fire questions just to get to know him better.

Are you ready? Yeah, I love it. All right. Favorite late night snacker cheat meal? Oh god. I mean, pizza is a good cheat meal? I don’t really do late night snacks. All right. All right. You said pizza, not this is of course a new York show. So I’m a little biased here. Have you had some new York pizza and what did you think if you did I have and it was awesome. Okay. There you go, any particular pizza, you dig look, this is controversial, but I am a hawaiian, man. Okay. Oh pineapple on your pizza. Yeah. Yeah. All right. All right. You are forgiven my friend.

All-time favorite actor. I’ll top my head. I’ll say philosophy. Yeah. He was absolutely brilliant. You said you’re a gamer, which made my eyes light up because I’m a gamer as well. We cover gaming extensively what are you currently playing and what’s your all-time favorite game. These are good questions, man. I’m currently playing dark souls 3. Did you play dark souls. I play it, but that game is so hard I’m a baby with that it’s like I die once or twice. I’m like alright, I’m good. And then my all-time favorite game. Wow. Besides Ghost of sashima. Of course, yeah, thank you. You know what you know what is an underrated gem, which I love and revisit all the time is planescape torment.

Oh, I’m gonna have to check it out. What kind what console’s on. Oh, it’s old. It’s like an old PC game like in the boulder’s gate era. Oh, okay, cool. Cool. Cool. Awesome. What’s your all-time favorite movie seven. Yeah. How’s it going with brad pitt, right? Yeah. Good stuff. What’s an underrated project on your IMDb. Of course, we know you’ve forgotten the major series, you’ve been a part of go sushima all that jazz, but is there one thing on your IMDb that for anybody watching listening to this that you’d love them to check out something that maybe you don’t think gets enough love I guess I’ve been kind of lucky in that I feel like a lot of my stuff has got this requisite, you know, I they cut my scene.

But I feel like you should all check out noel the Anna kendrick Bill head or Christmas movie, especially because it’s the season, right? Yeah. Awesome. Are you a Christmas guy. Do you like do you like the holiday season. I worked in retail for like 10 years which badly soured me on Christmas, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve fallen back in love with it. Hey, as somebody who worked in retail for 10 years as well before getting into showbiz and everything else. Let me tell you like the more far removed, you are from retail, the more you enjoy the holiday season. Again, you don’t have to deal with people.

Oh my god, most, you know what I was gonna ask you what your most awkward moment as an actor is and I’ll ask that in a second, but I gotta ask you what’s your most awkward wacky moment in retail because I mean, we all see it right? There’s always a Karen or some some crazy you mean like the weirdest people in retail is there any story that comes to mind this holiday season this happened many many many times to be honest. Like because I grew up in a small rural town in Australia. That was like very White. And so many times, you know, a customer would talk to me on the phone because I worked in the like the CD department and they come in.

And they come to the desk and like, hey, like I was just talking to Lee earlier and I’d like yep. That’s me and you would just see them their brain would be like, but you’re asian like they couldn’t process. I’m like, yes, that was me. I’m just me and then I remember I had one guy once he was like, all right, but what kind of asian. Are you I’m like, well, you know, and he’s like this is very important because it’s like I bought it, which is understandable I’m just like, you know, in a weird way. He’s like I thought in the war and if you’re Japanese I’m just like I don’t even want to look at you and I’m like, oh, okay, sir.

Well, I am certainly sorry to hear that I could share a story with you real quick. You know, I had this the so I’m Lebanese in venezuela and I’m fluent in arabic and I had these two dudes that were just I think a couple just talking all this crap about me in arabic like I’m just trying to do my job selling the TV and they’re saying all this stuff all this crap that I could totally understand that they don’t know because you know, I look like just like a regular White Boy or whatever and then as I rang them up everything else sent them on their way.

I said, shukran, which is thank you in arabic and they just look at me like, oh my god. Like they just felt so embarrassed I was like, yeah, that’s cell phone. Hey, it happens, right? As far as an actor being an actor. What’s your most awkward moment as an actor. It could be like a funny moment, too. Like if we’re at a party or something. I mean, and it’s like an embarrassing story that gets that makes you laugh now that maybe wasn’t funny then like you know anything that comes to mind? Well, I’ll tell it funny like it got cut again, but like in swansong.

There’s a bit in the script and we shot it, but you know, whatever but these things happen? Well, mahershali’s character wets himself while he’s asleep and then I’m supposed to like clean it up because he’s like unconscious and I remember there’s like so many jokes just that day about how that was all gonna play out and like they had like the scene. There’s people talking while I do it and you know, all they gave me this one cloth on the first take and the scene goes forever and I’m just down there just wiping up this imaginary p for so long and then we cut and everyone was just like yo what were you doing down there man.

You were down there for like forever. That’s hilarious. And what was it like working in mahershala ali that guy is such a badass his range is incredible. I’d imagine you got a kick out of working with him. Oh, yeah, man, that was it was surreal because, you know, again, I’ve been a big fan of his for a long time. Like his body of work is so impressive as you say his range is incredible. Obviously he’s a two-time oscar winner. So, you know, every day was just like a master class just getting to watch him work and observe him and listen to the questions he asked and the things that he did it was surreal man.

It was so good. You cannot say enough good things about it or him. That’s awesome. And you know, something that just came to mind too another actor somebody actually interviewed a couple times I haven’t talked to him in a while, but Carrie tagawa. Oh, yeah. Yeah. The original og for mortal kombat. I mean that guy is awesome. What was it like working with him. Yeah, we didn’t we really shared scenes together. But I mean I got to know him over the course of the thing. And I’m like you dude. I’m like my god, it’s shang tsung like it’s like, you know, that was kind of a surreal experience, but then meeting him and you know what kerry’s like he’s so much more like yo just the energy and the vibes, man.

Yes. He’s so mellow and chill compared to some of the characters. He played it’s insane. You could just like kick it with him and just right? That was a weird disconnect and like obviously I know we’re all actors. But his was such an extreme, you know, 180 I was like, Whoa. What’s the best piece of advice you get for success? That’s always such a weird question because like I don’t know what success is, you know, I think if you’re chasing success. You’re probably setting yourself up for failure and I know it can be difficult, but I think you know, it’s always that thing of like you just have to be very grounded at all times and have a very good support network around you.

And just be kind of find find the little wins and the things that help you each day whether or not, you know, that’s like a totally unrelated hobby or whatever and then I think if you’re grounded and genuine and kind success will find you and before I let you go, sir. Where can fans find you online and where can we find you next on screen. Yeah, you can find me on Twitter and Instagram at lc Shorten and well, you can catch swansong on apple TV plus on december 17th. And then there. I wish I could talk about my other project, but I can’t. But check back in early next year.

I think we’ll have something else to talk about? Well, you know what since you can’t talk about the other projects except for Swan song with me just asking about that. And in a couple of lines or less. Why should people tune in two words mahershala ali like honestly, he delivers two performances that are just like it’s next level in just the nuance and the complexity and the subtlety of what he’s doing phenomenal. But also you know, the script by ben cleary the director. It is it’s a really lovely story about family and love and mortality and I think you know, it raises some interesting questions and will kind of hopefully, you know, it’s the kind of film where afterwards you want to call your loved ones immediately and just be thankful for them.

You know, yeah, we will definitely check it out swansong apple TV plus december 17th, right? That’s correct, sir.