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Justin Chon has quickly risen up the ranks of Hollywood actors in the past four years. The Korean American actor began his career in 2005 on the WB show “Jack & Bobby.” He later captured casting director’s attention in 2006 when he played Peter Wu in the Disney Channel film “Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.”

He also played Tony Lee in the Nickelodeon sitcom “Just Jordan” and portrayed the son of Korean immigrants in the Harrison Ford movie “Crossing Over.” But his breakthrough appearance came in 2008, when he played Eric Yorkie in the film “Twilight,” based on the book by Stephenie Meyer.

Chon will be recognized with the Male Nova Award at this year’s Multicultural Motion Picture Association’s 17th annual Diversity Awards on Nov. 22 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He will also reprise his role as Eric Yorkie in the upcoming “Twilight Saga: New Moon,” which opens nationwide on Nov. 20.

Justin recently spoke with Examiner.com about his acting career, the types of characters he plays and the ‘New Moon.”

You’ve played roles that are specifically Asian and also roles that were non-ethnic specific like Eric Yorkie in “Twilight.” How do you see yourself as a performer? Does race affect you?

I just see myself as an actor. I feel like we’re all in it together and at the end of the day, we all need each other. The Asian part of it… to make those projects, I think that it’s very much needed and important. I don’t neglect that whatsoever, but I’d also like to break those barriers and to say ‘Hey, I’m an actor. I can do a lot of different things.”

You’re in your late 20’s now. What’s it like to play a teenager?

It’s refreshing… it’s kinda just what I do… As an actor you can play different age ranges and different ethnicities. It’s no different than any other role, you just have to find what is the essence of the character and what it feels like to be that person… to find what’s at the core of this person.

I think the biggest thing is that when you’re in high school, you’re always trying to prove that your cool or whatever.. and I think the main thing is trying to find your identity. High school students try to get there in different ways and I think my character tries to find that.

Have you found yourself, your identity as an actor?

As an actor, I don’t really think you find yourself. I mean once you find yourself, I think it becomes boring and you become set in your ways. I think as an actor I think its’ not a bad thing but more of a gift. It’s something you’re always doing as an actor. You’re adjusting constantly.

In “Twilight” you play Eric Yorkie who was not written specifically as an Asian American character. Tell us about the role.

He’s supposed to be white but Catherine Hardwicke, the director of the first film, went to the producers and studio and convinced them to hire me for the part. There’s never any mention of my character being Asian or any talk of his ethnicity.

Do you think that’s a good thing?

I think it’s great. It does matter but at the same time I have nothing against playing ethnic specific parts. It’s wonderful to get those opportunities. It’s needed and there definitely is a place for it. But just the fact that “Twilight” is such a pop culture phenomenon made this a huge movie that a lot of people are seeing. I think it’s very important that people watch this movie and go “Hey, that guy goes to my high school.”

I mean why do we have to see this character as a certain type of person when it could be anybody. He could be Black, White, Mexican, Asian. I think high school is a good example of that. “Twilight” is reaching so many people and I think it’s a really good step in the right direction for diversity and opening up doors.

Special Thanks to Justin Chon and his publicist Anthony Turk for arranging this interview.

Diversity Awards to honor ‘Glee,’ ‘Parks’

Although you know Twilight’s Justin Chon as human Eric Yorkie, I’m happy to say that the humanity doesn’t stop there. After chatting with him yesterday for a few minutes he’s easily made it on my list of super down-to-earth people. That my friends, is a good list to be on. Aside from earning a spot on that list, he was able to dish on the upcoming New Moon movie and fill us in on what he’s been up to since we last chatted. A few times, he even turned the tables on me by asking me questions. JI: I understand you’ve recently attended the Pusan International Film Festival. Can you tell me about your experience and what you did there?

JC: I’d like to say that I felt out of place a little, I don’t know why they invited me. I felt like an outsider.

JI: Why is that?

JC: I don’t know, I just didn’t feel like I was a part of ‘the club’ or whatever. Everyone there had their own team and I thought it’d be okay if I went by myself… and um, it wasn’t okay.

JI: I’m sorry to hear about that.

JC: Yeah, it’s okay. I mean that’s just the way they do business there. Actually I learned a lot, I learned a lot about how they operate over there– I realized that I truly love working in America.

JI: Speaking of America, New Moon will be premiering soon. How are you prepping yourself for the madness?

JC: Absolutely no preparation at all.

JI: You’re just going to walk in there and be cool?

JC: What’s there to prepare for? I’ll uh…get a suit. I’ll uh…get a suit and on the day of I’ll show up with [my publicist] Anthony and we’ll… watch the movie. I think that’s the best preparation I can do.

JI: So, no emotional preparation? The premiere last year looked pretty crazy from what I’ve seen.

JC: What kind of preparation would you do?

JI: I think I would do a little yoga, call on Jesus and ask people to pray for me.

JC: Yeah, I think that’s actually a very good idea. I think I’ll have people pray for me too.

JI: With the success of Twilight going from being an indie film to a massive franchise, how has this affected your experience of filming New Moon?

JC: Not much at all. A movie set is a movie set, the only thing that’s different is they’re just a lot more protective with the people and they have umbrellas so photographers can’t take pictures. You know, the only thing that’s affected is personal freedom. You can’t just walk off the set and smoke a cigarette anymore and they have to know where you are at all times. They set up these black walls everywhere so you can’t escape the set. But other than that, filming-wise, filming is the same. Just a different director. There’s differences in those terms but with that, in terms of the work, it’s the same.

JI: As I’ve mentioned earlier, a handful of our readers including myself are Orange County natives, has life here changed fo—

JC: Didn’t you say you were from Rowland Heights or the San Gabriel Valley?

JI: I’m actually from Anaheim.

JC: Anaheim! My dad has a store on Ball and Chapman, The Mega Shoe Factory.

JI: I totally know where that is! I’ll check it out sometime when I need shoes.

JC: What high school did you go to?

JI: Orange High.

JC: Awesome. I went to University High in Irvine.

JI: Cool deal. So, has life here changed for you since Twilight happened?

JC: Life — I mean, in some ways, yeah. Like I get to travel a lot. Ya know, once in awhile I get recognized for something. But uh, yeah, I’ve been traveling a lot. In the last year I got to go to Paris, uh Spain, France…(laughs)haha Paris is in France, London, Florida, Korea, New York, Vancouver, Washington, Arizona, Australia, Chicago –twice…I think that’s it.

JI: Of those places, which place did you enjoy the most?

JC: Paris. Ya know what, I honestly thought I wouldn’t love Mona, I’d love Italy but uh…that’s not the case. I thought the French in France would be a bunch of high-nosed rude people, but that’s not the case. If you’re overly nice to them, they treat you with just as much respect. I think they’re just used to American people coming in and poo-poo-ing on sh**. And uh, they just don’t like that. So if you’re really nice, they’re nice to you. The thing I love about Paris was that it’s big city, but it has a really calm attitude. Everyone is just really chill and quiet. Not wild,

JI: Or frantic…

JC: Which I also love! But at the same time it’s fast paced. The subway doors opens before the car even stops — you get to where you’re going and once you get there, you relax. And I really like how everyone is into their own thing and not staring you. I remember I was on the train and some girls were screaming a song — no one gave a sh**. They just let them be teenagers, and no one was trying to reprimand them. Well, people laughed but it was awesome.

JI: What’s next on your list of places to travel to?

JC: I’m going to be back in Paris next week for a signing.

JI: For a Twilight convention?

JC: Yeah, me and a bunch of the other Twilight cast members usually do these conventions where we go to places and sign autographs. So, I’m looking forward to that because ::French accent:: I love Pareee.

JI: What other upcoming projects do you have in store?

JC: Nothing, just Twilight. After that, I’m going back to the drawing board and going to pilot season. I’m re-energized to be an artist and be kind of done with Twilight.

JI: I think that’s more than enough for now.

JC: Do you?

JI: Twilight seems like a lot in itself!

JC: Yeah! The thing is, I’m at a good chapter in my life but I think it’s time to expand the horizons you know. It’s been like, what…two and a half years?

JI: Wow. And more to come, right?

JC: Uh yeah…well, I don’t really know. Did they make an announcement about the fourth book? I don’t think they’ve officially announced the fourth movie. I don’t know if I’ll be in it, because I was only signed up for the first three. And obviously as you go further in the series, my part gets smaller. By the fourth book, I know I could possibly be at Edward and Bella’s wedding. There’s one other scene in one of Bella’s dreams where all the human kids are like, dead.

JI: Have you read the entire Twilight series?

JC: Yeah, it’s part of the job. But umm, I’ve heard some crazy things about what’s planned for the series. I’m not allowed to say what exactly, but they’re trying to do other stuff. But yeah, I think I’m ready to — My dream right now is…I’ve done like the films… okay I guess I should say I’ve done a franchise but now one of my dreams is to do a TV show.

JI: What sort of TV show?

JC: ANYTHING. I want to do something like The Office, or even 30 Rock, or a drama. Like Lost, or action like Heroes or something like that. Or just like any other actor’s dreams, I’d like to be on HBO. HBO or Showtime, I wouldn’t mind being on one of those networks.

JI: I wouldn’t mind seeing you on one of those networks.

JC: Yeah that would be amazing. You should petition for me! Oh man, that would be my dream right now. Plus, I could stay in LA and have a normal place to stay and I could budget knowing how much money is coming in.

JI: What’s one thing about you that you’d like people to know?

JC: I’m actually very shy.

JI: You, shy? I find that hard to believe.

JC: See that’s why you don’t know that one.

JI: Why do you think you’re very shy?

JC: Um why? I don’t know, I get really self-concious, I guess. I uh, lemme see how do I explain this…When I get in groups of big people I don’t know, like big groups, I tend to shut down. It seems like I’m out there or whatever, but that’s not an actor because I’m allowed to. So when the cameras turn on, I’m allowed to be out there. But if you ever see me at a party or whatever, I just can’t do it. You can ask [my publicist]Anthony and Anthony freakin’ hates it. We’ll go to a social mixer or somewhere you’re supposed to network…I can’t do that stuff. See that’s the thing, what you see on the movies or TV, you would think, “Oh my god, he seems like so much fun to hang out with!” Well yeah, if you’re a good friend of mine, hell yeah we would have a ton of fun. I’d be really free and speak my mind, but if it’s like a bunch of people I don’t know I get self-concious because I think about what are these people going to think about me? Am I going to say the wrong thing? I just start thinking things and it just pollutes the mind. That’s the big thing that people don’t know about me.

JI: I’m kind of shocked!

JC: Don’t be shocked, just accept.

JI: You’re so human it hurts.

JC: (laughs.) I’m very human. I’m extremely human. I’m no different from you or anyone.

JI: Lastly, is there anything you’d like our readers to know?

JC: Thanks. Tell them thanks. Thanks for reading the article. They need to visit this site and support Ningin. [Jinra,] you’re Orange County-based. I’m even more supportive of it because that’s mah hood!

JI: Represent!

JC: Hell yeah! Big-ups to Garden Grove, (laughs). I was born in Garden Grove Hospital.

JI: Yeah, that’s totally my stompin’ ground.

JC: (Proceeds to list every city and street in all of Orange County.) …Tell your readers to visit my clothing store, The Attic. Have you been before? Starting in January, I will be there everyday.

JI: Starting in January you’re going to be there EVERY day?

JC: Yeah, tell them that. Just like that, “Starting in January, Justin will be there every day, so come kick it!”

JI: You can promise that to our readers?

JC: Yeah. Most of the days, yeah. I want to put more time into the store.

JI: That’s really nice of you.

JC: Well it is my business so I should be there, haha. As you know, I’m glad — seriously that’s the thing — I’m glad now that Twilight’s done, there’s so many more things I can do now, ya know?

JI: Yeah, you definitely have a lot going on for you, Justin.

JC: Yeah, I can totally tell that you’re trying to wrap up this conversation.

JI: Haha! What? Why do you say that?

JC: (laughs) Because you said, “Yeah, I can tell you got a lot of stuff going on with you Justin.” (continues mocking)…Well, you know, I hope everything keeps going good and you know we’ll keep track of your career and um you know, we really appreciate you talking to us. So uh, I guess we’ll talk to you next time! Is that what you were gonna say?

JI: Why you gotta play your fellow Orange County native like that, Justin?

JC: Hahaha I’m just speakin’ the truth, you know? I say it like I see it. It’s my duty to other Orange County-ians.

JI: That should be a word.

JC: Orange County-ian?

JI: Yeah!

JC: I’m going to make a shirt that says, “Orange County-ian.”

JI: You totally should. I would wear it every day, starting in January.

JC: (laughs) Well, I’ll be at The Attic starting January, almost everyday. Just as long as I don’t have an audition, come by, stop by, say hi.

JI: Alright, since I know you’re busy, I’ll let you go. Again, than—

JC: Aiite.

JI: Huh?

JC: Aiiiite, girl. Aiiite, Jinra.

Aiite guys, be sure to check out Justin’s clothing store The Attic. Live in Orange County or San Diego? Visit the official site for exact location details. And remember, starting in January, Justin will be at The Attic everyday. (As long as he doesn’t have an audition.)

Twilight’s sequel, New Moon will hit US theaters Nov. 20.

SOURCEj | SOURCE

I finally started a twitter for the site so follow along if you will the username is

@JustinCFansite

Thanks Anthony!!! Check out the interview in parts 1, 2, 3, & 4! Enjoy!

‘Twilight’ star Justin Chon at the Pusan International Film Festival

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Photo: Partial from Twitter

Before The Twilight Saga: New Moon and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse star Justin Chon (who portrays Eric Yorkie in the Twilight series films) posted that wonderful video, Turbo, on his Twitter, he was talking about how excited he was to attend the Pusan International Film Festival in Korea.

going to pusan south korea for the pusan international film festival..holla

Though he later posted that he was “lovin Korea,” he came on last night to tell his fans that he was not treated so well at the Pusan International Film Festival and asked his friends in the web world to post this picture of him at the festival.

why did the pusan film festival invite me if they make it seem like i wasnt even there.only photo i scrounged.post it everywhere!!

He later explained that he wanted to have people post it in spite of the festival.

POST IT EVERYWHERE!!!! I WANT TO STICK IT TO THEM FOR BEING MEAN!!!

Most followers of Chon issued sentiments to him of apology and sympathy, but a lot of them merely remarked at the fact that he looked great in the photo, so at least he got a great picture out of the deal.

Moral of the story: Follow Justin Chon on Twitter because he’s funny, sweet, and very talented.

SOURCE

Say what you will about the “Twilight” explosion of the last year – and everybody seems to have an opinion on whether the phenomenon is awesome or annoying – but even the haters should have a hard time complaining about how many of the franchise’s stars are using their newfound power to help young filmmakers. Jackson Rathbone has been hard at work on flicks like “Girlfriend,” Robert Pattinson has been able to bring a wider audience to quirky indies like “Little Ashes” and “How to Be,” and now comes the latest boost from Justin Chon.“Check out this short film i did with a friend from USC,” Justin Tweeted Wednesday night, posting a link to a vimeo page with an impressive 20-minute-long film called “Turbo.” Also on the page is the trailer, both of which were posted by the film’s director Jarrett Lee Conaway.

In the flick, Chon plays Hugo Park, a teenage fast-food slinger in a futuristic world much like ours – but with far more advanced gaming. The video game of the day is “Super Turbo Arena 2,” a sleek “Street Fighter”-like battle simulation. But instead of controllers or a mouse, the players stand in front of a sleek screen, wear sunglasses and move around on top of a “Dance Dance Revolution”-like floor that reflects their every step on screen. Each participant plays as a highly-stylized badass fighter – and Hugo has modeled his own after his wheelchair-bound older brother with hopes of winning enough money to “fix his back.”

Battling a braggart named Shamus (David Lehre) and a hottie who goes by the name Ruse (Alice Hunter), Hugo works his way through the competition one battle at a time. Finally, Hugo and Shamus square off in a final battle where they have to play as themselves, with the host telling them: “You can’t hide behind your avatars any longer.”

Described on the site as being in the tradition of “The Karate Kid” and “Tron,” the flick is an impressive mix of the two. Conaway is a young director with limited funds, so it’s really saying something that his short film is better-looking (and smarter) than recent, similarly-themed duds like “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” and “Dragonball Evolution.” Although set in the non-specific future, and highly stylized at times, “Turbo” hits a lot of gaming themes spot-on – right down to its fighters battling in arenas on beaches and in the desert.

You can bet that next time we track down Justin, we’ll be sure to ask him about the cool little flick – and whether he and Conaway would ever turn it into a full-length endeavor. But in the meantime, be sure to go check it out and let us know what you think down below.

”Turbo” the movie? Are you feeling it?

Justin posted this on his twitter just a few ago!

@justinchon check out this short film i did with a friend from usc http://vimeo.com/6932347

Jarrett Lee Conaway the director of “Turbo” and friend of Justin Chon posted the movie on Vimeo for you all to watch! Please check it out!! I’m watching right now and it looks good so far!!!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW “TURBO” the Movie!

source: Allkpop.com

They did another feature with Justin on their site. It’s cute, liked it alot! Gives you a little bit closer look at Justin and what he’s done and what he’s up to now.