Korean-American Actor Justin Chon Answers Call of 'Twilight'
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Korean-American actor Justin Chon has appeared in the mega-hit teen vampire movie "Twilight", its sequel "The Twilight Saga: New Moon", and the third part of the trilogy, "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse", which will be released this year. Visiting Korea for a meeting with his local management agency, the actor looked like a teenager despite being 29 years old.
"At first I decided I wouldn't audition for 'Twilight' because there hadn't been much interest in vampire movies in recent years", Chon said. "But I changed my mind when I heard Kristen Stewart was the lead actress. She's one of my favorite actresses".
Although he was born in Los Angeles, Chon speaks fluent Korean. "I used to get scolded by my parents if I didn't speak Korean at home when I was a boy", he said. His father was a child actor in Korea in the 1960s and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.
Chon showed artistic talent early in life, probably thanks to his father and his mother, who majored in piano. While he was a business major at the University of Southern California, he studied acting at a private studio. After graduating from university, he decided that acting was his calling, and debuted in a commercial in 2002. He then appeared in a few TV dramas before moving to the big screen.
While he was appearing in the sitcom "Just Jordan", he was asked to audition for "Twilight". "I finally got the part after about the seventh audition", Chon said. "The director especially liked me, saying that I have a new type of energy".
While he got along well with his fellow "Twilight" actors, he particularly enjoyed working with director Catherine Hardwicke. "I really liked her earlier movie, 'Thirteen'", he said.
Chon also runs his own business, a clothing shop called Attic in L.A. and San Diego. "My background as a business major really helps. And being an actor is actually a bit like running your own business".
Chon appeared alongside big names like Harrison Ford and Ashley Judd in the film "Crossing Over", which was released last year in the U.S. Including independent productions, he has acted in 22 films so far. In June he will play his first lead role in a Hollywood movie, a romantic comedy titled "Fortune Hunters".
Despite his success, he still takes acting classes to improve. "I get fewer opportunities in Hollywood than Caucasian actors, so I have to push myself harder", Chon said. "I believe I'll become a better actor along the way. And someday I'd love to appear in a Korean film".
"At first I decided I wouldn't audition for 'Twilight' because there hadn't been much interest in vampire movies in recent years", Chon said. "But I changed my mind when I heard Kristen Stewart was the lead actress. She's one of my favorite actresses".
Although he was born in Los Angeles, Chon speaks fluent Korean. "I used to get scolded by my parents if I didn't speak Korean at home when I was a boy", he said. His father was a child actor in Korea in the 1960s and immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970s.
Chon showed artistic talent early in life, probably thanks to his father and his mother, who majored in piano. While he was a business major at the University of Southern California, he studied acting at a private studio. After graduating from university, he decided that acting was his calling, and debuted in a commercial in 2002. He then appeared in a few TV dramas before moving to the big screen.
While he was appearing in the sitcom "Just Jordan", he was asked to audition for "Twilight". "I finally got the part after about the seventh audition", Chon said. "The director especially liked me, saying that I have a new type of energy".
While he got along well with his fellow "Twilight" actors, he particularly enjoyed working with director Catherine Hardwicke. "I really liked her earlier movie, 'Thirteen'", he said.
Chon also runs his own business, a clothing shop called Attic in L.A. and San Diego. "My background as a business major really helps. And being an actor is actually a bit like running your own business".
Chon appeared alongside big names like Harrison Ford and Ashley Judd in the film "Crossing Over", which was released last year in the U.S. Including independent productions, he has acted in 22 films so far. In June he will play his first lead role in a Hollywood movie, a romantic comedy titled "Fortune Hunters".
Despite his success, he still takes acting classes to improve. "I get fewer opportunities in Hollywood than Caucasian actors, so I have to push myself harder", Chon said. "I believe I'll become a better actor along the way. And someday I'd love to appear in a Korean film".
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