Tania Gunadi – Enlisted

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I’ve been so lucky! In 2013, I finished recording “Transformers Prime,” the animated series. Then, a couple months later I booked an animated series for Disney that we just started recording a month ago called “Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero.” We got picked up for forty-two episodes so I’m going to be busy with that for this year. I love doing animation and forty-two episodes is really cool!

Q) You currently star on the show “Enlisted.” What made you want to be a part of it?

A) I wanted to be a part of it because it’s a dream come true! I’ve always wanted to be on a network show and I’ve done a few pilots for NBC, FOX or TBS. This is the first time that we made thirteen episodes and it is truly something I’m appreciative of. Not to mention, playing a soldier in the Army is so different in a cool way. We were filming the pilot in April of 2013 and we shot the other episodes in August or September. So, it was really hot. Practically every day, somebody would take off his shirt and we were like, “Alright! This is a bonus! We get paid and we get to see the biceps and triceps of these awesome bodies!” Parker [Young] and Geoff [Stults] would take off their shirts and they all like to work out during lunch. So, they change into shorts and are running around. We’re like “Yeah!” It’s a fun day and there is no stress at all!

Q) How was Private Park originally described to you?

A) I first got a couple pages and sides to audition, but it didn’t have a description of who I am. It wasn’t very descriptive. I remember I wasn’t sure what to do with it. Unlike other auditions, it clearly tells you that this person is going through a depression and she’s being pessimistic about life so you can make choices about the character. When I got the two pages for “Enlisted,” I didn’t read that. So, I had to come up with a decision of what kind of Private Park do I want to bring to the table. I remember talking to my acting coach and discussing what is the best for me. I think at the audition I chose to play her like a surfer girl and not very bright. I guess when we started filming, Private Park becomes strange and aggressive yet sweet. I think she is a combination of both of those. She’s “Dark Park,” but innocent at times. I think I asked Kevin Biegel one day, “Am I an aggressive girl who is going through a divorce or am I sweet and innocent?” He said, “Yep, you’re both.”

Q) Was there instant chemistry between the cast or did it take some time to bond?

A) I don’t think anyone had seen this before. With the tests, we were all so surprised because when we first met even at the table read we just gelled right away. I think besides “Transformers Prime,” I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this before. As soon as we started being on set the first day, everyone had similar senses of humor. We’re all pretty crazy and I think it is an interesting situation when you put all of us together. I loved it! We didn’t even have to bond.

Q) Are you allowed any chance to improv or must you read strictly from the page?

A) Kevin, Mike [Royce] and all the directors are really nice. All the platoon members are standup comics and a lot of them are also improv actors. What they do when it comes to the platoon, they always give us three to five takes. The first take we are asked to follow the lines by the script and the next few takes they let us improv. They have about seven writers and they are so wonderful because we get those five takes and the first one is by the script and the next two the writers have ideas and the next two would be our own improv.

Q) You have great comedic timing. Does it come natural to you or have you had to work on it?

A) I definitely trained! You may call me a nerd, but I’ve been taking classes for the last ten years and I have a private acting coach as well. When I first started acting, I didn’t really know how to speak English and I didn’t know anything about acting at all. So, I took English classes, accent reduction classes and all kinds of acting classes. One of my favorites, of course, would be the improv classes at The Groundlings at UCB. I took a lot of improv classes and in that class you learn how to build the muscle to always be in the moment for comedy. I also learned from another acting coach, Stan Kirsch, who taught me single camera comedy and sitcom. Practice makes perfect and I’ve practiced that a lot the last several years.

Q) What are you most looking forward to fans learning about Park?

A) I think the fans will see that I am just going to get more and more strange and weird. I don’t want to give away spoilers…I love my character! I love playing this type of weird and yet innocent and yet aggressive woman. You never know what my reaction will be!

Q) What has been the hardest scene for you to film?

A) Perhaps during the pilot because I wasn’t very fit. I had just started working out with CrossFit for maybe a month before shooting the pilot. During the pilot, we had to do a lot of running and, believe it or not, I’m not a good runner. I train with my CrossFit coach how to run. urns out it is pretty tricky! You would think that running is running, but it turns out there are a lot of technical elements. You have to move your body certain ways and forty-five degree angles to the front. During the pilot we had to be running and also there were a couple of obstacle courses we had to do. I had never done that before and the running was a little down slope. I was a little afraid that I was going to fall, but I wanted to run really fast. So, I think at the end of the day I was able to do it because I just didn’t care. I was like, “I’m going to run fast and if I fall then I’ll fall.” When we did the obstacle course, you have to go up a giant rope where you have to jump and grab it and hopefully your feet land inside the ropes. Of course, during the takes I’d miss. I’d run and try to grab the ropes, but I’d miss all of them! It was funny! Even though it was difficult, it was actually a blessing because after the pilot I started going to the CrossFit gym three to five times a week. So, by the time we filmed the rest of the episodes I was way more fit. I was able to carry the bayonets and do some parade movements with the guns. In the past, I couldn’t even carry a case of bottled water from Pavilions! I would go to the supermarket and get help. I felt like I was an old lady when it was just a twenty-four case of water. Now, I can carry the thirty-six bottled water case with no problem!

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming “Enlisted?”

A) Besides checking out the bodies on the boys? There are too many to tell! For example, Mort [Burke] is always so funny. He comes up with these improv lines and it’s really hard not to break. In my acting career, when I do comedy I never break. If people do improv, no matter how funny it is I keep a straight face and stay in the scene. I always am proud of myself because I don’t break. For the first time, on “Enlisted,” there was a scene where Mort made this improv sound and I actually couldn’t finish the scene! I kept messing it up because I laughed and kept breaking up. I think it took about five takes later until I could settle down. I told Mort, “You’re the first actor that finally made me break!”

Q) What do you think it is about the show that has made it a fast fan favorite program?

A) Maybe it is because of the passion from the writers and creators. Mike, Kevin and everyone at FOX are so passionate about it. They talk to the people and engage the fans. They hired Army consultants because they want to make this show right. We want it to respect the Army and I feel like maybe because we are all passionate about the show then hopefully that is what attracts the fans to the show.

Q) You are a part of social networking sites. Do you enjoy getting the instant feedback about the show that it provides?

A) I felt so humbled by all the Twitter and Facebook messages that I got. Now I know why people love being on Twitter! I’m new to it, when I receive these messages I don’t know what to say. I’m just so humbled. I just really appreciate all the fans and everyone who is so supportive.

PHOTO ONE  BY STEWART MARCANO

PHOTO TWO BY DEVIANNA ANDRIANTO