Brian Tee – The Need For Speed

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

A) I just did an episode of “Entourage,” which was pretty exciting for me because it is my favorite show in the entire world! That was a complete blast! Now, we’re trying to focus on specific roles because I really don’t want to be typed as the bad guy, even though I am playing the bad guy in the upcoming movie Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift. I want to try and broaden my horizon to try and get into the mainstream. I am trying to get more roles, but I am being very selective.

Q) Please tell us the premise of the film Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift and about your character D.K.

A) The premise surrounds family and the story is about Lucas Black (who plays Sean Boswell) who gets in trouble for drag racing in America. He gets sent to Tokyo where his father is and becomes an Army brat. When he starts school, he befriends Twinkie (played by Bow Wow) who has been around the Tokyo area for a while and knows all about the underground scene, which is drift racing. It’s pretty much like the street racing in LA, but completely about drift. In there, the character D.K. is the “Drift King,” which makes it kind of his world, his element and his domain. Lucas’ character loves cars so he gets involved because he really wants to learn the drift. Twinkie befriends Sean and a couple other guys who kind of show him the ropes with drift racing. Sean, actually, is interested in my girlfriend so conflict ensues. In regards to my character, the reason I said it surrounds family is because Lucas left his family to join another in Tokyo and their friendship becomes a family. With my side, the director Justin Lin and I really tried to create D.K. as a very tragic figure. He’s stuck between two sides of his life, one is his family, his honor and his name being a part of the Japanese mafia. The other side is for his friends and his love life, with his love for Neela (his girlfriend) and the drift racing world and scene. It’s his passion. He’s kind of stuck between two sides and, unfortunately, has to make these choices and decisions to go through this path. We really wanted to make this character more complex and not the stereotype people have seen time and time again about the bad guy just being angry all of the time and rude. This guy is a lot more cultured and centered. We really tried to use that in the character.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

A) When I read the script, I loved the character. I loved that I could definitely take this in a different direction and gave him, hopefully, a direction that people haven’t really seen. I know I’ve done my job if the audience somehow feels sorry for me or just completely angry. Also, it was for the fact that I’ve been a fan of the Fast and Furious films from the first one. Plus, to work with Justin Lin was and is amazing. That’s what really intrigued me to do this film.

Q) Do you have a most memorable moment from filming?

A) Wow, there are so many! There wasn’t one specific one, but there was one that I was completely honored to do. I had a whole page, page and a half or even two pages with Sonny Chiba, who is this renowned Japanese actor in Japan. He’s, basically, a legend! I knew of him and about him. I got to really work with him and become his friend. The whole scene is done in Japanese, which is not my native tongue, but something I am proficient at. I worked as hard as I could to be native to Tokyo. So, when I did that scene with Mr. Chiba, it was so honoring and so rewarding.

Q) What was it like working with director Justin Lin?

A) Justin is great! He is so focused and so pointed in what he wants and needs that he allows the actor to really get there in their own way. He allows them to reach, pull and do everything that an actor loves to do in the process. He’s very specific and direct, which an actor needs, but allows them to get there in their own light and own way. Justin is one of those guys that you can’t not like. It was just a pleasant experience every day on set. It starts at the top with Justin and filters all the way down. There was never a bad moment on set.

Q) What did you like most about your time in Tokyo?

A) I think I liked just experiencing the people there in Tokyo. Me, being half Japanese, I know of it, but ultimately I am not from there. I really got a sense of their nature, their mannerisms and delicateness that holds honor and pride to an extreme. They are so gracious. I love the whole Japanese culture. I fell in love with it from day one.

Q) What kind of training did you have to deal with cars for the film?

A) They actually took us out to a race track and they gave me keys to the Nissan Z. They had an instructor there and, basically, instructed me to do a bunch of burning rubber turns. It was one of the happiest days of my life. It was so much fun! They couldn’t get me off the course. They, literally, were trying to wave me down and I was kind of pretending like I didn’t see them. They had us out there to really experience what it was like. Also, I had a ride-along with a professional drift racer in Tokyo and that is amazing! To really feel what drifting is like by a professional is something that I’ll never forget.

Q) Why should viewers take the time to see the movie?

A) I think that it would be something that really surprises the audience. I feel like drift racing is amazing, remarkable and something that people will definitely love. Drift racing is more about balance and control rather than power and speed. It’s very delicate. The stuff that the stunt guys are doing is completely out of control. Also, on the flip side, I feel like the story itself really drives this movie. It’s about family, friendship, love and hate. I think that people will be pleasantly surprised with the story, along with the great drift racing. I think they’ll really like this new Fast and Furious film.

Q) What do you do in your spare time?

A) In my spare time, I go to the gym and I am also a writer. I’ve been writing with two of my partners. We did a script and see how that goes. I like to hang out with friends and family.

Q) Do you have a latest obsession? A movie? A band? A sport?

A) My latest obsession is writing. Definitely, I would love to create something in the future that is my own project. It all starts with writing, I believe. Writing even helps me with my acting career, as well, because it really breaks down scenes and helps me really get character development. It’s great and really opens things up.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) Thank you! It’s been a very rewarding ride, ever since I started. I hope to keep continuing to put out good work. Hopefully, the fans out there will come and watch Fast and Furious 3.