David Lim – S.W.A.T.

By: Jamie Steinberg

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

A) No other projects entertainment related. That’s all we have time for right now. We film nine and a half months out of the year and we’re currently working on episode 10 of 22. We’re right in the thick of it and there are long days on set. So, now there isn’t much time for anything else. When the hiatus rolls around next summer I can possibly entertain some other projects.

Q) What can you tease is new on “S.W.A.T.” this season and with your character Victor Tan?

A) We’ve got a lot of the same stuff. Huge action sequences. We’re repelling off buildings and hanging off helicopters. We have some great car chases. So, we’re still going to razzle and dazzle them with these big set action scenes. What I’m excited about is we’re going to get deeper into each one of the characters including my character. So, we’re going to explore a little more of Tan’s history as a Vice Cop in Hollywood before he joined SWAT. We’ll see what kind of connections he still has and kind of that path that hasn’t been addressed yet up to this point. We’re going to get more into his family and also his love life. You’ll see a little of that on this week’s episode. Other than that, it’s just bigger, badder and better. Our writers and our producers and cast are really trying to up the ante and continue to explore new territory and look for ways for how we can improve the show.

Q) What continues to challenge you about portraying Tan?

A) I think one of the biggest challenges of this job is the physicality of it and mentally being able to show up to work and grind through twelve- or fourteen-hour days for nine and a half months straight. We’re always working out. We’re trying to keep our bodies in kind of peak condition so we can withstand the long hours because it’s such a physical show. We’ve got heavy gear and we’re running around. We’re kicking down doors and it really can take a toll on your body. I actually kind of tweaked something over the weekend in my lower back. So, it is a really physical show and it can be very exhausting and mentally draining. It’s important to get your sleep and take it a day at a time.

Q) What kind of physical or mental prep for you goes into filming?

A) I think definitely physically, as I mentioned. As filming for this season got closer, we have to step it up in the gym. We have to look the part. We want to look the part and feel the part. If you meet these SWAT officers in real life, they’re big dudes and are really strong. In the physical aspect, I think it’s just getting in the gym and getting your body right. Then, it’s also maintaining for twenty-two episode. We actually have a gym that travels with us on set. It’s great. If we have some down time while we’re filming, on our lunch break or we come in early then we can get a workout in. I’m telling you, after you work a twelve- or fourteen-hour day the last thing you are thinking about getting into your car and going to the gym. Then, mentally I think it’s an ensemble cast. So, you’ll have lighter episodes and then you’ll have episodes where you might have a heavier storyline or the work is going to be heavier. So, for those episodes, you have to do your homework and you really have to dial them in and make sure your performance is good. The beauty of kind of having an ensemble cast is you’ll have episodes where you have a lighter workload and it’s not quite as mentally taxing as some of the heavier episodes where you might have to really prepare and do your research.

Q) Have you had much of a say this season in how your character has developed?

A) I’ve probably had the most say this season with character development, which has been really nice. The writers brought me in before we started filming and we just sat down for an hour and kind of brainstormed. They asked me where I wanted to take the character and things that kind of interested me. It’s been a really wonderful collaboration, I think, between the writers and me. A lot of the times they kind of draw from what is happening in your personal life. I just got married over the summer and on the show, as you’ll come to find out, I’m starting to kind of have a serious relationship. It’s been really, really cool to kind of collaborate with our creatives who are really talented and award-winning writers. So, it’s nice to be included in that process to see where the character goes because I definitely feel kind of a responsibility, especially with the Tan character, because it is an Asian American character. It’s a great role to portray Asians in a positive light. And myself included, we definitely feel a great responsibility doing it right and seizing the opportunity.

Q) Going into this new season was there someone(s) you were hoping to share more scenes with?

A) Oo! I like working with all my guys. Everybody is so interesting and talented. Definitely I haven’t had a lot of scenes with the Hondo (Shemar Moore) character. So, I think it’ll be nice. Now we’re filming episode 7 and we’ve had more scenes this season, which has been fun. I really like working with each of the cast members. It’s always a different dynamic and it’s nice to kind of change it up. In one-episode Tan and Chris might be paired up together and another episode it’s Deacon (Jay Harrington) and Tan and then the following episodes it’s Hondo and Tan or three of us. I really like working with each and every one of the guys, kind of developing those relationships on screen because off screen we all love each other so much and get along so great. So, it’s nice to explore those relationships on screen as well.

Q) What are some upcoming episodes you’re most looking forward to fans seeing?

A) One is this week’s because for the first time this season we’re going to get a little bit of the Tan storyline and I just really like this script in this episode. That’s one that I’m looking forward to. Then, we’re shooting an episode in Tokyo over Thanksgiving. Half the cast (I can’t say who just yet) is flying to Tokyo and we’re going to visit there. I had the chance to visit with my now wife about a year and a half ago and we loved it so much. So, I’m very excited to be a part of that. That’s all I’ll say. Tokyo is going to be fun!

Q) What have been some of your most memorable moments from filming the show?

A) I still show up to work every day and sometimes I can’t believe I get to do this. This is my job. If it’s a big day on set and we’re filming a lot of stunts and action sequences it feels like you’re stepping onto a movie set. Every day is different and every day is exciting. Just the other night we walked on to set and had a huge Black Hawk helicopter that was part of our scene. Having stuff like that on our show, you feel like a tiny little piece of the puzzle. But there have definitely been so many memorable days. I’m sure there are going to be a lot more.

Q) What do you think it is about the show “S.W.A.T.” that has made it such a fan favorite series?

A) We have really brilliant, wonderful writers who aren’t afraid to tackle tough subject matter – things that are happening in the world today. We had an episode last season about a school shooting that I think was really beautifully done. It was very moving and we got a lot of wonderful responses from people who were actually affected by school shootings in real life. At the end of the day you want to effect people positively and you also want to entertain them and put out a fun show and have a long run as a series. But it’s nice to have a positive impact on people and that’s a lot of feedback that we get. Whenever people reach out to me or recognize me on the street they say, “Oh man! I love ‘SWAT!’” I think it’s a fun show and entertaining. We have these awesome action sequences that I think are very cinematic. Then, I think it’s just the chemistry that we have in a scene it feels like family. We all get along great and we are a family. I think that really registers when you watch the episodes. I think that’s nice for our viewers to get to watch something like that because we all want to be a part of a family and be surrounded by the people we love. I think that’s a big factor, too.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and the work you do?

A) I guess it’s a big thank you! We love making the show. I really enjoy going to work every day and I hope we have a long run. I’m really proud of the work that we’re doing. I’m proud to represented Asian Americans in a positive light, give them kind of an action hero character and role model to look up to. I didn’t have that as a kid. So, I just want to thank all of our viewers for taking this ride with us. We can’t wait to share the rest of Season 3. We have some really good things coming up.