Jen Taylor & Yerin Ha – HALO

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) It has been, what, twenty-one years since the first Halo game came out? Does this feel like full circle for you? Talk about this experience a little bit.

Jen: It feels like a mountain. But I like the full circle. It is. I am so grateful for this. It’s overwhelming. And it feels simple at the same time, if that makes sense. It is such an interesting journey to be on and I feel honored by it and a little intimidated by it, in all honesty, because I understand how big it is and how much bigger than me it is. This story is just so huge. This world of Halo is so big, and it is an honor to continue to work on it, to continue to chip away at it and try to make things more clear to myself for the story. It is an exciting scary challenge – it continues to be even after twenty-one years.

Q) The “HALO” series being this big production, was it like nerve wracking to be on the set like this huge for both of you?

Yerin: Yeah.

Jen: [laughs]

Yerin: I mean, what a franchise to come into and work on. But just the scale of everything and see the sets and everything come to life. It’s like, you can touch it, you can feel it. It’s just amazing and to see what everybody has made…what an absolute blessing.

Q) Yerin, “HALO” brings so much action, sci fi and a much needed grounded feeling to the series. How did you prepare yourself for this role?

Yerin: How did I prepare for this? I actually did a lot of like physical training at the very beginning. I was doing like hit workouts and like all that kind of stuff. And then gradually as shooting started to begin, I wasgot tired and I had to find a different way. I burned myself out way too quick. But I realized that “Halo” also has a lot of emotionally and action scenes. So, just trying to figure out that balance of physical and emotional and mental, I guess, calmness and stamina. Yeah, the stamina is so important. But I mean, it’s really nothing compared to what Pablo [Schreiber] is doing. I can’t complain. [laughs] But, yeah, I just kind of chatted with all the directors, the producers. I did all that kind of like textbook handiwork as well. And that really helped me inform my character.

Q) Yerin, I actually wanted to ask about Quan’s relationship with the Master Chief as the season progresses. Talk a little bit about that.

Yerin: I can talk a little bit. I don’t want to spoil too much. But Master Chief (Pablo Schreiber) really comes at a very critical time for Quan and kind of saves her despite the fact that like, he’s kind of her enemy at the same time. I guess we see this really special kind of bond happened between the two. And for Quan, she’s really letting the audience be able to see is a really humane side to Master Chief and being able to kind of chip away at this super soldier kind of character that he has on and we kind of are able to really channel into those really intimate, more personal stories that he has to offer. And I think that’s what’s really special about their relationship and this story and what the season has to offer.

Q) Kiki Wolfkill mentioned the likelihood of these new original characters making the leap over into the video games. So, Yerin, and I was wondering, what would it mean to you to see your likeness in a video game? And would you be open to doing a voice if one was to show up in the video game series?

Jen: She’s just hearing this for the first time!

Q) It was I asked her if it was a possibility. And she was like, “Yeah, it’s absolutely possible.” I don’t want to go spreading rumors that there’s something like in the works.

Yerin: Don’t spread rumors or expectations. [smiles] But if if that was the case, I mean, what what an absolute honor,. But I highly doubt that. [laughs] But it would be incredible.

Q) Yerin, how did you prepared to play in insurrectionist? What did you bring into the show that maybe wasn’t?

Yerin: Oh, I’m going to be fully transparent with you. Because I think I was so new and I didn’t want to overstep anything. I was given what I got and I just tried to make do with that. And I just tried to bring whatever was on the page to live. I didn’t really debate or do all that kind of stuff just because I knew I didn’t want to step on any one stars. I was still trying to learn, like Quan, how to speak up in certain situations. But really it was more just about talking about character development rather than adding anything. They did a wonderful job trying to introduce Quan and the kind of outter Colony, the kind of rebel, the insurrectionist kind of vibe. Yeah, I didn’t really have much input.

Q) Jen as you’ve been involved in the comment box in the video games, how much of a reference were you for your co-stars like where they just asked about the history and things like that – about the video games and how it all related to the series?

A) No. [laughs] I came in I came in sort of late to it and things were pretty well established. And I think people were feeling pretty confident with the work that they have done and I’m not going to be able to add to their characters or give them any information about that about their characters. So, no, I don’t feel like I shared much of my experience in that way onset. Yerin and I really, this is the first time we’ve hung out together. We don’t have any scenes together. So, in particular, no with her. [laughs] But yeah, no, I mean, that wasn’t a thing because they had really worked hard to figure out the world, the Halo world before I got there, so it was already well established. They knew what they were doing. They didn’t need me.

Q) Jen, I want to piggyback on another question. It is twenty years with the Halo culture. How do you deal with pressure maintaining or being fresh in each different version that you present?

Jen: I feel great pressure to remain true and authentic to this character and continue to explore her in a way that is respectful and loving. Yeah, I feel great pressure with what we have created because I adore her. So, she is very important to me. Yeah.

*CONFERENCE CALL*