Audition after audition, rejection after rejection – we’ve all heard how hard it is to be an actor. But what happens when you’re culturally diverse too?
NOAH Films founders Sangeetha Gowda and Marshall-Weishuai Yuan are smashing open the world of “ethnic” artists in their latest project, Broke Actor. The 7-episode web series is inspired by the real-life experiences of the creative Sydney couple, and their acting colleagues. We’re talking typecasting, micro-aggressions, family pressures and, perhaps the one that reflects them the most, being extraordinarily talented yet undermined because of the colour of their skin.
The series, written and created by the pair, is both a humorous take on the state of the industry and a real punch-in-the-guts dose of reality: opportunities for diverse artists in Australia just aren’t there. Those in decision-making positions don’t understand how they’re holding people back. And it’s about time we started talking about it. All of it.
Courtesy, NOAH Films
Amongst the hard truths, Sangeetha and Marshall-Weishuai say Broke Actor has a hopeful message too: never, ever give up on your dreams.
They are certainly walking examples of this, owning their Australian-Indian and Chinese identities, opening their own doors to create the series, and assembling a refreshingly diverse cast including Mathew V. Philip, Mina Asfour, Sky Reg’Ina, Isha Desai and Veena Sudarshan, who are all persisting with their dreams too.
In our chat below, we explore why it was so important for Sangeetha and Marshall-Weishuai to create the series, their very different paths to acting, and what they wish people knew about diverse creatives:
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I always start my interviews by asking about people’s names – is there a story or meaning behind yours?
Sangeetha: I actually found out something interesting recently. I’ve always known that my name means ‘music’ which relates to me because I’m in the arts industry, and thankfully, I can sing! That would be embarrassing if I couldn’t (laughs). But I asked my mum not long ago, ‘why did you pick this name?’ And she said that she went to a movie with my dad to see a Bollywood film and she heard the name in the film which is fascinating to me because I now work in film. Of course, I’ve had nicknames and I’ve constantly been asked if there’s a shorter version of Sangeetha. but I’ve always been very adamant about no nicknames. There’s nothing else you can call me because I love my name, and you’re going to have to learn it!
Marshall-Weishuai: I have two names, my English name is Marshall and my Chinese name is Weishuai. My dad actually came up with the Chines name. It translates to ‘mighty and handsome’. Wei is mighty like the Great Wall and Shuai means handsome. And then Marshall is like the General in the Army rank, so if you put it all together it’s General, mighty and handsome. I used to be very embarrassed by my name, especially in roll call because the kids would be laughing and things. But in the past few years, I’ve just really owned it, like Sangeetha. There’s so much power in owning your name and our names have really great meanings.
Marshall-Weishuai Yuan and Sangeetha Gowda at the ‘Broke Actor’ premiere in Sydney
What made you want to pursue acting careers?
Sangeetha: The first major moment I had was when I was in high school because I was very quiet then. I also had alopecia so that just made things worse. I just always felt invisible and I wanted to be seen. So I signed up for a drama class, which was a huge step for me. And the first time I ever went out on stage to perform, I felt so confident. I finally felt like my full self. Even before that, when I think back to being an eight-year-old kid, I actually wrote my own play for the class talent show, acted and directed in it. So it’s funny to think, these are all the same things I’m doing now. I think that’s where it all started for me.
Marshall-Weishuai: I started a lot later, I was around 23 at the time. I was at uni studying liberal arts and science, and I really didn’t enjoy it. I had this revelation one day when I was sitting in the middle of the lecture, like, ‘what am I doing here?’ I went home that night and I really thought about what I wanted to do in my life. I don’t know why, but for some reason, a voice in my head said, ‘you should give acting a go’. I think, two weeks later, I dropped out of uni. I absolutely did not tell my family and I started pursuing acting from that day. I love it, and I’ve stuck with it.
Congratulations to both of you on ‘Broke Actor’. Can you explain why it was so important for you to create this series?
Sangeetha: The web series follows five actors as they try to fulfil their dreams in the Australian film industry with the dilemma that they all happen to be ethnic Australians. This is a point of view that I don’t think we’ve seen on our screens in Australia before. We really go into their lives, the stereotypes, typecasting, family dynamics and all the intricacies that people don’t talk enough about. We made it because these are the things that actually impact the careers of diverse actors.
How much of the series and your particular episode was based on your own real-life experiences?
Marshall-Weishuai: A hundred percent! (laughs) I had so many ideas of what my story could be about and then one day, I was on another set as a supporting actor, not a main actor. It was just such a ridiculous experience and it really clicked that my scene should be about a supporting actor wishing they could be the main actor. What I went through was such a good representation of how I feel in the industry.
Even when you’re extraordinary, you won’t get the same opportunities as non-diverse actors? I feel like that also came through in Sangeetha’s episode –
Sangeetha: Yes, that was very present in my episode and it’s very much based on my actual experience. I went to acting school. I worked really hard and at the end of it, I was awarded Best Actress for my intake. I ended up getting my first agent meeting in the middle of class and everyone was so excited for me. They actually let me leave college early so I could meet this agent. I get there and the experience was honestly, really bad. When I spoke to this agent, she basically disregarded everything I’ve achieved, looked at me and focused on my race. She said, ‘we want you to fill in any Indian briefs that come in’ and that was the moment I thought – ok, this is my dream. I love the craft of acting but is this what is actually in store for me now? All that matters is my race and that I’m going to tick this box for them? I remember walking back to college and I thought, what am I going to tell them?
L to R: ‘Broke Actor’ cast members, Marshall-Weishuai Yuan, Mathew V Philip, Mina Asfour, Sky Reg’Ina, and Sangeetha Gowda.
What do you wish people new about real-life “broke actors” and how hard it is for diverse talent to make it in the industry?
Marshall-Weishuai: It’s a problem in many industries but particularly in acting. They say it’s based on your talent, but it’s also very much based on your race. We came into this industry because we used to watch movies and our idols would be up there. Some of us were like, I want to be Captain Jack Sparrow or this person or that person. We have all this wonder and excitement only to be told, ‘you will never be this, this is actually where you fit in, and that’s all you’ll ever be.’ It’s a difficult career for all actors, but when you’re also culturally diverse, it feels like you’re playing in extra, extra hard mode.
What do you hope people take away from ‘Broke Actor’ series?
Sangeetha: I hope the series creates conversation about something I feel like we’ve never been allowed to talk about – the stereotypes, the typecasting, all the challenges. And beyond that, I hope it also teaches people to keep going for their dreams. I know it’s hard, and I hope they really believe the power of dreams is important. It’s what keeps life going.
Oh yeah, that’s a huge part of the series – dream big and persist!
Marshall-Weishuai: Sangeetha said it perfectly but also, we’ve always been a company that likes to challenge the status quo. We like to talk about things that people don’t want to talk about. We both see the world for how it is and we like to write and create things so people can actually see what’s happening too. We like the hopeful aspect of the series because there are just so many negative things out there, and we always believe in bringing the light. It’s a strong pillar of what NOAH films represents so every piece of work we do, we always hope to inspire people and make them believe a little more in themselves.
Watch Broke Actor now on YouTube!
And keep up with Sangeetha and Marshall-Weishuai on socials:
@sangeethagowda_ @marshallweishuai
@noah_films
(Feature Image Credit: Supplied, Styling & Designs by LakshmiBee)
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