8 Asians

I never thought I would be blogging about Bai Ling, since — believe it or not — we have never mentioned her on the site. But in a recent post by another blog, websites like ours were called out for talking about Paris Hilton and Bai Ling. Well, their facts were wrong on that one, so as a homage to the Fighting 44s, I am fulfilling their wish and interviewing Bai Ling for 8Asians.

Bai Ling is in the upcoming release of Crank: High Voltage in the role of Ria, a “scantily-clad, fast-talking Asian call girl.” (For the record, not a role originally written for an Asian, says Bai Ling). I spoke to her a couple of weeks by phone about this movie, and a bunch of other topics. Fielding questions from 8Asians bloggers, Bai Ling talks about her image in the media (too much emphasis on the nipple shots!), the Asian American community (if you don’t feel like she’s “one of us,” don’t worry! Neither does she!), and of course, her character in Crank: High Voltage (she did her own stunts!).

And of course, you can always check out what’s new with her on Bai Ling’s blog, Naked Seduction.

Yan’s question from China: Are you aware of image in the media? What do you think of it?

Bai Ling: To be honest with you, I don’t read much — I’m not good at the computer, I don’t watch movies, I don’t even own a TV. I’m in my own world, living in the reality of life, in the moment. So I’m not exactly sure in the serious aspects, but I know that through  gossip magazines or newspapers they tend to accentuate [images] that are eccentrically crazy — my nipple shots, all of that stuff — I think that things being too emphasized. They’re just a very, very little part of me. It’s like I have this little spirit, that just one of the girls –  a tiny girl wearing miniskirts with advanced fashion sense; a crazy, open, eccentric show-off living in her own world. That’s what you see on the red carpet sometimes. But that’s just the very little mischievous little girl’s spirit in me.

But there’s so many other aspects … like the film Dumplings, I won four Asian Academy Awards. Four [of the] most important acting awards [in] one movie. So I hope people can more concentrate on my work. They’re all very different roles; I play very extreme from each other, and they are equally brilliant. I’m just like naturally … a very talented actress. I think that people cannot deny if you look at my work seriously. So I just hope they can shift their little bit weight [when] looking at my work.

And really, that’s why I have this blog there; [for] my writing and so you can know my heart, my soul a little bit more, instead of just those pictures [that] emphasize like my nipple shot; you see those pictures everywhere. Sometimes I look really elegant — I don’t see those pictures. Sometimes there are people who are there to trash me; but some are there to celebrate me.

Moye from Los Angeles: Do you feel like you’re part of the Asian American community? Do you feel like you’re part of a larger community?

Bai Ling: I feel like — you know, it’s like I’m a different creature. That’s why I think I really I landed from the moon. I don’t even think that I’m Asian American or Asian actress or something. I think I’m just one of the brilliant, nature-made creatures in the world — I don’t think otherwise. I think I just lucky to be here to serve, to give, to enjoy, to dance, to smile, to have fun, to make love; I’m just a free spirit.

Joz from Los Angeles: About your character in Crank: High Voltage, you said this role allowed you to show more of your own spirit. You’ve said that “Ria is just wacky, crazy, and the role allowed me to be extremely funny.”

Bai Ling: It gives me the stage because the two young directors [Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor] are really free. They allowed me to say [and] do whatever I wanted. So it encouraged this crazy little girl [to] go extreme. Because that’s the character — they want her to be funny. They want her to be crazy and extreme and [she] serves the style and energy of the film. I just think she’s so much fun. And everything I say, people laugh … whatever she says doesn’t make sense, but in her character make perfect sense. She’s just a funny, fearless, and bold crazy character, and I like that energy — so advanced, modern, careless, and bold. I just enjoy that spirit and doing [this role] all the time was fun, pure fun. Hopefully [this] will lead to some big comedy or craziness because extremes just make people laugh and gives them joy.

[This movie is] like a roller coaster. It’s basically Jason [Statham]’s movie, [and a] really, really fun concept. [An] hour and a half seems like 20 minutes. You know, I did my own stunts — hit by a car but didn’t die. Then I had a cat fight with Amy Smart’s character… just hilarious. My role is silly, but it’s fun.

Bai Ling was actually quite honest during our interview and willing to answer any questions, so I’ll save some of the other parts of the interview for another post, but until then, you can catch her in Crank: High Voltage or the upcoming Love Ranch, and of course, at her blog. She says she’d love it if you’d leave a comment there and tell her you got there through 8Asians.com!

Other interviews at: movieline, sfgate