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About The Asian reporter. (Portland, Or.) 1991-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2015)
U.S.A. Page 8 n THE ASIAN REPORTER March 16, 2015 Daniel Dae Kim takes control in ‘Hawaii Five-O’ and beyond CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES. Daniel Dae Kim made an impressively smooth transition from a stalwart husband on “Lost” to dashing crime fighter on “Hawaii Five-O.” The actor is not done with trans- formations. Kim has a big-screen role in Insurgent, the sequel to sci-fi drama Divergent, and took his first stab at television directing with an episode of “Hawaii Five-O.” Pictured is Kim as “Jack Kang” in the film The Divergent Series: Insurgent, which opens this month. (Photo/Andrew Cooper, courtesy of Lionsgate) By Lynn Elber AP Television Writer OS ANGELES — Daniel Dae Kim made an impressively smooth transition from a stalwart husband on “Lost” to dashing crime fighter on “Hawaii Five-O.” The actor is not done with trans- formations. Kim has a big-screen role in Insurgent, the sequel to sci-fi drama Divergent, which opens this month, and took his first stab at television directing with an episode of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) police series. Even more ambitious: He founded a year-old production company to put his stamp on film and television projects, with two pilots under network consideration for the 2015-2016 season. Acting hasn’t lost its allure, said the handsome Kim, who’s made the cut on People magazine’s “Sexiest Men” list. But expanding his role in the industry brings new opportunities that extend beyond deal-making. Directing, for instance, is “not a means to an end. ... I actually believe it informed my work as an actor a great deal. It’s also being part of a creative process from every angle.” He used his time on “Lost,” the ground- breaking 2004-2010 American Broad- casting Company (ABC) drama, as a tutorial on the directing craft. L “I shadowed directors on ‘Lost,’ but it was not the right show for a new director to cut their teeth on, because it was so elaborate and very secretive in a lot of ways. So I just wanted to watch and learn,” Kim said. With the “Hawaii Five-O” series well on its feet in season five, he asked for and was given the chance to get behind the camera. It was a satisfying experience, he said, and one in which he enjoyed the support of his castmates and the crew — aside from a bit of ribbing. “I fully expected more hazing than I got. There were a couple of jabs here and there. But none of the, ‘I refuse to come out of my trailer,’” he recalled. Donning a producer’s hat has the poten- tial to be even more rewarding. As one of the rare Asian-American actors to play lead roles, Kim said, he is intent on helping other minorities get their own shot. In Los Angeles to work on postproduc- tion for his “Hawaii Five-O” episode and tend to other projects, Kim was relaxed and thoughtful as he put his success — and his take on the industry — in perspective. “The fact that I’ve been able to do two shows, back-to-back, is not something every actor gets to say,” said Kim, who has lived in Hawaii with his wife, Mia, and their two children since “Lost” filmed there. But his role in Insurgent is because a “young, gifted author (Veronica Roth) had the foresight to write an Asian-American male character in her book. I emphasize that because it doesn’t always happen. If it’s not part of (the original work), very rarely does it happen” during casting, Kim said. “These are not complaints; they’re more state-of-the-nation comments,” he said. The projects being developed by his company, 3AD, all “feature minority participants at the most fundamental levels, whether as writers or lead actors or creators,” Kim said. “I’m not doing this for charity: Everyone is extremely talented, and they’re stories that deserve to be told by these people.” Kim, 46, was a year old when his Continued on page 16 Can you spot the PROBLEM GAMBLER? ...it it could be anyone. anyone Treatment is free, conf idential and it works. 1-877-MYLIMIT OPGR.ORG CHAT CALL 503-713-6000 TEXT ASTHMA IS ON THE RISE. Help us find a cure. 1-800-LUNG-USA