Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Yun.
Jennifer, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been an athlete all my life. From competing in swim meets at 9-years old to hiking 16 miles to relax as an adult, I’ve come to learn and embrace the mental byproduct of sports participation. And that is endurance. Grit. All the while enjoying the process of psychological tug-of-war.
Ironically enough, this attitude, this way of life, has been quite useful thus far in my acting career. I realized quickly the waves of rejections and approvals are just part of the process. We’re one of many moving parts in an intricate Swiss timepiece. After all, this isn’t a 3-sets-of-10-reps-and-you’re-
To me, acting is like a delicious puzzle. The joys of being a detective! Imagine a nervous, young woman drinking lukewarm coffee while crossing Lake Como on a ferry from Varenna to Bellagio at the beginning of what is to become an imminent downpour. Her eyes are darting back and forth from the 70-year-old captain to the lovely Italian mother caressing her three-month-old baby. Why? Ah, the sixty-four dollar question or should I say “questions.” So much to explore and sometimes, such limited time to comprehend, like getting-your-sides-the-night-
In grade school every year, all the students got to watch the 5th-grade graduating classes perform plays. And every year, I always looked forward to the few magical hours of stories that were brought to life. I knew I wanted to be a part of storytelling. It just spoke to me. As a naturally curious being, I was and am fascinated with the organic mechanics of the human mind–how we can use our mental capacity and body to push the narrative. For someone who’s drifted throughout middle school and high school to remain aloof from oppressors, I have embraced being out of my natural habitat and feeling unusually at home. With that hullabaloo and my participation in different physical exercises, such as long distance running, I’ve learned to welcome mental endurance. And that’s what drives me in this crazy business we call show business.
Equally important, I am in love with the business side of acting as much as I embrace the artistic side. I allow my left brain to operate in full gear. And in this line of work, you need both. There are two things you can control in auditions: your audition and how you feel about it afterwards. So, have fun because your work is your gift. Once finished, it’s now out of your hands. When you book, have fun on set and be prepared to be flexible.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
In addition to acting, producing (film and live-stage) has been a new passion of mine. In collaboration with Floyd Reeves from Broken Barriers Productions, Maylen Calienes, founder of Latino Filmmakers Network and my organization–Perpetua Entertainment, we’ve created The New Normal Reading Series, a live-staged reading sponsored by The Black List and Final Draft. Founded in January 2018, this free platform is to showcase and promote writers, actors, and filmmakers of diverse backgrounds every month. Some of our talented writers have been accepted to wonderful programs such as the 2019 Disney-ABC Writing Program, 2019 Native American writers lab created by La Skins Fest in partnership with NBC Universal, Walt Disney and HBO, 2019 Black List/WIF Feature Residency, and many more. Our actors have been invited to audition for diversity showcases, met managers, and collaborated with their peers.
January 2020 will be our second anniversary for The New Normal, and it’s been inspiring working with such passionate, artistic individuals. I look forward to seeing our artists bring words to life in our future readings.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Please check out Broken Barriers Productions, Latino Filmmakers Network, and Perpetua Entertainment on Facebook for our past and future events. Any inquiries can be made there, including writing submissions, actor participation, etc.
Recently, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to share the screen with some talented actors in a thriller feature film. My IMDB may have some clues…it’s in post-production now, so any support for the film when it’s released is much appreciated.
You can check out my work on:
Also, I am extremely proud of “L.A. Liquor.” Directed by Jensen Vinca, this story is set a year after the ’92 L.A. riots where a young African American male steps into a liquor store owned by a Korean couple. Confusion and chaos ensues with a couple of twists. For your viewing pleasure, please search for “L.A. Liquor” on Vimeo.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.imdb.me/
jenniferyun - Instagram: yun.jennifer
- Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/JenniferYunActor/
Image Credit:
Larissa Raquel
Anna Kay
Emily Eruraviel
David Muller
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