Meet Tristen Pon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tristen Pon.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up with a magician as a father, my sister and I were encouraged to pursue performing arts from a young age. I acted in various film projects as a kid before deciding that I wanted to tell my own stories. I combined this newfound passion for storytelling with my strength in leadership and teamwork to find myself in film. I attended Emerson College to study film and created my B.A Thesis: “A Better Man,” a short film exploring self-help, masculinity, and self-acceptance from an Asian American lens.

I want to create meaningful coming-of-age stories that explore topics within masculinity, demonstrating both change and growth. I realized that all forms of art intertwine with one another, so I have spent my days dabbling in writing, music, and even acting again in hopes to expand my creativity and self-expression. Now out of college and in the city of stars, I look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with more artists and make art that may help others feel seen.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
With all the talent I’m surrounded by and with so many meaningful stories to tell, it’s still a learning curve to look out for my own basic needs and self-care, but this journey has taught me that stability is key and my own path is unique in itself.

I found the most difficult part of the artistic process is truly knowing yourself — the best and worst parts — and then embracing it while letting go of judgement. Even now, I still struggle to know exactly who I am as an adult.

Growing up as an actor, I felt boxed into roles that did not challenge my growth. It took four years of film school and the recent rise of more Asian American representation in Hollywood with movies such as “Everything Everywhere All At Once” for me to realize that I too can play complex and meaningful characters as a queer Asian American. I now understand that acting is less about becoming someone you’re not and more about finding the truth within yourself. This epiphany has assisted my approach to writing and directing as well. And as I continue to work on sets in multiple positions, I gain a lot more perspective on how I’d like to operate my own sets with kindness and humility.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am currently working on a Visual EP titled “For What’s Worse” by Chase Sullivan as a Producer and Director of Photography. This is a short film that tells a story through the four songs on the EP. We recently launched a fundraiser to help fund the project: https://igg.me/at/forwhatsworse/x/30292469#/

I like spending my time on set because I get the chance to collaborate with other creatives and be a part of a community of fellow cast and crew mates while gaining perspective on their process to create meaningful stories. I am looking forward to putting everything I have learned as a producer, writer, director, and actor together and share my own stories with the world soon. It’s my dream to develop a feature film that can serve as a time capsule for my self-growth journey.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
The people out there who believed and still believe in me! First and foremost my family (Mellisa, Joe, and Faith Pon), who have always encouraged me to pursue my creative endeavors. All my close friends as well (you know who you are) thank you for being there for my darkest moments and also my greatest joys, empowering me to stay powerfully vulnerable.

And lastly I’d like to credit my good friend and mentor Antonio Camasmie, who took me under his wing when I attended Emerson College and allowed me to follow his path. I appreciate the long conversations we still have about our aspirations. I’m happy to see how far since the day we met at freshman-year orientation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tristenpon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trystcuts/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristenpon/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tristenpon

Image Credits
Katerina Hung
Hannah Baynes
Gavin George
Elli Rosenthal