Renegades | Randall Park on The Beauty of Collaboration

“The Residence” star unravels the history behind his most iconic roles

Welcome to Renegades, Gold House’s editorial series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way. This week’s Renegade is actor, comedian, and filmmaker Randall Park!

Best known for his comedic work on Fresh Off The Boat and The Interview, Randall has shaped perceptions of the Asian American community through his wit, charm, and talent. His latest work, The Residence, the Shondaland-produced whodunnit, is now streaming on Netflix!

What did you want to be when you were growing up and how does that compare to where you are now?

As a child, I wanted to be a cartoonist. I was obsessed with drawing and writing my weird little stories – I would draw my comic books, staple the pages together, and share them with my friends for a laugh. I feel like making comic books or graphic novels is not unlike filmmaking. You frame the shots, write the dialog, direct the players, create costumes, locations, etc.

Early on you appeared in iconic television shows like House, New Girl, and The Office, as well as the web melodrama IKEA Heights. Looking back, what is one lesson from your early career that you still carry with you?

Always work, whether they’re giving you work or not. Write scripts, read scripts, take acting classes, shoot stuff with your friends, collaborate on projects—never just sit around waiting. Be proactive. Avoid bitterness at all costs. Also, don’t be a dick. You never know what will lead to the next thing. I did just one scene on New Girl. It was directed by Peyton Reed, who would go on to direct the Ant-Man franchise for Marvel. They were looking to cast Jimmy Woo, and he remembered me. I would never have gotten that offer had it not been for that one scene in New Girl.

Audiences know and love you for your comedic chops in projects like Fresh Off the Boat and The Interview. How much of your own personality fuels these roles, and if you’re not drawing from your own experiences, where do you find the inspiration?

I guess there’s a part of me in every role I do. But I draw from a lot of sources—other people I know, public figures, things found in research. Sometimes I’ll do the prerequisite work of building a character’s backstory, their personal proclivities and whatnot, but it really depends on the role. I’ll do whatever it takes to be confident and comfortable on the day.

In The Residence, you play Edwin, an FBI agent deeply involved in unfolding the mystery within The White House. What made the show stand out to you and why did you feel it was a project you couldn’t pass up?

What stood out to me the most was Paul William Davies’ writing. I had never read anything quite like those scripts before. The other real draw for me was working with Shondaland and, of course, with Uzo Aduba, who plays Cordelia Cupp, the lead detective in the series. I was always a big fan of Uzo, but became an even bigger one after working with her. She’s the best human being on the planet.

What excited you most about being part of a whodunnit murder mystery like The Residence? Did you draw any inspiration from other classic whodunnits to help shape your performance?

To be honest, I was never a big fan of the classic whodunnit murder mysteries. I was more into detective shows like Columbo, Monk, and Murder She Wrote. But it’s always fun to be a part of a classic genre whether it be murder-mystery, family sitcom, or romcom.

You co-wrote Always Be My Maybe with Ali Wong, and the film struck a perfect balance between comedy, romance, and cultural authenticity. What was the writing process like, and how did you work with her to shape the story from page to screen?

Ali and I had always wanted to write something together, so we decided to start with an outline for one of our favorite genres—the romcom. We met regularly and chipped away at it, incorporating aspects of our lives, and really anything that would make us laugh. Soon, we brought in our friend Michael Golamco to help give us another perspective, and the three of us would meet every week at a WeWork office somewhere in Los Angeles, and we’d just hunker down and write together. Eventually, we brought in another friend Nahnatchka Khan, creator of Fresh Off The Boat, to be our director and to help us fine-tune the script. Soon enough, we were in production, and it was one of the best times I’ve ever had making a movie.

Shortcomings was a huge milestone in your career as your feature directorial debut. What drew you to Adrian Tomine’s story and what did you find most rewarding about stepping behind the camera?

I’m a huge Adrian Tomine fan. I first read Shortcomings when the graphic novel came out in 2007, and I was blown away by it. I had never seen Asian Americans depicted in that way—so complicated, flawed, but also just living their everyday mundane lives. It all felt so real to me. The story stayed with me throughout the years, and almost magically, so many years later, I had the opportunity to direct the feature film adaptation. It was an incredibly rewarding experience. I found great pleasure in the balance of realizing a vision, while also collaborating with and empowering other artists to do what they do best. The fact that we got to shoot it in New York and the Bay Area—two places that mean so much to me—was the icing on the cake.

As you continue your career in entertainment, is there a specific genre or role you’re eager to pursue next?

Not really. I just want to continue to work with talented and good people.

Lightning Round

Favorite Book: The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Morning Routine:Wake up, take Ruby to school, grab a coffee with Jae, go for a run.

Last Movie You Watched: Anora

Go-To Theater Snack: Popcorn. Classic.

Rising Asian Pacific Name to Watch: Tony Tulathimutte. He wrote the funniest, saddest, scariest, scariest book I read last year called Rejection.

Thank you for reading Renegades!