12 minute read
KIAN TALAN
Words By Tony C. Simmons | August 16 2022
He’s found his purpose in Hollywood as a trailblazer for aspiring Filipino artists, a future generator of authentic Asian stories, and a full-fledged thespian that can play more than one type of role.
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Thanks to Hollywood’s newfound recognition of the value and importance of diversity, there’s been a burst of films recently that have garnered success by putting minorities in the forefront, specifically Asian-Americans. Blockbuster films such as SHANG-CHI, CRAZY RICH ASIANS, and the latest hit: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE, proves that proper representation in mainstream media not only works, but it matters as well. One television actor, however, believes that there’s still a long way to go.
Kian Talan is one of the newest Filipino- American actors that’s currently on the rise. He plays Alex Tennant on the hit show NCIS: HAWAI’I, which is streaming now on Paramount+. Growing up in New Hampshire, Kian was placed in a predominantly white area. Struggling with standing out, and being the “token brown skin” in most groups, Kian knows first hand how it feels to be marginalized and socially misrepresented. His goal is to create authentic Filipino stories and bring them to the mainstream. Being on a hit show like NCIS: HAWAI’I is a good start - seeing as he’s playing a Filipino character amongst a mostly Filipino cast. He couldn’t be more grateful for landing a role on such a well-known franchise.
Tell us about Alex Tennant. Who is he? What do you see and feel when you play him on NCIS?
“Alex is struggling right now. I don’t think knows who he is. You’ll see him go through a lot of challenges where his future is compromised. His plan was to get out of Hawaii and experience something else. He was going to do that through playing baseball, but he ends up injuring himself. So he becomes stuck in Hawaii, and in the shadow of his parents, because they’re such big influences in Oahu. I immediately connected with Alex right away. We have so much in common. Both of our parents divorced super young, he’s being raised by a single mom who works a lot, and those are things that I’ve dealt withtoo. So throughout the season, you’ll see how his mom being an NCIS Agent affects his everyday life. But what I love is that no one questionsVanessa Lachey’s character, Jane Tennant. She’s such a great mom, and she kicks ass on the field, and that’s just the way it is - it’s normal.”
Kian wears shirt by Abel Honor, Pants by Buttermilk Oink, Shoes Jean- Baptiste Rautureau
You mentioned Vanessa Lachey, how’s it been working with her? Has she been giving you pointers on how to navigate through Hollywood as a Filipino-American?
“For sure! Vanessa has been very supportive of me through this journey, It was a big change for me and, a lot of the times, I felt alone. But Vanessa went out of her way to reassure me that I was doing great and that I’m not the only one going through the craziness of working in television. In terms of us being Filipino characters on TV, it’s such a rare thing! We have four reoccurring characters on the show that are Filipino. And along with the guest stars, it’s kinda freaky that we get to bethis big Filipino family at the forefront of such a big franchise. I don’t think any show on Network TV can say that they have Filipino representation the way we do. I’m super honored to be part of all of it.”
Kian is definitely part of something special but he feels Hollywood, as a whole, isn’t quite there yet as far as telling diverse stories. He acknowledges that there are more opportunities for the actors, but there’s still a lot of ground to be broken in order for that change to be in full effect. It takes more than just a diverse cast to put these stories on screen. It all starts at the top, and if the Executives can at least see the world see through the eyes of the disenfranchised, authentic stories can naturally emerge more frequently.
Kian wears top & gloves by Buttermilk Pink
Kian wears Jacket by Mister Triple X, Shirt by Abel Honor
Why do you believe there’s still little opportunities for Filipino- Americans in Hollywood?
“It all starts at the back-end - the producers, the writers and directors, the people that are building these worlds - those are the positions that Filipinos need to fill in order for our stories to be told authentically. That’s the biggest issue. I mean, me growing up, I never saw Asian representation that I looked up to, characters that I can relate to and that inspires me to work on my craft. I’m hoping that the next generation of Asian-Americans can see what we’re doing now so that it encourages them to be those producers, and be those writers creating these stories, and to get them on screen for the whole world to see.”
Do you feel like the tide is turning?
“I mean...(laughs) there’s more opportunities for the actors now, for sure. But...look, I’m not gonna say any names, but there’s a project out there that casted Caucasian actors to be Asian characters! The fact that’s happening in 2022 is kind of ridiculous to me. I think it’s the way that we’re viewed. There’s still this idea that Asian-Americans aren’t sellable. There’s this quota, you know (laughs). It’s like we need one of this race, and one of that race, blah-blah- blah. I mean, just because you have diversity, doesn’t mean you’re giving them real stories that represent these cultures and ethnicities. Sometimes they just place us in there as supporting actors that have no story at all. There’s a lot of changes that need to happen, but we’re taking baby steps, especially with Filipino- Americans.”
Even though growing up in New Hampshire made him an outcast, his Filipino pride never floundered. FACT (Filipino-Americans Coming Together) is an organization that his mother has been part of since he was little. He would accompany her to charity events and would be surrounded by the culture and his people. It was a big influence because he never had that representation in his local neighborhood or at school. He and his mom are still involved with FACT and he will continue to support the organization for the rest of his life.
After college, Kian moved to New York to begin his adult life. On a whim, he attended an acting class with one of his friends at a conservatory. It completely broke him down emotionally, to thepoint where it made him realize some things he was struggling with - e.g. communication and listening. This made him appreciate the art of acting, prompting him to study the craft and learn from his contemporaries.
Kian wears top by Buttermilk Pink, pants by Mister Triple X, vegan shoes by Dr. Martens
What is one major thing you learned since being on network television for the first time?
“There’s a few things that I learned. One, is that being on Network TV, you’re working with so many different people. I don’t think anyone realizes that you’re working with a new director - every single episode; you’re working with a new writer - every single episode; you’re working with new directors, actors, crew members, etc. It’s a revolving door of new people every episode. So communication and being on the same page with everyone, even if they’re not going to be there the next day, is definitely something I had to learn. Another thing is that you’ve got to be agile. Network TV has a super fast production process. I found out one day that I wasgoing to be in an episode that I wasn’t going to be in, like, the day before! Oh... and you know, the first day on set, I onehundred percent had a panic attack. But after a couple of takes, and a couple episodes, I realized that the other actors are going through the same thing. Whether they’re a celebrity, or we get other established actors on the show, or a newcomer comes aboard, everyone’s on the same boat. You don’t have to stress as much knowing everyone’s figuring out stuff too.”
Who are your idols? Are there any actors out there, currently, that impress you, or that you’d want to emulate?
“Well, Jake Gyllenhaal has always been my favorite actor since DONNIE DARKO. Like, Donnie Darko being played by a Filipino actor would be my ultimate dream! (Laughs)... Um, Meryl Streep, of course - she’s a genius. A legend, straight up! Honestly, being on a set with her - I don’t care if I’m a background actor - being able to watch her work would be amazing. I just started watching WE CRASHED with Jared Leto and Anne Hathaway. I’ve always been a fan of hers, and Leto absolutely kills it on that show. There’s a lot of Filipino actors coming out too. There’s Manny Jacinto, he was a regular on the Netflix show THE GOOD PLACE. He’s also in TOP GUN: MAVERICK as well. Yeah, Manny’s definitely killing it right now. So there’s many influences I have.”
Speaking of Jared Leto, I have a random question about him: What do you think about method acting?
“I saw that article! With Anne Hathaway, yeah. You know, it’s tough to say because he’s such a good actor. He gets to a crazy place with his characters, but I respect it. I just think, personally, I can’t work that way. I like to just leave the character behind and just talk to people as me (laughs), you know. When I leave set, I want people to get to know me, as Kian. I want to get to know the actors outside of there characters - I enjoy that. But, here’s the thing, if being a method actor helps me be Jared Leto in some of the movies and shows he’s on, then maybe I’ll switch. I guess it depends on the project too. I feel like, with deeper, darker stories, it’s something you can’t leave behind all the time. It should stay with you throughout the entire shoot.”
Kian wears suit by Ocean Rebel
With his acting career beginning to take off, Kian already has his eyes set on what he can accomplish in this new journey of his. He’s found his purpose in Hollywood as a trailblazer for aspiring Filipino artists, a future generator of authentic Asian stories, and a fullfledged thespian that can play more than one type of role.
It’s just been announced that NCIS: HAWAI’I is returning this fall for a second season. That’s always great news for any actor working in television. More work equals more pay, of course, but Kian is looking towards elevating his craft more than anything. He’s experienced so much in the first season - working with different actors, writers, and directors that it has him eager to apply what he's learned into the second season. He's built a foundation with Alex Tennant and is excited to go deeper in establishing that character.
Kian wears Jacket by Vegan Tiger
What can we expect from Alex Tennant in Season 2 of NCIS: HAWAI’I?
“This season, Alex will have a lot of discovering to do in terms of his future. He’s about to graduate high school and has to figure out what he’ll do for the rest of his life. I’m excited to explore that in Alex. He kind of had everything planned out last season. He was going to play baseball on the mainland, but since he tore his ACL, he’s kind of lost in terms of what his future holds. Maybe he stays in Hawaii, maybe he doesn’t? Or maybe he finds a whole new passion? It’s going to be exciting, but also a scary time for him.”
What about you, Kian, what does a second season mean for your career?
“I’m very grateful to be part of a show that gets to do a second season. These days, it’s kind of rare for shows to go for more than one season. There is a lot of competition on television and our second season is really only possible because of the fans. Thanks to them, we were the #1 new drama series last year. One of my favorite things to do is to interact with the fans on social media. They were so dedicated, and it’s amazing to see.”
Where do you see yourself in five years?
“I would love to just keep working on my craft, and explore many different types of projects. I hope in the future, I can get involved more in independent films because there’s such rawness in the writing, which makes it so cool. Indie films are more grounded and real. I want to be part of something that really makes you ask questions and think; something that is unexpected and changes your view about things. One of the best parts about being an actor is entering different worlds. So I’d love to enter a gritty, raw world one day. I’m really excited for the future, and very grateful for where I’m at now. So hopefully, that’ll all keep going.”
Kian wears Jacket by Vegan Tiger
PHOTOGRAPHY GLENN NUTLEY @THECONTENTCOLLECTIVE FASHION STYLIST NORA FOLEY @NORA_FOLEY
