ST:P2 Feature 001

PART 2: On the Set with JT Tepnepa
Interviewed by Meghan King Johnson

MKJ: So, JT, how did you get involved in this project?

JT: Actually James [Cawley], came down [to LA] about 5 years ago for Hidden Frontier, another Star Trek web series. At that time, they (HF and ST:P2) were talking about joining forces and making a full-on production in The Next Generation series, but that never panned out. But at the same time, I met James and we just kept in contact over the years. I’ve always actually wanted the part of Sulu, but I was too passive-aggressive to actually say: “I want Sulu.” But once John Lim moved on, I was still there, still being passive-aggressive, and I think it was James Cawley’s…um…well…his… I don’t know what you would call it….

MKJ: Perception?

JT: Perception? Aggression? His fortuitousness? Is that the right word? I dunno! Well, because of James Cawley being James Cawley, the James Cawleyness said: “Get me Tepnapa.”

MKJ: How familiar were you with Star Trek before this?

JT: Well, with the web series, I was doing Star Trek for seven years before I did this. And my mom was a huge Star Trek fan. She liked Sulu, too, being the Asian dude, because of my father; she had the hots for Sulu. And she had the hots for Spock. She likes the foreign dudes. But…Wrath of Khan was my introduction to Star Trek.

MKJ: What is your previous acting experience, and how did you become an actor?

JT: Actually, it was [due to] my high school music teacher, in a very small town called Taylorville in Illinois. I don’t know what she saw, but…I think she just needed people. She was like, “You know, you should really audition for the musical.” And I said, “Uh…OK.” I was so nervous in this audition, and I thought I didn’t get the part. But she ended up giving me a really big role for a freshman. I think that was my first introduction to it. And I was so nervous to go on stage, but I went on stage and I had such a good time that I got the acting bug, I suppose. And when I graduated I went back to California, and went to school for acting. I got an agent, I did commercials, I did all those things, but it wasn’t enough, because I was playing, like, gang member roles – like “Gang Member #7,” or “Korean Barbeque Dude.” So I started making my own films, and giving myself parts in them because if you really want something bad enough, you do it yourself. So being in front of the camera and playing Sulu is kind of a dream come true. I know that sounds kind of corny, but it is. He’s an iconic character, and I’ve looked up to him for so many years. And I’ve never actually played Asian before, even though I am Asian.

MKJ: What did they have you playing then?

JT: I would be playing American Indian, or Mexican, or Asian Indian – the “Korean Barbeque” thing – I didn’t get the part, but they called me for it…so it’s kind of weird, because I tried for so many years to go away from being Asian because I felt like, I don’t know, like it was kind of bad thing to be Asian. It’s not until my later years that I’ve come to be comfortable in my own skin. So this part is important to me in that way. From my understanding of Sulu, Sulu is some island in the Philippines. So all of Asia is connected with this one sea. I guess that’s why Roddenberry picked that name. It just so happened that a Japanese person [George Takei] played it. I think his [Rodenberry’s] initial idea was to have an Asian person represent all of Asia. That’s why I’m happy to play it.

MKJ: You talked a little bit about Hidden Frontier. Can you talk about that a little bit more, or is there any other work that have you done, or are currently doing, that fans could see you in?

JT: Well in Hidden Frontier I’m playing Corey Aster, who happens to be one of the first gay Star Fleet officers onscreen. I’ve been playing that character for seven years, and probably will still be playing it for a couple more years. I can’t stop. I don’t want anyone else to play him! I love that role. I’m also working on my own projects. I’m working on my first feature film with Carlos Pedraza (he’s my “writing” husband): JudasKissMovie.com.

MKJ: Were you working with Carlos on something else to?

JT: We work together on Hidden Frontier. We’re a good writing / directing team.

MKJ: So, as you know, we have only had one Sulu so far, in Star Trek: New Voyages / Phase 2, but people did respond well and are familiar now with John Lim now playing Sulu. Now that you’re coming in to play Sulu, what are your thoughts about that? How has that affected you?

JT: It’s scary. It’s very scary actually. For one, George Takei is the originator; no one can beat George. And then John Lim comes in and he gets to work with George…so watching them together…frankly, that’s my favorite one [episode]. It’s just so good. It’s well-written and well-acted and George has such a presence. And John lived up to the challenge. I know you guys have millions of people watching this that saw John Lim’s performance, and said what a wonderful job he did. So it’s kind of scary, because I’m going to come in, and I’m not going to be John Lim, and I’m not going to be George Takei. I’m going to give it my own thing. But I feel like I came in and I knew that I had to prove something. That’s really nerve-wracking. I’m walking into this place and it feels like one hundred people here, and they’re all looking at you, and they know you’re going to be Sulu. Some of them say, “Yeah, you’re going to be great.” Some of them, they don’t know. Yesterday, when I had my first line, it was just amazing how many people came up to me and congratulated me and said, “Good job.” And I’m like, “But it was one line!” [laughs]

MKJ: But still that had to feel pretty good.

JT: Yeah, it did. It felt awesome. It felt good because then I was like, “OK. I can breathe a little bit.” Because the fan series, it really is in the hands of fans – without them there is no show. I mean, you can still put on shows, but you’ve got to have people watching them.

MKJ: What did you do to prepare? Anything unique?

JT: Well… unique to other things. I watched a couple of George’s original series episodes, like Naked Time and The Man Trap – just to hear George’s voice, which ironically, is not deep at all. I think the “Oh my [said in a deeper voice]” and all that stuff is George now…but I listened to that. And he does have a lower register than mine, mine is usually my head voice so I just have to remember to speak from the diaphragm. I do vocal exercises before I start so I don’t bottom out my voice, but it’s a lower, more masculine register.

MKJ: Can you give us a sample? Say something not in the script so we don’t have any spoilers.

JT: OK, OK.

MKJ: That makes it even harder. And do it while standing on one foot.

JT: OK, I’m on one foot. I’ve got my hand on my head. And I am holding my nose.

MKJ: And the line is: “Deflector screens raised.”

JT: “Deflectors screens raised, sir” [JT says in a slight lower pitch]. So, I’m just using a lower voice. But it’s not “Sulu”; it’s just a lower register and I’m going to “talk here” [JT says in a slight lower pitch again].

MKJ: And it felt good, when you were out there delivering like that on the set?

JT: It felt good. It felt good. It’s not a huge difference. And I think someone told me this, and I know this; the voice is second, the acting is first.

MKJ: It’s not a huge difference, but you don’t want it to be fake-sounding either. It’s still you.

JT: Right. It still has to be me. I can’t be [George Takei’s] Sulu. And I shouldn’t try to be, because as soon as I try to be it goes into parody. And that’s completely wrong. I don’t want people to laugh. Well some might, cause I am kind of funny looking. [laughs].

MKJ: When you first arrived on the set, what were your thoughts?

JT: Oh my God, what did I get myself into? But I probably came at a really bad time because there’s no running water on the set.

MKJ: Shhhh……

JT: So yeah, there’s no running water and I don’t know where the hell I am. But it’s very green. I mean, compared to Los Angeles. I love my trailer, by the way, it’s great.

MKJ: You got a trailer? Why didn’t I get a trailer?

JT: Yeah, it’s next to the mud room.

MKJ: You have a mud room in your trailer? How did you swing that?

JT: I dunno….I don’t know what a mud room is.

MKJ: It’s like a little entry way in your house, where you take off your shoes because they’re muddy, so you can go into the rest of your house [without making a mess].

JT: OHHHH….oh my God…that’s wonderful. Wow. They spare no expense here!

MKJ: It’s pretty darn muddy!

[Author’s Note: this part of the conversation is in reference to the water line break we experienced at the studio while filming Enemy: Starfleet!]

MKJ: How is it to work with this production [other than dealing with the water main break and other minor inconveniences]?

JT: Well I’m still new, I’ve only had one scene so far. Everybody seems to be very, very nice. Like with all film sets, it takes awhile. So I do a lot of napping. And vocal exercises…[laughs] I really don’t know yet. So far, so good.

MKJ: Is there anything in the script you are looking forward to filming?

JT: It’s an action-packed episode so the lines are very action-like, or very “Star Trek-ian.” So, coming off of Hidden Frontier, I’m pretty used to that stuff. But I was really looking forward to a very, very small interaction between Sulu and Chekov, and I did that yesterday. So, that’s what I was looking forward to. It was fun!

MKJ: I heard a lot of stuff afterwards; that it looked great. I didn’t get to see it, but I heard people talking about it.

JT: It just surprised me on how much people liked it. It shocked me. I didn’t expect people to be so nice. Because I felt like I probably need to do a little bit more to prove myself as Sulu – because, yeah, I did one line! – but that’s alright. They were just so happy because I talk in my head, and then I lowered my register, and they go, “Oh thank God. He can sound straight.” [laughs]

MKJ: What is your fantasy role to play as an actor – not just Star Trek?

JT: Gosh. I don’t want this to sound the wrong way, but I don’t have one. I mean in some ways Sulu is the fantasy role. I’ve been lucky to be in a lot of theater productions, and I’ve done a lot of film things…

MKJ: …and you were able to produce Hidden Frontier to create your fantasy role…

JT. Mm hmm…so I don’t really have another fantasy role. Oh, wait! Well, I’m too old for it now, but maybe Puck from Midsummer Night’s Dream.

MKJ: What was the first NV/P2 episode you watched?

JT: I think I watched the very first one. I saw Come What May. I’ve seen them all.

MKJ: So what are your thoughts about what you saw within the context of all that you have been doing the past couple of days?

JT: It’s much smaller than I thought. On screen everything looks like wide open spaces, and it looks like you have all this room. And I went on set the day before yesterday and I was like, “Wow. It’s really small.” And it’s got all these lights, and camera equipment in it – it just makes it even smaller. I thought it was awesome. It felt intimate to me, which is good. All my stuff is on the bridge for this episode, but I’m looking forward to next year and trying some other things. There are some other scripts in the works that I really, really hope get made.

MKJ: What are your overall impressions of the Enemy: Starfleet! script?

JT: It’s action-packed. Sulu is at the bridge, he’s doing his thing. So I think the action is a perfect introduction to Sulu. It’s good that I’m not doing too, too much. I think it’s good to have the fans just kind of settle in to the new Sulu – kind of figure out, “OK, this is who it’s going to be.” And I think the hardest thing to do is the Trek techno-babble. But I try to do it without making it look like babble. And I went to Ron Boyd to learn my button-pushing because I come from Next Generation where everything is “BlurpBlurp…Bleep…Bleep.” And here it’s like, switches and buttons.

MKJ: So at this point you’d be interested in returning in the role of Sulu?

JT: Yes. Absolutely. Of course I would return. Actually, the other thing that was really nice is that there are a lot of Hidden Frontier fans here that welcomed me and said, “You know, I’ve seen you play Corey and I’m really glad you’re here.” Just like Bobby [Rice, who has also acted in Hidden Frontier]; it’s funny that we’re both here.

MKJ; Anything else you’d like to share?

JT: Like I said, this is all kind of new to me. I really don’t know what to expect. I’m still hoping to do a good job, and I hope people like my interpretation of Sulu. It means a lot to me. I think I said this earlier, but growing up as a mixed-ethnicity, I didn’t always accept the Asian side of me. So, in a lot of ways, playing Sulu is accepting all of me, and in another way, accepting even my father, who I hope would be proud, too, because he’s a Star Trek fan too. Also, my mother – in a way I wish she could have seen this. She would have been so excited to know this. But in some ways I think I’m thinking of her too.

[Author’s Note: JT’s mother passed away in January of 2008 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.]

******

Side bar:

Tepnapa (pronounced TEP neh pah) means “angel in the sky” in Thai. JT’s grandfather gave him that name based on his belief that babies come from heaven.

______________________________________

Click here to go to Part 1: On the Set with Jonathan Zungree


PHOTOS BY: Cynthia Lin, Andy "Sarge" Greib, and Rich DiMascio Sulu (J.T. Tepnepa) at the Helm during battle. A brief discussion between scenes on the Bridge. J.T. in the "green room" on the Star Trek: Phase II set. Sulu (J.T. Tepnepa) at the Helm. J.T. checks over the script between takes. Discovering the "Sulu-scope."	PART 2: On the Set with JT Tepnepa Interviewed by Meghan King Johnson MKJ: So, JT, how did you get involved in this project? JT: Actually James [Cawley], came down [to LA] about 5 years ago for Hidden Frontier, another Star Trek web series. At that time, they (HF and ST:P2) were talking about joining forces and making a full-on production in The Next Generation series, but that never panned out. But at the same time, I met James and we just kept in contact over the years. I’ve always actually wanted the part of Sulu, but I was too passive-aggressive to actually say: “I want Sulu.” But once John Lim moved on, I was still there, still being passive-aggressive, and I think it was James Cawley’s…um…well…his… I don’t know what you would call it…. MKJ: Perception? JT: Perception? Aggression? His fortuitousness? Is that the right word? I dunno! Well, because of James Cawley being James Cawley, the James Cawleyness said: “Get me Tepnapa.” MKJ: How familiar were you with Star Trek before this? JT: Well, with the web series, I was doing Star Trek for seven years before I did this. And my mom was a huge Star Trek fan. She liked Sulu, too, being the Asian dude, because of my father; she had the hots for Sulu. And she had the hots for Spock. She likes the foreign dudes. But…Wrath of Khan was my introduction to Star Trek. MKJ: What is your previous acting experience, and how did you become an actor? JT: Actually, it was [due to] my high school music teacher, in a very small town called Taylorville in Illinois. I don’t know what she saw, but…I think she just needed people. She was like, “You know, you should really audition for the musical.” And I said, “Uh…OK.” I was so nervous in this audition, and I thought I didn’t get the part. But she ended up giving me a really big role for a freshman. I think that was my first introduction to it. And I was so nervous to go on stage, but I went on stage and I had such a good time that I got the acting bug, I suppose. And when I graduated I went back to California, and went to school for acting. I got an agent, I did commercials, I did all those things, but it wasn’t enough, because I was playing, like, gang member roles – like “Gang Member #7,” or “Korean Barbeque Dude.” So I started making my own films, and giving myself parts in them because if you really want something bad enough, you do it yourself. So being in front of the camera and playing Sulu is kind of a dream come true. I know that sounds kind of corny, but it is. He’s an iconic character, and I’ve looked up to him for so many years. And I’ve never actually played Asian before, even though I am Asian. MKJ: What did they have you playing then? JT: I would be playing American Indian, or Mexican, or Asian Indian – the “Korean Barbeque” thing – I didn’t get the part, but they called me for it…so it’s kind of weird, because I tried for so many years to go away from being Asian because I felt like, I don’t know, like it was kind of bad thing to be Asian. It’s not until my later years that I’ve come to be comfortable in my own skin. So this part is important to me in that way. From my understanding of Sulu, Sulu is some island in the Philippines. So all of Asia is connected with this one sea. I guess that’s why Roddenberry picked that name. It just so happened that a Japanese person [George Takei] played it. I think his [Rodenberry’s] initial idea was to have an Asian person represent all of Asia. That’s why I’m happy to play it. MKJ: You talked a little bit about Hidden Frontier. Can you talk about that a little bit more, or is there any other work that have you done, or are currently doing, that fans could see you in? JT: Well in Hidden Frontier I’m playing Corey Aster, who happens to be one of the first gay Star Fleet officers onscreen. I’ve been playing that character for seven years, and probably will still be playing it for a couple more years. I can’t stop. I don’t want anyone else to play him! I love that role. I’m also working on my own projects. I’m working on my first feature film with Carlos Pedraza (he’s my “writing” husband): JudasKissMovie.com. MKJ: Were you working with Carlos on something else to? JT: We work together on Hidden Frontier. We’re a good writing / directing team. MKJ: So, as you know, we have only had one Sulu so far, in Star Trek: New Voyages / Phase 2, but people did respond well and are familiar now with John Lim now playing Sulu. Now that you’re coming in to play Sulu, what are your thoughts about that? How has that affected you? JT: It’s scary. It’s very scary actually. For one, George Takei is the originator; no one can beat George. And then John Lim comes in and he gets to work with George…so watching them together…frankly, that’s my favorite one [episode]. It’s just so good. It’s well-written and well-acted and George has such a presence. And John lived up to the challenge. I know you guys have millions of people watching this that saw John Lim’s performance, and said what a wonderful job he did. So it’s kind of scary, because I’m going to come in, and I’m not going to be John Lim, and I’m not going to be George Takei. I’m going to give it my own thing. But I feel like I came in and I knew that I had to prove something. That’s really nerve-wracking. I’m walking into this place and it feels like one hundred people here, and they’re all looking at you, and they know you’re going to be Sulu. Some of them say, “Yeah, you’re going to be great.” Some of them, they don’t know. Yesterday, when I had my first line, it was just amazing how many people came up to me and congratulated me and said, “Good job.” And I’m like, “But it was one line!” [laughs] MKJ: But still that had to feel pretty good. JT: Yeah, it did. It felt awesome. It felt good because then I was like, “OK. I can breathe a little bit.” Because the fan series, it really is in the hands of fans – without them there is no show. I mean, you can still put on shows, but you’ve got to have people watching them. MKJ: What did you do to prepare? Anything unique? JT: Well… unique to other things. I watched a couple of George’s original series episodes, like Naked Time and The Man Trap – just to hear George’s voice, which ironically, is not deep at all. I think the “Oh my [said in a deeper voice]” and all that stuff is George now…but I listened to that. And he does have a lower register than mine, mine is usually my head voice so I just have to remember to speak from the diaphragm. I do vocal exercises before I start so I don’t bottom out my voice, but it’s a lower, more masculine register. MKJ: Can you give us a sample? Say something not in the script so we don’t have any spoilers. JT: OK, OK. MKJ: That makes it even harder. And do it while standing on one foot. JT: OK, I’m on one foot. I’ve got my hand on my head. And I am holding my nose. MKJ: And the line is: “Deflector screens raised.” JT: “Deflectors screens raised, sir” [JT says in a slight lower pitch]. So, I’m just using a lower voice. But it’s not “Sulu”; it’s just a lower register and I’m going to “talk here” [JT says in a slight lower pitch again]. MKJ: And it felt good, when you were out there delivering like that on the set? JT: It felt good. It felt good. It’s not a huge difference. And I think someone told me this, and I know this; the voice is second, the acting is first. MKJ: It’s not a huge difference, but you don’t want it to be fake-sounding either. It’s still you. JT: Right. It still has to be me. I can’t be [George Takei’s] Sulu. And I shouldn’t try to be, because as soon as I try to be it goes into parody. And that’s completely wrong. I don’t want people to laugh. Well some might, cause I am kind of funny looking. [laughs]. MKJ: When you first arrived on the set, what were your thoughts? JT: Oh my God, what did I get myself into? But I probably came at a really bad time because there’s no running water on the set. MKJ: Shhhh…… JT: So yeah, there’s no running water and I don’t know where the hell I am. But it’s very green. I mean, compared to Los Angeles. I love my trailer, by the way, it’s great. MKJ: You got a trailer? Why didn’t I get a trailer? JT: Yeah, it’s next to the mud room. MKJ: You have a mud room in your trailer? How did you swing that? JT: I dunno….I don’t know what a mud room is. MKJ: It’s like a little entry way in your house, where you take off your shoes because they’re muddy, so you can go into the rest of your house [without making a mess]. JT: OHHHH….oh my God…that’s wonderful. Wow. They spare no expense here! MKJ: It’s pretty darn muddy! [Author’s Note: this part of the conversation is in reference to the water line break we experienced at the studio while filming Enemy: Starfleet!] MKJ: How is it to work with this production [other than dealing with the water main break and other minor inconveniences]? JT: Well I’m still new, I’ve only had one scene so far. Everybody seems to be very, very nice. Like with all film sets, it takes awhile. So I do a lot of napping. And vocal exercises…[laughs] I really don’t know yet. So far, so good. MKJ: Is there anything in the script you are looking forward to filming? JT: It’s an action-packed episode so the lines are very action-like, or very “Star Trek-ian.” So, coming off of Hidden Frontier, I’m pretty used to that stuff. But I was really looking forward to a very, very small interaction between Sulu and Chekov, and I did that yesterday. So, that’s what I was looking forward to. It was fun! MKJ: I heard a lot of stuff afterwards; that it looked great. I didn’t get to see it, but I heard people talking about it. JT: It just surprised me on how much people liked it. It shocked me. I didn’t expect people to be so nice. Because I felt like I probably need to do a little bit more to prove myself as Sulu – because, yeah, I did one line! – but that’s alright. They were just so happy because I talk in my head, and then I lowered my register, and they go, “Oh thank God. He can sound straight.” [laughs] MKJ: What is your fantasy role to play as an actor – not just Star Trek? JT: Gosh. I don’t want this to sound the wrong way, but I don’t have one. I mean in some ways Sulu is the fantasy role. I’ve been lucky to be in a lot of theater productions, and I’ve done a lot of film things… MKJ: …and you were able to produce Hidden Frontier to create your fantasy role… JT. Mm hmm…so I don’t really have another fantasy role. Oh, wait! Well, I’m too old for it now, but maybe Puck from Midsummer Night’s Dream. MKJ: What was the first NV/P2 episode you watched? JT: I think I watched the very first one. I saw Come What May. I’ve seen them all. MKJ: So what are your thoughts about what you saw within the context of all that you have been doing the past couple of days? JT: It’s much smaller than I thought. On screen everything looks like wide open spaces, and it looks like you have all this room. And I went on set the day before yesterday and I was like, “Wow. It’s really small.” And it’s got all these lights, and camera equipment in it – it just makes it even smaller. I thought it was awesome. It felt intimate to me, which is good. All my stuff is on the bridge for this episode, but I’m looking forward to next year and trying some other things. There are some other scripts in the works that I really, really hope get made. MKJ: What are your overall impressions of the Enemy: Starfleet! script? JT: It’s action-packed. Sulu is at the bridge, he’s doing his thing. So I think the action is a perfect introduction to Sulu. It’s good that I’m not doing too, too much. I think it’s good to have the fans just kind of settle in to the new Sulu – kind of figure out, “OK, this is who it’s going to be.” And I think the hardest thing to do is the Trek techno-babble. But I try to do it without making it look like babble. And I went to Ron Boyd to learn my button-pushing because I come from Next Generation where everything is “BlurpBlurp…Bleep…Bleep.” And here it’s like, switches and buttons. MKJ: So at this point you’d be interested in returning in the role of Sulu? JT: Yes. Absolutely. Of course I would return. Actually, the other thing that was really nice is that there are a lot of Hidden Frontier fans here that welcomed me and said, “You know, I’ve seen you play Corey and I’m really glad you’re here.” Just like Bobby [Rice, who has also acted in Hidden Frontier]; it’s funny that we’re both here. MKJ; Anything else you’d like to share? JT: Like I said, this is all kind of new to me. I really don’t know what to expect. I’m still hoping to do a good job, and I hope people like my interpretation of Sulu. It means a lot to me. I think I said this earlier, but growing up as a mixed-ethnicity, I didn’t always accept the Asian side of me. So, in a lot of ways, playing Sulu is accepting all of me, and in another way, accepting even my father, who I hope would be proud, too, because he’s a Star Trek fan too. Also, my mother – in a way I wish she could have seen this. She would have been so excited to know this. But in some ways I think I’m thinking of her too. [Author’s Note: JT’s mother passed away in January of 2008 after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.] ****** Side bar: Tepnapa (pronounced TEP neh pah) means “angel in the sky” in Thai. JT’s grandfather gave him that name based on his belief that babies come from heaven. ______________________________________ Click here to go to Part 1: On the Set with Jonathan Zungree