An in-depth exclusive interview with actor KENNY LEU who steps into the spotlight and leads the way with Aimee Long’s powerful film, A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL.
A story that could have been lifted from the headlines of today, although inspired by an actual incident, A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL was the result of a lesser-known police shooting that involved the Asian community many years before George Floyd and Black Lives Matter brought issues of black, white, and brown police shootings and brutality to the forefront. Always seemingly left out of the conversation, Aimee Long chose to rectify that with A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL, the story of an accidental shooting of an innocent Black man in Brooklyn by a Chinese-American police officer. Starring Kenny Leu as rookie Officer Mike Tan, Long gives us a perspective we haven’t previously seen on screen or in real-life headlines as we see not only what happens to Tan and his own mindset, but the collateral damage to his family and friends. Navigating myriad issues of race, interracial relationships, media, police Internal Affairs, the justice system, culture clashes and deep-rooted cultural beliefs, thanks to riveting honest performances from not only Kenny Leu, but Ciara Renee, Tzi Ma, Fiona Fu, Clifton Davis, Lynn Chen, and Dan Lauria, our eyes and minds are opened to further discussion and a bigger picture.
Dedicated, passionate, and an effervescent joy, KENNY LEU bares all with thoughtful honesty and frankness talking about A SHOT THROUGH THE WALL and its unique perspective of including the Asian community. A film that blends cultures and tackles multi-layered issues, including interracial relationships, Kenny discusses the authenticity of the Asian culture represented in the film, his research in preparing for the role (he actually went through the LAPD Academy training!), finding the character of Mike Tan within himself, his general thoughts on storytelling and what drives him and what he looks for in a role, and more. One of the nicest guys in town, Kenny is definitely one of my favorite interviews.
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 01/28/2022
