00:00 Not only did Dali De Leon, the Filipino who had a big break at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022,
00:06 but also an intro to the precious red carpet for Japan's film Plan 75,
00:13 a new actress.
00:15 She is Stephanie Arian, a Japanese-Filipino who grew up in the Philippines
00:21 and now is an artist in Japan.
00:25 Her journey from the Philippines to her dreams in Japan
00:30 was told by Doc Anna in this episode of Shareko Lang.
00:35 Hello, Kapuso!
00:42 I am Dr. Anna Tuazon, your storyteller and psychologist in Shareko Lang.
00:47 We will talk to Stephanie Arian,
00:51 a Japanese actress who is making her own name in Japan as a talented actress.
00:57 Hello, Stephanie, and welcome to Shareko Lang!
01:01 Hello! Thank you for inviting me here.
01:04 It's interesting because you are also half Japanese.
01:07 So, people who are not familiar with you might think that it's easier because you are half Japanese.
01:13 What I want to ask you, Steph, is that true?
01:17 Right? How was it?
01:19 Well, being half Japanese is difficult
01:24 because there are double standards here in Japan.
01:28 Even if I'm half Japanese,
01:31 other people don't treat me as a Japanese.
01:37 Of course, even if I want to try to become Japanese,
01:47 in a way, even if I've been here for 10 years,
01:51 they still think I'm a foreigner.
01:53 But I also try to learn their language
01:58 because at first, I didn't have a chance to study the language
02:04 because my work environment is all in English.
02:08 I really want to be good at Japanese
02:10 so that they won't have anything to say
02:15 that even if you're half Japanese, you don't know how to speak Japanese.
02:18 It's also difficult, especially in castings,
02:22 because even if I'm half Japanese, I don't look Japanese.
02:29 So, they also have a hard time with the castings.
02:33 So, when I started here, they called me "exotic look."
02:40 Even if you have Japanese blood, there are still a lot of adjustments.
02:44 They also have cultural expectations.
02:47 "Wait, why is that? Why does your face not conform to what they think a Japanese looks like?"
02:55 I'm a bit slow on the set.
02:58 Of course, I grew up in the Philippines.
03:01 So, you know, in the Philippines, they're all like, "Chika chika, madal dal."
03:05 But in Japan, they're more reserved.
03:10 But in Japan, you really earn the business of many layers.
03:17 But I feel like my co-stars also appreciated that.
03:23 Because, of course, I just talk to them like they're just normal people.
03:28 Because most of the time, they're famous.
03:31 So, when other people talk to them,
03:35 they're walking on eggshells.
03:40 They're very open-minded.
03:43 So, I'm like a breath of fresh air on set, hopefully.
03:47 You said earlier that you didn't actually grow up there.
03:52 Actually, you spent many years here in the Philippines,
03:56 which also, I think, makes your experience much more interesting.
04:00 Because it's not like you're really there.
04:02 How was it? How did you handle it?
04:05 I didn't get to act.
04:08 But my first ever commercial was in the Philippines.
04:13 So, that was the only thing I tried.
04:17 And before, I was a member of a fan club.
04:23 So, when I joined the fan club,
04:27 we were always on set.
04:30 So, when I joined the fan club,
04:32 the flame really ignited.
04:35 I really want to do this.
04:37 But when I was in the Philippines,
04:40 I don't know, I was discouraged.
04:43 Because when I was in the Philippines,
04:45 I felt like I wasn't conventionally attractive
04:49 for the actor scene.
04:54 And also, at that time,
04:57 my family wasn't as supportive as they are now.
05:03 Because they always wanted me to focus on my studies.
05:07 Which now, I understand.
05:09 And I'm more thankful that
05:12 they let me enjoy my childhood
05:16 and focus on my studies.
05:18 And when I moved to Japan,
05:23 I felt like my inner child was pushing me to
05:32 "It's okay. Let's just try."
05:36 Like, "What are we gonna lose?"
05:40 So, I moved to Tokyo.
05:42 That's where I tried to join different agencies.
05:47 I was a nurse in a commercial.
05:51 I even spoke Tagalog in the commercial.
05:54 So, represent!
05:56 After that, I got extra jobs.
06:01 I never experienced working in the Philippines.
06:07 Hopefully, in the future, I'll try.
06:10 Because of the pandemic, it was hard.
06:14 So, how was it?
06:16 Because of the pandemic, there was no casting.
06:20 So, when someone came, I was surprised.
06:24 I thought the name of the character was "Doctor Whatever."
06:33 But when I received the script, I was surprised.
06:37 Because I only get a script with a lot of meaning.
06:46 So, I was happy.
06:48 I was hoping to get the script.
06:52 So, I was happy that I got the script.
06:57 Until now, I'm very happy and thankful.
07:00 The script for Plan 75 was very serendipitous.
07:08 And more than just, "Oh, there's a movie."
07:12 You said, "Oh, there's a meaningful role."
07:15 And it was quite substantial.
07:17 And it was right to represent the Filipinos.
07:22 When I started acting in Japan,
07:26 my first acting role on TV was a hostess.
07:35 The story was good, but it became a trend.
07:39 Every month, they only gave me a hostess role.
07:43 I felt that Filipinos are more than that.
07:47 And of course, I respect the hostesses in Japan.
07:51 Like, the Filipinos who are hostesses in Japan.
07:55 I didn't respect the Filipino workers.
08:01 At an early age, for me to say no to those things,
08:08 it's very risky.
08:10 You just take what you can get.
08:13 That's what my other meet-ups told me.
08:17 They said, "It's a job. Just take it."
08:20 But I really thought that I set my boundary.
08:26 If I'm going to represent the Filipinos
08:31 in front of a different nation,
08:33 in front of a different culture,
08:35 I want them to respect us
08:38 and understand our story.
08:40 Not just to add something.
08:45 That's why I received the audition.
08:50 Because they already had an actress in the Philippines.
08:58 But at that time, since the pandemic,
09:02 Japan put up their borders.
09:05 So no one could enter or leave.
09:09 And they started production.
09:12 So when I auditioned,
09:14 initially, it was just a substitution.
09:19 Because they were still waiting for the borders to open.
09:23 When I got it, my agent told me,
09:28 "This is not official yet. You're just a substitute."
09:32 "Let's wait a few days to see if the borders will open."
09:38 I believe that what's meant for you is really for you.
09:42 I also met our Filipino producer, Sir Allen Berg,
09:46 through Zoom.
09:47 We also did a table read.
09:50 He said that my Tagalog had an accent.
09:54 I was like, "Oh my! My Tagalog has an accent!"
09:57 I was surprised.
09:59 I'm from the Philippines, so I was like, "Why does my Tagalog have an accent?"
10:03 But I only used it occasionally.
10:06 After that, I personalized his comment.
10:09 I watched all the Tagalog movies.
10:14 I really practiced my Tagalog.
10:17 Did you ever think when you first tried to be an actress in Japan
10:22 that your Filipino language would be your asset?
10:27 Your Filipino-ness and your Filipino language.
10:31 It makes sense that it would be lost.
10:34 You're trying to acculturate, accommodate.
10:38 You're studying Japanese and English.
10:41 Then, all of a sudden, they like you.
10:44 Your Filipino-ness.
10:45 I didn't expect that it would be my asset.
10:52 When I first started, I was confused about my strength and my brand.
11:03 It was confusing because I'm half Japanese and half Filipino.
11:09 I can't be cast as a full Japanese because I don't look Japanese.
11:16 But I'm thankful.
11:18 When I moved to Japan, I was out of touch with what was happening in the Philippines.
11:28 When I was cast in Plan 75, it was a reminder to remember your roots.
11:38 Remembering my childhood, where I came from.
11:42 I was too focused on being an international.
11:46 When you were here, you didn't think about joining Showbiz.
11:52 You thought about your appearance.
11:55 Not just the local showbiz.
11:58 In the Philippines, most of the artists are half something else.
12:07 I'm just curious, what do you consider your branding?
12:12 Outside of the artist, Stephanie.
12:15 What is your branding?
12:17 What did you notice that people like about you?
12:22 Wow.
12:24 No one has ever asked me that question.
12:26 I love that.
12:27 I think I'm still searching with what I want.
12:33 But I think now, with all the things I've done,
12:38 I think what I want to do is to represent different stories of Filipinos.
12:45 Because we rarely get to tell our stories.
12:51 Sometimes, we can only tell our stories in an international setting.
12:57 Because when you go to America, Japan,
13:02 they have their own image of Filipinos.
13:06 So that's what I want to do in the future.
13:12 To represent and tell the stories of Filipinos.
13:18 What are your dream stories?
13:21 If you had the opportunity,
13:24 what would you like to tell people?
13:28 This is the experience of a Filipino.
13:30 And maybe particularly in Japan.
13:32 Or something closer to your experience.
13:35 I think my dream is...
13:38 Recently, I'm going to release a movie.
13:42 It's called "Be My Guest, Be My Baby."
13:45 It's like a...
13:47 What do you call this?
13:48 It used to be a book.
13:49 But it's based on a real-life story.
13:52 The author wrote his love story.
13:55 And his wife's.
13:56 But what's good about that movie is that
13:59 Filipinos in the Philippines will see
14:02 how we struggle to give what we want.
14:07 That's what I want.
14:10 Because sometimes,
14:12 when we see that
14:14 "Oh, abroad, like that.
14:16 A lot of money, like that."
14:17 But what we don't see is the struggles.
14:21 Our bills, how much we have, zero.
14:24 So that's what sometimes we don't understand.
14:28 Especially the OFWs who don't take days off
14:34 to take extra shifts.
14:38 Because they're thinking about their families.
14:41 So it's like,
14:42 the OFWs appreciate more
14:46 the stigmatism when you work at night.
14:51 Because there are a lot of judgmental people
14:54 when they work at night.
14:56 They're very talkative.
14:58 But in that movie,
15:00 they're more than that.
15:03 Especially for the Japanese.
15:07 Recently, Mike commented that
15:09 he watched our movie.
15:11 He said that when she was growing up,
15:14 her mom worked at night.
15:16 She was so shy as a daughter.
15:19 But when she watched our movie,
15:20 she cried.
15:21 Because that's when she realized
15:24 how much her mom sacrificed for us.
15:28 So those are the things I want to show.
15:34 And not just that,
15:35 I feel like it's a love story in general.
15:39 How Filipinos love each other.
15:42 How loyal we are.
15:44 I know there are others out there.
15:48 But most of the time,
15:51 we're a very loving society.
15:56 But what I really want to show the world,
16:03 this is my wish,
16:04 maybe in the future,
16:05 when I become a producer,
16:06 whatever.
16:07 I want to feature our histories.
16:13 You said that in Japan,
16:15 actually, one time when I visited Japan,
16:17 I got into trouble because
16:19 I shouldn't make any noise.
16:21 Or make a lot of noise.
16:22 And we were making a lot of noise on the train.
16:25 And they thought it was bad.
16:28 But you wouldn't notice
16:30 that you're being punished or there are rules
16:33 until something different comes along.
16:35 Until you try something else.
16:38 So, it happens.
16:40 And I wonder,
16:41 in many aspects of your life,
16:46 as far as we know,
16:47 at least what we know from the public,
16:49 do you feel like you're an expert
16:53 in navigating cultures?
16:56 Like, "Oh, this is the expectation.
16:59 I'll adjust."
17:00 "Oh, this is what they need."
17:02 Because in a way,
17:03 when you're a global citizen,
17:06 or international,
17:08 that's where adaptability comes out.
17:11 And we talked about that.
17:13 Pros and cons.
17:14 Sometimes, it's so adaptable.
17:15 "Wait, who am I?"
17:17 "Maybe I'm adjusting too much."
17:19 That's the problem with Filipinos.
17:21 When Filipinos go abroad,
17:23 they adapt so well.
17:24 Language, everything.
17:26 And then sometimes,
17:27 it's lost.
17:29 So, do you consider, you know,
17:31 how do you consider yourself
17:33 as a navigator of the cultural seas?
17:37 I wouldn't call myself an expert.
17:40 But I think what I really talk to myself about
17:43 is having my boundaries.
17:45 Anywhere I go,
17:47 I need to follow said boundaries.
17:50 When I think or feel uncomfortable
17:55 in a situation,
17:56 I really have to say no.
17:57 And I think it's my spicy Filipino side.
18:03 I can say no.
18:06 In Japan, as a woman,
18:09 that's a different story.
18:11 Most of the women here,
18:13 it's hard for them to say no.
18:14 I mean, in general,
18:15 Japanese people,
18:16 it's hard for them to say no.
18:18 But for a woman to say no,
18:20 higher up,
18:21 it's very rare.
18:26 But again,
18:27 when it comes to adjusting as well,
18:30 when I started,
18:32 as you said,
18:34 I adjusted a lot.
18:36 It's like I became a chameleon.
18:39 But throughout my journey,
18:42 someone told me,
18:45 "Don't let anyone dim your light."
18:49 She told me,
18:50 "Let your star shine."
18:53 Because I don't know,
18:55 I always felt like I didn't want to be seen.
19:01 So, yeah.
19:03 Surround yourself with people
19:05 who are happy to see you succeed.
19:10 That you'll be successful.
19:12 They're there to congratulate you.
19:14 They're there to be a shoulder to cry on
19:17 when you're on your lows.
19:19 So, it's okay to have that circle.
19:24 Because I'm sure,
19:25 in other areas of our lives,
19:26 we don't have that luxury at work.
19:29 We always have to be a bit professional, etc.
19:32 But it's good that at the end of the day,
19:34 you have a close set of people.
19:37 Whether that's family, friends, or boyfriend.
19:39 You're like, "I can be myself."
19:42 I don't have to project any persona,
19:46 any personality.
19:48 It doesn't have to be everyone in your life.
19:50 Sometimes, you just need that one person.
19:52 Or a couple of people.
19:54 So that you won't pressure the other person.
19:57 So, what's next for Stephanie Arianne?
20:00 And what's next for me is,
20:02 next year, I will have multiple movies
20:05 that will be out.
20:07 I can't say the names or which ones.
20:10 But I'm very, very excited for next year.
20:13 Because they'll all be released at the same time.
20:17 I'm sure we will hear so many more things
20:20 from you.
20:22 We're excited.
20:23 I hope others can come to us.
20:25 So that we can also watch your movies.
20:30 Thank you so much, Stephanie Arianne.
20:33 Thank you.
20:34 And I do hope those stories come out
20:36 one way or the other.
20:38 Whatever medium, TV, film, international.
20:41 Or maybe perhaps later on,
20:43 you can bring some of those stories to us.
20:45 Thank you so much for having me here.
20:48 I really, really appreciate it
20:50 that you thought of me in your amazing program.
20:55 So, thank you.
20:56 Thank you so much.
20:58 If you have something to talk about,
21:00 just leave a comment below.
21:02 Or email us at sharekolang@gmailnews.tv
21:07 We're also streaming on Spotify,
21:10 Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
21:13 Thanks for tuning in!
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