Actor and martial artist Alfred Hsing chatted about starring in the film “Train Dreams,” which was released on Netflix on November 21st.
Based on the novella of the same name, the drama “Train Dreams” is the portrait of Robert Grainier, a logger and railroad worker who leads a life of unexpected depth and beauty in the rapidly changing America of the early 20th Century.
How was your experience in “Train Dreams”?
My experience on Train Dreams over and exceeded my expectations. From the beginning until now the project has been a dream.
The casting process went smoothly. Then after I was booked Director Clint Bentley reached out and wanted to talk to me before I flew out (from LA to Washington) for the shoot. We spent an hour discussing the story, my character, and thoughts.
After that discussion- seeing how much the director cared about the story and each character I could tell we weren’t just making a movie… we we’re making a film.
But sincerely, when a team has that much heart and passion combined with experience and vision, you know you are a part of something special. Even when I first landed in Washington for my fitting, the production office ordered me food and I had one of the best burgers at this place called Rusty Moose.
My first day acting opposite Joel Edgerton was a particularly intense emotional scene- challenging in that it’s a significant point in Grainier’s life and the scene was stripped to the essentials of acting- no props, little words, and finding the performance in the eyes.
It was intense, but felt rewarding as an actor. And overall it was rewarding being a part of a film that has a lot of soul and captures such beautiful and fragile moments in life.
Even post release, the producers, studios, the cast (whom most of which have been Oscar nominated) and the entire team really made me feel included at the premiere, red carpet, and Q&As.
So yes, Train Dreams start to finish was an absolutely wonderful experience.
What did you like most about your character?
I saw an old photo of a Chinese laborer during that time- and even in his work attire he looked well put together, with a little swagger.
I could envision a life where this character, Fu Sheng, came across the Pacific Ocean, was a bold charismatic man searching for a better life.
I liked that our director took the time to listen and was open to ideas. We didn’t play the Chinese immigrant in a visibly “weak Asian male” stereotype.
When you see this mob try to grab Fu Sheng and even when Grainer lays hands on him, you see Fu Sheng fight back.
He doesn’t go easy and I even flash Grainier a look of disbelief as in “how could you” when I’m yelling at him to help and he does nothing.
I liked that the film shows, even if you meet someone for a day or a lifetime they can still make a lasting impact on your life.
What did this movie teach you about yourself?
I think being out in the quiet of nature and in the calm of the Pacific Northwest Washington helped bring me a certain clarity that I needed at that point in my life.
The film, including the part of my character, reminded me of the connectedness of all things.
How does it feel to be an actor and martial artist in the digital age?
I think being a martial artist and actor in the early digital age was wonderful. There was a new level of connectedness in the world. You could see martial arts training videos from around the world.
You could share and be seen and make your own content in a way that couldn’t be done before. The super high barrier to entry of making films changed so more people and art could be discovered.
And like with all things there is a healthy balance. I think the current digital age and the advancement of AI might be at a point where we have gone too far in terms of balance.
If everything is easy to make, if all forms of media flood audiences, if there is little to no sense of real human effort, it’s likely to devalue performances and the art.
When I would watch Jackie Chan films growing up, in a time before even CG was possible, all audiences knew the physical effort and human struggle he went through to capture one incredible take for audiences. He did things that make audiences jaw drop because it was real and we could feel it.
Now if anyone is able to reproduce a life-like (looks completely indistinguishable from real life) video of someone escaping an explosion or doing a cool trick, it loses a lot of the magic because it’s either not real or visually we’ve seen so much “incredible” video that seeing a human feats feels less impressive.
I want to live in a world where I can trust my own eyes and where truthful human expression is valued over convenience and profits.
What do your plans for the future include?
I would love to continue acting and being part of incredible stories.
I want to create my magnum opus of action filmmaking combining all my years in the industry, my experience as an actor, stuntman, stunt coordinator, my experiences working on set with legends like Jet Li, Jackie Chan, and Donnie Yen, and put that all into a film that celebrates the art of action filmmaking- appreciating martial arts and real physical expression built on decades of training.
What is your advice for young and emerging actors and martial artists?
“Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” What better quote than from Bruce Lee who was both an actor and a martial artist?
I would say that all my failures led me to the next step. In hindsight I realize that doors opened for me at the right time. If they had opened at the wrong time I might not have been fully prepared to tackle what was ahead of me.
For instance, I failed many times before I made it on to the US national wushu team. By the time I made the team, I was in a place, skill-wise, where I could compete with the best in the world (not just the national level) and ultimately won a world championship.
If I had walked through that door earlier and made the US team, I may have competed at the World Championships and lost and let my martial arts journey end there– So even when times feel tough, know that failure is a part of moving forward.
What does the word success mean to you?
Inner peace. I think this can take a long time or even a lifetime to cultivate, but finding peace from within and not depending on external factors for validation. This doesn’t mean disassociating from the external world – just that we are not at the mercy of the external.
Peace means finding purpose in whatever you choose to do. Peace means coming to acceptance with yourself.
In terms of contributions I’d love to help bridge east and west, be surrounded by good community, and find ways to support healthy ways to live for all.
To learn more about Alfred Hsing, follow him on Instagram and visit his official website.
