"Parang na-discourage ako kasi nu'ng nasa Philippines ako parang I felt like I wasn't conventionally attractive for the actor scene."
Hindi inakala ng Japino o Japanese-Filipino na si Stefanie Arianne na sa Japan niya matutupad ang matagal na niyang pangarap na maging isang mahusay na aktres. Nito lang nakaraang taon, isa siya sa mga bida sa isang Japanese film na kinilala sa Cannes Film Festival.
Kung paano siya nagsimula ng acting career sa ibang bansa, iyan ang pinag-usapan nila ni Doc Anna sa episode na ito ng #ShareKoLang.
Hindi inakala ng Japino o Japanese-Filipino na si Stefanie Arianne na sa Japan niya matutupad ang matagal na niyang pangarap na maging isang mahusay na aktres. Nito lang nakaraang taon, isa siya sa mga bida sa isang Japanese film na kinilala sa Cannes Film Festival.
Kung paano siya nagsimula ng acting career sa ibang bansa, iyan ang pinag-usapan nila ni Doc Anna sa episode na ito ng #ShareKoLang.
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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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