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Biography

 

The story of Willis Chung, and how he became an Actor!

 

 
 


Willis was born as the middle child of three siblings at Garfield Hospital in Monterey Park.  Growing up, as his parents struggle to keep the family fed, his family constantly moved between New York and Los Angeles.  As a result, he has found the balance between the East Coast aggressive nature as well as a Californian laid back style. 

Growing up as a child of Taiwanese decent, Willis was forced to learn Mandarin Chinese, which became very practical use in his career pursuit.  Presently, he continues to advance himself as he branches out to Japanese and Korean.

Alongside his education in the academics, Willis grew up studying the Wushu form of martial arts.  At the request of the Master, Willis also branched out into Tai Chi.  His disciplined ethics has earned him one gold medal, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in his first of competing.  Under the straight discipline of his parents, Willis was required to begin piano lessons at the age of five.  Willis has accumulated about six years of formal training, and continued to grow on his own musically.

As Willis graduated from Walnut High School, he had difficulties deciding on a major, resulting in his decision to attend the local community college.  His original choice of becoming a nurse was scraped immediately after the end of his first semester as he asked himself "What the hell am I thinking?"  He then took on accounting which led him to a job at his local branch of Bank of America, working as a Teller.  His hard work there promoted him to be a personal Banker.

However on one October night, just before Willis was about to accept his promotion as a Personal Banker, he received a phone call that changed his life.  He "accidentally" picked up his brother's phone and a woman by the name of Stephanie asked if he would like to be in a movie.  Out of curiosity, and doubting the authenticity of the phone call, Willis questioned Stephanie as to the name of the movie.  It was The Fast and the Furious 3.  Believing Stephanie, Willis agreed to participate in the filming, and the rest is of course as they say... Hollywood History.

...Hollywood history of course is still being made.  On the set of The Fast and the Furious 3, Willis gained his first Hollywood set experience.  After two long and excruciating weeks, Willis returned to the depressed reality of banking.  But as Lady Luck and the Spirit of Hollywood would have it, on one fine day, he received a voicemail offering him the supporting role of "Teahair Gangster" In the Fast and the Furious 3, which he immediately agreed to and taken a long (very long) leave of absence from the bank.  Willis was then welcomed to the Screen Actors Guild.

As a Teahair Gangster, Willis had the opportunity to meet various people on set, including the stars of the movie as well as the Director Justin Lin.  However, Willis is most thankful that he met the rest of his fellow Teahair Gangsters, who had tutored and nourished Willis to understand the industry.  Willis is extremely thankful of Masa Kanome, who has been there for him 100% up to day to help him become a professional Actor.  Masa referred Willis to his Print Agency (TAG Models) and encouraged him to submit to the well-known Commercial Agency (Cunningham Escott Slevin Doherty) which began representing Willis on the 17th of October 2006!

Willis is now a film major, and focused on becoming a working Professional Actor.  He has even started a production company to help independent directors and student directors produce independent short films in a professional manner.

But of course... Willis' acting comes before producing.

Biography written by Paul Kwo.


 
 
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