Meet Stephen Chang

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephen Chang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Stephen, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

confidence is funny.

i remember people telling me when i was younger to “be confident.” whether it was on the basketball court or asking a girl out, i would recite the mantra over and over to myself…be confident, be confident, goddamnit just be confident!

but it always felt like i was trying on my dad’s suit that was two sizes too big for me. sleeves were too long. waist sagging to the floor. it just felt like a costume i put on that was hollow. like a balloon. no inner substance.

when i first moved to los angeles to become an actor i signed up for any acting class i could find. and i spent years indoctrinated at these studios. it finally hit me after one class where i was ripped apart for my performance that i was leaving all my classes feeling like i sucked. that there was something wrong with me that could only be fixed by attending more classes.

i eventually stopped going to class. it was terrifying. but i believed that i would just figure it out. i’ve bombed so many auditions. forgot my lines. driven two hours across town. gone in a room for 1 minute to do my read. was told “thank you.” and then drove two hours home. never hearing a word or any feedback. it was really hard. but i feel like i’ve taken my licks. and it’s made me tough.

i’ve heard about these actors that are found by some director in high school and bam they are the lead in big budget blockbuster film and they made it. but i don’t want to hear these stories. i want to hear about the actors that did ten co-stars and said one line “here’s your coffee.” earned a guest star. worked their way up the ranks. eventually landed a series regular.

i think that’s special.

the biggest moment of my career came during covid. i grew a really ugly beard. when i went to my dentist i arrived early for my appointment and was standing outside reading a book. when the dentist arrived he tried to shoo me away. told me to get out of there. then he realized it was me and he said come in. that’s how bad my beard was.

i had reached a point in my career where it was kind of like i don’t need this acting stuff anymore. i was content being a stay at home dad. i got an audition for a series regular on bosch legacy. i taped my audition and sent it to my agent. he called me and said he couldn’t send the tape if it looked like this.

now normally when my agent would tell me to jump i would say how high. i had spent so much time trying to look like everyone else. clean cut. chisled. nice quaff of hair. not too short. not too long. just right. every audition i went to. there were 15 guys waiting that looked just like me. but way mo better.

i was in this fuck it place. and i told him. i’m not going to retape the audition. just send it. otherwise don’t. i don’t care. he told me if i was going to look like this i wouldn’t work for a long time. i was scared. but this beard was like my spirit animal…or spirit ugly thing where my wife refused to kiss me anymore. it just felt like the outward embodiment of what i felt like on the inside. yes i know. that’s pretty deep for a beard that’s been described as a combover.

i booked the audition.

and i think it was because of that fucking beard.

i felt like it was the universe rewarding me for being who i was. the suit didn’t feel so loose anymore.

i had some one ask me recently what my goals are in the future. i told them that i wanted to be a famous actor. money. billboards. blockbusters. yeah, all that. in my free time i’ve been self publishing children’s books and i really want to get a publisher. distribution. barnes and noble. be successful at that as well.  

but i also said my goal is not to want any of that.

i’ve been reading harry potter to my kids lately and we came across the mirror of erised. i’d never thought about it much before, just that it was a mirror that showed you your deepest desires. but it really hit me what dumbledore said about the mirror. that the happiest person in the world would just look at the mirror and see their own reflection.

i have worked hard and fucked up so much in my life. it has helped me develop my confidence. it has given me self-esteem.

i’ve used this confidence to achieve everything i have now as an artist.

but like i said.

confidence is funny.

all i want now is the confidence to throw it all away.

and still be happy.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

i’m a stay at home dad who homeschools my 5 kids.

i’m an actor best known for my role as mo on bosch legacy and the voice of jesse in the last of us part 2 video game.

i’ve self published 4 children’s books, the basketball, the armadillo, you will see, and mo pizza mo problems.

i’m a nobody.

but i aspire to be an artist.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

i read a story recently which i’m going to mess up but i’ll try my best.

a student came to this wise teacher and asked him what the secret of life was.

the teacher said to have good judgement.

the student asked how does one attain good judgement.

the teacher said experience.

the student asked how does one attain experience.

and the teacher said:

bad judgement.

it also helps to have a loving wife.

she’s the one who told me when i quit law school: you like movies, maybe you should take an acting class.

she’s the one who reads lines with me in bed at 10p after she’s had a long day at work.

she’s the one who said: you should write and illustrate a children’s book about basketball. i said that was a terrible idea.

i did it anyway.

the advice i have for beginners is the same advice i give my kids every day.

try everything.

mess up a lot.

then you’ll start to hear the little voice inside of you. whispering.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

i’m trying to be a better dad.

i sometimes lose my shit with my kids.

i have anger management issues.

i read recently that warriors have control of their emotions. they don’t let their emotions control them.

i really want to be a warrior.

my wife reminds me that this time with them is so short. the days are long, but the years are short kind of thing.

i want to embrace death. i read somewhere that every day is practice for dying. it’s an opportunity to live each day as if it were our last. what are the things we would care about if it were our last day. what would we focus on.

but this shit is really hard.

i haven’t figured it out yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.changbergerbooks.com
• Instagram: @changxberger
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@changxberger
• Other: https://www.cameo.com/stephenchang