We were lucky to catch up with Hojo Shin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Hojo, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Work ethic can only last so long if the need to work isn’t internally motivated. It is important to know what you want and why you want to do it. The work ethic will just be the by-product of your trying to figure out how to get there.
No matter how hard it gets, you’ll still have this internal flame that allows you to get up and keep working. Growing pain is real but if you have internal clarity, you’ll probably be able to withstand all the learning curves that get thrown at you. I’m constantly experimenting with how I work but ultimately, I do it because I love it.
But honestly, not everyone has to have this insane work ethic.
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 moved around a lot growing up. The global nomad lifestyle has its perks but can cause identity confusion because you end up adopting this hybrid-identity that’s neither black nor white. Acting was the saving grace that gave me purpose and a sense of community- a place where being this shade of grey was perhaps useful. The stage became a safe space where the dichotomy of identities inside of me wasn’t questioned, but rather used to create something. I started my acting career in LA and recently started projects out in Korea, so I am just starting out. But working bi-continental between Hollywood and Korea is a mission I feel committed to. It’s a path that sort of naturally happened and I’m grateful for it. It’s an interesting and exciting time to be Korean and as a truly dichotomized hybrid being who identifies with the east and west, I look forward to partaking in the creation of stories from both worlds. I actually talked about this in a recent interview with YouTube channel 7707 with fellow actress friend Kim Joo Ryung, for those interested!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Obsession. Grit. Luck.
I don’t think love is enough. It might sound unhealthy but from my experience, those with this attitude of obsession have an unmatched level of work ethic, curiosity, energy… So if love is what got you in the game, it’s obsession that will make you want to stay, despite the odds. Some of the best actors I’ve met -it’s all they think about. Acting.
An actor’s career is a long-very long- game. It doesn’t have a model path that most other careers do because every actor’s journey will look different. So it can be lonely and scary. Grit is the quality that will make you look back and realize you’re still here when many others have left. Grit. Besides, someone’s tenacity will only enrich their artistry.
And luck. It’s an element you can’t leave out in this line of work. Nobody can prove it but I do think someone’s luck becomes lucky when it’s met with consistent hard-work.
I think putting yourself out there is the best way to feel and grow these qualities. These three qualities are just some observations I’ve made of my colleagues and fellow working actors. But really, I’m still figuring it all out too.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Changing the word client for collaborator. Director Park Chan Wook. It would be a dream come true to work with Park Chan Wook. He needs no explanation; it would be sheer honor for any actress to create with him. Thank you for giving me the space on your platform to manifest on the internet!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hojoshin/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aFE1UmIKxI&t=150s
Image Credits
Stills from Disney’s BigBet Stills from Original Beer Company holiday campaign Stills from Youtube channel 7707 “ep.03 – Korea on Screen” Stills from Just Entertainment
