Amazing Asians in the Arts: Hedy Wong

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Hedy Wong is an actress, producer, writer, and rapper based in Los Angeles. This multidisciplinary artist went from booking music video gigs and commercials in California to co-writing, producing, and starring in the award-winning feature film,Take Out Girl, as well as producing her first single, “Who Do You Trust?” on Spotify. Wong got to where she is now by saying yes to trying and gaining new experiences to aid her later on. She loves that the arts allow her to “[explore] the human condition” and create familiarity with her audiences through storytelling. Her advice to young artists is to “learn everything about [their] craft” and to incorporate business management into their artistry as well. Read on to learn more about Hedy Wong and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!

Name:  Hedy Wong

Heritage:  Chinese-American

Hometown:  Bay Area, CA (no particular city, I moved around a lot)

Current City:   Los Angeles, CA

Current project: 

Just finished Take Out Girl (a feature film) which is streaming now on  iTunes, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Fandango, etc. 

What are some of your favorite credits/projects: 

Take Out Girl.

 

Any advice for young people getting into the arts? 

Learn everything about the craft. Keep growing and expanding and learn how to integrate/manage the business aspect of it as well. This path isn’t meant for everyone, and it's going to hurt, but regret hurts even more. So pick your poison, so to speak. Don’t jeopardize your soul in the pursuit of dreams. 

How did you get your start? 

I moved to LA and began booking some gigs like commercials and music videos. 

Do you have any favorite moments in your career that you'd like to share?

WhenTake Out Girl began winning awards during its festival run. Especially for acting. I never thought I would win awards for acting. 

What have you found is the biggest challenge in your career?

Feeling down about myself and not wanting to continue in this industry. 

What are some interesting facts about yourself?

I love Chinese folk music including Cpop music fused with Chinese opera. I’m also a nerd and love sci-fi and period piece films. 

Who do you admire?

My parents and Prince (from Purple Rain) and Nipsey Hussle. 

Do you have any mentors?

They don’t necessarily see themselves as mentors, but I was fortunate to work with some really talented individuals and picked up some invaluable knowledge and traits. 

Did you always want to be in the arts or did you have another path before you got here?

I’ve always been creative as a child. But I was shy and had too low self-esteem to actively pursue it as a kid. 

When did you know you wanted to have a career in the arts?

When I realized how short life really is, especially a female’s prime years, I decided to make that jump and moved to LA to pursue acting. 

If you come from parents who aren’t in the arts, what parts of them do you see in yourself that have helped you succeed in the business?

My parents are hard-working immigrants, and from them I learned how to persevere despite how dark times could be. I got my grit from them. Looking back now, I am grateful they didn’t try to sugarcoat too much about life. My gratitude for the smaller things in life also came from them (which kept me grounded for the most part). 

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self?

I would tell her that you will be okay and always proceed with caution. Don’t make yourself too uncomfortable just to make others more comfortable. 

What skills did you find to be the most helpful in your career?

Writing and having a naturally curious mind. 

What are some goals you hope to achieve?

I hope to be able to make more music. I have a freestyle track out on various platforms like YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify called “Who Do You Trust?” under my rap name “julietmustdie”. I also hope to continue with acting and seeing where that takes me. 

What do you love most about what you do?

Exploring the human condition and using these stories to bring everyone a bit closer together, or at least begin a conversation towards understanding and empathy. 

What helped you most to rebound from what you considered your biggest failure or mistake in your career?

I’m glad I kept trying even when everything seemed lost. Anytime I saw a lead, I pursued it. Even if it didn’t lead anywhere, at least I tried and from it I gained experience.  

What inspires you?

Life experiences. The good moments and bad. 

If you could name one point in time when everything changed for you, what was it?

As I’ve said earlier, I’ve been around some multi-talented people. And when I saw how they began their journey, I realized truly nothing comes easy, even for folks who have a natural abundance of talent. They had to start from somewhere and work their way up. They never stopped even in the face of failures. 

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?

I would like to be married and have kids one day. 

To find out more about Hedy, please visit her at: 

Instagram: @julietmustdie.