NAFA Chat | Shingo Usami |  A Japanese Actor in Australia

NAFA (Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors)

Networking and education for actors, screenwriters and filmmakers. We meet monthly with guest speaker Q&A. All welcome with happy hour!

Forrester's

“<a href="https://www.nafa.net.au/nafa-chat/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">NAFA Chat</a>” is a friendly forum held at Forrester's in Surry Hills. Come join us on the second Monday of the month from February to November (excluding public holidays).Each meeting begins with industry announcements where various castings, crew calls, and industry events are pitched. Next, in the fireside chat, the <a href="https://www.nafa.net.au/guest-speakers/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Guest Speaker</a> inspires the group by sharing their insights into industry trends.<h3>Shingo Usami</h3>Actor Shingo Usami was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. Dreaming of becoming an actor since childhood, he nevertheless could not see a path towards his goal.While at university in Tokyo he joined an amateur theatre group and performed in small productions. After graduation in 1992 he moved to Milwaukee in the US as a part of a volunteer programme and taught Japanese at high schools.It was Shingo’s first experience living overseas and his English was quite limited, so his acting dream seemed more distant than ever.Three years later he had an opportunity to teach Japanese in Australia, a country he had never imagined living in. During his second year in this job Shingo saw an advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald for an Asian actor in a co-op play. He auditioned for it, got the role, and that was his Australian debut.Although the production was not successful, his love for performing had been reignited. He signed with an agent and started doing occasional work.When Shingo gained permanent residency he quit his full-time job at the Department of Education and committed himself to acting. He was 31 years old.Shingo has been fortunate to have had many acting opportunities over the past 25 years, but this hasn’t been without some difficulties. Roles for a Japanese actor with English as a second language were generally limited to the one-dimensional, as could be expected of the time.He eventually tired of the mean Japanese soldier and the stereotypical Japanese businessman. This was the impetus for creating a role for himself in his 2016 short film <a href="https://www.shingousami.com/riceballs---short-film.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Riceballs</a>. Telling the story of a Japanese father and his half-Australian son, the film screened in many festivals around the world.

In 2019 Shingo won his first recurring TV role in AMC’s <a href="https://www.amcstudiosinternational.com/catalog/17833" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">“The Terror: Infamy”</a>. It was a historical horror series which depicted the hardship and survival of Japanese Americans following the Pearl Harbor attack.Shingo portrayed a fisherman who lost everything to the internment policy. Playing such a significant and meaningful role was a career highlight and honour. He felt particularly lucky to have a role which embodied the way he looked and sounded.

Agenda

Drinks and mingling

NAFA Chat in the Upstairs Bar

Move to Main Bar

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

NAFA Chat | Shingo Usami | A Japanese Actor in Australia

More upcoming events from NAFA (Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors)

Discover more upcoming events from NAFA (Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors), from Film & Media to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Surry Hills and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

NAFA Chat | Shingo Usami | A Japanese Actor in Australia

More upcoming events from NAFA (Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors)

Discover more upcoming events from NAFA (Networking Action for Filmmakers & Actors), from Film & Media to other experiences you might love.

More Film & Media events

Browse more Film & Media events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Surry Hills and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.