"One on One" with Camille Mana

By Jane Wong - April 2006

Actress Camille Mana is a new series regular on UPN's hit sitcom "One on One". Now in its fifth season, Mana plays Lisa, a character who tests traditional stereotypes of Asian Americans in media today. AIA writer Jane Wong got chance to get to know her better.

AIA: Lisa is such a quirky character; What is it like playing Lisa on "One on One?"

Mana: I feel very blessed to be playing Lisa. We really see three primary depictions of Asian females onscreen: super nerdy, super sexy, and super foreign and combinations thereof, nerdy foreigner or sexy exotic foreigner! But rarely do we see a girl who is depicted as attractive and yet awkward. We see a multitude of Caucasian females like this; she's usually "the girl next door." But here, we have an Asian girl in those shoes, and I think it's a great leap. Lisa is just a regular American teen growing into adulthood, and not knowing exactly who she is or being confident in herselfSum at least not yet. The transition from adolescence into adulthood can be a difficult one. This is a really honest girl, who is trying very much to"figure it out" and struggling along the way. I think many American teens can relate to her insecurities, regardless of their ethnicity.

AIA: As an underachiever, Lisa definitely questions stereotypes of Asian Americans, particularly "the model minority". How do you feel about breaking these stereotypical portrayals of Asian Americans in the media?

Mana: It is amazing to get to portray a series regular character who challenges the Asian "model minority," even if many might argue that Lisa not being the brightest bulb is not actually progress on the APA political front. I whole-heartedly disagree with that. There are few individuals in power in Hollywood who would do what Eunetta T. Boone, the creator of "One on One" is doing with Lisa. Essentially, they wanted an actress who felt like a regular American girl, who happened to be Asian. In this case, guess I happened to fit the bill, though up until now it seemed to be the primary thing standing the in way of my success as an Asian-American actress in Hollywood. But I think there are a lot of Asian-Americans who can relate to being a normal suburban kid, and perhaps feels just as apple pie as Beaver Cleaver - save for the immigrant parent aspect, and all the cultural barriers that poses. While Lisa is a college student, she has not yet found her direction, and doesn't quite excel in school. She is not dumb; but she does not excel in the traditional pre-med/pre-law way that her parents might hope. As she grows into womanhood, she'll probably be more on track to realizing what her strengths are and where her successes will lie.

AIA: As one of the few Asian Americans depicted in the media, what are some challenges that you face? Do you feel pressure from either the Asian American community or the non-Asian American community to be a "representative"?

Mana: I think it is just starting for me, as I am slowly creeping more and more into the public eye. I do feel that there are new responsibilities I now face to be a role model for young women, as well as for young Asian- Americans. "One on One" has historically had a youthful following; it is kind of an honor to have young people looking up to you. Kids are awesome - so loving and yet so impressionable! I hope that I can maintain a positive image for my community as well as youth. I think I do alright. I'm human, but I do alright. We'll see what kind of roles I'll get offered along the way, and how people respond to that. That's where political dissension and pressure seem to arise, based on observation of other Asian actors, careers. What one person thinks is a positive depiction, others will disagree.

AIA: What was it like growing up Asian American in Orange County? Tell us a little about your history and background.

Mana: I'd say I had a typical, suburban middle-class upbringing in Orange County, California. My family life was always pretty stable, my parents were married my whole life. I am the baby in the family, so I think I was somewhat spoiled compared to my brother. No one else in my family is an entertainer; my father was a "rocket scientist" during the Cold War, my mom is a registered nurse like many other Filipina women, my brother does business strategy in the health care industry, and my half-sister is a doctor. I am somewhat the weirdo in my family, being an artist. The orange county I grew up in is much different than the orange county you see depicted on the hit Fox show - although that version of orange county can be found about 25 minutes south of where I grew up. Instead of being Asian in a largely white majority, my public high school was actually about 65% Asian-American. I think it's referenced in a handful of studies as an anomaly. It was actually quite alienating for me, personally. My interests - the music I liked, the way I dressed, etc. were considered by other kids to be "white" interests, so I felt marginalized in a community of Asian-American peers. It's weird how subcultures function and how kids can be so judgmental and divided.

AIA: Beside your television and film appearances, you have done numerous stage productions, including comedy performances at the world-famous Improv in Hollywood. What motivates you to try a variety of acting mediums and genres?

Mana: I think that as an actor, you want to tell as many good stories as possible - getting to do that in a variety of mediums is even more gratifying. I feel like I'm learning so much right now on "One on One". Sitcom is such a specific medium, and I think people don't realize that it is a unique and difficult format to learn. I'm very fortunate to have this opportunity, because as far as I'm aware, there are only three Asian-American series regulars on a sitcom this season. Like they say, "Dying is easy, comedy is hard."

AIA: Do you have a preference for television/film or audience-oriented productions?

Mana: I very much look forward to doing a number of 1-hour dramas and films in the coming season, as well as more theater, and eventually tacking stand-up again. Gulp. That is the scariest of all. Before every standup show I did, I felt like jumping off a building.

AIA: You majored in both Theater and Economic at the University of California at Berkeley and finished early! That's incredible. Is Economics a second passion of yours? What made you interested in pursuing a second major?

Mana: Economics is indeed quite fascinating and surprisingly intuitive. I enjoyed studying it, but overall I'd say that I valued my college experience as a whole. I was somewhat bummed I cut a year out of the experience. If I weren't in such a hurry to get my career moving, I would have taken a more leisurely pace and savored each moment. There is a lot to be said about academia, but I think there is more to be said about being socialized in a nurturing environment with intelligent peers. That, and um - college is fun! I chose to study two disciplines, because I figured that a theater a degree from U.C. Berkeley wasn't going to translate into career connections and opportunities like it might at some institutions like NYU or Julliard. I was realistic about what I could get out of my Cal education, so I figured I'd take advantage of having the "normal" major and keep pursuing acting professionally, outside of my academic life. In retrospect, I'm really glad everything worked out how it did. I am very proud that I didn't have to sacrifice my college education for career opportunities in Hollywood. That, and my parents would have had a heart attack.

AIA: You clearly hold the Asian-American artistic community at heart, as a member of both the Lodestone Theatre Ensemble and the East West Players. You also appear in the film Harlequin, showing at film festivals such as the LA Asian-Pacific Film Fest . How are these Asian American community-based endeavors different from say, guest roles on The O.C. or Angel?

Mana: For the most part, the primary difference between guest roles for Asians in television versus independent films coming from the Asian- American community are that they are supporting characters, rather than the leads that the audience identifies with. Typically, we are marginalized into these roles, which are extensions of the leading Caucasian characters or largely provide the exposition of the story. In an Asian-American theater group, or Asian-American film, the story allows for us to identify with Asian leads, rather than the ethnic performers merely meeting a quota, or being a splash of "color" on the screen, if you will.

AIA: Who do you admire? Who would you like to work with in the future?

Mana: Oh, there are so many on this list. As far as Asian-Americans, I have a great respect for all of the older actors who have been working throughthe generations, and are still working today. People like Amy Hill, Tamlyn Tomita, Clyde Kusatsu, and so many more - have been telling stories and creating in the industry for all these years, through all different socio- political climates. These people may not be household names, but they have paved the way for young actors of my generation to be able to work and tell stories in film and television. As far as young actors, I really admire James Franco and Jake Gyllenhaal. My favorite female comedic actresses at the moment are Amy Poehler and Judy Greer. I love it when mainstream, attractive women allow themselves to be idiots for the sake of comedy. I think that is so much more interesting than the pretty ingenue role. I hope to strive for that in my own career. Actors who straddle the line between character and leading are quite enviable. Pretty is overrated!

AIA: I've read that you're very into indie rock bands (as am I), like The Shins and Belle and Sebastian. What draws you to indie rock? Who gives the best concerts? Have you ever wanted to be part of a band?

Mana: Great question! Music has been such an important part of my life sinceadolescence. I think my love for indie rock had its roots in my pre-teen power pop obsession, Weezer (circa mid OE90s, ha! I won,t comment on the Weezer eras beyond that). I went to as many shows as I could as a teenager; in southern California you have easy access to great music. At the time, Weezer had a lot of associations and influence over developing bands in the local indie pop circuit, so that was my sort of my scene in high school. Eventually I got suckered into british pop bands like Pulp and The Stone Roses. Nothing makes you feel alive like a great song. There's some bands I could watch a million times and never get tired (believe me, I,ve tried) including Death Cab for Cutie, The Velvet Teen, and Nada Surf.

AIA: What are you future plans? Do you have other upcoming projects?

Mana: I am planning to do films and several guest stars on other TV programs during my hiatus this spring. Ideally, my upcoming jobs would unfold in a very balanced way - some commercial films, indie Asian films, TV, and I'd love to squeeze in a play here and there. I'll definitely keep you posted. "One on One" is doing well right now and will likely be back for a 6th season, so I hope you will all tune in and support Lisa, because that is how we make progress and encourage execs to write for performers of ethnicity! Mondays at 8PM on UPN.

AIA: Thanks so much!

Jane Wong studies Literature, Creative Writing, and Sociology at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Her creative work has been published in numerous journals such as Chronogram, Fiction Attic, and Hutt. Jane has a passion for mangoes and persimmons, both of which are sadly not grown in her home state of New Jersey.