Film Gecko

Exclusive: Interview with Chin Han of "The Dark Knight"

by Jane Boursaw on July 17th, 2008

The Dark Knight is causing huge tidal waves across cyberspace and the blogosphere. I had the opportunity this week to talk with Chin Han, who plays Lau in the film. Read on for his thoughts on the Batman legacy, Heath Ledger, and what it’s like having a 20-year overnight success in the film industry.

Jane: Hey, how are you?

Chin: Hi, I’m good, very good.

Jane: Great! Well, I’ve been doing a little bit of research here, because I haven’t seen the movie yet, so I’m kind of flying blind a little bit.

Chin: Ok, when are you going to be seeing the film?

Jane: I’ll see it on Friday with the rest of the crowd. I did buy tickets early to make sure we get in. My thirteen-year-old son and I are going to go see it, and we’re excited.

Chin: Yeah, I hope you enjoy it.

Jane: I’m sure we will. Tell me about your character and how you fit into the scheme of things.

Chin: Right, Lau is an Asian business mogul who has appeared in Gotham City now, along with a lot of the other mobsters in the absence of Carmine Falcone who was apprehended in the first film. He joins the shadowy world of Gotham in this new film. You’re not quite sure who he is and what he actually does, but I also don’t want to spoil the fun for you. So, I think that’s about as much as I can tell you.

Jane: So, we don’t really know whether he’s a good guy or a bad guy then.

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Chin: Yeah, as an actor, that’s actually the fun of it. You never think of yourself playing a good guy or a bad guy. You always love the character that you play anyway.

Jane: Yeah, if they’re true characters, nobody is ever really good or bad, but I don’t know, maybe it’s different in comic book movies.

Chin: They’re just misunderstood really.

Jane: Yeah, that’s right. Speaking of misunderstood, I wanted to ask you about The Joker, Heath Ledger. In the trailers, he looks pretty scary and creepy. It looks like he’s kind of a different Joker than we’ve had in the past. I wondered what it was like on set. Did you have many scenes with him?

Chin: I did have a few scenes with him. I think he’s an immensely talented actor and an intense and focused one, but no more than Christian [Bale] or Aaron [Eckhart] on set. These are all very skilled actors, and Heath was really quite a lovely guy, and very warm and generous to his fellow actors and crew, as well.

Jane: Did you have a lot of scenes with Christian Bale and Aaron Eckhart?

Chin: Yeah, I have scenes with almost everyone in the cast, so they were equally spread out. I have scenes with Christian, Aaron, Heath, Morgan [Freeman], and Maggie [Gyllenhaal], as well.

Jane: Was it kind of intense on the set? It seems like a really intense movie, so I wondered if things lightened up when the shooting stopped.

Chin: I think Chris Nolan [the director] is the best person to personify the atmosphere on set, and I would describe Chris as grace under pressure. It was an intense set, but at the same time, there was a lot of professionalism, respect, and consideration for both cast and crew alike. As intense as it was, it was a very pleasant experience for me to be working on this film.

Jane: What it was like for you being part of this big legacy? Was it an amazing experience, because I can’t imagine being part of the Batman franchise. It’s just, like, wow.

Chin: I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet. It sunk in a little at the premiere in New York a couple of days ago, as to the size of this…how do I describe it? What I was being a part of, you know…this history of Batman from the comic books to the TV series to the movies and to this, obviously, very different and I think one of the defining moments in Batman movies, which is The Dark Knight. I’m sure I’ll be able to give you a better idea of how I’m feeling a couple weeks from now.

Jane: Are you doing a lot of promotional stuff and interviews?

Chin: Yes, I’m doing quite a few interviews. Obviously, because I come from Asia, there’s a great interest and appetite in what this new Batman film has to offer.

Jane: It seems like a really great next installment to the franchise. There have been so many Batman movies and, this seems like it’s maybe rebooting the franchise, if you will. I guess they did that with Batman Begins, too.

Chin: Yes.

Jane: Were you into Batman when you were a kid? Were you a comic book reader?

Chin: Yes, I was. I loved the comics as a child, but I got hooked on Batman through the graphic novels more than the comics really, especially the re-imagining of Batman, by Frank Miller, his Dark Knight graphic novel, his Batman: Year One graphic novel. I mean, those were great. Apart from the comics, I did grow up with those great movies — Adonis, Superman and convergence of Batman. So yeah, I’m very familiar with the movies and comics, but I would never have imagined that I’d be part of this series of movies.

Jane: I was looking on your IMDB page, and you’ve done a lot of stuff in Asia. You starred in the first English language TV series over there, you’ve directed and produced, and just a lot of things. It seems like this role might bring you into the consciousness of everybody in the United States.

Chin: Yes, it’s a 20-year overnight success story.

Jane: Is there anything in particular you love to do in the film industry, or do you like to keep a lot of irons in the fire?

Chin: I get restless easily, so I’m always looking for the next thing to do. When I see something I’d like to direct, I direct it. If it’s something I want to produce but not direct, then that’s what I do. This started with 3 Needles, a film I did with Thom Fitzgerald, a very talented Canadian filmmaker a few years ago, and I started to rekindle my passion for acting. I wasn’t doing very much of that for a while because I was directing quite a bit. But with 3 Needles, I was inspired to act again and, thankfully, The Dark Knight came along. Next, I’ll be moving on to 2012, a Roland Emmerich film. Yeah, life has been very kind.

Jane: I’m really looking forward to that movie. I read a little bit about it, and it looks awesome. So, is that the next thing you’ll be working on?

Chin: Yes, I’m going to start on the film very shortly.

Jane: Back to Dark Knight…is your character set up to come back in the next movie, whatever that might be, or can’t you say?

Chin: I can’t say that for the simple reason that I don’t know.

Jane: Ok, well that kind of tells me that at least you don’t die in this movie.

Chin: A couple of weeks ago, David Letterman said this very funny thing, that everybody dies at the end of this film. Obviously, that’s an overstatement.

Jane: I hope so! So, aside from reading the graphic novels and being familiar with the characters, is there anything you did to prepare for the role?

Chin: I watched Batman Begins quite a few times, to familiarize myself with the world that Nolan has set out. Chris’s vision is so singular and so unique that I wanted to get an understanding of it, and that helped my own performance, as well. Obviously, the things I got from it was that Chris plays it very real. Which is why when you see The Dark Knight this weekend, you’ll find that this Joker is very terrifying, compared to the previous incarnations of him. But I think it’s also a Joker for the times. In the world that we live in, there is uncertainty in so many different levels — economically, politically, so I think it’s a Joker for the times. I think that’s why it’s had an impact on people who’ve already seen the film. But, at the same time, I think it’s brilliant entertainment, as well.

Jane: It seems like Heath Ledger’s passing is kind of a metaphor, in that we really don’t have control over things, and you never know what’s going to happen.

Chin: Yeah, that’s true.

Jane: Is it sad for everybody involved with the film, that he’s not here to experience the big furor over the film?

Chin: Yeah, it is, but I think the film is also a testament to his incredible talents and sadly, again, his potential to have been one of the greats. It’s bittersweet.

Jane: Here’s my big, broad question of the day: what was the coolest thing about working on The Dark Knight?

Chin: Well, I love to travel, and I got to work in Chicago, I got to work in London, got to be on some of the largest sound stages in the world. And I got to spend time with some of my favorite actors like Morgan Freeman, Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman. Yeah, not a bad way to spend six months.

Jane: It’s definitely the biggest movie of the summer, that’s for sure, and I’m really looking forward to seeing it. Anything else you’d like to say before I let you go?

Chin: No, that’s pretty much it.

Jane: All right, well, I sure appreciate your time, and I’ll keep an eye out for your upcoming movies. I’ll look forward to seeing what you do.

Chin: Thank you so much.

Jane: All right, have fun with all of the premieres and everything!

Chin: I will, and enjoy the movie this weekend!

Images: Chin Han, 2008; 3 Needles, Covington USA, 2005; The Dark Knight, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2008; Batman: Year One, Amazon.com; Batman Begins, Warner Bros. Pictures, 2005

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