Jeff Lam: Interview

Interview by Clint Morris

Interview with Jeff Lam
Starring in the movie Herbie: Fully Loaded.

It worked for Bruce Willis (The Verdict, 1982) and most certainly did wonders for Tom Cruise's career (Endless Love, 1981) career, and now Hawaiian actor Jeff Lam is hoping his memorable bit part in a notable new film sets his career on fire, just as it did action hero Bruno and pearly whites Mapother.

Lam, whose credits include TV's "Punk'd" and A lot like Love, both with Ashton Kutcher, plays a short but notable part in Disney's new Love Bug remake, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and he spoke to Clint Morris about it.

It's only a matter of time before the humble Jeff Lam gets his own lead role

"It was quite a surprise to me when I got the role," admits the unpretentious actor. "Its a small bit part. I play one of the Herbie Guys. They are a bunch of Frat Guys with their chest painted with the letters Herbie. We appear mostly in the racing scenes, we're his support posse.

"But the thing that makes the role stick out the most is, that its five white guys and one Asian Guy! Guess who the Asian Guy is? Well it ain't John Cho, but I think he turned it down," he laughs.

Disney fixture Lindsay Lohan headlines the retool, and Lam says he was quite impressed with her. "She was very nice and very professional. I got to hang out with her for a while, but it was so rushed onset, having her juggling this film and another project, it was mostly business. But I have to say, this girl is one of the hardest working Actresses in Hollywood. I love her!"

Lam says he barely remembers the original 'Herbie' movies, but understands why the studio has decided to remake the film. "All I remember is The Wonderful World of Disney - Sunday nights on ABC. I would have to say, Herbie was my favourite! Its like Knight Rider, except Herbie was a VW Bug that could do kick K.I.T.T's Butt!" he says.

"Herbie was done back in the days, that films were actually good, with a message. And I think Disney wanted to bring back that good ole feeling of family values and great entertainment. And I think this new Herbie has it all!"

Just like Jeff Lam's seemingly done it all. From the age of ten, the straight-thinking gent says he's always wanted to hog a lens - but it wasn't the done thing in Asian circles.

"I've always dreamt of becoming an actor but being raised in Hawaii and also raised in an Asian Family, it really wasn't in the books of Asian Careers to become an actor. It was like Taboo! Well, not 'till three and a half years ago anyway. I was introduced to a TV show called Buffy the Vampire Slayer that I was drawn into the life of sci-fi and acting.

"It could've been any show, but for some reason it was this one that spawned my interest in acting. I told myself, 'I'm going to get on that show and act with them!' Six months later I was on the plane with six boxes ready for Hollywood! Then they cancelled Buffy before I could get on. Damnit!"

Instead, Lam ended up working for Ashton Kutcher. "I actually did a commercial with Ashton for Punk'd Season 3. You know, the whole Punk'd is gone and he wasn't gonna do it anymore. That was the first time he had said it, so everyone was believing it. The commercials were the first Punk to the world! After the shoot, I made friends with the casting director that did the show and they really liked how I had this knack to improv and pull shit out of my ass when it came to Punkin' people. And that was the end of it."

He re-teamed with Kutcher for the recent A lot like Love. "I wouldn't call it a re-team like Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker like Rush Hour, but more of a wow, what the hell," explains Lam.

"I had auditioned for the role with no idea Ashton was attached. I just knew it was for a Chinese waiter role to speak Chinese. I booked the job and when I got onset, I was like, "Dude I know you!" It was awesome! The opportunity to work with Ashton three times and meeting the beautiful Amanda Peet! Both of them were awesome to work with."

No really, what kind of a guy is Mr Kutcher? "What a Guy. He's like that cool guy you hang out with at High School and the one thing that runs through your mind is, "What the hell is he doing hanging out with me? He's cooler than me! He's great! Polite and fun! He's one of my heroes".

Next up, says Lam, whose now based full time in Los Angeles, is a very interesting project. "I have just been offered a small role on a new film starring Daryl Hannah called Love is the Drug - the contemporary version of Less Than Zero meets The Talented Mr. Ripley ... It's going to be awesome".

Herbie opens in Aussie cinemas on June the 23rd, 2005.

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