Exclusive Ningin Interview: Justin Chon talks New Moon, travels and life, Part 1

Although you know Twilight’s Justin Chon as human Eric Yorkie, I’m happy to say that the humanity doesn’t stop there. After chatting with him yesterday for a few minutes he’s easily made it on my list of super down-to-earth people. That my friends, is a good list to be on. Aside from earning a spot on that list, he was able to dish on the upcoming New Moon movie and fill us in on what he’s been up to since we last chatted. A few times, he even turned the tables on me by asking me questions.

JI: I understand you’ve recently attended the Pusan International Film Festival. Can you tell me about your experience and what you did there?

JC: I’d like to say that I felt out of place a little, I don’t know why they invited me. I felt like an outsider.

JI: Why is that?

JC: I don’t know, I just didn’t feel like I was a part of ‘the club’ or whatever. Everyone there had their own team and I thought it’d be okay if I went by myself… and um, it wasn’t okay.

JI: I’m sorry to hear about that.

JC: Yeah, it’s okay. I mean that’s just the way they do business there. Actually I learned a lot, I learned a lot about how they operate over there– I realized that I truly love working in America.

JI: Speaking of America, New Moon will be premiering soon. How are you prepping yourself for the madness?

JC: Absolutely no preparation at all.

JI: You’re just going to walk in there and be cool?

JC: What’s there to prepare for? I’ll uh…get a suit. I’ll uh…get a suit and on the day of I’ll show up with [my publicist] Anthony and we’ll… watch the movie. I think that’s the best preparation I can do.

JI: So, no emotional preparation? The premiere last year looked pretty crazy from what I’ve seen.

JC: What kind of preparation would you do?

JI: I think I would do a little yoga, call on Jesus and ask people to pray for me.

JC: Yeah, I think that’s actually a very good idea. I think I’ll have people pray for me too.

JI: With the success of Twilight going from being an indie film to a massive franchise, how has this affected your experience of filming New Moon?

JC: Not much at all. A movie set is a movie set, the only thing that’s different is they’re just a lot more protective with the people and they have umbrellas so photographers can’t take pictures. You know, the only thing that’s affected is personal freedom. You can’t just walk off the set and smoke a cigarette anymore and they have to know where you are at all times. They set up these black walls everywhere so you can’t escape the set. But other than that, filming-wise, filming is the same. Just a different director. There’s differences in those terms but with that, in terms of the work, it’s the same.

JI: As I’ve mentioned earlier, a handful of our readers including myself are Orange County natives, has life here changed fo—

JC: Didn’t you say you were from Rowland Heights or the San Gabriel Valley?

JI: I’m actually from Anaheim.

JC: Anaheim! My dad has a store on Ball and Chapman, The Mega Shoe Factory.

JI: I totally know where that is! I’ll check it out sometime when I need shoes.

JC: What high school did you go to?

JI: Orange High.

JC: Awesome. I went to University High in Irvine.

JI: Cool deal. So, has life here changed for you since Twilight happened?

JC: Life — I mean, in some ways, yeah. Like I get to travel a lot. Ya know, once in awhile I get recognized for something. But uh, yeah, I’ve been traveling a lot. In the last year I got to go to Paris, uh Spain, France…(laughs)haha Paris is in France, London, Florida, Korea, New York, Vancouver, Washington, Arizona, Australia, Chicago –twice…I think that’s it.

JI: Of those places, which place did you enjoy the most?

JC: Paris. Ya know what, I honestly thought I wouldn’t love Mona, I’d love Italy but uh…that’s not the case. I thought the French in France would be a bunch of high-nosed rude people, but that’s not the case. If you’re overly nice to them, they treat you with just as much respect. I think they’re just used to American people coming in and poo-poo-ing on sh**. And uh, they just don’t like that. So if you’re really nice, they’re nice to you. The thing I love about Paris was that it’s big city, but it has a really calm attitude. Everyone is just really chill and quiet. Not wild,

JI: Or frantic…

JC: Which I also love! But at the same time it’s fast paced. The subway doors opens before the car even stops — you get to where you’re going and once you get there, you relax. And I really like how everyone is into their own thing and not staring you. I remember I was on the train and some girls were screaming a song — no one gave a sh**. They just let them be teenagers, and no one was trying to reprimand them. Well, people laughed but it was awesome.

JI: What’s next on your list of places to travel to?

JC: I’m going to be back in Paris next week for a signing.

JI: For a Twilight convention?

JC: Yeah, me and a bunch of the other Twilight cast members usually do these conventions where we go to places and sign autographs. So, I’m looking forward to that because ::French accent:: I love Pareee.

JI: What other upcoming projects do you have in store?

JC: Nothing, just Twilight. After that, I’m going back to the drawing board and going to pilot season. I’m re-energized to be an artist and be kind of done with Twilight.

JI: I think that’s more than enough for now.

JC: Do you?

JI: Twilight seems like a lot in itself!

JC: Yeah! The thing is, I’m at a good chapter in my life but I think it’s time to expand the horizons you know. It’s been like, what…two and a half years?

JI: Wow. And more to come, right?