Friday, January 2, 2009
The 33rd Saturn Awards' TV Honors
While "Superman Returns," the 2006 superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Superman, named the Best Fantasy Film at the 33rd annual Saturn Awards on Thursday May 10th, NBC's science fiction drama television series "Heroes" topped the TV categories.
The series, starring Golden-Globe-nominated American actor Masi Oka and actress-singer Hayden Panettiere just to name a few, was named Best Network Television Series with both stars given the title of Best Supporting Actor on Television and Best Supporting Actress on Television respectively.
Nabbed the Best Actor on Television award was Michael C. Hall of "Dexter," whereas the Best Actress on Television honor was secured by Jennifer Love Hewitt of "Ghost Whisperer." Matt Dallas, who plays the title character in the ABC Family television series "Kyle XY," also is among the many winners, took home The Rising Star Award.
The Saturn Award, presented each year by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, is aimed to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. Just like the other awards, the Saturn Awards are voted on by members of the presenting Academy.
Go directly to Saturn Awards for the complete list of the award winners.
The series, starring Golden-Globe-nominated American actor Masi Oka and actress-singer Hayden Panettiere just to name a few, was named Best Network Television Series with both stars given the title of Best Supporting Actor on Television and Best Supporting Actress on Television respectively.
Nabbed the Best Actor on Television award was Michael C. Hall of "Dexter," whereas the Best Actress on Television honor was secured by Jennifer Love Hewitt of "Ghost Whisperer." Matt Dallas, who plays the title character in the ABC Family television series "Kyle XY," also is among the many winners, took home The Rising Star Award.
The Saturn Award, presented each year by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, is aimed to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. Just like the other awards, the Saturn Awards are voted on by members of the presenting Academy.
Go directly to Saturn Awards for the complete list of the award winners.
Masi Oka Scores Got Milk? Ads
Masi Oka, who plays time-traveling Hiro Nakamura on the hit NBC show "Heroes," is the next celeb that scores the "Got Milk?" ads.
The ad, featuring Oka, reads "My hero? Think hard. It's milk. Some studies suggest teens who choose it instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner, plus the protein helps build muscle. So grab a glass. Then you can change the future, too."
The ad will debut in select Marvel comics beginning September 1st later this year.
Oka, an actor and digital effects artist, isn't the only "Heroes" star to sport the milk 'stache in the Body for Milk campaign, co-star Hayden Panettiere is the other.
The ad, featuring Oka, reads "My hero? Think hard. It's milk. Some studies suggest teens who choose it instead of sugary drinks tend to be leaner, plus the protein helps build muscle. So grab a glass. Then you can change the future, too."
The ad will debut in select Marvel comics beginning September 1st later this year.
Oka, an actor and digital effects artist, isn't the only "Heroes" star to sport the milk 'stache in the Body for Milk campaign, co-star Hayden Panettiere is the other.
Masi Oka Has a Crush on Kristen Bell
In addition to the much-talked romance rumors of Hayden Panettiere and Milo Ventimiglia, it appears that another love is blooming between another "Heroes" co-stars. Rumor has it that Masi Oka, who plays the role of Hiro Nakamura in the NBC series, has a crush on new co-star Kristen Bell.
During an interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Friday September 21st, the Japanese-American actor was quizzed about possible romance between him and Bell, about which he coyly said "Kristin is an absolutely amazing individual both on and off screen. We're great friends. Everyone has a crush on her."
And when Ellen went on asking, "So you do have a crush on her?" the actor simply said, "Everyone does." So, "Is she a good kisser or not?" the talk show host kept on pressing him. "I'm sure she is," Oka replied briefly.
Bell, best known for starring in the title role on the television show "Veronica Mars," is joining NBC's "Heroes" cast for at least thirteen episodes, playing a mysterious character named Elle.
During an interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on Friday September 21st, the Japanese-American actor was quizzed about possible romance between him and Bell, about which he coyly said "Kristin is an absolutely amazing individual both on and off screen. We're great friends. Everyone has a crush on her."
And when Ellen went on asking, "So you do have a crush on her?" the actor simply said, "Everyone does." So, "Is she a good kisser or not?" the talk show host kept on pressing him. "I'm sure she is," Oka replied briefly.
Bell, best known for starring in the title role on the television show "Veronica Mars," is joining NBC's "Heroes" cast for at least thirteen episodes, playing a mysterious character named Elle.
'Scrubs' Off-Limit for NBC Stars Masi Oka and Sarah Lancaster
Due to respective commitments to the production house where their TV shows are under, "Heroes" star Masi Oka and "Chuck" actress Sarah Lancaster won't return as guest stars of "Scrubs". It has been months since NBC that own the right to "Heroes" and "Chuck" lost the sitcom "Scrubs" to ABC.
NBC officially ban Oka and Lancaster from recurring their roles in the series that will open a whole new chapter next year in spring. On the decision, "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence accommodates his disappointment, saying "They (Oka and Lancaster) wanted to do it, but NBC said no. Typical classy stuff," and adding "But (they) should not have been part of that fight. It felt kind of petty to me."
Oka played Franklin, a nerdy Japanese laboratory assistant who had his first appearance in first season while Lancaster portrayed Lisa, an attractive young blonde who ran the Sacred Heart Gift Shop in season 2.
The initial plan was to have all the stars to appear in the season finale of the upcoming season 8. Those guests already on board of the finale are Amy Smart, Nicole Sullivan and Tom Cavanagh. "It was very emotional," an industry insider told Entertainment Weekly. "It should be an incredible finale."
Lawrence once released a statement that the show will stem up to at least 9 seasons despite the main stars' departures. Zach Braff announced that he would end his participation at the end of the eight cycle and Judy Reyes hoped to continue works in feature films and on Broadway.
NBC officially ban Oka and Lancaster from recurring their roles in the series that will open a whole new chapter next year in spring. On the decision, "Scrubs" creator Bill Lawrence accommodates his disappointment, saying "They (Oka and Lancaster) wanted to do it, but NBC said no. Typical classy stuff," and adding "But (they) should not have been part of that fight. It felt kind of petty to me."
Oka played Franklin, a nerdy Japanese laboratory assistant who had his first appearance in first season while Lancaster portrayed Lisa, an attractive young blonde who ran the Sacred Heart Gift Shop in season 2.
The initial plan was to have all the stars to appear in the season finale of the upcoming season 8. Those guests already on board of the finale are Amy Smart, Nicole Sullivan and Tom Cavanagh. "It was very emotional," an industry insider told Entertainment Weekly. "It should be an incredible finale."
Lawrence once released a statement that the show will stem up to at least 9 seasons despite the main stars' departures. Zach Braff announced that he would end his participation at the end of the eight cycle and Judy Reyes hoped to continue works in feature films and on Broadway.
Kring, Oka talk Heroes
Series creator Tim Kring and Masi Oka talk about their Emmy nods, season two, and the upcoming DVD release of Heroes.
Even though Heroes is in its between-season break, the show has no problem staying in the spotlight during the long summer television drought. The breakthrough hit was one of the main focuses of last week's Comic-Con, trickling cast additions have kept the show in the headlines over the past few months, and the anticipated season one DVD is due out later this month.
NBC Universal hosted a lighthearted conference call with series creator Tim Kring and actor Masi Oka. Both were on hand to talk about the upcoming DVD and the show's Emmy nominations, which include a supporting actor nod for Oka as well as one of the top prizes, Outstanding Drama Series.
The first questions asked Oka about his character, the time-traveling and teleporting Hiro Nakamura. One of Hiro's trademarks is the grimace he makes when trying to activate his power.
"It's become such an iconic gesture that we continue to do it," said Oka. "There's more of it now." Though he once said it would give him a brain aneurysm to repeat the act over and over again, the "constipated look" will return in season two, but with slightly less tension as Hiro learns to master his power.
The idea for Hiro came to Kring when he was looking for a way to lighten the script for the pilot. In fact, Hiro didn't even exist in the first draft. Kring decided that he needed a character who relished his powers and embraced them in a very enthusiastic way, as compared with the other, more reluctant heroes.
"Hiro embodied the everyman," said Oka, commenting on his thoughts when he first read the script. "And how we all dreamed as a kid of being a superhero."
The subject then turned toward George Takei, the Star Trek icon who plays Hiro's dad. Oka praised working with the veteran actor, and even launched into his Takei impression that Takei told TV.com about a month and a half ago. Kring also said that viewers can look for "another face that will have a very similar impact to George Takei for the real genre fans," but is holding out on the surprise cast addition.
Both were very honored and surprised to see Heroes nominated for so many Emmy Awards. "We're up against very stiff competition, like The Sopranos. It feels like that's the one to beat," said Kring. "This is a show that many viewers dismissed early on as a fantasy show, or a genre show, or a sci-fi show, and those kinds of shows aren't always associated with critical acclaim or awards. For a show like ours, I think it's very important [to be nominated] because it stamps the show with a certain mark of quality that will attract more viewers."
Oka said that he and Zachary Quinto, who plays the head-carving villain Sylar on Heroes, had planned to hang out and stay awake all night in order to watch the Emmy nominations live at 5:30 a.m. Unlike Kring, who talked himself out of thinking Heroes may get an Emmy nomination, Oka had a good feeling the show would be nominated.
"We were going to stay up all night, but we fell asleep," said Oka. "But we had a really nice wake-up call."
Kring does feel a bit of pressure to keep up the success of the show, but not because he's trying to outdo season one. "It's not pressure to top it, it's pressure to keep it going," said Kring. "This particular show has become a show that is defined by its ability to defy expectations... That's the difficult part, constantly trying to stay one step ahead of people's expectations."
The two then plugged the DVD release, which is set for August 28. The seven-disc set will include the uncut pilot that was shown at 2006's Comic-Con, episode commentary, and 50 deleted scenes. There will also be an HD-DVD release, with interactive games and more.
Talk then turned to a touchy subject--the season two villains. Even with the media's pressure, Kring didn't want to give anything away about the big bad guys that will be appearing. "The audience can expect to see him [the new villain alluded to toward the end of season one] in the first run of episodes," said Kring--implying that the new bad guy will show up in the first 11 episodes--but couldn't divulge any further. "We literally haven't cast the character yet." (For fans keeping a timeline at home, Heroes is currently filming its fifth episode of the second season.)
Now that viewers are more familiar with the characters, season two won't have the same storyline-crowded episodes as season one. "We can afford to concentrate on fewer storylines per episode," said Kring, "so some characters will be left out of particular episodes."
Finally, the two were asked about something no one was ready to talk about--a Heroes movie. "There has been no real discussion about it," said Kring.
Even though Heroes is in its between-season break, the show has no problem staying in the spotlight during the long summer television drought. The breakthrough hit was one of the main focuses of last week's Comic-Con, trickling cast additions have kept the show in the headlines over the past few months, and the anticipated season one DVD is due out later this month.
NBC Universal hosted a lighthearted conference call with series creator Tim Kring and actor Masi Oka. Both were on hand to talk about the upcoming DVD and the show's Emmy nominations, which include a supporting actor nod for Oka as well as one of the top prizes, Outstanding Drama Series.
The first questions asked Oka about his character, the time-traveling and teleporting Hiro Nakamura. One of Hiro's trademarks is the grimace he makes when trying to activate his power.
"It's become such an iconic gesture that we continue to do it," said Oka. "There's more of it now." Though he once said it would give him a brain aneurysm to repeat the act over and over again, the "constipated look" will return in season two, but with slightly less tension as Hiro learns to master his power.
The idea for Hiro came to Kring when he was looking for a way to lighten the script for the pilot. In fact, Hiro didn't even exist in the first draft. Kring decided that he needed a character who relished his powers and embraced them in a very enthusiastic way, as compared with the other, more reluctant heroes.
"Hiro embodied the everyman," said Oka, commenting on his thoughts when he first read the script. "And how we all dreamed as a kid of being a superhero."
The subject then turned toward George Takei, the Star Trek icon who plays Hiro's dad. Oka praised working with the veteran actor, and even launched into his Takei impression that Takei told TV.com about a month and a half ago. Kring also said that viewers can look for "another face that will have a very similar impact to George Takei for the real genre fans," but is holding out on the surprise cast addition.
Both were very honored and surprised to see Heroes nominated for so many Emmy Awards. "We're up against very stiff competition, like The Sopranos. It feels like that's the one to beat," said Kring. "This is a show that many viewers dismissed early on as a fantasy show, or a genre show, or a sci-fi show, and those kinds of shows aren't always associated with critical acclaim or awards. For a show like ours, I think it's very important [to be nominated] because it stamps the show with a certain mark of quality that will attract more viewers."
Oka said that he and Zachary Quinto, who plays the head-carving villain Sylar on Heroes, had planned to hang out and stay awake all night in order to watch the Emmy nominations live at 5:30 a.m. Unlike Kring, who talked himself out of thinking Heroes may get an Emmy nomination, Oka had a good feeling the show would be nominated.
"We were going to stay up all night, but we fell asleep," said Oka. "But we had a really nice wake-up call."
Kring does feel a bit of pressure to keep up the success of the show, but not because he's trying to outdo season one. "It's not pressure to top it, it's pressure to keep it going," said Kring. "This particular show has become a show that is defined by its ability to defy expectations... That's the difficult part, constantly trying to stay one step ahead of people's expectations."
The two then plugged the DVD release, which is set for August 28. The seven-disc set will include the uncut pilot that was shown at 2006's Comic-Con, episode commentary, and 50 deleted scenes. There will also be an HD-DVD release, with interactive games and more.
Talk then turned to a touchy subject--the season two villains. Even with the media's pressure, Kring didn't want to give anything away about the big bad guys that will be appearing. "The audience can expect to see him [the new villain alluded to toward the end of season one] in the first run of episodes," said Kring--implying that the new bad guy will show up in the first 11 episodes--but couldn't divulge any further. "We literally haven't cast the character yet." (For fans keeping a timeline at home, Heroes is currently filming its fifth episode of the second season.)
Now that viewers are more familiar with the characters, season two won't have the same storyline-crowded episodes as season one. "We can afford to concentrate on fewer storylines per episode," said Kring, "so some characters will be left out of particular episodes."
Finally, the two were asked about something no one was ready to talk about--a Heroes movie. "There has been no real discussion about it," said Kring.
Timeout With Heroes' Masi
Actor Masi Oka chats about season three of Heroes, his new nemesis, and going to the bathroom with fans watching.
Claire Bennett (Hayden Panettiere) may be Heroes' cheerleader in front of the camera, but behind the scenes, no Heroes cast member does a better job of cheerleading for the show than Masi Oka. The Japanese-born actor has become one of the main faces of the drama and a fan favorite as time- and space-bending Hiro Nakamura.
Hiro Nakamura looking dapper.
Masi Oka took time out of his busy shooting schedule--episode 12 is currently being filmed--to discuss Heroes with the media this morning, and TV.com was there. Despite being bogged down with a bit of a cold, Masi was the usual Masi: well spoken, intelligent, cracking jokes (some good, some bad by his own admission), excitedly teasing season three, and always happy to answer questions from the press.
In fact, he even had a positive attitude when those questions dealt with the critical backlash for last week's premiere after an extremely positive reaction from fans at Comic-Con. Oka isn't bothered by what critics say and has high hopes for season three, which he said is a product of fan feedback. "[The fans] wanted more story, faster pace, a lot more action, and more focus on the original characters," he said. "We feel that we delivered based on what the fans wanted."
Oka then discussed his new nemesis, speedster Daphne (played by Friday Night Lights' Brea Grant). He likened their relationship to the greatest cat-and-mouse-chase duo of all time: Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. "Except she says a lot more than 'Meep Meep!'" Oka said that Wile E. Coyote antics will be part of their dynamic, minus the ACME gadgets, and that Hiro will "fall on his face a lot."
Speaking of Hiro's rivals, the seemingly invincible Adam Monroe (David Anders) will do battle with Hiro again this season, admitted Masi. Anders returns to Heroes in episode four (October 6), but Masi would not say when he'll go face-to-face with Hiro. As for killing Adam, Masi thinks it can be done, and the spinal cord is the key.
Hiro and the speedy Daphne.
Masi also said that there will be much more than just a Hiro-versus-Adam throw-down this season. Sylar will be in the mix, of course, and there will be some big-time battles between characters that fans would never expect.
Perhaps the biggest scoop of the phone call dealt with Hiro's family. Fans can expect to meet Hiro's mother for the first time this season, but that's the only secret that the actor would let out. As for Hiro's sister, Masi explained that she's probably too busy running the family's company to show up this season.
Last week's episode no doubt shocked many when Hiro jumped to the future and saw his good buddy Ando kill future Hiro with a Street Fighter-like fireball, but don't expect Ando to turn into a supervillain. Masi explained that Ando and Hiro will get back to palling around soon, and that the Heroes writers made that scene ambiguous to explore the darker side of the characters. "We want to put seeds of doubt in every relationship," he said. "Shake up the status quo." Well it certainly caught us off guard!
Hiro has had a love interest in each season so far, but Masi doesn't have hopes for a babe in season three. In fact, Masi seems legitimately broken up over the death of Charlie, the red-headed waitress from season one that Hiro courted. We liked her too, Masi. However, he did admit that "this is Heroes, after all," and that anything can happen.
On the personal side, Masi loves 30 Rock and The Office, enjoys the stunt work on Heroes (particularly when he can pretend to be in Mary Poppins while suspended in a harness), and gets a bit uncomfortable when fans follow him into restrooms ("It's not like my urine can stop time," he jokes).
Claire Bennett (Hayden Panettiere) may be Heroes' cheerleader in front of the camera, but behind the scenes, no Heroes cast member does a better job of cheerleading for the show than Masi Oka. The Japanese-born actor has become one of the main faces of the drama and a fan favorite as time- and space-bending Hiro Nakamura.
Hiro Nakamura looking dapper.
Masi Oka took time out of his busy shooting schedule--episode 12 is currently being filmed--to discuss Heroes with the media this morning, and TV.com was there. Despite being bogged down with a bit of a cold, Masi was the usual Masi: well spoken, intelligent, cracking jokes (some good, some bad by his own admission), excitedly teasing season three, and always happy to answer questions from the press.
In fact, he even had a positive attitude when those questions dealt with the critical backlash for last week's premiere after an extremely positive reaction from fans at Comic-Con. Oka isn't bothered by what critics say and has high hopes for season three, which he said is a product of fan feedback. "[The fans] wanted more story, faster pace, a lot more action, and more focus on the original characters," he said. "We feel that we delivered based on what the fans wanted."
Oka then discussed his new nemesis, speedster Daphne (played by Friday Night Lights' Brea Grant). He likened their relationship to the greatest cat-and-mouse-chase duo of all time: Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. "Except she says a lot more than 'Meep Meep!'" Oka said that Wile E. Coyote antics will be part of their dynamic, minus the ACME gadgets, and that Hiro will "fall on his face a lot."
Speaking of Hiro's rivals, the seemingly invincible Adam Monroe (David Anders) will do battle with Hiro again this season, admitted Masi. Anders returns to Heroes in episode four (October 6), but Masi would not say when he'll go face-to-face with Hiro. As for killing Adam, Masi thinks it can be done, and the spinal cord is the key.
Hiro and the speedy Daphne.
Masi also said that there will be much more than just a Hiro-versus-Adam throw-down this season. Sylar will be in the mix, of course, and there will be some big-time battles between characters that fans would never expect.
Perhaps the biggest scoop of the phone call dealt with Hiro's family. Fans can expect to meet Hiro's mother for the first time this season, but that's the only secret that the actor would let out. As for Hiro's sister, Masi explained that she's probably too busy running the family's company to show up this season.
Last week's episode no doubt shocked many when Hiro jumped to the future and saw his good buddy Ando kill future Hiro with a Street Fighter-like fireball, but don't expect Ando to turn into a supervillain. Masi explained that Ando and Hiro will get back to palling around soon, and that the Heroes writers made that scene ambiguous to explore the darker side of the characters. "We want to put seeds of doubt in every relationship," he said. "Shake up the status quo." Well it certainly caught us off guard!
Hiro has had a love interest in each season so far, but Masi doesn't have hopes for a babe in season three. In fact, Masi seems legitimately broken up over the death of Charlie, the red-headed waitress from season one that Hiro courted. We liked her too, Masi. However, he did admit that "this is Heroes, after all," and that anything can happen.
On the personal side, Masi loves 30 Rock and The Office, enjoys the stunt work on Heroes (particularly when he can pretend to be in Mary Poppins while suspended in a harness), and gets a bit uncomfortable when fans follow him into restrooms ("It's not like my urine can stop time," he jokes).
News
What's Next for Hiro and Ando?
Now that Hiro and Ando have dug up their long-time nemesis, Adam Monroe, what do future Heroes episodes have in store for this duo?
Kristin from E! Online went to the ideal sources for such a question: Masi Oka and James Kyson Lee. Here are highlights of what they had to say:
Is Ando really a villain? "If I zapped him, it's probably for a good reason. But we don't know if he's turned bad, or if I've turned bad, or if he's betrayed me," Lee said of the season premiere scene that saw Ando zapping Hiro to death.
Could Hiro become a villain? We never thought it would be possible, but Masi Oka says Hiro Nakamura could one day become evil. "I don't know if it will happen, I don't know if it has happened, but I do think it needs to go there eventually."
How will Ando acquire his abilities? "We learn this season that in order for people to obtain abilities, there has to be a combination of factors - both physical and environmental elements," Lee said. "We think the eclipse might have to do with it. Maybe the formula we are trying to find is closely linked to it, and of course Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is trying to do experiments to find out, but he's not finding the answers either."
Maybe the formula we are trying to find is closely linked to it, and of course Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is trying to do experiments to find out, but he's not finding the answers either."
A Q&A Session with Masi Oka
In a recent interview, conducted prior to season three, Masi Oka promised an exciting season for Hiro and company.
He obviously wasn't kidding.
Here are a few highlights from the feature:
On critical reaction to season two: Every critic is different and people look for different things. So I don’t know if the critics are bashing for the sake of bashing it, but maybe it’s just like a continued - well continuing (stealing the hat) from Season 2. So I’m hoping that, you know, as the episodes progress that they could just go back to what made Heroes great with Season 1 and where Season 3 is headed towards, and then go back to seeing it as, you know, pure entertainment for the whole family.
On Hiro and Daphne: I’m very excited. We’re already shooting Episode 12 and there’s a lot of great shocks and, you know, twists and turns. With Hiro and Daphne, you know, Daphne is kind of like the quintessential nemesis for Hiro. As Batman gets his Joker, Hiro gets Daphne. That said, I see it more like a Wile E. Coyote and a Road Runner scenario except she said more than meep-meep and not as many Acme gadgets although you will see Hiro fall on his face a lot.
On Hiro and Ando: I think the writers wanted to introduce a little bit of a different dynamic between Hiro and Ando just to start things off. We will see them back to get their original selves, hopefully very soon. But I think everyone is kind of like - because this is a season called Villains, or the volume is called Villains, we wanted to kind of put in seeds of doubt in terms of every relationship we’ve had and kind of shake up the status quo.
Masi Oka Previews Season Three
After reading about the villains set to infiltrate Heroes this season, let's hear from one of the men set on stopping them.
In the following video, Masi Oka previews the upcoming chapter, mostly focusing on Hiro's new nemesis, played by actress Brea Grant. Take a look and a listen:
Heroes Spoilers: Japanese Edition!
Posted on September 15th, 2008 1:58 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka, Heroes Spoilers
We've reported on a number of Heroes spoilers for season three.
Future Peter likely shot Nathan; Sylar sucks Claire's brains out; and he has a son.
Below, though, you have a chance to make up our own spoilers!
E! ran into Masi Oka at the Heroes premiere party last week and asked him to go over a few key plot points for season three... in Japanese! We have no idea what the actor is saying, but it's fun to make it up as he goes along.
Milo Ventimiglia and Masi Oka Head Down Under
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 2:32 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka
Last week, Milo Ventimiglia and Masi Oka proved once again why it's pretty cool to have super powers. Or at least portray characters that have super powers.
The actors spent time with fans in Sydney, Australia, promoting the second season DVD of Heroes. Follow this article's jump now to see pics of Milo and Masi in action...
Continue Reading...
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Masi Oka Talks Villains, Hiro
Posted on July 24th, 2008 2:01 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
According to Masi Oka, chapter three of Heroes - titled "Villains" - won't just be showcasing your basic evil character.
Everyone on the series will show a dark side.
"I think that you'll see a dark side of everybody, because being a hero or villain is very subjective," Oka said in an interview at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour. "Each human being has the ability to become a hero or a villain. It's the choices that we make every day, and that can be influenced by the things around us."
On the upcoming season, Oka's Hiro will be faced with a new personal enemy: Daphne, aka "Speedster," played by Brea Grant.
"She's Hiro's nemesis," Oka said. "And every time Hiro sees her, he calls her his nemesis. And she's great. She's very spunky. She's a speedster. It's kind of like Batman has his Joker; Hiro has his Daphne."
The actor added:
"Brea's fantastic. She came from Friday Night Lights. She's such a joy to work with. We had a chemistry test, and I loved working with her, and we have so much fun working together. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it as well."
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Masi Oka Cheers on the Knicks
Posted on December 10th, 2007 9:54 AM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka - seated alongside actor Sean William Scott - is either having a great time at a recent New York Knicks game... or he's laughing at the horrific on-court play of this once proud franchise.
With no new Heroes episodes currently scheduled, the actor (sadly) finds himself with loads of free time.
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Masi Oka Named a Global Ambassador
Posted on November 1st, 2007 2:41 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka has been named global ambassador for One Laptop per Child (OLPC).
It's a non-profit organization launched in 2005 with a mission of providing a means for learning, self-expression and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education.
"Being a part of a global effort that is enabling children to learn, grow and succeed in life is both tremendously gratifying and important to me," said Oka. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to represent One Laptop per Child and bring my love of technology and education to the global community.
I believe that it is incredibly important to enable access to learning for all children so that every child has the opportunity to create a better life for themselves, their family and their society."
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An Interview with Masi Oka
Posted on October 3rd, 2007 7:06 AM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka certainly has no shame about being labeled a geek.
He discussed this and other issues during a recent interview with Radar Online. Here are a few highlights from the talk:
Q: Do you think that, thanks to you, geeks around the world now have an easier time of getting laid?
A: I think I can probably help give people confidence and help them be more open about expressing who they are. But I'm bad with women.
Q: Oh come on...
A: No, I'm pretty bad. But Heroes definitely helped me improve my social skills, and helped me not get rejected so much.
Q: Your character in Heroes, Hiro Nakamura, is the comic relief of a mostly dark show. He takes his superhero responsibilities seriously and has a clear vision of what's good and bad. Do you see morality in those black-and-white terms?
A: There are things that are black and white for me, but I'm always open to the possibility of looking at it from another person's point of view. What might be right for you may not be right for some. Oh God, I'm about to sing the Different Strokes song! [singing] A man is born, he's a man of means. What am I doing? I must be really tired.
But you know, it's the people who think differently that change the world. Even the villains, in their mind they were doing something right. In no way am I advocating Hitler, but he changed the world. For the worse, but in his mind he was changing it for the good. And I absolutely do not agree with what he did, but I'm open to the idea that there are thoughts out there like his.
Click here to read the full interview.
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Masi Oka Pictures, Interview
Posted on September 29th, 2007 12:31 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka is hilarious.
The Heroes actor was recently featured in the magazine Geek Monthly - and he takes pride in being labeled a geek or a nerd.
"A geek is someone who is passionate about something," he said in a long interview that you can read now. "It can be about anything. It can be about musicals. It can be about computers. It can be about our show. And you can be passionate about more than one thing. I would rather be passionate about something than apathetic about everything. To be Geek is to be human."
So profound.
Meanwhile, check out the following Masi Oka photos from the article. We dare you not to laugh as you look at each one...
Now that Hiro and Ando have dug up their long-time nemesis, Adam Monroe, what do future Heroes episodes have in store for this duo?
Kristin from E! Online went to the ideal sources for such a question: Masi Oka and James Kyson Lee. Here are highlights of what they had to say:
Is Ando really a villain? "If I zapped him, it's probably for a good reason. But we don't know if he's turned bad, or if I've turned bad, or if he's betrayed me," Lee said of the season premiere scene that saw Ando zapping Hiro to death.
Could Hiro become a villain? We never thought it would be possible, but Masi Oka says Hiro Nakamura could one day become evil. "I don't know if it will happen, I don't know if it has happened, but I do think it needs to go there eventually."
How will Ando acquire his abilities? "We learn this season that in order for people to obtain abilities, there has to be a combination of factors - both physical and environmental elements," Lee said. "We think the eclipse might have to do with it. Maybe the formula we are trying to find is closely linked to it, and of course Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is trying to do experiments to find out, but he's not finding the answers either."
Maybe the formula we are trying to find is closely linked to it, and of course Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) is trying to do experiments to find out, but he's not finding the answers either."
A Q&A Session with Masi Oka
In a recent interview, conducted prior to season three, Masi Oka promised an exciting season for Hiro and company.
He obviously wasn't kidding.
Here are a few highlights from the feature:
On critical reaction to season two: Every critic is different and people look for different things. So I don’t know if the critics are bashing for the sake of bashing it, but maybe it’s just like a continued - well continuing (stealing the hat) from Season 2. So I’m hoping that, you know, as the episodes progress that they could just go back to what made Heroes great with Season 1 and where Season 3 is headed towards, and then go back to seeing it as, you know, pure entertainment for the whole family.
On Hiro and Daphne: I’m very excited. We’re already shooting Episode 12 and there’s a lot of great shocks and, you know, twists and turns. With Hiro and Daphne, you know, Daphne is kind of like the quintessential nemesis for Hiro. As Batman gets his Joker, Hiro gets Daphne. That said, I see it more like a Wile E. Coyote and a Road Runner scenario except she said more than meep-meep and not as many Acme gadgets although you will see Hiro fall on his face a lot.
On Hiro and Ando: I think the writers wanted to introduce a little bit of a different dynamic between Hiro and Ando just to start things off. We will see them back to get their original selves, hopefully very soon. But I think everyone is kind of like - because this is a season called Villains, or the volume is called Villains, we wanted to kind of put in seeds of doubt in terms of every relationship we’ve had and kind of shake up the status quo.
Masi Oka Previews Season Three
After reading about the villains set to infiltrate Heroes this season, let's hear from one of the men set on stopping them.
In the following video, Masi Oka previews the upcoming chapter, mostly focusing on Hiro's new nemesis, played by actress Brea Grant. Take a look and a listen:
Heroes Spoilers: Japanese Edition!
Posted on September 15th, 2008 1:58 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka, Heroes Spoilers
We've reported on a number of Heroes spoilers for season three.
Future Peter likely shot Nathan; Sylar sucks Claire's brains out; and he has a son.
Below, though, you have a chance to make up our own spoilers!
E! ran into Masi Oka at the Heroes premiere party last week and asked him to go over a few key plot points for season three... in Japanese! We have no idea what the actor is saying, but it's fun to make it up as he goes along.
Milo Ventimiglia and Masi Oka Head Down Under
Posted on September 3rd, 2008 2:32 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Milo Ventimiglia, Masi Oka
Last week, Milo Ventimiglia and Masi Oka proved once again why it's pretty cool to have super powers. Or at least portray characters that have super powers.
The actors spent time with fans in Sydney, Australia, promoting the second season DVD of Heroes. Follow this article's jump now to see pics of Milo and Masi in action...
Continue Reading...
Permalink | 1 Comment
Masi Oka Talks Villains, Hiro
Posted on July 24th, 2008 2:01 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
According to Masi Oka, chapter three of Heroes - titled "Villains" - won't just be showcasing your basic evil character.
Everyone on the series will show a dark side.
"I think that you'll see a dark side of everybody, because being a hero or villain is very subjective," Oka said in an interview at the Television Critics Association's summer press tour. "Each human being has the ability to become a hero or a villain. It's the choices that we make every day, and that can be influenced by the things around us."
On the upcoming season, Oka's Hiro will be faced with a new personal enemy: Daphne, aka "Speedster," played by Brea Grant.
"She's Hiro's nemesis," Oka said. "And every time Hiro sees her, he calls her his nemesis. And she's great. She's very spunky. She's a speedster. It's kind of like Batman has his Joker; Hiro has his Daphne."
The actor added:
"Brea's fantastic. She came from Friday Night Lights. She's such a joy to work with. We had a chemistry test, and I loved working with her, and we have so much fun working together. Hopefully you guys will enjoy it as well."
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Masi Oka Cheers on the Knicks
Posted on December 10th, 2007 9:54 AM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka - seated alongside actor Sean William Scott - is either having a great time at a recent New York Knicks game... or he's laughing at the horrific on-court play of this once proud franchise.
With no new Heroes episodes currently scheduled, the actor (sadly) finds himself with loads of free time.
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Masi Oka Named a Global Ambassador
Posted on November 1st, 2007 2:41 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka has been named global ambassador for One Laptop per Child (OLPC).
It's a non-profit organization launched in 2005 with a mission of providing a means for learning, self-expression and exploration to the nearly two billion children of the developing world with little or no access to education.
"Being a part of a global effort that is enabling children to learn, grow and succeed in life is both tremendously gratifying and important to me," said Oka. "I'm very excited about this opportunity to represent One Laptop per Child and bring my love of technology and education to the global community.
I believe that it is incredibly important to enable access to learning for all children so that every child has the opportunity to create a better life for themselves, their family and their society."
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An Interview with Masi Oka
Posted on October 3rd, 2007 7:06 AM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka certainly has no shame about being labeled a geek.
He discussed this and other issues during a recent interview with Radar Online. Here are a few highlights from the talk:
Q: Do you think that, thanks to you, geeks around the world now have an easier time of getting laid?
A: I think I can probably help give people confidence and help them be more open about expressing who they are. But I'm bad with women.
Q: Oh come on...
A: No, I'm pretty bad. But Heroes definitely helped me improve my social skills, and helped me not get rejected so much.
Q: Your character in Heroes, Hiro Nakamura, is the comic relief of a mostly dark show. He takes his superhero responsibilities seriously and has a clear vision of what's good and bad. Do you see morality in those black-and-white terms?
A: There are things that are black and white for me, but I'm always open to the possibility of looking at it from another person's point of view. What might be right for you may not be right for some. Oh God, I'm about to sing the Different Strokes song! [singing] A man is born, he's a man of means. What am I doing? I must be really tired.
But you know, it's the people who think differently that change the world. Even the villains, in their mind they were doing something right. In no way am I advocating Hitler, but he changed the world. For the worse, but in his mind he was changing it for the good. And I absolutely do not agree with what he did, but I'm open to the idea that there are thoughts out there like his.
Click here to read the full interview.
Permalink | 1 Comment
Masi Oka Pictures, Interview
Posted on September 29th, 2007 12:31 PM by A. Hiro
Filed under: Masi Oka
Masi Oka is hilarious.
The Heroes actor was recently featured in the magazine Geek Monthly - and he takes pride in being labeled a geek or a nerd.
"A geek is someone who is passionate about something," he said in a long interview that you can read now. "It can be about anything. It can be about musicals. It can be about computers. It can be about our show. And you can be passionate about more than one thing. I would rather be passionate about something than apathetic about everything. To be Geek is to be human."
So profound.
Meanwhile, check out the following Masi Oka photos from the article. We dare you not to laugh as you look at each one...
References
References
^ Tavis Smiley (2007-04-27). "Masi Oka". PBS. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ Asian-American Whiz Kids, Time, 1987-08-31, http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19870831,00.html, retrieved on 17 December 2008
^ a b ""Heroes" Star: Former "Whiz Kid"". TMZ.com (2006-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ a b Shen, Maxine (2006-10-15). ""Heroes"". New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ "Now Hiring". sfgate.com. Retrieved on 1998-06-07.
^ a b Gaudiosi, John (2006-10-25). "Masi Oka: Coder, Actor, Hero". Wired. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Keveney, Bill (2006-11-09). "'Heroes' star Masi Oka living the dream". USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Kuhn, Sarah (2007-02-09). "Airborne at Last!". Back Stage. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Casey, Jordan; "Spike TV Holds First Annual Guys Choice Awards Show"; allheadlinenews.com; June 11, 2007.
^ Greg David (2007-01-18). "There goes my Hiro". TV Guide. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
^ Heroes Season 1 dvd, stunt special feature
^ SFX Collection - Special Edition #31: Total Anime, page 15 (UK-based sci-fi magazine)
^ "Masi Oka (star of Heroes) on cover of Time in 1987" (2006-11-21). Retrieved on 2008-11-11.
^ Tavis Smiley (2007-04-27). "Masi Oka". PBS. Retrieved on 2007-05-09.
^ Asian-American Whiz Kids, Time, 1987-08-31, http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19870831,00.html, retrieved on 17 December 2008
^ a b ""Heroes" Star: Former "Whiz Kid"". TMZ.com (2006-11-27). Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ a b Shen, Maxine (2006-10-15). ""Heroes"". New York Post. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ "Now Hiring". sfgate.com. Retrieved on 1998-06-07.
^ a b Gaudiosi, John (2006-10-25). "Masi Oka: Coder, Actor, Hero". Wired. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Keveney, Bill (2006-11-09). "'Heroes' star Masi Oka living the dream". USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Kuhn, Sarah (2007-02-09). "Airborne at Last!". Back Stage. Retrieved on 2007-03-12.
^ Casey, Jordan; "Spike TV Holds First Annual Guys Choice Awards Show"; allheadlinenews.com; June 11, 2007.
^ Greg David (2007-01-18). "There goes my Hiro". TV Guide. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
^ Heroes Season 1 dvd, stunt special feature
^ SFX Collection - Special Edition #31: Total Anime, page 15 (UK-based sci-fi magazine)
^ "Masi Oka (star of Heroes) on cover of Time in 1987" (2006-11-21). Retrieved on 2008-11-11.
Filmography
Filmography
As an actor
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Dharma & Greg Nien-Jen Guest appearance
Citizen Baines Staffer Dan Guest appearance
Gilmore Girls Philosophy Student Guest appearance
2002 Yes, Dear Talking Rock Guest appearance
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Male Council Member Guest appearance
Austin Powers in Goldmember Japanese Pedestrian
She Spies Guy Guest appearance
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Various 4 episodes 2002-2003
Scrubs Franklyn 5 episodes 2002-2004
2003 On the Spot Japanese Tourist Guest appearance
Uh-Oh! Asian Man
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Congressional Intern Uncredited
Luis Deng Wu
2004 Along Came Polly Wonsuk
Still Standing Ronald Guest appearance
All of Us Edwin Guest appearance
2005 Less Than Perfect Hideki Guest appearance
Reno 911! Translator Guest appearance
The Proud Family Movie Japanese Kid/Announcer Voice only
House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim Stanley Tong
Joey Arthur Guest appearance
God Wears My Underwear Brother Eo Voice only
Punk'd Translator Guest appearance
2006 One Sung Hero KJ
Reba IRS Agent Phung Guest appearance
Without a Trace Wei Fan Guest appearance
The Loop Wang Guest appearance
The Sarah Silverman Program Clerk
Heroes Hiro Nakamura 2006-present
2007 Balls of Fury Jeff, Feng's mens room attendant
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Himself Guest appearance
Reno 911! Foreign Tourist Guest appearance
Robot Chicken Japanese Mr. Rogers Guest appearance
Jane Doe: Ties That Bind Agent Osaka
2008 Get Smart Bruce
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control Bruce
The Promotion Loan Officer
As a digital effects artist
Year Title Notes
1998 Mighty Joe Young CG technical assistant: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
1999 Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace visual effects production and technical support: ILM
2000 The Perfect Storm digital artist: ILM
2002 Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones digital effects artist: ILM
2003 Hulk technical director: ILM
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines CG artist: ILM
2005 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith digital artist: ILM
War of the Worlds digital artist: ILM
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest digital artist: ILM
As narrator
Year Title Notes
2008 Discovery Atlas Episode "Japan Revealed"
As an actor
Year Title Role Notes
2001 Dharma & Greg Nien-Jen Guest appearance
Citizen Baines Staffer Dan Guest appearance
Gilmore Girls Philosophy Student Guest appearance
2002 Yes, Dear Talking Rock Guest appearance
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Male Council Member Guest appearance
Austin Powers in Goldmember Japanese Pedestrian
She Spies Guy Guest appearance
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment Various 4 episodes 2002-2003
Scrubs Franklyn 5 episodes 2002-2004
2003 On the Spot Japanese Tourist Guest appearance
Uh-Oh! Asian Man
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Congressional Intern Uncredited
Luis Deng Wu
2004 Along Came Polly Wonsuk
Still Standing Ronald Guest appearance
All of Us Edwin Guest appearance
2005 Less Than Perfect Hideki Guest appearance
Reno 911! Translator Guest appearance
The Proud Family Movie Japanese Kid/Announcer Voice only
House of the Dead 2: Dead Aim Stanley Tong
Joey Arthur Guest appearance
God Wears My Underwear Brother Eo Voice only
Punk'd Translator Guest appearance
2006 One Sung Hero KJ
Reba IRS Agent Phung Guest appearance
Without a Trace Wei Fan Guest appearance
The Loop Wang Guest appearance
The Sarah Silverman Program Clerk
Heroes Hiro Nakamura 2006-present
2007 Balls of Fury Jeff, Feng's mens room attendant
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Himself Guest appearance
Reno 911! Foreign Tourist Guest appearance
Robot Chicken Japanese Mr. Rogers Guest appearance
Jane Doe: Ties That Bind Agent Osaka
2008 Get Smart Bruce
Get Smart's Bruce and Lloyd: Out of Control Bruce
The Promotion Loan Officer
As a digital effects artist
Year Title Notes
1998 Mighty Joe Young CG technical assistant: Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)
1999 Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace visual effects production and technical support: ILM
2000 The Perfect Storm digital artist: ILM
2002 Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones digital effects artist: ILM
2003 Hulk technical director: ILM
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines CG artist: ILM
2005 Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith digital artist: ILM
War of the Worlds digital artist: ILM
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest digital artist: ILM
As narrator
Year Title Notes
2008 Discovery Atlas Episode "Japan Revealed"
Biography
Biography
Early life
Masi Oka was born in Tokyo, Japan. His parents divorced when he was one month old; he was raised in a single parent family and has never met his father. His mother moved to Los Angeles, California, United States when he was six.[1] At the age of eight, he appeared on CBS-TV game show Child's Play. In 1987, a twelve-year-old Oka was featured on the cover of Time titled "Those Asian-American Whiz Kids".[2] Though he was not featured in the article itself, he was acquainted with the photographer who conducted the shoot.[3] He attended elementary school at The Mirman School and graduated high school from Harvard-Westlake School in 1992. He graduated from Brown University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and mathematics. Masi also stated in an interiew that he has the IQ of 189.
Oka landed his first job after graduation at Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas's motion picture visual special effects company, with the hope of one day earning an Oscar for technical work on a motion picture.[4] Oka was also featured in the San Francisco Chronicle with ILM co-worker Anthony Shafer in a pre-dot-com article where he echoed his desire to meld acting and technology.[5] His first major project was co-developing a computer program to generate water effects, which was first used for The Perfect Storm but also used in later films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He later created programs for computational fluid dynamics and surface-cracking, which have been used in multiple projects.[6] He also worked on the Star Wars prequel trilogy.[3]
Acting career
Oka first tried his hand at acting in 2000. He earned a Screen Actors Guild card by appearing in industry films, then moved to Los Angeles.[6] ILM stipulated in his contract that he could work at its Los Angeles branch, but would have to return to their Marin County location if he did not get cast for a recurring role that season. Oka did get cast for a pilot. Although the show was not picked up, it did satisfy the contract's requirements and he was allowed to stay in Los Angeles. He decided to continue pursuing acting. He landed several guest spots and then a recurring role as Franklyn on the NBC comedy Scrubs. He was also featured in a PS2's Shinobi commercial, with the catch phrase 'Shinobi's Back'. Oka guest starred in the Yes, Dear episode "Dances with Couch", aired April 8, 2002.
In 2006, Oka was cast for the role of Hiro Nakamura in Heroes. Oka translates his dialogue from the show's scripts from English to Japanese;[7] English subtitles accompany his Japanese dialogue on the show. Additionally, Oka's real voice is closer to that of "Future Hiro" than the higher-pitched voice he uses as "Present Hiro" as heard during his appearances on Heroes.
His portrayal of the role earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination that year in the "Best Supporting Actor on a TV Series" category. [8] In addition to his work on the show, he continues to work at ILM up to three days a week as a Research and Development Technical Director, writing programs that create special effects.[4] He played the role of Bruce in the big screen version of Get Smart.
He recently signed on to play a real estate broker who is trying to sell to Sean William Scott's character in Steve Conrad's The Promotion.
He was named the "Coolest Geek" at the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007.[9] In 2007, he presented an award with Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere on the 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
Oka has a 20-second spot in Austin Powers in Goldmember when he states that "Due to international copyright laws it, in fact, is not. [Godzilla]".
Interests
Oka is fluent in Japanese, English and Spanish. His hobbies include kendo[10] where he carries the rank of shodan,[11] playing video games, watching and writing romantic comedies, playing the piano, and singing. He avidly collects manga; his current favorites include Eyeshield 21, One Piece and PLUTO, and he professes to be a big fan of Naoki Urasawa's other works.[12] In 1988, he placed fourth in the California state MATHCOUNTS competition, and was one of the four students to represent the state of California in the national competition.[13]
Early life
Masi Oka was born in Tokyo, Japan. His parents divorced when he was one month old; he was raised in a single parent family and has never met his father. His mother moved to Los Angeles, California, United States when he was six.[1] At the age of eight, he appeared on CBS-TV game show Child's Play. In 1987, a twelve-year-old Oka was featured on the cover of Time titled "Those Asian-American Whiz Kids".[2] Though he was not featured in the article itself, he was acquainted with the photographer who conducted the shoot.[3] He attended elementary school at The Mirman School and graduated high school from Harvard-Westlake School in 1992. He graduated from Brown University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science and mathematics. Masi also stated in an interiew that he has the IQ of 189.
Oka landed his first job after graduation at Industrial Light & Magic, George Lucas's motion picture visual special effects company, with the hope of one day earning an Oscar for technical work on a motion picture.[4] Oka was also featured in the San Francisco Chronicle with ILM co-worker Anthony Shafer in a pre-dot-com article where he echoed his desire to meld acting and technology.[5] His first major project was co-developing a computer program to generate water effects, which was first used for The Perfect Storm but also used in later films such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. He later created programs for computational fluid dynamics and surface-cracking, which have been used in multiple projects.[6] He also worked on the Star Wars prequel trilogy.[3]
Acting career
Oka first tried his hand at acting in 2000. He earned a Screen Actors Guild card by appearing in industry films, then moved to Los Angeles.[6] ILM stipulated in his contract that he could work at its Los Angeles branch, but would have to return to their Marin County location if he did not get cast for a recurring role that season. Oka did get cast for a pilot. Although the show was not picked up, it did satisfy the contract's requirements and he was allowed to stay in Los Angeles. He decided to continue pursuing acting. He landed several guest spots and then a recurring role as Franklyn on the NBC comedy Scrubs. He was also featured in a PS2's Shinobi commercial, with the catch phrase 'Shinobi's Back'. Oka guest starred in the Yes, Dear episode "Dances with Couch", aired April 8, 2002.
In 2006, Oka was cast for the role of Hiro Nakamura in Heroes. Oka translates his dialogue from the show's scripts from English to Japanese;[7] English subtitles accompany his Japanese dialogue on the show. Additionally, Oka's real voice is closer to that of "Future Hiro" than the higher-pitched voice he uses as "Present Hiro" as heard during his appearances on Heroes.
His portrayal of the role earned him a Golden Globe Award nomination that year in the "Best Supporting Actor on a TV Series" category. [8] In addition to his work on the show, he continues to work at ILM up to three days a week as a Research and Development Technical Director, writing programs that create special effects.[4] He played the role of Bruce in the big screen version of Get Smart.
He recently signed on to play a real estate broker who is trying to sell to Sean William Scott's character in Steve Conrad's The Promotion.
He was named the "Coolest Geek" at the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007.[9] In 2007, he presented an award with Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere on the 20th annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.
Oka has a 20-second spot in Austin Powers in Goldmember when he states that "Due to international copyright laws it, in fact, is not. [Godzilla]".
Interests
Oka is fluent in Japanese, English and Spanish. His hobbies include kendo[10] where he carries the rank of shodan,[11] playing video games, watching and writing romantic comedies, playing the piano, and singing. He avidly collects manga; his current favorites include Eyeshield 21, One Piece and PLUTO, and he professes to be a big fan of Naoki Urasawa's other works.[12] In 1988, he placed fourth in the California state MATHCOUNTS competition, and was one of the four students to represent the state of California in the national competition.[13]
Bio
In this Japanese name, the family name is Oka.
Masi Oka
Oka at the Heroes roadshow in Singapore, August 2007
Born Masayori Oka
December 27, 1974 (1974-12-27) (age 34)
Tokyo, Japan
Other name(s) Masi Oka
Years active 1998 - present
[show]Awards won
Other awards
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV show
2007 Heroes
Masi Oka (born Masayori Oka (岡 政偉, Oka Masayori?), December 27, 1974) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-nominated Japanese American actor and a digital effects artist. He has performed in many films and TV shows, and is currently cast in the role of Hiro Nakamura in the NBC series Heroes. He recently appeared in the film Get Smart, which was released on June 20, 2008. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Early life
1.2 Acting career
1.3 Interests
2 Filmography
2.1 As an actor
2.2 As a digital effects artist
2.3 As narrator
3 References
4 External links
Masi Oka
Oka at the Heroes roadshow in Singapore, August 2007
Born Masayori Oka
December 27, 1974 (1974-12-27) (age 34)
Tokyo, Japan
Other name(s) Masi Oka
Years active 1998 - present
[show]Awards won
Other awards
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor in a TV show
2007 Heroes
Masi Oka (born Masayori Oka (岡 政偉, Oka Masayori?), December 27, 1974) is a Golden Globe- and Emmy Award-nominated Japanese American actor and a digital effects artist. He has performed in many films and TV shows, and is currently cast in the role of Hiro Nakamura in the NBC series Heroes. He recently appeared in the film Get Smart, which was released on June 20, 2008. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Contents [hide]
1 Biography
1.1 Early life
1.2 Acting career
1.3 Interests
2 Filmography
2.1 As an actor
2.2 As a digital effects artist
2.3 As narrator
3 References
4 External links
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