TEACHERS
Voice Over Demo
Demo Reel
Hong Acting Workshop
April Hong
April Hong began singing, dancing, and acting at the age of four. As a child actor she has appeared in leading roles in "Kidsongs" videos, award winning documentarian and director Arthur Dong's film "Lotus", television shows "China Beach " and "General Hospital", animated TV shows "The Real Ghostbusters," "Slimer", "Captain Planet", and more!
Her most recent credits include the voice and singing as Ming in "Pup Star: World Tour" and voices in "Archer", "Kung Fu Panda 3", the TV series "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness," the animated feature "Kung Fu Panda 2: Kaboom of Doom”, “World of War Craft”, and "True Crime 3: Hong Kong" where she also did performance capture for a variety of characters in the interactive game. Some TV credits include "Desperate Housewives", "90210", "ER", and "Numbers", and commercials for Microsoft, Chrysler, Cox Communications, and LensCrafters.
Hosting
April enjoys connecting with communities in various ways, including hosting at events where she often incorporates musical theatre acts, puppetry, and impersonations of the greats such as Marilyn Monroe. Hosting credits include Disneyland, KCET, the 70th and 71st Anniversary of New Chinatown and the Chinese American Museum’s Annual Lantern Festival, both in Los Angeles.
April's Training in various acting techniques originating from Uta Hagen, Constantin Stanislavski, Yale School of Drama, Viola Spolin and her father, James Hong has been an incredible journey of self-discovery. Her experience as a professional actor for over 30 years has led her to develop her own approach to the art and business of acting.
While at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) she studied all aspects of the entertainment industry, including directing, producing, and editing, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in Television-Multimedia Production with a minor in Theatre. Since then she has worked a variety of production jobs, including casting and producing short films and voice over projects.
Teaching
As a teacher she is delighted to pass on what her and her father have learned from their experiences to others! She has taught classes and seminars in Florida, Hawaii, and California. Currently, she consults and teaches in Los Angeles acting for professionals and those who seek personal development and empowerment. In 2010, she earned her teaching artist certification through The Actors Fund Teaching Artist Training Institute specializing in the integration of acting into school curriculum.
Please contact April for more on her specialized programs that meet the needs of senior citizens, integrate Theatre Arts into curriculum, and bridge gaps between generations and cultures. Learning happens when you're having fun!
HongActing@gmail.com
James Hong
James Hong is possibly the actor who has played the most on-camera roles, over 600, in American motion pictures and television. Recent feature films are "Everything Everywhere All at Once", "Wendell and Wild", "Turning Red", “Safe”, "The Day the Earth Stood Still", "Balls of Fury", and "Lost Medallion". Recent television shows include "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai", "Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight", "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", "Regular Show", "The Big Bang Theory", and Disney's "I'm In The Band" and “Pair of Kings”.
Aside for the 600 roles in features and television, he has appeared in many commercials including Bud Light, Burger King, and Nissin’s instant noodles.
Many now know him as the voice of Mr. Ping, father of Po, Jack Black, in "Kung Fu Panda" which James was nominated for the 2009 Annie Award Animation's Highest Honor for best voice in an animated feature.
In 2011, Mr. Hong was awarded the Annie Award for best voice in an animated TV show for his character Mr. Ping in "Kung Fu Panda Holiday Special." Fortunately, there has been great support and success with "Kung Fu Panda 2: Kaboom of Doom" and the TV series "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness", and Kung Fu Panda 3.
All these hundreds of roles came after he practiced as a civil engineer upon graduating from USC in Los Angeles. His parents thought being an actor was too far down the ladder of respectable professions. So he dutifully obtained his degree in civil engineering and then followed his heart. Acting was his destiny, but the self-discipline and transferrable skills he learned in school helped prepare him for the many challenges of the business and art of acting and producing.
"Acting, producing films, and teaching acting allow me to give back to the world what I have experienced."
-James Hong
Training
Mr. Hong's Professional acting training has been four years with the following teachers: Joseph Sargent of the Stella Adler School in NYC, Jeff Corey of the Stanislavski method, David Alexander, film director and teacher, and Tony Barr, director of the Professional Theatre Workshop in the location that is now a part of Paramount Studios.
After 50 plus years, he has developed his own acting techniques from working with a wide range of talented professional writers, directors, producers, editors, and actors. His experience in filmmaking as writer, producer, director, and editor gives him a unique approach to working steadily in the entertainment industry
Teaching
Mr. Hong has taught acting classes and seminars in Florida, Hawaii, and California. Currently, he teaches master classes in Los Angeles from time to time while his daughter, April, teaches his acting techniques on a more regular basis.
