“Nothing is certain.” These are not the words you want to hear from a hospital chaplain after you tell him about your dream of being an actor.
But these words were far from discouraging for Derek Ting. He saw it as an opportunity to follow God’s calling in faith. If nothing is certain, then failure is not certain either! Derek overcame many obstacles as an Asian American in the film industry to become an actor, writer, producer, and director—with his latest film being released on Amazon Prime Video.
In this interview with SOLA Network, Derek shares his testimony, as well his experiences with Asian American representation in the film industry. We hope this conversation encourages other Christians who are facing obstacles in their callings to follow God in faith.
Our “Artists in Motion” series hopes to platform Asian American Christian artists, as well as encourage all artists to root their identities in Christ and use their callings to share art and truth with the world. Find the other installments of our “Artists in Motion” series here.
Editor’s Note: Below is an automated transcript of their conversation with very light editing. There may be typos and other discrepancies from the video. You can listen to the audio here.
SOLA Network: Welcome to the SOLA Network. Today I’m talking with Derek Ting. He is an actor, a writer, director, based in Hong Kong and works in LA and New York. His most recent film, Agent Revelation, which he starred, wrote and directed, is out now. And so Derek, welcome. Thank you so much for spending time with me.
Derek Ting: Thanks for having me.
SOLA Network: So, you know, I would love to hear kind of your personal testimony like how you became how you became a Christian, how you came to know Christ, and how that maybe that kind of influenced your walk into this art world?
Derek Ting: Oh, man, yeah, um, I think I think the beginnings were like kind of Age of Innocence. You know, growing up, my next door neighbor was Christian, Protestant. And he’s just started inviting me to church. So I’d go and that was my sort of first introduction.
SOLA Network: Was that like, elementary school, junior high?
Derek Ting: It was, yeah, it was probably like middle school or something like that. You know, and then we’d go to like, Basketball Youth League. I did a couple of retreats. But you know, that was kind of like, the time where you’re just not really thinking about you’re sort of, like a “What’s the meaning of life?” and all that stuff? But, uh, yeah, I mean, I definitely learned and I was sort of, that’s what I said, The Age of Innocence, like, definitely, you know, believed.
But then like, what does that mean to believe? And I guess it kind of falls into my sort of interest in acting and filmmaking. Sort of, you know, my journey. And that was, I was, so I always loved acting. I just kind of showed up, was in plays. And I took a class at Cornell. And I was like, “Wow, this is great!” But this one, is this gonna be as an Asian, right, Asian American. And I was like, this career, like, you know, I didn’t really even think of it as that. But there was something that was calling me. So I did move to New York for that.
And then when 9/11 happened, I’m working there. And it really made me start thinking about, like, you know, what I wanted to do with my life, not necessarily like, oh, now I have found meaning in my life and stuff like that, but more like what I want to do with life. So I took steps to become an actor. And then that led to oh, well, there’s actually very few parts for someone that looks like me. I need to start making my own film.
So I started writing and, and all that and learning, editing, taking classes, just things like you would naturally do, I guess, in my mind, to kind of figure out like, well, what’s the best way to kind of make this happen? And so then, I had hit a plateau.
So I was doing well, I’d been making money. Sort of, I was this kind of like, dual personality. I’d like be working, and then go to auditions and take a cab and come back sweating. And my job and and then I went to, I decided that I hit a plateau. So I decided between LA and Hong Kong, and I went to Hong Kong. And when I went to Hong Kong, they hired me for a project at CNN. And I became a producer.
SOLA Network: What was that decision like to choose Hong Kong over LA?
Derek Ting: It was kind of serendipity. I moved there for like two weeks with my wife. And this person, one of my friends introduced me like, hey, they’re looking for a producer soon. And they’re looking for somebody and I had like no experience, I had no media experience. I wasn’t technology. And what next thing, next thing I know, I’m like, doing one project, then it’s like, oh, can you? You know, produce? shorts? Can you work with the newsrooms? Like, oh, okay. And then suddenly, I’m working there full time.
So I actually gave up acting. Because I was like, Oh, this is a great media opportunity. And I really like the filmmaking aspect. But I realized that news is not necessarily feature films, which is I think it is kind of like the Olympics, the way I see it.
So along the way, again, serendipity, or maybe you might call it a calling. I was living there in Hong Kong, and this director who does commercials lived next door to me. And he says to me, oh, you know, do you act? And I was like, yeah, you know, I mean, sure, why not? It’s kind of like a fun thing. And I was already working at CNN. So I really had no, no really kind of ambitions or anything like that at that point. So but then next thing I know, like the client liked me, and I’m in like two commercials of theirs, like two huge commercials. And so it’s hard for me to think like, oh, well, maybe I have some talent or maybe there’s some kind of reason that I’m here, you know?
So I just asked around and the next thing I know, a friend introduced me to a casting director and I got cast in this movie called Largo Winch, which was with Kristin Scott Thomas from The English Patient. And that casting director says like, Oh, I don’t know what you did in the audition, but the director really liked you, you got the part.
Okay, so it’s kind of like this, oh, well, maybe I do have something I had to have some, you know, potential. And then so I realize though, if I really want to make it in, in the media industry, most of the top people are hustling, like Leonardo DiCaprio. All the actors, they’re, they’re making their own films, you just don’t know, you don’t really understand that until you’re actually in the industry. So I started writing my first script.
It took me you know, four years. The whole evolution was like at least six, but it was like nights and weekends working at my job. So I quit CNN, and started working in a job that was a little bit less intense. And I started writing my first script, and I started and I raised some money. But I went through lots of ups and downs as well, there.
And that’s, that’s really where my testimony kind of comes in. But which I don’t really talk about that much. I mean, I mentioned it in my TEDx talk. But it’s important for you to understand the background because I went, I went and pitched both sides. There the producers were telling me I would translate into Mandarin. And then people in LA and Hollywood, some top execs were telling me like, Oh, you know, change the main character.
SOLA Network: Wow. Around what year was this?
Derek Ting: This was like, ‘08.
SOLA Network: Yeah, I remember those days, too.
Derek Ting: Yeah. So I’m like, Oh, well. Okay. So the truth is, you know, one of those top exec producers was Asian.
SOLA Network: Wow, shut up, really?
Derek Ting: Yeah. So if you, you get that kind of information, that kind of inside information. It’s not like, I don’t fault that because, hey, that’s the industry, okay. I don’t fault the person. But it really tells you what you need to do. You know, it’s the listening of that.
There was a point when I met that with that producer, like, oh, man, I’m set, you know, they like it, and they want to work with me. And I’m like, I’m off to the races. All that hard work was gonna pay off. And when I got that meeting, it just didn’t go the way I thought it was going to go. Because I thought as a as male, I’ll refer to my cultural background as a typical Asian, I was like, well, I put in the work. I, I, you know, I made the effort. And you know, my hard work is going to pay off. And so when I ran into that wall, I was like, oh, man, that’s really disturbing. You know?
SOLA Network: Yeah.
Derek Ting: So at that point, I had to make some decisions, because I raised some money, but it really wasn’t a lot. And the movie was called Super Capitalist, which is like, you know, sounds expensive already. But it’s a drama, so like, maybe it’s something I can make. So there’s the, of course, when you’re pitching, you’re in this kind of waiting period a little bit.
And so I’d been playing sports, and I was playing basketball, and this guy crushed my knee. He landed on my knee, and I tore my ACL. And I was just devastated. Because when you’re in the hospital, you’re just like, you just get very emotional and down on yourself. It’s very depressing. because you just can’t do anything. And a lot of things were set in motion, like, you feel like oh, this doesn’t know if I don’t keep it going, then it can fall apart. That’s what you’re doing when you’re producing a film.
And so one day, this pastor, that day, this pastor walks in, and you know, we start talking, and I start like, just laying out everything. I don’t know why I, this is many years ago, I don’t know why. But I just started like, telling him everything like, Oh, this is going on, this is what’s happening in my life. And, you know, I worked so hard and grinded, didn’t take vacations, and suddenly, like, all my dreams, I felt were gonna fall apart. And I said, Well, I’m not famous. So yeah, you know, people want, they want famous people to play these roles, and you know, things like that, and I never made a movie.
So I said, What do you think, you know, can I do this? And he says, nothing is certain. I specifically remember him saying that. And then I don’t know, I don’t remember anything after that. And then he leaves like oh well, you know, well, thanks, you know, I have to move on to my next patient. So, you know, I was in hospital for a while, but I never saw that guy again. He, I never, I was like waiting to talk to him again. He never showed up again. So I was like, you know, blown away.
But what he said to me, I felt like that’s where God spoke to me and I kind of was like, I think it was like him believing in me. If that makes any sense? And I think that’s where I started really believing.
SOLA Network: From “nothing is certain.” Right? Because usually, I mean, I would think like, right, “nothing is certain” feels kind of like a discouraging statement. But you’re saying that, like, there was hope in that statement for you?
Derek Ting: Yeah, yeah. Because, well, I think if, especially like, I’m very logical. You know, I think if you think about God and your relationship, you know, you’re naturally going to ask those questions. And you have to be very real about that. You have to ask those questions like, Oh, well, you know, I’ve never seen this person or, you know, entity or energy or whatever you want to call it, you know. I can’t, you can’t meet Jesus. So you have to ask those questions. And really, really, I mean, the proof won’t be until you pass away.
SOLA Network: Wow.
Derek Ting: I mean, that’s when you’ll know, like, whether all the things that you’ve done, the things that you believe in, like, that’s where the proof is, and it won’t happen until you die.
SOLA Network: Yeah.
Derek Ting: That’s what I mean.
SOLA Network: Yeah. No, I think that that’s crazy that that happened, you know, in that period of time for you. Because, you know, for people that don’t know, the work that it takes to make a movie, even when you have money is like such a step of faith. Right? Like how many, how many projects even that get funding and never get a Final Cut never crossed the finish line?
How do you feel like you know, because that sort of pushed you into this place of making your own films…what was that process like of saying, okay, Super Capitalist, I’m going to do this my way, or I’m going to do this, right, like in faith and just go for it? Obviously, I’m sure there were so many hurdles, what was that kind of journey? Like?
Derek Ting: Oh, was, I mean, it was super scary. But I kind of just felt that that changed, because I think you have to trust other people, too. So, you know, I try my best to work with, work with people who kind of just have the right kind of mindset too, and you have to trust them and say, Okay, well, we’re gonna make a movie together and do it.
And I mean, I was, I was very, I was very fortunate too, because I had, you know, I had supporters too, people that believed in me, like investor. Linus Roache is in the film. I think, you know, he, he really saw what the script was about, what the story is about, you know, there’s, there’s a, it’s a morality tale. And so, you know, finding those types of people that want to tell the same messages. I think that was more of a shift of how I wanted to do things. And that, you know, and I think that really kind of led to me, you know, ultimately making the film was having a real reason to make the film.
I think, inherently like, I wanted to tell a good message and a story because I kind of grew up on that. And, I feel like that’s why I tell movies, but make movies but then really kind of as they use, like leaning into that really like saying, okay, well, consciously deciding, okay, this is what I’m going to do.
SOLA Network: And how do you feel like, you know, for me personally, as a filmmaker, I wrestled with a long time writing movies for straight white men, right, basically like thinking, that’s the mainstream, and that’s the, you know, what people want, right? What was your journey, like in terms of discovering kind of your voice as a storyteller as an Asian American as a Christian? How did you wrestle and embrace those identities in your artwork?
Derek Ting: Well, I think if, well, one, if someone, if people around you want to give you an opportunity, then you have a responsibility to not just exploit it, you know, that you have to give back. You are in debt. I don’t think people understand that I think people feel entitled to a lot of things, you know, maybe because maybe if, you know, because we’re, let’s say in the entertainment industry because there’s not that many roles, we’re entitled to more roles. No, we’re not. We’re not entitled to anything. It’s just as hard for anybody.
But, you know, what the industry is like, you know, what is selling, you know what it’s worth. And you know, and these people have kind of built up their own business, in a way. So I mean, it’s not really. But that, I mean, but I was given the opportunity to be creative, and not really have the shackles of Oh, I need to operate as that way.
Of course, there’s I mean, there’s a commercial aspect, that’s what I do is make commercial films with a message that’s very clear that I want people to see the movie that I want people to be interested and intrigued, regardless of race or like that, but I think, I think if because I was kind of given that kind of artistic freedom.
And then I had to take it and do it, you know, rather than try to follow the mold. And I think that’s important, too, is like, if you’re a person starting out, like, you can’t think like, the big, you know, the big giants, you can’t think that way, because you’ll lose. You’ll lose. I mean, the classics, you know, story of David and Goliath, like, I mean, people thought, Oh, this guy is really big, and you’re going to lose, so are you going to go stand toe to toe to him? No, you’re not. You’re going to think differently.
And I think actually being Asian is an edge. That’s the way I thought at that time. And I still obviously, I think now that it’s much more apparent, because people are a little bit, people are angry about the way things have gone. But, I saw back then that it was an edge. I think I was ahead of that time. So that, what that did, though, was give me a head start as well. Like, I started very early, putting in the time putting in the work, you know,
SOLA Network: Yeah. And, you know, movies, you just keep, you’ve been making them. And that’s been really amazing. Splitting your time between like Hong Kong and LA and New York, what are the differences that you kind of see and feel about that? Here, you’re kind of an outsider, because you’re Asian, and in Hong Kong, you’re kind of an outsider, because you’re American. Right? What do you feel like that, that tension is like?
Derek Ting: Yeah, I remember, I remember sitting in my first screening of Super Capitalist and the New York Times reporter, which, I didn’t even know he was a New York Times reporter, asked me a similar question. And, you know, yeah, we don’t feel, we don’t feel at home anywhere.
But I do think that we have to recognize that, you know, Asia, Asia is growing rapidly. And I don’t think the West can ignore, you know, the power it’s going to wield. And but I think, I think, you know, we have to, we have to work together, though, because there’s a lot bigger problems like the planet, you know, and just just that we’re, you know, we have to think about our commonality.
And I think I kind of why I’m in Hong Kong is because I think that’s partly my purpose and calling like, I was kind of built for this. So then, therefore, then I just have to keep going and, and connecting that, you know, bridging that because that’s, that’s what we need in this world right now.
Especially, like, it’s just so much tension. And there’s so much, we’re so interconnected that, you know, if it goes in the wrong direction, as we’ve seen the last couple of years, then that’s where it’s gonna go. And it’s just going to get worse. I mean, there’s…
SOLA Network: Yeah, and I feel like you know, as a Christian, that call to be reconciliatory, right? To try to be peacemakers and to try to bring sides together, is so powerful, you know. I wonder for you, having been in the industry for a while, what is your feeling, on like for people who say that, hey, yeah, I’m a Christian, but it doesn’t mean I’m that kind of Christian right? Doesn’t, whatever, like breaking the stereotypes in that mold? How have you encountered those, though, that evolution in the industry?
Derek Ting: Yeah, I mean, I think we all have our belief systems, and especially, I mean, I’m out here, so you know, there is Buddhism Hinduism. Dhamma. So, and yeah, like you said, What, even within the Christian faith, there’s just so many denominations. So what is that? You know, what is that definition?
For me, as you’ve seen Age of Revelation, I think it is about being selfless. I think that’s, you know, that’s, but I don’t want to, I don’t want to hit people over the head with it. We do say it, you would do in a story. But, you know, it’s the decisions that we make, how we live our life.
I don’t think people will know what, you know, maybe people won’t know what we’re doing now. But I think what people, when people look back at, you know, what I’m trying to say, what they think that’s, that’s when, maybe it’ll click.
I mean, even for me, like, finding out who I am, it’s taken years, you know, years. And I’m still on a journey, I’m still on a journey, but I think that’s what it is, is like, you know, like I said, this is not for everybody. How I am is not for everybody, and everyone has their own thing. And that’s that I think, is almost kind of in a way, the answer that, you know, that, that there should be diversity in your mindset. But coming together. So mine is mine is I tried to set my example. And that’s it. I’m not asking for anything.
SOLA Network: Yeah, yeah. And Age of Revelation, you know, I, those themes of selflessness, the theme of like, guilt, right? And, you know, trying to overcome your past and trying to find that identity. What do you feel like are kind of like the themes that after having made now, you know, multiple films, what are the themes? What are the ideas that you like to gravitate towards as a storyteller?
Derek Ting: So we’re actually making part three right now.
SOLA Network: Awesome.
Derek Ting: It’d be a bigger, bigger budget, which I’m excited about, and we would definitely explore more of my character’s backstory. And, you know, I think I think even to, like, I’m arriving at what does that mean, you know, what does it mean to be a human being? What does it mean to how to treat others and finding, finding compassion, finding, you know, reaching, reaching across, reaching across to others working with others.
I mean, even just not even, like, staying within your circle with if you’re Christian, going to other Christians, but you have to, we have to reach out to other people.
I don’t think we’re going to necessarily, like, we’re not going to convince people like, Oh, well, you know, I’m Muslim. But now that you’ve talked to me, I want to be Christian. Now, you know, I don’t think that that, but if we can just kind of like understand each other, then maybe there’s, there’s something, you know, there’s something.
And that’s, that’s kind of like the messaging where I think I’m at is being a human being and what that means and understanding others and understanding what our purpose are. That’s those are like the, the common themes and I’m, you know.
SOLA Network: Yeah. And, for me, I think watching Age of Revelation, I mean, I’m personally like, I love. I love genres of film that aren’t typically seen as thoughtful and Christian, right? Like, I love horror. I love action. What do you feel like in terms of exploring those themes? How does making an action thriller like you’ve done for your last few films, right? How is that genre useful or even conducive to exploring some of those themes that you’re talking about?
Derek Ting: Yeah, I mean, I think life in general, I mean, you know, where it’s, it’s, it’s beautiful. It’s fun. And, you know, I grew up on science fiction and action. I mean, I don’t think spirituality and science are mutually exclusive. I think they’re actually intertwined. Actually, in a way, our speciality is science, if you think about it.
So that’s, and so I think we should enjoy, like a movie should be enjoyable. They don’t need to be I mean, I enjoy documentaries. I enjoy other things for different reasons like documentary, maybe I’ll learn something or we want to be thrilled. I think that’s just about being human.
But we do have to be careful though, with what we present though I, having a child I realize that a lot of media is world building. You know, and so anything you know, we want to expose our son to the world but you know, with media.
One of my bosses said, like, Oh, I could watch this with my ten-year-old, you know. But it has still has enough action and excitement that like an adult can understand. So I think that’s, I think that’s, that’s my style, though. It’s not for everybody, for filmmakers to have their own reasons why they got into films.
But, you know, I grew up on 80s. And action. You know, I don’t really think too hard. I’m a simple guy. And it’s fun. But I do get frustrated when the movie does not have a story. Yeah, super frustrated. I think people think producers think like, Oh, you know, great visual effects like and great action, and then suddenly, people are going to show up. No, it’s not, that doesn’t work that way. Yeah, you have to build the character.
So and I mean, I’ve worked on building Minecraft, though. I mean with Super Capitalist, with always, always was a movie that, you know, got distributed by Paramount and, you know, Super Capitalist got picked up by Warner Brothers. Like, those were character driven stories. They were, you know, packaged in thrillers, but, um, you know, so it’s about building characters and, and telling good stories first, and then those other things are fun.
SOLA Network: Yeah, yeah. And then so with the Agent Series, what was kind of the, you know, you’re building such a big world, right? And I’m excited to see how that world is going to continue to grow. What were kind of the things that first attracted you to this idea that you’re exploring in the Agent Series?
Derek Ting: Actually, to tell you the truth. There was, well, for Agent Revelation, there was a friend of mine who visited me, we had met on my first movie, and he visited me in in Hong Kong. And as he was there, and I was like, Oh, come on, by, let’s meet up. And it turned out that he was visiting his orphanage where he had come from. So he’s an orphan, and he told me that he didn’t get adopted till the age of eight.
So I, I really just, you know, he poured his heart out to me. And I was like, wow, that’s an amazing story. Because I think about it as my parents were, were really, you know, always there. They’ve always supported me. I mean, we were not rich, very middle class, but they’re always there. So you have, you have people to fall back on when you don’t have that. That’s very, that’s a very different mindset. So I was really interested about telling that story.
The other thing, too, I think about Asians in general, is that I’m interested in telling stories that we haven’t seen. You know, I like martial arts, I love it. But if you notice, there’s a lot of boxing, it’s not really martial arts, there’s more military style tactics. So I want to see people that look like me, who served in the military. I want to see doctors, and lawyers, and bankers, you know. I want to see them and how they formulate who they are, and how they operate. How they, how they interact with their other characters. So that’s really my sort of interest, because I think we need more of it.
SOLA Network: Yeah, and I think I can tell that in the work that I’ve seen of yours, right, this fascination and people and like roles where it would be like, if everyone was white, it would be a certain thing, but because somebody is Asian, because somebody is Asian American, or like in Agent Revelation, because they’re adopted and they’re Asian, right? What is the difference that that kind of brings to it? And I really see that in your work.
You’ve made, you know, all these feature films, which is such an accomplishment, right? And so amazing. In the process of growing as a writer, growing as a director, growing as an actor, what are some things that may be in that growth, you’re like, Oh, I think I understand, you know, the love of God or the grace of God a little bit better?
Derek Ting: I, you know, we all have our ups and downs in our journey. But there have been many moments where I thought, I’m done. I finished and, you know, I don’t want to, maybe it sounds a little selfish, but it’s just I feel like it’s always been there. And it keeps on reminding me like, Hey, you need to do this. You need to keep going. I think that that’s just what it is. I don’t know what like, I don’t know, maybe I’m just, you know, feeding my own ego to or not, but I feel like he’s, he keeps on every time like, I quit, I’m done, I’m finished, this is hard, guys, you know, this is hard.
Because, you know, like you said, like, you’re you’re writing, you know, writing for white actors, for movies. I mean, you know what the industry is, that’s how you get funding. So for me, for someone to believe in me, and they give me funding great, but then it’s not going to be huge amounts of money, you know, I’m not as much to work with, with other people. But, you know, I always try to put my best foot forward. So I think, you know, but that’s been hard. It’s like, it’s just asking for pain asking for suffering, because, you know, I can easily because of my background, I can easily go get a six figure job, I can do that. I know that I’m very confident about that. And hopefully, that doesn’t sound like cocky or anything, but that’s just but I think, you know, it reminds me of the story.
So I had done two movies, and, you know, I had my run ins with Hollywood and, and, you know, had agents sending my stuff out to festivals and stuff. And, you know, they send like a blue envelope. So we were really close. And then I’ve gotten reasons back like, Oh, we don’t know how to program this, you know, direct from the program, there are big festivals. And that’s usually though. So I’m like, you mean, you think it’s good enough, but you don’t know how to program it? I mean, this is, this is back in 2014, where you know, no one’s really complaining about stuff. And that’s really how it is. And, and by, I’ll be honest about it, actually, they say they’re doing more, but behind the scenes, you know, they’re, it’s still, they’re still part of that there, you know.
But so I’m working out. And these two kids walk up to the window and watch me working out not doing anything special or anything, but um, one kid is wearing a Superman outfit, and the other girl is wearing a Wonder Woman outfit. And I thought to myself, like, Oh, well. Where are my heroes, you know? So it’s not to be, it’s not to be, you know, a superhero. It’s just be, like, we need people to step up. You know, we need people to just take leadership.
Even if I don’t, you know, even if it’s not, like, super huge or anything, at least I’m putting stuff out there and someone will find it and be like, Oh, well, okay, well, this guy is doing it. You know, that’s why but my but but what I’m, how I’m living my life. I put it out there. And then it sounds like this. This guy’s doing it. Maybe I can learn from that and do that. And I think that’s really what it’s about. So, you know, yeah, because I think we I think we should have those universal characters where we’re not specifically Asians. That that role could be anybody. And that person could, like an Asian person should be able to be Superman, you know?
SOLA Network: Yeah. Yeah. Wow. So true. So good. Yeah. And I feel like, you know, my circles, you know, and a lot of the Asian American church community now, especially in Southern California, I think we’re trying to figure out, you know, for this next generation, of junior high kids and high school kids who are graduating, and so many of them are talented, they are gifted, they are passionate about the arts, and about making films or acting. What would you kind of, you know, last thing, like, what would you kind of say, is like an encouragement to some of those people that are going to be watching this? And they’re like, Oh, yeah, kind of, like, I feel like I want to go into that world, and I want to be making those kinds of things. How would you encourage them?
Derek Ting: Well, I think for anybody, if even if you’re not Asian, it’s like, you know, it’s easy, it’s very easy to be passive. Because then it’s a very safe place, you know? And that’s not to say, Oh, you know, I’m not happy, let’s start a fight. You know, so. But what I do know is that there’s a couple things.
One is, there’s one of my goals is just that, for the younger generation, I want them to have respect, I want them to be able to travel, you know, when you go into a bar in the UK, like, as an Asian person, you should feel confident about who you are. It’s cool to be Asian, you know.
SOLA Network: Yeah.
Derek Ting: If you walk into a Hollywood bar, same thing, if you walk into New York City, you know, feel the same thing. Walk the streets and be confident. Know that, like, you know, whatever you’re doing is cool. It’s cool to be Asian. So that’s one of my things is that we should just have respect and be on equal ground. If not, you know, you know, I think we have a lot of good stuff. We have our negatives too. But, you know, I would love for people to think that way. So that’s one goal.
And then how, I always talk about, you know, their approach, I think, is we can’t let others drive the narrative. We can’t let others drive the narrative. What does that mean? That means that we can’t tell we can’t let others tell us how to be or what’s cool. We have to be like, I like that. I’m gonna wear that. I’m gonna go do this. And it’s not going to be about like, oh, because the media tells me that’s cool. No, because you want to do it. And that’s, like, in that. That’s a part of you. That’s who you are, you know.
So I think that’s really my two things is get respect and drive a narrative. And that’s going to require effort. That’s going to require getting out of our shells, getting out of our comfort zone and putting ourselves out there subject ourselves to criticism. But, you know, really just not expect corporations or the world to really hand us anything.
SOLA Network: Yeah. Yeah. That’s good. That’s so good. Amen. Well, Derek Ting, I want to just appreciate your time and thank you so much for spending it with me and sharing your wisdom and your experience. Agent Revelation is out now. We will link to it on our SOLA Network website or you can go to DKTing.com. That’s Derek’s website and find more information there. Thank you again, so much for spending time with me.
Derek Ting: Awesome. Thanks, Jason.