Bullets flying over the terrified heads of young soldiers as more soar through the air, back in the direction of the trigger men. This deadly ambush is what the First Calvary Division from Fort Hood, Texas faced. On a day-to-day basis the Sadr City district of Baghdad was being crushed to ruins by mortars and RPG’s in an urban war being fought between the locals and the American soldiers.
This is the reality that Kenny Leu, actor, was trying to understand in his new role as Sergeant Eddie Chen in National Geographic’s miniseries The Long Road Home. This is the story of the soldiers who faced Goliath, far away from home and on the brink of collapse in a foreign land. Leu, like many of the cast in this mini-series’ cast was put through various physical and psychological tests in preparation for these demanding roles.
Leu has fought his personal battles in the foreign land of the USA that he now calls home. Born in Taiwan, emigrating to the U.S. in his toddler years with his family, he was, like so many young and motivated individuals who set their eyes to stardom, an explorer. He was seeking his part in life, his passion.
“I started acting when I was in middle school. It was just something I really loved. When I became a high-schooler I was like 'I love doing this but I better stop’…I don’t know if it had something to do with being Asian; I didn’t really see anybody like me on TV.”
At that time Leu decided to put acting aside and he made the decision that it was time to get serious in terms of choosing a respectable career from which he would benefit financially, have the peace of mind of job security, and which would gain the respect of his family and friends. Society pushed him to a more “viable” path.
Leu went on to graduate from high school, to attend UC Berkley, and was graduated with an Engineering Degree. He then came together with a group of friends to create a start-up company. With countless hours of work, this persistent group of college graduates created interest among sponsors such as Google. The Fortune 500 company invested in their start-up, and later their company was bought out. The new owners wanted to keep the current employees but one employee had a very different direction in mind – acting. Twenty-seven years old, single, and financially stable, Leu rejected the company’s offer and moved to Los Angeles.
“I walked away from a lot of effing money… I don’t want people to ever believe that it was an overnight decision, because I feel that that would have been a very irresponsible choice…if you want to succeed in what you want to do, then you better know!”
Leu threw his tie to the side and made a way for his dreams to become a reality. We asked Leu what his parents thought about his decision. He said his mother was more supportive of his choice, but his father not so much.
“Yeah, he thought I was crazy! And understandably so!”
A new chapter of Leu’s life began in southern California where he immediately began his acting career by searching for work.
“I went on to the best place to find auditions, Craigslist. And I got really lucky!”
After accepting small roles to build up his credentials, someone noticed his potential and decided to take him under his wing. Once he felt that someone believed in him, he really begin to take acting more seriously.
“Basically, I went to his house for 2-3 years, just working one-on-one with monologues.”
To make ends meet he also worked as a full-time programmer.
“I would do this even if I had to work for free, and I did, for years!”
After several small-time acting roles and a few more recognizable ones, the attention he earned resulted in his being called upon for his current a role on National Geographic’s“The Long Road Home.”
In order to prepare, the committed actor first read ABC News journalist Martha Raddatz’s book “The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family” upon which the series is based.
“It was quite the revelation to me because I have no military background. I was just happy to hear from my agents that I booked this three-month-long job!”
Two weeks of boot camp-type basic training followed which included learning how to load and fire M16’s, learning to cover patrol, squad tactics, and various blood-pumping drills and simulations from Army Rangers. However, Leu was in no way prepared for what followed next.
“The reason why this story is so special is because National Geographic was so adamant about telling the story as honestly and as real as possible.”
In creating this movie, the producers recruited the actual men who fought against all odds in Iraq to be present on set with the actors. Leu felt it was almost impossible to think about a scene when the actual soldiers who fought in that city, not so long ago, were there on the set facing their own battles of reliving those indelible, horrible memories.
“As soon as I walked on set and they saw me they were like, wholly f**ked. :’You’re playing Eddie huh?’ They had tears streaming down their faces.”
The actor may have read the book, but could not have known how important his role as Eddie Chen was until that moment, when he looked deeply into the glistening eyes of the former soldiers. He felt the pain and memories without yet being told anything.
“My head kind of knew the story, but my heart was not ready for this.”
It is said that after spending much time together through many hardships, men become brothers – not bound by blood, but bound by experience. Leu learned that his character, Sgt. Chen was also known as the platoon’s “big brother”. But how did one become an inspiration without ever knowing his character? Leu, prepared or not, was to learn much about this very particular “big brother”. Leu said:
“It was insane to be the surrogate of this guy; this ghost for these vets that they had all cherished.”
Leu knew that just by these veterans glancing at him, his appearance brought flashbacks of their dear old friend. Eager to learn about his character, Leu had individual and group meetings with the veterans enabling him to hear first-hand their lived experiences, to hear exactly how it was. After going on fishing trips, skyping with them, and countless other encounters on set, he actually met Sgt. Chen’s own brother when the show premiered on October 30th, 2017. Chen’s brother and the other veterans joined viewers in watching the promising new show together in L.A.
“I met Eddie Chen’s brother for the first time in person at the premier. I walked in and he turned to me and said, ‘I’m really scared Kenny. I still don’t know what happened how exactly Eddie had passed’.”
Throughout the show Leu and audience members witnessed the events that took place, and heard the veterans cry who had lived the real events. Not only did these former soldiers share their stories, but Leu and the cast knew that these men approved of the characters, the story, and gave their blessing for the cast to share their experiences.
We asked Leu from what he’d learned if he could tell us who Sgt. Eddie was.
“He is the platoon leader…the guy who mans the gun on top of the military adapted Hum V which carries their commanding officer. He was 31 while everyone else was 23-24, so a lot of them went to him for advice. He had a real deep connection to almost all the guys.”
When we inquired if he had had a similar experience or if a past role helped in his preparation for the role, he responded:
“I’ve done action roles before, but this was definitely way more grounded towards reality.”
Leu’s insights gained from meeting the men who lived the real events depicted in the story, serve to remind us to treat these veterans as human beings who’ve lived through real and traumatic events, not something created for entertainment.
“Our story humanizes what the soldiers went through. These guys were not to be viewed as action heroes. These were regular guys who were sent to do their job. You see what it’s like to leave your newlywed wife and maybe your newborn son or daughter behind to go serve …”
Next up, Leu is playing the lead in an NYPD indie cop drama coming out next year which is very politically relevant right now. There’s no question Leu’s fans from The Long Road Home are going to be eagerly looking forward to the opening date of that new film.
Creative Credits
- Written by
- Hristo K. Bojilov
- Photography
- Benjo Arwas
