Actress TV Carpio
TV Carpio is the daughter of renowned local performer, Teresa Carpio, and appears in the upcoming movie, “Across the Universe.”
HK Magazine: You play a bisexual girl from Ohio in “Across the Universe.” Do you relate?
TV Carpio: People in the States talk about it like I played a lesbian cheerleader, but back then the term “lesbian” didn’t exist; she was just looking for love. I’m sure Ohio in the 60s wasn’t the best place to find your identity. I lived in Springfield, Missouri in the 90s and that was racist enough. I suppose that’s how I relate to her: not fitting in. I remember when I first got to the States, at school I asked someone if I could “nick their rubber” (borrow their eraser), but Americans don’t know what “nick” is, and “rubber” means condom. Oh, and I’m Asian, which didn’t help.
HK: Has your career been easier because of your mom?
TC: To be honest, my mom hasn’t really affected my career. That’s why I went to the States instead of staying in Hong Kong. I also didn’t want to be a singer because my mom is so well respected. From age seven to 14, all I wanted to be was an ice skater! In the US, every gig I've gotten has been the result of my own blood, sweat and tears.
HK: But you spend a lot of time in the movie singing...
TC: Yeah, I took a two-year jazz program because I once lost my voice for 10 months. It was like learning to walk except I wanted to run.
HK: Bono makes a cameo appearance in the film. Did you get on?
TC: He saw me singing on the documentary we showed him before he agreed to appear and he requested that he meet me. I was like, “Hello, Mr. Bono.” Then he told me, “I don’t know much about anything but I do know a bit about singing, and I want you to know you can sing really well.” He was really supportive.
HK: The film is based on the Beatles song book. Were you a fan?
TC: My step dad’s Liverpudlian, but I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t really exposed to it much. Until I did this film, I only really knew their hits. All my friends in America use their songs as pot-smoking anthems, so I always associated Beatles songs with that. I don’t smoke pot so I wasn’t really interested until I actually studied the music.
HK: Why should we see this movie?
TC: The film says something about war. It uses the songs to tell a story, drawing a parallel between the political climate in the 60s and the war in Iraq. It’s not just a love story. Hopefully people will get that.