Interview: Lee Shorten Of THE TERROR: INFAMY
Zena Dixon
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We got a chance to sit down with the chameleon known as Lee Shorten. You’ve seen him in everything from The Man in the High Castle, Van Helsing, and The Intruder. In our interview, he discloses a few more of his upcoming projects, which we were excited to hear. But what we really checked in with him for was his role as Walt Yoshida in the new hit series The Terror: Infamy. He was careful about spilling the beans of the show, but his dedication to the role increased our hesitation for how the season concludes in the coming weeks.
Read below to find out more about this incredibly gifted and hardworking actor.
DC: I know you went to law school. Can you take us back to that defining moment when you decided to pursue acting?
LS: I can you usually trace it all the way back to undergrad. I was majoring in Film Studies as part of my Liberal Arts major. I had always loved film and TV. I’m that type of guy that would watch all the DVD commentaries and all of the behind-the-scenes footage. The whole thing just fascinates me. But I didn’t really know what to do with that, so I went to law school. Then, I graduated, and it just made sense to be a lawyer.
But then a few years back, I just felt that something was missing. I was a bit bored, and I just didn’t know what to do. Then, I remembered back to those days and how much joy film gave me. I thought, “That’s what I should be doing.” I was going to try to see how to pursue a career in that somehow.
DC: Since you are a big film person, do you have a list of must-watch films?
LS: Off the top of my head, Blade Runner. Seven. There are also many recent ones. But those are two must watch that spring to mind right now.
DC: Outside of Overwatch, because I know that you are a gamer as well, what other games do you like to play?
LS: Right now, I’m playing Fire Emblem on the Switch. I don’t know if you know that one, but it is kind of this Japanese, turn-base game. The writing and voice acting are incredible. It is almost like playing through this anime. It’s somewhat like Game of Thrones. All of the characters are morally gray, and the whole continent is at war. You don’t really know who to root for. It took me by surprise how complex and deep the storytelling was.
DC: So, you like jumping between different genres of games. You have a first-person on one hand and an RPG on the other.
LS: Yeah. I do Overwatch a lot. But that’s kind of my pick up and play release. Still, I like games that have a really strong story. I’m actually more of a single-person type of gamer, playing games such as God of War. I love that long-form storytelling that is different from film and TV. But it can be just as powerful, if not more so.
DC: Diving into The Terror: Infamy, what can you tell us about your character?
LS: Walt Yoshida. He’s a second-generation Japanese American. He has this interesting journey, but he is kind of the typical guy. He is about to get married, and he has no real worries in his life. Everything is going great, and then Pearl Harbor happens. It forces him to reorganize his priorities and grow up really fast.
There are three male leads on the show. There’s Chester, myself, and a guy called Ken. Chester is like Hawkeye. Ken is like Ironman. And I think Walt is like Captain America.
DC: I see exactly what you are talking about. Awesome job on that description. What attracted you to the role?
LS: So many things. It was the first time that this kind of story has been told on this scale. And, I think it is an important story. I’m a huge history buff, too. So, to be part of this was a huge honor and a huge responsibility that I couldn’t say no to.
Also, I love horror so much. I know that I didn’t mention it earlier, but I grew up reading Stephen King. I saw Midsommar. Of course, The Shining. So, to do a horror show was also a huge appeal, and especially, something as cool as the J-horror mix that we are going through.
Then finally, I was in The Man in the High Castle for a few years. And when we were talking to David Zucker about maybe doing this show – he was an executive producer on High Castle – it was like the chance to play the other side of the coin. Because my character in The Man in the High Castle was this villainous Japanese American. And coincidentally, he was called Bushido. But Walt was literally like the good-mirrored version. It was really appealing. I don’t think that you get a chance to do that often as an actor, play two sides of the same kind of person.
DC: Which one do you seem to be more attracted to: the hero or the villain?
LS: I prefer to play the villain, to be honest, only because I like to think that I am a decent person in real life. To play the villain is something that is totally removed from my day to day. Not to say that my day to day is living in the 1940s.
But I also love to be given the freedom to play a character and think outside of the box. Not that I don’t like playing heroes, too. But there is something about playing villains that is very unique and special.
DC: There is something special that resonates on-screen whenever a person embodies a villain the right way. Also, I appreciate that you love the horror genre. I know it isn’t always seen in the best light by some people.
LS: I think sometimes it can be so underrated. It’s all in the execution of that stillness, sound, and tension, which is an odd thing in and of itself. When you look at the historical trends of the genre, it usually has the undertones or overtones of social commentary. I think horror films explore the present issues of whatever is happening in society and culture at the time.
DC: The same goes with this show. The episodes that aired so far are incredible.
LS: There is always a little nerves when the show first drops. It’s exciting to hear what other people think.
DC: What do you hope that people gain from watching this series?
LS: On one hand, I just hope they are entertained. Number two, I hope they gain a little more of the history if they didn’t know it before. This is a show where a large number of the crew had relatives who were in the camps or were affected by the camps. So, I hope people gain an understanding of the history or are inspired to go out and learn more about the history. Then, more generally, the beauty of art is the journey. If we’ve done a good job, then people will get really invested in these characters and feel something for them. Then, hopefully, when you go out in your day and you see someone who is different from you, or is in a different socioeconomic situation than you, you stop seeing them as other and you can have a bit more empathy.
DC: It seems like you invest so much into your roles. When you have some downtime, outside of gaming and watching films, what do you like to do?
LS: I’m a really boring person. I promise you. I get up. I go to the gym. Then, I do some writing. After that, I read or watch something. And that’s my life. I wish I was more exciting, but sadly, no.
DC: That sounds like an awesome life. Speaking of awesome, what awesome stuff have you been writing?
LS: I’m working on a horror feature actually. I’m working on two features at the moment, and they are both horror movies.
DC: Nice. Have you ever creeped yourself out with your own writing?
LS: No. Not yet. I’m not that good. I think my horror is more of the creeping, unsettling horror, not the jump-scare horror. So, maybe I disturb myself by getting in the psyche of these people.
I would love to make it one day. I was actually just in LA doing some meetings and talking about these projects. So, you never know, right?
DC: Aside from these projects, are there any others you can share with us?
LS: Yeah. I just wrapped on an indie horror movie called The Silent Passenger. It stars Jack Gillet from Deadly Class. I play a sadist who leads them in this demon-summoning ceremony. And I’m there when everything goes down, sort of trapped with them.
I guess I’ve been in a real horror kick lately. Then, I’m also about to film a movie called The Land of Not.
DC: I look forward to these projects. You are rocking out this year, and I am sure the success will continue. Thank you so much for chatting with us. We can’t wait for more episodes of The Terror: Infamy and your other upcoming projects.
LS: Thank you.
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