Agoura hills actor making film inroads

Parry Shen

Young viewers who loved him in the outrageous comedy "Road Trip" get to see actor DJ Qualls in the upcoming Columbia Pictures release, "The New Guy."

But pay attention to one of Qualls’ sidekicks when "The New Guy" hits the screen in November. He’s up-and-coming Asian-American actor Parry Shen, a 22-year-old Agoura Hills resident who plays a geeky band member in Qualls’ not-so-popular ’70s band.

Qualls seals his uncool reputation and gets expelled from high school only to assume a new identity at another school. Shen plays "Glen," Qualls’ best friend and bandmate. To become the ultimate geek, Shen does the glasses, the lacquered-down hair, the whole bit.

"This is basically how I looked like in high school," Shen recalls. "I had glasses, then I had braces for six years, then acne. I had the worst of it. I have a quirky personality anyway."

Enough to make directors and casting agents take notice.

"I’m not afraid to make fun of myself," Shen says. "I can be free and lighthearted and see the comedy. Not just doing pratfalls and things like, I’m pretty good at finding the comedy in anything real life. The little things that happen, like the nerves when you see a girl you like and how awkward you get."

Shen was just a few hours into his first shift as the proverbial actor/waiter when his big call from Hollywood arrived.

Moving to California four years ago from New York to pursue acting, Shen spent several years working as a dorm parent at an Ojai boarding school.

He also toured nationally with the Asian-American Theatre Company, Hereandnow. On weekdays, before the students got out of school, he commuted 160 miles to Los Angeles for auditions.

Shen later moved to Agoura Hills where he bought his first home with the money he made doing commercials. But faced with a mounting mortgage and a lack of Asian roles, he took a job at Applebee’s in Westlake Village.

Following a tryout for "The New Guy," Shen arrived an hour late for his first day at the restaurant. But later that day, the casting company tracked him down at the local eatery to inform him that he had landed his big role. Producers whisked him away nine ours later for a two-month shoot in Austin, Texas.

"The New Guy" is now in the can.

"I decided this is the best time, when I have no ties, when I’m young, to make a go at it. To do something impractical now."

Shen worked three hours at the restaurant and still has a $20 paycheck waiting for him.

Shen just wrapped up his first dramatic role as "Ben" in the independent production "Better Luck Tomorrow," a Sundance Film Festival hopeful. Ben’s the perfect high school student who discovers his dark side when he commits petty crimes to alleviate the pressures of perfection.

"That’s why I’m excited about this point in my career because "The New Guy" is total comedy, but "Better Luck Tomorrow" is so dark. It’s actually quite disturbing. It’s good because maybe people won’t be able to figure me out."

Like the puppet thing. Where did all that come from?

In college, Shen couldn’t afford actors in his video projects, so he used himself in starring roles along with several puppets that he had made. Now, Shen volunteers his time performing magic and puppet shows at several elementary schools in Thousand Oaks. His girlfriend, who’s a teacher at one of the schools, invited him to put his performing skills to work for the kids.

"I do a pretty good Kermit the Frog," Shen says.

Not to worry. Bigger and better roles are sure to come along.

Shen’s television credits include "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Party of Five," "Suddenly Susan" and "Caroline in the City."