Twitch has overcome the barriers of interactive streaming with its audience-focused sci-fi series, Artificial. Season 3 of the scripted series covers the existing pandemic adapting to the stage and advancing with Artificial: Remote Intelligence.
In Comic Book Movie, we were lucky enough to have the possibility to communicate with the actors and the team of this type series to decide for yourself. Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared our exclusive discussions with Dante Basco (Hook, Avatar: The Last Airbender), Jennifer Field (9-1-1), Tohoru Masamune (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Inception) and many others.
Today, we are excited to share the momently component of our discussion with vocal and captaincy actor Stephen A. Chang, following our play The Last of Us Part II yesterday. We learned a lot about Sebastian’s character that Stephen plays in Artificial: Remote Intelligence, as well as how strangely un technological he is in his genuine life.
If you need to pay attention to the audio component of our conversation, click Play on the podcast link below. Go to 01:32 for our synthetic cat!
Literary Joe: How did you start worrying about Artificial?
Stephen A. Chang: I auditioned like everyone else. (Laughter) Bernie had a date with me before Artificial. Emma approved my first assignment of Bernie Su and we did Vanity together. Then I was lucky enough to be selected to paint with him again.
Literary Joe: Well, can you tell me a little bit about your at Artificial?
Stephen A. Chang: Yes, your call is Sebastian. It’s a multibillion-dollar aid to this synthetic intelligence project. (Laughter) Which makes me laugh because I’m far from a billionaire and I’m happy to be able to play well.
(Laughter) yes, I think he’s rarely perceived as a smart guy, and he’s rarely perceived as the bad guy. It definitely comes and goes and other people manipulate it.
For me, he has good intentions and I think he has tried to advance synthetic intelligence in humanity. I think that sums it all up. It’s a little mysterious that way.
Literary Joe: Do you think any of your character’s characteristics are attributed to you through enthusiastics based on past roles played?
Stephen A. Chang: I think it was definitely created through Bernie and his team. I can see how past roles have influenced this character and I can see some similarities.
In Emma Approved, I played a character named Frank Churchill who is very similar. He had a lot of courage and was the kind of man who liked to stir the pot.
But it’s appealing to the audience, you know they hated Sebastian for a long time, and then they started approaching him. They hate him, they love him. What I like, I feel like it’s not just an obviously explained character, which is more of a laugh to play.
Literary Joe: Okay! Now I know he’s given your voice to Last of Us II. Does this mean you know Twitch as a platform before you get involved?
Stephen A. Chang: No, actually. My arrival was made through Artificial on the Twitch platform. I’m like a ninety-year-old guy trapped in a thirty-five body. (Laughter) I’m not smart in generations or video games.
I still love Super Mario and Golden Eye. These were my video games and I’m not a player, so I’m a little beat up with that. Last of Us II was a laugh to paint with.
Literary Joe: Have you ever had an interactive role like this or something with a public chat look?
Stephen A. Chang: There’s nothing like living and right now. I feel like we’ve scratched the surface with Emma Approved, which is definitely a public-oriented program, but I think it’s like Emma Approved on steroids.
(Laughter) It’s definitely taken to a new instant point and, you know, a scene can spread into two other tactics depending on a ballot and how other people vote, so it definitely helps you stay on your guard.
Literary Joe: Well, did you sign up for Season 3 or were you worried about Artificial before that?
Stephen A. Chang: Me in Season 2 of Artificial, not in Season 1. Thank God I brought for season 3.
Literary Joe: I know things are a little different when it comes to distance shooting, is this the first task that is done remotely?
Stephen A. Chang: Definitely. It’s the first task and the industry looks like it’s been closed for months. I haven’t even had auditions for things or anything, so it’s a relief.
Literary Joe: What kind of demanding situations do you feel you’re filming from home that you didn’t have to face before COVID?
Stephen A. Chang: Well, I realized, as I told you, as a nine-year-old trapped in this body, that technicality is my strength. Then you have to do a little bit of everything.
You have to adjust the lighting, you are your own team, you have to adjust the camera, you are in the design of the set and you do everything yourself. I learned that I didn’t have many suitable tools, so thank God for the synthetic equipment that guided me through this. But it was hard.
And I think even betting those broadcasts, you know, it’s not like you can see the other actor. It’s great to act next to someone, however, you just look at your computer camera, so you’re a little far away and there are demanding acting situations that come with 40.
Literary Joe: I know they’ve added a lot of new people this season, like Dante Basco. Did you paint with any of the actors or the team before running with them on Artificial?
Stephen A. Chang: Just the cast I worked with last year. I know some of them: Justin (Lee) and Devon (Werkheiser), I think they worked in a combination a long time ago for what I heard.
Literary Joe: Yes, that’s what he told me before.
Stephen A. Chang: Yes, no. I find myself again as you meet again.
Literary Joe: Some of the other actors told me they would create another on-screen call to interact in the chat. Is that doing something?
Stephen A. Chang: No. (Laughter) I don’t need to fall in this interview like “who’s that old man?” However, I don’t like social media and all that. I have a Gmail account, so if I need Gmail, we can chat, but that’s it for me, man. (Laughter)
Literary Joe: Okay. Now there is an unknown facet of Artificial, where it is difficult to prepare for what happens next, depending on the audience. Have you ever expected the character or plot to pass in a way and then the audience will return it to you?
Stephen A. Chang: (Laughter) During last season’s high, I expected to win some kind of vote or something, but I wasted the maximum vote. I’m looking for my mother to get along as “mother, come on, you have to help me, buddy.”
Literary Joe: Are you going to ask him to create a Twitch account?
Stephen A. Chang: Yes, exactly. Someone’s helping me. I mean, actors, for the most part, we’re delicate people. Then I ask them to vote for me and they’re in my favor, and when you lose, it hurts, but you move on to the next vote.
This interview has been modified for clarity. *
What do you think of this interview with Stephen A. Chang, star of Artificial: Remote Intelligence? Let us know what you think in the same place as always; In the meantime, be sure to see the preview of Chang’s newest projects, Artificial and The Last of Us Part II.