Siluck Saysanasy (Yick Yu) Interview by Natalie Earl
NE: Why did the Degrassi series come to an end?
SS: Degrassi could have stayed longer but we wanted it to end. During the 4th season we had a big meeting; we decided to hold out for two more years and then end the show as a completed project. The decision to close down the show was collective. Nobody wanted Degrassi to turn into a 90210 where the actors are 38 trying to look 22. Many of the Degrassi actors did not look 18 anymore. Plus, we had already covered every issue and topic we wanted.
NE: Do people ever confuse Siluck Saysanasy with Yick Yu?
SS: There is no real identity mix up. The people who know me as a person would never mistake Siluck for Yick. I am now 24, 165 pounds, 5'9''. I have two earrings in my left ear. Much different than Yick who was skinny and wore those dorky glasses. People recognize me as being a Degrassi character but they don't think that I am interchangeable with Yick.
NE: Why was Yick Yu redefined from a geek to a party animal?
SS: I had a meting with the producers and asked them to change Yick's image. I thought Yick was too stereotyped: the nerdy Asian kid as a bookworm and math wiz. It was a negative, racist image. I wanted Yick to be more like a regular westernized kid.
NE: Are you married and do you have any children?
SS: I am single but looking for a girlfriend in the Vancouver area. She should be cute and have a good sense of humor, preferably a night person because I am a night owl.
NE: Do you have any hobbies?
SS: I want to get back into beach volleyball, I live close to the beach now.
NE: What are your favorite music groups and television shows?
SS: My favorite bands are U2, The Cranberries, Harry Connic Jr., Indigo Girls, Sara McLaughlin, Sinead O'Conner, Sting, and Enya. My favorite movies are E.R. (it's art in motion), Friends, and the X-Files.
NE: Were your eight brothers and sisters envious of your acting career?
SS: My family is business oriented. None of my siblings were interested in show business. In fact my family felt awkward when people would approach me in public, say when we were eating at a restaurant.
NE: Besides Neve Campbell, did any of the Degrasi extras become famous?
SS: Amy Cable was an extra on Degrassi, she was a model and is the wife of hockey player Doug Gilmour.
NE: Is it true that Beverly Hills 91210 was modeled after Degrassi Junior High?
SS: The Fox network researched Degrassi series then later made Beverly Hills 90210. The cast and crew were against Fox buying the rights to the Degrassi series. They wanted to make everybody glamorous and beautiful. That would destroy our whole purpose. We wanted to make the characters natural and believable. There was no resentment at 90210 for being a more commercially successful show. Two episodes of 90210 were probably more expensive than one whole season of Degrassi. That was not what Degrassi was about. Our purpose was to send a message.
NE: Did being a Degrassi character contribute to your popularity at your real high school?
SS: Yes Degrassi did make me more popular in high school. By the first week everybody knew me. All these people that I did not know were saying hi to me. However, I didn’t like high school. It was very condescending, the students were spoken down to. I transferred to Interact Alternative High School in Toronto. There was more one to one attention. I addressed the teachers on a first name basis and we were more like friends.
NE: Did the actors have input with the script?
SS: Yan Moore asked us for input on how the kids would talk, he was in his 40's so he could not be hip to all the teenage dialogue. He would let us change the wording if it did not flow right.
NE: How many of the cast members are still acting?
SS: Only about 15 of the Degrasi repertory are still acting. Most of them chose other career paths. It is hard to get roles after being typecast as a Degrassi character.
NE: Were you treated like a celebrity when Degrassi was on the air?
SS: Yes I was treated like a celebrity. It was weird but cool. I never though of myself as a star. I was just doing my job. One day I was going to work with some other kids and these girls who were walking home from school spotted us. This one 15 year old girl was hyperventilating, we kept trying to get her to calm down
NE: Do you watch Degrassi reruns on Showcase?
SS: I don't watch the reruns on Showcase. In fact I never even watched the show when it was first on the air. The only times I did see the show was when they played it at the office. It freaked me out. You are your own worst critic. I thought "man I look stupid, what a bad acting job."
NE: What was the best part about being on the show?
SS: Work was fun! It was like getting paid for hanging out with 75 of your best friends. There were a lot of practical jokes
NE: Which of the characters attended universities?
SS: Nicole Stoffman (Stephanie Kaye) went to Concordia University. Rebecca Haines (Kathleen) went toYork. Kirsten Bourne (Tessa) went to West Ontario University. Maureen McKay went to University of Toronto. Andy Chambers (Luke) just graduated from the University of British Columbia. Anais Granofsky went to New York University, Darrin Brown went to Ryers.
NE: What are your fondest memories about Degrassi?
SS: During the winter and summer 20 of us would get together and rent a guest cottage or beach houses for mini vacations. I also enjoyed the promotional trips. I have been to every Province and Territory at least twice. The fun part is visiting the more obscure prairies between the major cities. When we visited the Arctic region, I actually went caribou hunting and dog sledding (I fell off the dog sled and crashed into the snow).
NE: What can you tell me about the other characters?
SS: Maureen Mckay has been married for 4 or 5 years and has a child. Pat Mastroianni (Joey) is pursuing his acting career. He flies back and forth between Los Angeles and Toronto. As does Stacie Mistysyn (Caitlin) who has dual citizenship in the United States and Canada. Darrin Brown (Dwayne) is now an assistant director. Andy Chambers (Luke) has a company in Vancouver named Too Early Productions.
NE: Did you ever go through a rebellious phase in your life?
SS: I did have a rebellious phase in my teenage years but it never got out of hand, I didn't go out and steal a car or anything.
NE: Do you still hang out with any of the cast members?
SS: Pat Mastroianni (Joey) is still my best friend. I am also good friends with Dean Ifill (Bronco). Duncan Waugh (Arthur) and I were good friends on the show but we have lost touch since.
NE: Is it true that The Peanut Butter Solution lead to your role on Degrassi?
SS: I was in The Peanut Butter Solution during grade 5. Linda Schuyler attended the movie premiere and requested my agent. I didn’t have an agent so the producers had to call me at home.
NE: How is your family doing now?
SS: As you know my family went from being wealthy merchants in Thailand to fleeing to a refugee camp. We immigrated to Canada but life was hard for my parents. They did not speak English and had to work menial jobs. My parents are back home now (China) and they own a jewelry store. Two of my brothers and two of my sisters went with them.
NE: Do you have equal patriotism for China and Canada?
SS: I do appreciate my Chinese heritage, I speak the language at home and I celebrate Chinese New Year. But my attitude is very western (Canadian).
NE: What would you like to accomplish with your acting career?
SS: My goal as an actor is to get rid of the Chinese stereotypes: Gangster, Kung Fu Artist, Computer Geek, Lab Assistant. I would love to break that. In Toronto my agency was The Talent Group, but now I am with Northern Exposure in Vancouver. Most recently I auditioned for a Nike commercial. I Produced a music video called "Waves Through the Tall Grass" for Thieves Crossing. My true ambition is to produce and direct. Acting is merely a vehicle to attain that goal.
NE: Where did you work when you lived in Toronto? Did you have any special hangouts?
SS: I worked at Max's Restaurant for 5 years, I was the manager for one year. Pat and I used to hang out at a pool hall called Shark City.
NE: Tell me about your appearance on Degrassi Talks.
SS: Dressed in our neon t-shirts, we randomly approached teenagers off the street and asked them questions. The candid subjects were called "streeters". Filming involved three months of traveling. However, most of the guests were selected ahead of time. Playing With Time placed advertisements across Canada requesting guests for the show. They screened all the candidates and narrowed it down to final selections.
NE: Are the Degrassi actors as recognized abroad as they are in Canada?
SS: Degrassi is a huge success in Israel and Australia. When Degrassi actors visit those countries they always get swarmed. Toronto is crawling with Degrassi actors so nobody made makes a big deal. However in Vancouver I have been recognize a lot more.
Celebrity status in Canada is not the same as the USA. Canadians do not sensationalize celebrities the way Americans do. It's a different caliber of media, we don't have journalists hiding in trees. Once the press conference is over they leave you alone.
NE: How did you find out about the Degrassi Web Ring?
SS: Just for fun, I looked up my name on the search engines to see if I was listed anywhere. That is how I found out about the Degrassi community. However I never thought that it would get to this level, with fan fiction episodes and discussion boards.
NE: Do you have a special message for Siluck fans?
SS: Ah, the inevitable question! My message is to come say "what's up" to me if you see me on the street.