Up Close with Justin He

Los Angeles–based actor Justin He represents a new generation of performers combining technical discipline with artistic curiosity. A recent graduate of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Acting for Film program at the New York Film Academy, He has developed his craft across both stage and screen, building on earlier training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. With a background that unexpectedly began in engineering before shifting toward performance, Justin approaches acting with a thoughtful analytical perspective. In this conversation, he discusses his creative journey, the filmmakers who inspire him, and his experience portraying the mysterious Dr. Soul in the fan-made action-comedy series ‘Impossible and Unstoppable’.

This is an interesting pivot! You originally studied engineering before transitioning into acting. What inspired that shift and made you realize acting was your path?

Growing up, I never really had the opportunity to explore artistic interests. Most of my peers were enrolled in extra academic programs outside school, things like Chinese language arts, mathematics Olympiad training, English, and biology. The mindset was very structured: perform well in elementary school so you get into a great middle school, then a great high school, then a good university, and eventually secure a stable career.

Even students who studied music or dance often focused on competitions and awards that would strengthen their academic records rather than artistic exploration. Like everyone else, I followed that path, and the workload left me exhausted.

My life changed when my mother and I immigrated to the United States for my high school education. Suddenly, I went from writing 30-word essays to writing 300-word essays and reading pages of material in classes like biology and history, far more than I had ever done before. I struggled with English at first, so pursuing acting never even crossed my mind.

However, I joined my school’s advanced choir, and that became my first real experience with performance. Music allowed me to express myself without being limited by language. That experience planted the seed.

Later, when I was studying engineering, I watched a lot of movies with friends as a way to relax from the pressure of school. Films became a major source of inspiration and entertainment for me. Around that time, I also noticed a possible growing demand for Asian actors following the success of Crazy Rich Asians. With my engineering mindset, I saw the opportunity and decided to explore acting classes.

Then the pandemic happened, which gave me time to reflect on what I truly wanted. That period ultimately pushed me to pursue acting seriously and enroll in the MFA Acting for Film program at the New York Film Academy.

Who are some filmmakers that influenced you growing up?

Quentin Tarantino has been a huge influence on me. His film, ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’ feels like a love letter to Hollywood and to cinema itself. When I watched it in theaters, it really inspired me to fully commit to acting and pursue it as my career.

Tell us about ‘Impossible and Unstoppable’. What is the series about?

‘Impossible and Unstoppable’ is a fan-made web series inspired by the hit cartoon Kim Possible. The story takes place ten years after Kim Possible and Ron Stoppable graduated from high school.

In the series, the now-married couple struggle to maintain their relationship while continuing to fight crime. At the same time, they must deal with Dr. Drakken’s infamous therapist, Dr. Soul, who is also responsible for helping Kim and Ron work through their relationship issues.

It’s a really fun concept because it combines comedy, action, and relationship dynamics while expanding on the original universe.

You play the character Dr. Soul. What drew you to that role?

I play Dr. Soul, one of the villains in the series. It was a very challenging role because the character operates on multiple levels.

On the surface, Dr. Soul appears comedic, especially during the commercial segments of the story. But underneath that humor, he’s secretly carrying out malicious actions as part of the plot. Balancing those two sides of the character took a lot of work.

I spent quite a bit of time developing his physicality, vocal qualities, and mindset. I had to think about what his professional discipline would demand of him as a therapist, and how he views the world and the people around him. Working through those layers really helped me understand more about my own acting preparation process.

What were some of the challenges during filming?

Filming came with a few unexpected obstacles. At the time, I was still dealing with the long-term effects of recovering from COVID. Breathing is incredibly important in acting, and I was struggling to breathe normally during the shoot.

Because of that, I had to stay extremely focused mentally during each take to make sure my breathing didn’t interrupt my performance. If you listen carefully in the final edit, there are moments where you can hear me exhaling quite heavily.

The environment also made things more challenging. It was summer, and the air conditioning unit was too loud for recording audio, so we had to shoot without it running. With a full crew inside a small apartment and everyone wearing multiple layers of wardrobe, the space quickly became incredibly hot.

On top of that, there was a cat in the apartment, and several cast and crew members were allergic. People were sneezing and tearing up throughout the shoot, but everyone pushed through and kept working. It definitely showed the team’s dedication.

Were there any memorable behind-the-scenes moments from the shoot?

One thing that really stood out to me was watching how the creators, Doroteja Jurican and Nickey van Tooren, brought their vision to life. Their interpretation of the story was really impressive. The production design wasn’t extravagant, but it was thoughtful and effective, which made the world feel believable.

There was also a big fight sequence where all the characters were involved. The choreography itself wasn’t overly complicated, but we had to capture it from many different angles, repeating the action again and again for different camera setups in the heated, tight space.

By the end of the shoot, everyone was physically exhausted from the repetition and the intensity of the scenes. But it was also one of the most exciting moments of the production because we could see the action sequence finally coming together.

Looking ahead, which actors or directors would you most like to collaborate with?

Christopher Nolan is someone I deeply admire. His commitment to pushing cinematic boundaries, especially with groundbreaking 70mm IMAX technology and philosophically complex storytelling, always delivers a brand new cinematic experience whenever one of his films is released.

It would truly be an honor to have the opportunity to work with him someday.

How would you describe the kinds of projects you typically prefer?

It’s always exciting to take on new projects. I would say that when the entire cast and crew are working as one team, it creates an environment where people can truly explore the beauty of filmmaking as an art, regardless of the genre, style, or theme of the project.

As Justin He continues to build his career in film and television, his journey reflects a blend of discipline, curiosity, and creative ambition. From engineering classrooms to film sets, his path into acting may have been unconventional, but it is one driven by a genuine passion for storytelling and collaboration. With new projects ahead, He remains focused on exploring characters, embracing challenges, and contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of cinema.

What’s the best way to connect with you?

People can follow me on Instagram, Facebook and my projects are on IMDb.