GoGeekGirl recently had the opportunity to meet Peter Shinkoda, Nobu from Daredevil, who graciously took sometime out of his schedule to answer a few questions for our readers.
GoGeekGirl: Having spoken at Long Beach Comic Expo (LBCE) and knowing you are a comicbook collector, I can’t begin to imagine how excited you must have been when you realized what the project you were auditioning for was or even better the reaction when you learned you had landed a role on Marvel’s Daredevil. Care to share any comments about what that felt like? Who was the first person you had to call and tell?
Peter: It was a sheer privilege to able to read for, what I figured out was, Daredevil on NETFLIX! After a few different reads I was offered the part and then immediately called my siblings, as they all read comics alongside me as children. They were very familiar with the Daredevil comics, especially the ones involving The Hand ninjas because those were the issues I owned and obsessed over! This wasn’t even a Japanese “thing” – who doesn’t love ninjas? My siblings were elated for me.
GoGeekGirl: Now that Season 2 of Daredevil has arrived, are there any additional insights into your character of Nobu or the future of The Hand in Hell’s Kitchen that you would like to share? Anything related to Season 2 you can reveal?
Peter: I’m trying to figure out where Nobu stands in all of this myself! I was never given full scripts and I haven’t watched the season in its entirety yet so I want to find out where Nobu stands in all of this too.
GoGeekGirl: With most series, the viewer is waiting a week (or so) between episodes; with Netflix fans were able to binge watch the series. Did this result in a different experience for you than either Falling Skies for TNT or the Mortal Kombat series for Warner Bros.? Was the experience of working on a show for Netflix significantly different than the ones you have had working for network tv, web shows or films?
Peter: Besides pace of shooting, there’s only one thing different between all the mediums and that’s pay.
GoGeekGirl: When we spoke at LBCE we touched on the topic of the whitewashing that has occurred in film and television. Is this something that you have experienced yourself when going after roles that you were interested in? Any suggestions on how fans can help the industry change?
Peter: I’ve had many experiences where I truly didn’t believe I had the opportunity to win a role and I was there at the audition to fill a quota of minorities scheduled in for a “chance”. A lot of the time characters found in contemporary fiction of Asian descent are adapted from best selling novels into Caucasian characters for their film versions. I don’t know what to call that practice, but it’s definitely unsavory to say the least. How can Hollywood explain it? The industry really can’t and it must change. So much has to change and it can only be done with support from all races. I like that my fans are vocal about this “inclusion” issue which really affects everyone and I hope they remain so.
GoGeekGirl: It’s no secret that on the sets of some shows the crew and cast have a tendency to have some fun with jokes or pranks they play on each other. Was this the case on Daredevil? Is so what was your favorite? Who was the biggest joker/prankster on set?
Peter: Some sets have that luxury but in the case of Daredevil season 2, as far as I was concerned, my material had to be covered under very complicated time constraints. We were shooting a very heavy schedule up until a few days before Christmas. Also, the scenes I find myself in are very technical and dangerous leaving no room for horsing around. A lot of katanas and chained weapons are involved and it demanded everyone’s full attention at all times.
GoGeekGirl: Looking back on shooting Daredevil (either season), what was your favorite moment or scene? What was it like the first time you had a scene facing Charlie Cox as the Daredevil?
Peter: Having heavy scenes with Vincent D’Onofrio was thrilling. In addition, the moment during shooting where I was facing off against Charlie (Cox) just before our epic fight scene, will stand out as perfect memories to me forever.
GoGeekGirl: How has your experience attending Comic Cons now that you have been Nobu differed than either Falling Skies or Mortal Kombat? By the way, I still stick with my earlier comment to you, the first time I saw you at Long Beach Comic Con I was a bit intimidated and didn’t come up to meet you. It is nice to learn that the man playing some characters on screen that can be a bit scary is actually a fun comicbook geek to speak with. So for those that have been too intimidated to walk up to Peter at a show to say hi, he isn’t as scary as some of the characters he plays.
Peter: Most of the reason I attend comic conventions is for the opportunity to meet and talk with fans! I find I don’t often get press or studio support promoting my work for some reason so I go on the road myself and I truly love it! I feel at ease talking the world of comics and movies with convention attendees! I also use it as a good opportunity to “offset” any stereotype I may be accused of perpetuating. I want to show fans that I am a very distinct and different person from a lot of the characters I’ve played. That’s very important to me.
GoGeekGirl: Your fans are probably already aware that you a fan of not only Daredevil, but also Spiderman. What other characters are high up on your list? With the list of comic book movies and series that have been announced for the coming year or two, is there any particular one you looking forward to? Any you would love to be a part?
Peter: I’d love to live forever in the MCU, but we all know that that is an impossibility. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of the Marvel NETFLIX shows as well as all the films, especially Black Panther. I gravitated towards those comics as a kid as well because Black Panther was an “outsider” in terms of what he looked like and how he was perceived in his storylines when he was Stateside and I easily related to that. When the storylines went to the fictional country of Wakanda it was like traveling to a far away land and that was thrilling to a young me!
GoGeekGirl: One thing I have to ask, what kind of music do you enjoy? Any favorite band(s)?
Peter: I like it all if it’s good and done tastefully!!! 80s, 90s alternative rock, old school rap, classical, metal, industrial, whatever, in no specific order.
GoGeekGirl: Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers?
Peter: Yeah. I love what I do and I especially love the respect my fans give me – I read everything on my social media and wish I could personally thank each and every one of you out there for letting me live my dream!
GoGeekGirl: Thank you Peter for taking time to answer our questions. It was a pleasure meeting you and look forward to our paths crossing at future comic conventions.
