Show notes
Bai Ling on House of Karma, Karma & Her Quarantine Romance with Toilet Paper Actress Bai Ling joins Keith Reza on Reza Rifts for a candid conversation about the independent film House of Karma, karma, energy, and what it really takes to build a lasting career in Hollywood. In this episode, Bai Ling opens up about playing the mysterious psychic Madame Emerald in House of Karma, why she believes in karma and past lives, and the difference between guerrilla indie filmmaking and big studio productions like Red Corner with Richard Gere. She shares her no-fear approach to acting, never learning the craft in a classroom, refusing to over-prepare, and just being present and truthful in the moment, plus the work ethic that keeps her booked on several movies at once, giving 100 percent whether the paycheck is $5,000 or $1 million. Bai Ling also tells the wild story behind her directorial debut, My Quarantine Romance with Toilet Paper, a comedy she wrote, directed, financed, and starred in during the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes her 36-hour escape from Kazakhstan when the borders slammed shut, being pulled aside at LAX by police officers who turned out to be big fans, and trading lattes and selfies for toilet paper when the shelves went empty. She also talks about her upcoming tell-all book, My Outrageous Romances in Hollywood, and the grandmother in northern China who taught her unconditional love. If you are an aspiring actor, filmmaker, or just love honest celebrity interviews, this episode is packed with heart, humor, and Hollywood wisdom. Guest Info: Bai Ling is a Chinese-American actress and filmmaker known for The Crow, Nixon, Red Corner, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, and Crank: High Voltage. In House of Karma she plays Madame Emerald, a psychic whose larger-than-life energy steals the movie. Her directorial debut, My Quarantine Romance with Toilet Paper, which she wrote, directed, financed, cast, catered, and starred in during the pandemic, is on the way, along with her book, My Outrageous Romances in Hollywood. Guest Social Links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambailing/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/RealBaiLing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RealBaiLing/ Official Website: https://www.officialbailing.com/ TikTok: I am Bai Ling Cameo: I am Bai Ling Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:51 Co-Stars in House of Karma 01:23 Playing the Psychic Madame Emerald 02:56 Karma, Past Lives, and Energy 04:52 Guerrilla Filmmaking vs. Studio Movies 06:31 Comedy or Horror? 08:34 Always Working: Several Movies at Once 09:34 $5,000 or $1 Million: Same Quality 11:53 Acting Without Training: Be Present 13:52 Directing My Quarantine Romance with Toilet Paper 14:52 Her Book: My Outrageous Romances in Hollywood 15:46 Escaping Kazakhstan During COVID 18:03 Stopped at LAX by Fans 20:46 The Great Toilet Paper Shortage 23:25 Steven Spielberg Wouldnt Do It 27:23 No Fear and an Eight-Minute Monologue 29:20 Her Grandmothers Unconditional Love 31:16 Where to Follow Bai Ling Call to Action: If you enjoy conversations about acting, filmmaking, comedy, and the entertainment industry, make sure to like, comment, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more episodes of Reza Rifts with Keith Reza. Host Links: 💬 How You Can Help: Make sure you susbcribe on YouTube...https://www.youtube.com/@rezarifts6263 👍 LIKE & SHARE this video to spread awareness! 💬 COMMENT if you've experienced similar issues. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more raw, unfiltered discussions. Search for me on FB/Instagram and post something asking where my account went. Tag them in the post. If enough people do it will help in my battle to restore my account. FB: https://www.facebook.com/realkeithreza IG:https://www.instagram.com/keithreza #RezaRifts #KeithReza #BaiLing #HouseOfKarma #Acting #Filmmaking #Hollywood #IndependentFilm #FemaleFilmmaker #ActressInterview #Karma #Podcast
