DOM MAGWILI
Superheroes, Sci-Fi, and Self-Expression

In this episode, I talk with actor, writer, and producer Dom Magwili. An early childhood love of comics and swashbucklers led Dom towards a career as an actor and playwright. Even today, comics continue to inform Dom’s work. He has just published a sprawling epic sci-fi fantasy novel called Legends from the First Hemisphere: The Infernal Promise. In this wide-ranging conversation we discuss Asian-American representation on stage and screen, Dom’s disciplined writing process, and why it’s important for Asian-American youth to know their history.

Our conversation happened in July of 2022.

LISTEN HERE

GUEST INFO

Dom Magwili is an award-winning actor, director, producer, and teacher for East West Players since 1974. He trained at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco for 2 and half years and then studied with Mako and Darryl Hickman.  Dom appeared in the movie, Fifty First Dates.  He also guest starred on such TV shows as Close to Home, How to make it in America, and ER. He received critical acclaim for his performance as Robert in the East West Players Production of Proof, as well as the South Coast Rep’s production of Search and Destroy, and the Center Theatre Group’s production of Dogeaters.

Dom has had seven of his screenplays produced such as the independent film, Much Adobo About Nothing, which he wrote and co-directed. He also directed Cine Excel Entertainment’s movie, Magma. Numerous stage plays and musicals have also found their way to the main stage such as his musical play, A Jive Bomber’s Christmas had a 10 year run at the Japanese American National Museum.  He had spent 20 years directing Samahang Pilipino Cultural Nights for UCLA as well as 6 years for Pilipino American Cultural Nights for USC’s Troy Phi. Dom received his Master of Fine Arts in Acting at Cal State Long Beach.  He initiated their first Asian American Theatre Class there.  He is currently teaching Asian American Film & Video as well as Preserving Community through Performance at Cal State Fullerton.  His first published novel, Legends from the First Hemisphere: The Infernal Promise, is now available on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09T66LNVH/

SHOW NOTES

Films mentioned during the podcast:

  • Rashoman (1950 film)

  • The Three Muskateers (1973 film)

  • Forbidden City USA (1989 documentary)

  • Minari (2020 film)

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