My initial inspiration to write
Kim's Convenience was to hire myself as an actor. There was a lack of Asian-Canadian plays on the scene. And even fewer Asian roles. So Choi decided to create an opportunity for himself and his friends digging into his family's past for inspiration. My parents immigrated from Korea. My dad's first job here was at a convenience store. It was my uncle's convenience store, and both families lived above the store. The Korean convenience store, the liquor stores, They got hit hard. My uncle, he sees a bunch of people around his store and he goes there to like, defend his business, when all of a sudden he sees his customers. And they're in front of his store,
defending his store. Because to them, the store wasn't just a place to steal. The store was like their family. No. Ew.
Oh, okay. Thanks for stopping by. It's easy to discount a story like that
just because it seems very simple terms of structure,
in terms of through lines but there's such incredible heart. All that work, I just want to see it
on stage once. When Kim's Convenience opened at
Toronto's Soulpepper theater tonight all eyes were on its playwright and
actor Ins Choi. The lights came on and everyone stood up
to their feet to enormous applause. It was completely packed, and then the
second audience was completely packed and there were lineups around the block. This is so good news! Well isn't that why you're here? In Toronto? No, I mean why are you here here, at the car rental? To rent a car. Amen. Amen. It's maybe best gossip in the history
of a gossip But, I not say anything. So big! Tell me, please. Psych! Saving it for the game. Yeah! Let me get your crutches. Thanks. It's just one thing. What's that?
I don't think you need 'em. Hapkido, save me please. Okay, Mr. Kim. Yeobo! Oh boy, we got a medical emergency. Okay, well. We can still email. Would you say the clasps are
a deal maker or deal breaker? Just because you call it a Christmas sweater doesn't make it a Christmas sweater. Yeobo! Yeobo, it's just one cup of tea. Yeobo, next time something more convenient. Yeobo, where you put knife? Woah. Did you see her? A little bit of her, a whole lot of Kimchee. Can I come in? Sure, Arnold. Wow, stooping to my legal name. Cold. You'd prefer your dumb nickname from a stupid dance boss? I have a shoot for school this weekend. I was wondering if I can borrow the van? Janet? What? You coming to church Sunday? Tastes good cold? Shhh. Listen. Man, I love this. Beer, video games, you and me. You just hit me with a grenade. It's a season one wrap, thank you everyone! This is excellent. I double-dog dare you. I'm gonna barf. Okay, see you. I didn't realize how intense I didn't realize how intense Bin Dae Duk is to make. You trying to make Bin Dae Duk? Getting the gosari soft enough, getting them to stick properly. The trick is how to get the right mix of a sweet
rice and a mung bean. Mmm. I hear you make a wonderful galbijjim. Did I say that right? Galbijjim. Jim. Galbijjim. [Laughs] Everyone is raving about it. Yes thank you.
It's a very special recipe. Take a long time to make
but worth every minute. That's a Mrs. Park's Gimbap Yeah, she's not gonna like that. Star Wars is a seminal experience for me growing up because that's the first movie my dad took my sister and I to see
in the movie theatres. It's a little bit of both. Yeah Baby Yoda is actually a puppet. It's weighted the same as a baby, which is awesome. So they use it as puppetry, and they also have a standalone version. And then they have some CGI stuff for the facial expressions that they tweak. But it's 90% practical effects. The vapor that's coming out is toasted marshmallow. He's a geek. Okay here we go! My mom was actually saying, "Even the mannerisms, sometimes Janet is just like you." It's like, yeah that's cause she's mad! Then I discovered Kathie Lee's Asian Tech program And I drive. Ow! Alright, alright, alright. Watch out for Jimmy's car! Yea I see. Careful! Careful! Don't tell me how to drive! You get new haircut? Yeah. When I graduated I got a job right away at an accounting firm on Bay St. I thought that you found a job, and you didn't necessarily love what you did, and then you basically repeat it until you retired. Hey what would you suggest to, uh get this blaze under control? [Music] [Music] When I was doing university and getting
my degree in psychology, When I was doing university and getting
my degree in psychology, I wrote a short film. I wrote a short film. If they're cool and Christian,
they're not Korean. And if they're cool and Korean, they're not Christian. And if they're cool, Christian
and Korean... They're girls! My name is Andrew Phung, I'm from Calgary, Alberta. Calgary, baby! You have like 40 other pairs! Of different sneakers! These shoes, they're my legacy. Screw this corporate s--t. Are you sure we should be going
counterclockwise? Sometimes stuck, twist harder. You turn the wrong way. I did the one you told me to. I said clockwise. I did it clockwise. Now we have to replace ballcock. I want to take a minute or two and give much respect to to the man who's made a difference in my world and although most men are ho-s he floats on the down low cause I never - Thanks, Shannon. Thank you for my party. You bet! You so crazy, I think I want to have your baby. Whatta man, whatta man, whatta man Whatta mighty good man. Serial number's not coming up are you sure you bought it here? Yeah my wife is buy from here. Well, according to our records we never stocked this unit. And Emma Gerber, I mean that hairdo must have taken hours. Ah Mrs. Kim! Oh, Mr Mehta! Appa, I have a shoot for school this weekend. Appa, I have a shoot for school this weekend. I was wondering if I can borrow the van? What happened to "Oh, good morning Appa." "Umma, you look pretty today." Oh thank you, Appa. Besides, we're family. We belong together. Your father's right that's why we left Chinatown in DC. Geonbae!
[Cheers] Paul: You know as close as the U.S. to as far away as Fiji, New Zealand, India, um you know, in Europe, everywhere, and from different walks of life, people tuning in saying, "This is my family." Here you get a look at a lot of
people, fans, lining up to get a chance to meet the stars, the cast of the actual show Kim's Convenience. We've had so many great fan encounters. We've had so many great fan encounters. Never be afraid to come up and say "Hi."
You know, everybody loves getting compliments. And yes, I will take that selfie with you, so don't be afraid to ask. I met a fan at the airport. I had just finished the most important audition of my life and this guy, he actually went to the gift shop, bought me a bottle of cologne, and then came up to me,
and he was like "Hey I didn't want to come up empty-handed but I just wanted to say, you know, thank you for representing for us." Lately, they recognize me
even with a mask on. Just turn around and be like, "Are you the girl from Kim's Convenience?" I'm like "Yeah." "I knew it, her voice!" We're this show in Canada and we don't quite, we sometimes don't quite understand how big the show has gotten around the world. Andrea and I were in Korea for the uh, Andrea and I were in Korea for the uh, Seoul International Korean Drama Awards. Andrea and I went to Andrea and I went to just the market and the, um, the vendor there recognized Andrea which we were surprised about. And then then he recognized me. There were a couple of other similar encounters that day in Korea and, that was a shock, that they were, you know, that we were recognized in Korea. Thank you so much for being with us for five years. For letting us into your homes and letting us entertain you and be a part of your family and have you join our family too. It's meant the world. That's it. Okay. See you.
