Kim Hidalgo in “Ball Don’t Lie”

Kim Hidalgo and real-life basketball player Grayson Boucher star in “Ball Don't Lie”. The film follows Sticky (Boucher), a skinny high school junior who has enormous basketball talent but also the burden of emotional scarring from an early tragedy, a callous foster care system, and obsessive-compulsive disorder that vanishes only when he's on the court. The film sports an impressive all-star ensemble cast, including Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Rosanna Arquette, Emilie de Ravin, Harold Perrineau, and Nick Cannon. Shannon Lin interviewed Kim at The Tribeca Film Festival to find out more information on this new acting sensation.

ASIANCE: You must be so excited for your first film!

Kim: It’s just been a wonderful experience. The whole process was just amazing. It’s been a wonderful opportunity. In the film I play Anh-Thu. In the film I just call her Annie. It’s based on a book. The character is actually half White, half Vietnamese. In real life I’m half Filipino, half White. So I had that experience being part of two different backgrounds to add to the film. I got here Wednesday, I saw a Broadway show. I’ve just been having fun in New York. The film premiered Saturday and it was the first time I’d seen it but I was really pleased with the outcome and it was just wonderful.

I was nervous. It was a little strange to see it the first time with a whole group of people. But everyone was very supportive and it got a lot of great feedback so it was great.

ASIANCE: Has your Asian identity been a big part of your career?

Kim: Yeah, because I am mixed I can play different things. I go out for Asian roles and play it down for other roles. So that’s been kind of a blessing. This role came out and it was kind of perfect for me. And as an Asian American actress in Los Angeles I feel like it’s growing. The roles that they have open for us are growing and becoming more prominent in the industry.

ASIANCE: You go to USC. How have you finished school while also being in a film?

Kim: I’ve done several commercials, which are pretty easy to do while in school because they’re a one-day shoot and pretty lucrative. This film Ball Don’t Lie was just perfect timing because it started filming two weeks after I went on summer vacation. So, it can be tough juggling it all but I’ve been lucky since I haven’t had to miss so much class. I graduate in three weeks.

ASIANCE: Congratulations!

Kim: Thank you!

ASIANCE: Has your family been very supportive?

Kim: My family has been very supportive from the beginning just supporting acting. They’ve been really great. They flew out here to New York for the premiere so they were all here. They came from San Francisco. I came from L.A. We met in New York, spent the weekend together. They saw it as a perfect family opportunity so it was great.

ASIANCE: Will it be strange to make that leap into the world of fame?

Kim: I haven’t really thought about it that much! It’s a little nerve wracking but I’m excited to take that step forward and we’ll see how it goes.

ASIANCE: What do you do for fun?

Kim: I love to play tennis. My boyfriend taught me how to play tennis so that’s something we do pretty often. Just hanging out with friends. I play Bridge. I know it’s like an old person but I have a group of three other people that I play Bridge with (laughter). Yeah, just going out and finding new restaurants to eat at. I love eating, so that’s what I enjoy doing.

ASIANCE: Have you been back to the Philippines?

Kim: I’ve actually never been to the Philippines. My dad came over here when he was 10 and he hasn’t really gone back. I would love to visit it. I have a lot of Filipino friends and they always talk about it. So one day I’d really like to go. It’s just a whole different place that I’d like to visit and a part of my heritage I would love to understand a bit more.

ASIANCE: So how did you beat out so many girls for this role?

Kim: I went into it and lots of times it’s difficult for me when the breakdown says, “Asian” because it’s an Asian family and I kind of stick out like a sore thumb. That’s kind of how I felt with this character because it just said, “Asian” and the name is Anh-Thu, which is very Vietnamese. I went in and just did what I do at all my auditions, worked really hard, spent a lot of time on the script. And I got a call back so I went to the callback and then two weeks went by and I thought I didn’t get it. Then I got a screen test. It was down to me and one other actress and I waited another two weeks, thought I didn’t get it again and then I got a call that I had booked it. So, it was surreal. I go out on auditions just like all the actresses and it just worked out really well.

ASIANCE:And this is your manager Brett?

Kim: This is my manager! I think he’s pretty excited. He actually used to run some workshops I went to and he saw me there and told me he was starting a management company and wanted to represent me. At the time I auditioned for this film I didn’t even have an agent. He was the one who was able to get me in the door. Thanks to him, thanks Brett!