Pop Culturalist Chats with Patrick Sabongui

You may know Patrick Sabongui as Captain Singh on The CW’s The Flash, or from the 2006 box office smash, 300. And, Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Patrick about everything from his journey thus far, to his non-profit charity Fulfilling Young Artists, and even about his series, The Art of More, which is the first original series from Sony/Crackle.

The Flash Questions

PC: First up, we’d like to ask about The Flash. We want to know, were you familiar with the comics before you auditioned?
Patrick: Yeah, I was a big comic fan as a kid. I was more of a Punisher/Batman kind of guy, but I have clear recollections of the early editions of Flash comics and I do remember the John Wesley Shipp Flash TV show when I was a kid. That’s why I think it’s amazing that John is on this show and they bring in people like Mark Hamill as a kind of tribute to those earlier iterations. Makes me feel like we’re part of a legacy.

PC: What is it like playing the first openly gay character for DC comics?
Patrick: Honestly for me, as an actor, I’m just grateful every day to play a character that represents so many diverse groups. Too often in this career, as actors you get stuck playing characters that don’t make a difference. But from the moment that I read his character description, I knew that this character could mean a lot to a lot of people. Singh is not just a gay character; he’s also South Asian – another underrepresented community in today’s mainstream media. He also holds a position of authority, he has strong moral values, he has integrity, he has strengths and weaknesses, friendships and romantic relationships, responsibilities and influence… He’s human. Knowing that fans can turn on the TV and see themselves reflected – that maybe a young fan somewhere that may have otherwise not seen themselves represented can tune in and feel validated – that means the world to me. The Flash is fun, it’s entertaining, but there’s a high level of inclusion that happens on this show, and to be a part of that is a huge honor.

PC: Absolutely. Your character and Barry have a very interesting dynamic. At the start, it seems like they butt heads but by the end there’s a mutual respect, can you talk a bit about that?
Patrick: Yeah. Grant and I have talked about this a lot, “What’s the beef? And why do you have to give Barry such a hard time?” I think part of it is that Barry is Joe’s surrogate son— So, as a close friend of Joe’s, Singh feels a paternal responsibility to Barry. Barry comes across a little flustered, he shows up late, and he’s a little awkward, and Captain Singh expects more from him. It’s like when you see your son or daughter slacking off—it’s not anger, it’s frustration, like “I know you can do better. I expect more from you.”

PC: At the end of Season 2, Barry goes back in time to save his mother. If you could go back in time, where would you go and what would you do?

Patrick: Whoa! For me as Patrick or as Captain Singh?

PC: As Patrick.

Patrick: Oh my! What would I go back and change? Hmm. That’s a great question. When you start messing with the timeline, there’s a whole ripple effect, right? There’s a whole other realm of possibilities. Um, shoot. What would YOU do?

PC: If I could do back in time and change anything in my life, I think I would go back and change my major in college. Originally, I went for voice and music majors, but I would like to change it to something more like public relations or something where I could help out the community a lot more, seeing as that’s one of my main passions. That would definitely be mine.

Patrick: I’ve lived my life and I’ve followed my heart and I have a supportive family that’s really supported me on my journey, so I wouldn’t want to change anything. I’d even go back and do it all over again—probably the exact same way. Maybe invest in helping people more early in life. I have this passion for reaching out. I think that as an actor—and as a young actor coming up—I’ve spent a lot of time working on myself and improving myself. As an athlete, the same thing, training myself for the game, but I guess what I would’ve liked in that growing up phase, would’ve been to go out and volunteer a lot more and participate in helping people who need it, the less fortunate.

Career Questions

PC: Alright now we’d like to ask you questions about your career. How did you get involved with The Art of More? And, what do you hope fans take away from the show?
Patrick: The Art of More actually cast in Montreal, and I was in Vancouver when I read for the pilot episode. When I’m really interested in a role I’ll get on my email, I’ll get on the phone, and I’ll really go after it. I’ll email my agent, I’ll email anyone I know on the creative team like a producer or a casting director and I’ll reach out and say, “Hey, I’m very excited about this project you have going…” and I did that with The Art of More. After the first audition they seemed to be going in another direction and I thought to myself, “You’re not going in another direction without me.” My wife – who’s also an incredible actor and coach – convinced me to re-tape the audition and try something new. So, we went into our little home studio and laid it down again – unsolicited.

The reason I was so excited about the role is because the character I play, Hassan Al Afshar, is a former engineer turned art smuggler. He’s got a family to support and he’s doing what he has to do to get them to safety. He’s this passionate guy and he may not be the smartest dude out there, some stuff goes wrong, but he’s heavily motivated and very passionate, and I just love the opportunity to play a Middle Eastern man who’s got more going on than the stereotypical storylines we’re used to.

PC: You’ve said that your acting roots are in theater and you just finished Disgraced. Do you have a dream theater role?
Patrick: In terms of a dream role, the irony is, that probably was my dream role. You don’t find characters like that very often. AMIR KAPOOR is a very layered character dealing with what it’s like to be a brown-man in a post 9/11 world. Such a beautiful play, and so true to life—in a very complex way.

Fulfilling Young Artists Questions:

PC: Would you like to chat a bit about your non-profit foundation, Fulfilling Young Artists?

Patrick: In a sense, this is what I was referring to when you asked what I would do if I could go back in time, I would start something like FYA sooner. The organization is called Fulfilling Young Artists (FYA), a close friend, Sage Brocklebank (Psych), created it and I stepped in to him run it. Many young actors out there are forgetting to pursue fulfillment as artists before pursuing jobs. There’s only so much you can do about your professional career. You need training, you have to take headshots, get a great agent, but ultimately, whether you get hired or not isn’t in your control. What IS in your control is being an artist. Creating content that you believe in, using your unique voice as an artist to do something meaningful to you – defining success by what you create, not what you book. And if you can reach people through your voice, then that will bring you a truthful, lasting joy that comes from within that’s not contingent on other people’s validation. Each year, FYA takes twenty young actors and pairs them up with an established actor and we guide them through six months of mentorship. The focus being: Who are you as an artist? What do you believe in? What do you do well? What do you enjoy doing? How do you pursue fulfillment? What is fulfilling to you as an artist first? We can talk about trying to get to a better agent, trying to get you some film & TV gigs, trying to get you on your favorite show, but that’s got to be secondary to your fulfillment as an artist. So, that’s what the program is about. All of our mentors are volunteers, all the locations that we use for our monthly meetings are all donated by community members, chipping in and supporting these young artists

PC: That’s amazing. Absolutely amazing.
Patrick: Part of what the young protégés do is create a unique presentation. They have to create an original piece; a skit, a play, a short film, it could be a poem, whatever. They have to perform in something original that they’ve created. And watching those twenty acts they’ve created, they’ve performed by the end of the program is mind-blowing. You just watch them find a connection and their strength… it’s really inspiring.

PC: Great. That’s really great. The next question we have is, do you have any upcoming projects that you’re excited for and can chat with us about?
Patrick: Yeah! I’ve got a couple of things. I’m in Montreal right now working on season two of The Art of More that’s going to be on Crackle eventually, and I’m also working on a new TV series on Freeform (ABC Family). It’s a new series called Beyond it’s a really cool totally original concept, it’s a bit of a mind trip and so well made, we’re looking forward to that coming out. I also have a feature film, coming out called Drone (aka: Incursion), starring myself and Sean Bean. It’s about a man whose family is killed in a CIA drone strike and who discovers who the pilot is who killed his family, so he comes to the United States to avenge his family… but not in a traditional sense.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round Questions:

PC: We like to end every interview with our Pop Culturalist speed round. It’s five quick fire questions. Alright? And the first one we have up is:

PC: Guilty pleasure movie & television show?
Patrick: Oh! Guilty pleasure? As far as movies go, my wife can’t stand these movies, but I really love the old Shao-Lin, Hong Kong Kung-Fu movies, 36th Chamber, that kinda thing.

PC: An artist or band that people would be surprised to find on your playlist?
Patrick: Artist or band they’d be surprised? I don’t know. I’m pretty much an open book when it comes to that, but I guess maybe Alessia Cara. Yeah, I’ve downloaded her album, I’m a huge fan and she’s Canadian!

PC: Do you have a Favorite Play or Musical?
Patrick: Ooh too many plays to pick one. But as far as musicals go, I saw The Book of Mormon on Broadway and I still giggle at the memories.

PC: And what about, favorite book?
Patrick: I can’t answer with The Book of Mormon?

PC: Yeah, I guess that would work!

PC: DC or Marvel? Favorite Superhero
Patrick: You know, I’m gonna go ahead say DC because I’m probably contractually obligated to say DC.

Be sure to go and follow Patrick on Twitter.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth Delage