Jeremy Hoffman, a true multi-hyphenate actor, composer, and musician, joins Actors With Issues for a deeply insightful and inspiring conversation ahead of the release of the highly anticipated and star-studded reimagining of The Wedding Banquet. From the pressures of self-taping to working alongside award-winning actors, Hoffman opens up about the realities of building a career in today’s entertainment landscape—and why passion must always come first.
Being a Multi-Hyphenate: Passion First, Not Pressure
As someone who bridges music and acting, Hoffman shared his perspective on the growing expectation for artists to wear multiple hats in the industry. “Probably the most important advice is: do it because you’re passionate about it,” he emphasized. “Don’t do it because someone’s telling you to.”
Hoffman warns against pursuing skills like composing, producing, or playing an instrument out of sheer obligation or pressure of doing so. “If you want to learn how to sing or play guitar, do that more for you,” he said. “Don’t learn something because you have an end goal in mind. Do it because you really want to do it.”
According to Hoffman, that kind of self-driven learning carries more value in the long run. “Passion counts far more than anything. If you’re passionate enough and you really are committed to it for yourself, it will show in other arenas.”
Getting Unstuck: Advice for Actors Without Representation
Actors With Issues host Juan Ayala brought up the “million-dollar question” about how actors can acquire their first agent or manager to help get the ball rolling on their careers. Jeremy Hoffman reflected on his own career and recalled being in that same situation when he was starting out.
“I’ve been there,” Hoffman admitted. “I’ve done dozens and dozens of non-union commercials, so I know what that’s like.” His recommendation? Community and training. “Take classes, find a community of people you can share your experience with. You never know who you’ll meet. Someone in class might have a great agent who sees your potential.”
“The industry is full of rejection. I wish it were as easy as those ‘golden buzzer’ stories you hear—someone’s first audition, they get the lead role. It can happen, but not really. A lot of times, you just have to work for it.”
And that preparation pays off when the right opportunity finally arrives. “Train that muscle so that when the opportunity does come, you’re prepared.”
How the Industry Has Evolved—and What That Means for Actors
Reflecting on how things have changed post-COVID and amid ongoing industry shifts, Jeremy Hoffman pointed to the flood of new talent trying to break into acting. “There are so many more people wanting to get into the industry,” he said. “Maybe they don’t know what to do, or they just landed their first small agency and are submitting to everything.”
That increased interest has intensified competition. “Sometimes their tapes aren’t great because they don’t have training, but they just think, ‘I want to be an actor, I’m going to do it,’” he said. “There’s a lot more going for just one role.”
Despite that, Hoffman believes there’s room for everyone—as long as people commit to the work. “We need more people in the world to showcase so many different kinds of stories. But just don’t go into it without knowing what you’re doing.”
He also touched on how self-taping has changed the game. “Casting directors can see way more than they could before. That’s great. But the downside is, there’s more competition,” he said. “At least they’re really going for someone who is *right* for the role—and that hopefully translates to better storytelling.”
Fighting the Inner Critic: Navigating Self-Doubt and Perfectionism
Self-doubt is a common thread among actors, and Jeremy Hoffman shared that he isn’t immune. He opened up about the mental toll of self-tapes and perfectionism. “Even on set, I see it. I have a friend who’s been acting professionally for 45 years, and after a scene, he still said, ‘Oh God, I wish I’d done that differently.’”
For Hoffman, the key is walking away. “I just step away from it for a bit. Do something else. Come back with fresh eyes. That way I don’t spiral.”
He emphasized how comparison and overthinking can kill creativity. “You do 20 takes and think, ‘Which one is best?’ And it’s almost always the first one,” he said. “If you go into it with pressure, it becomes like a class assignment—just for a grade.”
The Wedding Banquet: Reimagined, Joyful, and Deeply Human
In The Wedding Banquet, Hoffman plays Marshall, the executive director of an LGBTQIA+ organization in Seattle. “Originally, the role was written for someone in their 50s or 60s,” Hoffman revealed. “But Andrew, the director and co-writer, said, ‘You just remind me so much of the person this character is based on—just the younger version.’”
Working alongside an extraordinary ensemble that includes Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone, Joan Chen, and Kelly Marie Tran, Hoffman described the experience as nothing short of transformative. “It’s honestly been kind of like a masterclass in acting,” he said. “My main scene was with Joan Chen, and watching her deliver her lines—I forgot we were shooting. I thought she was literally just speaking from the heart.”
That level of authenticity left a lasting impression. “It was incredible. I still strive for that every day.”
Finding Yourself in the Story
Above all, Jeremy Hoffman hopes audiences feel seen. “I hope they can see themselves in some of the characters, and know that any struggles they have, they’re not facing them alone,” he said.
A major theme of the film is chosen family. “Sometimes your biological family doesn’t work out, and the movie really leans into that idea of finding your chosen family,” he explained. “I hope people can find themselves in one of the characters and feel a sense of connection.”
And while The Wedding Banquet explores serious themes, it never loses sight of joy. “It’s a funny movie,” Hoffman said. “I hope people walk away feeling like nothing is ever too serious that we can’t laugh about it—and still enjoy life.”
Watch our full interview with Jeremy Hoffman above, or tune in on your favorite podcast platform!
