TrekWeb.com - Interview: Linda Park on Four Years as 'Hoshi Sato'

Interview: Linda Park on Four Years as 'Hoshi Sato'

By Steve Krutzler / 21:42, 13 March 2005 / TrekWeb Features

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Linda Park: Coming Into Her Own

by Jacqueline Bundy

Rumors about the potential cancellation of ENTERPRISE have been hanging over the heads of the cast and crew all season so when UPN and Paramount made it official on February 2nd of this year it didn't come as too much of a shock to those who have worked on the series over the past four years. Actress Linda Park, who plays ENTERPRISE'S young Communications Officer Ensign Hoshi Sato, has chosen to view the series cancellation in a positive way.

"I really felt it was the right thing," replied Linda when asked how she felt upon getting the official word that ENTERPRISE would not return for a fifth season. "I can only speak for me personally, I love the show and I have loved my time on the show and I really would not change this experience for anything, it's given me so much. However, I really felt that it was time to move on for myself. I do really believe in destiny, that things work out the way they should, and I felt that in this instance in my life that it worked out the way that it should and I'm really excited for the next stage in my life."

While Linda does think that Hoshi saw significant growth over the course of ENTERPRISE'S four seasons, she admits she isn't certain how much more potential there was for the character. "I don't think there was anywhere else to go based on how the writing was going for her character, with what they were allowing her to do. They were still keeping her in a position that she was in when she was a child and not giving her a lot of room to grow. The character had outgrown what they were giving her to do. Many times, especially during season three, I felt like there wasn't much happening but as an actor, you have to find it for yourself. There were times I really had to find movement in her life for myself because none of that showed up on screen."

Saying goodbye won't be easy however. "There's a really good energy on set with everyone, everyone has really come to accept it," Linda added. "We all have such a great relationship and that's difficult to leave with the feeling of such camaraderie."

One direction Linda's career seems sure to take is more feature film roles, something that's difficult to pursue while filming episodic television. Despite the difficulties, Linda has managed to find the time for a couple of small film roles including a role along side Marina Sirtis and ENTERPRISE alum Tucker Smallwood in the dramatic ghost story from Shadowland Films SPECTRES. "I know Marina pretty well and I just love her. She's a great lady."

Marina Sirtis will be appearing in the ENTERPRISE series finale "These Are The Voyages" along with fellow TNG alum Jonathan Frakes, although Linda doesn't get to share any scenes with Marina in that episode. "I don't get to work with her but I got to see her quite frequently on the set and we got to chat and catch up."

In SPECTRES, Linda plays a young mother named Renee, a character that is pivotal to the movie, especially to the emotional payoff at the end. Linda was offered the role without an audition. "Initially I hadn't read the script. Phil (SPECTRES Director Phil Leirness) called me and told me about it. Phil had met me once before, he's very much an instinct or gut person; it was something he felt should be played by me."

Shadowland Films, which produced SPECTRES, is dedicated to making uplifting movies that inspire the mind. The concept behind the script required the actors to be tolerant of new ideas and broadminded about paranormal experiences such as the theory of walk-ins, where one soul abdicates a body to make room for another. "I am very open minded about the idea that there are things that cannot be explained by logic alone and that there is more to this world than what we can see and that includes the paranormal and magic," says Linda. "That's what drew me to it."

SPECTRES made it's U.S. premiere in Linda's home town at Cinequest 14 in San Jose, California last March, which was exciting for Linda. "I was very involved with the arts in San Jose, in theater and also in film, what film there was there. It was so nice to go back home with the film being shown in a theater where I had seen many films, art films, growing up myself. It was very sweet."

After being extremely well received at several film festivals in 2004, including winning the Best Science Fiction Feature at the Shockerfest Film Festival, SPECTRES is coming to home video and DVD this April 19th.

As she gets ready to say good-bye to Hoshi, Linda could not help but reflect on the changes that her character has undergone and she is very aware that many fans were initially disparaging of the character of Hoshi, saying she was too naive in the series first season. "I think that was a very important thing, for me to start her where she was," says Linda. "There are a lot of critical people who say that she was too fearful, or too this or that, but I really felt that it was important for a character to go on some kind of a journey. Being young and having what experiences I have had I think that everything that I do I tap into some experience of my own. I think life and acting are very much combined for me."

Having won the role of Hoshi Sato shortly after graduating from Boston University where she took full advantage of the university's study abroad program to further her acting skills at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Linda could empathize with her characters inexperience.

"I think to have had her be tough would not have made her a realistic character in the beginning given the circumstances, given who she was. I didn't want her to be bravado with a nothing bothers me attitude. I did not think that would have been realistic and I really do disagree with those who call her very negatively 'whiny'. I don't consider her whiny. I think in the first season she was insecure and not yet sure of herself. She's a bit unsteady. She was very emotional because she's so heart based. In the beginning she did wear all of her emotions on her sleeve and she was very alive and in the moment to all that and I loved it and I'd never take it back."

"It gives you no where to grow if in the beginning you know it all and you're tough and you're wizened and you can handle anything. I'm interested in journeys and people and how life experiences change them. I went into a new experience straight out of college so we were very much parallel she and I, and now I feel, as she does, very centered and very strong. I'm coming into my own as a woman for the first time. People in my life are noticing it, I'm noticing it and that's why I'm really excited to move on to the next stage in my life."

15 comments Post New | Help

Hoshi is best!!!! | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:57:39 on Mar 19, 2005 | (1)

Hoshi was the best reason to watch this
show for me!!

When they stopped using her character,
I lost all interest
in this series.

Hoshi/Linda made this
show a bit more believable. Plus Linda
is so gorgeous to watch!!!!

I am glad Linda now
has a chance to go on better shows and
movies.

They really should have used Linda/Hoshi
more...it might have
helped this show....

Oh..well....

Good luck Linda!

You are the best!!!

Quote

Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Chris Pike (Odo's file, contact) @ 20:43:50 on Mar 14, 2005

Who cares?

I dont' want to see minor nobodies getting stories; it didn't work in TNG at all (I mean does anyone really give a rat's ass about Geordi's love life or Troi? No...)

The only place this worked was DS9, but that's because half of the main characters were so laughably bad (Dax, Bashir, Kira) that the minor-key players had to pick up the slack.

It's sad when I become more interested in a holodeck story featuring a 60's casino and a lame ferengi than I am about ANY STORY featuring the first officer of the station.

So in short: You were wallpaper, Hoshi. Get over it.

--------

"Worlds may change, galaxies may disintegrate, but a woman always remains a woman."
--James Kirk, "The Conscience of the King"

"Vulcan children are never late with their sehlats' dinner."
--T'Pol, "The Forge"

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RE: Just a second... | Report this post to moderator
By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:32:39 on Mar 28, 2005

Remember, you're only wallpaper if that's all they give you, don't blame the actor. Keep in mind that Worf was an afterthought on TNG who grew into an asset so strong they used him to prop up DS9.

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RE: Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Slurmz MacKenzie (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:04:54 on Mar 19, 2005

Why do you seem so angry that someone has posted an interview with Linda Park? She's not on there bitching and complaining or anything negative... What does she have to get over? If she was just "wallpaper" as you claim doesn't that giver her the right to want to move on... You are more then entitled to your opinion and I don't want to push mine on yours but some of us do want to see the "minor nobodies" get stories (I do agree with Geordi's pathetic love life though.)

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Hey, Linda! If you're reading this, you're hot! | Report this post to moderator
By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:43:07 on Mar 14, 2005

That is all.

--------

An elephant never forgets . . .TO KILL!

Quote

????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:21:05 on Mar 14, 2005

From above:

Quote:

"It gives you no where to grow if in the beginning you know it all and you're tough and you're wizened and you can handle anything. I'm interested in journeys and people and how life experiences change them. I went into a new experience straight out of college so we were very much parallel she and I, and now I feel, as she does, very centered and very strong. I'm coming into my own as a woman for the first time. People in my life are noticing it, I'm noticing it and that's why I'm really excited to move on to the next stage in my life."

What she doesn't understand, IMHO, which is what she is living through right now, is that for someone her age, with a character that age, they DO come out gung ho and strong and somewhat arrogant. And it's not until the person hits well into their 30s and on when they begin to settle down and have lived some life and got the bumps and bruises and school of hard knocks that tempers them.

I'm sorry Linda but they wrote the character all wrong. Hoshi and Travis should have had MUCH MORE energy and verve for the age they were playing. In the past, I have pointed out how a Commander Shelby was shown in BOBW I & II. And although Shelby did what she did because she was ambitious, the character DID display the typical energy of someone in their mid - late 20s who is old enough to know and do, and doesn't really care about particular consequences because they can usually bounce out of them.

This is why I understand places like the Air Force (and equivalent air-based staff in the other services) essentially "retire" their "top gun" pilots after a certain age because they eventually "get a clue" and realize that they may really have something other than their job to die for, and aren't as willing to take the risk. Ie., they get some sense in their heads. ;-)

But before that time, that's the peak age of wonder and willingness to go for it, and then even party afterwards, get up the next day with a few hours sleep, and do it all over again.

But she doesn't see that yet because she is in the midst of being in that stage of life. She should look at her own work schedule while doing this show as an example. ;-)

Anyway... c'est la vie.

--------

"I think the show talked to people through the characters. They're stories that speak to the heart. They talk about love, they talk about friendship, they talk about loyalty, they talk about patriotism, exploration, curiosity, reaching out... And I think all those things still touch people. Even when you look at a 30-year old show, it still has something to say." - D.C. Fontana, Sci Fi Channel Special Edition TOS 1998
----
"If the season finale involves the re-built USS Reliant coming back in time to the 21st Century crewed by Moogie, Dr. Selar, Morn, Transporter Chief Kyle, and the Salt Vampire, then we'll know that Coto has gone too far." - tomba1701

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RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:52:59 on Mar 15, 2005

I agree with most of what you said, esp. your comparisons to Air Force personnel.

However, there are two key differences with Hoshi & Travis:

Hoshi's character was basically drafted by Archer. She was teaching at the Academy (well, I think it was the academy), with no apparent ambitions for interstellar travel, at least on the first warp 5 Starfleet ship. In short, Hoshi didn't want to be there, but her loyalty to Archer & Starfleet kept her there.

Travis was born in space, raised on a freighter, and reared/trained by a freighter captain. The pace was slower, the command structure more informal. My take is that with his background, Travis never had the Tom Cruise mentality, but had more of the quiet confidence of pre-existing spacefairing experience. He already undoubtedly had dealings with Starfleet at some point, and that, coupled with his respect and understanding of the freighter command structure, gave Travis the perspective different from some Top Gun grad.

LLaP

--------

THAT is the Exploration that awaits you: not mapping stars or studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possibilities of Existence.

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- RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
  By: katefan (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:17:35 on Mar 15, 2005
  
  I hear what you and Jad are both saying, and I have to side with Jad on this one.
  
  Travis Mayweather is the helmsman of the fastest Earth ship ever created. He is going speeds no Earth man has ever gone before, has at his disposal more raw power than anyone has ever experienced. There should have been a youthful entheusiasm about him.
  
  And sure, Hoshi was drafted, but every day should have been an adventure regarding languages and discovery. She is learning more about foreign cultures than anyone else on Earth, more than even Vulcans are since their science atrophied.
  
  There should have been far more excitement coming from these kids than what we saw. Frankly, Hoshi and Mayweather proved to be very boring, wallpaper as the poster above described.
  
  --------
  
  "Oh, I'll wake up
  To any sound of engines,
  Ev'ry gull a seeking craft..."
  
  Kate Bush, And Dream of Sheep
  
  Reply
  Quote
  - RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
    By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:42:24 on Mar 15, 2005
    
    Quote from katefan to NX-47:
    And sure, Hoshi was drafted...
    
    Not drafted. As the story goes, Hoshi joined Starfleet of her own free will. She once got a "bad conduct discharge", for inflicting Aikido upon her Company Commander, but was allowed back in due to a shortage of linguists. Archer wanted the best for NX-01, and thus persuaded Hoshi to leave her teaching job at a university in Brazil.
    
    --------------
    Farewell Comments from the ENT Cast
    
    Reply
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    - RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
      By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:29:51 on Mar 15, 2005
      
      I think you misunderstood my use of the word 'drafted': by that I meant that she was hand-picked by Archer for HIS ship, out of the other candidates. I know that she was already in Starfleet. Sorry if I misled you.
      
      LLaP
      
      --------
      
      THAT is the Exploration that awaits you: not mapping stars or studying nebulae, but charting the unknown possibilities of Existence.
      
      Reply
      Quote

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:22:26 on Mar 14, 2005

Quote:
I'm sorry Linda but they wrote the character all wrong. Hoshi and Travis should have had MUCH MORE energy and verve for the age they were playing.

Nice post, Jadzia. But there are always exceptions, so I don't think we can say "they wrote the characters all wrong".

But what you are essentially saying is, there could've been more focus on Hoshi's character traits. I agree about that. I really liked Hoshi in season one, because she was afraid of space and sometimes lost control over her emotions. That really made sense to me, and it allowed her actions to more easily become integral of the stories because she would "mess up" the rescue mission and not always do her job very well. That gave the character a lot to work with. Unfortunately the writers didn't embrace this. Instead they decided to take away her emotions. I don't think it was an improvement. One might say, she got "stronger" but also more "dull" because without something to fight with / against, for herself, there was nowhere to go, no personal growth.

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Best of Luck | Report this post to moderator
By: brightrising (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:03:00 on Mar 14, 2005

Hoshi's character was always a favorite because she was a linguist, had hacker vibes, and could kick some ass. She really did have a lot of potential. I guess the writers didn't know what kind of person she should become. I'm sure if Linda had a say in the character's development she would've been awesome.

Good luck to you Linda in all your future projects. You will be sorely missed.

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She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: OkeydokeyObi (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:10:25 on Mar 13, 2005

The Hoshi character was a pretty darn good one, and she should have been given more to do. But in the writer's infinite wisdom, they decided to focus energy on a Trip/T'Pol relationship that NOBODY liked. Oh well.

--------

The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's. -Mark Twain

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RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:46:40 on Mar 19, 2005 | (2)

deleted.

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RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: Krazy Joe (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:23:17 on Mar 14, 2005

A lot of people liked the Trip/T'Pol relationship.

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Hoshi is best!!!! | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:57:39 on Mar 19, 2005 | (1)

Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Chris Pike (Odo's file, contact) @ 20:43:50 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: Just a second... | Report this post to moderator
By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:32:39 on Mar 28, 2005

RE: Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Slurmz MacKenzie (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:04:54 on Mar 19, 2005

Hey, Linda! If you're reading this, you're hot! | Report this post to moderator
By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:43:07 on Mar 14, 2005

????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:21:05 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:52:59 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: katefan (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:17:35 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:42:24 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:29:51 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:22:26 on Mar 14, 2005

Best of Luck | Report this post to moderator
By: brightrising (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:03:00 on Mar 14, 2005

She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: OkeydokeyObi (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:10:25 on Mar 13, 2005

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:46:40 on Mar 19, 2005 | (2)

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: Krazy Joe (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:23:17 on Mar 14, 2005

Hoshi is best!!!! | Report this post to moderator By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:57:39 on Mar 19, 2005 | (1)

Meh | Report this post to moderator By: Chris Pike (Odo's file, contact) @ 20:43:50 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: Just a second... | Report this post to moderator By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:32:39 on Mar 28, 2005

RE: Meh | Report this post to moderator By: Slurmz MacKenzie (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:04:54 on Mar 19, 2005

Hey, Linda! If you're reading this, you're hot! | Report this post to moderator By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:43:07 on Mar 14, 2005

????? | Report this post to moderator By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:21:05 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:52:59 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator By: katefan (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:17:35 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:42:24 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:29:51 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:22:26 on Mar 14, 2005

Best of Luck | Report this post to moderator By: brightrising (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:03:00 on Mar 14, 2005

She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator By: OkeydokeyObi (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:10:25 on Mar 13, 2005

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:46:40 on Mar 19, 2005 | (2)

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator By: Krazy Joe (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:23:17 on Mar 14, 2005

Hoshi is best!!!! | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:57:39 on Mar 19, 2005 | (1)

Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Chris Pike (Odo's file, contact) @ 20:43:50 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: Just a second... | Report this post to moderator
By: Postdoc (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:32:39 on Mar 28, 2005

RE: Meh | Report this post to moderator
By: Slurmz MacKenzie (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:04:54 on Mar 19, 2005

Hey, Linda! If you're reading this, you're hot! | Report this post to moderator
By: Bucky (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:43:07 on Mar 14, 2005

????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Jadzia-Dax (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:21:05 on Mar 14, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:52:59 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: katefan (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:17:35 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: TRexx (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:42:24 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: NX-47 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:29:51 on Mar 15, 2005

RE: ????? | Report this post to moderator
By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 13:22:26 on Mar 14, 2005

Best of Luck | Report this post to moderator
By: brightrising (Odo's file, contact) @ 09:03:00 on Mar 14, 2005

She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: OkeydokeyObi (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:10:25 on Mar 13, 2005

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: dec55 (Odo's file, contact) @ 18:46:40 on Mar 19, 2005 | (2)

RE: She makes a good point... | Report this post to moderator
By: Krazy Joe (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:23:17 on Mar 14, 2005