Saturday March 7, 2009 Taiwan
Original source : http://www.wretch.cc/blog/prajnaworks/15462547
Translated by Laiou@vicpower.net
credit thak : Laiou@Vic Power.net & Sytwo@ZZ Junkies House AF
Star Express [Chen Zai Tian] Vic Zhou Yu Min
"Focus! Concentrate on what you're currently doing. Put all your heart into it. Then it will be your best performance."
-- Vic Zhou Yu Min
He is a ruffian, but he is also a hero.
In the eyes of Director Cai, he is one of those rare good actors who dare to challenge and try to innovate.
For him, "Black & White" is a good drama where he gets to showcase the acting skills he has been polishing up in the last eight years through working on "Meteor Garden," "Mars," and numerous other TV series and movies.
"I enjoy acting in front of the camera!" says the big Asian star in the behind-the-scene interview by the production crew, his face full of smile.
Zaizai was immersed in the happiness that acting brought him, which often spread to everyone else on the scene and rejuvenated the tired and exhausted production team.
He was easy-going and not on a high horse, coming and going together with the crew, living in the dorm and eating boxed meals.
Through the camera's lens, on the scene, Zhou Yu Min often contemplated quietly on how to better render his character alive. He frequently interacted with other artists and never hesitated to do his best for perfection.
As Director Cai has said, "Black & White" is a drama originated from an idea in which Zaizai was the central character.
"We found Zaizai possessed with the special talent of a comedian. We hoped that he could make use of his talent. Zaizai was also interested in developing this aspect of him."
Pi Zi and Ying Xiong, Chen Lin and Xi Ying, through a series of destined and intertwined stories, are connected with one another.
They are ready to tell the world about their love, friendship and dreams.
As the PiZi policeman officer, Zhou Yu Min, who loves to act, will take you to the seaport city to charge forward bravely with his fellow partners.
Interviewer: Ava, hereinafter referred to as A (Questions are presented in written format )
Interviewee: Vic, hereinafter referred to V
A: As an Asian superstar, you've been to a lot of places because of work. What is your impression of Kaohsiung as a city?
V: In my impression, Kaohsiung is city of very good urban planning. Especially this time we have spent a long time there filming , I find that it has a lot of places which can be chosen as filming locations.
Different from Taipei, Kaohsiung is a seaport city.
In Taipei, if you want a location with both the city and ocean views, you have to go to Dansui or some other remote places. But right inside the city part of Kaohsiung, one can readily find locations connected to the ocean for filming.
It is really nice, sort of like Hong Kong. Having the similar advantages of beautiful scenery, ocean view and night view, Kaohsiung can follow the same path of urban development.
A: you have tried many new things in the drama. Did some of them take you longer to narrow down?
V: In this series, the thing that took me the longest time to narrow down should be the issue of how to portray Chen Zai Tian.
For me, there were, in fact, thousands of different ways to render this character. I spent the most time considering what kind of acting styles our targeted age groups of audience would expect to see, what kind of acting styles would be acceptable to the director, and what kind of styles I could perform and would not feel uncomfortable with.
A: During such a long filming process, were you impressed by anything?
V: The complete "Black & White" took nine months, almost ten months, to finish shooting. What impressed me was the acting styles of the new generation of actors, particularly Mark whom I had acted opposite most often in the drama.
It is his first acting role, but he has very keen interests in acting. When he was acting, you could tell that he had put a lot of thoughts into his role.
At the beginning, we were not used to each other's acting methodologies, for we were not sure of when and what kinds of emotions the other would display.
But halfway through the filming process, we had reached mutual understanding and developed a good rapport. If you give me something, I will know what to respond.
The game we often played was to come up with new dialogues on the spot. It sometimes worked more effectively on the scene than what was originally arranged in the script.
A: Compared with your past roles, Chen Zai Tian seems to be a new type of character. Did the role pose a special challenge to you?
V: Actually, this role does not completely overturn the previous roles I have portrayed. In the past, besides the introvert type of deep, quiet roles such as Hua Ze Lei, I have tried the very extrovert type of open role like Chen Ling in Mars.
A: Please share ~ While the filming was a bit long (laughs), among your many experiences in dramas, what kind of experience was filming "Black & White"? What impact did it have on you?
V: Filming "Black & White" ... It is not "Black & White" but rather dramas directed by Cai Yue Xun. You must be psychologically prepared. That is they will never be finished as scheduled (laughs). It is a unique experience.
It's a very painful for an actor when filming won't be wrapped up as planned for it may interrupt your other jobs.
The point is that knowing he would be late from the first collaboration, why were there the second collaboration of Mars and then the third collaboration of "Black and White" ?
I think the most important thing is that I know Director Cai produces good dramas. He has always wanted to create a new style of Taiwanese drama outside the current idol dramas that had flooded the market. "Black & White" is such a drama.
During the process of deciding to accept a role and chatting with the producer, I always demand to know what age my role is set to be. If the age is set to be in the age group that is too young, I'm really sorry, but it's kind of difficult for me to accept. The age and requirements set by Director Cai were older. The character looked tempting and could stimulate an actor's desire to perform.
A: In the future, what kind of stories and roles would you like to challenge?
V: I've answered this question many times. As a matter of fact, I've been telling everyone that I so much want to play a role with split personalities.
The reasons is that I may spend several months living the life of my role. I like to blend into my role. I live almost the same life as my role in the drama as the filming progresses.
So if it is possible, I like to play two roles or even a role with multiple personalities, then I can gain and accumulate even more experiences from one drama. This is something I want to try.
A: Would you share with us the concept or idea that has influenced you the most?
V: the concept that has influenced me the most... Ah, after I became an artist, once an artist said something to me which I have always remembered and find to be very useful, i.e, "Focus! Focus on your work. Focus on the thing you're currently working."
when I apt to feel tired or when my emotions on the scene are affected by other factors, that is the time I need to FOCUS. Focus on putting the intervening matters behind me and concentrate on the role. So I find it very important to me.
A: What do you most want to say to Director Cai and the production team of "Black and White"?
V: Ha, I most want to say to Director Cai is that do not shoot every drama with such a driven mentality that you burn out. We have collaborated three times.
He directed Meteor Garden to the extent his face looked so dark; it was not suntan, it was the color one gets from lack of sleep.
In the final stage of shooting Mars, Director Cai's mother, Mama Cai, had to come to the set to perform acupuncture on him. Afterward, he started to call 5, 4, 3, 2,.. and then he fainted and had to be carried out on a stretcher. We continued and it was the photographer that called 'cut'!
[Insertion: Everyone at Prajna Works burst out in a hearty laugh.]
He still worked in the same fashion with "Black & White".
I hope he will take care of himself.
In addition, I'd like to say to the production team of "Black & White" that everyone has been working very hard!. This drama has the highest demands not only for its quality but also for the quality of the cast and the staff involved.
Many times we felt stressful at work under such high standards. But rest assured, for "Black & White" will stay in our hearts for the rest of our lives. Perhaps, many years later we can all tell our offsprings that we were once involved in such a drama (laugh) and how it has affected our lives. It's really great!
~~THE END~~
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