Sunday, February 10, 2008 ♥
Last posted@11:58 AM
Dear diary,
let me fly and...
Jay loses his cool, wins fans
Source: The New Straits Times
Credits: jaychou.net
Image isn't everything as singer Jay Chou discovered when people liked his goofy movie role. He tells Sharon Wong about the difference.Fresh from directing his first movie Secret, Jay Chou offers another career breakthrough in the Chinese New Year attraction Kung Fu Dunk. The singer, who is well known and well loved for his cool image, drops it all to portray an innocent and rather goofy character taken advantage of by con man Eric Tsang.“Many people say I’m cute and adorable in Kung Fu Dunk — and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” he said, sighing. “But my colleagues and staff like it. In fact, they said that if only I could be like that in real life, I would be easier to get along with. However, I feel that as a boss, I need to maintain a certain image. And I have always been like that from the beginning. I’m cool and still joke at times. Of course, I can’t compare to people like Eric Tsang, who is able to joke on screen or off.“My comedic style depends on the whole scene and needs a professional like Eric to bring it out. But first I need to let go of my image as a singer. But of course, not being cool is one thing, but one must still look good in all moves.”As to Kung Fu Dunk opening together with Stephen Chow’s CJ7, Chou said that one must have confidence in one’s own movie. “I am proud and honored to have a movie open at the same time as Stephen Chow’s but he’s a veteran and I’m still a relative newcomer so you just can’t compare,” he said. “Naturally, there’s pressure but I hope that both movies get good box office results: that would be a win-win situation.”Appearing more at ease with the Press and more forthcoming with answers, Chou has definitely matured since first bursting upon the entertainment scene six or seven years ago.“The biggest change in me is that I talk a lot more,” he agreed. “In the past, I would wear a cap and not look at people at all. I now understand better what is needed, especially when doing promotions, but I am also more careful about what I say as things could be taken out of context by the unscrupulous.“It used to be that every New Year, I would wish for less rumors and untrue reports but it never stops. So this year, my wish is to have my song selected for the Beijing Olympics — although chances are slim as there are many contenders.”Chou may have changed for the better in dealing with the public but one thing won’t change — his confidence and passion in his music and in everything he does.Meanwhile, newcomer Baron Chen considers himself extremely lucky to be working with big artistes. “I used to watch these people on the screen and then there they are in front of me, working together,” he said. “I learned a lot in observing all of them in action. “There is so much to take note of during filming, all the little details like where your hand was when the director called cut and to resume the same position when the cameras roll again.”Chen revealed that he was even invited to appear in Chou’s music video after the filming of Kung Fu Dunk. On his own performance in the movie, Chen feels that he is not natural enough and expects to be criticized. “Being a newcomer, one has to go through this process,” he said. Chen, who has never played basketball before (he prefers to ride horses, play golf or drive fast cars), took half a year to practice in order to perform authentic-looking moves and has since fell in love with the game.
♥ with love, Angel
