Monthly Archives: May 2011

“I was in complete shock and disbelief when I saw the newspaper headlines regarding the relationship between my fellow professional, Yangtian, whom I much respect for his qualities, and myself — “Buddies no more”, “Celeb Pals Split”… Yangtian is a good colleague, friend (a definition of friend can be quite vague), and fellow professional, whom I have had the opportunity to work closely with and often been pitted against, and who displays a great deal of qualities which are quite differing from mine and which I can learn a lot from; confidence, eloquence, courage and pluck being some of them that I admire about him. And especially in a supposedly sensitive and less easy period for him in the present moment (which I’m sure would quickly come to pass), it would not be in my integrity and conduct to speak negatively or ill about him or us; it would be against my principles and demean me as a person.

The reports, as usual and necessary, are hyped up and dramatised; however, they are untrue in the angle they were put across and definitely harmful in this case. Right from the beginning, the professional relationship between Yangtian and myself have been coined by the media — to be “buddies”, “friends”, “brothers”, just “colleagues”, or “rivals”, or “competitors” (or anything or nothing actually) — according to the convenience of the angle the article wants to be written. It would almost seem hypocritical for me to say we are great “buddies” and the best of pals, but at the same time I definitely am not so short-sighted and narrow-visioned to see him first and foremost and only as my “rival”; actually I see him first and foremost as a person, a budding youth, one with great light and energy. Hence, it is hard for me to say exactly what we are in one word; it is a wonderfully multi-faceted and mutually-dependent kind of relationship, and we are “nothing” the media puts us to be or wants us to be. What I tried to do was to give a very honest and objective observation of our relationship, that naturally we drift apart inevitably as we move on to different projects (as is the case with many actors and their co-actors on many occasions), and that we might somehow be feeling a bit of the strain from the long-overdrawn, hyped-up pitting of us as rivals or competitors fighting for the one top spot, the tortoise and hare in a race.

Unfortunately, I can only bemoan the fact that words from my mouth when transferred to the pen of the reporter undergoes a whole great deal of editing, photoshop, cut and paste, glossing over and highlighting at preferred areas, and that the pen is not in my hands. But since I have enjoyed the benefits of a so-called celebrity status, I should also understand and not complain that I have also subjected myself to the mercy, impression, like or dislike, love or hate, praise or criticism of others and the rules of the game I have put myself in, and to play it gamely. I come from a literature background and I’m just glad that my pen is in my hands and directly connected to my thoughts and feelings here. Sometimes perhaps, honesty is not the best policy, especially when you try to speak the truth to people who do not really care about you as a person but who see you as a means to an end, an object not a subject. I’m still learning… though I see myself persisting in an ideally direct and honest fashion, even it might not be the most self-beneficial and worldly-wise to do; at least I can face myself in the mirror come end of the day.

I come to address this issue, pressed for, but not to clarify nor explain but first and foremost as a person with basic integrity. I have always seen myself first as a person, like anyone else with basic human needs and emotions and insecurities, and then later as an actor or celebrity, whatever you call it. It does not feel good to be wronged or maligned or smeared, but sometimes it happens and that’s life. When celebrity status intrudes into and calls into question a person’s integrity and character, I hope to have some voice in it. I shall call Yangtian personally to clear some unnecessary bad air generated for us and I hope to reduce the harm done for us by the articles written, if I can be allowed so. This is neutral and passive, not meaning to defend nor offend.

“There is enough light for everyone.” There is no need to fight for light.”

I believe we all know how the media works.

There’s always another new “headlines” when day breaks.

So let’s just not get too bother about it.

Cheerios!