(no subject)
Since this is what everybody wanted and since I was kinda bored doing nothing when I was supposed to do something...
F4 @ CNN Talk Asia Interview Part 1 Transcript
Note: All Jerry's and Vic's answers were transcribed through translator. And [??] means incomprehensible.
And no grammar correction has been done.
Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChho_bI23I
*"Season of Fireworks" plays*
Lorraine Hahn (voice-over): They are known collectively as F4. Pop idols who've been inspiring fan frenzy all through Asia since coming onto the scene in their native Taiwan in 2001. Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu beat hundreds of other candidates in the casting call for the drama series "Meteor Garden" based on the widely popular Japanese comic "Hana Yori Dango". The TV series and its sequel became such hits that it made superstars of the group overnight, leading to more drama roles, product endorsements, and a string of successful albums and concert tours.
*"Can't Lose You" plays*
Lorraine Hahn: Gentlemen, welcome to Talk Asia. Thank you very much for being here with us. It's good to see you all.
The... series, Meteor Garden, that made you virtually, instantaneously famous, did that come as a surprise to you?
Vanness: Bit of a shock. Yeah.
Ken: Yeah...
Van: We didn't expect it. I remember me and Jerry, uh, we were supposed to have a, uh, a fan meeting, uh, but then...
K: Yeah, the very first one we went to...
Van: And then... but then there was complete, ch, chaos where it was packed; and then the, like the fire department said, you know, we can't show up otherwise it'll get too crazy. So the first ever fan meeting was cancelled (explains this part to Jerry in Mandarin). So that's when we realized, wow, this is, this is bigger than we ever expected; and blown away by it.
LH: Was that hard to deal with?
Jerry (through translator): Yes, it was really difficult at the beginning, when I wasn't used to it. But later, it got better when we learned to accept it. And as more and more people started paying attention to us, we found that the attention made us want to work harder and do better for our audience.
LH: I mean, you didn't have much, and forgive me if I'm... wrong, but you didn't have very much acting training right? Before Meteor Garden.
J: You're right. We never had any training. We, just, went along with the flow.
Van: We learned... It was like a learning progress. Learning and progress.
K: We had a very good director at that time.
Each member of F4: Yeah.
Van: The director was really good. Helped us a lot with everything. He, he really built the backbone of each character as well. I mean, he would give us certain, uh, parts and... just really go with it, you know. And then, he really helped us.
LH: Right. And Vic, how close is... your character, for example, to your true self?
Vic (through translator): Uh, I actually feel like the 4 characters in Meteor Garden are quite like our personalities in real life. And that's the reason we were chosen.
I had accompanied a friend to the audition and was waiting for him in the corridor at the office. The light was very dim and I hid in the corner against the wall. And when the director was going into his office, he saw me sitting there and thought (laughs) "why is this person here?" And then he looked again and said "this person's manner [?are really seem like?] the character of Hua Ze Lei". So he invited me to the audition.
LH: Some people said that, you know, um, the story was focused on the wrong values. You know, that it, that it set poor examples for the young people. What do you think?
Van: You know, I think a lot of times the media does blow everything out of proportion, um, just by a single sentence. You know, they can say one word and then everybody will catch off [?with the liaisons/with realizations?] "oh yeah right, yeah right." You know, "every thing is wrong. This [?might as well be gone?]". But then, if you really look at the story, uh, what is it really saying in the end, just follow your heart. You know, is it wrong to follow your heart, who can judge? You know, so...
J: Uh, oh, actually, I think that it's just a television drama. Not something that anyone should be taking too seriously. It was a bit of entertainment and escapism for some people. At best, it gave some viewers something to think about.
Vic: That's Jerry's lifestyle!
F4: (laughs)
Vic: Actually, it really is just a drama. You won't find many people in society like the ones in the show. Really, it's just entertainment. Something for viewers to enjoy (In between these statements, Ken said something to Vic which made Vic say "ha?" then went on with what he's saying)
LH: Okay gentlemen, we're gonna take a very, very short break. When we come back, Talk Asia will talk with Jerry, Vanness and Ken and Vic about their solo work and what they think about each other. Stay with us.
*"Can't Help Falling In Love" plays, cut to commercial*
LH: Welcome back to Talk Asia. I'm sitting with Taiwanese Pop Idol group F4. Gentlemen, I heard that you all have very different personalities. Is that very difficult for you when you work as a group?
Van: Not really. I don't think so. I mean, cause, uh, when we work together, we work as a team. And we're pretty good as a team. Uh, I think that's one of the things that is, that stands out about us, is because our personalities is, is so different in a group. You know most… When you do see a group, a lot of personalities, they're, kinda like, like in unison. But then, for some reason, our individuality makes us that unison.
LH: Interesting. And you see each other, Jerry, for example, as colleagues? Brothers?
J: You mean the other 3 members of the group?
Van: (Pretends to cough) Ahem, ahem. Be careful. Ahem.
F4: (laughs)
LH: Wait 'til you hear the next question (laughs).
Ken: (a little inaudible) We are kinda more like partners actually...
J: Actually, you could say that the four of us are like a unit. A small family. Vanness is like a...
Vic: (own voice, not translated) Mama.
Everyone: (laughs)
J: No actually. Ken is more like the mother. Vic is like the cute, lovable, little brother. And Vanness? He's a serious and hard-working father.
Everyone: (laughs)
Van: Just call me daddy.
LH: Yeah, exactly.
Is there a leader?
J: No, not really. There isn't one person who'd always takes the lead or he must make all the decisions, if that's what you mean. Everyone shares their opinions freely. Everyone helps to make the decisions.
LH: Now all of you has, sort of, gone off, as you mentioned to me earlier, gone off and done your own, your own work, right? You come together for F4 and then you go off to do your own work. Why do you do this? Why don't you just stay as F4?
Vic: We don't really split up. After Meteor Garden, the 4 of us we're offered a lot of other projects. And not all the projects were appropriate for the 4 of us. So we had to be selective. Like when I go to do a drama, maybe Ken would make an album instead. Or maybe someone else would go to make a movie. We each have our own interest, our own strengths. I guess we all just got busy. But we always make time for F4. Like for this concert tour, we made an effort to clear our schedules so that we can do this together.
Van: Yeah.
J: Actually, what happens is that Vic is always going off to make movies. And the three of us will be left here with nothing to do (laughs). So we have to find our own projects just to keep busy.
F4: (laughs)
Vic: (says something in Mandarin)
Van: I think in the long run, it reverts back to our personalities as well. It's because our personality is so different. We have so many, uh, different, uh, interests as well, you know. So we, of course, as a human being would wanna pursue our own interests to, uh, to do other things that we're, we have more passion for. But then yet when the timing calls for us to come back again, we will always be here.
LH: Um, Jerry, let me just continue with you, a little bit on the personal note for each of you individually, since you're such individuals. You started as a model. Um, was show business, entertainment, movies, TV, an ambition of yours?
J: Uh... Yes, I think so. When I was a model, it was natural to think about going into entertainment. That's why I was happy for the opportunity to act in a drama. Then, after I have had a chance to try acting, singing and dancing, I realized that I really enjoyed it and that performing was something I wanted to do more of.
Later or tomorrow, Part 2.
And please, please, please, if you're planning to post this anywhere, please give the link of my journal along with your post, okay lah? Okay lah ;)
F4 @ CNN Talk Asia Interview Part 1 Transcript
Note: All Jerry's and Vic's answers were transcribed through translator. And [??] means incomprehensible.
And no grammar correction has been done.
Here's the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zChho_bI23I
*"Season of Fireworks" plays*
Lorraine Hahn (voice-over): They are known collectively as F4. Pop idols who've been inspiring fan frenzy all through Asia since coming onto the scene in their native Taiwan in 2001. Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu beat hundreds of other candidates in the casting call for the drama series "Meteor Garden" based on the widely popular Japanese comic "Hana Yori Dango". The TV series and its sequel became such hits that it made superstars of the group overnight, leading to more drama roles, product endorsements, and a string of successful albums and concert tours.
*"Can't Lose You" plays*
Lorraine Hahn: Gentlemen, welcome to Talk Asia. Thank you very much for being here with us. It's good to see you all.
The... series, Meteor Garden, that made you virtually, instantaneously famous, did that come as a surprise to you?
Vanness: Bit of a shock. Yeah.
Ken: Yeah...
Van: We didn't expect it. I remember me and Jerry, uh, we were supposed to have a, uh, a fan meeting, uh, but then...
K: Yeah, the very first one we went to...
Van: And then... but then there was complete, ch, chaos where it was packed; and then the, like the fire department said, you know, we can't show up otherwise it'll get too crazy. So the first ever fan meeting was cancelled (explains this part to Jerry in Mandarin). So that's when we realized, wow, this is, this is bigger than we ever expected; and blown away by it.
LH: Was that hard to deal with?
Jerry (through translator): Yes, it was really difficult at the beginning, when I wasn't used to it. But later, it got better when we learned to accept it. And as more and more people started paying attention to us, we found that the attention made us want to work harder and do better for our audience.
LH: I mean, you didn't have much, and forgive me if I'm... wrong, but you didn't have very much acting training right? Before Meteor Garden.
J: You're right. We never had any training. We, just, went along with the flow.
Van: We learned... It was like a learning progress. Learning and progress.
K: We had a very good director at that time.
Each member of F4: Yeah.
Van: The director was really good. Helped us a lot with everything. He, he really built the backbone of each character as well. I mean, he would give us certain, uh, parts and... just really go with it, you know. And then, he really helped us.
LH: Right. And Vic, how close is... your character, for example, to your true self?
Vic (through translator): Uh, I actually feel like the 4 characters in Meteor Garden are quite like our personalities in real life. And that's the reason we were chosen.
I had accompanied a friend to the audition and was waiting for him in the corridor at the office. The light was very dim and I hid in the corner against the wall. And when the director was going into his office, he saw me sitting there and thought (laughs) "why is this person here?" And then he looked again and said "this person's manner [?are really seem like?] the character of Hua Ze Lei". So he invited me to the audition.
LH: Some people said that, you know, um, the story was focused on the wrong values. You know, that it, that it set poor examples for the young people. What do you think?
Van: You know, I think a lot of times the media does blow everything out of proportion, um, just by a single sentence. You know, they can say one word and then everybody will catch off [?with the liaisons/with realizations?] "oh yeah right, yeah right." You know, "every thing is wrong. This [?might as well be gone?]". But then, if you really look at the story, uh, what is it really saying in the end, just follow your heart. You know, is it wrong to follow your heart, who can judge? You know, so...
J: Uh, oh, actually, I think that it's just a television drama. Not something that anyone should be taking too seriously. It was a bit of entertainment and escapism for some people. At best, it gave some viewers something to think about.
Vic: That's Jerry's lifestyle!
F4: (laughs)
Vic: Actually, it really is just a drama. You won't find many people in society like the ones in the show. Really, it's just entertainment. Something for viewers to enjoy (In between these statements, Ken said something to Vic which made Vic say "ha?" then went on with what he's saying)
LH: Okay gentlemen, we're gonna take a very, very short break. When we come back, Talk Asia will talk with Jerry, Vanness and Ken and Vic about their solo work and what they think about each other. Stay with us.
*"Can't Help Falling In Love" plays, cut to commercial*
LH: Welcome back to Talk Asia. I'm sitting with Taiwanese Pop Idol group F4. Gentlemen, I heard that you all have very different personalities. Is that very difficult for you when you work as a group?
Van: Not really. I don't think so. I mean, cause, uh, when we work together, we work as a team. And we're pretty good as a team. Uh, I think that's one of the things that is, that stands out about us, is because our personalities is, is so different in a group. You know most… When you do see a group, a lot of personalities, they're, kinda like, like in unison. But then, for some reason, our individuality makes us that unison.
LH: Interesting. And you see each other, Jerry, for example, as colleagues? Brothers?
J: You mean the other 3 members of the group?
Van: (Pretends to cough) Ahem, ahem. Be careful. Ahem.
F4: (laughs)
LH: Wait 'til you hear the next question (laughs).
Ken: (a little inaudible) We are kinda more like partners actually...
J: Actually, you could say that the four of us are like a unit. A small family. Vanness is like a...
Vic: (own voice, not translated) Mama.
Everyone: (laughs)
J: No actually. Ken is more like the mother. Vic is like the cute, lovable, little brother. And Vanness? He's a serious and hard-working father.
Everyone: (laughs)
Van: Just call me daddy.
LH: Yeah, exactly.
Is there a leader?
J: No, not really. There isn't one person who'd always takes the lead or he must make all the decisions, if that's what you mean. Everyone shares their opinions freely. Everyone helps to make the decisions.
LH: Now all of you has, sort of, gone off, as you mentioned to me earlier, gone off and done your own, your own work, right? You come together for F4 and then you go off to do your own work. Why do you do this? Why don't you just stay as F4?
Vic: We don't really split up. After Meteor Garden, the 4 of us we're offered a lot of other projects. And not all the projects were appropriate for the 4 of us. So we had to be selective. Like when I go to do a drama, maybe Ken would make an album instead. Or maybe someone else would go to make a movie. We each have our own interest, our own strengths. I guess we all just got busy. But we always make time for F4. Like for this concert tour, we made an effort to clear our schedules so that we can do this together.
Van: Yeah.
J: Actually, what happens is that Vic is always going off to make movies. And the three of us will be left here with nothing to do (laughs). So we have to find our own projects just to keep busy.
F4: (laughs)
Vic: (says something in Mandarin)
Van: I think in the long run, it reverts back to our personalities as well. It's because our personality is so different. We have so many, uh, different, uh, interests as well, you know. So we, of course, as a human being would wanna pursue our own interests to, uh, to do other things that we're, we have more passion for. But then yet when the timing calls for us to come back again, we will always be here.
LH: Um, Jerry, let me just continue with you, a little bit on the personal note for each of you individually, since you're such individuals. You started as a model. Um, was show business, entertainment, movies, TV, an ambition of yours?
J: Uh... Yes, I think so. When I was a model, it was natural to think about going into entertainment. That's why I was happy for the opportunity to act in a drama. Then, after I have had a chance to try acting, singing and dancing, I realized that I really enjoyed it and that performing was something I wanted to do more of.
Later or tomorrow, Part 2.
And please, please, please, if you're planning to post this anywhere, please give the link of my journal along with your post, okay lah? Okay lah ;)