BAZAAR CHINA INTERVIEW WITH BKPP - RELEASED 31 MAY 2021
Also on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/arashickarened/status/1399274467382104064?s=20
“The sun has set, let’s go see the moon next.”
Reminiscing the hustle and bustle of Season 1, and the now empty temple, cram school, island, beach…as the words “Goodbye Phuket” appeared, these secret places no longer belong solely to the two young men.
As Teh and Oh-Aew watched the night slowly swallowing up rays of light from the setting sun, the decorative lights turn on. The prediction on the bamboo lots “Happy days will one day fade away” makes one nervous. Saying goodbye with an embrace, the young man’s eyes were filled with anticipation and uneasiness towards the future.
The two most important lessons of our youth: Learning and seeking knowledge, and self-searching.
In Season 1, “The entire Thailand was concerned about whether the two will eventually become strangers, but Chinese fans were more concerned about whether they get accepted into the college of their choice.”
In Season 2, bearing the same dream of becoming an actor, the two of them set out for different colleges in Bangkok. They have their own circle of friends, new friends, and new challenges.
Teh kept a longer hairstyle and Oh-Aew dyed his hair red. Their relationship is also under rapid change and growth. In the trailer, Oh-Aew’s uncertainty towards the future showed when he said, “I feel like I may not be suitable for acting on-stage.” As for Teh, when faced with the choice between “friends or dreams” once again, he is no longer the same fearless youth of the old. The trailers that have been released so far formed an exciting opening chapter to the Thai series “I Promised You The Moon”, which will premiere on 27 May.
P’Meen, the director of Season 2, said, “The plot for Season 2 will focus more on the mutual support between the two of them, as well as important life decisions. The English title for Season 1 is ‘I Told Sunset About You’ and the title for Season 2 is ‘I Promised You The Moon’. The sun and the moon are a romantic symbol, mirroring each other. The past story has come to a close and the new story is about to begin.”
Season 1 featured mainly daytime scenes. Phuket, which is basked under strong sunlight all year round, held the youthful courage to take leaps, as well as self-searching. Season 2 will feature mainly night-time scenes. In the capital city Bangkok, the young men encounter the possibilities of new types of relationships, experiencing more complex and deep emotions and achieving growth in the midst of such changes.
“The sun always rises and sets in the same direction, slowly emitting its lights. However, the moon rises in a different form each day, constantly changing its shape. The moon has both a romantic and slightly sorrowful image. Although the moon is very beautiful, it also seems to symbolise change. If we were to use the sun and moon to represent love, the sun is a passionate first meeting and the moon is a gentle promise. If it has been promised, will it not change for sure? That’s not the case. Season 2 started from a reading and questioning of that sentence,” P’Meen said.
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Billkin’s Chinese name is “Ma Qun Yao”; a name given by his grand-uncle which means “pride of the family”.
There are traits of Teh we see in Billkin: Focus and determination. However, people around him all agree that rather than the sentimentality seen in Teh, Billkin is “more rational and more mature”.
In Season 1, Billkin gave up his spot at college to Oh-Aew and ended up going to another college after he failed the entry exam. In Season 2, Teh became closer to his dream. Billkin hinted, “You can wait to see if Teh eventually becomes the actor he always dreamt to be.”
“The keyword for Season 2’s Teh is ‘Coming of Age’. Teh was an emotional person in the past and his emotions affected his decisions. However, as the character matures, he will have more considerations when it comes to making judgement about problems that arise in life. He will be more rational when handling problems that he had previously faced. But there will be new problems that come with his age.” Billkin continued, “Teh is just like any ordinary person we find around us. There may be changes to relationships with family and friends and to his dreams at any time, when he develops new perspectives, including new perspectives towards love, as he ages.”
“I Told Sunset About You” was the first series Billkin led and was his “Coming Of Age Ceremony”. He said, “This series, including the filming process, is an extremely precious life encounter. I have never thought that I’ll have my own project with PP, or a series that made us so close. I don’t know if there will be anything in the future which will make me so filled with passion again. I feel that we have put our hearts into this and the results really changed our lives. It gave us chance develop in many areas and is a major turning point in our lives.”
Billkin cherished every script reading session, training and workshop held prior to the commencement of filming for Season 2. “The emotions felt in Season 2 is probably different from before. Previously, my fellow cast members are younger brothers and sisters so it felt like high school friends. Season 2 is about college life so I was almost always with my seniors. P’Goy was like my teacher. P’Oab was a very respected senior. P’Na also leads other series. In terms of age and experience, we respect them a lot. The atmosphere on set was very good and we learnt a lot from them.”
Billkin’s favourite Mandarin word is “Like”.
Prior to shooting Season 1, he went for Mandarin classes and he likes the pronunciation of the language. “Because it felt difficult and very challenging.”
He likes Chinese cuisine because he grew up with it. His family also practices Chinese rites. His favourite dish is Peking Duck.
He likes Jacky Chan from Rush Hour. He has not been to Shanghai but loves Beijing very much. His favourite place in China is Yunnan - Dali, Li Jiang, and Shangri-La.
The deepest impression he has of China fans is: “They have their own characteristic. When they like someone, they will love the person very much and be very engrossed in it. Like I see them on social media trying very hard to send us Thai messages, sing (for us), fly to Thailand (to see us), or organise fan support projects.”
His favourite comment in Mandarin is “Handsome”.
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BAZAAR: The director said that the script will integrate actual experiences from you and PP. What specific experiences are those?
Billkin: The story of us meeting again at cram school was based on what actually happened. We also lent some shade to some scenes involving inner emotions.
BAZAAR: Since you are the original inspiration for the character, what are the similarities and differences between you and Teh?
Billkin: Actually we are very similar. In fact, we share more similarities than differences. I feel that we are similar on the inside, in our souls. When the character was being created, I had the chance to participate and share my thoughts. What’s different is the character background and setting in the series. For example, Phuket, his family and the people around him - these are not similar to mine.
BAZAAR: In your perspective, what are the similarities and differences between PP and Oh-Aew?
Billkin: I feel that similarly, they are similar on the inside, in their souls, just like me. I think they are at least 80% similar. The differences are more on the character background.
BAZAAR: Do you find it difficult to get into a scene because the both of you are friends and very familiar with each other in real life?
Billkin: I feel that the key point is to focus. Be it PP or another person I am acting opposite, if we don’t focus, we may not be able to get into the scene. If I’m acting opposite PP, we may end up laughing midway because we are very close. But if we are able to focus eventually, our acting will not be affected regardless of who we are acting alongside.
BAZAAR: In your perspective, what is PP’s brightest charm/moment? What do you think is the most significant growth in PP between Season 1 and Season 2?
Billkin: PP is a very good person. He cares a lot for people around him. He is a kind person and I believe everyone can sense that. He is not the type of person to hold any bad thoughts towards anyone. I believe everyone around him can feel the kindness he has for people around him, and this makes everyone unconsciously love him. I have always been with him in my personal life and in my working life. We experienced many things together and in the process of this I saw his continuous growth. At the same time, I grew together with him in many matters.
BAZAAR: In Season 1, the director often asked the cast to improvise freely using the script as a base. Can you share an improvised scene which left an impression?
Billkin: There are many. Sometimes, after we have acted according to the script, P’Boss would not shout “Cut”. He would allow us to continue naturally and see how we would act next. If we did focus on the character in the scene, we would act instinctively to the situation and there could be some unexpected “Magic Moments”. For example, there was a scene where Teh returned to his own room after spending time at Oh-Aew’s family’s resort. Teh took out the notes Oh-Aew wrote using the coconut-scented pen and started smelling it. Led by emotions, I ended up with smudged ink on my face by the end of the scene. So an additional shot was included to show my face with smudged ink. Also, the scene of me eating coconut at home, the very emotional scene at the end of episode 4 weren’t in the original script. They just unfolded naturally when the emotions hit.
BAZAAR: What was the moment which actor PP made you most proud during the filming for Season 2?
Billkin: I appreciate his focus very much. He is very serious about work and views his career development very important, considering how to better himself. He has become more serious and mature since Season 1.
BAZAAR: What are the greatest challenge and difficulty you faced in Season 2, and how did you overcome them?
Billkin: I had to familiarise myself working with a new director and new cast, because since “My Ambulance”, I have been working with P’Boss. P’Meen and P’Boss have very different working styles and as actors, we have to work according to the directions of the director. The hardest part is to recalibrate oneself. To me, there is only one chance in each scene. If I missed it, I missed it.
BAZAAR: Are crying scenes difficult for you? What do you do to achieve a breakthrough? Are there any exciting scenes with PP in Season 2?
Billkin: It was quite tiring on the day when we filmed the crying scene from Episode 4 in Season 1. We finished filming within a day, starting from 6am and ending at 2am the next day. It was a heavy task for me. With P’Boss’ guidance, I used that tiredness and unpleasant emotions as the lead-in to those intense emotions in the scene. When I find myself unable to act well, there can be two issues. The first is that I don’t understand the character’s inner thoughts. This can be overcome by making adjustments and getting into the character’s thoughts. The second is that despite understanding the character’s inner thoughts, I am unable to deliver the emotions. Sometimes we may manage this ourselves. Sometimes P’Boss will help us, because he knows us very well. Similar to Season 1, Season 2 has various happy and unhappy parts involving family, feelings and relationships with friends. Life itself has different sides to it. However what’s different is that the story will take a more mature route so viewers who like this type of story will like the content.
BAZAAR: Between friends and dreams, which will you choose?
Billkin: If I had to choose between friends and dreams, I won’t be able to make a choice. I feel that both are very important and one cannot replace the other. They are two entirely different things.
BAZAAR: Do you have any food which you used to not like when young but now love it very much?
Billkin: I grew to like coffee although I didn’t drink it at all when I was younger.
BAZAAR: Please describe what “youth” and “first love” are in your perspective.
Billkin: Youth is the age of curiosity. It is the age which clearly depicts how a person changes and grows in various areas. It is an age of transitions including social background, humanity, emotions and love. It is the age which liberates many faces of our humanity. “First love” is when we develop good feelings for someone and those feelings can be identified as love. That is first love. I think it is a milestone of youth and an understanding of one’s own feelings.
BAZAAR: What does the “Moon” in “I Promised You The Moon” mean to you?
Billkin: Someone that is impossible. It is something we promised to reach, but something we cannot reach.
BAZAAR: What kind of person are you in real life? What is your current dream? What are your daily interests?
Billkin: I am very serious person. If I were to set a goal, I will prepare a plan and find ways to realise that goal. It’s not about competing with anyone, but competing with myself. I feel that being able to realise a goal is a form of happiness. It is something that cannot be purchased with money. It is irreplaceable. I have passion towards many things. My family does business and my family members all hold BBA degrees. Since young I grew up with the mindset that I want to be a boss when I grow up. I chose to study BBA partly because of my own passion. If I succeed in it, it’s a fulfillment of my passion. My dream is to do what I am passionate about until I achieve success in that area. Acting and writing songs are both my passions too. My current interest is to brew coffee in the morning and to drink coffee.
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PP’s Chinese name is “Lin Yi Kai”, given to him by his grandfather and means “beautiful victory”.
Unlike Oh-Aew, who is written as a student bad at studies, PP excels at studies. However, the people around him, including PP himself, feel that Oh-Aew and PP are very similar in personalities: sincere, kind, tolerant. Once familiar, he will become with lively and playful at times.
In Season 1, Oh-Aew was struck down when he failed to get into the college of his choice, though he eventually got in. In Season 2, Oh-Aew has arrived at another growth stage. He encounters a new social circle, new friends, and an environment different from Phuket. PP divulged, “Oh-Aew still dreams of being an actor, because that is the dream he and Teh share.”
“Teh and Oh-Aew will experience all sorts of emotions in Season 2 (sour, sweet, bitter, spicy), be it in love, sorrow, quarrels, regrets, about family, friends and lover. Because of the changes in the environment and in social circles, there is also a major turn in Oh-Aew’s life.” As for the red hairstyle seen in the trailer poster, PP prefers to let viewers guess the impetus behind PP’s decision to change his look.
“I Told Sunset About You” is the first series PP leads in, but when he first started on this project, it was “without awareness”. “We didn’t have an awareness of how much preparation we ought to do for the filming. But in Season 2, we have had some experience. Although I still feel that I don’t have enough experience, I could better prepare for the filming this time round.”
Having worked on this production for two years, I have developed deeper feelings for this series. Oh-Aew is another piece of unforgettable memory, because he is now part of me now,” PP said.
PP valued every script reading session and training held prior to the commencement of filming for Season 2. “I feel that the training sessions with P’Goy and P’Oab’s were exciting new experiences in that I was working with these elder brothers and sisters in my capacity of an actor. If not for this series, I may not have the chance to train with them. As for the friends with who attended training with me, there are New, Ta, Pea Sarit and P’Boss. Together with the casting team, we choose these roles for friends. I feel that they are all very unique, but when we gather together, everything felt just right. Actually, Pea Sarit and I are friends in real life so it was easier when we had to work together.”
When speaking about his takeaway from Season 2, what PP brought up most was regarding the beliefs he holds in relation to acting. “My belief is that apart from being convinced by the person acting opposite me, I have to convince myself as well. To focus on a character and understanding him. There is no need to think about who I am acting with. If we have sufficient focus, sufficient understanding of the script and the inner thoughts of the character, we will be able to adapt to any scenario.”
PP’s favourite Mandarin word is “Ai, love.”
“It is a simple word, but with deep meaning.”
He likes learning Mandarin. When learning, he will draw relations between each word and a relevant scene. “Mandarin is very complex. I feel it’s very challenging and interesting.”
His favourite Chinese artiste is Jackson Wang.
His favourite Chinese dish is hotpot.
His favourite Chinese city is Shanghai. He used to visit Shanghai every year as a child because of his mother’s business trips. He has not gone there in the recent years due to work and examinations, so he misses the place.
The thing which makes his happiest is when he makes fans happy. “I had the chance to see some short clips from China fans and also birthday support activities. I am very happy that I could become a character who brings them together. I can feel the effort put into those. On days when I feel weary, seeing these gives me encouragement. It makes me want to create better works and improve myself again.”
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BAZAAR: The director said that the script will integrate actual experiences from you and PP. What specific experiences are those? (T/N: The original text is this. The magazine forgot to change the question.)
PP: There has been real life elements added since Season 1. For example, Billkin and I meeting at cram school is from real life. Half of the emotions felt by the character is also realistic. The other half was added in to make the plot more interesting and exciting.
BAZAAR: Since you are the original inspiration for the character, what are the similarities and differences between you and Oh-Aew?
PP: Oh-Aew is me and I am Oh-Aew. Even if It’s not everything, most of his feelings are my feelings.
BAZAAR: In your perspective, what are the similarities and differences between Billkin and Teh?
PP: Billkin and Teh have many similarities too, but in terms of feelings and inner thoughts, Teh is more immature than Billkin.
BAZAAR: Do you find it difficult to get into a scene because the both of you are friends and very familiar with each other in real life?
PP: Being familiar with each other doesn’t make it difficult to get into a scene. Rather, it makes it easier for us to work and we are able to trust each other more, resulting in more ad-lib moments to happen because we know each other’s pace. We share mutual understanding both in our characters and also in our real lives.
BAZAAR: In your perspective, what is Billkin’s brightest charm/moment? What do you think is the most significant growth in PP between Season 1 and Season 2?
PP: When Billkin sings, his voice is very charming. Most people like Billkin’s dimples. He looks very cute when he smiles. The experience and increased opportunities in the past two years taught us to grow continuously and to shoulder on more responsibilities. He learnt to better manage his life, his working time and the time spent with family and friends. He had greater understanding of his work and we became more apt at working together.
BAZAAR: In Season 1, the director often asked the cast to improvise freely using the script as a base. Can you share an improvised scene which left an impression?
PP: There were many. The most obvious one was the scene on the beach after the underwater scene. P’Boss asked me to forget about the script and just think about what I wanted from him in this scene. He asked me to think up dialogue lines myself so that everything came from me.
BAZAAR: What was the moment which BK made you most proud during the filming for Season 2?
PP: Not just in Season 2. To be able to grow with him and to have continuous opportunities to work with him makes me feel very proud every day.
BAZAAR: What are the greatest challenge and difficulty you faced in Season 2, and how did you overcome them?
PP: “Myself”. I was determined to make Season 2 better than Season 1, so sometimes during a particular situation or time, or maybe because I was too drained out and lacked rest at that point in time, I ended up not being able act it out as desired. That made me feel like a failure and affected the scenes that followed. Sometimes, I have to manage myself and find ways to calm my heart, to shout “cut” to myself and let myself out of the character. Then, before the next scene, to focus and get into character instead of focusing on myself.
BAZAAR: Are crying scenes difficult for you? What do you do to achieve a breakthrough? Are there any intense emotional scenes from Oh-Aew in Season 2?
PP: For myself, I will not do anything in particular to lead into character. I will get into character directly. In order to do that smoothly, I will memorise the script and understand what the character needs from the scene before getting a sense of the scene. My performance is driven by improvisation. As I can directly hear what my acting partner is saying, I don’t have to worry about what the character has to say or reply in the script. I just listen and the lines which I hear will affect me, leading me to react. Oh-Aew will continue to have crying scenes in Season 2 but he will also have many different types of emotions and feelings too.
BAZAAR: Between friends and dreams, which will you choose?
PP: I will choose to have both, because I believe that friends will lead me to realise my dreams.
BAZAAR: Do you have any food which you used to not like when young but now love it very much?
PP: There are many. I didn’t eat spicy food at all as a child but now I mostly eat spicy food. I didn’t dare to try certain fruits when I was a child but now I like them. I didn’t like to eat vegetables when I was a child but now I like them.
BAZAAR: Please describe what “youth” and “first love” are in your perspective.
PP: Youth is the age of finding oneself, when one still doesn’t understand one’s feelings, when one still doesn’t know that what one is doing is not wrong and end up reflecting upon oneself whether it is wrong. My “first love” is the love from my parents, because they loved me before they saw me. There is no love deeper than this.
BAZAAR: What does the “Moon” in “I Promised You The Moon” mean to you?
PP: From my perspective, Season 1 is the sun. It is scorching hot. It is youth and perplexity. In Season 2, I have grown up. It is the moon. It emits light but it is calm. It is more unhurried and more complex, with more thoughts.
BAZAAR: What kind of person are you in real life? What is your current dream? What are your daily interests?
PP: I like fun things. I like being with friends. I see myself as someone who tends to get nervous but won’t let that show. I try to get through situations easily and make each moment be a happy one. Right now, I want to make my family feel happy, to make the people around me feel happy, and to make myself feel happy about the things I do, regardless of the work I’m doing, regardless of when it is, and regardless of who I am with. My current interest is modelling for people to take photos of. I like to keep photos. When I look at the photos, they don’t only retain our faces but also the memories behind the photos - who we were with, the happiness that occurred, and the good feelings of being with those people.