Sammul Chan: Having a leisure time in this fleeting life-Part 2

Acting needs to be refined by the heart

R: Your role in , the TVB series that just finished filming last year, should be a new challenge for you right?

S: Yeah. That shows the other version of Sammul Chan that everyone has never seen before. I was thinking too much when I evaluated this role of mine. Besides thinking of how to act the role, I was also considering the other three roles’ characteristics. Raymond Lam had to sit on a wheelchair because he was lame, Ron Ng’s role is cold-blooded so he’s cold, didn’t speak much, and had to look cool, while Kenneth Ma’s role is very good in fighting…

R: You seem like you were unable to control that “point” of your role?

S: That’s right. It’s because I was the one who created the atmosphere every time, so I had to have a lot of capabilities to do so. Maybe because Ray had to sit on a wheelchair, Ron had to play cool, while Kenneth had to fight all the time, thus no one’s chatting, and it was so boring (laughing)! One to one is still fine, but if comes to one to three, I'll be dead! It was quite hard for me, just as when you guys (the reporters) were visiting us when filming, you saw me running around, teasing everyone. I was making a new habit to joke with everyone.

R: Was the script sufficient enough in giving you the information about your role?

S: Yeah, it was quite sufficient. But there was a time when I had to calculate, will the viewers like it if I do it this way? If they don’t then it won’t be successful, so we had to do some revisions.

R: Do you always consider the viewers like this before you act your every role?

S: It’s the way you do it in Hong Kong. The success of my series cannot be guaranteed even if I’m a very artistic or advanced actor. All depends on the ratings, a series with a good rating is successful (laughing), especially TVB series. The viewers’ taste is the main factor to be considered for me.

R: What about your style? Do you choose to “abandon” or to “balance” things?

S: Of course it's the latter. I have to have a good time while acting. If I do enjoy myself but the viewers don’t like it, then it’s useless.

R: According to your “research” what do most of the HK people want to watch?

S: Hong Kong….How to say it (laughing). The rhythm of the HK’s people daily lives are very quick, they strain themselves too much, thus all are stressed out, so they need to watch dramas that are easy to understand and accept. Just like the TVB series which is airing now. It’s very good, I like to watch it too. You’re busy the whole day, get back home, turn on the TV, watch a bit, and I think it’s nice, it’s a good series to watch. Our profession as an actor is like this, and we have a definite job and responsibilities. Why is it called the “entertainment”? Because we have to “entertain” the viewers. Sometimes we don’t feel like doing it, but it’s our job after all. I feel like I’m on a mission when I’m working, it feels like all the HK people who watch my series, those who are already psychologically tightening themselves too much, it seems like the unhappiness of the millions of HK people are shouldered by me. When I think this way, I feel that I’m mighty and my job is so noble (laughing hard). I just think in a positive way, then I will feel more alleviated

R: Which place in the mainland China that gave you the deepest impression while filming?

S: I’m always deeply impressed by every place that I visited, like when I was filming . It was indeed quite laborious, the weather was cold, and we had to shoot a lot of rainy scenes. This was also the longest filming experience I’ve ever had in mainland China. About 3 months long. I had to celebrate the Chinese New Year alone. I even cried (laughing with a blush). (Was it because you were homesick?) Not really, it was actually like this. On the New Year’s Eve, we had to shoot some rainy scenes, everyone’s leaving already, and I was left alone to shoot a chasing a cart scene. Chasing after Huo Si Yan’s cart. Of course, she didn’t have to sit inside it for real as all that was needed was a cart for me to chase after (laughing). The falling rain made some sounds, and it was very cold. Moreover, the cart-driver said, “I have to stop filming now. I have to go home to celebrate New Year.” At that time I was…dumbstruck. It was very cold and we only had some more scenes left, we just had to shoot those and we’re done and could go home. The film crew called back the driver to shoot some more scenes, but again, when it was half-done, the person who was in charge of the crowd actors shouted to stop the filming, saying they had to go home. We can’t really blame anyone on this, because everyone wants to go home earlier on New Year’s Eve, but you also have to know before you come to the filming site of what to shoot and how long will it take right? I felt so cold after filming, and the custome artist who paid attention on me wrapped around a big towel on me saying, “Please don’t cry, kid. I know you’re very unhappy about the filming…” When she said that, I felt…ahh, what was I doing? I was speechless. Even the horse and the crowd actors could go home earlier, why couldn’t I? I went back to change my clothes, and tears started falling on my cheeks. One of the crews, Mr. Luo, saw me and wrapped around me his leather jacket. I said no at once because it would be a trouble if it got wet, but he said it’s fine, as my health was much more important, I had to keep myself warm in that cold day, because if I got sick, the crews would be having some real troubles then. I was so touched to hear that, it felt so warm, I felt like floating on a cloud. I went back to my hotel, seeing the whole sky filled with fireworks. I called my parents, sisters, and manager right after I entered my room. I was crying so hard alone. After I made the phone calls, I went out to eat with the crew, and felt much better. It was an unforgettable experience for me.

R: Your story really stirred my emotions. Let’s talk about some happy things.

S: (Laughing) Okay, okay. When we were filming in Yunnan, we were so happy as it was so beautiful and the weather was very nice. We had a great time there, four of us, four crazy people (laughing)! When we were free, we hang out together, ate out together, in their rooms or in my room, we all played together, it was so much fun. (Sammul suddenly remembered something) Oh, I forgot to tell you about the last half part of my “crying” story. On the New Year’s Day, I had to continue filming the chasing the cart scene, I had to stumble and fall, and lay on a poodle of water, and I guess the water was not clean, and it infected my eyes as it sprinkled on them, thus my eyes were swollen, and were very red. I said I wanted to go to a doctor. After I got the medicine I went back to the hotel, and just after I dripped the medicine on my eyes and was about to lie my head on the pillow, someone knocked on my door. “Sammul, can you go down to put on some makeup?” I was so helpless at that time “Makeup? What makeup? Can we continue filming when my eyes are this red?” (laughing with a helpless look). My eyes were like those of a rabbit's, so swollen. But still, I opened the door, as he also said the director was waiting so I better hurried up to go to put on some makeup. I said yes, and did I have a choice? No, I didn’t because I shot some scenes at the end (laughing). Fortunately, the crew were considerate, they let me to go back to rest earlier.

R: I read it from the internet that your next series would be or , is it true?

S: Mmm, these are not that correct. I’ve been asked to star in several series, from all over the places, but I still pick my next TVB series because the challenge would be much greater (laughing). Because….I had to act as a female (laughing)! I had to play a female role in the middle of the series, and it is also a comedy. Maybe people might think that Sammul Chan cannot act in a comedy series, does he even have a sense of humor (laughing)? Maybe because I look boring and stiff. At least I’ll enjoy the filming, and won’t concern much of whether it’ll be successful, because it’s beyond my control. If it’s okay, then it’s okay. But for me, the filming process is really fun. (I saw it in your blog that you posted a pic of yours when you’re filming for a scene where your eyes were swollen after fighting) Yeah, I think it’s interesting, I used my handphone to take that pic. I know that people like to see those kinds of pics that are casual and messy, although they also like pics of when I neatly dress up, but they also want to see the natural side of me from the pics that I took from my handphone from my daily activities, with my close friends etc. Back to the topic, I think the story plot of a series is the most important thing. It doesn’t matter of whether it is a modern, pre-modern, or ancient era. Because a series with a bad story plot, no matter how beautiful the costume, the hairstyle, and the artists are, it still will make a bad series. But a series with a good story plot only has to have its artists act according to the script, and it will already make a good series.
R: You are now filming between Hong Kong and the mainland, have you adapted to the different styles of filming between the two locations?

S: Yes, I have. Filming in the mainland is less taxing. In Hong Kong everything is so fast. We have to wake up every morning at six to make-up, film until dusk, and then film indoor scenes until three or four in the morning, go home, sleep for two hours, and start work again. In this way, we can film about twenty, thirty odd scenes in one day. Hence, under such circumstances, you do not have much room to ponder over the script, once the camera rolls, all you can do is to carry out according to whatever the script writes. (What are your rewards for filming in both locations?) Filming in Hong Kong can help train you to act out a certain expression in a very short time, train your speed. It’s like competition every day, you must be well-prepared beforehand, I only feel I’m doing ok these two years. After I film more often in the mainland, I understand why the pace in Hong Kong is so fast, because normally there are seldom scenes involving deep emotions. When I resumed filming in HK, the director of TA3 said to me, ‘You are taking a bit too long from one expression to the next, is it a bit too deep, can you relax a bit?’ (laugh) Actually, I think sometimes it’s necessary to ponder, the mainland and Hong Kong style can blend a bit together. In the mainland, they are very good at creating the atmosphere. In Hong Kong, it is like talking, talking, talking, talking non-stop. But sometimes there are scenes which don’t necessarily need talking, they are better depicted without talking. I feel that a person needs to use his brain, it will grow grass if you don’t use it. Hence I like to film in the mainland now, less taxing, not so tiring, and I can meet many actors, even from countries like Singapore, which is eye-opening for me.

R: Which mainland series gave you the deepest impression?

S: I’ve watched a few, but the most impressed is 血色西厢, I would rush back to the hotel to watch after filming, one episode a day. That kind of life is hard for us to experience, Hong Kong will not film such kind of series, even if it is produced, the audience may not like it. (laugh) I feel that the series is very powerful, although I have no such experiences, I can feel the same way. The storyline was full of twists, an ‘auntie’ (師奶) like me will pursue the series.

R: This time you came to Beijing, fans went to the airport to greet you, you should feel happy to see them?

S: Of course. Those who know me will say that I am a straightforward person, I will tell them it’s fine to come to see me, but please don’t skip your classes, don’t keep your parents in the dark, because I cannot shoulder such great responsibilities, this will give me a lot of pressure…actually I’m really happy to see them, because as an artist you need supporters to give you confidence, and to motivate you to give better performance. Of course, there is also the sense of vanity. (laugh) Say, you arrive, see a lot of people there, holding flowers, shouting your name, at that moment you will be very happy. (laugh) (You are very frank) (laugh) This is the truth. But for me to be happy there are conditions. When I was filming ‘The Four’, there were two girls that followed me. I told them they must go home, it doesn’t matter you are not studying or working. Some will stay for a few months, it’s too dangerous and too wasting money! I told them I was indeed not happy about it. I told them there are still many opportunities ahead. You now spent one month, two months, three months, but after five or ten years you will regret, because you have wasted the prime of your life. One week is fine, you can treat it as a holiday, but too long or skipping classes I will not like it. (Most of the fans are obedient?) Yes, most of them are. Because I will give them ‘black face’ on the spot, and they will go. It’s not that I don’t like to see them, but I have to do it. I use this method to force them to go.

About cats and dogs

R: I know you like cats, but I saw you taking photos with dogs and know you like dogs too, why don’t you keep dogs?

S: Yes, but dogs need people to care for them, they need a lot more attention than cats. Like what I told you, I finish work around three or four in the morning, and wake up at six or seven, what to do? They are trapped indoor for ten plus, twenty hours, just to wait for that moment I came home, it’s tough for them and it’s tough for me. Cats are much better in this aspect, all you need is to make sure there is something for them to eat. Further I have two cats, so they can fight with each other (laugh). You just need to play with them once in a while and they will be very happy. Now I have already raised my black cat to become a dog. It became quite attached to me lately, it will follow me wherever I go, and when I stop it will stop, and lay by my side like a dog and look at me, when it sees there’s nothing, it will look straight ahead again (laugh) (OMG, you raise your cat until it changes its character?) Perhaps I was really busy filming, it hasn’t seen me for a long time, and when I went back I found it has become like that! It was really strange, it must have missed me very much! But the other cat which I have kept for a longer time did not change much, when I call it, it will jump out with a purr, but when it sees there’s nothing much, it will go back. The two cats have very different characters.

R: Usually cat lovers do not like dogs!

S: I don’t mind. If rearing a child is not troublesome, I’d like to have one too, (laugh) but it’s too troublesome. I am an animal-lover, every animal has its own characteristics.

R: Are there new members in your fish tank?

S: Yes, I bought several small tropical fish home a few days ago. After I put them into the fish tank, I went to the toilet. When I came out, I saw the black cat by the fish tank like trying to grab something. It was because a fish had jumped out and the cat wanted to eat it. I scolded the cat, how could you eat it? Then I quickly put the fish back into the water to see if it could be revived, in the end, it stayed alive! (laugh) After that incident, the black cat knew that there might be fish that it could eat, so it often strolled around the fish tank, very funny! (laugh)

R: I heard that you went for an overseas holiday not long ago?

S: Actually after I entered the industry, I had not had such a long holiday, usually the longest break was about five days. Whenever I had about three to five days, I would go, South East Asian countries are the most suitable. The craziest was a Japan trip, I’d only got three days but I still wanted to go. (laugh) It was super exhausting. Immediately after I touched down on the ground, I wasted no time to see, eat, play. I did not even have time for the friends there. It was on the go non-stop until the last minute I was about to board the plane, very rushed. But I still wanted to go. (laugh)