Ming Pao newspaper (HK) week - featuring Vanness
Issue 1830

Translated by Amy of Faithful 4ever. You may not put this translation elsewhere.

Above scans are courtesy of Jerry BBS -- 19791979 v&we fan club, http://vandwe.hk.st


In Hong Kong there are many female F4 fans, Vanness said: "In the past years, the first time I came, I didn't like HK. I didn't have any friends, I felt very lonely."

Vanness doesn't like to speak English. He used mandarin to communicate, he asks a sentence and answers a sentence, but sometimes he would say holy cow.

Within F4, Vanness is the only one not growing up and being born in Taiwan. He was born in the US. At the age of 22, he went to Taiwan alone. He would return home to his parents once a year, and sometimes he wouldn't even see his family for 2 years. But whenever Vanness has the time, he would return to visit his family.

In order to be with his family more, he returned to the US to record his album. His mother and sisters also went to HK to support him in his first movie, Star Runner.

He expressed that he wants to enter hollywood. His reason is very wierd, all he wants to do is return home for dinner after work everyday.

Many females would dream to be one of F4's girlfriends. In Meteor Garden Vanness is very hua xin, in his heart his mother is the most important female.

In Meteor Garden, everytime Vanness appeared you would see his long straight hair. Many male audiences didn't have good opinions on this type of "flower like male." This year, because of Star Runner, he cut his hair and learned boxing with Qian Jia Le. His image was better and appeared more masculine.

Interview:
Wants to cut his hair


Q: Many people ask, "After you cut your hair, you look a lot better, how do you feel about this yourself?"
A: "Thank you! I started growing out my long hair in 1998. At that time I saw (some movie) and I thought this person in it looked very cool, so I decided to grow out my hair for him. I've already had this long hair for 6 years and I'm getting bored of it, I really wanted to have a haircut so that it would be easier to handle. When filming Meteor Garden II I already wanted to cut my hair, but the director said that I shouldn't cut it, it's best I leave it long.

This year coming to HK to film Star Runner, the director, Daniel Lee, asked me if I could cut my hair. At that time I need my manager's agreement, but I secretly dragged him aside and told him. "You don't have to ask them, when I get to HK, I'll cut it." I wouldn't look fit to be a boxer if I had long hair. Actually, if possible, I would like to a mohawk, with the scalp shaved except for an upright strip of hair that runs across the crown of the head from the forehead to the nape of the neck. (hehe i took that description from dictionary.com, it's similar to what he says)

Q: Are you considered a male that likes to glamourize? During the filming of Star Runner, I saw you looking at yourself in the mirror.
A: Reporters are mistaken, the reason why I looked in the mirror was because something went into my eye. During the filming of the scene, the director made it very windy, lifting lots of dust and stuff.

Many people look upon me and the other F3 to be idols, thinking that we only dress up pretty, everyone thinks that idols is only shuai (handsome), only a package, but we actually work hard for our job. I hate being labeled as an idol the most. When I was filming Star Runner, inside was very (don't know word sorry). For 10 days from 6pm filming until 7am the next day and then going to bed. I also have times when I work very hard.

F4 together doesn't mean success

Q: Meteor Garden II was not as successful as the first. After F4 developed individually, many people don't think good of it. Meteor Garden was really popular, what do you think you can film that can surpass your first?
A: That's a good question. (took a deep breathe, and then thought for 5 sec.) Everything that I have done so far wasn't to surpass Meteor Garden. I only want to do things that I enjoy doing. I won't think, will I continue to be popular? Will I still be as popular as I am now? I just want to film a good movie/drama, this is what I am currently approaching. If in the future I can be more popular, perhaps not, it's no big deal.

Q: If going solo isn't successful, will you and F3 come back together again?
A: We went solo only to do things that we want to. We never said that we won't worked together again. If we come across a good script, we will work together again. And F4 being together doesn't mean that we would neccesarily be successful. Just like Meteor Garden I's story was good to watch, in Meteor Garden II it lacked some feelings from the first. When we filmed the Meteor Garden I, everyone was very happy working together. But in the sequel, the director changed and the four of us were also busy doing some of our own projects, very chaotic. When filming, the feeling was already different, it didn't have some of the things included in the first.

With my own analysis, Meteor Garden's success is because the audience never saw a maiden's caricature drama. With this combination and freshness, it's the right timing with the right people creating a right matter, it might not be possible to happen again.

Best buddy is Zai Zai

Q: There is frequent rumors that F4 don't really get along well, have you and F4 become real friends?
A: These are all just rumors. We filmed together, sang together, we've been through a lot together. What is more precious than this friendship? We've went to different countries to perform. Sometimse when returning back to the hotel we would be very tired, but we would still go to one of our rooms to talk until the morning, I still have aftertastes of these.

Among the 3, I am most compatible with Zai Zai. He's the youngest, he's like a little brother. My little sister likes him the most. One time, we went to the US to do a promotion. I brought Zai Zai to my house. When my little sister saw him she was extremely happy.

Q: Your role in Meteor Garden wasn't that much. It seems like you don't get as much attention as Jerry and Zai Zai, would you get upset sometimes?
A: Having a chance to have a contract with my manager and to be able to film this drama I'm can't be anymore thankful, how would I be upset? Besides, I was able to release my own album, this has always been my dream. At that time I came to Taiwan alone to seek an opportunity. I didn't have any relatives, only a few friends. I had to stay at other's places and eat from the convenient stores. I just wanted to enter the entertainment world. Later when I got the opportunity to film in a drama, I frequently thank God. (Vanness is a Christian)

Working as a customer server at a phone company

Vanness was born in Santa Monica, California in the US. His parents divorced and his two sisters and he followed his mother. Later she remarried, his step-father is from Shanghai, and gave birth to his little step-brother and step-sister. As for wanting to be in hollywood, he has had the this interest ever since he was young.

"My childhood dream was to fly, just like superman, perhaps being spiderman wouldn't be bad either. Later, one time during a program, I had a chance to bungee jump. Originally I only needed to do it 3 times, but in the end I did it 6 times. I thought that I might not have the chance to do this again so I did it so many times. Maybe it's because I always wanted to fly."

At the age of 13 he became interested in dancing. Everywhere Los Angeles was black people dancing Hip Hop. The dancing atmosphere was very intense. He and 10 friends would frequently sit in front of the TV and learn how to dance from video tapes together. Later, they also entered a dance competition. Their best was winning second place.

After completing high school, he worked at a long distance phone company as a customer server for 2 years.

"During those 2 years I felt as if I was a complete failure. I didn't see a future working at a job from 9a.m. to 5p.m. There wasn't much to do or any opportunities. Everyday I would just answer calls and get yelled by people. 'Why is my phone bill so expensive?' Because you had too many calls. 'Why is my phone not working?' Because you didn't pay your bill. These questions are asked everyday, I really found it boring. I enjoy performing so I decided to save up money to go to Taiwan. My family was also very supportive."

His most beloved is in America

His older sister has been to Taiwan and entered the entertainment circle before Vanness. She was apart of a group called "Babes." They released 2 albums, but they were not that successful. But his other friend, Huang Li Cheng, created a dancing group called LA Boyz and they weren't that bad. In 2000 he bought himself a ticket to Taiwan. He went to a record company to seek for a chance. Later, he participated in Supper Sunday's Handsome Men contest and was seen by Angie Cai. He was the first of the F4 to sign a contract for Meteor Garden. What happens next is F4's story.

In order to be totally devoted in developing in Taiwan, he broke up with his Korean girlfriend back in the US. He also took good care of his long hair.

A few months ago he was seen to be with Vivian Hsu in Taiwan and they were rumored to be going out. Before the interview the television company said that any questions regarding the rumor with Vivian cannot be asked. But during the interview, when Vanness spoke in English, his manager wasn't worried and left. Asked him: "Do you like American girls or girls like Vivian Hsu?"

He said, "Maybe it's because I grew up in the US, I think that US girls suit me better. Then he expressed his opinion on returning home. "Coming to Taiwan and Hong Kong to work I would always be homesick. Last time I went back I was really happy. My family and relatives all came to my house, with around 20-30 people, my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. My cousins and I talked nonstop, this was the happest time I had in the past year. Everyone was together, making me feel warmth.

If there is a chance, I would like to go to hollywood to film. I know that hollywood's opinion on Asians, but I'm willing to act as anything. It doesn't matter to me if it's a small role, what's important is that I am able to take care of my family. I won't to work near my family so that everyday I after work I can go home for dinner. Right now I am only able to see them once every 3 to 4 months, I don't think it's enough. "

Three Yawns

The night before the interview staff called us to tell us they needed a one hour delay because Vanness' mother came from America to Hong Kong. The two wanted to talk and were afraid that he would oversleep tomorrow morning.

When he came to the interview his 27 and 12 year old sisters was also beside him. His little sister had a pink Sony camera. She constantly took pictures of her brother while saying in English, "These pics are cool." In the middle of the interview Vanness' mother came for her two daughters. When leaving they waved to everyone and waved saying, "See ya!"

Vanness probably was tired from talking with his mother last night, within 15 minutes of the interview he yawned three times.

No passing big crowds of female fans, no high pitched screams, no "Shi Q," no avoiding people a thousand miles, no long straight hair, this Vanness make people comfortable.