bluedolphin
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The Grudge 2: Interview with Edison Chen
chinese name is 陈冠希 very cute guy!!!!
sina.com
he's gf is MAGGIEQ?
The Grudge 2 is currently shooting at the famous Toho Studios in Tokyo, Japan. Vancouver-born Asian actor Edison Chen will be playing a pivotal role as an investigative reporter who is trying to figure out what the grudge is, and how it kills.
Today he is acting opposite Amber Tamblyn, who plays the role of Karen's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister. They are doing a scene in which they're in his apartment, talking about the strange goings-on, and making some tea. (Sounds pretty scary, huh?)
Q: Is this your first English language movie?
Edison: Yes, it is. I’m pretty excited about it, pretty pumped up. My character is Eason. I’m a reporter for a local newspaper, but I am actually from Hong Kong. I left Hong Kong because, I guess, it’s too boring. It’s all entertainment. So, I want stranger stories, stuff that’s abnormal. So the closet place I could find work, that would pay me, and for stories like that, it was Japan. I picked up on the grudge story, from Grudge 1 and I’ve been doing an ongoing investigation. I’ve been to the house, I’ve interviewed the detectives, I’ve interviewed everyone but Karen. Karen is Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character.
So the story starts off with me trying to find her, then the grudge starts happening to me. I kind of have to help her sister try to find out [what happened]. I’m the information-giver. She comes here, not knowing anything, just kind of thinking it’s a tragedy but there’s actually something behind it. In the beginning I really don’t care for her much, to be honest, because I’ve got the grudge and I’m trying to save myself. But then after I hear her story and everything, I kind of form a friendly relationship with her. We go and attack this grudge thing together.
Q: How did you find out about this role? Was it written for a Japanese person initially?
Edison: I’m not quite sure how they changed the script and the story and all, but they approached me when I was actually on vacation. My phone was off, and I kept getting these emails from my agent saying “you’ve got to call me!” One day I checked my email, thank god, and I called and I got on a conference call with Taka and Shimizu. They said, “Have you read the script?” I said, “I haven’t read anything,” They said, “We really want you.” And I was like, “Well, sure… Have you seen anything I’ve done before?” [laughs] And he was like, “Yeah, yeah. I really like your work.” I’d seen all the Ju-ons before, and The Grudge 1 so I was very excited to be a part of this. I came to Japan and started filming – that’s basically how it happened.
Q: What’s the difference shooting here in Japan?
Edison: Actually, I filmed a movie in Japan last year. But this movie is different from that. It’s different in the way they delegate work, it’s different in the working hours, it’s a different level of professionalism. I mean, compared to Hong Kong, it’s a vacation for me. In Hong Kong, you work 15 to 18 hours a day and the crew is much smaller than this. Time is so tight. It’s like, move-move-move. The script is written on set and it’s basically, “OK, say this!” [laughs]. “This is what happens.” You’re like, “What? Why?” “Just do it, please, go!” Here, at least, there are enough people to just guide me through the story. Shimizu has been really helpful with me. Whenever I have any questions, he’ll stop everything and give me pointers. It’s a lot different. I mean, I can’t… the budget is different too, so I can’t really compare the two. I mean, I can compare them in the way of everyday work but if that money was brought over to Hong Kong for an Asian film I don’t know how they could do it as well, but I can tell you that for the first few days, my assistant was here with me. My American agent had told me no one has assistants on the set. And I’m like, “What? No assistants? Are you sure?” And then my assistant came for the first two days and he was like, “I don’t have anything to do.” They’re doing everything; it’s just been an amazing experience.
Q: You grew up in Vancouver, Canada, yet this is your first English-language film; can you talk about that?
Edison: Yes, I grew up in Vancouver. My first language is actually English so I actually got into the entertainment business by chance. This one time I went to Hong Kong for the summer and I got cast in a commercial. They were going to New York, I love New York, and so I said yes I’ll do it. And when I came off the plane, lots of paparazzi were taking pictures of me, offering me movies and then started to learn my Cantonese. I’ve been working for about 5, 6 years and this is my 23rd movie. I’ve waited for this day and I’m happy it’s come so quick for me.
Q: So this is your first Hollywood movie?
Edison: Yes.
Q: You’ve shot films in Japan before, what makes this set different than other Japanese films.
Edison: Just look at the set, you can tell the difference. There’s nothing like this set up ever in any movies I’ve shot. The first day I came on the set, I was like wow there’s a road in there, there’s a tree, like real trees, it was unreal to me. Anywhere in the world people are filming movies and I guess the whole feeling I get from every set and every crew is that they want to do a good job, get it done and hopefully everyone is harmonious. In that essence everything is the same but the little tidbits like what you have for lunch, like this right here is unbelievable to me, this right here (pointing at the craft table) I’ve never seen anything like that on a set before.
Q: In Japan?
Edison: In Japan it wasn’t like that either.
Q: There’s usually no catering whatsoever.
Edison: No, its lunch, dinner and if we work overtime, midnight snack. And then everything else is like you bring to the set.
Q: Do you speak Japanese?
Edison: A little bit, I’ve been learning for about two years now, on and off, in between filming, whatever. I can speak with people on a friendly level but if you get me into an interview where I have to be detailed or talk about something intellectual, it’ll never happen.
Q: What’s been the most rewarding and challenging aspect for this project for you?
Edison: Just to work with everyone has been quite rewarding for me, I can tell that they’re really into their job and really respect it. The lighting people are very proud of what they do, the camera men, the production managers here are something that I never encountered as well. They take care of you to the full extent. Producers in Hong Kong, I’d see them on the set once or twice throughout the whole movie, here they’re detailed via everything. "How are you doing, what do you need, you got the script, are you ready, need anybody to help you translate," etc. It’s just been unbelievable and a learning process as I want to become a director one day. Before I worked with maybe 10 or 15 directors and I saw their directing styles. Now I see the production of it and what it can really mean. And just to be able to break into the American market is unbelievable to me too. I thought maybe like a lot of people like Jet Li, Jackie, Chow Yun Fat, they got their breaks when they were 30 something. And my whole career, I was thinking maybe if I shoot one or tow Hollywood movies before I retire, I’d be happy. And here I am, already, so quickly and doing this. I’m very happy.
Q: How old are you?
Edison: I’m 25.
Q: Tell us about Amber.
Edison: Amber is the most professional little female actress I’ve ever worked with…ever.
She’s goes in front of the camera and turns it on. In Hong Kong, it’s very hard for me to find actors like that.
Q: Every take she does, she gets better and better?
Edison: She’s great! I didn’t even know that she was doing soaps before. I talked to her and I was like, "You’ve been acting since you were what, 5? 6?" She’s great and her personality is cool, we have the same interests
chinese name is 陈冠希 very cute guy!!!!
The Grudge 2 is currently shooting at the famous Toho Studios in Tokyo, Japan. Vancouver-born Asian actor Edison Chen will be playing a pivotal role as an investigative reporter who is trying to figure out what the grudge is, and how it kills.
Today he is acting opposite Amber Tamblyn, who plays the role of Karen's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) younger sister. They are doing a scene in which they're in his apartment, talking about the strange goings-on, and making some tea. (Sounds pretty scary, huh?)
Q: Is this your first English language movie?
Edison: Yes, it is. I’m pretty excited about it, pretty pumped up. My character is Eason. I’m a reporter for a local newspaper, but I am actually from Hong Kong. I left Hong Kong because, I guess, it’s too boring. It’s all entertainment. So, I want stranger stories, stuff that’s abnormal. So the closet place I could find work, that would pay me, and for stories like that, it was Japan. I picked up on the grudge story, from Grudge 1 and I’ve been doing an ongoing investigation. I’ve been to the house, I’ve interviewed the detectives, I’ve interviewed everyone but Karen. Karen is Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character.
So the story starts off with me trying to find her, then the grudge starts happening to me. I kind of have to help her sister try to find out [what happened]. I’m the information-giver. She comes here, not knowing anything, just kind of thinking it’s a tragedy but there’s actually something behind it. In the beginning I really don’t care for her much, to be honest, because I’ve got the grudge and I’m trying to save myself. But then after I hear her story and everything, I kind of form a friendly relationship with her. We go and attack this grudge thing together.
Q: How did you find out about this role? Was it written for a Japanese person initially?
Edison: I’m not quite sure how they changed the script and the story and all, but they approached me when I was actually on vacation. My phone was off, and I kept getting these emails from my agent saying “you’ve got to call me!” One day I checked my email, thank god, and I called and I got on a conference call with Taka and Shimizu. They said, “Have you read the script?” I said, “I haven’t read anything,” They said, “We really want you.” And I was like, “Well, sure… Have you seen anything I’ve done before?” [laughs] And he was like, “Yeah, yeah. I really like your work.” I’d seen all the Ju-ons before, and The Grudge 1 so I was very excited to be a part of this. I came to Japan and started filming – that’s basically how it happened.
Q: What’s the difference shooting here in Japan?
Edison: Actually, I filmed a movie in Japan last year. But this movie is different from that. It’s different in the way they delegate work, it’s different in the working hours, it’s a different level of professionalism. I mean, compared to Hong Kong, it’s a vacation for me. In Hong Kong, you work 15 to 18 hours a day and the crew is much smaller than this. Time is so tight. It’s like, move-move-move. The script is written on set and it’s basically, “OK, say this!” [laughs]. “This is what happens.” You’re like, “What? Why?” “Just do it, please, go!” Here, at least, there are enough people to just guide me through the story. Shimizu has been really helpful with me. Whenever I have any questions, he’ll stop everything and give me pointers. It’s a lot different. I mean, I can’t… the budget is different too, so I can’t really compare the two. I mean, I can compare them in the way of everyday work but if that money was brought over to Hong Kong for an Asian film I don’t know how they could do it as well, but I can tell you that for the first few days, my assistant was here with me. My American agent had told me no one has assistants on the set. And I’m like, “What? No assistants? Are you sure?” And then my assistant came for the first two days and he was like, “I don’t have anything to do.” They’re doing everything; it’s just been an amazing experience.
Q: You grew up in Vancouver, Canada, yet this is your first English-language film; can you talk about that?
Edison: Yes, I grew up in Vancouver. My first language is actually English so I actually got into the entertainment business by chance. This one time I went to Hong Kong for the summer and I got cast in a commercial. They were going to New York, I love New York, and so I said yes I’ll do it. And when I came off the plane, lots of paparazzi were taking pictures of me, offering me movies and then started to learn my Cantonese. I’ve been working for about 5, 6 years and this is my 23rd movie. I’ve waited for this day and I’m happy it’s come so quick for me.
Q: So this is your first Hollywood movie?
Edison: Yes.
Q: You’ve shot films in Japan before, what makes this set different than other Japanese films.
Edison: Just look at the set, you can tell the difference. There’s nothing like this set up ever in any movies I’ve shot. The first day I came on the set, I was like wow there’s a road in there, there’s a tree, like real trees, it was unreal to me. Anywhere in the world people are filming movies and I guess the whole feeling I get from every set and every crew is that they want to do a good job, get it done and hopefully everyone is harmonious. In that essence everything is the same but the little tidbits like what you have for lunch, like this right here is unbelievable to me, this right here (pointing at the craft table) I’ve never seen anything like that on a set before.
Q: In Japan?
Edison: In Japan it wasn’t like that either.
Q: There’s usually no catering whatsoever.
Edison: No, its lunch, dinner and if we work overtime, midnight snack. And then everything else is like you bring to the set.
Q: Do you speak Japanese?
Edison: A little bit, I’ve been learning for about two years now, on and off, in between filming, whatever. I can speak with people on a friendly level but if you get me into an interview where I have to be detailed or talk about something intellectual, it’ll never happen.
Q: What’s been the most rewarding and challenging aspect for this project for you?
Edison: Just to work with everyone has been quite rewarding for me, I can tell that they’re really into their job and really respect it. The lighting people are very proud of what they do, the camera men, the production managers here are something that I never encountered as well. They take care of you to the full extent. Producers in Hong Kong, I’d see them on the set once or twice throughout the whole movie, here they’re detailed via everything. "How are you doing, what do you need, you got the script, are you ready, need anybody to help you translate," etc. It’s just been unbelievable and a learning process as I want to become a director one day. Before I worked with maybe 10 or 15 directors and I saw their directing styles. Now I see the production of it and what it can really mean. And just to be able to break into the American market is unbelievable to me too. I thought maybe like a lot of people like Jet Li, Jackie, Chow Yun Fat, they got their breaks when they were 30 something. And my whole career, I was thinking maybe if I shoot one or tow Hollywood movies before I retire, I’d be happy. And here I am, already, so quickly and doing this. I’m very happy.
Q: How old are you?
Edison: I’m 25.
Q: Tell us about Amber.
Edison: Amber is the most professional little female actress I’ve ever worked with…ever.
She’s goes in front of the camera and turns it on. In Hong Kong, it’s very hard for me to find actors like that.
Q: Every take she does, she gets better and better?
Edison: She’s great! I didn’t even know that she was doing soaps before. I talked to her and I was like, "You’ve been acting since you were what, 5? 6?" She’s great and her personality is cool, we have the same interests
