Singpao Interview September 2003 Ekin Cheng Yee-Kin

From his early advertisment for lemon tea a large audience still regards Ekin as the Sunshine boy. Later he hosted a childrens program, 430 Space Shuttle, and another audience knows him better because of that. These were ten years ago, but Ekin still has the reputation of a fun loving boy next door. Although this image could cause you to think he lacks a career mind he conducts himself to a basic rule. Laughing he said that even though you have to behave most seriously when working he still wants to feel happy.

In the movie Floating Landscapes he plays a painter who suffers from an incurable disease. Ekin said that although the painter has a fatal disease he makes a cheery optimistic life, in the end it is only the illness that causes him to leave this world.

Regarding death, what is your view?

Ekin: Death is part of human life. We must endure it. I am not alarmed that I will die because you fill your life and then leave. However, it is the people who are left behind who find it the most painful.

If you discover your own life only remain a short amount of time what would you do?

Ekin laughing: Have fun, surf the net, travel and sightsee other places, spend time in the sun, when the time comes discover will die it will not be tragic.

Recently there have been many reports concerning a secret marriage with Gigi, we are not able to choose, but before you leave this world wouldn't you want to get married?

Ekin: Very much didn't do this.

In the movie although you know you are going to die from a fatal illness, still attend to romantic love with Karina, how are you still able to do this?

Ekin: You are able, want to make the most of life, but specifically worry about ones own meaning. People live little, in fact shape of life is most selfish.

Ekin has a unique perspective on romantic love, reporters ask him if he wants to pursue romantic love.

Ekin: My world vision stems from the benefit of good fortune. Some love stories are very tragic and because of this can keep the feelings for eternity. Recently Anita Mui revealed that she suffers from cancer. These things all influence my life attitude. Apart from my work, I cherish my girlfriend and my family. I want to also keep time for my hobbies and to play.

This kind of opinion appears to make people sense you are not serious about your career.

Ekin: Even though I am serious about my work my personality is such that I want to enjoy myself and feel happy.

Isn't it true that you often have fun at irregular times?

Ekin: Because I dive for example, my regular time to do things is early morning, everyday at 7am. In fact I would rather give up sleep time to do this. Basically then it is unlikely to affect my work schedule. The schedule is already established for all my hobbies. My Mandarin already shows progress, everything seems good life attitude.

Today is Ekin's birthday according to the lunar calendar, he is exactly 36 years old, but maybe because of his good life attitude he doesn't really look his age, maybe more like 26 years old.

In Floating Landscapes Ekin is playing the part of a dying painter. The movie Company specialy invited the famous painter Jimi to draw some pictures into the picture frames for the movie. Coincidently, it seems years ago Jimmy Liao also contract Leukemia. Asked Ekin if he felt that the role was a bit similar to Jimmy's life.

Ekin: It is different. Jimmy is healthy again, but in the movie I start the scene about to die.

What do you think of Jimmy's work?

Ekin: I have seen Jimmy's work before. I feel his work has much creativity and I think the form is very special. Recently with Gigi had the chance to meet Jimmy and exchange some ideas. Although I perform a painter the place I draw pictures differs far from the actual artist.

Ekin loves to freely travel and tour various countries, to film Floating Landscapes you spent time in Qingdao, did the cold weather affect your impression of the place?

Ekin: When I first set out I thought the air temperature would get warmer so I carried inadequate warm clothes. When I arrive I find out that the air temperature is below freezing, I don't know how many degrees below. It was very cold, you feel cold feet and then is seeps through your body. Really very unpleasant.

You have spent time in Korea and Japan sightseeing, if you had the chance would you like to go back to sightsee in Qingdao?

Ekin: Qingdao's scenery is nice, I also found out that it has good diving scenery. The people are very nice and friendly, but in the evening everyone wants to return home when it gets dark. By 9pm it would become a dead city, only a few 24 hour hotpot shops would remain open.

You often go to Japan in recent years, yet you don't seem as excited to go there, where would you most like to go?

Ekin: For a long time I have wanted to go to Easter Island. I feel this place is very magical. However realistically, after I reach 40 years old my career will probably be less so then I will have the ability to fulfill my cherished wish to go to Easter Island.

This year Ekin has been in the comedy My Dream Girlfriend the action movie Heroic Duo and the art film Floating Landscapes.

Ekin: I always wanted to make an art film but difficult to find the person. When Li Miao-Xue the director was willing to give me the chance to try I was really happy.

Ekin you were able to attend the Venice Film Festival, in the past you have only attended the Tokyo Film Festival. How was the first time to go to Europe?

Ekin: It broadened my mind. At the premiere ceremony almost the whole site come to see the film. People were standing up and still more come in. Karina and I nodded to the acclaim but we were both surprised and embarassed, we didn't know how to react, after all we were only there a short time. The experience honestly is unforgettable.

This year you have filmed many different kinds of movie, which kind suits you most?

Ekin: I feel all along that action movies suit me most because I have had much experience. But I hope to have more opportunities to film art movies. Honestly, there is no special kind.