November 1, 2004

Last night was Halloween, Ekin had originally planned to go in costume to attend Halloween Crossover party, however shortly before his manager Lam Shan Shan informed him she had arranged a photo shoot for a magazine leaving him no time. The crossover event publicized his latest movie Leave Me Alone. Ekin said that fortunately he had taken the initiative and earlier together with friends had enjoyed a Halloween crab feast. Unfortunately though he only ate two, afterwards he had a sore stomach, his manager also suffered. It meant that he had to find a make up artist to cover his pale face.

Ekin was asked if he had sent flowers to Gigi who is in performance in a stage play. He said of course he has already sent a flower basket. Ekin said he had seen Gigi in a stage play before, and anyway this was not the first time she had been in a stage play. He noted that the first time she was in a stage play was many years ago in Summer Night Dream. The reporters laughed and noted that this was when he decided his feelings for her. Ekin was embarrassed and told them this was not a good topic.

Today Ekin leaves for Beijing as the Shiseido JS spokesman to take part in a 20th anniversary celebration event. Later he will be going to Japan to take part in an Asia region music exchange event. He will also in perform in Tokyo.

Leave Me Alone competed at the Tokyo International Film Festival. Last night Peng Fa said that at the first showing of the movie the venue was completely full. He also said that Ekin seemed to have so many fans.

Takungpao
Wenweipo
Singtao
Sun

November 3, 2004

Ekin a few day ago, in his capacity as the Shisheido JS spokesman, went to Beijing to attend the Company's tenth anniversary celebration. The company invited an number of their high level personnel to attend. Because Shiseido is a sponsor of the National Olympic Team, a number of Olympic athletes also attended. Among them was breast stroke swimmer Luo Xue Jian. She discussed skin care with Ekin. She felt that still the most important was health and healthy skin will you can see.

The premiere of Ekin's new film Leave Me Alone will premiere soon. Shisheido indicated that they would bring a number of people to the premiere. Ekin was a little startled. He laughed and said the the tickets for the premiere were already being fought over. If it was the case that they really come then probably would need to arrange a larger theater, or he would need to rent the whole theater.

Wenweipo
Takungpao
oriental daily

November 4, 2004

Yesterday Ekin attended an exhibition of the song lyric works of art penned by the late Lin Zhen Qiang at the Hong Kong Central Library. Yesterday's event was a ceremony to donate some of Lin Zhen Qiang's manuscripts. A number of Ekin's songs were written by him such as "Together" , " A Man Who Will Walk Through Fire and Water for You" ,"Till the Earth and Sky Fade Away" etc. Ekin said it is a shame and he will be missed, his contribution to the music circle was far reaching , and his song lyrics will remain in everyone's heart. Lin Zhen Qiang's widow was asked if there was anything she was no willing to part with. She said that she wasn't willing to part with her husband, but everything else she could let go. The exhibition will be open until December 31, 2004.

sina.com

November 6, 2004

Today Ekin and Charlene publicized their new movie Leave Me Alone. During the publicity event they organized a tug of war, Ekin didn't really compete and Charlene of course won. Ekin was then attacked by water pistols as punishment. Finally they released many balloons into the sky to end the event.

A weekly publication published gossip that Charlene secretly is in love with Ekin for at least 6 months. Ekin indicated that he had not seen such a report before. He was not at all embarrassed, telling reporters that he already had a girlfriend. As to the report he agreed that it was totally ridiculous. He said that the relationship between himself and Charlene was that of big brother, little sister.

Also a few days ago Ekin and Karena were working on their new movie. In the dining hall Ekin offered to feed Karena an egg shaped pastry. He looked dumbfounded when she opened her mouth to take it from his fingers.

HK online
Ent 163
Takungpao
Sina.com
Wenweipo
Singpao
Oriental Daily
The Sun

November 7, 2004

Early this morning Ekin together with Hacken Lee, Carol Cheng, Ao Jin Tang and many other actors and singers attended and participated in the "step by step create height" TVB event, at the International Finance Center in Hong Kong. Before the recording and the competition got underway everyone worshiped the gods to pray for a smooth event.

HK online
wenweipo

November 8, 2004

Reporters caught up with Ekin and Karena on the set of their new movie Jack and Jill. They were filming in a family restaurant as the movie is a kitchen love story. Recently Hong Kong movies seem particularly to favor food themes. The movie company has invested $8 million in this light romantic love comedy.

The plot of the story is of a family owned western style restaurant. The owner has long doubled as the chef, now the restaurant is famous he wants to retire as a result he hires Jack, played by Ekin, to replace him as head chef. The restaurant manager Jill, played by Karena, does not like him or his style of work, and the two if them often insult each other. Ekin has a girlfriend played by Bobo Chan, and Karena a boyfriend played by Hu Bing, however both relationships are having difficulties, and both of them discover at the same time that their partner doesn't love them. Wallowing in self pity the two finally begin to realize the other's merits and gradually they come to have romantic feelings for each other.

Filming has been overnight for several days, consequently both Karena and Ekin were very tired. Karena indicated that she was collaborating in this movie with two big children, Hu Bing and Ekin. She said that Ekin is always playing video games and when he isn't playing, he is cracking jokes to keep every one happy. However, one day he told a joke and she couldn't stop laughing. The director had to stop shooting so that she could get herself under control. Afterwards she told Ekin she would have to stay away from him, because it just wouldn't do not to be able to film. Reporters asked her about her coking skills and whether her boyfriend Chen Guangrong praised her cooking. She said she mostly made simple things, they tasted good but they weren't good to look at. She also said she seldom had time to cook because she was too busy filming and making albums.

Ekin during the break in filming and interview often rubbed his eyes and drank tea. He admitted that he was extremely tired, but he wasn't willing to admit that drinking tea lifted his spirit.

" I like to drink tea,because drinking water has no flavor."

Ekin is actually quite interesting in cooking.

" I am most expert in pan frying steak."

Before he entered the entertainment business he almost became a chef, while working at the hotel with his friend. Actually it was my friend who was hired. It was during this time that he took part in a singing competition. After that he was launched into entertainment.

"I like to cook particularly western food. Chinese food is delicious but the smoke inside the kitchen is terrible, the heat also has to be very high, I think I am a bit fearful. Western cooking has choice quality ingredients and is very clean. Often I can get together with friends and I am the chef and it's not bad. I have many good friends, however it isn't always easy to invite to come together. For example Jordan we only speak on the telephone once in half a year. But when I was needing friends they all automatically came to visit."

Reporters felt it was a pity that Gigi could not share his gourmet cooking. They also asked about the difficulty of finding time to be together.

"Steak is a thing I can eat, she dare not eat such items as she is afraid of getting fat. Regarding having time to getting together this year has been particularly unfavorable. I return to Hong Kong and then she leaves. I have to leave Hong Kong and she returns home."

Ekin always has a smiling appearance and seems to make it his mission to keep everyone happy. He always loves to tease Karena about her appearance and her acting. He indicates that this joking demeanor is his own way of coping with the pressure of filming, and takes care of the too serious atmosphere.

"If people think that to film with me will be very exhausting, the pressure is great and that is tragic, so I take care of the atmosphere and let everyone relax, It's better right? When you film comedy it is important to be in a happy frame of mind, then you can more easily get into the role."

In recent years, although he has filmed many comedies he recognizes that comedy is not really his special forte. Also as an actor he feels should try other directions to develop. Recalling past experience he knows that the movies that helped his career the most were the Young and Dangerous series, however if you ask him which he likes best he will say Feel 100% with Sammi Cheng.

"Every person had highs and lows, I have people say i am a person who fallout of the air. I also have people say I don't understand how to film comedy, I can endure and manage. Hong Kong seems to mostly film comedies. This is likely because want to tap the mainland market. A comedy can more easily pass through the censorship investigations. The mainland audience however may feel Hong Kong just is paying the bills and the movies all the same and not attractive."

Ekin is currently publicizing his other new movie Leave Me Alone. He considers it to be not bad. In the film he plays two roles and the flavor of the movie is black humor. Additionally, next year he plans to return to TVB to film a television drama.

"Filming for television compared to movies is relatively long. I take it as an advanced acting studies opportunity. I also hope to again film drama so that the audience can once again have a new fresh feeling."

sohu.com
ent163

November 9, 2004

The day before yesterday Ekin took part in the TVB step by step to create height competition. A number of the competitors had to be treated for exhaustionThe competitors judged the competition to be physically demanding but did not want to lose prestige. Ekin felt that you couldn't blame responsibility. It was possible that actors exercise insufficiently. Always want to do again filming and this causes no time to exercise. He noted that " Actually everyone did their best, otherwise it would be unlikely they would go all the way and faint away. The day before yesterday I saw everyone exhausting themselves, they are all anxious could burst a vein."

Ekin has always passionately liked sport. His habit is every morning around his home to ride his bicycle. He still plans to buy a two seat bicycle. Asked whether if he together with Gigi did sports he said, " Difficult, so little time, at his health check up the doctor says my heart compares to an average person jumping slowly, is fit to make sportsman. He very much wants next year to climb a Himalayan mountain peak, but he is doubtful of the possibility. If it becomes a reality he would want to stop work to train.

Oriental Daily

November 13, 2004

Over the last few days Charlene has been charged with being secretly in love with Ekin. Although she has denied it, the director of Leave Me Alone in which she stars with Ekin, talked of a scene in which she has to embrace Ekin. He joked and said she "flew in to capture a big bite" holding him very tight. He can't help but think she really is secretly in love with Ekin. Regarding this Ekin said she is a "little sister". Charlene talked about the role's challenge as for the first time she was not confident. She couldn't look too young, so it is very different from her previous roles.

Yao JunJie ( Ekin)was born in Hong Kong then moved to Thailand later. He is a quiet person and never says a useless word. His mind always stays in his own world. Even his girlfriend Azhen ( Charlene)is not able to understand him totally. Once he went back to HK to visit his twin brother Yao JunWen who he had not seen for more than 10 years, an unexpected traffic accident caused paralysis and he had to stay in HK to get the treatment.

Yao JunWen ( Ekin)is the younger brother. When he was eight years old, his parents got divorced and each of them got one of the two boys. JunWen stayed in HK with his mother, while JunJie moved to Thailand with his father. The two brothers were separated from then on. During the past years, JunWen never told anybody about his background. He is a fashion designer now and maintains a lukewarm relationship with his boyfriend Gu Zhengzhong.

Because the brother are alike they swap identities to avoid JunJie being picked up by the police for the accident. This means that JunWen is forced to leave for Thailand with JunJie's girlfriend to accomplish an important business deal. In Thailand JunWen realizes his brother's background. Trying to finish things quickly he and Azhen land themselves in a predicament. On the other side JunJie finds out that JunWen has a boyfriend.

Ent 163

November 14, 2004

Ekin quietly arrived in Korea to film an MV with a local new person R.envy for his new album "Delete". The MV has already had its first broadcast in Korea. There are also reports that he is close to signing up for a new film from Jingle Ma which would have him once again collaborating with Tony Leung.

Ekin also took a series of pictures for the Hong Kong casual clothing line YCM D brand. The clothing appeals to the younger generation between 16 and 35 who are not content to just go with the flow. "fashion" "emotion" "vitality" are the buzz words for this line of clothing.

ekin.cn
gznet.com

November 16, 2004

In the new movie Leave Me Alone Jun meets his brother's lover played by Jun Lam. There is a scene in the hospital, where Jun Lam wants to take Ekin's pajama's to wash. Trying to persuade Ekin to remove them is like sexual harassment as he indignantly lashes out at Jan Lam.

Ekin said that this was the first time he had played brothers, the first time he had played in bed, his co star causes a man sexual harassment. Jerry Lam added that in the scene his character is deeply in love with the other Ekin, and so when Jun attacks him to stop him taking the pajamas it is very tragic.

Wenweipo
Sina.com
Sohu.com

November 17, 2004

Earlier there have been reports concerning Charlene Choi's secret love for Ekin, although both denied it. Last night at the premiere of their new movie Leave Me Alone the movie company had some fun at their expense. They announced that they both would get married and invited to play in the performance a registrar to perform the ceremony. Before Ekin and Charlene hardly know their feelings they were asked to hold coconuts. After that the director Peng Fa tried to compel them to mutually drink wine, however in the end neither of them drank. Afterwards, Ekin indicated that the Movie Company likely plan the wedding because in the movie won't settle to get married. Ekin was not bothered, but Charlene was embarrassed. The whole thing was for publicity. Ekin said that their relationship was the same as a brother and sister. However he sighed and talked about each time he he filmed marriage scenes always finally doesn't happen. Also he has not made any advertisement before wearing wedding clothes. Reporters asked him when he might really get married. He answered that he needed to work first, but he often thinks would like to have a wedding on an Hawaiian island perhaps in a ocean side mountain cave then a strong wind can send out a sound like church bells ringing, otherwise want to go to Bermuda or perhaps dive and watch the fish. Reporters laughed and asked what Gigi's answer would be? Ekin laughed even more and said "you are asking me?"

Singpao
Takungpao
Mingpao
Wenweipo

November 19, 2004

Ekin and Peng Fa were interviewed by a local radio station to publicize their new movie Leave Me Alone, which is now playing in theaters. Ekin talked about a business plan that he is developing with Charlene to market a treatment for baldness. He was not willing to divulge the secret ingredients. The recent gossip involving Charlene and himself as a couple was for publicity. This business deal was prepared before this, however it is not hard to see why people have misunderstood. Ekin in a bad mood said that of course he and Charlene had a relationship, otherwise it would not be possible to have worked together on four movies. (My Wife is 18, The Twins Effect, Protege de la Rose Noire, Leave Me Alone.)

At the premiere of Leave Me Alone Ekin had said that because TVB was removing people from their line up, including his long time friend and co worker Tan Yu Ying, he asked people not to watch the TVB children's programs. During the radio interview he cleared up his comment saying that his meaning was not that people shouldn't watch TVB, he only felt that some people should be retained. I was frozen for three years and now I see others being frozen. He was asked whether he would attend the TVB end of year awards ceremony. He replied that he not been there for 3 years and so wouldn't fight to attend this year. Then he was asked if he had given up the idea of ever winning a prize. "Of course not, it is the administration that choose for me not to attend. The company well understands that to sing is my only interest."

Ent 21cn.com
Mingpao
Sina HK.com

November 21, 2004

Today Ekin attended an expo rally for Canon image and sound products. Ekin is the spokesman for the Canon digital ixus i camera. At the rally the organizers planned in many locations sexily dressed "cat" women to dance. They also wanted the audience to learn their dance. Reporters thought Ekin was most embarrassed to be on the stage with them and was seen to blush. Reporters asked him about it. He said he was not blushing but he thought he might as well go and learn the dance.

Ekin sang in performance with the female dancers. He said there was no embarrassment because everyone understands it is their proffession. And anyway he has seen it before, it is easier if the dancers touch as then it is easier to communicate, Ekin laughed and said also just this once do the hot body dance with the dancers.

Later, Mr. Fitness, a body builder, brought four camera's to give to Ekin, his whole body was muscular and he made ferocious noises. Reporters asked Ekin if he had enough courage to show his body wearing just the triangle briefs of Mr. Fitness.

Ekin said " I dare not because I hav too much hair. If I was to wear something like that I would have to shave first. Simply it is like a forest, so I even rarely wear shorts. The last time I wore shorts was to participate in a charity run." Reporters pointed out that on the cover of Discover he exposed his hair. Ekin looked at them incredulously with a don't believe you expression. However he went on to say that he felt that modern people seem to be even more conservative than in the past. He doesn't know why modern people see these normal occurances as the focus and such situations embarrass them.

Wenweipo
Sun
Mingpao
Oriental Daily

November 28, 2004

Yesterday Xiao Sheng affectionately know as A Shu passed away. His numerous disciples in the entertainment field were saddened and grieved to hear of his death. Nadia Chan, Ekin and Andy Lau credit him as the person who first gave them the first opportunities to perform and to sing. They both said that without him they would not have had a chance to enter the entertainment industry and produce so many movies and albums. Ekin said that A Shu had always supported the next generation and given new people many opportunities. Ekin said that in the early years it was Ah Shu that had given so many of them a chance. The first pairings of Ekin and Nadia Chan were in those times. Ekin said that he felt extremely saddened at A Shu's death.