foxghost

Link to original on Faith2018 (Click on his name on the left side to get to his page, with the full length vid — 5 minutes 22 seconds)

Brought to my attention via this tumblr post

Hello! I’m Bai Yu.

In the first half of this year, the question I was asked the most was, “The drama has become popular, but not the actor; what are your feelings about that?” And in the latter half it was, “After becoming explosively popular, had the state of your mind undergone any changes?” It makes me think of a principle imparted to us by the teachers when I was at central acting academy — “To act, one must first learn to act with integrity.” This is something I have always believed in without a doubt, and it is the most fitting answer I have for these questions.

[TN. 流量 / site traffic / hits is a pretty new word that means having a lot of fans who would rush to an actor’s post / page / drama / poll whatever and support them on the internet]

Everyone would always ask me questions regarding having a lot of hits, “How do you feel about hits?” “Do you feel like you’re an actor who brings a lot of hits?” etc. I remember someone once asking me, “Have you ever envied those having many hits?” And my answer at the time was probably: “I feel like having a lot of hits just indicates people would watch a drama because you were in it. I hope, that when other people pay attention to a drama that I worked in, it is a good thing,” and now I still feel this way, though I never did think that the latter half of my year can be described by such words as “explosive popularity.” But of course, the people who pay attention to me, the number of people who like me has increased by a whole lot. I am very grateful for the fondness everyone has for me, and their acknowledgement of my roles.

During this period of time, some people were worried whether I would change after so many people started paying attention to me, when it comes to such things as the standards for my choosing a project, my daily life and work and habits and so on, and even my staff have asked whether if my mentality has changed. In truth, from the moment I entered this industry, only when I was filming the very first couple of projects did I use to think: eh? When this airs, will there be many more people who know about me, many more people who would like me? Once that “novelty phase” has passed, that thinking went away. What’s the point of thinking so much about it? This kind of thinking can possibly affect my professional life. There is a limit to how much energy a person has, and what I value more is whether I am acting my roles well, whether my interpretation, my performance was complete. If we must speak of change, then maybe I’ve become a little bit “lazier.” Because aside from filming, other kinds of work really did increase by a bit, and it’s taken up relatively more of my energy. Compared to before, when it comes to allocating my time and energy I’m required to be more clear, and more clear-headed. Subsequently I would feel tired on occasion, but as a whole I’m still alright. I will continue to keep myself in good condition.

Looking back on my 2018, if I’m to describe it with a few words, it should be, “fortunate, busy, contemplative.” Fortunate, that so many people have, through my work and through my roles, learned of me, and the projects I have access to as well as the opportunities I can choose has increased. To an actor, these are extremely fortunate and blessed things. Of course other voices have also come along with it, good ones and bad ones. When I have time I would look at everyone’s comments; to persist on doing well when I see good ones, to accept the criticism when I see bad ones, and the ones that are too hard to listen to … well they would pass if I’d just smile. As my pen rests here, I still want to repeat that line of ‘chicken soup’ I have said so many times already: “Love yourself, love your family, love the friends by your side, let yourself become stronger so you can protect those people.” Compared to my previous situation, becoming more busy is inevitable. Like what’s written above, the allocation of time and energy, and the choosing of opportunities, to get used to a changing environment, also what’s most important, and what’s most difficult, is contemplating how to interpret a role at the time.

I’m very thankful to the people who pay attention to me, but being an actor, I know very clearly that such enthusiasm is a phase. This isn’t pessimism, and it has nothing to do with an inferiority complex or self-confidence. This is an awareness of my own profession: speak using one’s work; only a role can be your business card. So what if it doesn’t become popular? What if the number of people who like me lessens? I don’t know either. I only know that I will continue to act, I will continue to challenge myself in this occupation I’m passionate about, because this is the best way for me to give back to myself, and to give back to those who love me.