Vid rec: my favourite BY, ZYL interview so far

[mekare]

So I’m guessing most of you have seen this already, both are interviewed separately for/by Sina Entertainment (a TV channel??).

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xHIs_RPpJoo

I like several things about this vid:

- they mostly focus on professional questions
- they give them space to answer

As fun as the quick question rounds are in other vids, I get kind of thirsty to hear some real thoughts from both of them, not just on internet culture and their fame. I also really loved their answers for their characters, and how they felt about the show Guardian (yes they are both aware it has flaws).

Interesting things:
Zhu Yilong:

In the scene where Zhao Yunlan catches Shen Wei cutting himself, they simply "reacted to what the other one acted" and didn’t rehearse the emotional stuff. On improvisation, he says that he felt able to improvise with Bai Yu because he "dared give him" his spontaneous ideas during the scene. He also describes Bai Yu as looking a bit dorky and childish but "being exquisite in the heart” *teeters dangerously near the rpf cliff*
He wishes for more logic in the plotline and that the focus wouldn’t be as tightly on Shen Wei and Zhao Yunlan though I'm guessing most fans would disagree with that statement ;-) But he also defends the show against some trash talk because he says no one (or two) actor(s) could be responsible for the success of a drama, all departments contribute (I feel so vindicated).

Bai Yu's thoughts on the show were very interesting too. It seems initially he wasn't sure it could be done (after he read the novel) and his team convinced him to do it because it had been changed to "brotherhood". He thinks of Zhao Yunlan as at first glance a 'man of pleasure' but with something delicate inside (which I'll forever take as confirmed headcanon). Oh and agreement was that ZYL is a good leader (at least that, since he doesn’t have any powers on the show).

Comments

[naye]

Yuuup. The whole show is on YouTube, unsubbed.

So when he says he's never played anything like this before? Acting. (He's good at it, too!)

[unrelaxing]

This is such an interesting game to see played out. Usually I get a bit annoyed when actors or other celebrities emphasise their straightness, especially when playing LGBT roles, but this is a whole ‘nother context. Then to know he was actually lying (about never having done a role like this, and potentially on having to be convinced?) is ... what a balancing act.

But to see the way these two actors really delved into their roles is so amazing! And I’m so happy at ZYL’s refute that he and BY carried the whole show while also still hitting some of my own thoughts — I think it’s conpletely possible to expand the universe without shifting away too much from the main characters fans are so attached to, so I believe in the best of both worlds in that regard.

[mekare]

Usually I get a bit annoyed when actors or other celebrities emphasise their straightness, especially when playing LGBT roles, but this is a whole ‘nother context.

Me too! Especially when they are *actors* ffs, whose job it is to portray human emotions reagrdless of morality/censorship etc.

But since the situation and culture is so different.... now it makes me want to find out what actual life is like for gays in China.

[unrelaxing]

Yeah, it's a different context even if we're talking Asia. Are there 'out' celebrities in China? These are the things I'm not entirely sure of. In Korea, I know three - only one whose career I can say is comfortable. Would this even be an option in China, to 'come out'?

I do wonder though - taking on LGBT roles like BY did for his debut - was that a huge risk or does it not matter? It confuses me quite a bit.

[naye]

My ABC wife laughed at the idea of a celebrity "coming out" in the PRC. When I quizzed her, her take was:

It's happened in Hong Kong, but the mainland? A celebrity who lives and works there? Unthinkable. The scandal alone would guarantee they'd never work again - and that's if the government didn't literally make them disappear (or recant)...

I mean, someone still could. We don't actually know what would happen. But signs point to this being the end of your career (and possibly your life). While dragging your family and agency with you (guilt by association). Because that's how the PRC rolls.

[mekare]

Oh thank you for clarifying this! I had suspected, but I hadn't known that people would actually disappear for this.

[mekare]

I have to let you know that I couldn't even watch 9 minutes of that show last night. I thought to check out the first episode for the pleasure of seeing bai Yu, but HELL NO. It was so bad I kept cringing and wanting to protect him from the terrible directing and script. Secondhand embarrassment is a huge issue for me.

[naye]

Ahahahaha yeeeaaaaah having fast-forwarded through the first scene to escape the cringing, I feel you so hard! It's NOT a show for those of us with embarrassment squicks. (Someone linked to a spanking scene and just. I am STILL CRINGING??)

[mekare]

THERE IS SPANKING? I am so tooooooooorn. Who is getting spanked? bai Yu? Hopefully not!

ETA: RONOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

[naye]

Ummmm.

It's the ETA that you found the scene? (It's simultaneously VERY TAME and EXTREMELY EMBARRASSING.)

[mekare]

Haha no, I only realized that you used a Ronon/Jason Momoa icon after having hit post. Ronon was (and stilll is tbh) my obsession during January! I adore icons where he's smiling.

[naye]

RONON! :D

Ahahahaha I completely failed reading comprehension there. But to answer your question:

Bai Yu.

... and now I must go excise the memory of that scene from my brain again. ^^;;;

[mekare]

Even though I'm probably going to DIE of embarrassment I need to see that scene. For art refrence purposes. *cough* that's the only reason.