[TRANS] Seungri's interview VVVI Style Second Season Vol 8
English translation by Mimi | marthapido
Right now, VI is in the middle of Dome Tour as Big Bang. He is popular as entertainer on variety shows and this time he appears as an actor for UULA original drama “Yubikoi~ Kimi Ni Okuru Messege~”. He acts passionately as Seungho,a Korean university student who came to Japan for homestay! This will make the audiences cry.
Vol.8 Acting enthusiastically as a Korean university student, VI shows a new side as an actor!
-- UULA original drama “Yubikoi~ Kimi Ni Okuru Messege~” finally has been started right.
VI: I’m so happy because I also have been looking forward for it. Honestly, it’s totally different from what I read when I received the script with what I actually acted. But of course in a good meaning. I’m also someone who’s creating a piece of art, so I understand what’s the director really wants. During filming, I took good care of the director’s point of view, and inside it, I tried to portray Seungho by myself.
-- VI plays the role as a Korean university student Seungho, someone who is very caring and we can feel his earnest kindness toward Miu, played by Takimoto Miori. For VI, what is your impression on Seungho?
VI: He’s similar to me (laughs). To begin with, the one who wrote the script really did many studies about me. From 1 to 10, it was totally me. I had a chance to talk with that person and I was asked, “Seungri san, what do you think after reading the script?”. I replied, “The character is similar to me so I’m not having a hard time when acting. I was able to act naturally”. And then she said “Of course it would be like that~”, I asked her again, “Eh, why is that so?”. “I wrote it while watching Seungri san yourself, so of course it will turn out like that!”
After I heard that, I think that Ah~ she really thinks if me while writing the script. To think back, that made me so happy. (laughs)
(T/N: I’m not sure the scriptwriter’s so I just assume as a ‘she’)
-- During this situation, probably I will do it like this~ this kind of thing, do you read the script while overlapping it with yourself?
VI: Seungho is diligent and he has a calm personality but me, I’m usually so cheerful and I’m more playful than Seungho. And then, Seungho keeps enduring his own feeling and didn’t tell anyone by keep it by himself. But me, I can’t be patient since I’m stubborn, so I will tell my feeling right away. “Do you remember me?” “Don’t remember?” “That’s not good” I will say it (laughs) How should I say, Seungho is waiting for his first love, if it was me, before that, I will search for her Twitter and Facebook. That way is more faster right? And then, if I can’t find it I will ask my manager to find her. (laughs) My manager can do anything so I can rely on him.(laughs)So, if it’s in my case, my story will finish in episode 1. (laughs)
-- That will be a problem as a drama.
VI: You’re right. That’s why Seungho is just nice (laughs)
-- While you were acting, “Ah~ I’m suppose to say it like this~”, don’t you have anything that make you feel irritate such as this?
VI: When I started to engross myself with the drama, I focused on acting as the character Seungho so, I didn’t have a problem. Seungho believes in his partner 100% and he has self-restraint. But me, I can’t believe a girl fully, and can’t believe them easily (laughs). That’s the biggest different between Seungho and VI. (laughs)
--Other than that, everything is almost the same right.
VI: Well, yes. And then Seungho’s good point is he understands his partner’s feeling well and can cheer for his partner from his heart “Do your best! I’m on your side!”. For example, the person that I like maybe she likes other person right? At that time, can you support her whole-heartedly? But for Seungho, he is someone who can do that and he can understand her. If it was me, at the point when I know she likes other person, I will say “If so, I’ll just go back to Korea” (laughs). Then I will say, “I came here only to tell my feeling” and then I will just leave. Because I guess it’s better to respect that girl’s feeling so I will just step aside.
--Even to the girl that you really like for a long time?
VI: Because, the girls doesn’t like me so if I continue to chase her, I’ll become a stalker right? (laughs)
--That’s right. But, if you already like her for a long time, it’s difficult to just give up isn’t?
VI: "VI: Please go out with me
VI: But we made a promise long time ago. Please go out with me~
Girl: No, it’s impossible. I have someone that I love.
VI: But we had a promise before! You’ll become a liar!
Girl: (On a phone) Excuse me, is this police?"
VI: I’m sure the scripts will become like this (laughs) So, to avoid this, I will say manly, “Okay, I understand. I hope everything goes well between you and your partner! See you!” then saying bye bye with a smile and never see her again.
-- So how did you remember your lines?
VI: For my lines, firstly, I translated everything to Korean. I can read Japanese if it’s in hiragana but I want to completely understand since I’m the one acting.
--Indeed. Sometimes there’s a different between the nuance.
VI: So, after I grasped everything in Korean for one time, I changed it to hiragana to remember.
--VI san not only can speak in Japanese but also can read.
VI: Only for hiragana. I know some Kanji (Chinese character) but still difficult.
-- No no, that’s already good enough.
VI: To top that, the scripts are really interesting so rather than reading to remember my lines, I read it casually and fully enjoy reading it. I’m not someone who is originally an actor so I received the scripts and prepared 2 months before the shooting started. From that time I was already really exciter (laughs)
-- Were you really looking forward for the shooting?
VI: I was worried if I ever cause trouble to all my costars. Other than me, all of them are all actors but I’m just a newbie actor and have to act in Japanese. Plus, I received an important position in the drama and I feel that depending on my role, the fun of the drama will be decided.
--Seems like there was some pressure
VI: There was. While doing music there is also some pressure but I have more confidence. But for acting, honestly, I don’t have confidence yet. This time, I have many scenes with the main character Miu played by Takimoto Miori san. Takimoto san and other casts really helped me a lot so I’m really thankful.
--Besides, the drama shooting was during the time when you produced your solo album and doing your promotional activities right? Wasn’t that hard?
VI: To be honest, there were several times when my head becomes a mess. The day after recording, I became the MC for a variety show, and the next day I have to act… there were 3 different VI so when I combined all, mentally I become tired. When I’m the artist VI, I have to show the cool appearance while singing and performing. During variety show, I have to be bright and cheerful Seung chan and have to pull out the charm of the guests. When I’m acting, the role is that I have to bear with Seungho’s sadness which really has a big gap that sometimes I no longer can keep up.
-- How do you switch yourself?
VI: I became quiet without saying a word since morning. When I went out from hotel, I didn’t even say a word in the car and go to the shooting location. My manager understood that I was getting into my character so he just asked what I want to eat, and that was it. After that he didn’t talk to me. If I open my mouth even once I will become excited (laughs). Just like Master (Akashiya) Sanma (laughs)
VI: That’s why I tried so hard not to open my mouth. Maybe because of that, I talk a lot right now (laughs) I, really like to talk so I really have fun doing this kind of interview.
-- And next week too, can I count on you?
VI: Of course. Next week, I will tell behind the scene stories during the drama filming, so please look forward.
