Chinese-English translations and subtitled videos. Translator at TDI, BBI, 6totsubs. List of my work: here. Please credit subzero if taking out anything! Ask me anything on Twitter (@cheoljay) or message me here, thank you :-)
[TRANS] Exclusive Interview With Wu Yifan: Do They Only Like Me For My Face?
(I only translated the part where he talked about his stint in Korea.)
âTruthfully, I went to Korea only to make a living, or in other words, to survive.â Wu Yifan taking the initiative to talk about his experience undoubtedly made us surprised.Â
âRaising children in the west is basically about giving them freedom to do what they want. After you are done with high school, go out and do things. No matter how affluent our family is, we wonât give you a single cent. My mother raised me based on this principle.â Wu Yifan said that he was always ânaggedâ at by his mother when he turned eighteen. âLook how good this familyâs son is⌠all of this was ingrained in me which caused âa mountain of stressâ. I would be frustrated and say âDonât talk about thisâ but I would remember that a boy must become independent at eighteen.â
Then was the old story of how he accompanied his friend to an interview and got selected himself. Wu Yifan went to Korea as the company offered free food and lodging which would ease his motherâs economic burden. Korea has a holistic star-making system and he was one of the screws [in the system]. From Vancouver, an aging city, to the fast-paced Seoul, he first experienced the ruthlessness and harshness of competition in a society.Â
âA lot of people set out determined that they want to be a star. I was different in that I wasnât a childhood star and had practically zero understanding of acting as a career. Other than occasionally singing in the KTV with friends, I was completely befuddled by dancing, not to say acting.â In the first two years, Wu Yifan did not even know what he was doing other than mechanically practising, singing, dancing. âI repeatedly told myself that no matter what I couldnât give up. I didnât have a good academic record and wouldnât it be embarrassing if I gave up halfway and returned to Vancouver?â
âAround the second year, I began to desire going on stage and showing what I can do to the audience. Slowly I began to understand acting and how to be an artiste⌠at that time I gradually realised I wanted to be a star.â
In 2012, 22-year-old Wu Yifan made his debut with a group EXO. The year after their debut the group officially released an album <XOXO> where its sales exceeded a million copies. EXO swept all kinds of awards in the 2013 year end award ceremonies. Everything went unbelievably well.
Wu Yifan was not defensive of his âmaterialistic desiresâ when he was younger: âI didnât know anything at that time, I just wanted to be an idol, I just wanted to stand on stage, with a bunch of fans liking me, wasnât that good? But the happiness only lasted for around a year before I realised something was wrong. Life was too bleak.â
âI felt that what they liked was âWu Yifan, handsome, handsome, handsomeâŚââ Wu Yifan repeated this three times, knocking into the air. âWhen being âhandsomeâ is the only label I had it made me frustrated, do you understand?â
Reporters followed this hot star for a day and could understand how it felt like being the centre of attention. The moment Wu Yifan walked out of the airport fans booked seven vehicles, each squeezing ten people in and following him like a shadow. A memorable fan was a fanboy who appeared in all four roadshows and who screamed his name at the same moment in all four shows.Â
âAt that time the fan letters I received mostly went âWu Yifan, I support you, I like you, you are really handsomeâ. I was thinking, did they only like me for my face?â Wu Yifan calmly recounted. âThe situation back then did not allow me to make my own music and only allowed me to showcase my voice through rap; I was also not particularly good at perfectly synchronised dances of high difficulty level. I have a tall build and am not as agile as others. I am better at hiphop and street dances that black people do.â
âI had to find something of my own and finally I decided to start through fashion. I could not choreograph my own dances, I could not pick, produce or sing my own songs, but at least I could wear my own clothes?â Wu Yifan started to pay attention to âairport fashionâ, showcasing his clothes coordination in a public place where he did not have to stand in a line with his group.Â
A year after paying attention to his airport fashion, Wu Yifan finally received another fan letter. That fan wrote, âI especially like you for your fashion.â
âFinally it wasnât about how handsome I looked.â Wu Yifan gave a smile of relief. âAfter that I finally felt like I had one more layer to myself.â
âAfter returning to China I can write my own lyrics and melodies, I can perform my own songs, I can produce, and gradually improve to become a musician. At the same time, I took an interest in performing sometime after debut and I am still slowly experimenting in that area. I hope I will have more labels to myself, like music, movies, fashion. I will not give up any of the three. It will be hard to balance all three, and will be exhausting, but I feel it is worth it. I am now at a time where I should work hard at my career, and I must persevere no matter how tiring it gets. This is my promise to everyone who likes me.â
Trans cr; subzero
Original article cr; The Paper
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[TRANS] 25 Happy Moments In The Year Wu Yifan Turned 25
NO. 1: Firstly let us have Boss Wu to share the first thing he did this year!
Wu Yifan: This year I officially made my debut in the Chinese movie industry with the movie . My benefactor Director Xu Jinglei, who paved the road for me, being satisfied with my performance also made me happy.
NO. 2: Can you share something fun you did with us?
Wu Yifan: I gave a speech at Sina Entertainmentâs 15th anniversary for the first time and it was quite meaningful.
NO. 3: The fans complimented you on making the male lead in the novel come to life.
Wu Yifan: I hope they will say the same after my collaboration with Liu Yifei in .
NO. 4: Wu Yifan opened the door to a new world in fashion in 2015.
Wu Yifan: Met Ball opened the door to a new world for me too, and I met some new friends.
NO. 5: So are you considering making fashion?
Wu Yifan: Yes, because recently I donât have hair, so I started from the top and designed my own caps.
NO. 6: Boss Wu isnât designing your own products behind our backs right?
Wu Yifan: No, I am still a model for âs 10th anniversary cover. Yes, I am a model, yes, I am.
NO. 7: Indeed, actors who cannot sing cannot be good models as well.
Wu Yifan: There is too much to learn. Previously when I went to Paris to see Givenchyâs show I felt I learnt a lot, and I even managed to take time to stroll along the streets.
NO. 8: Boss Wu, please tell us what you like to do aside from work.
Wu Yifan: Iâm still a kid, so I like to do things that kids love to do.
NO. 8: Kids love to play games.
Wu Yifan: Iâm playing games too, and I even endorsed the game.
NO. 9: When work gets heavy do you wish you can be at two places at the same time?
Wu Yifan: I still have my Little Fanfan at Madame Tussaudâs Museum. Little Fanfan is the only 90-liner in the wax museum and I am very honoured.
NO. 10: Other than splitting into two, what other superpower do you wish to have?
Wu Yifan: Everyone, please look forward to where Fanfan can do magic stunts. I also love the movie poster of myself, but of course it would be better if there werenât so many bulbs behind.Â
NO. 11: Why did you shave your hair impulsively for ?
Wu Yifan: Director Xu Ke and Xing-ye are both my idols and I would be nervous when I work with my idols [1]. Itâs not bad shaving my hair off as well and it was a breakthrough for me.Â
NO. 12: You donât feel exhausted working with your idols right?
Wu Yifan: Haha, Iâm very happy, but I vomited due to exhaustion before we finished filming . However, I vomited for my idols! [2]
NO. 13: What do you feel most proud of accomplishing in 2015?
Wu Yifan: I appeared on New York Times Square with Again, Beats, Dr Dre, Eminem, Xiao Jian and LeBron James and it was the first time I went up there. Working with Dr Dre allowed me to auction off my first pair of limited edition headphones and do my part for charity. Â
NO. 14: You won the best rookie award at Londonâs 3rd International Chinese movie awards for . How do you feel about it?Â
Wu Yifan: Yes, this is an encouragement. Singer Wu Yifan is also an actor right?
NO. 15: This year you changed your identity a lot, from an actor, a singer, a model to a designer. What else do you want to do?
Wu Yifan: Actually when I participated in Challenger Union I tried many professions, and all were good. Through the show I also realised there are many ways one can make money, such as being a cashier, which humbled me.Â
NO. 16: Boss Wu must have many thoughts when you celebrate your birthday every year right?Â
Wu Yifan: Yes, when I had a concert on my birthday, 4000 of you supported me through the rain at the start of winter and used your lightsticks to illuminate me. My friends and seniors also gave me strength.Â
NO. 17: So you gave your song to your fans as a gift.Â
Wu Yifan: Yes, âBad Girlâ, the song I wrote, is now online. Everyone can now hear what I want to say to all of you and no matter what, this is what I wanted to say, and is my gift to you. And yes, I am a rock star, yes, I am!
NO. 18: You must be thankful for your mother on your birthday right?
Wu Yifan: My mother was watching the concert on my birthday and I feel she was satisfied. No one can really know the exhaustion I faced. She didnât go for the after-party and went home first. My mother is cool.Â
NO. 19: Another family member attended that day?
Wu Yifan: Yes, my dog. My dog performed at a stadium for the first time that day.Â
NO. 20: What is the most unexpected thing that happened in 2015?Â
Wu Yifan: Director Luc Besson invited me to take part in his science fiction mega-production .
NO. 21: Is âBad Girlâ the happiest song you made in 2015?
Wu Yifan: I also covered âGreenhouse Girlâ, I also covered âGreenhouse Girlâ , I also covered âGreenhouse Girlâ! All bow to Cui Jian!
NO. 22: Shockingly, other than doing music you still dream of playing basketball.Â
Wu Yifan: Yes! Basketball! I went for an NBA broadcast at Tencent and they said I could do it! The night before I played basketball at their office basement I didnât really sleep much but I could still shoot well.Â
NO. 23: Is there anything that you did which wasnât part of your goal at first?Â
Wu Yifan: Appearing on the cover of People magazine with three other socialites. I am extremely honoured.Â
NO. 24: What was the most unforgettable memory in 2015?
Wu Yifan: When started showing, I went for a memorable road trip with Director Xiaogang, Director Guan Hu and Zhonglei-ge, one city a day, with this few older brothers. We would have a glass to drink after we finished our schedules for the day⌠sometimes it was two glasses. Jie please donât roll your eyes.Â
NO. 25: As the year of 2015 comes to an end, please say something to everyone.
Wu Yifan: Did a year just go by like this? Friends, letâs meet at the countdown party. Every one of you, you are everything.Â
Wu Yifanâs Workshop: Say one last thing!
Wu Yifan: Thank you, and Iâm not increasing your salary.Â
[1] He meant he has to do what they say.
[2] He wasnât very clear here, I assume he meant he vomited while serving his idols so it was alright to him.Â
Translated by; subzero
Original article cr; Wu Yifanâs Workshop
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[TRANS] [151226] Wu Yifan Behind The Glitz And Glamour: The Exhaustion And Rebirth Of An Idol
Preface: 19 December 2015 (AD). After days of difficult communication, Juzi Entertainment managed to get an opportunity to photograph Wu Yifan close-up. This article was then published. As the most popular idol in the Chinese entertainment industry today, Wu Yifanâs private daily life is revealed to all of you for the first time.
Our first impression of Wu Yifan was that he was completely exhausted. Seven days ago at 3 am, Wu Yifan got up to film the last scene of âJourney to the West: Conquering the Demonsâ. He shaved his head for that movie. A few days later, Wu Yifan started promotions for âMr. Sixâ which required him to travel through nine cities in eleven days. Just two days ago, he was at Changsha and Macau filming a variety show where each day of recording spans almost twelve hours. And today, he showed up in Beijing.
AFTERNOON 1:30-3:00 PM Sleeping while touching up his makeup
Wu Yifan arrived at Feng Xiaogangâs Workshop from the airport at half past one. At three oâclock, he would be having an interview here. While the personnel around him were eating, Wu Yifan was sleeping. Catching up on his sleep was more important to him compared to eating. At around two, the personnel woke him up to touch up his makeup⌠but he still did not wake up.
After a while, Wu Yifan was more refreshed. We went up to him to explain what we were here for and took out some of our past photographs as examples. He took a look and replied, âI like this style.â Someone beside him added, âThis can show off another elegant side of you.â Wu Yifan shifted his chair back a little, crossed his legs and replied, âThere is only âcrazinessâ but whereâs the âglamourâ!â [T/N: pun]
After putting on his makeup, Wu Yifan finally had time to eat. However, having just started eating, the makeup team outside started causing a commotion as a media agency had arrived. When the workers asked whether he was ready and told him he could finish eating before attending to the media, he said, âItâs no problem, I can stop eating any time.â
Wu Yifan removed his jacket and picked the clothes he was going to wear that day. Reached this stage of preparation indicated that the artiste would be entering his work state; at this point Wu Yifanâs expression grew serious.
The back of Wu Yifanâs head had a little scar from hitting his head on a car door when he went out for promotions this year. Just like on âMr. Sixâ promotional posters, Wu Yifan chose to show his shaved head, without hats or wigs.
AFTERNOON 3:15-7.35 PM Four hours later, eight media agencies, ten minutes of rest, twenty minutes of interview
At exactly 3.15 pm, Wu Yifan entered the interview room.Â
That afternoon, his time was roughly divided into ten- and twenty-minute periods. Twenty minutes for one media agency, and a break of ten minutes in between. In the process of interviewing, Wu Yifan hardly acted impolitely; when others were answering questions, he mostly looked down at his hands quietly.
In response to some media agenciesâ requests, Wu Yifan would always understand their requests quickly and rarely record twice. Wu Yifan did not specially try to show [another side of him/a different persona], and he merely followed his own tone and feelings to complete the interview. Despite that, you would still sense that he seemed to be hiding something.
âMr. Sixâ was his second movie in his lifetime. Having returned to China for 18 months, he filmed a total of seven movies. The first time he acted as a single father, but this time he acted as a rebellious character who later realised he was wrong. The directorâs helper told reporters that âin the movie, he transformed from a boy to a manâ.
On that day, almost every media agency asked this: what his feelings were when he acted with Feng Xiaogang. Wu Yifan replied that he never dared to look at Feng Xiaogang straight in his eyes. In reality, he managed to do it in the movie. The people who followed Wu Yifan through his dreams when he was young were a bunch of hormonal teenagers who wanted to become Kobe Bryant. He became a flower boy after turning seventeen. And the person who was beside Wu Yifan then was a senior in the industry like Feng Xiaogang. That was because he wanted to become an actor.
As there were many media staff, Feng Xiaogangâs workshop which turned into an impromptu interview space became hot and stuffy. During the break, the one thing that makeup artists did most was to help Wu Yifan apply eye drops. His personal assistant, who is a plump rough man with some stubble, was always carrying a humongous backpack, never putting it down once.
The people around him looked busier than Wu Yifan himself. They were always checking if any unexpected occurrences may happen and were very anxious. In private, Wu Yifan was not the centre of attention of everyone. Â
In the four hours of interviewing, Wu Yifan attended to eight media agencies. Wu Yifan requested once to shift the location of an interview from an agency that does not require lighting and recording to the resting area. The reason is that it is more comfortable. However, the staff suggested that they return to the art studio as he could focus better there. Wu Yifan accepted it and still smiled happily in the interview. That was the last interview of the day.
EVENING 7:35-8:00 PM Not a single word on the car
Interviews finished at 7.35 pm. He went up to the car, preparing to go to a theatre. On the car, he only did one action: removed the hood of his fur coat, then slept.
NIGHT 8:20-11:00 PM Six theatres, fifteen minutes
In the theatre, the host asked fans what kind of roles they would like to see Wu Yifan challenge in future. Fans unanimously replied: a pervert. We can confirm that moment was when he smiled the most happily that day.
We stopped following him 9 pm that night. We found out after that that his schedule ended at 11 pm. That night, he went to six theatres, fifteen minutes in each.
LATE NIGHT 11 PM End of schedules
In a full day, as long as he was not working, Wu Yifan would take every opportunity to sleep. He did not use his mobile phone much, and rarely started a conversation with people around him, not to mention requesting anything from them. In his break, he would rather do nothing but rest. You would not bear to nor want to disturb him. Maybe he really was too tired. In front of media and fans, he would display hints of shyness, humility and not knowing what to do. Most surprising is that he never once yawned. That day, he was a mature man behind the scene, but a young lad in front of the camera.
Afterword:
Having followed Wu Yifan around for a day, I did not have the impulse to ask him any questions, but after it ended I suddenly wanted to ask: what is the most genuine feeling you have about being an idol?
As an idol the attention from the outside world is enough to drown his own voice, but Wu Yifan attempted making some adjustments. We can totally imagine this personâs inner conflicts â exhilaration, dilemma, exhaustion and tolerance. Even if he possesses outstanding talent and looks, it is difficult to ignore the judgement from the outside world and fantasies of fans, and be his genuine self. Those non-stop work, exhaustion and inverted days and nights; he has to work harder than the average person. To him, this is a rebirth. Every personâs life would perhaps have a moment like this and you have to take a risk that everyone else doubts. What you have to do is to put in all your effort and not to regret.
âPeople outside of cities want to come in, yet people in cities want to go out.â Every year, the entertainment industry tries to replicate Wu Yifanâs miraculous success. The large number of rookies hand their fates to fans, management companies, and their faces that age year by year. Wu Yifan is no doubt fortunate, as fate had at least been working in his favour.
Trans cr; subzero
Original article cr; Juzi Entertainment
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