Pretty Boy, Taiwanese model/actor Mike He talks about love, love, love.
In Taiwan, you can't just be a host, model, singer or actor. Your job scope usually overlaps, and this is how it is with Mike He Jun Xiang (or Xiaomei, as he's affectionately called). The 21-year old was discovered as a model and made his acting debut in last year's idol drama Seventh Grade Students. This year, he plays Ken in Love Contract, along with young beauty Lin Yi Chen and other up-and-coming actors. Apart from this, he's also seen as co-host of E-News on TVBS.
So what does Mike have to say about his role in Love Contract, and what he thinks about love?
Teens: We're curious - your nickname is "Xiao Mei", literally means "little beauty" and is a name normally used for girls. So how did you get this name?
Mike He: When I was in high school, a very famous comedy actor in Taiwan called "He Yihang" came up with this very ugly character called "XiaoMei". And because our surnames are both "He", my classmates started calling me Xiaomei. But believe me, it wasn't meant to be a compliment. Ha ha! When I started hosting and acting, the netizens caught on to the name, and I've been called that ever since.
Teens: We see you most often as a host on E-News. Is that more stressful than acting?
Mike He: Not really - I think acting is much more difficult. There are so many aspects of your character that you've probably never experienced before, and there's always the nagging worry that you won't be convincing in that role. The only pressure I feel in hosting is to keep talking through out the whole show. But that isn't as difficult as acting.
Teens: You were a model before coming into hosting and acting. Why the jump in career paths?
Mike He: Yep, I started out as a model, but I did a couple of music videos as well - the one that got me spotted was the video I did with Malaysian singer Lin Sinjie. That was how I started acting - believe me, I never expected it to happen.
Teens: Speaking of music videos, one of your "famous" works is the music video that you did with Landy Wen for "Wish Me Happy Birthday", where you kiss her through the whole whole video...
Mike He: (Laughs) It was so embarrassing! When I first got to the set, the director told me that we'd be kissing in every scene. And we couldn't kiss passionately - the kisses had to be very gentle and sweet. We also had to keep the camera angles and storyline in mind. But it was fun - Landy's a very fun person to be with, and she was even more nervous than I was because it was her first time doing such scenes.
Teens: What did you folks say about the video?
Mike He: Well, they've seen it. But they don't like watching me to do kissing scenes - I think they get pretty embarrassed when they see me kissing someone. I mean, don't you think it's weird watching your son kissing a girl on telly? Ha ha!
Teens: Love Contract is your second idol drama, and also your second time working with the sae bunch of actors. Did that make working more enjoyable?
Mike He: Definitely! We know each other so well and we're all very good friends. So we didn't have that awkward phase where we all had to get used to each other. We could throw ourselves fully into character.
The difference with this serial is that I'm the male lead, and that means I have more scenes in the show. I was very worried that I would hold everybody up while filming because I couldn't do a good job.
Teens: What's your character like in Contract?
Mike He: Ken is quite a moody person. He's very grown up for his age, and looking at him you'd think he was a very quiet and introverted person. But there're times that he shocks his friends by telling outrageous jokes, or doing something totally out of character. And he's very dedicated to his girlfriend.
Teens: Which bit of Ken is most like you?
Mike He: I actually think the most important parts of our character are quite alike - when I get in mood, I can go absolutely bonkers and act outrageously. But most of the time, I'm pretty quiet and don't like to talk. You're mostly likely to find me sitting in a corner, looking like I'm thinking something.
Teens: Any unforgettable scenes?
Mike He: One - after the female lead's character became a vegetable - I had to tell her how I felt about her though she might not have been able to hear me. Her character's name is "Xiao Feng", which means "Little Winds". And I said to her, "If you die, I want you to stay as the wind, and I want to become a stone. We'll be able to touch each other all the time, and one day the wind will turn the stone into sand...". By the time I got to that line, I couldn't stand it and I started sobbing like a baby.
Teens: Your co-star Lin Yichen sang the closing theme for the serial, which is included on the OST for the show. So when are we gonna hear you singing?
Mike He: Er... never? (Exclaims) I really can't sing! I know I hang out with Energy and You Wei, who're all singers, but I really can't sing! My voice is probably only suitable for a compliation of nursery rhymes. Ha ha! (His co-stars in the room erupt in a fit of giggles.)
Teens: This show is all love - what's your take on love?
Mike He: There must be mutual trust in a relationship. And you have to be serious about every relationship you;re in. Tell the truth as far as you can... although there are times that while lies would be kinder. As long as you trust and understand each other, you won't have a problem in the relationship.
Teens: What kind of boyfriend would you make?
Mike He: Hmm.. my ex-girlfriends would probably say that I am a very caring boyfriend, that I am very tolerant and willing to give way to my partner. But I'm not a romantic. There are times that I'll give my partner surprise, but I'm not the most romantic person on normal days.
Teens: So do you believe in love at first sight?
Mike He: No. I'm the kind of person who needs to take time to get to know a person, their strengths and weaknesses, before I could even consider asking them to be my girlfriend.
and news number 2:
The newest TV romance to hit our small screens, Love Contract is a definite must-catch for all of you die-hard romantics out there. By Sterling Wong
Shakespeare famously wrote in A Midsummer Night's Dream that "the course of true love never did run smooth" but have you ever heard of love between two strangers arising from a contract?
Well, that's the unusual and intriguing premise of the latest Taiwanese idol drama, Love Contract, to hit local television screens.
Starring fresh-faced youngsters Mike He Jun Xiang and Ariel Lin Yin Chen, the drama tells the story of a bubbly and tomboyish college girl name Xiaofeng (Ariel) who, though seemingly blithe, actually hides a shameful secret nobody knows.
Her best buds decide to celebrate her birthday by contracting Ken (Mike) to go out with her after a Valentine's Day joke, and Xiao Feng initially rejects Ken and chooses to play cruel pranks on him instead. Of course, they do eventually fall in love after overcoming numerous obstacles, but not before everyone finds out about Xiaofeng's past and their worlds unravel.
Stars Of The Show
A big hit back when it was shown in Taiwan, Love Contract has made stars of its two leads, Mike and Ariel, and it's not difficult to see why. With a pair of incredibly soulful and hypnotic eyes and the cheekbones and build of a model (which he was), Mike has already charmed the socks of Taiwanese girls and is no doubt set to do the same here.
Unlike Mike, who's a relative newcomer and in his first leading role, doe-eyed and sweet-looking Ariel is young but very experienced, having starred in five idol dramas and two movies thus far, and she even garnered a Best Actress nomination at last year's prestigious Golden House Awards!
Television Is Not All Glamorous!
In the show, Mike and Ariel share a multitude of kisses, one of which actually took place underwater in a shark pool. Don't be fooled by the seemingly romantic scene though. Both of them siad that it wasn't exactly the best of situations kissing in the smelly, salty water infested with fish poop!
Milk admitted that he initially felt immense pressure having to act opposite award-nominee and proven actress Ariel but eventually gained enough in confidence and managed to create sizzling chemistry with her.
The Truth Is Out
So convincing were they as lovers that rumours soon arose that they might actually be dating in real life. Girls, can rest easy for now though, as Mike explained that he has been too busy to have a relationship but he did admit that looks-wise, Ariel would be ideal.
