Straits Times Article - If Looks Could Kill

[SamIAm]

Date: 13 April 2004
Title: If looks could kill
Author: Teo Pau Lin

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Teo Pau Lin, "if looks could kill"

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[MissCarlos]

Done and done:

Click here

[jadedragon]

I read the article and I feel that the reporter or interviewer might have taken Takeshi's words and facial expressions out of context. ;D We all know that the reporters write what they want to --embellishing here and detracting there--in order to print news that they think would peak the interest of their readers. For all we know, Takeshi might have been doing the rounds of presscons, travelling from city to city for the promotion of his film--and could have been drop-dead-tired by the time he landed in Singapore. I don't know about the publicists--but, I don't think Takeshi, who is known for his gracious manners and soft-spoken charm will act like this. On the other side of the spectrum--everyone has their 'off' days--and this could have been one of Takeshi's. But, I still strongly feel that what was written and what actually happened are 2 very different scenarios.

[TickTake]

Hmmmmmm....

Let's say the interview happened exactly as the author related. Heaven forbid the man have a bad day! I know I'm no ray of sunshine when I'm tired. TK (or any other celebrity for that matter) is not superhuman. He's got to be able to display ALL aspects of what makes us human. We aren't robots.

What I think was really going on was that you had an interviewer who went into the meeting with an axe to grind anyway because they had to present their questions ahead of time. Something no interviewer likes to do. Well TOUGH! And remember, the author has complete control of what's related in this article. What's to say that this person wasn't being a complete jerk during the interview and perhaps TK was responding to that.

I'm taking this article with a grain of salt. Too many interviewers have related much different experiences of TK for this to change my impression of him.

[mrs_jingles]

I agree with you. Who knows how many interviews Takeshi had before this specific one. And as we know, he was takesn as "arrogant" many other times before because of his discreet art. I guess this reporter was angry at him b/c he had to send his questions before the interview.
Well dear Mr. Teo Pau Lin, you're lucky not to work in Hollywood. I would like to know what famous divas like Julia Roberts ask from the reporters before an Interview, and if you can't deal with it, well you probably chose the wrong job !!
As you said, we're not changing our opinion about TK just b/c of this article. What is one negative report among hundreds of positive ones??

[glaucia]

When I am tired not even my little cat is able to make me smile. So, because he is an famous actor, he can't be tired! Takeshi wasn't unpolite, he was just dry. He has this right!
And the reporter was a little to boring, for me.

[lisab]

It must be horribly difficult to be him---everyone wants something from him. No wonder he has closed himself off. I agree the journalist had no sympathy for the endless publicity rounds someone like Takeshi undergoes. It's part of the job, yes, but who enjoys 100% of their job?

[stardog]

I really wanted to share my opinion of this interview with you all.

I am from Singapore, and I was lucky enough to attend the press conference when he was here to promote Turn Left Turn Right, though I am not a reporter myself. I think alot of the girls there were attending because they wanted to see him

Takeshi looked wonderful, I took some photos of him, unfortunately I did not own a digicam then, so my photos are hard copies and I am unable to post them here. He has a very strong superstar charisma.

During the press conference, he was perfectly friendly and answered every question addressed to him. Personally, I felt that he was a little bored with the whole affair at times though.

As for that article in the Singapore newspapers, I read it some time ago, cant remember it in detail, but I remember it was very negative and unfair to Takeshi. From what I saw at the press conference, he is not what the reporter described at all. I feel that she wrote the article that way so as to get more attention. From what she said in that report, and what I saw of his behaviour at the press conference, I think he was just saying what he felt, and said nothing when he had nothing to say. So probably the reporter had not enough interesting things to write about and therefore came up with that negative interview. I was quite angry when I read that interview, for what she wrote would make people think Takeshi is arrogant and difficult, which I dont believe he is. He is just a very private person.

[Samanosuke]

Reporters aren't always nice. Example:
source: taipei times

"Stephen Chow, the king of Hong Kong entertainment, got some seriously bad treatment from journalists on the other side of the Strait last week. One hour late for a promotional event in Beijing, Chow found himself surrounded by angry reporters asking questions like, Why are you late? Don't you know how to pose? and You look really dumb like this. ....

Stephen Chow has learned a valuable lesson: Journalists are not always nice."

[jean]

He has to be extra careful of what he says because the reporter will twist the facts into fiction and he cant even crack a joke without the reporters making it into next days headline. He probably find it all so boring anyway, the reporters ask the same sort of questions over and over again and sometimes questions that makes him uneasy, he had to keep his cool, otherwise it would be more bad news. From what I have seen he doesnt feel comfortable around too many strangers, especially nasty reporters.

[tk_angel]

Stardog --- thanks for sharing with us ur insights during the TLTR press conference... arent u lucky to be there and see Takeshi in person... it's a shame that u can't share with us those pix... can u scan them? LOL... anyway, since ur new --> welcome and hope u enjoy this awesome forum..