Ken Chu concert in Japan, concentrates fully at rehearsals

F4's popularity in Japan is unwavering. Ken Chu is the only member in F4 to hold solo concert in Japan for 3 consecutive years. 21st nite, his concert was held at a new venue JCB hall, estimate of 5000 seats were sold out fast, and organisers added standing tickets which were also wiped out by Japanese fans.

Despite the economic recession, Ken's is still doing well in Japan. Although this year is his 3rd time to open concert in Japan, his number of shows increased to 3 shows and tickets are priced at 8000yen (approximately NT3000), the price remains the same for standing tickets. Japan fans did not mind standing to squeeze in the venue to see their idol.

Having had concerts for 2 years in a row, initially Ken was afraid he might lose attractiveness, and begin to fade... Unexpectedly, fans to continue supporting him enthusiastically, and it is a great encouragement for him. "They recognised my music compositions, no matter how long am i able to sing, I'll treat each performance as the last and give my best."

For this year concert, Ken did everything himself, from looking for musicians, type for performances, content, costume etc and flew to Japan to start rehearsals 2 weeks b4 the concert. Past 2 years, he sang Carpenters and Beatles songs, this year he decided to pay tribute to Eagles.

Ken even chose a classic eagles song to dedicate to his deceased father. He revealed that the song had a significant meaning towards him, when he sang the song, he said in a teary voice: "Believe that my father will be listening by a side although he can't see it."

In comparision to the warmth by Japan fans, Ken is regretful for not being able to gain support in Taiwan, where topics will always be on his looks and whether he is fat or thin. He emphasized, it is due to his asthma. He expressed, "very thankful that F4 gave a good start for me in the entertainment biz, but I'm not a "pretty flower boy" anymore, hope I can be myself."

source:

http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2009/new/mar/23/today-show13.htm

Pls credit Michi@ OnlyF4 if u wish to post the above clips/translation elsewhere. Thanks!

Van Ness, the voice

His long, floppy rebonded hair sparked a trend among Asian guys who couldn’t carry off the look. Best known for being one-quarter of once phenomenally popular Taiwanese boyband F4 (which has since been renamed JVKV), Van Ness Wu — he’s changed his name from Vanness to Van Ness, the road in his hometown of Los Angeles he was named after — has long since shed his flower-power Meteor Garden image in favour of an edgier style.

The 31-year-old, who has dabbled in diverse ventures including music, film and, most recently, jewellery design, stars in LaMB, Animax Asia’s first original animation production. Or at least his voice does.

LaMB explores the futuristic world of a harsh desert planet where the inhabitants have perfected “lamination”, a system by which criminals are imprisoned in laminated suits to ensure that they remain productive members of society in a system of virtual slavery.

“I’m very excited about this project,” said Wu over the phone from Taipei. “I’ve been a very big animation buff since I was a kid... I love the way they’re able to create a different world with so much imagination.”

Also starring the voices of Josie Ho and Tanaka Chie, the ambitious project includes music videos, web manga, mobile graphic novels and mobisodes, as well as online and mobile games. In addition, it features songs from The Click Five and Simple Plan, as well as costumes designed by Vivienne Tam.

Wu, who counts Ninja Scroll, Appleseed, Akira, Samurai Champloo, Naruto and Finding Nemo among his favourite animations, voices protagonist Dr Jack Griswold, a visiting scientist who debates the ethical implications of lamination and falls in love with a woman serving her sentence in the laminated suit.

“I have a lot of inner demons I’m trying to resolve on my own, and I’m trying to get through life living in the past and wondering what the future’s going to hold; trying to find a purpose,” he said of his character. “It was really difficult, but it was fun to try to connect with those emotions. It’s too bad I wasn’t able to do it in front of the camera.”

In fact, the Kung Fu Chefs star may have found his new calling. “I’d definitely love to try new characters and different types of voiceovers. I love doing crazy voices,” he said. “And funny voices and high voices and low voices and monster voices.”

Catch Part 1 of LaMB on Tuesday and Part 2 on March 31 at 8pm on Animax (StarHub TV Channel 84). Visit www.animax-lamb.com for more online content. - TODAY/yb

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainmentfeatures/view/416557/1/.html

Vanness Wu: From Meteor Garden to Anime Kingdom

Vanness Wu: From Meteor Garden to Anime Kingdom Ex-F4 member is no mild little LaMB

MSN News
http://entertainment.sg.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1840670

source
http://asianfanatics.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=636912

It has been difficult for VANNESS WU to shake off the ‘Just another pretty boy’ tag, especially since he was part of the extremely boyish and good-looking foursome F4 in the popular Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden , but we think that the singer/actor has carved a nice little niche for himself in Asia. He’s definitely talented. Being fluent in English and Mandarin enabled the American-born Taiwanese actor to work with Japanese director Ryosuke Tei in Animax’s first and biggest original production - English anime film LaMB.

As Dr. Jack Grisworld in LaMB, Vanness, 30, is a scientist visiting from another planet who delves into work to forget the memories of his late wife. He meets Eve, voiced by Hong Kong actress Josie Ho, an ex-weapons specialist, who while trying to do the right thing, causes a massive accident and ends up being sentenced to years in virtual imprisonment.

Vanness recently took some time off to speak to hot about his role as a nerdy scientist and how he’s kind of like ‘big dork’ like his character.
How do you feel being part of this film?
I’m very excited about this project. I’ve been a very big animation buff since I was a kid, so to be in any part of an anime project gets me excited. I love the way people are able to create such worlds in different times and explore the imagination. To be part of such a great story is such a blessing.
Can you tell us a bit more about the project and how you got involved in it?
I don’t know how it fell into my lap but I’m very grateful that it did. The producers told me that they were looking for somebody who was able to speak Mandarin and English and luckily enough, my name popped up. I was lucky. I’m just a very big animation buff!
Name us some of your favourite animes.
Let’s see, Ninja Scroll, Apple Seed, Akira, Gun Buster, Robotech – the list goes on and on.
Do you have any favourite cartoon characters?
There are so many! Naruto, because he has a big heart and he has a dream which he pursues no matter what. He doesn’t let anybody stand in his way. From Disney, I like Pinocchio for the same reasons I like Naruto. I liked him as a kid and I still do today. I also like The Little Mermaid.

If you were an anime character, what would you look like and what personality would you like to have?
That’s a hard one. I want to have super powers and ninja-like qualities. To be a shape shifter would be really cool.
Who do you think has the sexiest voice in showbiz?
They are so many! It depends on how they do it. I think one person is the actress from The Devil Wears Prada , Meryl Streep. She’s just so natural playing different characters and the way she plays them exudes sexiness. I have always thought she’s sexy!
What has the experience of doing voiceovers on this anime been like?
It definitely has its challenges but I enjoyed the great experience of working with the people who have helped me with the vocals when I was doing the voiceovers in English. The artwork and animation were not complete at that point and I didn’t have anything in front of me except for some sketches from here or there and there were no actors selected at that time as well. I was just saying my lines in front of the vocal producer and she really helped me get into character by describing every detail. I really appreciate all her help.
How different is regular acting as opposed to animation voiceovers?
[With voiceovers], you don’t have to worry about camera angles because there is no camera. But sometimes it’s simple lines like, ‘I’d like to get a cup of water’, that require multiple takes to get the proper effect because it’s animation and simple lines have to be said in a more specific way.
How did you bring your character to life and how did you feel about him?
I kind of injected my cousin’s personality into the role because he’s a computer engineer.He’s a bit of a nerd and I’m a big dork too so I can relate to that. Growing up, my cousin and I hung out together and we’re all into animation and the geeky stuff but I find it very cool.
How do you personally feel about the future of mankind?
I would love to save the world but I know I can’t and only Jesus Christ can. What I can do is pray, let me be a servant to him and let him to do his work through me and I think that’s the best way that I can do it.

Van Ness Wu recording his new album

Van Ness Wu recording his new album
Posted by sagprod on march 11
Van Ness Wu is recording his next album. He is getting ready to shoot his music video as well.

source: http://www.sagprod.com

Credits to Michi@ OnlyF4


http://f4.tv/blog/1/

Finally Vanness solo project will start in Japan

Vanness Japanese single CD will be released ,
original Japanese song
release date 20th May

2 versions

(1) limited version 1890yen (tax included)
CD - Song 1: "Only", Song 2: "Cinderella", Song 3: "Only" (instrumental), Song 4: "Cinderella" (instrumental)
DVD - "Only " MV
preorder link: http://www.210.ne.jp/123i/productsDetail/PCCA-02930
http://www.210.ne.jp/123/productsDetail/PCCA-02930

(2) normal version 1260yen(tax included)
CD - Song 1: "Only", Song 2: "Cinderella", Song 3: english song yet to be titled, Song 4: "Only" (instrumental), Song 5: "Cinderella" (instrumental), Song 6: english song (instrumental)
CD: 3 songs (Japanese song: only and Cinderella) and one english song ( the title yet to confirm) + instrumental versions
preorder link: http://www.210.ne.jp/123i/productsDetail/PCCA-02931
http://www.210.ne.jp/123/productsDetail/PCCA-02931

credits to Stephanie@OnlyF4

Fan Bing Bing, Vic Zhou, Romantic wedding dress in "Madame Chin" is exposed

Source : Eastday
Translation by MoonlightD @ http://asianfanatics.net

Fan Bing Bing invested and lead acts in drama "Madame Chin"*, which is nearing the end of shooting. In the newest set of exposed on set photos, Fan Bing Bing and Anthony Wong appeared hand in hand in a church. The wedding progresses halfway, but is cut short by the appearance of Fan Bing Bing's "first love", Zai Zai (Vic Zhou).

In the filming, Fan Bing Bing dons a white wedding gown with a train dragging on the ground, a dignified and elegant streamline and rich flower embroidery. Along with her hair, wound up high, covered by a white veil, she gives off the illusion of grandeur. It has brought back the rich classical styles of the 60s of last century. The falling form of Zai Zai (Vic Zhou)'s long hair is both graceful and unruly. It is different from the previously exposed sunshine image. So this moment was actually already 20 years after "Sheng Yue Ru" (Zai Zai) first meets "Chin Zhao Li" (Fan Bing Bing).

Fan Bing Bing's character, "Chin Zhao Li", was once unmatched in talent and grace by the hundreds of entertainers in Shanghai. She attracted the pursuit of countless men. However, even more, she was a woman who suffered through many mistakes of fate. She came from she slums, but did not catch it.** Instead she had a forthright and generous manner, always doing charitable deeds. She had a strong stance in not wrecking other people's lives. She was willing to love, but afraid to seek it. She was willing to sacrifice herself, but she would not allow the misfortunes in her life dominate her fate. Her brother, the man she loves the most, and the man who loves her the most makes "Chin Zhao Li"s life colorful and engraves itself in one's memory...The extraordinary positions of this story adds much to its complexity.

Vic Zhou's character, "Sheng Yue Ru" is one of the drama's most important male characters. In the drama, his nature is sincere and kind-hearted. He loves painting and theater. Towards relationships, he is single-minded as well as dedicated. "Sheng Yue Ru" and "Chin Zhao Li" meet during each other's happiest times. The two fall in love at first sight. However, because of time period's limitations and family resistance, they have to face trails one after another. They act out a love that engraves into one's memory.

Translator's Notes:
* Also known as "The Last Night of Madame Chin"
** She did not "catch" the dirtiness and ruthlessness