Part of the ‘fun’ in being an actor is to play a villainous role: one who robs, rapes and murders. While it all seems interesting and fun to put yourself in the shoes of an evil person like this, Romeo Tan will tell you it’s never easy.
Tan plays two characters in the new Channel 8 trilogy drama The Journey: Our Homeland, the wickedly vicious Zhang Yan as you would have seen him in ‘The Journey: The Tumultuous Times, and the loveable son of Zhang Min (Felicia Chin), Hong Kuan.
“It’s interesting and challenging at the same time when you’re playing two contrasting characters. I can play the villain for a few hours and the next thing you know, I become the son,” said Tan during an interview with InCinemas at the drama’s media conference.
He added: “Filming for Our Homeland was much easier. I guess it is also because Zhang Yan becomes really crazy, to the point that he is insane; so from an acting standpoint, I just had to play up his insanity and become psychotic.”
Playing Zhang Yan wasn’t just about shedding the boy-next-door image. When it aired earlier this year, he received criticisms on his acting and pronunciation - something he had not prepared for. When asked if he feared the same thing would happen again, Tan admitted saying, “it has been bothering me slightly”.
“When I filmed Our Homeland and as Zhang Yan, I didn’t wish to change anything because this is the tone of how a man like Zhang Yan will speak. But this time he is back for revenge, so there’s much more rage in him. I just went with the flow and based on my feelings.”
“On the other hand, I feel that I have more confidence in playing Hong Kuan. Hong Kuan this character is someone I can better relate to. So acting wise, it’s easier - the way he speaks and behaves is also very different. I hope the audience can see the other side of me.”
This SG50 drama might be Tan’s redemption. Apart from going back to the sweet man his fans just cannot get enough of, Tan has put in a lot of effort in his dangerous action scenes. He was dragged by a car, had his face near a blazing fire, suffered injuries to his hands and was nearly disfigured.
“It was so dangerous and scary,” the duke recounted. “I was tied up to the car and could not move. The car was moving at about 15-20km/hr… I know it doesn’t sound like it was going at a very fast speed, but to be dragged for a long distance (approximately 150m each take; for six to seven times), it is quite scary. I had to keep my head up at all times… If not for the suit that I wore, I could be scratched or disfigured!”
Villain or saint?
“I still want, and hope to play both characters in the future.”
The Journey: Our Homeland airs every Mondays - Fridays, 9pm on Channel 8.
The drama also stars Rui En, Jeanette Aw, Shaun Chen, Felicia Chin, Rebecca Lim, Julie Tan and Zhang Zhen Huan.