'I still don’t think I can act,' says first-time Star Award nominee Xu Bin

CNA Lifestyle

'I still don't recall I can act,' says first-time Star Award nominee Xu Bin

The All-time Supporting Role player nominee recalls criticism and abuse when he first started out, only is in a cogitating country these days, fifty-fifty equally fatherhood teaches him patience.

'I still don't think I can act,' says first-time Star Award nominee Xu Bin — (Photo: Aik Chen; Grooming: Dax Lye)

03 Apr 2022 06:30AM (Updated: eighteen May 2022 01:42AM)

Xu Bin will be the first to admit that the criticisms levelled against him in his start few years of interim were more than than justified: The words "he can't act" were uttered by many, many people, the Aqueduct 8 actor remembers.

Thinking back to those discouraging times, he revealed that he came very shut to quitting the industry, earlier his career had even begun in hostage.

"When people say, 'He's terrible.' 'Who cast that actor?' it makes you lot break down within," he shared. "Y'all turn into a clumsy robot – you're only a shell without a soul."

(Photograph: Aik Chen; Grooming: Dax Lye)

He recalled: "When I couldn't perform and the director would scratch his head – even footling actions similar a head scratch would affect me, because I was non meeting expectations. I'd feel very down, and I'd be thinking most that instead of about my lines."

I could have up to 20 or xxx bad takes. People were right, and I accept it – I didn't know how to act.

Now, seven long years after his debut, he'south up at last for a All-time Supporting Actor award at the upcoming Star Awards, for his piece of work in the suspense thriller Doppelganger.

"I was actually excited to hear the news, considering something I'd waited a long time for was finally hither," he said. "Accept yous heard the Jay Chou song Snail? It goes, 'I want to climb upwards, footstep by step.' Snails might be slow, only they never finish – and at least they move forward, little by piddling. I think that just nigh sums upwards my seven years."

"I WAS A Cake OF WOOD ON Set"

When Xu starting time stumbled into the limelight at the age of 17, in the reality singing competition show Campus Superstar, he had fiddling conception of what might lie ahead.

He made his screen debut in 2022 and began winning popularity awards simply two years later, simply his career progression, he thinks, has had more to practise with his audience affinity than with his interim skills.

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"I readily admit that in my beginning ii years, I really couldn't human action," he said. "I was a consummate cake of wood on set. I had no conception of positioning, lighting or camera angles. There were and then many things to remember, and I couldn't multi-task, so I could have up to xx or 30 bad takes. People were right, and I have it – I didn't know how to act."

All the same, he added – showing bear witness of his buoyant nature – "If they criticise, it ways they care, so that makes me happy. At least they're willing to talk about me, when there are and then many other people they could be talking nigh!"

The lowest point, however, came when he was filming in Malaysia for his 2d project, the drama Spice Up. "I had some conflicts with another role player, who wasn't from Singapore. This person behaved offensively towards me in gestures and words. It made me desire to quit. I thought, 'The entertainment industry is such an awful place. I've only simply entered. Why is this happening to me?'"

Aloysius (Pang) was very strong. He was like a sponge who would absorb any abuse.

He connected: "It's important to exist mentally strong, in order to handle things. Aloysius (Pang) was very strong," he said, referring to his belatedly friend and colleague. "He was like a sponge who would absorb any abuse. I guess he'd go dwelling and squeeze it all out and come back the adjacent day for more than." He chuckled. "I respect him for that. I'g the kind of person whose emotions show on their face up."

With Pang (left) at the 2022 Star Awards. (Photograph: Instagram/xubin_)

Pang was immediately on his mind when news of his Best Supporting Actor nomination came, Xu said. "Aloysius was nominated for All-time Supporting Thespian in 2015. So, I'g iv years late," he said. "I'd like to tell him I'thousand working hard to follow in his steps."

Truth be told, "I all the same don't feel I can human action. The more I work, the more I feel similar there'southward a huge part of interim that I haven't discovered. Retrieve of the solar arrangement. From our perspective, the earth is large, but from the sun's perspective, it'due south very minor."

HIS LATEST ROLE: FATHERHOOD

(Photograph: Aik Chen; Preparation: Dax Lye)

After becoming a dad nine months agone, he's become a lot more cogitating.

"When you're unmarried, you don't have to recollect too much about what you exercise and when you practise it. Things are different for me now. For instance, my son has to get to the ICA to collect his documents and my helper has to take her papers sorted, besides – at that place are so many things on my mind. I feel similar I've finally started using my brain, after all this time!"

I don't know how to depict it – you're very tired, but you don't actually experience it. Yous feel happy and fulfilled. Like, 'This is the fruit of my labour. I made this!'

His wife and baby son accept but moved over from People's republic of china to bring together him in their newly renovated dwelling, he shared, and their new helper is merely settling in. "My son is a citizen of Singapore. He will take the pledge and go to the army," he said, with mock pride.

His personal growth, he said, is definitely a skilful thing. "I was single and carefree for too long. Life shouldn't be just like that."

Mayhap it has to practice with turning 30 two months ago, in improver to beingness a new husband and father.

"It is stressful and tiring, especially at night considering the baby will only sleep in our bed. But – I don't know how to describe it – y'all're very tired, only you don't actually feel it. Yous feel happy and fulfilled. Like, 'This is the fruit of my labour. I fabricated this!'"

Fatherhood, he said, "has changed me in many ways, simply I recall the biggest ane is that information technology has trained my patience. I'm actually a very impatient person. But if the baby cries for two hours, you lot can't possibly shout or scold him, fifty-fifty if you're on the brink of tears yourself!"

He'south besides a devoted husband, joking that he's willing to keep equally many centre-of-the-night food runs as his wife'south cravings might dictate. "Simply I'thou lucky – my wife doesn't eat at night. She's on a diet. She'southward trying to regain her pre-pregnancy figure, and so she merely eats breakfast and lunch."

These days, he pays extra attending to parents with strollers, giving way and holding elevator doors for them. "When we're filming outside and meet people with babies, I experience actually happy. I'll conversation with them: 'How old is he? Mine is 9 months!' They're probably thinking, 'Er, I didn't ask most that'!"

GREATER HEIGHTS

As the Star Awards approach, Xu has preparations to make and wardrobe fittings to attend, fifty-fifty while day-to-day work goes on: He's currently filming for the upcoming long-form drama, Old Is Aureate, which debuts in May.

On his chances of going home with gold, he mused, "I don't think I'll win the accolade. Information technology'due south my get-go nomination. I don't know. That'southward my gut feeling. It's very hard to say. It's a lottery. In the entertainment manufacture, it's not just about hard work. Yous accept to connect with the audience. Even if you're a keen player with lots of awards – if I desire to switch channels whenever I see your face, what's the use?"

Not being upwards for a Elevation x Nigh Pop Artistes award this year doesn't actually bother him, either. "It could be because I was away from screens for about one-half a year, when I was busy with my wedding ceremony and preparing for the inflow of my child – maybe the aunties and uncles weren't reminded of me," he said.

"Information technology doesn't affect me. I am a snail. I climb slowly."

Catch the Star Awards 2022 on Apr fourteen at 7pm on Mediacorp TV Channel 8, Channel U and Toggle (Walk Of Fame at five.30pm).

Old Is Aureate premieres May 28 at 7.30pm on Mediacorp Telly Channel 8.