It has been a crazy few weeks! And it just gets busier...
Anyway today I would like to introduce an up and coming actress to the ELEPHANT AND THE SEA family: Tan Chui Mui, who plays 2 roles in the film!
INTERVIEW WITH TAN CHUI MUI -
Q: 1. STATE YOUR NAME AND PROFESSION.
MUI: I was not given a name. I sell fish, and sometimes I do something else..... Ohh.... My real name? My real name is Tan Chui Mui. I work in this big company called Da Huang Pictures. We do international business. We sell fish, and sometimes we do something else.
2. YOU PLAY TWO ROLES IN THE FILM ELEPHANT AND THE SEA. CAN YOU PLEASE ELABORATE ON EACH ROLE?
MUI: Did I have two roles? But the production manager paid me only for one role!
I was told that it is the SAME ROLE, that this girl is desperate for money, because her father is sick and her brother is in debt with loan shark, and her mother committed suicide. So she have to take two jobs. She work as a sales girl in this fish shop, selling expensive "flower horn" fish. At night she work as a call girl. Does that mean that I should had get paid for TWO ROLES?
> 3. HAVE YOU EVER WORKED AS A DIRECT SALES PERSON OR MULTI LEVEL MARKETER SELLING SKIN CARE PRODUCTS OR VITAMINS, ETC.? IS YES, HOW WAS THE EXPERIENCE? IF NO, WOULD YOU CONSIDER DOING IT IN THE FUTURE?
MUI: Yes, when I was 15, I took a part time job in Penang, going door to door, persuading people to subscribe to a daily newspaper. In fact, I quite like the job. I think I am good at selling things, especially when I look a bit shy. I am good at selling movie DVDs especially!
> 3. HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE ROLES? DID YOU DO ANY SPECIAL RESEARCH, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ROLE OF THE "CALL GIRL?"
MUI: Oh, yes, I put on some weight for that role. That was not difficult. Also, I slept for 4 hours before I acted in that "call girl" scene, so that my face get a bit swollen. The costume designer specially designed my outfit. I was suppose to have a pink wig, but the hair stylist lost it.
> 4. WERE YOU COMFORTABLE DOING THE MORE GRAPHIC SCENES (WHICH HAS BEEN CUT OUT UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE CINEMA RELEASE)?
MUI: Oh yes, it was very comfortable lying down on the bed. In fact, that was the most comfortable position during the whole shoot. I don't mind to do more.
> 5. I HEAR YOU ARE ALSO A DIRECTOR. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF WOO MING JIN'S DIRECTING STYLE ON SET?
MUI: Oh. Yes. Sometimes I also direct. I think Woo Ming Jin is a serious director. He take care of his actors very well, and he make us very comfortable on set!
> 6. PEOPLE HAVE COMPARED THE DIRECTOR WOO MING JIN TO GEORGE LUCAS AND WONG KAR WAI. DO YOU THINK THAT IS A FAIR COMPARISON?
MUI: I think the question doesn't make sense.
> 7. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE MORE TALENTED AS AN ACTRESS OR DIRECTOR?
MUI: I think I am multi-talented.
> 8. WOULD YOU ACT IN ONE OF MING JIN'S FILMS AGAIN? IF NO, WHY NOT.
MUI: Yes, in fact I am now preparing for a role in Woo Ming Jin's next big action film. I'm now trying to lose weight to suit this role. I am also going to dinging, dancing and martial art classes.
> 9. WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
MUI: Newspaper. Especially when you read it when it is the wrapping of your nasi lemak.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
