Entertainment News Lab Interview

https://weibo.com/6579479488/5196961344652110

0:00~

Hello everyone at Sina Entertainment

I'm Yang Yang

Please give me five minutes

to introduce myself agai

0:36

[Searching for one's own path]

TIA

is a story about

a little young guy in the countryside

with initially ordinary talent

who came the world of immortal cultivation

where the strong prey on the weak

The role I played, Han Li,

is a person with very high AQ (Adversity Quotient)

and a very steady person

He is also an ordinary person

among the thousands of immortal cultivators

in the world of immortal cultivation

This IP actually has a lot of attention

because it's very popular

among our Chinese domestic animations

The first time I got in touch with it

was around the end of 2022

and I received the script in 2023

I really liked it after reading the script

It has some space for performance/creation

one can feel the growth curve of the character

Later on, I also followed the animation

After watching the animation, I really liked it as well

I asked them to send me next scripts as soon as possible

so I want to read them immediately (to know what happened next)

Then, I met up with the director team

and production team

We all got together

1:24~

[Before accepting the TIA offer, did you hesitate or have any pressure?]

I actually didn't think too much

But you also know

this IP had a lot of successes

already established

So, for our entire production team

including the actors

when we were together

there were some very creative parts

when we performed the scenes

But we also respect the original work

staying close to the original work

and based on that

we added our on creativities

hoping to get closer to the audience

1:50~

[Sense of security]

Our team this time

is the same team that created the domestic animation version

we worked together

Each one of them

had very good grasp on

every character and every scene

every story in this IP

They have very good understanding of all these

[Working with the main creative team of the animation version of TIA gave me even stronger sense of security]

For sure there's a strong sense of security

2:05~

[The producer said YY is "sky/heaven chosen Han Li. What do you think?]

First of all, I want to thank the producer

for his affirmation

of me

I think

maybe this role and I are destined

At this period of time

God sent me this role

[a role destined in life]

The common point between Han Li and I...

Maybe we both have a firm goal?

We are down to earth in doing things

We both came prepared

2:27~

[The Han Li you imagined]

I actually didn't think too much about his external appearance

I just kept thinking

how his inner world is like

Because our production team is the same as the animation version's team

About the look

for example

the hair style

would be closer (to the animation)

2:46~

[In the 138 days of being Han Li]

I felt very fulfilled

during the several months of shooting

I didn't think about anything else, either

I think the "me" during that period of time

was Han Li himself

[I think I was Han Li during that period of time]

Everyday I went to the set

feeling very relaxed

no pressure at all, either

A group of people full of love

staying by your side

So, you wouldn't think too much about many things

You just focus on

how to make his character better

(life was) just very simple

Everybody really poured their heart into making this drama

The intensity of work on this drama was very high

I basically worked non-stop every day

Sometimes I went out to work when it was still dark

and when I got off work, it was dark already

Situations like this

lasted for a long time

And there were lots of fight scenes in this drama

We had a lot of training ahead of time

We joined the group earlier

trained on the fight scene and coordinated with other actors

After we recorded some videos

the director team would then review

and make adjustments

For us actors

seeing everybody working so hard

people around us putting so much heart in this project

at that time you'd really thought

"wow, there's actually some pressure"

Actually, hanging on the wire was really uncomfortable

you had to be strangled on the thing (wire suit)

In order not to wear the wire suit repeatedly

Sometimes I'd say let's hurry up and shoot more

Let's finish all of the

wire action scenes

Because you'd also want to

save some time for the team

so you'd want to make more progress

even if you had to wear the wire suit

feeling a bit uncomfortable

you'd want to finish the shooting sooner

[create a good work together wholeheartedly]

I felt the longest time (wearing the wire suit) was as least 2~3 hours

without getting back down (to the ground)

Everyday, other actors saw me and said

why are you in the air again?

I greeted everybody with a "hi"

4:24~

[Was the large amount of fight scene one of the reasons your old injury acted up again last March?]

Maybe some

When I was shooting another work

that work also had a lot of fight scene

Suddenly one morning I woke up

One side of my legs suddenly felt very uncomfortable

whether I walked or sat

you know, when I sat

there was a feeling I couldn't sit still

This was actually very torturous

I didn't mind at that time

I felt maybe it'd recover after a while

since I was shooting

then after a year or what

something just felt wrong

Then, I went for a check up

after the check up

then I found out it was called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI)

there was a labral tear inside

They put 3 small nails that could be absorb by human body

on my leg

put in stitches

On the outer thigh

they opened 3 small holes for the endoscopic surgery

And after the surgery

there was a period of time that I was not allowed to move

I couldn't do rehabilitation immediately

I just watched my left leg

got thinner by the day

compared to my right leg

And about walking

I felt I really didn't know how to walk

I rehabbed for a long time

I'm still rehabilitating

The rehab exercises

I probably have to continue to do it forever

This affects some

free time I have in my life

5:34~

Q: There are rich varieties of drama promotion approaches nowadays, how do you feel about this?

YY: I think it was really interesting.

Everybody was very creative.

The screaming from everybody

Can really make people

enter an excited state

A couple of days ago

I also sent a poster

and the final version of the preview video to my friend circle

And “bombed” a lot of people

I really appreciate my good friends

While busy with work

They still follow me

And 包场 for me

We do this for each other

Q: Do you have any expectation about the viewing response after TIA started showing?

YY: Of course, I hope more people will like this drama

And more people can follow the drama

This is for sure

I was actually a bit nervous before TIA started showing

I also sent a weibo

I said I didn’t sleep well the night before

It was like submitting your answer sheet before the exam

kind of nervous

and

excited feelings

and looking forward to it

Q: Do you look at all kinds of statistic data about the viewings?

YY: even if I don’t, my team will.

And they’d share with me

[at the moment, TIA heat index has exceeded 10,000]

When the statistics/numbers are very good

Wah~~

This kind of excitement is uncontrollable

Yes, you’d want to go have a good meal together (?) immediately

Come

Let’s have a drink and relax a bit

[Long time no see]

Q: you were recognized as “domestic entertainment pure original”, and “YY returned to palace” has also reach high position in the weibo hot search. People said “YY finally returned with his new drama”. How do you view this?

YY: Im happy to have everybody’s continuous support

And following

Actually, for me,

Instead of following me,

it makes me even happier

if people follow my role

[rather than paying attention to me, paying attention to my roles makes me happier]

I haven’t got to meet everybody a lot

Because I don’t join that many projects

every year

And I didn’t have any work shown in the past two years

The opportunities that I actually got to

Meet with everybody more were

Usually during a period of time

When my work was shown

Q: Compared to a few years ago, your work rhythm seems even slower these couple of years. What was your consideration based on?

YY: I didn’t slow down on purpose

I would let myself

Calm down a little

[calm down/more settled]

To feel/enjoy life more

Make myself feel a bit more freedom

Q: Disappear when joining a group, rarely participating in public activities, would you worry you’d be forgotten?

YY: I really have never thought about this

Because when I worked in a group

I was always really relaxed and care free

When I was shooting in a group

I was in the state of the character I played

I might even have some “unreasonable” requests

and told my team

when I’m shooting in a group

please don’t disturb me too much

Even if there are other job items

Please organize/arrange them in a period of time

Don’t let me do this today

And after two or 4-5 days, schedule me for something else

Making me jumping between different states repeatedly

Like switching between two parallel tracks

Q: How do you feel when you see the fans urging you to join group or have your work shown?

YY: I think they are right

thanks for their support

And I’ll join more group

And bring them more good work

(Q: So, currently, there might already be plans for your next project?)

YY: still planning

[Eighteen years of experience in the industry]

Maybe it’s the trust and tolerance

all the people I’ve collaborated with gave me

So, I could have these different roles to bring to the audience

As an actor, your really enjoy

if all the roles you played

can be remembered by everybody

Maybe this is a very simple aspect

But earlier in my career

well, I was very young at that time

I’d care more

And sometimes I’d felt

Alas

This work didn’t receive good response

I’d feel down

But after all these years

When I was shooting

Any piece of work

My attitude actually became more flat

I wouldn’t

For example

Say I must achieve certain goal

Instead, I felt the process is the most important

I wouldn’t care too much about the result

[career curve]

YY: my career curve is like drawing a wave

Isn’t life just like this

Everybody’s life has ups and downs

This is normal

It’s impossible for somebody to be at the peak all the time

At the peak

The wind is also strong, right?

So, one’s gonna get down no matter what

To stroll around the paths in the mountains

More important points…

For me

[important points in life]

I think they are some of the roles I played

That can be remembered

Or, maybe the first time

I carried the Olympics torch

I felt that was one of the important points in my life

For me

I’ve never thought since my childhood

That I could be the torch carrier right now

I felt

Wow, oh my god

So, the moment I carried the torch

It felt like a dream

Q: do you remember the scene and feeling when you were acting in front of the camera for the first time?

YY: it was very emotional/exciting the first time I acted

But I was very nervous, too

Because I’ve never faced the camera before

I’ve never acted before

And the first time I filmed, it was done with simultaneous sound recording

When the director said action, the entire set was very quiet

There were a lot of pressure

And lots of uncertainties

And I wasn’t sure if being an actor was right for me <—  oh, it’s absolutely the right thing to do, believe me😁😁

Suited me or not…

well, I was very young at that time

But despite all of this

my original intention for acting has not changed

And I still have awe

for the word actor

Q: There are still lots of people who said “YY has the youthful feel.” How to you feel about this saying?

YY: I think “youthful feel” is a kind of attitude

Always maintain the original intention

Having this kind of yearning for everything

Having the desire/curiosity to explore the future 

Because appearance is determined by the mind

Maintain a good condition everyday

And go out for a walk whenever you have time

Q: are you more relaxed now compared to before?

YY: I don’t think I was not relaxed in the past

But I felt

Maybe sometimes I was worried that I might say something wrong

But for me right now

I might be a bit more relaxed

And more free

That is, I say what I feel like saying

Just tell my truth feeling

It’s really no big deal

(Was there a period of time

In your impression

That your condition was more tensed?)

YY: I guess, when everybody was talking about me, I’d be more tensed

There would be pressure, as well as loss/disappointment

I think it’s impossible not to feel the loss/disappointment

Q: having worked on XianXia, military, e-sports, modern city, spy-war time theme of projects, do you still refuse to work on repeated type of work now?

YY: because there are only limited types of themes 

We could only choose from them

Many things

Are not up to us to decide

We are sometimes being selected

I also want to work on, for example,

Suspense

Type of work

I feel I want to work on projects

That has something new/creative in it

Maybe the audience might feel

A bit far from me

Or what

But

I did it

So I had no regrets

Q: If there is a suitable script, would you try idol drama again?

YY: If the script is suitable

If I like the script

The character can touch my heart

And made me really want to play this role

I will definitely accept the offer

[rumor buster]

Q: it is heard that YY gave himself 180 days of big/extended new year’s vacation every year. Is it true?

YY: hahaha… no…

To be able to have 180 days of extended new year’s vacation

What kind of

Happy life would that be 

In fact, I am usually working

But just not that many

Interviews or opportunities to meet everybody

(So, do you set aside fixed amount of vacation/resting time

Every year for yourself?)

YY: That’s a must!

Although my team really

Does not want me to have that much fixed resting/vacation time

I still hope

To have some private life that belong to myself

For example, attending concerts

Shopping for snacks at the supermarket

Do some grocery shopping

Buy some yummy food

Yes

I am a very ordinary person

But sometimes people would recognize me, and I’d go

Ai ya ya🤫

Just pretend I don’t exist

Don’t bring others…

Actually, I’m afraid there might be negative…

Some disturbance to others

[Return to very beginning]

Q: Do you care about other people's comments?

For example, some bad comments]

YY: I’d feel disappointed, I think.

(Old footage) I’d feel disappointed seeing the comments online

I felt I’ve done my best

[YY in August, 2025]

YY: it must be a lie to say you don’t care

After hearing some bad comments

I’d feel disappointed for sure

A project I put so much into

But did not receive good results

There would certainly be some regrets

I have indeed become stronger inside

My heart

My inner strength also grew as I grew older

It became bigger😄

But I don’t think disappointment was a bad thing

Sometimes it made me see/think clearer

and know how to do certain things better

It also made me want to calm down more

Q: how do you feel when seeing netizen said “people would fall in love with YY repeatedly at different age”

(old footage from 2021/08): actually, my first response was “why is it repeatedly?”

I’m pretty happy

Seeing these comments

YY: first of all, thank you all

For liking me and supporting continuously

As for the future

I hope the repeat can increase

I’d also come out more when I have work to show

I’ll make more projects in the future

I’ll put more efforts

Work harder

Q: is there any psychological gap due to the ups and downs in popularity caused by the direction of your work?

(Old footage from 2015:06): no

I feel, even now, it’s important to me

To accumulate experience

I think the experiences accumulated during that period of time

we’re very helpful to me right now

Trying different genres

What suits me

What appeals to me

What kind of breakthrough can I achieve

In the sense of acting

YY: this is something an actor must experience

It’s something normal

We are in this profession

It’s impossible not to feel any gap

It’s also impossible for the gap to

Affect me too much

Just keep calm (have a flat attitude)

and do everything to your best

Do your best in acting

Bring each role

That I am destined to meet

In this period of time

To perfection

[Love has an echo]

(YY sang part of the song “上计”)