2004-01-30 The Last Warrior

Material provided by: Connie
Origin: New Monday
Date: January 30, 2004
Topic: Deric Wan: The Last Warrior
Written by: Je Fong Fong

Every male creature believes he is a warrior. Deric Wan is no exception. This is Deric Wan's first interview since dating Sonija Kwok. Today he rode the Imperial Crown galloping, arriving half an hour late for the interview. This thirty-nine year-old middle-aged warrior has a good outer appearance which all comes from having a lifestyle of no smoking, no drinking and a healthy social life.

During the interview, he spent two hours telling me about Jesus. It's hard to believe he is the rumored divorced, in debt, mad, lad, owner, king. "I treat her as a castle and I am the castle guard. If you were to attack the castle, I would fight back. If you plan to invade this castle, kill me first!" He made a growl, showing his teeth. The only thing we missed, was he didn't draw his weapon.

He guards the first half of his life and risks his life to find the best territory. This will be the place he will spend the latter half of this life. What is curious is whether this warrior will sacrifice his life or change his position. Most importantly is not be the last warrior with no ratings, no songs and no dramas.

God's Gift

In December 2002, Deric Wan returned to TVB to film [The Legend of Love]. It was during the filming that his acted love towards the leading actress, Sonija Kwok turned to real love. There was an age difference of 11 years between the two. At that time reports came out that he and his x-wife had a debt of three million dollars in Taiwan and also of Sonija having a bad relationship with Steven Ma. The plot thickened and developed a very bad image.

"I first met Sonija Kwok when I had just returned to TVB. I was in the changing room putting on make-up and she was blow-drying her hair. At the time I thought, "Who is she?" My first impression of her was that she was a very sharp girl."

"When we were working together, I had asked her, "Were you one of the Miss HK contestants?" Then I asked a stupid question, "How did you place?" She was stunned and answered, "First place." I simply had to say, "You should be!" I continued to pursue her, "Have you won any prizes?" In that same year she was able to claim a few prizes. Her accomplishments came one by one. I continually to scold myself. Afterwards I slowly realized that she was a very intelligent girl. I was most fond of her kind-heartedness. She doesn't take things personally. She isn't cold as her outer appearance may seem. After knowing each other for some time, you will find that such good people do exist in this world. She is God's most valuable gift to me. I have no regrets in this lifetime."

"Regarding the chaotic reports, they know the news are false but they sacrifice us to make money. If using us will help support them, then I don't mind. What I gain is other's misunderstanding. But in our world all we need is each other's understanding. At one time, there were too many people trying to cause tension between us, but it has backfired. Once you've made up your mind to be with someone for the rest of your life, you will be willing to sacrifice yourself to protect her. All I need to have is some affection towards someone, the person I love. I will love only one person. Is it that difficult to love someone? Right now I have two goals in life, to love her and to do my job well."

"As for my past affairs, I don't keep any of it in my mind. Men have to be persistent but not talk to much. No one respects a man who talks too much. I have no opinion on what the media has written on my love life. I can allow myself not to speak but I cannot demand that others not speak."

Cancer Took Away Dad

Deric Wan says Sonija Kwok is God's most precious gift to him. Two years ago he started to believe in God. Even though he was educated in a Christian school, he didn't belong to a particular religion. His family believed in Buddhism. It wasn't until two years ago when cancer took away his dad, that he started his belief.

"Dad suffered for many years. It was very hard for him and even harder for the family. Seeing him suffer but unable to help was extremely difficult. I felt anxious but I continued to try hard. Money can cure him, but why the more they try to cure him, the more he suffers? I continue to ask myself, "What is the plan?" Dad is the kind of person that wants face and is a very traditional man. He never accepts failures. He will not ask for support. He will always depend on himself. I tried to talk bible to him but it was useless. Instead lighting an incense stick helped him in feeling Buddha's blessings."

"In my entire life, the most difficult part of my acting was visiting my dad at the hospital. Just before opening the door, I would take a deep breathe and say to myself, "Relax and do the best you can! Don't let the old feel bad. No matter how you act, that episode seemed to take many pages."

"Every time after visiting dad, he would grasp my hand and say "I'm okay. Tomorrow you have an early shift. Go home now." But after saying that, he would continue to grasp my hand tightly, not letting go. You would feel really bad. Every time you would think, "What can be done? Can I handle it next time?"

"Once I had made a western suit advertisement in the interior and I hadn't received my HK$800,000 payment yet. At the time I had to pay for dad's medical expenses. The boss called me to say that someone had transferred a couple thousand of dollars from their company, so they were unable to make the payments to me. The cost of medical treatment for cancer can vary from several hundred dollars, to several thousand dollars or even to several tens of thousands of dollars per treatment. We tried all of them. It wasn't only one treatment. For example, each treatment costs ten thousand dollars. He required one treatment every two days. My dad's illness lasted for several years. How much money do you think was spent? The bad news came that I couldn't make the medical payments. I was the main support of the family. At the time my mind was blank and I continued to ask myself, "Why?" I was already worried. My elder brother and younger sister each had their own family and they were only workers. I was dull-minded for a long while. I didn't know what to tell mom and I didn't dare tell my brother or sister. My only choice was to speak to God. I would sincerely pray that this money was extremely important to me, hoping God would help me. Curiously enough, the second day the boss apologized to me and said that he as able to pay me in two installments. Of course first, second and third is a coincidence. But after the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh time, you can longer lie to yourself. All of it was arranged by God."

Leave You The Most Loved Words

"There was a time when the doctor said to me "He doesn't have to use medication anymore." Those words really hurt. What can we do? How can we make him more comfortable? But the answer was, "We cannot do anymore! You must be prepared! But we cannot say when." Countdown can be 10, 9, 8, 7......but when you don't know when to start the countdown, the process is miserable. Slowly I began to feel that dad was giving up on himself. Once he said to me, "Look at the bed beside me, they have changed another person again!" When you see with your own eyes each patient in the room leaving one after the other, you can count on yourself going soon. Looking at the sorrowful family members, listening to other patients moan painful every night, created a pressure that was hard to take."

"When he was finally prepared, I told my dad that I was reading the Holy Bible and for him to try to talk to God. One day I brought with me a tape recorder and told my dad that when he couldn't sleep and I wasn't at his side, he can try recording what he wanted to say. When I left, indeed he did record some words but it took me a long, long time before I had the courage to listen to what he had recorded."

"Dad from being ill to leaving, it took me great efforts to prevent myself from crying. But when I listened to his recording, my tears kept on flowing out. He recorded only a few words. He said, "Believing in religion for so many years, the heart I couldn't open up was my own. I wish Jesus will let me go quickly, so I can be more confortable. I don't want to be a load to you all." One fearless man, leaving this message late at night, I believe he has already accepted the Lord."

Hero Without The Opportunity

Before the interview, Deric Wan's assistant made a special request that the questions not be too direct. In fact these past few years Deric has seldom accepted any interviews. He is not afraid. He doesn't want to because of losing the truth. He said that what has been written in the past is often not his own words, but usually made up by others.

During the interview, he repeated several times, "After been betrayed by someone, you wouldn't trust that person anymore. And that person wouldn't have the courage to face you again because they are afraid."

While talking, he had a solemn look on his face. His eyes looked straight at me. During those moments I was a bit frightened.

I wasn't sure if I would get the opportunity to interview him again, but we were chosen because of our understanding with Mr. Wan. I feared that what we settled on was not capturing enough. Being a women is like hero without the opportunity, even though my composition has always been at its highest standard.

Photos & Chinese version located at www.dericwan.com/article_new/newmonday_20040130.htm

2000-10-01 Deric Wan: I Am Not Inconsiderate

Origin: Unknown
Date: October 1, 2000
Topic: Deric Wan: I Am Not Inconsiderate

I Am Not Inconsiderate

Deric Wan believes that he has an extreme personality. Just like his love for photography, especially black and white photos which give a feeling that is very close to his personality. To him, right is right, wrong cannot be right. He is very stubborn and very persistent about his own principle.
It is this persistency that has resulted in him arguing to the news media, leaving him with a bad reputation with a lot of people, especially with actress Miss Chan's court case. The past being brought up again. Deric Wan is persistent in standing up for himself, his says: "Outsiders only see a little, but figures they know the whole story. Seeing it from my point of view, they're very funny. But is it necessary for me to give them an explanation?"

Without a second thought he said: "Males and females are born differently. In the same situation, if a male cried, people woulf think that it is wrong. If a female cried, it would be more acceptable and she would receive much more sympathy whether she is right or wrong. If you already know the outcome, would you cry?

Rule of the Game, Be Persistent Until The End

If you knew that you would lose to the whole world, would you be persistent to the end? He said, that this would depend on if you can play the game or not: "It's just like playing the Wheel of Fortune. If I played the same number everytime, people would say that I would lose for sure. I wouldn't care. I would continue to play the same number, maybe I would win? Playing the Wheel of Fortune, there is someone to inform you whether you lose or win. But in my situation, no can be the judge. Because the situation I'm referring to has to do with someone who understands what I'm talking about. I'm not able to act upon that person, therefore I do not plan to struggle with that particular person because we are at different levels."

Deric Wan denies that he is inconsiderate. It is because being too compassionate that is why he has been defeated, "In simple form, right now I am quite happy, so give me a chance please! What she wants to say right now is none of my business. It is best if you she doesn't mention me."

"With her ability, in this profession what she is able to do she has already done. To be able to do what she has done isn't easy. If she had another choice, she may not have chosen this route. You have to have a sympathetic point of view to understand. "To Deric Wan, right now the most important thing is caring for his family. If his family is happy, he is happy."

People are prejudice. Love is described in a "life drama, drama in life." They use ruthless drama to describe artists, especially an artist's love relationship. Deric Wan directly said that people are bastards!

"Has he acted before? Has he been in contact with drama? If not, then what qualifications does he have to comment? He is just avoiding the responsiblitiy. Don't tell me that actors are not humans?"

"If they can't tell between true and false, then they are ignorant. That means that my acting was successful. If I took a bad character and made him good, that would be a waste! I am an artist. My job is to imitate a situation or a person. To act good is a must."

Will Not Allow Children To Enter The Entertainment World

The entertainment circle is played by intelligent people, dumb people have no means to participate. Deric Wan thinks that being in the business for 20 years, the reason he hasn't succeeded yet is because he is dumb, has no reasoning, is soft-hearted and is too compassionate.

He has too many regrets because since entering this business he has missed out on a lot of opportunities especially his privacy. If he had a choice, he would exchange all he has to gain back his privacy and become a Mr. Nobody: "Others will always think that an artist will gain more than he loses. But in fact, what I say is that I am clear on what I have gained and lost. Others don't have to pretend that they understand me and speak on behave of me."

If at the time my parents had oppose of me entering this business, I would not have been happy but years later I would thank them. At most I will only allow my children to work backstage. To be exposed in the light is not an option unless they will have nothing to do with me. He said that if in the future his children would choose to enter the entertainment business, he would first give them something to remember.

Deric Wan thinks that his personality is only half suited for the entertainment world: "I will not decline any opportunity, but I do not want to compete for fame on stage. If he must compete, it would depend on who is his opponent. If you already know that you will win him, then what's the use of winning? With two different levels, it's no use competing. It is typical to expect that a Ferrari is faster than a Honda Civic. If you want to compare then take two cars that are at same level! To overrate one's own ability will only result in losing face. Knowing the result before competing. This business can be cruel. If you want to participate then you must know the rules of the game, take it easy."

Reckless Love

Talking about love, I can say that I'm selfish, will not reason, will not be exhausted, have a lot of patience, a lot more patience than with my job. In order to defeat my component, I will do the most unusual thing. To love someone, it can be so earth-shaking, that the one being loved may not accept it.

According to Deric Wan's view of love, there is no normal or abnormal difference and there is nothing that cannot be done. But he cannot accept being betrayed. The minute he finds out, that will be the end of his opponent. "If an intruder comes in between two people's love relationship, I will not hesitate to destroy the intruder. It doesn't matter who the opponent is. In order to defend my family, I must stand up and completely perish the intruder. I cannot be too soft, rather I should be more fierce!"

Right now happily married Deric Wan emphasized that this is the outcome from putting in a lot of effort. "Heaven will plan who you will meet, but from then on you will depend on yourself. It will hurt to keep all your bad experiences. You must not use the same method on two different people. It will be unfair to your current love partner to be compared to your previous failed marriage. That is why I do not keep history, I will throw it all away."

I'm a black leopard, "I've always believed that I'm like a black leopard, trying to hide myself in dark places where no one will discover me. I hope to stay low-profile, exposing only my two eyes observing my surroundings. My movement must be quick and fierce. In my daily activities, I must use a calm attitude to watch my prey. When I find my prey, I will rapidly capture it. I cannot aimlessly run around, otherwise I will lose my breath and still not capture my prey."

Deric Wan describes when he first entered this business, he was an immature leopard. Born to this species, he is not afraid of tigers. I simply was not aware that I was being chased by a lion and cannot flee fast enough. After maturing I know what I should do. "When we select amongst other people, others will also select amongst us. We are also other people's prey. In this society, there is no such thing as the little white rabbit. In the open wilderness, who is willing to become so inferior.

Photos & Chinese version located at www.dericwan.com/article_old/dotcome_20001001.htm

2002-11-26 The moving of Clearwater Bay TV City

Origin: TVB Weekly
Date: November 26, 2002
Topic: The moving of Clearwater Bay TV City, starting from 1988 to present, nearing 15 years, a team of artists have expressed their feelings for the City. So which part of the City do they find the hardest to part with?

Deric Wan:
Workhouse #3 Corridor

The hardest area to part with is the little space in the corridor of workhouse #3 where we would frequently have conversations while waiting for our turn to film.

Roger Kwok:
Workhouse #6 Restroom

Several years ago, Deric Wan and I once each wore a wig in the restroom to scare people. That was my most unforgetable moment.


Photos & Chinese version located at www.dericwan.com/article_old/tvb_20021126_01.htm

2000 This Winter Will Not Be Cold - Deric Wan

Photo and writing input: 123123123
Origin: [Contemporary Song World]
Date: Year 2000
Topic: This Winter Will Not Be Cold - Deric Wan

Snowflakes fall from the sky, settling on tree branches and window sills. The world is covered with pure white snow, free from dust and dirt. Within the chilly wind, a farm house courtyard quietly greets this snowy winter.

A desire for the snowy winter crosses the mind while eating a frosty in the summer. Looking at the sky filled with fluttering snowflakes in the winter can be very romantic. Having this snowflake in the summer may not be a fun matter. Deric Wan gets a taste of this while shooting his latest underclothing commercial.

On a flaming hot August day, the indoor temperature of a Shanghai photo studio reaches 30 degrees Celsius. Inside there is farm house courtyard covered in imitation snow. A machine shoots out a circle of foam to imitate snowflakes for a snowy winter. Handsome Deric Wan, wearing a pair of jeans and a warm undershirt, stands in the snow in the 30 degrees high temperature. At the same time he displays the expression of being in the cold wind in an energetic, bountiful, graceful manner. All this time his back is drenched in sweat.

This year's winter is already a market of celebrity underclothing commercial battle. There is Andy Lau's silk and Ge You's south pole cotton. Now even Wan SIR, who seldom shoots commercials has been added to this wild battle.

Having acted in many memorable roles, Wan SIR should be naturally skilled at shooting commercials. But he dare not neglect properness because of a commercial's short shooting time. His demand for quality and excellence is still tight. Every eye expression and body motion must be precise. Even after a couple of NG's, Wan SIR doesn't find them troublesome.

Although Wan SIR has appeared in recent news, he is quietly preparing for backstage work, writing songs for singers, shooting MV, packaging, etcetera. Confronted with the ups and downs inside the entertainment circle, Wan SIR sees it all as being indifferent and wishes not to speak about it. Having been formerly exposed to the public, he hopes to indulge in practical serious backstage work that he feels is more valuable. Being a spokesman for this underclothing product brand is a whole new attempt for him.

Photos & Chinese version located at www.dericwan.com/article_old/2000_6_othernet.htm