Bryan Wong Doesn’t Need Younger Actors To Call Him "Big Brother"

While some people may be surprised by this surprise pairing — there's a 16-year age gap separating Bryan, 48 and Ya Hui, 32 — not Bryan, who, during our 30-minute chat, laments to 8days.sg that he feels like an “awkward teenager” again.

No... Bryan is not going through a Benjamin Button phase. Instead he's referring to his age group where he neither qualifies as an "older actor" nor a "younger one".“We’re not old enough to be the veterans, and we're not young enough to be considered millennials. So we're awkward teenagers,” giggles the 48-year-old, adding that Kym Ng and Quan Yifeng are in the same boat as he is.

And since we're talking about age here, we decide to ask Bryan what he really thinks of younger actors.

8 DAYS: What do you think is the biggest difference between actors of your generation and the younger ones?
BRYAN WONG: Um… The biggest and the most apparent difference is our ages! (Laughs) I think the veterans have undying loyalty to their job and company… But then again, it might just be that jobs were scarce during that time, and when you have one, you hold on to it. Especially when you have a family to feed, you want to make sure you have an iron rice bowl. The younger ones believe in YOLO, and how there's no point getting stuck in something that doesn't make them happy. I think my generation is a hybrid of millennials and veterans. We’re caught in this transitional phase, I guess. We still uphold old values, but at the same time, we're liberal enough to accept the millennial way of thinking. Like for example, we think that developed 3R photos are better than scrolling through pictures on your phone, but we are not averse to using the latest phone and having lots of photos and doing the necessary 'alterations' [to our pics]… (Laughs)

Aileen Tan told us in an interview that she thinks younger actors are too obsessed with their phones. Do you agree?
I think so. (Laughs) The younger ones are more tech savvy… Not that they’re not good at communicating in real life, it’s just that they communicate via text. But then again, people of my generation are doing it as well. However, the generation before mine might not understand why the younger ones are not conversing and everyone is stuck to their phones…

Would you say that younger actors are surgically attached to their phones?
When the older and younger generation work together in a drama, most of them will have the basic courtesy to put their phones down and join in the conversation. They may partake in the discussion, but their phones will always be by their sides. They won’t participate actively compared to the veterans, because the veterans love to reminisce about the old times. (Laughs)

This generation of newbies are from what people call 'The Strawberry Generation" because they bruise easily. So is it true that the older generation of actors are tougher?
Times were much harder in the past, and people’s expectations were much higher. People were generally not as nice when they needed something from you last time. I think the veterans have been through some shitty situations, which has molded them into who they are today. Although the environment the younger actors find themselves in now is more respectful, kinder and equal, it would still be unfair to judge who is tougher, because each generation has their own problems.

You mentioned earlier that millennials have a YOLO mindset. So you've had encounters with young people who give up once the going gets tough?
Actually, I haven’t encountered any actors who’d give up just like that. I do feel their passion when I work with younger actors. I see their hunger, thirst and desire to excel. And that is very commendable. Whoever you see in the market now are the ones that stayed on, and whoever you don’t see now… May have ventured into something else more suitable for them. But this industry really depends on luck. You can be freaking good, but if you are suay, you just won’t be discovered. You can be mediocre, but if someone takes a fancy to you and gives you lots of opportunities, you can be famous.

Is there something younger actors are better at, like self-promotion, for example?
Definitely! Obviously the younger ones have the advantage of being able to understand technology. They know how to use emojis and stuff and know how to connect with people of their age. They are more liberal and are freed of a lot of old-school beliefs. They don’t pay attention to social stigmas, and they don’t carry much shit on their shoulders. It’s easier for them to let go and express themselves. As for promoting ourselves, we don’t have to because we have TCA (The Celebrity Agency). (Laughs) That’s what agents are for, right? (Laughs) Of course, we’re not all that stupid lah! (Laughs) I mean, yeah, freebies are great, but the veterans have been around long enough not to go after such things, because they’re all transient. (Laughs) ​​​​​​​

Have you been disrespected by a junior before?
If you’re talking about outright disrespect, no. And just because someone doesn’t add a 'da-ge' (big brother) or 'da-jie' (big sister) after your name when they refer to you, it doesn’t mean they’re rude. They probably see you as a peer, which I think is a compliment. (Laughs)

Do you think this YOLO mindset that younger actors have gives them a different perspective when it comes to acting?
Actors from different decades all have a different understanding of emotions. What love was to them last time is different from how people express their love today. Everything may have been larger than life last time, but it is all replaced by emojis on their phones now. So when a young actor displays a blank expression as anger, we can’t be too quick to say that they’re acting wrongly 'cos that’s how people truly react nowadays! (Laughs)

Have there been any lessons that a younger actor has taught you?
Yes, little bits here and there. You know Ayden Sng, the boy who worked with me on The Playbook? He impressed me because he knew his lines inside out when we’re filming. He came on to set fully prepared, and never once referred to his script. I think I should learn from that! (Laughs)

Are you saying you don’t go on set prepared?
Well… not that well-prepared. (Laughs) I have a vague idea… of what I’m going to say… But I’m 80 per cent there. (Laughs) I can’t memorise ‘cos I have a very short-term memory. (Laughs) If I memorise the day before, I would forget everything the next day. My memory only lasts for an hour. (Laughs)

Anyway, back to Ayden. Is he a new star you see a lot of potential in?
I do see a lot of potential in him, but then again, his success really depends on his luck. This industry is very superficial, and the first thing is always looks. He’s got the looks, the height, the build, the whole package. It’s just a matter of someone giving him the chance to shine He’s a very good and hardworking boy, and no one has ever had any complaints about him.

Have you been appalled by a younger actor's behaviour on set?
There was once a younger actor was late for a shoot. Regardless of who you are, I think you should never be late on set. I’m always way too early. I can’t bear the stress of the whole crew waiting for me. (Laughs) I expect everyone to show up on time. It’s very simple. If I can come on time, why can’t you? I stay in the east, leh. [Ed: Mediacorp's old campus was in Bukit Timah and the current One-North campus is in the west.] Everyone needs to travel, and if you think you stay far away, wake up earlier. Being punctual is a matter of respecting other people.

And have you lost your temper 'cos of this?
Yes, of course! I told that person off in front of everyone on the bus. Luckily he took it quite well and apologised to everyone. Someone has to say it, lah. He’s still in the industry and he’s younger than me. But I think me telling him off only works when I'm around because I heard he still turns up late for other shoots. (Laughs) He’s scared of me. (Laughs)

Catch Bryan in While You Were Away which debuts Jun 24, 9pm on Ch 8. You can also catch it first on Toggle from Jun 17 2019