Celeb Stop

Monday May 11, 2009

Commitment to character

BY RUBIN KHOO

From playing a gangster to a mysterious suitor, Daniel Tan is slowly but surely making strides in his acting career.

He is one of those guys who command attention wherever he goes. And it's not just because you recognise Daniel Tan, 26, from the numerous advertising campaigns that showcase his finely-chiselled mien.

Fierce ambition

Standing head and shoulders above everyone else, with a striking head of hair, the 180cm-tall Tan certainly looks the part of the model. And he carries the title admirably.

After he began his modeling career at the age of 19, it has been a quick rise to the top for the then business student.

"Every year has been better than the last," enthuses Tan who was born in Petaling Jaya. It was a steady accumulation of gigs that included TV ads, runway shows as well as becoming the face of menswear label Philosophy that eventually led to him picking up the best male model award at the KL Fashion Week Editors Awards in 2005.

That was the turning point for Tan and what followed was the opportunity to evolve from model to actor. Film offers started coming in and he was offered the role of a gangster in the comedy Ah Long Pte Ltd. But just as things started to pick up, he tore his knee ligament while filming a fight sequence. It was an incident that Tan nonetheless took in his stride.

"It was a stepping stone and I was determined to overcome all the pain to continue shooting. It made me feel reborn because that took me straight back down to earth," recalls Tan.

Well, the "rebirth" appears to have taken Tan to a whole new level – acting-wise. After a series of local productions, Tan was recently cast in Singaporean film The Wedding Game, directed by Ekachai Uekrongtham (who also directed Thai thriller The Coffin).

The movie gave the burgeoning young actor an opportunity to share screen time with established stars including Fann Wong and Christopher Lee.

"It was great and exciting but at the same time I was very nervous. It was like a dream come true but weird at the same time. I usually watch them on TV and the next thing I know, I am sharing scenes together with them," says Tan, who played Fann's mysterious admirer in the movie.

Now that he's ventured into a more regional market, the next logical step would be to explore more "international" work. Tan, however, is pretty realistic about the probability.

Those in the industry know only too well that it isn't always easy to predict the direction of one's career.

What he can say though is that he hopes to see more "substantial" parts coming his way. But while he would like to work on big budget films, he is quite particular about the kind of roles he takes on.

Tan modelling for a Philosophy-Men campaign in 2007 which was shot in India.

"I was offered a few roles recently but I turned them down because I didn't think the characters were right for me. I'm happy that I have gotten this far and hope that it's not going to just stop here," he explains.

His philosophy is pretty much to take things one step at a time. Moving into markets like Hong Kong involve a lot of uncertainty and it is not something that he would like to undertake at this point.

"I don't know where my future lies and it's not something that can be predicted so easily. I'm just going to go with the flow."

Tan played a gangster in the movie Ah Long Pte Ltd. In this scene, he flaunted his well-toned body.

That applies to modelling too. Walking the runway isn't something he does a lot of these days but he hasn't turned his back on the industry that launched his career.

"At the moment, it is right to say that I'm happier acting than modelling," he says. But he quickly adds that he won't close his doors on anything that would allow him to reach his goals.

"I weigh the opportunities that come by and determine whether it's good for me by looking at the pros and cons."

Moving from modelling to acting seems to be a natural progression for former models but Tan says acting requires a whole different set of skills. To him, modelling is simply about a facial expression but acting requires delving into your emotions.

What he did acquire from his years of posing in front of the camera was a set of skills – people, public relations and communication – that enable him to work well in the entertainment industry.

"What I learnt is to be versatile and professional," he says. "It is a ‘you snooze, you lose' industry and I have to be ready to work with people of all sorts."

While the transition from "pretty boy" to serious actor wasn't particularly difficult for him, it took some convincing for directors and producers to move past stereotypes.

He started young, thus many still continue to perceive him as being someone quite boyish.

His idea of a perfect role, however, goes way beyond your typical heartthrob. The idea of an epic character appeals to him, such as the character of Neo in The Matrix or perhaps the title role of Troy.

"That would be fantastic, to play a hero in a huge production or a villain," says Tan with exuberance. "But I guess the latter is difficult as I don't have the evil look."

Off-screen, Tan is your typical guy, no different from anyone who grew up in the Klang Valley. His passion is football; he confesses that he "eats and sleeps" football. He goes to the gym, watches his weight and engages in all kinds of sport.

In between that and his commitments in the entertainment industry, Tan is developing his entrepreneurial spirit. He recently set up a company Advertlets.com and is in the midst of setting up another, Signature Prospect.

The company is focused on assisting those who wish to move into interactive branding directions and media planning.

"I want to expand my horizons and do something meaningful at the same time. Good chances are rare but it is how you choose your path and how you grasp it."