"Malaysia's Ethan Juan" Makes His Big Screen Debut, Not Embarrassed to Go Half-Naked

The Malaysian local film "Pipi Circus" boldly features amateur actors, with leading man Pan Weizhi making his silver screen debut by taking on several bold and breakthrough scenes, including multiple performances in just underwear and bare-chested that have become a hot topic.

At the press conference, he admitted he felt no sense of embarrassment at all, but rather thinks this is part of the typical home attire culture for Malaysian men. "Actually, I often don’t wear a shirt at home anyway. This time it just happens that the entire nation gets to see it in a movie. While filming, I tried to fully immerse myself in the role and not think too much about outside opinions. Luckily, during shooting, I couldn’t see how audiences were reacting, so I just focused on doing what the role required."

Dubbed "Malaysia's Ethan Juan" by netizens, Pan Weizhi jokingly said he doesn’t dare accept the comparison, but humorously responded that for the kind of slightly crazy roles Ethan Juan has played, such as Zhou Chu, there might be some resemblance. He revealed that this acting opportunity was a rare one for him, and for his first time filming a movie, "there was no reason to turn it down."

In order to portray a character with complex psychological layers, Pan Weizhi spent half a year before filming continuously communicating with the director and producer, and even sought to get into character by reading specified books and listening to music. He also observed real people in life, including the behaviors and mannerisms of homeless people on the streets, and even went to the outside of a mental hospital to observe the relevant groups, striving to get as close to the character's state as possible. "This character lives in many gray areas and is hard to describe in just one sentence." He gave himself 9 out of 10 points for his performance because he felt he was already very close to the character itself.

The brand new film "Pipi Circus," made by a Malaysian local team, recently held a media press conference. Director Tan Weifu brought along male and female leads Pan Weizhi and An Yingfei, as well as Lai Tiandi and Huo Yinglai, who played the parents of the male lead, to the event. The film received production support from the Malaysia Communications Ministry through the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) Digital Content Grant (DKD), and will be released nationwide on May 7 during the Mother's Day slot.

Speaking about Pan Weizhi's many shirtless scenes in the movie, An Yingfei admitted that while filming, she deliberately focused on his facial expressions. "If I looked elsewhere, I’d get a bit shy." She revealed she was initially moved to take on the role by one line in the script: "You’ve come home."

Director Tan Weifu said that "Pipi Circus" is a film revolving around "human connection," presenting experiences of maternal love, romance, and friendship through the protagonist's journey to pursue his dreams, while also touching on the subtle effects different ethnicities and upbringings have. "It’s a journey from madness to tranquility, a story about love, companionship, and understanding." He hopes that after watching the movie, audiences can leave the theater with a sense of serenity in their hearts.