Andrew Aigner-Muehlerchapter 12... My first interview
March 7th 2009 02:25
It was the morning of Saturday 6th March. The time was 7:50. This was the last place I ever thought that I would ever have a television interview. I awoke early on a Saturday morning to meet a friend in the Summer resort here in Chengde. It was a morning where the air freshness was around minus eight degrees celcius. I myself, was not used to be out that early, so I was not really dressed to handle that cold.i was quite cold to say the least.
Anyway, I just entered the Summer resort in Chengde, just minding my own business. I had noticed a camera crew ahead. I could see them looking at me. I was saying to myself, they are going to stop me, I know. As I got closer the male cameraman did just that. They did not even give me the opportunity to think about being on camera, before I knew it the camera was rolling.
The interview lasted only around five minutes, but still when you are not prepared for any questions, you are likely to stuff up. I just did that, but I was not nervous and did not show any nerves.
The interview commenced with the female interviewer saying, of which, I do not even know who she is. She did not introduce her self to me. Again, she started the interview in Mandarin. I did not understand her. I just replied with "Wo Ting bu dong", which means I do not understand. She translated in English and said "where are you from?" I answered with " aodaliya" which means Australia. Then she moved on to the next question which was "How do you find the people of Chengde?", at this time the interview started to go down hill. I did not stumble with the question nor did I have to think about it, but the thing which came out of my mouth was quite stupid. I said "Chengde people are nice and friendly. I will say they are nicer than people from the bigger cities. They do understand my Chinese a little better than in Beijing". Do not ask me why i said that. When you are on camera, things just come out of your mouth. The interview continued for another question. In my view, the interview got worst. The next question was "what do you think of the summer resort here in Chengde?". Again, without thinking my mouth just came out with "it is quite nice, I like the outdoors. I like just going for a walk around the lake. I like the fresh air". At this point, I think the interviewer was thinking this interview is going no where and they are interviewing a retarded no hoper. The interviewer went silent. The interviewer looked at the cameraman, so did I. I then asked the question " what are doing here in Chengde filming? of which she replied " we are just filming a documentary for a television show here in Chengde, and it will be on air in three weeks, so maybe you can see it". I replied with "Yeah, I probably wil watch it". The interview was coming to a end. They thanked me for my time. I replied with your welcome and have a good day, and see you later.
They filmed me walking away. From that moment, walking away, all I could think of is, what did I just do? what did I just say? why did I say that? I am such an idiot.
I then waited for a few minutes by the lake, waiting for my friend who I was meeting, just thinking about what just happened. When you think about it. I am in city, where there are hardly no foreigners, less than a dozen I think. I am also in a city where they hardly see many foreigners, and when they see one they sought off stare at you, and find you interesting. So, of course when a camera crew says a foreigner they are going to approach you for a interview. But again, it was the last place I thought that I would ever get interviewed. You do just go to the summer resort to relax, get away, and just think. You do not think, that you will be part of a interview. It is not like, I have never been in front of a camera before, as I have done a bit of acting work in Toronto while I was living there. it is probably why, I did not look into the camera, as we were told back in Toronto, not to look directly into the camera, look at the person who is talking, and just occasional glance looking in the direction of the camera.
Atleast now, I can say I have been on national television in China. That is if, they do not cut me from the takes. I can look back at 7:50am on Saturday 6th March as a experience. Probably something that I will remember.
Anyway, I just entered the Summer resort in Chengde, just minding my own business. I had noticed a camera crew ahead. I could see them looking at me. I was saying to myself, they are going to stop me, I know. As I got closer the male cameraman did just that. They did not even give me the opportunity to think about being on camera, before I knew it the camera was rolling.
The interview commenced with the female interviewer saying, of which, I do not even know who she is. She did not introduce her self to me. Again, she started the interview in Mandarin. I did not understand her. I just replied with "Wo Ting bu dong", which means I do not understand. She translated in English and said "where are you from?" I answered with " aodaliya" which means Australia. Then she moved on to the next question which was "How do you find the people of Chengde?", at this time the interview started to go down hill. I did not stumble with the question nor did I have to think about it, but the thing which came out of my mouth was quite stupid. I said "Chengde people are nice and friendly. I will say they are nicer than people from the bigger cities. They do understand my Chinese a little better than in Beijing". Do not ask me why i said that. When you are on camera, things just come out of your mouth. The interview continued for another question. In my view, the interview got worst. The next question was "what do you think of the summer resort here in Chengde?". Again, without thinking my mouth just came out with "it is quite nice, I like the outdoors. I like just going for a walk around the lake. I like the fresh air". At this point, I think the interviewer was thinking this interview is going no where and they are interviewing a retarded no hoper. The interviewer went silent. The interviewer looked at the cameraman, so did I. I then asked the question " what are doing here in Chengde filming? of which she replied " we are just filming a documentary for a television show here in Chengde, and it will be on air in three weeks, so maybe you can see it". I replied with "Yeah, I probably wil watch it". The interview was coming to a end. They thanked me for my time. I replied with your welcome and have a good day, and see you later.
I then waited for a few minutes by the lake, waiting for my friend who I was meeting, just thinking about what just happened. When you think about it. I am in city, where there are hardly no foreigners, less than a dozen I think. I am also in a city where they hardly see many foreigners, and when they see one they sought off stare at you, and find you interesting. So, of course when a camera crew says a foreigner they are going to approach you for a interview. But again, it was the last place I thought that I would ever get interviewed. You do just go to the summer resort to relax, get away, and just think. You do not think, that you will be part of a interview. It is not like, I have never been in front of a camera before, as I have done a bit of acting work in Toronto while I was living there. it is probably why, I did not look into the camera, as we were told back in Toronto, not to look directly into the camera, look at the person who is talking, and just occasional glance looking in the direction of the camera.
Atleast now, I can say I have been on national television in China. That is if, they do not cut me from the takes. I can look back at 7:50am on Saturday 6th March as a experience. Probably something that I will remember.
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