He Tried To Skip Class, But Life - And Director Anthony Chen - Had Other Plans

When Koh Jia Ler first met director Anthony Chen, he was just trying to get out of class. The then-11-year-old soon found himself in an audition, with no acting experience to speak of. This eventually landed him a role in “Ilo Ilo”, the film that would propel them both onto the world stage.

Fifteen years later, Jia Ler remains one of the constants in Anthony's cinematic universe. They reunited for “Wet Season” in 2019 before taking on Jia Ler’s most substantial role yet in Anthony's latest family drama, “We Are All Strangers”, which opens in Singapore on 20 August after premiering at the Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year.

The film also stars Yeo Yann Yann, Andi Lim and Regene Lim as an unconventional family navigating parenthood, duty and the choices that bind them.

Ahead of the release of “We Are All Strangers”, Jia Ler spoke to us about growing up on screen, learning to observe strangers, and the unexpected ways his latest role mirrors his own life.

Jia Ler made his acting debut in "Ilo Ilo" after being selected from a year-long workshop led by director Anthony Chen. | IMAGE: HANDOUT

Tell us how you got into acting.

When I was 11, I was in Nan Hua Primary, which was also Anthony’s [former] primary school. He was looking for child actors between the ages of 11 and 12. So he came into my class, randomly picked 10 students and asked them to go for auditions in the auditorium.

Back then, I was a little naughty, so I didn't want to go to class. I saw all my friends going to the auditorium after recess, so I was thinking, why don't they have to go back to class but I do? So I ended up going to the auditorium with my friends.

I remember Anthony told us: “You're just sitting on a plane. Just do whatever you want to do on the plane.” We just acted on the spot. After one or two weeks, they contacted my mother and asked if I was interested in going for workshops, which lasted almost a year. We met once a week, and then the group became smaller and smaller. At the end of the workshops, there were only 10 boys left. From those 10 boys, Anthony Chen chose me. I started when I was in Primary Six.

A young Jia Ler with (from left) actors Chen Tianwen and Yeo Yann Yann, and director Anthony Chen promoting "Ilo Ilo" in 2013. | IMAGE: HANDOUT

Do people still recognise you because you grew up on screen?

Yeah, yeah. Though I think now not that much. But maybe after “We Are All Strangers” is out, people will recognise me. But I think some people still remember, “Hey, you're the boy from ‘Ilo Ilo’!” “Hey, you're the boy from ‘Wet Season’!” But I think not so much. So when I go out, I'm not so scared! (laughs)

Why were you scared?

Because since young, I always had this thought that I actually love acting, but I don't really like the fame that comes with it. I’ve always had the passion for acting. Being on set feels very fulfilling. But I was always scared about being famous.

What was the fear exactly?

I guess I won't have the freedom? Maybe the things I want to do, I can't do them. Maybe I'm out with my friends, but then if I'm famous, people keep coming to take pictures or coming and talking to me.

Did that happen when you were younger?

Not that much. But after “Wet Season”, there were a few times when fans actually recognised me, and we took pictures. It was okay. It's not so bad.

Jia Ler reunited with Anthony Chen and co-star Yeo Yann Yann for "Wet Season" six years after "Ilo Ilo". | IMAGE: HANDOUT

How different is your acting today compared to when you started?

During “Ilo Ilo”, I was 11. During “Wet Season”, I was 17. So I think for these two films, the characters were very similar to mine. I didn't have much experience and I didn't have lessons or classes prior to acting. I was just playing myself and once in a while Anthony would tweak me a bit.

With “We Are All Strangers”, I’d developed a lot of acting skills through the years and learned so much from Anthony and Yann Yann. I learned so much about having this craft of my own and how acting actually works. I understand now how professional actors put their work and effort into acting, and how they develop the whole character in a film.

Of course, I learned other things here and there. Like, sometimes you walk past people and you learn so much just by looking at them. Being an actor, I notice more of what people do. Even my friends, people I don't know, even the people I met during NS. I think all these experiences helped me understand acting even more and enabled me to play characters that I don't have personal experience with.

Has acting changed you?

I think acting, since I was young until now, has changed me a bit. When I was younger, I didn't have the mindset of being an actor or of wanting to pursue acting. But now, at 26, I want to try to pursue acting and also work with new directors and new co-workers.

Because I have only worked with Anthony and Yann Yann for so long, and I've learned so much from them. I feel like they are my parents in the acting world. They watched me grow up from when I was 11 all the way to 26.

In "We Are All Strangers", Jia Ler takes on his biggest role yet as Jun Liang, a young father navigating duty, family and adulthood. | IMAGE: HANDOUT

How different is your real life from Jun Liang, the character you play in “We Are All Strangers”?

The biggest difference is that I'm not a father. Because I don't have those experiences, I learned from Yann Yann [who is] a mother, I learned from Anthony [who is] a father, and learned from all the people around me and the experiences that I see. I think that actually brought me to understand Jun Liang a lot more.

Also, because of the time I spent with Anthony, the time I spent with Regene and the whole family, it made me understand Jun Liang so much more. Whenever I start a project with Anthony, I feel like the character is really in me. Jun Liang is really in me.

What is Jun Liang like?

At the very start, he's a bit like me. He's always bubbly. He's always very happy. Nothing to worry about. He's in NS. Then something strikes him [when he finds out that his girlfriend is pregnant]. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to rely on his father for money. So he just tries different jobs. He's trying to make money on his own. He wants to make his wife and his kid happy.

But I think at the end of the day, after going through so much, he understands that maybe following in his father's footsteps might be the right thing to do. Which is what I'm doing now, actually. I also tried many different jobs. I tried working at a bar. I tried doing delivery — it's so tiring. Now I'm helping my father with his business, so I'm actually walking in his footsteps. Just like Jun Liang.

If you found out your girlfriend was pregnant now, would you do the same thing as Jun Liang?

Of course I would do the same! I would try to find money. I'd try to give them the best because I don't want to have a child and then not be able to provide for the child.

Jia Ler (seen here with his parents) says National Service taught him the self-discipline and teamwork he still brings to every film set. | IMAGE: KOH JIA LER

How has NS impacted whom you’ve become today?

I think the two most important values that I learned in NS are self-discipline and teamwork. When we first enlist, we are forced to work together and proceed with all the tasks we have to do. With self-discipline, from the first day you go in, no washing machine, you have to wash your clothes yourself, you have to do everything yourself.

We are all strangers from the very start, but when you finish your NS, you understand each other so well. Of course there are times when you dislike this person, but you're still forced to work together; you still have to get things done.

I think it's the same for filming. From the first day you receive the project, you prepare for it. You have to keep in shape, you have to memorise your lines, you have to understand the character and then develop it and then showcase your character on screen.

And of course, for teamwork, you have to work with so many people in the whole team. I think NS really taught me these two very important values, and I still hold them to my heart.

The cast of "We Are All Strangers" joined director Anthony Chen at the film's world premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival. | IMAGE: HANDOUT

What have been the proudest moments in your life?

I think back to “Ilo Ilo”, the first time I travelled for a film; it was for the Cannes Festival. Cannes is a very prestigious film festival and I was quite honoured to be able to be there. But back then, I was young, so obviously I didn't know much about it. Now that I'm 26, I realise how prestigious Cannes is, and now, how lucky we are to be able to attend the Berlin Film Festival this year.

I feel these two have been the biggest achievements and I think it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Of course I'm looking forward to Golden Horse. I've been there twice, and to be honest, it feels like home because for the very first movie, “Ilo Ilo”, I went to Golden Horse. For “Wet Season”, I also went to Golden Horse. I hope this time will be the same.

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