Credit: Xin MSN



15 minutes with Wong Fu Productions
Wes and Phil from Wong Fu Productions talk about group dynamics, fans’ love, and even give a short explanation on Ted’s absence in their overseas gigs

Important life lessons that one can take away from the success story behind these three Asian-American lads from Wong Fu Productions -- it's that sheer hard work and incredible resilience pays off.

The Wong Fu trio, which consists of Philip Wang, Wesley Chan and Ted Fu, carved a name for themselves in the virtual world progressing from amateur videos in the early noughties, to the production of artfully directed videos today. Thanks to their deft editing techniques, the boys' eye for detail and offbeat approach towards everyday issues and topics have won them a large -- and growing -- fanbase amongst young internet users.

An hour prior to their Wong Fu Productions Live in Singapore event at the Rock Auditorium on Tuesday evening, we sat the boys down (except Ted, who was absent from their world tour due to other work commitments in the US) for a short tête-à-tête in-between their rehearsals.

Greeting us with friendly smiles and firm handshakes from the get-go, both Wesley (Wes) and Philip (Phil) explained Ted's absence in their recent White House visit and overseas jobs, including this Asia Tour, which also brought them to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.



"He knew that we needed to focus solely on this project [for Lee Hom in Taiwan] and have someone stay behind to run the other businesses," quipped Phil, further adding that Ted had to give the White House visit a miss due to a "prior engagement" with his fiancée.

Phil surmised, "He really wants to go to all these things. It's just that bad timing or we have different worlds and stuff."

As they rotated the microphone between themselves and took turns to air their thoughts with frank and candid remarks, the boys shared that life was not a bed of roses when they first started the company after graduating from university.



Speaking of the parental objections they encountered, Wes shared that his folks "were worried" because "new media and making videos online for a living" was still relatively unknown back then, as Phil chimed in, "I think my parents were a little bit more nervous 'bout going down this route. But I think they changed their minds when they saw how serious we were about this.

"Now, they say we're working too hard and say we should take it slower," he told xinmsn, flashing a toothy grin.

While they may have rubbed shoulders with President Barack Obama and are the masterminds behind Taiwanese singer Lee Hom's newest MV, 'Still in Love with You', the boys are kept grounded by their love for production and a keen desire to better their craft.

So don't expect them to rattle off a list of dream collaborations or names they would love to work with because they have yet to give such far-fetched possibilities any thought.

Tossing a half-smile, Wes said with a soft chuckle, "People ask us that all the time... I'd wait for it to come and then I'd say 'It's my dream project'."

"If you asked us before [working with] Lee Hom, I'd have never said 'Oh, I really wish to work with Lee Hom'. And it's not because we didn't want to work with them it's because we thought it's impossible," Phil expresses, while echoing Wes' sentiments, "I think there are a lot of people like that where we just don't even think it's within our realm. And then after it happens, we'll be like 'Wow, I cannot believe it happened.'"



With a fast-expanding international fan base, Phil and Wes, both 28, admitted that the outpouring of fan love and attention showered on Wong Fu -- be it online or at events -- still overwhelms them.

Decked in black geeky frames, a self-declared "pretty shy" Wes says that he's still trying to get better at interacting and communicating with fans.

Wes and Phil from Wong Fu Productions during their visit to Singapore

When we asked the boys to compare the size of their individual fan bases, Wes drawled that they still find the idea of having fans "weird" because "we stay mostly behind the cameras".

As if still warming up to the spotlight, the bespectacled one adds, "It's only because of Youtube and the nature of Youtube that people wanted to see the faces and personalities. From then on, we started putting our faces in front of the cameras, being personalities or characters.

"So we're not so used to having fans. We read the comments on favourites and all that stuff and it's very weird to us," he chortled in amusement, while Phil cheekily piped up, "Let's just say Ted [has the most fans]! (guffaws)."

Agreeing at his partner's suggestion, a tickled Wes concluded, "I think Ted's the most demanded because he's so mysterious. They want him the most."

Who in Wong Fu Productions has the most number of female fans? Check out their interview HERE!