| Keagan
talks about the 3 'W's.
August 10, 2001
Keagan Kang plays a POW in the Channel 5
series, War Diary. We got Keagan to share his filming experience
and talk about war, work and his wanderlust.
By Peng Wan Joo
(Click on pictures for larger image)
 "I
had minimal knowledge about war before I played this role," said
Keagan who plays an Australian Prisoner of War (POW) in the new
Channel 5 drama serial, War
Diary alongside Tay
Ping Hui, Jimmy T, Fiona
Xie, Tan Kheng Hua and Carole Lin.
 And
preparing for the role was tough, said Keagan, that is until he
found a book based on the events and experiences of various POWs
in Singapore called Singapore Samurai.
On War
"There is a story about the experience of this
Australian POW who came from Western Australia Perth. So I could
relate to that very well," says the actor who grew up in Australia.
 "The
book literally changed my whole perception of life. Now I have a
whole lot more respect for elderly people I see on the streets because
I now understand what they went through during the war."
Reading up on war was a sobering experience
for Keagan. "I now know that one should not take your family for
granted because you might be dead the very next day if we were in
war."
But there is humanity too, even in the face
of war. "While I was doing research, I talked to my relatives. While
we know about all the atrocities committed by the Japanese soldiers,
I think there were some who were kind and whose kind deeds were
just not passed on."
One of Keagan's aunties related a story of Japanese
soldiers who came to her house. She said that the soldiers were
somehow reminded of their own children. Recounting his auntie's
story, he said, "They did not do anything terrible. In fact, they
just smiled and gave them lollies."
On Work
 Much
as research was sobering, playing the role was exciting and challenging
for this young man who has just finished also a stage play, Romeo
and Juliet.
"I love my work!" he says passionately and it
is not difficult to see why. Despite his hectic schedule, Keagan
does not forget to have fun while he works.
For his role as Mercutio (Romeo's best friend)
in Romeo and Juliet, he got to spout fancy Shakespearean language
and experience life as a young man full of life and dreams.
He also crossed swords with the rest of the
cast as they picked up some nifty wushu moves from martial arts
expert, Picasso Tan.
 And
for a certain in-flight production for the Emirates Airline, he
got a chance to travel and experience life in Dubai for a few days.
"It was very hot in Dubai. It is really like
a city of gold because of the sun, everything has a golden hue.
I even came back looking more bronzed," he laughed.
But the thing that left him with the deepest
impression is the people. "They are the most beautiful race in the
world. The people there have got high cheekbones, large eyes and
look absolutely fantastic. Dubai is actually quite cosmopolitan
so the girls dress just like you and me and they are really stunning."
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