凭借自己的表演天赋和独有的幽默感,美国少年托马斯·桑德斯(Thomas Sanders)在短视频手机应用软件Vine上迅速走红,他的Vine短视频获得了60亿次的播放量,而他本人也已在各大社交平台上积累了1300多万的粉丝,成了一位十足的网红。不像一般的网红只红在网上,他甚至还红到了网下。今年8月中旬到9月初,托马斯在美国的17个城市成功举办了自己的首次音乐剧巡回演出。做网红究竟是一种怎样的体验?面对着需要不断保持自己人气的挑战,网红又有着怎样的心声?一起来看美国著名少女时尚杂志Teen Vogue在托马斯巡演前对他进行的采访,听听这位名副其实的大网红是怎么说的吧。
Q
Talk to us about your creative process. How do you come up with all of those videos and Vine ideas?
194005.jpg
A
Im a pretty random person, thats for sure. A lot of these ideas just come when you need them to, when youre not even thinking—when youre taking a shower or running, doing monotonous2) things. And then sometimes I do things and think, "is this relatable?" If so, I think of how I can package3) it in a unique way that people havent seen before. I bounce it around4), get feedback from my friends, and then we work together to make that happen. Some days are easier than others. But when you get a good idea, it just kind of flows out of you.
p12-2.tif
◎By Brianna Wiest 译 / 李巧兰
194225.jpg
问
和我们谈谈你的创作过程吧。你是怎么想出所有那些视频和Vine上的点子的?
194330.jpg
答
我是一个相当随性的人,没错。这些点子中有很多都是在我需要它们的时候就那么出现了,在我甚至都没有动脑子去想——比如我正在沐浴、跑步或者在做一些单调无聊的事情——的时候就那么出现了。还有的时候,我一边做事一边在想:“这个可以和我的视频联系起来吗?”如果可以的话,我就会想想怎样才能用一种独一无二、人们此前从未见过的方式来把它包装一下。我和朋友们一起讨论这个点子,听取他们的反馈,然后我们一起把它给创作出来。创作的过程时而顺利时而艰难。但当你想到一个好点子时,它好像就那么涌现出来了。
p12-1.tif
194828.jpg
Q
Being in the public eye is hard, especially on the Internet. How do you cope with critics and trolls?
194802.jpg
A
Thats a really good question. Honestly, Ive learned pretty fast that a lot of comments you kind of just have to tune out5). The important thing that I try to do is give an ear to those who send me positive feedback. I dont give my attention to the people who have something negative to say. I think Im lucky Im coming from a point where Im a little bit older and Im able to put myself in that position. They might be coming from a place of jealousy, theyre not in a good place in their own heart, and you cant give into that negativity.
194776.jpg
Q
Whats your biggest struggle right now, and how do you cope with it?
194749.jpg
A
I would say retaining that creative energy, making sure youre staying stretched6). Constantly challenging yourself. Comedy is supposed to be an ever-evolving thing, its always changing. You can see how things change in memes7)—common taste changes. You have to constantly be on top of8) that, and understand that youre comedy. You have to stay true to what your supporters expect of you, but its okay to allow your comedy to change.
194723.jpg
Q
Whats something fans dont know about you?
194697.jpg
A
I am remarkably an introvert9). I really do like my alone time, I think a lot of people online like their alone time, whether they like to admit it or not. Being in the public for too long, its draining10). Its also nice to have your alone time to refresh and recharge.
问
受公众瞩目不是一件容易的事情,尤其是在互联网上。你是如何应对那些爱批评的人以及那些恶意帖的呢?
194593.jpg
答
这个问题真心问得好。说真的,我很快就意识到你还就得不去理会网上的许多评论。我试着去做这样一件重要的事情,那就是倾听那些给我积极反馈的网友的声音。我不会把自己的注意力放在那些想要给予负面评价的人身上。我觉得我很幸运处于这样一种阶段:我比那些人年龄稍大一点,能那样去处理问题。他们说那些话可能是出于嫉妒,是他们自己的心态没有摆正,你不能向那种负面情绪让步。
194567.jpg
问
你目前最大的困扰是什么?你是怎么应对的呢?
194541.jpg
答
我会说是保持那种创作活力,确保自己始终处于全力以赴的工作状态,以及不断地挑战自我。喜剧应该是一种不断发展的表演形式,它始终在变化。你可以看到网络表情发生了怎样的变化——大众的共同品味发生了变化。你必须始终掌控这种变化,明白你就是喜剧本身。你必须忠于粉丝们对你的期待,但你也可以让自己的喜剧作品有所变化。
194515.jpg
问
你有没有什么情况是粉丝们所不了解的?
194489.jpg
答
让人出乎意料的是,我是一个内向的人。我真的非常喜欢独处的时间,我想网上也有很多人喜欢独处的时间,不管他们愿不愿意承认。受公众瞩目的时间太长会让我感觉精疲力竭。有独处的时间来让自己振作精神、恢复精力,也是很不错的。
1. troll [tr?l] n. (互联网)恶意挑衅的帖子
2. monotonous [m??n?t?n?s] adj. 单调乏味的
3. package [?p?k?d?] vt. 包装成;使……改头换面
4. bounce sth. around (with sb.): (和某人)讨论某事
5. tune out: 不注意,不理睬
6. stretch [stret?] vt. 使竭尽所能;使全力以赴
7. meme: 请参见P5注释1
8. on top of: 控制着;掌握着
9. introvert [??ntr?v??t] n. 性格内向的人
10. draining [?dre?n??] adj. 使精疲力竭的;使渐渐耗尽的