CEDRIC LOO describes Fight Lah! Kopitiam as a film that will make you laugh your heart out. In the film which premieres in cinemas tomorrow, he plays arrogant developer Tao who is determined to buy a family-run coffee shop.
But the shop owner Bai Li Jin (Jack Lim) refuses to sell, and is forced to take part in a boxing match against Tao to decide the fate of the shop.
“My character is a big bully,” says 32-year-old Cedric.
This is Cedric’s second film. In his debut film, last year’s Amazing Spring, he plays another arrogant rich man named Liang Minshan, who mysteriously travels back in time to a small village where he learns a lesson in humility and kindness.
“Both of my films have comedic elements but my characters are so different,” explains Kuala Lumpur-born Cedric.
“There is a redemptive quality in Liang Minshan. But this quality does not seem to exist in Tao.”
To prepare for the boxing match in Fight Lah! Kopitiam, Cedric underwent a vigorous training regiment every day for a month. He had a two-hour boxing class followed by one hour of weightlifting and 30 minutes of jogging, and stuck to a strict diet with no sugar or fast food.
He says his third film is an action thriller that will be a joint venture between “two production houses from two different countries”. At the moment, he is not at liberty to discuss the project. But he is willing to reveal that once again, he will be portraying a nasty character.
However, Cedric does not intend to play bad boys for long, and hopes to try all kinds of roles under the sun in future.
“I became an actor because I want to live so many different lives,” he says. “If you keep on playing the same kind of character, you cannot achieve this dream.”
When asked to describe his dream role, he says: “I would love to play a superhero. I am a big fan of the Marvel films.”
His other dream role is playing a transgender character, similar to actor Eddie Redmayne’s Academy Award-winning performance in The Danish Girl.
“It will be a challenge to play a character that is totally different from you,” Cedric says.
“You have to put in a lot of research to make the character believable.”
His favourite actor is Hong Kong star Louis Koo. In fact it was Koo who first inspired him to act.
Cedric recalled watching his idol for the first time when he was 12 years old, and was totally mesmerised by his performance.
“I just wanted to be like him,” says Cedric.
Unfortunately, his father, a feng shui master, was not keen for his son to become an actor. His father believed the entertainment industry to be full of bad influences.
Instead, Cedric went to pursue a diploma in mass communication, and worked in the sales and marketing field for various industries.
In time, his father allowed him to pursue his acting dreams.
“My father believes if you are good inside, then you will be good where ever you are,” Cedric says.
Five years ago, he embarked on his acting career by starring in web series in Taiwan and China. Now, he is focusing on building his career in Malaysia.
Interestingly, his younger brother Fabian is also an actor, famous for the critically-acclaimed indie thriller Fly By Night and the commercial hit Think Big Big.
“He is more senior to me in terms of experience,” Cedric says. “I regard him as my mentor. I always seek his guidance. He has expressed a keen interest to become a director and ... I would not mind acting under his direction.”
He admits the entertainment industry is competitive, and full of aspiring actors eyeing the same roles. One wonders how he handles rejection?
He says: “If I get rejected, I blame no one but myself. I need to buck up and improve myself. Getting rejected is not the worst thing in life.”
He points out that during Chinese New Year, he visits and helps out at orphanages and old folks homes, where he is reminded that there are those less fortunate than him.
“I have a lot to be grateful for,” Cedric says.
Two years ago, a fire broke out on the set of Amazing Spring, and Cedric suffered second-degree burns on his leg.
“I could not walk for six months,” he says.
“I was jobless. I had to rely on other people to do the most basic things. I could not even shower without the help of someone. I was so frustrated with my life. I was blaming everyone.”
Thankfully, Cedric was able to recover from the incident and put his life back on track. Now, he is able to walk properly and resume his career and life.
“Like I said earlier, I have a lot to be grateful for,” he said.
