Here, Benjamin Josiah Tan takes us through the process and most importantly, what makes a good host.

How did you get approached to host the Asian TV Awards? 

I was first invited to attend Asian TV Awards in 2017 as a guest. I think that was when the relationship was builded. I went back to walk the Red Carpet the following year. And in 2019, I started expressing interest in exploring hosting in general.

Not specifically for the awards show, because I had no experience then and would never have dreamed of it. I think all stars somehow aligned for me for the 25th Asian TV Awards, and I was given the opportunity that year. I must say it was very nerve-wrecking for me, because up till then I had only been acting.

So to have a regional and established awards show be my first hosting experience, that only added to the pressure. Thank goodness I was guided by a very experienced team and my co-host Wallace was a veteran of the awards show!

I was more at ease with hosting, and had found my own rhythm and expression in this arena. Of course the growth and learning do not stop here. But much like an advice I always give my friends who are getting married. “STOP worrying about making the wedding look perfect, please enjoy the moment because IT IS YOUR WEDDING, it is your moment.”

So I was adhering to that advice myself this year. What a wedding! Haha!

One thing I really enjoy is having conversations. The exchange to thoughts, ideas, emotions, and energy. With a talkshow, I find myself being able to perform less as I am having a real conversation with a real human being. It has more fluidity and an organic flow. To host an awards show, there are guidelines and scripts that we have to adhere to.

I would say it is still a performance in some sense. But it is more adrenaline pumping and exciting precisely because of that. Both are very different skill sets, which I enjoy for very different reasons.

With acting, I have done movies such as: Long Long Time Ago, Diam Diam Era, Wonder! Liang Ximei, and 667, while some of my recent TV works include The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang, and I am currently filming You Can Be An Angel 4.

One similarity I find between acting and hosting is the more relaxed I am, the better I am able to react accordingly. Both are about reacting to circumstances, and presenting the most organic replies/reactions.

How was your ATA catch up experience, is it your first time hosting all the talents from different countries?
Prior to ATA Catch-Up, going on live was always something very casual. At y first IG live for Asian TV Awards, I was not sure what to expect. But as we went along, I started easing into it and that was when I found my love for hosting talkshows.

It was my first time hosting talents from different countries. The exciting part was learning about how the same industry works so differently in different countries. The questions I had for them were very different with every episode, because they had such diverse and contrasting experiences as artistes that that was no way I could repeat my questions.

It was through that, that I got to learn so much about life and craft from each of them too. Actually I just realised what I did then is what you are doing with me now as an interviewer. Hahaha. The biggest takeaway for me though, is being able to confirm to myself that hosting is something that I like and have an interest in becoming good at.

What are some of your plans after the Asian TV Awards?
I am currently shooting a TV Drama “You Can Be An Angel 4” which I should wrap up by the end of January. There are plans for overseas projects, but they are not set in stones yet.

I want to take a trip somewhere because I do crave for a break before continuing on with my next project. My plans for 2022 do include being able to take on more hosting opportunities on top of acting. I am known more as an actor as I have started out that way. But maybe 2022 can be when I become “Benjamin Josiah Tan, actor/host”.

Another interest I have picked up is photo editing. Over the last couple of months, I have dove deeper into photoshop through online tutorials, because I find it fascinating how much freedom I have in presenting a photo in so many different ways just through editing! I especially love looking at the before and after.

The fulfilment and satisfaction are immense!

I fully agree with that. Language is a skill set that can be worked on. But if one does not have the personality or interest to share their point-of-views, that can be a huge obstacle in expression, which is a huge part of hosting.

If it is an unsalvageable situation, acknowledge it and laugh about it. Ignoring the situation will only make it more awkward. People are more forgiving if you are able to not take things too seriously and laugh about mistakes.

And even if others are not forgiving, we have to forgive ourselves and see how we can prevent that from happening again.

Do you have a pre-show routine that you practice to get you hyped?
Have fun during hair and make up. I love having fun during the preparation part, because that keeps me in a happy state and not be too uptight about things. A production is a team effort. I do not have to carry the whole weight on my shoulders.

Trust the team and everyone around me. In many ways, what I do on stage and in person determine the success of the show. But in other ways, what I do is just to regurgitate lines and be myself. Both are true and valid.

However, the latter way of thinking allows me to have fun and be more relaxed, which leads to a better “performance” and hence the success of the show. So I will try to have fun at prep and not take myself too seriously when the real work starts.