Spotlight is a regular series where we feature a prominent person in the style scene. This month we speak with Valery Vauban-de-Montaudon, actor and founder of Pootsh.
What does ‘Pootsh’ mean?
The idea was to have a multilingual name for the brand, and a sound appeared to be the best way for everyone to understand. We also wanted the pronunciation to fit with our quirky products so saying the name out loud would bring a smile to your face. That’s how we came up with the Pootsh, which is inspired by the Chinese term 扑哧 (puchi) – the sound someone makes when they are trying not to laugh during inappropriate occasions.
What’s the inspiration behind Pootsh? And why cushions?
I have a passion for homeware and worked as an art dealer before. I always appreciate the different styles of decoration when visiting someone’s home. A couple of years ago, I was looking to do something in my spare time in addition to acting. I was influenced by images of food and everyday items, and wanted to turn them into quirky cushions – an idea that came from a strange dream I had a long time ago where everything around me came to life under a magical spell.
How do you decide which food items or animals to turn into cushions? Which ones are the most popular and which are your favorite?
I just follow my crazy mind. Pootsh is a huge playground where we can have fun with ideas. The most popular ones are the animals as well as the seafood products like Bubba Gump the shrimp. Each Pootsh cushion comes with a humorous or suggestive message on the back. For example, Sargo the exotic fish comes with the line, “Hook me, cook me,” and it’s one of my favorites.
You’re better known as your stage name Guo Feilong (郭飞龙) to the Chinese audience. How did you come up with the name?
I spent some time in Edinburgh in my 20s, where I met a Chinese friend named Guo Fei. We’ve stayed in touch over the years and when I decided to move to Beijing, his family took me in like their second son. Guo Fei just named me after himself and added the character 龙 (long, or dragon) to it. In terms of acting, it’s always a mix of fun and stress to play a character; every job is full of interesting experiences but I have a very short memory about each.
What was your most memorable acting experience?
I’d have to say it’s a science fiction film that was just released in July across the country, but I won’t say the name. I had a pretty major role as a member of a group of science students on an ocean expedition. We acted out most of the scenes in front of a green screen with the director yelling out weird instructions, telling us to imagine that we’re riding on dolphins or dancing with fish, but the special effects were so badly made and over the top. To this day, even after seeing the final cut, I still don’t really get the point of the story.
For more, visit www.pootsh.com, WeChat ID: poOtsh
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