Although action movies have declined, the names Ofe Xiaolong and Xie Miao have always been epoch-making.
Although they are child stars, their status in martial arts films is a full-fledged A-list star.
Time has passed, and now nearly 20 years have passed since the time when martial arts films swept the world, and they have all grown up.
The status quo is also very different.
One has retired to the next stage of life, and one is still struggling.
01, one has the heart to plant flowers, one has no heart to plant willows
Shi Xiaolong's original name was Chen Xiaolong, born in 1988, and Xie Miao was born in 1984.
Although they are all popular child stars, the road to the entertainment industry is a completely different situation.
One of Semmiao's parents is a doctor and the other is a cadre of a state-owned enterprise, so the path they plan for Semyon is to study well, go to university, become a civil servant or find a fixed job.
And Shi Xiaolong's father, Chen Tongshan, is the principal of the Shaolin Martial Arts School, and for him, Shi Xiaolong's learning martial arts is also a natural choice.
In a sense, the childhood of these two children is a continuation of their parents' lives.
When Shi Xiaolong was 2 years old, he was sent to the Shaolin Temple by his father, and when he had a master, he also changed his name to Shi Xiaolong.
Chen Tongshan's education of Shi Xiaolong was extremely strict, and every day he got up in the dark to practice.
Leg presses, horse steps, and running start all over again.
Because Shi Xiaolong was too young, it was inevitable that there would be times of greed when practicing, so Chen Tongshan tied him to practice with a rope.
Although Chen Tongshan's educational methods are somewhat unscientific, the results are very good.
At the age of 4, he won two "Awards of Excellence" in the National Children's Martial Arts Competition.
You know, most children at the age of 4 may not walk steadily, but he can already toss and turn accurately play a set of flowing punches and sticks.
His achievements have earned him fame.
His name was on the list of visits to Taiwan by the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts Troupe the following year.
In the local area, his cute image and perfect skills also caused a sensation.
His performance also attracted the attention of the famous director Zhu Yanping.
In 1993, at the age of 5, Shi Xiaolong signed a contract as an actor and officially debuted.
In the same year, director Wang Jing was also preparing "New Shaolin Five Groups", and in order to choose the right actors, he also cast with great fanfare.
Xie Miao, who had been learning martial arts since childhood, took the initiative to sign up for the selection, thus entering Wang Jing's sight.
Unlike Hao Shaowen, who was sent by his father to learn martial arts from an early age, Xie Miao chose the martial arts class himself in the interest class.
Xie Miao originally interviewed a small supporting role, but after the interview, his temperament, especially his eyes, made Wang Jing greatly appreciated, so he became jet Li's son in the play.
This year, the most brilliant child star partner in the film industry was born.
Shi Xiaolong and Hao Shaowen, the two people, one cute and one fierce, became golden partners.
On the set, Chen Tongshan insisted on not letting Shi Xiaolong use a stand-in.
"Shaolin disciples are all learning real kung fu, how can they find a substitute?"
At his father's insistence, Shi Xiaolong often cries while filming, and his tears can drip on Weiya and wet the director's shoulders.
But Chen Tongshan, who has been training his son to practice martial arts, has long been accustomed to such things, and he has calmly asked Shi Xiaolong to unconditionally obey all the requirements of the director.
At a young age, he can bear hardships, dedicate himself, and look well-behaved, and Shi Xiaolong has an excellent reputation in the industry.
Come to him one film after another.
With a good audience, his works even surpassed most of the first-line superstars at the time.
After a year in the industry, his film salary was as high as one million, twice as much as Jin Chengwu.
Semyon has been playing Jet Li's son many times in different films.
Although he did not play the starring role, his unique temperament and neat skills also made him a hot little actor at that time.
In addition to Jet Li and Zhou Runfa, Mei Yanfang, Yu Rongguang, etc., who partnered with him, were all first-line superstars at that time.
Huge photographs of him were also hung on the busiest street in HK.
Although one is arranged by parents, one is actively chosen.
Both of these children have taken the fast track as soon as they debut, and if there are no accidents, they will develop at the same time.
But a year after the two debuted, a watershed emerged.
02, one is popular, one is hidden
When Semyon filmed, she was always followed by her mother.
In order to allow Xie Miao to keep up with the progress of the school, Xie Miao's mother has been supervising Xie Miao to read and write homework after shooting.
At that time, in addition to filming, Xie Miao was writing homework, and even read books between breaks.
A year later, Xie Miao's career slowly got on track, the situation was very good, and Xie's mother began to worry that he could not keep up with the progress of the school as before.
Just at this time, Xie Miao's contract also expired, and Xie Miao's mother had the idea of leading Xie Miao home to study.
Wang Jing firmly opposed Xie Miao's mother's approach.
After spending a long time in the entertainment industry, he knows that red is an indispensable thing in time and place, and Xie Miao can be popular now, but he may not be able to replicate this success in the future.
However, After consulting with the school teacher and Zhou Runfa, Xie Miao's mother decided to take Xie Miao away.
Knowing that he could not make movies, Xie Miao's mood was very low.
But seeing her mother who rides her bicycle to school rain or shine every morning and evening, Semyon is very sad for her mother.
In the first year of junior high school, the Xie Miao family accidentally saw "New Shaolin Five Ancestors" playing on TV while eating.
He silently put down the dishes and chopsticks and went back to the house by himself.
Xie Miao's mother also followed in, and she did work for Xie Miao.
She told Xie Miao that those things were not important in the past, looking to the future, only study is the most important, and going to college to find a stable job is the best thing in life.
The sensible Xie Miao put down the regrets in his heart, never mentioned his dreams in front of his mother, and wholeheartedly studied and took the exam according to his mother's wishes.
What about Shi Xiaolong? He continued to blush.
In 1995, just six months after Xie Miao retired, he presented Jackie Chan at the Academy Awards ceremony.
The award is the "Best Action Direction Award", which is in a sense a kind of inheritance.
Chen Tongshan, who saw his son's potential, began to quickly let Shi Xiaolong work.
When he was less than ten years old, he could only rest for more than 20 days a year, and the rest of the time was spent on the shooting spot.
Injuries and exposure to the sun are commonplace.
In order to allow Shi Xiaolong to film, Chen Tongshan sent two disciples to take care of Shi Xiaolong's living and arranged for a family teacher to follow Shi Xiaolong to tutor cultural lessons.
In this way, it was not until the 3rd grade of primary school that Chen Tongshan arranged for his son to rest and return to school.
At this moment, Shi Xiaolong's father and son have basically achieved economic freedom.
But this freedom was bought with Shi Xiaolong's very hard childhood.
But in 1999, the crew of "Young Bao Qingtian" found Chen Tongshan again.
At this time, Shi Xiaolong had been studying at school for a year, and the teacher and other family members were opposed to Shi Xiaolong giving up his studies to shoot dramas.
But after Chen Tongshan read the script, he felt that this was a rare opportunity for Shi Xiaolong to transform.
So he interrupted Shi Xiaolong's studies and sent him to the crew.
Chen Tongshan's business vision is very sophisticated.
After "Young Bao Qingtian", Shi Xiaolong's fame and national popularity were much better than before.
He hit the iron while it was hot, spent 50 million yuan, and directly opened a martial arts school under the name of Shi Xiaolong.
In 2001, Shi Xiaolong invited Xie Miao to shoot "Prime Minister Xiao Ganluo" together.
It may also be that this encounter has made them envious of each other.
Shi Xiaolong envied Xie Miao, who had been studying and had not suffered from filming.
Xie Miao envied Shi Xiaolong, who had been filming and was famous for his wealth and freedom.
But at this time, their path is still decided by their parents for them.
After filming, Xie Miao went to take the college entrance examination and went to the Capital Institute of Physical Education.
Shi Xiaolong proposed to his father that he wanted to study abroad.
At first, Chen Tongshan did not agree to Shi Xiaolong's request to study.
But Shi Xiaolong began a silent struggle, slowly began to alienate him, and was not so obedient.
Shi Xiaolong's mother also supported her son unconditionally.
With the concerted efforts of family members, Chen Tongshan finally agreed to let Shi Xiaolong study abroad.
After 1 year of preparation, in 2003, Shi Xiaolong went to the United States to study.
In the United States for 5 years, Shi Xiaolong enjoyed the student life away from the crowds.
He doesn't take any jobs except summer vacations.
In the 5 years of studying abroad, he only shot 2 plays.
Xie Miao, who entered the university, still had excellent character and excellent learning, and also became the class leader.
When Mei Yanfang died in 2003, the past in his heart was turned over again.
At that time, he found that he still loved acting.
But he didn't tell anyone.
Until graduating from college, CCTV did the program to invite Xie Miao, who had faded out of the entertainment circle for a long time.
During the interview, the host asked Semyon a question: "What are you going to do after graduating from college?" ”
Without thinking about it, Semyon said, "Shoot a drama, shoot a martial arts film." ”
After graduating from university, Xie Miao was assigned to the school as a physical education teacher with excellent grades.
Semyon's mother was very happy.
But for Semyon, it wasn't what he wanted.
After working at the school for a while, Semyon still found her mother and talked to her seriously.
Xie Miao's mother still insisted: "As a teacher, you can definitely do a good job, this is a very safe road."
But in the end, Semyon's mother also compromised: "There are too many uncertain factors as an actor, but when you grow up, your mother also believes in you." ”
After obtaining her mother's consent, Xie Miao quit her job at the school and officially began her dream journey.
Coincidentally, in 2008, Shi Xiaolong, who completed his studies in the United States, also returned to China.
The two child stars returned from school at about the same time.
03, a leisurely stroll, a catch-up
But times have changed.
What they missed was the golden age of Chinese kung fu films.
Whether it is Shi Xiaolong or Xie Miao, they have encountered more or less setbacks when they returned.
Action movies have passed the best of times, and their market has shrunk.
New idols and genres are emerging, and they have not returned to their former glory.
The film in which Shi Xiaolong participated was not very effective.
But he didn't seem to be in a hurry, after all, his life was no longer a problem.
At the age of 23, he met He Jie and had a scandal.
But in the end, nothing happened.
Because of the financial worries, he has begun to transform into behind the scenes when his effect as an actor is not so good.
After all, what he studied abroad was film and television production.
This road is obviously much more secure, and it can go even further.
Someone once left a message on his deep friendship platform, asking him why there was no fire.
He replied slickly that he liked small fires.
Now Shi Xiaolong can slowly meditate on doing his own things because he has an early foundation in business and investment.
His daily pastime is golfing and other activities, and his hobbies are collecting luxury cars.
On Children's Day, his wife and children went abroad, making people realize that he was really an adult.
Recently, he and his wife went to see the villa.
Someone once jokingly said of him: "Fame at the age of 5, retirement at the age of 15, capital pension at the age of 20."
It's a bit of a joke, but it's also true.
Therefore, the 34-year-old is still willing to spend time and money on kung fu films, and the event is a rare and valuable thing.
Perhaps after going around, he found that movies are still his favorite.
In contrast, Semyon knew earlier what his passion was.
After Semyon left school, he filmed a web drama for a long time.
Step by step from the supporting role.
He does not need a stand-in, bears hardships and stands hard work, and slowly has his own position in the circle.
The films made are also better than the ones.
After so many years of hard work, he finally waited for his work "No One in sight" this year.
After the film was released, the word of mouth and income were good.
Most importantly, the protagonist in the film, Cheng, has a distinct personality, experiences legends, and is a character who can be remembered.
Semyon also has his own masterpieces of adulthood in the true sense.
Semyon is 38 years old this year, but has been in good shape.
The success of becoming blind gave him confidence, and he hoped that people would think of him again in the future, no longer the person who stood on Jet Li's shoulders, but an independent kung fu filmmaker.
Because of love, he is still full of expectations for the future and is still working hard.
Whether it is Shi Xiaolong or Xie Miao, their love for kung fu films in their bones is indelible.
Kung Fu accompanied them throughout their childhood and adolescence, bringing them glory and loss.
These two teenagers, after becoming famous, took different paths.
The situation is also different.
But at least they all maintained their original intentions.
Now they are more trying to pass on.
What they want is not only their own success, but also the ambition to make kung fu Kataxi Red Heart rise.
Although this is a very difficult thing to do, there is always hope for effort.
Isn't the best word in the world hope?