If, in the 25 years since Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Hong Kong dramas have been a window for mainland audiences to explore Hong Kong culture, And Hong Kong actors are the narrators at the window. In the play, they emotionally interpret the changes in Hong Kong with their roles, and tell the story of Hong Kong to the mainland; In life, they also personally feel the rapid changes of the country and embrace the mainland with their hearts.
The vicissitudes of the sea float and sink with the waves, and the drama is exhausted; Today, Shaohua enjoys it together, and this sentiment is still the same. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Beijing News exclusively planned an interview with 14 Hong Kong actors, some of whom are still sticking to the front line of the television industry, and some of whom have lived a low-key and ordinary life. But they are all important witnesses to Hong Kong's return to the motherland. Through their moving stories, we try to relive the most precious golden age of Hong Kong TV dramas and evoke the emotional resonance of the blood between the two places.
"Come on, reverse the earth!" Actor Tao Dayu could not have imagined that he would be called "The Best Male Singer of Hong Kong of the Year" by a large number of netizens last year. The "Inverted Earth" incident he created was all over the country. On any occasion, as long as he sang this andy Lau song, the unique singing voice shocked the audience, and the "explosive power" of the chorus part was even more amazing, coupled with the unique gesture of "wiper", the body was permeated with "joyful breath". Netizens have petitioned "ask Tao Dayu to let Andy Lau go", and there are also some "support for Tao Dayu to take the stage of the Red Pavilion". When talking about this matter, Tao Dayu told the Beijing News reporter with a smile, "This is his intention", "The original intention of my performance is to make everyone happy and make people who hear this song happy, as for you saying that I sing well or not is a digression." Everyone was happy, and my purpose was achieved. ”
Tao Dayu, who has played many classic Hong Kong opera roles, caused a hot discussion among netizens last year because of a cover song. Courtesy of respondents
"A single is so successful, will it be recorded?" "When will you 'do' to other singers?" When the reporter put the concerns of these netizens in front of Tao Dayu, he laughed a few times, "I don't dare to be, I have never been a professional singer, it is enough to use music to bring happiness to everyone, I am good at acting." When everyone is unhappy, it doesn't hurt to listen to my incomplete five tones. ”
Chatting with Tao Dayu is not difficult at all, he has his own views on any problem, and there is no cumbersome and boring truth. He used to laugh at himself, sometimes laughing at himself. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, Tao Dayu's focus has also come to the mainland.
Unforgettable reunion night
I am most grateful to those who gave him the opportunity
Tao Dayu knows how to be grateful. He thinks that everything he has today comes from the giving of others. After graduating from the TVB Artist Training Course, he got a lot of "well-written" roles; The time, place, and people have all been occupied before they can hand over the series of Hong Kong dramas "Criminal Investigation Files" (hereinafter referred to as "Criminal Investigation").
One night in 2018 touched him deeply. It was the first time the crew members had gathered 23 years after the first episode of "Criminal Investigation" was broadcast. This episode, which aired in 1995, received double ratings and was a classic in the hearts of many viewers. "At the moment of arriving at the scene, my mind flashed through the pictures from the shooting time, and the memories came to my mind for a while, as if I was Zhang Dayong (who played the role in the play), and I finally went home..." He used "sensational" to describe the night of the reunion, "Many people have not seen each other for more than twenty years after filming, and I really thank Pan Jiade for re-asking this group of people, that day is really happy." ”
In the 2018 "Criminal Investigation Files" crew reunited, Tao Dayu posted a photo of him and the heroine Guo Keying on social media, and the signatures of everyone. Image from its Weibo
In Tao Dayu's memory, every day playing Zhang Dayong is in a pure creative atmosphere, the whole group of people is "super united" and "very morale", and each role actor has "housekeeping skills". At that time, Zhang Dayong's successful portrayal also brought unprecedented popularity to Tao Dayu, and the award was still "Shi Milk Killer" (when the Hong Kong media interviewed Tao Dayu, most of the audience for the drama "Criminal Investigation" was Shi Milk, and gave him the nickname "Shi Milk Killer"). To this day, there is a large number of fans who continue to re-watch this classic.
"I know the influence of Zhang Dayong's role, and I know that this role has made me more popular. I really have to thank the people who taught me, the people who gave me the opportunity, and finally thanked myself for my efforts (laughs). If you think about it, if I wasn't given a chance, no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't be able to play to my strengths. Without them, even if I don't sleep, I can't play this role, right? ”
I have longed for acting since I was a child
Running the dragon set is not as simple as "playing soy sauce"
For Tao Dayu, who has longed to be concerned and wanted to be a big star since he was a child, engaging in acting is his yearning and original intention. When he is reading, he has a strong desire to perform, if the teacher and the student interact in the classroom, he must be the first person to raise his hand; Extracurricular activities in the class, talent shows, singing and dancing, he is all-powerful. He said that he was not very shy, and he was also full of curiosity about acting, always thinking about "what will become of the scene when it is filmed". So, he applied for the TVB Artist Training Course. "I was so lucky that in the session I took the exam, there were more than 3,000 people in the interview alone, and dozens of them were collected in one class, and I was actually one of them." After attending the training class as he wished, Tao Dayu began to carefully analyze his conditions as an actor, he did not feel that his appearance was "beautiful boy" (handsome), only dared to say that his facial features were correct and good looking. His self-confidence comes from age, when he was a fledgling, he was only 18 years old, "young and vigorous, vigorous, my confidence comes from young, I can fight." Plus, I've always been curious about the industry, and every day something happens differently, and together, it gives me a lot of confidence. ”
The best period of his life was the years when Tao Dayu frantically absorbed nutrients after entering the industry. During the Longtao period, he played many large and small roles, and in the Hong Kong drama "Deer Ding Ji" starring Leung Chao-wai and Andy Lau, he was a disciple of the Heaven and Earth Society; He is featured in the Hong Kong drama "Smiling Proud of the Rivers and Lakes" starring Chow Yun Fat; In Liang Chaowei's version of "Yitian Slaughtering Dragon", he starred as Fan Yao... These roles do not have much sense of existence, but in Tao Dayu's view, it is not as simple as "playing soy sauce": "During the training class, we were not official actors until we signed a contract and played a supporting role, and only then did we understand the process and operation mode of TV series production, and only then did we know what acting was all about." It's not that you run to the camera and say a few words of dialogue, you have to prepare and know a lot of things outside the camera to perform a play. It inspired me a lot, but the time is still too short, and acting needs to be continuously learned, and I am still learning to this day. ”
Tao Tai Yu (first row left) starred in the Hong Kong drama "Big Time" as Ding Yi Crab, one of the four brothers of the Ding family. (First row, second from left: Shao Zhongheng, Wu Qiming, Guo Zhenghong)
Everyone needs a chance to prove themselves, and Tao Dayu is no exception. In the early 1990s, after many years of dormancy, he finally waited for his own opportunity, and in the Hong Kong drama "Gray Net", he became a selfish Yang Zhibiao; In "Big Time", he starred in the hot prodigal son Ding Yi Crab. These two villains made him popular overnight. In the Hong Kong drama "No. 1 Royal Court", which premiered in 1992, he changed his previous image of an adulterous character and played the filial piety and infatuation of the lawyer Jiang Chengyu, which also made him usher in a career turnaround and was out of control. After that, he met Zhang Dayong in the "Criminal Investigation File".
TVB group portrait
Those of us who come from the bottom are more modest
Police officers are Tao Daewoo's favorite type of character. Zhang Dayong in the Hong Kong drama "Criminal Investigation Files" is upright, and in order to be a good policeman, he is also infected all the time, "I am similar to him in many places, and the biggest difference is probably that I am not a policeman in real life (laughs). His personality and living habits have affected me, and I will project my own temperament onto him."
In Tao Dayu's view, acting is a process of "self-realization". He has always felt fortunate that he got a good script, was not stereotyped by the outside world, and could play any role. Of course, he admits that there have been twists and turns in the middle. Many people are used to asking him so "famous", why is he so low-key? He described TVB actors as more like "Shaolin disciples", all of whom climbed up step by step from the very bottom: "When we entered the industry, there was no relationship, no assistant, purely on our own. Every day I was scolded, no one taught, and everything had to be groped by myself. People who grew up in such an environment are very modest. Tao Dayu thought about it for a moment and then said: "People who come up from the bottom have a solid foundation and rich life experience. You will understand that the success of a play is not by yourself, but by the efforts of everyone around you. If it comes out, it will be popular, the starting point is too high, the mood is also strong, and it will often be short-lived. ”
Tao Dayu said that the times are different, but every actor must remember that performance is the most important thing for them. Courtesy of respondents
Times are different, but professionalism is timeless. He said that it is true that the younger generation of actors is much "happier" than they are, but needs to understand that happiness is not inevitable. He said that in any case as an actor, you must remember that acting is always the first: "I really don't want newcomers to become vain because of comfortable conditions or temporary red fire." Many people think that being a star is very imposing. But these are all external, not long-lasting, one or two plays can deceive some heat, but over time, the audience will recognize. ”
Same question and answer
Beijing News: As a Hong Kong actor, what kind of Hong Kong drama is in your heart?
Tao Dayu: Relish (works).
Beijing News: In your opinion, which role best represents the spirit of Hong Kong people?
Tao Dayu: Zhang Dayong, he came from the grassroots, his reading is not very good, after arriving at the police force, he started from the bottom and has always insisted on being a good policeman. This is very hong Kong people's spirit, all from the ordinary, all the way through the fight.
Tao Dayu played police officer Zhang Dayong in the Hong Kong drama "Criminal Investigation Files".
Beijing News: On the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, what are the most obvious changes in your personal life and career?
Tao Dayu: The most obvious change is to enjoy life and spend every day happily and healthily. I can now do what I like, what is right, without having to force it.
Beijing News: What do you think is the most profound experience of living in the mainland (or traveling between Hong Kong and the mainland)?
Tao Dayu: The development of the mainland is really good now. Here the place is big, the space is big, the air is good, especially in life, traffic and everything, every place, each city is different, each has its own characteristics, if I come to the mainland, I like to walk around.
Beijing News: In the process of learning to speak Mandarin, are there any words that impress you the most?
Tao Dayu: Actually, my Mandarin is very general, and later when I came to the mainland, I had to communicate with people, so I spoke a lot, but how to speak it would not be as good as your Mandarin, I said Hong Kong Pu (laughs).
Beijing News: After coming to the mainland to develop, what new skills have you mastered?
Tao Dayu: I'm ashamed to say, there are a lot of things I haven't learned yet.
Beijing News: As a "memory killing" for many people, what do you most want to say to the fans of the year?
Tao Dayu: The epidemic environment has changed too much, affecting the relationship between people, and people's work and emotions have been affected. I hope that no matter what the situation, everyone can maintain positive energy and face difficulties with positive ideas. People will definitely have negative energy and low tide periods, and they should be optimistic. All bad things will pass, although you may not know when, but you must use positive ideas to deal with, do more exercise, solve the problem to find a friend to talk to, do not close yourself. If you want to laugh, watch me sing "Inverted Earth", I sing to the point where the five tones are incomplete, but it is also a good thing to make you laugh and laugh.
Beijing News: In one sentence to describe your current state of life?
Tao Dayu: I will continue to work hard, but everything will be at ease and go with the flow.
Beijing News reporter Zhou Huixiaowan
Chief Editor Wu Dongni
Proofreading Lucy