A "Age of Awakening" has made many great historical figures active in the public eye again.
Among them, one of the main founders of the Communist Party of China, Comrade Li Dazhao.
Li Dazhao's name is well known.
However, the video material he left behind is extremely rare.
At present, the only surviving image of his life is found in the archives preserved in Russia.
He spoke passionately at the National Theater in Moscow, waving his left arm, and there was a burst of cheers and applause from the audience.
Unfortunately, only ten seconds.
There are more images in film and television works.
And there is no shortage of excellent actors to perform.
In the classic TV series "Li Dazhao" in 1989, Li Xuejian's role left a deep impression on the older generation of audiences.
TV series "Li Dazhao"
In the 1990s, Sun Jitang played Li Dazhao brilliantly in many films such as "Breaking New Ground", "Giant Handshake", "Zhao Shiyan", "Sun Yat-sen" and so on.
It is also widely recognized.
1991 film "Groundbreaking"
In 2011, "Breaking New Ground" was remade into a TV series, and the starring role was replaced by Chen Jianbin.
2011 TV series "Breaking New Ground"
In the TV series "China 1921" in the same year, it was replaced by Hu Jun.
China 1921
In addition, Zhang Jiayi also played Li Dazhao twice, respectively in "The Great Cause of Party Building" and the TV series "Young Marshal".
"The Young Marshal"
However, their light is now completely covered by a post-80s actor.
This is Zhang Tong in "The Age of Awakening".
With his outstanding performance in the play, he has attracted countless fans overnight.
Last month, he was not nominated for the Magnolia Award, which made the majority of drama fans angry for a while.
In the end, why can he play Li Dazhao so deeply in the hearts of the people?
Combined with the story behind the actors, perhaps we can get a glimpse or two.
Zhang Tong
From the appearance point of view, Zhang Tong's Li Dazhao is not at all inferior to any special actor.
Wide forehead, short hair, a pair of eyes gentle and energetic.
The bright and strong eight-character beard shows a wild and uninhibited atmosphere.
The simple round glasses are full of bookish atmosphere.
Two incompatible styles can achieve harmony and unity on one face.
As Li Dazhao's daughter Li Xinghua wrote when she recalled her father, it was a "calm and kind face."
However, Zhang Tong's role as Li Dazhao is slightly inferior.
Because of his height of 1 meter 83, he was a little too tall, not like the people of that era.
But director Zhang Yongxin still resolutely chose him.
The so-called painting tiger painting skin is difficult to draw bones, and the most important thing to play a great man is to look at temperament.
In Zhang Tong, the director saw a trait of Li Dazhao.
This trait can be described by the word "tower".
The tower has high and low, and the height is lowered.
The important thing is that it is always flat and I stand there unsteadily.
The land of Yan Zhao is full of generous and tragic people.
Mr. Shouchang, who was born in Leting, Hebei Province, is simple and open-minded.
As Mr. Lu Xun describes his:
"Honest, humble, don't talk much."
Seeing him is like seeing a tower, which makes people feel at ease.
As a native of Tianjin, Zhang Tong also has the unique heroism of northern boys.
What was his most famous role before?
The answer is Wei Dayong in Bright Sword, the Wei monk.
In this classic domestic drama, Zhang Tong only has a total of more than ten episodes.
But the monk he plays is eye-catching.
Agile in skill, skilled in martial arts, can be one enemy ten on the battlefield, li Yunlong greatly appreciated.
Its limelight even overshadowed the political commissar Zhao and the head of the Chu regiment, and he was the well-deserved number two person in the whole drama.
From the perspective of the actor's performance, Li Dazhao and Wei Monk are actually similar in essence.
Why?
A pifu, a scholar, obviously two people who can't hit one piece with eight poles?
Listen to Uncle Fish speak slowly.
Wei Monk, usually didn't understand anything, a tendon, some reckless, looked silly.
But as long as he goes into battle to kill the enemy, his eyes will become calm and sharp, and he will kill decisively, and even Old Li will not be able to hold back with all his life.
And Li Dazhao, on weekdays, is happy with everyone, even if the family is almost unable to open the pot, he will still take out his salary to help friends in need.
He was jokingly called "Lump" by his wife.
But as long as it involves new ideas, it involves revolution.
He incarnated himself as the most feared fighter of democracy of the reactionaries, threw his head in the face of ideals, spilled his blood, and did not quit.
How similar this spirit is.
Since Zhang Tong has the ability to play the monk with a degree of relaxation, he also has the strength to play Li Dazhao well.
Teacher Zhang Guangbei has exposed some behind-the-scenes stories of "Bright Sword".
It is said that at that time, Zhang Tong, as a fledgling hairy boy, was always eager to express himself, often stealing scenes unconsciously.
Obviously, he was only a guard, but many times he rushed ahead of Old Li and blocked Old Li tightly and solidly, making everyone cry and laugh.
But Zhang Guangbei said that everyone still likes this young man.
Because he acted, very hard.
At that time, in order to save money, the crew sometimes used horses to pull carts, which were not professional and were not easy to ride.
His old riding skills are still difficult to control, and it is even more difficult for newcomers who have not ridden horses much.
But Zhang Tong did not flinch, but spent the rest time of the end of work to practice riding.
In the end, there was the Wei monk who was brave and good at war.
From Wei Dayong to Li Dazhao, from inside the play to outside the play.
Zhang Tong proved his first step in playing a great man with his own practical actions, and he had both form and god.
Most Chinese actors promote an experiential performance system.
Emphasize the psychological basis for finding the character through life experience, and shape the character from the inside out.
The second step in playing a great man is to require the actor to be able to empathize.
Looking closely at Zhang Tong's resume, I can really find similarities with Mr. Shouchang.
Zhang Tong was born in Tianjin in 1981.
When he was a student, he was a full-fledged bully.
During the college entrance examination, he was admitted to the computer major of Nankai University with excellent results.
But surprisingly, he didn't go on like this.
During college, he fell hopelessly in love with philosophy and then came into contact with art.
Obsessed with acting, he began to think about how to devote himself to acting.
Fortunately, although Zhang Tong's parents did not understand, they were still willing to support his decision, and they pieced together a sum of money.
It allowed him to travel west to France and study acting at the École des Arts and Dramatones de Lyon, France.
But the road to study is far from as smooth as you think.
Unfamiliar with life, with no financial resources, and embarrassed to ask his family for more living expenses, he studied while struggling to survive.
I even ate dog food when I didn't have money to eat.
In 2002, Zhang Tong, who was really difficult to maintain a normal life, had no choice but to return to China.
This put him under tremendous pressure, and he emptied his family's savings in exchange for returning from school.
In the eyes of outsiders, he is really a loser.
But his career in France is still useful after all, which not only enriches his experience, but also polishes his tenacity.
Zhang Tong began to visit one crew after another, tirelessly recommending himself.
Emperor Tian did not live up to his painstaking heart, and he successively got some opportunities for dragon sets.
In 2004, he made a cameo appearance as a creep in Chen Kaige's Wuji.
In 2005, he played Black Hawk in the TV series "Seven Fairies of Heaven and Joy", and for the first time got some supporting roles.
In the same year, he took over the most important play of his entire acting career, that is, the above-mentioned "Bright Sword".
As the TV series exploded across the country, Wei Monk became a household name.
Zhang Tong, who has great acting talent, has achieved "debut is the peak".
However, Cheng ye "Bright Sword", defeat also "Bright Sword".
The great success of the role makes many viewers only know the monk and do not know Zhang Tong.
This influence continues even to this day.
Many people don't remember the names of the actors after watching "The Age of Awakening", but just say:
"The monk's Li Dazhao acted well!"
But fortunately, Zhang Tong still followed his own rhythm, step by step.
The "Generation of Merchant Meng Luochuan" and "Tie Pear Blossom" starring him are all dramas with double harvests in ratings and word-of-mouth that year.
"A Generation of Great Merchants Meng Luochuan"
From the dragon set to the supporting role to the protagonist, his acting skills continue to improve.
However, in 2010, Zhang Tong, who was close to the age of establishment, encountered a huge change.
In the process of shooting a play, as a lead actor, he was subjected to the director's "PUA".
He is often accused of "not being able to act" and "not being able to find feelings"...
The director's attitude also affected the other colleagues in the crew, and everyone sneered at him the whole time.
Specifically which play, the open-minded Zhang Tong has never disclosed it in front of the media.
But this really brought him a great blow, and it became the reason why he once disappeared from the public eye.
He began to question and deny himself repeatedly.
Afraid to go to work, even more afraid to perform.
Over time, he developed depression.
It was a harder time than going hungry in France.
He had thought about suicide twice, and even nearly jumped from the eighth floor.
However, fortunately, Zhang Tong still has the strong backing of the family.
Guan Siting, his wife, who is also an actor, understands the pressure he is under and gives him the greatest support.
Zhang Tong and his wife
And his love of philosophy also provided the basis for his reconciliation with himself.
Coupled with actively cooperating with the doctor's treatment, Zhang Tong successfully walked out of the haze, made a comeback and took over a series of plays.
Look at his state at this time, you can feel his difficulty.
Stills from "Wild Duck 2", this period obviously lost body management...
Those who can't defeat me will eventually make me stronger.
After such a catastrophe, Zhang Tong opened his mind.
Although years of tepidness, he has not been able to get a particularly good book.
But after experiencing the ups and downs of life, I have been able to handle various screen images with ease.
In 2016, Zhang Tong starred in the revolutionary theme TV series "Desperate Defender Division".
Breaking Bad Defender Division
Unlike Kong Wu's powerful Wei monk, he played Chen Shuxiang as a brave and resourceful Confucian general.
Although the reputation and ratings of this drama are average, Zhang Tong's acting skills in it are obvious to all.
With this role, at the 31st Feitian Awards two years later, Zhang Tong defeated popular candidates such as Yu Hewei, Zhang Yi, Dong Yong, and Sun Weimin.
The upset became the first and only post-80s emperor in the history of the Feitian Award.
After decades of sinking and floating, it will eventually become a big instrument.
It's really easy to think of Li Dazhao.
Looking at the life of Mr. Shouchang, it is too legendary.
In his youth, he traveled to Japan to study.
In his prime, he returned to China to participate in the New Culture Movement and the May Fourth Movement.
Several escapes, several times in distress, several ups and downs, several tempers.
I have endured external pressure and hesitated in front of different thoughts.
Finally, firm direction, grow into a mature Marxist.
Through the long river of history, the figures of Li Dazhao and Zhang Tong have overlapped.
Although in the face of Mr. Shou chang's merits, Zhang Tong seemed insignificant.
However, this state of mind of "riding the wind and breaking the waves will sometimes be the same as hanging on the clouds and sails to the sea".
Both have an attachment to ideals and an insistence on beliefs.
It is this love that sustains the two of them on their respective paths.
State of mind is the premise of an actor acting well.
After learning about Zhang Tong's experience.
You will no longer wonder why he can put aside distractions and calmly perform every scene.
God seemed to be like a god, and his heart was stable.
The level is naturally high.
But, doesn't it always feel like there are still shortcomings?
To be able to play a good great man, there must be a more unique decisive factor.
This begs the question:
Why on earth should we recreate great men?
Very simple.
Because they deserve it.
As the predecessors who created the happy life today, they deserve to be praised and remembered.
Contemporary audiences can see them on the screen, which is a kind of inheritance, but also a kind of continuation.
And the actors playing them is a recognition, but also a responsibility.
This is also why everyone has always been demanding about the casting of great people.
When you see a bad artist with a black history playing a great man, you will be indignant.
Because some people just don't deserve it.
So, the last step in playing a great man —
Actors need to have thoughts and consciousness.
Maybe an actor is very professional, his acting skills are particularly good, and who plays who is like whom, the industry is particularly highly evaluated.
But as long as he doesn't understand the meaning, everything is empty talk.
And Zhang Tong is a very good positive example.
In the whole process of playing Li Dazhao, he was sincerely afraid.
When the crew of "The Age of Awakening" asked him to play Li Dazhao, he actually did not want to act at the first time.
Because he knows how much weight this role really carries.
He bluntly said that it was a "hard bone" and that it was really "too difficult".
However, after feeling the sincerity of director Zhang Yongxin and the strong cultural atmosphere of the entire crew, Zhang Tong solemnly took over this heavy responsibility.
He said:
"I interpret it with a heart of awe and a heart of humility. I opened my soul to the arrival of another soul."
To this end, Zhang Tong did a lot of homework in the preparation stage.
He not only read a large number of relevant materials, but also observed the interpretation of Li Dazhao by each predecessor and came up with his own understanding.
He summed it up with the poem "Horizontal eyebrows are cold to a thousand fingers, bowing down to be a widow cow", which is indeed very appropriate.
In the official shooting, Zhang Tong was most impressed by the freehand scene of climbing the Great Wall in episode 43.
The location of the film is an undeveloped wild Great Wall, which is overgrown with bushes and very difficult to climb.
Coupled with the fact that the sun is poisonous and the wind is raging, this section is very hard to shoot.
But when he gritted his teeth and climbed to the top, he felt that everything was worth it.
Looking at the land of Shenzhou in front of him, he felt our history and felt our nation.
The spirit of the Chinese nation is there.
This is Zhang Tong, an excellent actor who has both talent and knows how to work hard.
What is even more precious is that he also has a pious and quiet heart that is rare in the current film and television industry.
In an interview with CCTV about him, he said:
"Every generation has its own responsibilities.
Originally, I didn't know a concept of acting.
I don't know what kind of social values an actor should carry.
But after my debut, I came into contact with a lot of good performing artists.
They are not only very disciplined, but also full of work ethic.
It can also convey good, valuable, speculative things through the characters they play.
They are spiritual transmitters.
I'm willing to pass it on."
Good for a legacy!
Uncle Yu admired it from the bottom of his heart.
That's called a really good actor.
In today's film and television industry, he is like a clear stream.
With a focused performance, it washes the hearts of every audience.
Only he, and he should be, can pass on the immortal spirit of Mr. Shouchang to the 21st century, give us encouragement and bring us strength.
Such a good actor, Uncle Fish also hopes to see more, more.