preface
In this era of "traffic is king", every artist in the entertainment industry is eager to emerge among the public and become the hot focus. However, in this stage of chasing glamor, there is an exception, she is Wan Qian. She once unabashedly confessed: "I have never aspired to be a big star." ”
Wan Qian's words, combined with her performance all along, seem to confirm that she has never longed for an overly ostentatious life. In the illusory world of the entertainment industry, she obviously kept her distance from the vigor of "big red and purple".
However, the twist of fate occurred in 2020, and the broadcast of "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves" changed Wan Qian's fate. As a contestant, she bravely devoted herself to the recording and performance of the show. In the show, Wan Qian not only won the love of the audience, but also stood out among all the contestants and became the most popular.
With "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves", Wan Qian finally stepped into the ranks of popular stars. However, as the saying "there are many popular people" said, this industry is full of endless controversies and turmoil, and Wan Qian has not been spared.
After a short period of "red", Wan Qian's character seems to have collapsed, and everything that was originally hidden gradually surfaced.
First, the girl's dream: noble but difficult
Wan Qian was born into a typical intellectual family, and her father was a university professor, and she was strictly required to study diligently from an early age. In childhood, Wan Qian was introverted and steady, with excellent grades, and was loved by her parents.
Perhaps influenced by her family, she showed great enthusiasm for literature and art from an early age, often soaking in the library to read books, and was especially fascinated by dialogue dramas and movies. She would flip through the talismans one by one, or entertain herself in the empty classroom, always attracting the eyes and ridicule of others.
In 2000, Wan Qian was admitted to the acting department of Shanghai Theater Academy with the city's top score. For the introverted Wan Qian, this academy is like entering a fantastic kingdom. She was finally able to express her passion without fear and discuss art with like-minded people.
During her time at school, she studied acting hard and often stayed up late to rehearse dramas. Years of hard work were not in vain, Wan Qian soon became a representative of professional classes, representing the school to perform dramas abroad many times, and won praise from the industry.
However, the good times did not last long, and after graduating in 2004, Wan Qian chose to continue performing dramas in a small theater, but her income was meagre. At first, she was passionate, and she was content to be able to pursue the art she loved.
But gradually, the weight of reality made her feel overwhelmed. The drama industry is still very difficult to develop in China, with very few audiences, and most of the time is performed in front of empty audiences. Wan Qian once performed enthusiastically on stage for more than half an hour, only to find that there were only a few people in the audience.
This desolate feeling made Wan Qian's heart deeply hurt. She couldn't help but reflect on whether her artistic dreams were too idealistic.
The romantic spirit of art for art's sake pales in comparison to the pressures of survival. Wan Qian gradually became depressed and pessimistic, and began to wonder whether she should find a stable job and give up her pursuit of art.
In order to survive, Wan Qian had to switch to the film and television industry in 2005 and began filming movies and TV series. But because she didn't have the resources, she could only play some supporting roles.
This made Wan Qian feel like a leaf falling into a whirlpool, losing control of her life. The cold and distant atmosphere of the film and television industry also made her feel suffocated, and she began to miss the warmth and inclusiveness of the academy. Wan Qian's confidence was also shaken and fell into a trough.
In 2007, by chance, the director heard her good singing voice and asked her to sing an episode for the TV series. This gave Wan Qian new hope, and she immediately found an agency to create a personal EP, hoping to become popular as a singer.
However, the debut EP sold dismally and was dying in the fierce entertainment market. Wan Qian realized that it was difficult for her to gain a foothold in the film and television and music scenes.
In 2008, she lived in seclusion for two years, and at one point wanted to give up and return to her hometown to teach. Her parents and friends are opposing her decision, but Wan Qian has made up her mind.
Until two years later, she once again plucked up the courage to accept the advice of her friends and return to the entertainment industry to give it a try. "You're already halfway there, how can you give up?" The encouraging words of her friends gave Wan Qian hope again.
Second, the ups and downs: the acting skills are urgent
In 2010, with the encouragement of the brokerage company, Wan Qian reappeared and took over his first TV series "Bridge of Life and Death". This time she finally starred in the heroine, although it was only a small production film and television work, but at least she was recognized. After working in front of the camera for two years, Wan Qian's acting skills have been rusty for a long time, and her performance in the play is also very restrained and blunt.
But Wan Qian was not discouraged, and this failed experience made her realize that the accumulation of acting skills cannot be interrupted. Since 2011, she has re-appeared in many TV series and slowly accumulated experience.
In works such as "Xinhuanzhugege" and "The Legend of the Green Hill Fox", Wan Qian left a deep impression. Her acting skills are becoming more and more mature, and she has also won the reputation of "powerful actor".
However, the salary and resources are relatively limited, far from reaching the level of first-line stars. During the filming of "The Legend of the Green Hill Fox", Wan Qian once witnessed how good the treatment of first-line actress Yang Mi was, serving the Taoist high-class and staying in a five-star hotel.
And she herself can only live in a humble crew guest house, and even have to endure cockroaches and crawlers. This strong contrast made Wan Qian feel deeply unbalanced and jealous, but she was helpless.
In 2013, Wan Qian took over her first movie "Heart Flower Road", hoping to make a breakthrough on the big screen. But this debut film has a very average box office and word of mouth.
The investors were also dissatisfied with her performance, which directly led to her not being able to receive film resources for the next few years. Wan Qian, who was snubbed by the film industry, felt discouraged, and she also blamed herself for her reckless decision to directly take on her debut.
In the following years, Wan Qian's career returned to square one. She continued to run around various production crews and struggled to navigate the edge of the entertainment industry. Years of waiting made her irritable and often lost her temper on set.
Wan Qian also had to change agents frequently, because both parties would feel tired and disgusted after cooperating many times. This was the darkest period of her life and almost cost her confidence in her career.
Third, the First World War Fame: The Hypocrisy of Character Packaging
Until 2019, Wan Qian has faded out of the audience's field of vision for many years. Occasionally, works were released, but they failed to cause a sensation. An agent proposed to let Wan Qian participate in the popular variety show "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves".
"You need a chance to get back into the public eye, and variety shows are the fastest way." Wan Qian initially resisted participating in this kind of entertainment program because of her strong self-esteem.
But years of frustration eventually prompted her to nod in agreement. Maybe this is really the last chance, even if she needs to pack herself, she will not hesitate. In order to prepare for the recording of the program, Wan Qian found a professional team and designed the role of a "Buddhist intellectual goddess" according to her personality and conditions.
This role requires her to show a calm and calm temperament, facing the provocations of other contestants, but never fighting back.
In 2020, "Sister Riding the Wind and Waves" was launched, and Wan Qian, with her stable temperament, she successfully created a calm and calm personality - not humble and unassuming, and gave up the Buddhist attitude of others.
This is a strong contrast to other contestants who pursue exposure, making Wan Qian stand out in the show. Fans have given her a title "people as pale as daisies".
As the popularity of the show rose, Wan Qian's popularity also rose. Finally, at the bitter age of 40, Wan Qian ushered in the first career peak of her life. Years of struggle seem to have finally ushered in spring. Wan Qian also attributed this success to the recognition of her calm and self-contained attitude.
However, the good times did not last long. Under the surface of keeping a low profile, Wan Qian has actually been calculating how to increase exposure. When the show was about to open a special interview session, she suggested that the agent contact a popular media person, Yi Lijing, as the host.
Yi Lijing is known for his sharp snarky, and Wan Qian hopes to create a topic to attract attention. She has become so immersed in her newly created persona that she has forgotten that her original purpose was simply to survive.
Fourth, slip to the peak of life: the time to ask yourself
On the day of the interview, Yi Lijing was really not polite, directly attacking whether Wan Qian's "Buddhist" personality was hypocritical. When she pointed out that Wan Qian had also participated in other variety shows in the past, Wan Qian was asked and could not refute it.
Throughout the interview, she was panicked and her personality collapsed. The interview quickly went viral on the Internet, and Wan Qian was accused of packaging herself. The character she had worked so hard to create fell apart.
To make matters worse, soon after, some netizens found out that Wan Qian had praised the negative news of other players. Although she hurriedly canceled the like, it was too late. The public's impression of her turned from positive to negative, and this praise event became the last straw that broke the camel's back. The number of Wan Qian's fans plummeted overnight, and her popularity plummeted. She was finally unable to return to heaven and fell off the altar.
Wan Qian, whose personality collapsed, also exposed serious shortcomings in her acting skills. She played a strong woman in the new drama "The Past of Brief Words", which should have shown majesty and decisiveness, but Wan Qian would only perform with the same gentle performance, which was seriously inconsistent with the character's temperament. The low rating of this drama was blamed by netizens for her poor acting skills.
Later, in "The Courtyard of the County Party Committee", Wan Qian played a cadre aiding Tibet, and did not show the domineering he should have. At the same time, other actresses such as Yang Mi and Hu Ge were able to transform into different types of roles.
And Wan Qian has always been a model since her debut, not shaping the character's heart enough, and it is difficult to interpret complex and contradictory characters. Once upon a time, Wan Qian was still intoxicated by her reputation as a "powerful actor"; Now, the public has finally recognized the limited nature of her acting skills.
After the outer garb of the marketing packaging was unveiled, the empty inside Wan Qian had nowhere to hide. She had to face up to her serious shortcomings in acting, which was an obstacle to success. But Wan Qian didn't seem to realize the seriousness of the problem. She continues to go her own way, and her performance in the new drama is still clumsy.
And the decline in her career also made her mentally weak, and it was difficult for her to concentrate on her work. According to the crew, Wan Qian is often in a trance, and can only barely cope with the play, which seriously drags down the progress.
Now her heart has long been depressed. Faced with the decline of her career, Wan Qian was overwhelmed and even began to wonder if her years of hard work had been in vain.
Sometimes she would run to the stage of the academy alone, reminiscing about those idealistic youth. The stage lights went out, there was no one around, and Wan Qian couldn't help but burst into tears. How she can rediscover her dreams and passions has become a major problem in front of Wan Qian.
epilogue
Wan Qian can be said to be a typical representative of the new generation of actors. Her growth process reflects the shortcomings of the contemporary entertainment industry. The bright red star on the surface also hides unspeakable bitterness and ups and downs behind it. Diligence and perseverance are important, but self-packaging and hypocritical personas are ultimately difficult to stand on.
We should not only see Wan Qian's heavenly side, but also understand her unknown hardships. However, even if the process is so difficult, an actor needs to always remember that only solid acting skills and works can be recognized by the public. This is a valuable lesson that everyone who works in art should remember.
Standing at a turning point in her life, how should Wan Qian start again through reflection and introspection? We should give her encouragement and support. Because everyone will have confusion and failure, it is important to maintain self-confidence and courage, believing that as long as you work hard, there is no height that cannot be reached. No matter how the environment changes, passion and ideals will always be the immortal light of the artist.