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Wuma, who was an ordinary dragon set on the set of Shaw, later became an apprentice of Hu Jinquan and Zhang Che, and then a stalwart member of the Hong family class. With his acting career going through multiple stages, from associate director to director to golden supporting role, he has witnessed the rise and fall of Hong Kong cinema over the decades. His status was so high that after his death in 2014, Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan, Dillon, David Jiang, Shi Tian, Yue Hua, Zeng Zhiwei and Tang Jili, eight film giants and old friends, helped him on his last ride.
Stage 1: Moving to Hong Kong to make a living Shaw learns to become an all-rounder
Born in Tianjin in 1942, Wu Ma moved to Hong Kong with his family at the age of 17, a decision that had a profound impact on his future and laid the foundation for him to become a golden supporting actor in Hong Kong films. He soon entered society, experimenting with various temporary jobs and occasionally participating in dramas. When he saw the Shaw company's first advertisement for actors, he had a plan to sign up to become an actor, dreaming of becoming a star and making a lot of money to support his family. This decision included his name "Feng Hongyuan" in the enrollment list of the first phase of the Nanguo Experimental Theater Company founded by Shaw Pictures.
Feng Hongyuan felt very satisfied at first, because in the troupe, he not only learned acting knowledge, but also received a salary. However, he soon realized that the handsome guys and beauties he starred with were the biggest challenge for him to realize his dream of stardom, because the audience preferred to see these handsome faces on the screen. Therefore, he decided to adopt a gradual strategy, he knew that he could not blindly pursue an acting career, he had to learn many skills related to acting, so he not only learned acting, but also paid attention to all aspects of the set, such as scene scheduling, camera switching, editing, writing scripts, coordinating personnel and handling interpersonal relationships. He is constantly learning and improving, not just limited to his actor role.
Stage 2: Diligence and versatility attract attention
Although Wu Ma seemed rough, he was bold and careful, so Hu Jinquan often arranged for him to complete some assistant work. Wuma's non-arrogant, careful and reliable character has won Hu Jinquan's admiration, and he can always bring unexpected surprises to Director Hu. He treats people kindly, and treats other people's words and emotions indifferently, without thinking too much. This made Hu Jinquan appreciate his tolerance and wisdom. Wuma also sincerely respects Hu Jinquan's talent and eclectic directing style.
Zhang Che needs an all-round assistant director, and Wuma is the one who meets this requirement. When shooting on location in Japan, the original assistant director could not follow due to passport problems, and Zhang Che decided to let Wuma replace him. This decision was originally made out of helplessness, but it turned out to be an unexpected discovery, because Wuma was not only able to draw inferences, smart and capable, but also tolerated Zhang Che's angry scolding, which made him Zhang Che's eternal deputy. Wuma's all-round performance made everyone rely on him, and eventually, he was supported by Zhang Che and became a director.
In Wuma's directorial career, one film is particularly worth mentioning, that is, 1989's "The Brave Heroes", which he co-directed with John Woo. This film has a special significance, it was shot to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the master's film from the film, and the box office revenue was used for retirement. Wuma was not only appreciated by Hu Jinquan and Zhang Che, but also forged an indelible friendship with these two important directors in the history of Chinese cinema. In the late 90s, Hong Kong films began to decline, but Wuma actively embraced the mainland market and participated in many TV dramas, making important contributions to the cultural exchange between Hong Kong and the mainland.
Stage 3: Meet Tsui Hark's high requirements and create "Yan Chixia"
Tsui Hark was known for his high demands, and what he needed was a talent that could understand him and obey him. In the entire Chinese film and television industry, few people can meet Tsui Hark's standards, but Wuma is one of them
One. Tsui Hark often asks for something new to photograph that has never been seen before, and his ideas are often difficult to understand. For example, he once asked a martial arts instructor: "Can you still fight without hands and feet?" This kind of question confuses others, but Tsui Hark's goal is not to allow the use of hands and feet, but to create completely new movements that have never been seen before and meet the plot and psychological expectations of his film.
When filming "Qiannu Ghost", Tsui Hark also had extremely high requirements for Wuma, and he hoped that Wuma could interpret the soul of the Taoist priest "Yan Chixia". Despite his prominent position in the industry, he was never arrogant and always humbly consulted and worked hard to improve his performance. He accepted Tsui Hark's challenge to not only follow the director's request, but also strive for perfection. It was under this cooperation that he created the classic character "Yan Chixia".
Whenever people talk about "Yan Chixia", the first thing that comes to mind is Wuma. His performance, that sad face, seems to be smiling, seems to cry without tears, with a thick black beard, hideous eyebrows, violent personality, holding a sword mighty, so that evil demons and monsters dare not approach. For this role, Wuma won the first acting award of his career - Best Supporting Actor.
In addition to Hu Jinquan and Zhang Che, Tsui Hark also attaches great importance to Wuma, and the two have collaborated on many films, including "Smiling Rivers and Lakes" and "Huang Feihong". These collaborations have become a good story in the film industry.
Stage 4: Exploring the Mainland Market and Contributing Arts and Culture
In the late 90s, Hong Kong's film industry began to decline, but Noonma did not stand still. Instead, he actively embraced the mainland market, playing important roles in many TV series, such as the jailer in "The Great Song Ti Criminal Officer" and Baili Yao in "The Great Qin Empire". He has made important contributions to cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland, presenting wonderful performances to Mainland audiences.
Someone once asked him: "Will you be dissatisfied with playing a supporting role?" Wuma replied calmly: "In my opinion, every character is a protagonist." The characters themselves come from life, and there is no so-called supporting role in real life, and everyone is the male number one. So I think that only by showing the character as a living person, he will not have too face-painted and labelled traces. "This philosophy is reflected in his career, and he has always brought each role to life.
Wuma used the glorious course of his acting career to tell us a truth: only by abandoning personal honor and disgrace can we truly laugh at the rivers and lakes.
summary
Wu Ma is a legend in show business whose career has witnessed the development of Hong Kong cinema, from an ordinary actor, to becoming a golden supporting actor, to directing, he has always been striving for excellence. His multi-faceted talent and tireless efforts have made him a right-hand man for directors such as Hu Jinquan, Zhang Che and Tsui Hark, while also creating many classic characters such as "Yan Chixia". His career has not only been a great success in Hong Kong, but also made important contributions to cultural exchanges in the Mainland. The story of Wuma tells us that only by constantly learning and improving can we succeed in the entertainment industry. His spirit will continue to inspire future generations and make us remember this great actor and director.
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