Xiang Zuo, who has always been regarded as a "traffic" actor, once again aroused attention and controversy in the latest episode of the "Acting School" program. This time, he played an important role in the hit drama "The Secret History of Xiaozhuang" - Dolgon. However, his performance was collectively complained by the mentors, and Wu Zhenyu bluntly said that there were problems with his acting skills.
As a veteran actor, Xiang Zuo's performance this time was disappointing. He seems to have difficulty navigating the restrained and deep nature of this role, and instead acts a little tough and jerky. In the confrontation with the actress, his eyes also lack the love they deserve, and only look angry and gloomy. This is in stark contrast to the subtlety of Ma Jingtao in the classic version.
It can be said that although Xiang Zuo has a "flow" face, he is far from enough to create a deep and introverted image of a royal minister. The criticism from the mentors, while a bit caustic, aptly pointed out his shortcomings. If Xiang Zuo can't learn from this, I believe that he will encounter more difficulties in this regard in the future.
The acting skills of a generation of grandmasters have metamorphosed
Looking back on Xiang Zuo's acting experience, he is undoubtedly already a highly qualified actor. From the early "Huo Yuanjia" to the recent "Acting School", he has created many roles and accumulated a lot of experience.
But the problem is that Xiang Zuo seems to be limited by his "traffic" identity, and it is difficult to break through his own limitations, and he has been repeatedly troubled in deeper role interpretation.
Taking this "The Secret History of Xiaozhuang" as an example, Xiang Zuo has a "skull face", thin facial features and cold temperament, which is difficult for people to substitute for the image of Dolgon with a soft heart. But even so, he was stubborn and determined to complete the challenge of the role.
In the rivalry with the actress, Xiang Zuo's performance was particularly jerky. He stared at each other with a straight and vicious gaze, completely unable to show that deep love. This also sparked discontent among the mentors. Wu Zhenyu bluntly said that he didn't act like a general at all, and he couldn't even do something as simple as "breaking his fingers".
What's even more disappointing is that in the midst of such criticism, Xiang Zuo actually found an excuse - saying that he was "half drunk" at the time. This is undoubtedly an evasion of responsibility, and it is no wonder that the mentors are so disappointed in him.
You must know that Ma Jingtao, who staged this drama 20 years ago, completely controlled the role of Dolgon at that time. His wild roar is still talked about today. It can be seen that to play a deep and introverted royal minister well, the actor needs to have considerable skill and cultivation.
Xiang Zuo obviously lacks this accumulation. His "flow" physique makes him easy to be "eaten" by the crowd, but it still needs more experience and effort to really go deeper.
The "mercy" of the mentors
Regarding Xiang Zuo's performance, the criticism of the mentors is not unreasonable. But what is worrying is that they seem to treat Xiang Zuo with a little "mercy".
Take Wu Zhenyu as an example, he bluntly said that Xiang Zuo's performance did not look like a general at all, but his tone was very gentle. In the past, Director Wu's criticism of other actors on the show was obviously much sharper. As for Xiang Zuo, he just shook his head and said, "Your voice like this will surround your work in the future."
Similarly, even Hao Lei, who has always been strict, is also very "cautious" when commenting on Xiang Zuo. She even took the initiative to ask Xiang Zuo, "Can I ask you a question?"
Not to mention Tranquility, she directly gave Xiang Zuo a good review, without the slightest hint of criticism. And this has rarely appeared in previous shows.
This attitude of "mercy to the subordinates" has sparked widespread controversy. Some people believe that the mentors are favoring Xiang Zuo, the "noble son", and deliberately avoiding his shortcomings. Others believe that the mentors are understanding his "traffic" status and don't want to "slap him in the face" directly.
Whatever the reason, however, this approach is probably not appropriate. After all, as an actor, what you need most is an objective and fair judgment. If even the guru is "merciful" to him, then how can he really know what his problems are and correct them?
Xiang Zuo's future road
For Xiang Zuo, his performance in "Acting School" this time is undoubtedly a heavy blow. Although he has a "traffic" face, if even the more restrained characters are difficult to control, I am afraid that he will encounter more difficulties in the future.
However, this does not mean that Xiang Zuo has no future. Looking at his previous works, it is not difficult to find that he actually has a good performance in certain types of roles. For example, in "Huo Yuanjia", the villain image he created is very good.
Therefore, perhaps Xiang Zuo can consider developing in this direction in the future. Some hardcore characters such as killers and villains coincide with his cold appearance and the way he handles emotional coldness. I believe that as long as he can devote himself wholeheartedly, he can also make breakthroughs in these types of roles.
Of course, this does not mean that Xiang Zuo will give up his attempt to play a restrained role. After all, the progress of an actor requires all-round development. But before that, he needs to put more effort into the inner qualities of these characters and seek breakthroughs in his performances.
Only in this way can Xiang Zuo truly become an excellent "acting" actor, not just a "traffic" star. After all, what the audience needs to see in the end is the inner emotional tension and dramatic charm of the actors, not just "good skin".
As mentors, Wu Zhenyu and Hao Lei and others actually gave Xiang Zuo a lot of advice. Although their language was mild, the problems they pointed out were real. If Xiang Zuo can accept it with an open mind, I believe that he will reap more success on the road of acting in the future. In general, although Xiang Zuo is already a highly qualified actor, he still has a lot of problems in acting, especially when it comes to creating introverted and deep characters. This time, his performance in the "Acting School" program undoubtedly exposed his shortcomings.
The criticisms of the mentors, although a little too mild, are just right to point out Xiang Zuo's shortcomings. If he can humbly accept these suggestions and focus on studying the inner qualities of the character, I believe that he will reap more success in his future acting career.
However, Xiang Zuo doesn't have to completely give up on challenging the introverted role. As long as he strengthens his skills, I believe that he will eventually be able to make a breakthrough in these roles. At the same time, he can also consider developing into other types of characters, such as killers, villains, etc. These hardcore characters fit in well with his appearance, and I believe he can also gain something in this regard.
In short, Xiang Zuo still has the potential to become an excellent "acting" actor. As long as he can objectively understand his shortcomings and humbly accept the advice of his mentors, I believe that he will be able to achieve fruitful results on the road of acting in the future. After all, what the audience desires to see is the inner emotional tension and dramatic charm of the actors, not just the "flow" of the appearance.