After filming "When is the Bright Moon" in 2016, Peng Yuyan hoped to cooperate with director Xu Anhua again. Fortunately, without waiting too long, Peng Yuyan ushered in "The First Burning Incense". The film was released on the 22nd.
"The First Burning Incense" tells the story of Shanghai female student Ge Weilong studying in Hong Kong, turning to her aunt Mrs. Liang to be used by Mrs. Liang as bait to attract men, Ge Weilong gradually became addicted to paper drunken gold fans, and later attracted by the playboy Ge qiqiqiao, in order to continue to live the high social life of the sound dog and horse, he did not hesitate to sell his soul, painstakingly married Qiaoqiqiao, and became a tool for his aunt Mrs. Liang and Qiaoqiqiao to collect money. In the end, Ge Weilong lost his use value and was ruthlessly abandoned by Georgie Joe.
contrast
An action man transforms into a literary man
In Zhang Ailing's original work, "the skin and lips are as pale as plaster", the Rich Man of Chinese and Portuguese mixed race Qiao Qiqiao seems to make it difficult for people to equate with Peng Yuyan, who is sunny and healthy.
The start-up of "The First Incense" and the completion of "Emergency Rescue" starring Peng Yuyan are basically seamless. Peng Yuyan laughed and said that what was more difficult was to quickly change himself from the state of the rescue captain to the state of Brother Gongzi. "When I entered the group of "First Incense", it was only a week before "Emergency Rescue" was completed. Georgie Joe is a relatively thin image, so I spent a lot of effort to lose weight, and when I was shooting in the early stage, I looked a little stronger, and I tried to be thinner in the later stage. ”
Suddenly transforming from the rescue captain in "Emergency Rescue" to the prodigal boy Qiao Qiqiao in "The First Burning Incense", Peng Yuyan did more homework. "Refer to books, film and television works that tell about that era, ask the elders, talk to the director, and understand the stories and people of that era." More than that, it is the preparation of the inner level. "Read the script many times to understand Georgie Joe, his relationship with other characters, to understand their hearts." For example, what charm does Georgie Joe have that makes a woman can't reject him, and although she may hate him, she can't hate him. "I will take these questions to communicate with director Xu Anhua, understand how men of that era dressed, walked, and even fell in love, and also learned Portuguese and danced ballroom dance."
Which is more difficult to shoot in a literary film or an action movie? Peng Yuyan said that the difficulty is very large - like the challenge of "Emergency Rescue" is that it has never acted in such a tired and dangerous drama in the past, and "First Incense" is based on classic literary works. There needs to be a balance between the georgi joe that the director wants, the georgie joe presented in the novel, and the georgie joe in my own mind. "So I often have insecurities, and that insecurity motivates me to keep practicing in the process of acting. For me, challenges and gains go hand in hand. ”
rethink
Both himself and Georgie Joe are "afraid of marriage"
Qiao Qiqiao's lack of inattention to feelings is largely related to His family and his upbringing background in Peng Yuyan's view. Georgie Joe grew up without the love of his parents. He has low self-esteem, is extremely lacking in love, and is a person without roots. "It is very scary not to have roots, not to land on the ground, is a state of quite impetuousness. He has a good look, and women like him, and he just takes it for granted to enjoy that liking. But he didn't have the heart to harm others or take revenge on others, his subconscious was - I want to prove to others, I am still capable, so many people like me. He needs a way to make up for the trauma of his childhood, and he needs the love of more people. ”
The process of playing Qiao Qiqiao is also a process of Peng Yuyan's self-examination. "My childhood was a bit like Georgie Joe's. I am also a single parent and lack fatherly love. But what's different is that my mother gave me a lot of love, and the love of my grandmother and sister, so I respected women since I was a child. This is something different from Georgie Joe. ”
In the process of interpreting this role, Peng Yuyan found that there was a surprising connection point between the two of them. "Georgie Joe is reluctant to get married and is afraid to give promises because he doesn't have the care and love of his loved ones. I sometimes think: If a girl says she wants to marry me, then I worry about whether getting married will become a divorce like my father. What about her? She'll be sad. Growing up in a single-parent family, in a way, I would have baggage and pressure. I don't think Georgie Joe is a 'scumbag'. ”
confused
Anticipation and skepticism coexist when shooting
Zhang Ailing's original work, Wang Anyi's screenwriter, Xu Anhua's director - Zhang Ailing + Xu Anhua + Wang Anyi, so that "The First Burning Incense" has coexisted with expectations and doubts from the beginning of filming.
Choosing Peng Yuyan to play Qiao Qiqiao, director Xu Anhua said that she valued the energy of Peng Yuyan. The experience of cooperating with Peng Yuyan in "When is the Bright Moon" made director Xu Anhua have a very good impression of Peng Yuyan, "He is a very dedicated and excellent actor, who will work hard to study the role, whether it is filming "When is the Bright Moon" or this time "The First Incense". ”
For some controversy caused by Ma Sichun and Peng Yuyan as protagonists, Xu Anhua supported the film when the film participated in the Venice Film Festival last year, and she believes that Ma Sichun and Peng Yuyan are very good actors and feel that they are very good at interpreting love stories.
Xu Anhua said that Peng Yuyan's appearance is a little mixed-race, "this is just right for Qiao Qiqiao", and during the audition, Peng Yuyan's eyes touched her: "He has a pair of 'lover's eyes'." She believes that the number of actors who can play a good love scene is actually very limited. Some actors can be very photogenic and have good acting skills, but they don't have that kind of "look" when interpreting love stories.
For the outside world's doubts, Peng Yuyan said, "Everyone has the right to speak out about what they like or dislike, and everyone can use a magnifying glass or a magnificent height to see, as long as it is based on respect, I think there is no problem." As an actor, I just hope that this film can show you the stories of people and people in that era, and if you can produce some touch or thinking, it would be better. I think it is good to have a voice, and everyone is welcome to criticize and advise. ”
Reflection
Caring about word-of-mouth and box office can make movies very complicated
After 3 years of cooperation with director Xu Anhua, Peng Yuyan felt that the director did not have much change compared with the time when he filmed "When the Moon Rises", "The physical strength is still very good." In addition, "Director Xu is particularly focused on the performance of the actors, hoping that every time everyone is ready, the actors will perform again, she does not want the best things or physical strength to be consumed." After each shot, she would ask, 'Do you like it or not?' Would you like to try again? I sometimes say, 'Director, you think it's OK.' But she said, 'Give you another chance to play what you want.' This is the loveliest place for Xu Dao. Maybe the last one is OK for the director, but she will also give the actor more space to realize his own ideas in performance. ”
For awards and word of mouth, Peng Yuyan is very calm. "For me, there are awards, there are none, there are no. It doesn't affect my making movies or affects my love of movies. Of course I would be happy to be shortlisted for a film festival or get an award, but it's not something we can understand and control. In his view, when you care about word of mouth and box office, everything will become very complicated, "You have to evaluate these operations, processes, and think about how to promote, but in fact, these things do not exist in my world." I was completely relaxed after filming and returned to my own world. Unless there is a next work, I will not think about the character. ”
Text/Reporter Xiao Yang Coordinator/Liu Jianghua