The shrinking of the Hong Kong film and television market is an indisputable reality in recent years, but the film and television market in Chinese mainland has ushered in the recovery and outbreak after the epidemic, and the film and television market in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area has also taken advantage of this spring wind to seize development opportunities. Recently, there have been Hong Kong actors who have set off on their journeys, preferring to accept a 14-day quarantine period and prefer to lower their posture and come to the Greater Bay Area and to seek new acting opportunities in the north, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. With a warm pillow for the profession of "actor" and a humble heart of "preferring to be a newcomer", they came to the domestic film and television market to seek opportunities. Nandu All Entertainment Channel launched a special report on "Workers in the Greater Bay Area" to hear how these Hong Kong artists "set off again" and find their own "a job" and performing arts value in the vast world of the mainland film and television circle.
If you are a TVB drama fan, you will definitely not be unfamiliar with the name "Chen Guobang". Whether it is Peng Sanshun, who has a squirrel's eyebrows and is treacherous and cunning in the qing-costume court drama "The Great Eunuch", or Li Qiuqin, who is inferior and arrogant and suspicious in the family business war drama "Famous Door Dark War", although he is a supporting role, regardless of the size of the role, he has done his best to create a distinct character image. Chen Guobang, known as the "Green Leaf King", was nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" at the Hong Kong Film Awards for the movie "Flying Tiger Ambition", and was also nominated for "Best Supporting Actor" at the TVB 45th Anniversary Taiwan Awards with "The Great Eunuch".
Nowadays, Chen Guobang, who "knows the destiny of heaven in fifties", does not want to live up to his love for acting, and he recently accepted an exclusive interview with a Reporter from Nandu, saying that he will come to the mainland film and television market with a "newcomer" attitude and a humble heart to seek opportunities and continue his sincerity to the work of "actor".
In recent years, the Hong Kong film and television industry has been hit by the epidemic and stagnated, and the market has been shrinking. In contrast, the mainland film and television industry is in a stage of vigorous development, providing more opportunities for many Hong Kong film and television practitioners who still have dreams, so that they have the courage to "start again" and come to the vast world of the mainland to challenge themselves and find value.
1 Status quo
Mrs. Luo Minzhuang hosts the new show
Life is less stressful and wants to integrate into new markets
Chen Guobang has been engaged in the profession of "actor" for more than thirty years, in the face of changes and difficulties in the Hong Kong film and television industry, he said that in the 1980s and 1990s, the film market in Hong Kong developed vigorously, and the TV drama market was also prosperous, but in the face of reality, in recent years, the number of Hong Kong film output has indeed decreased a lot, the TV platform is also very limited, and in the case of more monks and porridge, the opportunity for actors to perform is relatively reduced. He said: "But I was lucky because in a less ideal market environment, I was still able to do some work related to the film and television industry. ”
Referring to his recent situation in an interview, Chan said: "On the recommendation of Uncle Zhi (Hong Kong actor Liao Qizhi), I have been teaching in the Acting Department of Baptist University for 4-5 years, and recently finished a semester of teaching courses in the Acting Department of Baptist University, helping more than 30 students to rehearse, shoot, analyze scripts and create roles. Not long ago, I also finished filming the film "Sugar Street Studio" (tentative name), and before leaving Hong Kong, I participated in the filming of the promotional film of the Hong Kong Department of Health. ”
Stills from "The Dark War of fame"
Later, he said firmly: "But I like acting very much, and I enjoy the work of acting and the life of acting." In the process of acting, I like to analyze the roles, and I also enjoy experiencing different lives and giving life to different characters. There are many domestic film and television productions, there are many opportunities to perform, and most of the crew is derived from Beijing, so I decided to return to China and come here in person to find more performance opportunities for myself and continue my love of acting. ”
The market environment, game rules and connections of the mainland film and television industry are unfamiliar to him, but he believes: "Integrating into every market is not a simple matter, so you must place yourself in this area to appreciate the differences between cultures." For me, with the help of my agent, coupled with my personal interview with the mainland crew, and more contact with the production team, so that they can understand me, it is possible to explore more performance opportunities. ”
Chen Guobang and Luo Minzhuang have been married for nearly 12 years. A family of three is happy.
Another reason that made him take the first step to go north to "work", Chen Guobang said: "My life has reached this stage, there is no longer the psychological pressure and practical pressure of my youth, life is very satisfied, but also accompanied my daughter through the most critical period of growth." Now that my daughter is eight years old, mrs. Luo Minzhuang hosts a new variety show "Daily Mother's Voice" on TVB, I can let go of my family concerns a little, enjoy the job of acting more wholeheartedly, and now I only hope that there will be more opportunities to complete this matter, and I hope that there will be pay and gain. ”
2 Mindset
Start with humility as a new person
In recent years, Ma Dezhong, Ouyang Zhenhua, Zheng Jiaying, Lin Feng, Huang Zongze, Wu Zhuoxi, She Shiman, Hu Xing'er and other former TVB students have all broken north and found a piece of heaven in the mainland film and television circle. Their acting skills and serious and dedicated work attitude are well known. In Chen Guobang's view, excellent actors do not have a geographical distinction, whether in Hong Kong or the mainland, he upholds the original intention of the actor. He said: "As a professional actor, no matter where you are, wherever you are, you should be in line with the professional attitude of the actor. The emphasis on the concept of time, the persistence of performance, and the pursuit of art are all the requirements and attitudes of a professional actor. ”
Chen Guobang with Canton Tower
Chen Guobang has a lot of recognition in the Hong Kong film and television circle, he will play the image of the adulterous role and small people to become a household name, with the good acting skills recognized by the insiders and outsiders, and the background of preaching and teaching in the film and television academy, it is enough to be called a "predecessor" and "old drama bone" by the outside world. However, in order to realize the dream of "breaking through himself and starting again", he came to the mainland film and television circle to find performance opportunities, and he may need to re-adapt at both the physical and mental levels. When it comes to this aspect, Chen Guobang not only has a personal adaptation method earlier, but also has done a good job in mental construction.
He said: "I have no psychological baggage about the size of the role and whether I can play the male number one. "Because, when he was in Hong Kong, although his acting skills were affirmed, he has played more supporting roles since he acted, so he has always maintained a low-key and peaceful mentality." I don't feel like I'm not a 'new person' because of my credentials. When I come to the mainland market, I will 'work' with the attitude of a new person and with a humble attitude. I think that humility is the only way to get more opportunities. ”
Chen Guobang said that 80% of the exterior scenes of "In Search of Qin" were filmed in the mainland.
During the interview, he recalled his early experience of shooting TVB dramas and filming in the mainland. He said: "When I come to a new place, I usually don't have physical dissatisfaction or psychological discomfort. When filming "In Search of Qin", 80% of the exterior scenes were filmed in the mainland, and we went to a very remote place to shoot; later filming "The Great Eunuch" and "Gonggong Out of the Palace" were all filmed in Hengdian, and how hot and how cold they experienced. I kept telling myself that there was a deadline for shooting, and after a month or two, you could return to the real world, and I adjusted myself mentally. And I'm a 'stuffy egg', I don't mind having no electronic devices, no signal on my mobile phone, because I will habitually carry a book to enrich my spiritual world, even in unfamiliar places, I will feel easier to spend. ”
At Chen Guobang's age, the pursuit is no longer fame and fortune, a good story and a role that attracts him are too important for him. And a Hong Kong actor of his age, it is actually difficult to find a role with many roles in mainland dramas and can fully exert his acting skills.
In the face of more fierce competition in the domestic film and television market, different work models and requirements from Hong Kong, Chen Guobang believes: "Although you may have to engage in a job that you have never tried, or it is not your favorite thing, but you feel that it is not bad after trying, you may have a new experience, this is my mentality." Not everything needs to be perfect before I can do it, and in the case of imperfection or no contact, if there is something worth appreciating, it is worth fighting for. Chen Guobang expressed his positive mentality of being humble, not picky and willing to try different types of work, which is also the "easy use and resistance" of Hong Kong actors.
3 tastes
Love to identify with traditional Chinese culture
Immerse yourself in costume dramas and historical dramas
Whether work remuneration and market prospects can further expand their personal influence are the factors that many Hong Kong actors are most concerned about when they enter the mainland film and television circle. In Chen Guobang's eyes, the charm of the character and the charm of the production team are the most important factors for him to enter the mainland market. Going around in TVB or in Hong Kong TV circles, there are always some performance ideals that fail to reach the heights he prays for.
In the interview, mentioning the film and television drama genres that he most wanted to contact in the future, Chen Guobang expressed his love and sense of identity with Chinese history and traditional Chinese culture. The mainland has abundant costume drama production resources, has more advantages in historical and military themes, and has profound cultural accumulation and sophisticated production quality, which makes Hong Kong actors admire. Large-scale costume historical dramas, and even revolutionary historical dramas showing China's modern and contemporary history, Chen Guobang hopes that he will have the opportunity to participate in the performance.
Chen Guobang said that he very much likes to act in costume dramas.
He said: "I personally prefer history, but also very much like to act in costume dramas, under the reference of the real environment and the real environment recorded in history, re-establish a time and space connection with ancient society, I think costume dramas provide us with a bridge." Chen Guobang said that he greatly appreciates the "Yongzheng Dynasty", "Han Wu Emperor", "Daming Dynasty" and other mainland costume history dramas, even if it is a small role, he also hopes to have the opportunity to participate in the performance of such film and television works in the future.
In recent years, coinciding with the mainland film and television circle entering the "year of positive drama", Chen Guobang mentioned that he recently watched "The Age of Awakening", not only to have a deeper understanding of the new cultural movement, the May Fourth Movement to the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party, this period of modern and modern Chinese history, many big scenes in the play also made him feel some feelings and tears. He greatly appreciates Yu Hewei, the actor of "Chen Duxiu" in the play, and Ma Shaohua, the actor of "Cai Yuanpei", whose interpretation allows him to see the authenticity of these historical figures, feel the rich inner activities of the characters and the patriotic feelings conveyed in the play, making him feel as if he is immersed in the scene and devote himself to the life of this era of awakening.
Chen Guobang said: "'The Age of Awakening' has a profound cultural background and historical background, which makes me feel the struggle between conservatives and advanced youth during the new cultural movement, and that kind of struggle and struggle have made a war film-like taste." Although I am not familiar with this period of history, from the perspective of shooting standards and actor interpretation, I also see the seriousness and rigor of the production team. I hope to be able to work with these excellent crews and actors, and I hope to be able to participate in these films and television works with such a sense of history. ”
4 Outlook
Looking forward to the development of film and television in the Greater Bay Area
Willing to stop in the Bay Area to leave a legacy
At the two sessions, cppcc national committee members from Hong Kong, China, proposed to strengthen film and television cooperation and exchanges in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and many parties expected to introduce Hong Kong's powerful film and television talents and teams to the sister cities in the Greater Bay Area. Speaking about the outlook for the film and television industry in the Greater Bay Area, Chen Guobang expressed his personal views.
He said: "The film and television industry needs to have a huge market, and I personally believe that the Greater Bay Area can be referred to' Hengdian model 'to create a larger film and television space and scene, first, the use of this entity's film and television base to shoot and produce some film and television works related to the Greater Bay Area, such as Guangzhou's local stories, or Hong Kong people to guangzhou to work hard stories, these stories can resonate with local residents in Guangzhou, but also let Hong Kong actors and Guangzhou and even the city in the Greater Bay Area have an emotional connection; secondly, to build a physical film and television base can also attract more crews and production teams to come here to shoot, so that the film and television industry in the Greater Bay Area can gradually develop 。 In addition, the film and television industry in the Greater Bay Area also needs the economic support of the consortium and the preferential policies of the government, and the cooperation and complementarity between the two can be better developed. ”
Chen Guobang said frankly: "As an actor in the Bay Area, I very much agree with the vision of strengthening film and television cooperation and exchange in the Greater Bay Area. I also hope to be able to promote and promote this matter, and if there is an opportunity to perform, I am very willing to stop in the Greater Bay Area and leave my works. ”
Written by: Nandu reporter Cai Liyi intern Li Qianyan