(Photo by Liang Xiaoliang) On May 20, French time, Hu Ge accepted an exclusive interview to talk about the new film "The Wild Goose Lake". The film was shortlisted for the main competition section of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, with a score of 2.7 points in the field magazine. It tells the story of a car theft gang leader and an accompanying swimmer on the run, chasing freedom.
Talking about joining the film, Hu Ge said that "The Wild Goose Lake" is a movie he has always wanted to try, but did not have a good opportunity. In order to play the film well, he entered the group a month in advance to find a Wuhan dialect teacher to learn the dialect, and deliberately made his figure look thinner.
After the premiere screening, many commentators said that in Hu Ge’s character, they saw the "forbearance and morality" of the hero of the costume film. In this regard, Hu Ge also said, "Zenong is a person who is out of place in the rapidly changing era. Maybe life has no hope for him, but he also has inner persistence, which is this chivalrous."
In the film, Gui Lunmei plays the most against Hu Ge. When it comes to Xiaomei’s performance this time, Hu Ge also believes that she is very dedicated. "During that time, she had a cold and fever, and it was quite cold at night in Wuhan. After each shot, she was panting and pale. She kept gritting her teeth and insisting, and I especially admire her."
Received in 2017.South Station"Invitation, enter the group 1 month in advance to learn Wuhan dialect
How did you get involved in the movie "The Wild Goose Lake"?
Hu Ge: Three lives are lucky, just kidding. Indeed, I think it was a great honor for me. One day at the end of 2017, I suddenly received a phone call saying that Director Diao Yinan asked me to meet. I was quite excited at the time, because I had seen his "Fireworks by Day" before, including his other work "Night Train". In fact, this type of work is something I have always wanted to try, but I have been suffering from no good opportunities, so I went to see Director Diao with great anticipation that time. Then we met for the first time, and they both left a very good impression on each other.
But what I didn’t expect was that he wanted me to play such a role. Of course, my first feeling was, can I? It was this state of lack of confidence that lasted from the first time I saw him until the moment of finishing. The whole preparation process and the shooting process, to be honest, was quite torturous for me. But I also enjoyed it very much, because I also kept telling others that the whole process of this time was a process of clearing and restarting for me.
Most of my previous acting experience was in TV dramas, so this time as a lead actor, being able to be on the big screen is such a realistic subject, a character so far away from me. So from the method of creation and the way of performance, it is a new experience for me.
: This time you were speaking Wuhan dialect the whole time, right?
Hu Ge: Yes.
How long have you been studying?
Hu Ge: The Wuhan dialect is like this. Before I joined the group, the director recorded all my lines in Wuhan dialect and sent them to me. I taught myself first, and then entered the group a month in advance. After the crew found a local Wuhan dialect teacher for me, and then lived with me every day. In addition to correcting my lines, he also tried to communicate in Wuhan dialect in his daily life. It was to create a language environment for me.
Was the Wuhan dialect teacher with you throughout the production?
Hu Ge: Yes.
Is there such an exchange of Wuhan dialect every day?
Hu Ge: Yes. This process is also quite painful for me.
Why is it painful?
Hu Ge: The lines should be passable, but when I wanted to chat with my Wuhan dialect classmates and friends during this period, I was often laughed at by them.
Don’t worry about whether the image is contrasting, the character is conveying a chivalrous spirit
In the film, your style is very different from the past. You often roll in muddy water and get shot. Do you have any image worries before shooting?
Hu Ge: Not at all. In fact, I see my identity very clearly. Sometimes I may be a so-called star, and sometimes I am an actor. I feel that when I am an actor, the role is the biggest, and all my images on the screen are for the role. As long as it can help the audience build a sense of belief in this role, I am willing to try anything.
There is a scene where you wrap your topless body in gauze, and your muscle lines are looming. Did you deliberately exercise this time?
Hu Ge: I exercise every day, but I don’t exercise to build muscles, and that’s what the director communicated to me at the time. He didn’t want me to be strong. In fact, he wanted my whole body to be able to make the audience feel particularly thin on the video, and then feel tired and unhealthy. So during that time, my exercise was mainly aerobic, and then I also controlled my diet.
After the premiere, there were comments saying that you saw the forbearance and chivalry of the ancient heroes in you. What do you think of the role of Zenong?
Hu Ge: In fact, this is also what the director wants to express. You will find that in the image processing of our entire film, it is intertwined with reality and fantasy. Nazenong, he is actually a very marginal bottom-level character, he is out of tune with this rapidly changing era. Maybe life has no so-called hope for him, but he also has inner persistence, and what he insists on is the chivalry and morality you just mentioned.
Is this morality always firm during your performance?
Hu Ge: Of course, even after Liu Aiai betrayed him, he still chose to pin his last hope on her.
Why is that? What do you think of his relationship with Liu Aiai?
Hu Ge: Two reasons, the first reason, objectively speaking, there was no other person besides her. And at that time, the search area was getting smaller and smaller, and he had no time or possibility to find another person, so that was his only hope. The second reason, you betrayed me once, and I still believe in you.
I always felt a little uneasy during the shooting, and Diao Yinan let herself into the film noir
You just said that during filming, there was always a sense of uncertainty.
Hu Ge: Yes.
Is this your personal feeling or the direction the director has set for you?
Hu Ge: The director has helped me a lot. I often use an analogy. I say that the director’s guidance on the actors’ performances is like performing surgery with magnifying glass. Of course, I think this is also the difference between movie performances and TV shows, because after the screen is enlarged, all the details are required to be very accurate. Maybe I was used to performing in TV shows before, and there are some things I will ignore or ignore. This time it is equivalent to re-learning.
What are the benefits of working with Diao Yinan?
Hu Ge: I think I have gained a lot, including this visit to Cannes. I have always felt that it was Director Diao who really led me into the palace of film art. In fact, in our film, you can see all the elements of film noir. But at the same time, you will find that film noir can also be so poetic. This is what I admire the most about Director Diao.
Will he also provide a poetic guide to your performance?
Hu Ge: Director Diao Yinan’s biggest requirement for the role of Zhou Zenong is restraint and forbearance. He doesn’t want to be exaggerated on camera or in the image. All his emotions and emotions are kept in a very inadvertent state of awareness, so he has high requirements for my performance, which is a big challenge.
Infected by Guilun Magnesium’s dedicated attitude, interpreting the surreal elements in the film
: You have played the most opposite games with Gui Lunmei in the film. How does it feel to work with Xiaomei?
Hu Ge: The biggest feeling she gave me was dedication. There was a scene filmed on the court, where I chased her on a motorcycle.
I ran down the bridge on my motorcycle, and then I chased her all the way. During that time, she had a cold and fever, and it was quite cold at night in Wuhan. Every time I finished filming, because the camera finally turned under the bridge, no one could see her, only I could see her. Every time she was out of breath and pale, I felt that she was dying, so I kept persuading her. I said that if she was uncomfortable, we could stop for a while. Let’s finish work today and shoot tomorrow. But she felt that because the arrangement of the whole scene, including the cooperation of all departments, was very difficult. If she came back the next day, it would be serious to the shooting progress. She kept gritting her teeth and insisting. I especially admire her.
Besides filming, what topics do you talk about in private?
Hu Ge: In fact, throughout the filming process, I kept my distance from all the actors.
: Everyone?
Hu Ge: Yes, because I consciously want to isolate myself, this feeling will be more in line with the state of the characters. I didn’t integrate into the crew as quickly as I used to, and then become good friends with everyone.
: There are some surreal magical elements in the film. What do you think of the director’s handling?
Hu Ge: You will find that in our play, you can find a lot of relationships between the characters and the environment. Sometimes you will find that the distance between the characters and the environment is very long, and sometimes you will find that the characters are integrated into the environment, and these are often absurd, dramatic, and dreamy scenes. But in real scenes, there is often a sense of distance. I think this should be the expression of the director in the video as I understand it.
Can you explain a specific scene? For example, you have a scene where you are constantly entering various scenarios in the newspaper, and finally fantasizing about shooting at an airplane.
Hu Ge: In fact, the director did not tell me the intention he wanted to express in this scene, but my understanding at the time was that Zhou Zenong was in a very weak state at this time. At that moment, the director’s request to me was to perform a somewhat confused state of mind. As a trapped criminal, he had nowhere to go at that moment. In a small room in a dilapidated weather station, the walls were covered with various newspapers, and then you would find that every message could represent the characteristics of an era, but for Zhou Zenong, he couldn’t fit in anywhere.
After watching the premiere, how would you rate your performance?
Hu Ge: I can only say that I have completed the task, but there is still room for improvement.
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