Huayu: Director started with art films

Chapter 79 [Gong Li wants to change her acting style] Please read
Looking at the newspaper in her hand, Gong Li's eyes flashed with envy: "I didn't expect Zhang Manyu to win an award."

Zhang Manyu made her debut earlier than Gong Li. As early as 1983, she entered the entertainment industry by winning the runner-up and Miss Photogenic titles in the Miss Hong Kong Island beauty pageant.

But since her debut, Zhang Manyu has been labeled a vase because of the Miss Photogenic Award.

This lasted for five or six years, and she played either the young girl in "The Romantic Comedy" or the innocent young girl in "As Tears Go By".

It was not until later that she won the Best Actress Award for the movie "The Man Who Never Takes Off His Socks".

But what Gong Li never expected was that Zhang Manyu would win the Best Actress Award at the Berlin Film Festival for her role in "Ruan Lingyu", becoming the first Chinese to win the title of Berlin Film Queen.

Listening to Gong Li's slightly envious words, Li Yishu smiled slightly, "Sister Gong Li, I believe that you will definitely win the Best Actress Award at the Venice Film Festival this time with "Qiu Ju Goes to Court" and win the Best Actress crown."

“I hope I can win a prize.”

Gong Li is still very confident about the drama "Qiu Ju Goes to Court".

Just because she invested too much emotion in it.

Moreover, this is a drama with a strong female lead, and the most exciting character in the whole film is Qiu Ju, which highlights her acting skills better than in her previous films.

"what's the topic?"

Xu Su's voice came from behind. She came over and saw Gong Li's current appearance. She couldn't help but said distressedly: "Zhang Yimou is still the same. He just likes to torment you in various ways. Look at your face."

Gong Li's current image is not very good. Not only has her face become darker, but the cold wind from the northwest has also caused wrinkles on her face.

These are not wrinkles, but dry skin caused by the northwest wind.

"Sister Xu, Director Zhang is just honing my acting skills."

Gong Li smiled and said, "It will recover after a period of rest. It won't be a problem and won't delay the filming."

"I'm not afraid of delaying the filming, I just feel bad for your pretty face."

Xu Lu said with emotion: "Although I also worked hard when I was filming before, but seeing you like this, I am a little grateful to Director Hu Jinshuang for only torturing my body and not my face."

When filming "A Touch of Zen", Xu Feng faced her most dangerous situation. She was hit on the head and the bleeding wouldn't stop. She had to be rushed to the hospital to stop the bleeding.

"Sister Xu, we shouldn't use torture, but training!"

Li Yishu interrupted and said, "Do you know what a director's favorite thing to do is?"

"What is it?"

Xu Lu and Gong Li couldn't help but look at him curiously. Neither of them was a director, so they were naturally curious about what the director liked to do most.

“Make the impossible possible.”

"The impossible becomes possible?"

"To put it simply, it means breaking through the established image of an actor."

Li Yishu smiled and said, "For example, if there is a fat actress, I will ask her to lose weight, from 200 pounds to 100 pounds. If it is a beautiful woman, I will ask her to change from a beautiful woman to an ugly woman. Of course, this is also based on the script, not necessarily a change in appearance."

Gong Li frowned: "Why does it have to be like this? Can't we choose a more suitable actor?"

"Because only in this way can a director demonstrate his excellent ability to train actors, and it can also allow actors to break through themselves."

Li Yishu gave an example: "Take you, Gong Li, for example. When I was on the set of Qiu Ju, I saw some stills from the shooting. At that time, your skin was dark yellow and black, and you had a scarf wrapped around your head. Walking on the street, you looked no different from an ordinary woman in the northwest."

"If I wasn't so familiar with you, I wouldn't have recognized you. I guess not many people will be able to recognize you at a glance in the cinema after the release."

Hearing Li Yishu's exaggerated words, Gong Li couldn't help but touch her face: "Is it really that exaggerated?"

"What Director Li said is really correct."

Xu Su nodded: "That's because I knew you, Gong Li, were here. Otherwise, I would have thought it was someone else when you sat next to Director Li."

Today, before sand control is successfully implemented, the wind in the northwest is still very strong, and the sand blows on your face. It is okay for a short time, but if you are exposed for a long time, it will cut some tiny cuts. They will not bleed, but will make your face look rough and wrinkled.

Gong Li stayed there for nearly three months, filming outside all day, exposed to the sun, wind and rain, and she played a peasant woman, so she hardly did any skin care. You can imagine how bad her face was. It's no wonder Xu Suo felt bad. When he saw her at the Venice Film Festival last year, she looked so stunning.

"Then it seems I need to take good care of myself." Gong Li didn't quite realize it because she was used to seeing it.

"Don't worry, Sister Gong Li, it will be fine in half a month."

Li Yishu laughed and said, "It would be bad if Gong Li became anxious about her appearance after plastic surgery."

"Director Li, the crew is ready."

Suddenly, Huo Wenxi came running over in a hurry.

"Sister Gong Li, do you want to go and take a look together?"

"No, I'd better go home and recuperate for a while. Yishu, I'll go back first, and come back when I'm better."

OK! The real appearance is anxious.

"Okay, come back when you're well again."

Li Yishu smiled but didn't say anything. She turned around and followed Huo Wenxi.

Gong Li stood up and said, "Sister Xu, I'll leave first."

Xu Suo stopped him, "Don't worry, I have something else I want to talk to you about."

"what happened?"

"I have a play here, I wonder if you are interested?"

"What drama?"

"It's a remake of Dragon Inn, a play produced by Director Xu Ke. I played a role in it before."

"Dragon Inn? Sorry, Sister Xu, I haven't seen your film."

"It's okay. That was a movie from 20 years ago. It's just a martial arts movie."

"A martial arts film?"

When Gong Li heard that it was a martial arts film, she shook her head and declined: "Forget it, my limbs are not coordinated well, and it would be like asking me to shoot a martial arts film, that would be like asking me to die."

"Really not going to try?"

Xu Su advised: "The martial arts films shot by Xu Ke are quite interesting, and the films he produces will not be bad either. Ali, you also need to change your acting style. What Director Li said just now is quite right. Actors should try to break through the established image in the minds of the audience."

"This……"

Gong Li hesitated, it seemed like it might be possible to give it a try?

After all, she is a graduate of the Central Academy of Drama. If she says her limbs are uncoordinated, that is only relative to difficult movements like hanging on wires.

"Sister Xu, when will we shoot?"

"They're selecting actors recently. Do you want me to recommend one to you?"

"Thank you, Sister Xu, but can you let me consider it? I've never acted in a martial arts movie, and I'm a little scared of hanging on wires."

"Haha, it's a little bit difficult for me to do this for the first time. So please give me an answer in the next few days. If you have any ideas, I will ask for you."

"Thank you, Sister Xu."

"You're welcome. I just want you to change a little bit and not keep playing those roles. Previously, you were in "The Terracotta Warriors" and "God of Gamblers 2: The Shanghai Beach Gambler". Your costumes were so beautiful that even a woman like me was impressed by your beauty."

Xu Lu's words left Gong Li stunned for a while.

Maybe it's time to change the direction of acting.

(End of this chapter)