We got all the scripts for the "most beautiful performance" in 2018 a few days in advance. Only at the end of the story that belongs to Bo Huang, there is a short remark: I am still communicating with the actors and making changes.
The staff told us that Bo Huang felt that there was a little less "energy" in the character setting given at present, and the plot seemed to be more meaningful.
In the original story named "Bomb Dismantling", Bo Huang played a police officer who received an emergency bomb disposal task. Unfortunately, he lost his hand in the process of defusing the bomb. In 20 seconds, the bomb is about to explode. So, in the last 20 seconds of his life, he asked his colleagues to dial his wife’s phone number, explain what happened after his death, and spoke of his rare attachment and love for life, life and family.
Until the shooting day, Bo Huang was still grinding the script with director Frant Gwo.
According to the notice drawn up by the staff, Bo Huang’s filming of this group of films will end at about 14 noon, so we can take time off during the transition to prepare for the filming. The whole film was finished at about 20 o’clock in the evening.
However, there is no opportunity to "take time".
It’s just a scene of entering the bomb disposal site, and Bo Huang took six or seven shots back and forth. After that, I lifted the curtain of the monitoring room and sat next to the director to discuss the performance just now.
He is grinding the details carefully: would it be better to turn that action around a little? Will it be more natural to follow the wife’s name "Xiao Xia" after answering the phone? A makeup artist came to make up Bo Huang’s makeup, and he threw out a sentence without thinking: "Don’t suck oil, you have to spray more water on my face, which is in line with that (in the play) state."
The underground parking garage where the shooting is located is getting colder and colder. After an hour, we couldn’t stand the cold, and our down jackets were useless. Bo Huang, however, remained as a character as when he started shooting. After one shot, I will calmly ask, "Let’s have another one." Even if everyone can’t see the real panorama, he will try a few more with the director.
Bo Huang, Frant Gwo, two men, two cups of coffee, a few cigarettes, together, again and again what heated discussion, we can’t really hear. I saw that the two entered a state of ecstasy, saying a paragraph, shooting again, talking a few words, and then adjusting. The pictures in the lens, those plots seem to have subtle differences.
They didn’t have much rest, so they finished the "most beautiful" shooting in one go. However, even if it was finished in one go, it was nearly 23 o’clock when it was over.
Do you have to put so much energy into making a film for just over a minute?
"If you call this a’ beautiful’ performance, I will almost do it. You have to name it’ the most beautiful performance’, so what should I do? You have to have two more! " Bo Huang answered us humorously.
By the time we see the complete film, the whole structure is quite different from the original simple narrative. Bo Huang and Frant Gwo changed the title of the film to Thunder, in which the character became a middle-aged police officer who was tortured by a boring life and trivial family. Before the bomb was dismantled, the "thunder" (grumpy wife) at home was "exploding" and had a big fight with him; At work, he is faced with the dangerous situation that the real bomb will detonate; At the end, the bomb crisis was finally lifted, but it also means that he will continue to face the "dark thunder" from his family and life … The meaning is rich.
We marveled at their ingenuity in changing the story. Bo Huang just laughed and said, "Making the result better than the original is the meaning of the existence of actors."
Bo Huang: Laughing that he and Sina are 20-year-old "peers", sighing that what can impress the audience is "the most beautiful performance"
Sina Entertainment: Just finished filming the "most beautiful performance". Do you think it’s enjoyable?
Bo Huang: Of course, being addicted is not. There is no end to acting.
Sina Entertainment: Today, you cooperated with Frant Gwo, and the two of you seemed to be shooting high, and they kept shooting until the evening, in one go.
Bo Huang: We all have some plans. Because you have taken a lot of pictures here recently (referring to other "most beautiful performances" this year), just pat the really good-looking (actors). In our kind, we just want to make it fun. This time, it is quite interesting from the story of the performance to the conception, and it is called "Lei". It was just finalized here.
Sina Entertainment: The script I first saw was called "Bomb Dismantling", and I felt that version of the story was quite simple. But I did make a lot of adjustments these days.
Bo Huang: I just hope it’s better. Our role is to make the result a little better than before. This is the meaning of the existence of actors.
Sina Entertainment: Tell me the story of the final version?
Bo Huang: Anyway, we are all quite excited about the tune. In the end, it’s not just a bomb disposal story. There are some midlife crisis things in it. In fact, from the beginning, he was a police officer who was bored to death by his family. Then his wife called, listened to all kinds of complaints, and then rushed to the scene with emotions to clear mines. The situation at the scene is also very critical. After his efforts, the thunder didn’t come down, and it was about to explode. At the last minute, he called his wife again, explained a lot of trivial matters, and then waited for the last thunder. But the reverse is that in the end, the thunder didn’t explode and stopped at that moment …
Sina Entertainment: Is it an open ending?
Bo Huang: It’s not open at all, but that thunder didn’t explode. But at the same time, although you got rid of this mine, you buried a mine for the rest of your life. Because you told your wife a lot of things, and you’re still a grumpy wife, what do you think of that person’s later life (laughs)?
Sina Entertainment: We also watched your shooting just now, and you polished it very carefully. You have to take several pictures of a whole scene. So seriously involved?
Bo Huang: If you call this a "beautiful" performance, I can almost do it. You have to name it "the most beautiful performance", so what should I do? You have to have two more.
Sina Entertainment: Speaking of "the most beautiful performance", what is your understanding of these four words?
Bo Huang: This question is too big. You said that the sincere is also the most beautiful, the simple is also the most beautiful, the layered is also the most beautiful, and the amazing is also the most beautiful … Anyway, I think it is the most beautiful to impress the audience.
Sina Entertainment: A big theme of this year’s "most beautiful performance" is 20, which also means that Sina is 20 years old. What do you associate with the number 20?
Bo Huang: We are the same age (laughs). In fact, Sina and I are really maturing side by side. When I first entered this industry, Sina was just beginning, so I also witnessed Sina’s step-by-step growth. At that time, it was a blog, and then Weibo … was particularly like an old friend, because I usually read all kinds of news and many things were on Sina.
Satisfied with The Island’s box office word-of-mouth performance, I will make a "new director" plan in the new year.
Sina Entertainment: When you were interviewed in Golden Goblet Awards last year, you said that you didn’t want to become a standard part of the film market. Why did you feel this way at that time? What changes have you made for this?
Bo Huang: Parts are standard parts. What I mean is that the standard parts can be used when you bring them here. Anyway, you can cry and laugh. But I still hope that as an actor, I can have more creative and different things. Not only do I have changes and gains, but I also hope to surprise others.
Sina Entertainment: Look at what you said before, sometimes I feel a little numb to the performance and feel standardized. I’ve directed and performed my own works (The Island) this year. Have you found any excitement?
Bo Huang: I just found some difficulties. It’s good to have difficulty. I also saw some new problems of my own. I think it’s good to discover new problems, learn from each other and make progress. I’m afraid I can’t see it. This is terrible.
Sina Entertainment: Are you satisfied with the achievements of The Island released this year?
Bo Huang: I’m satisfied with what the outside world has given me, whether it’s achievements or word of mouth. But I am not so satisfied with myself.
Sina Entertainment: What level of feedback from the audience will make you feel that it is worthwhile to make this film?
Bo Huang: A large area of praise (laughs). It was the original intention of shooting at the beginning, and the audience saw most of it with a lot of thought. Including in the filming process, I even have some doubts, do you want to spend so much effort to make this thing? Some things are actually almost enough? Or some things I don’t have to go to such a difficult place to shoot? It might be much easier to operate in another place? Wait a minute. Looking back now, persistence is right.
Sina Entertainment: After The Island went online, many netizens also launched a lot of brain-opening analysis. Do you think this is the success of your own director? Leave a lot of room for imagination for the audience? Or do you think you’re being too vague? Will make the audience have the idea of 7788.
Bo Huang: The original intention was there, but there were some excessive ideas on the Internet, and I went deep into them. I also read them carefully and thought, Oh, that’s what I thought (laughs)? Actually, I’m leaving a lot of space for the audience. This film is allegorical, of course, to leave something for everyone. I hope that 40% to 60% of the film will be left to the audience to think about. It is a good thing that you can provide the audience with a fun to think. If you finish watching the movie, the light comes on, period. You should do whatever you want when you go out … At least that’s not what I want to make this time.
Sina Entertainment: It basically meets its own requirements.
Bo Huang: Not bad. Of course there are problems, but just forgive yourself. The first time.
Sina Entertainment: Will the next director’s work keep us waiting for another eight years?
Bo Huang: No idea. You have to find something that you think is fun and you really want to shoot. Think about it, if you want to make a fool of yourself for so long, what are you doing with it? Tired, and then I’m not happy anymore (laughs)!
Sina Entertainment: Everyone is also very concerned. What are you busy with in the second half of this year after The Island?
Bo Huang: I’m mainly starting to take the show. I owe you a meal for such a long time, so I "eat" it back. I thought I could have a rest, but I didn’t. But it’s ok, at least it’s much better than the horrible days of the previous stage (referring to the days when I filmed Crazy Alien, variety show and post-production for The Island last year).
Sina Entertainment: I just want to ask you, because you were in a very tired state last year. What do you think of this year?
Bo Huang: Better! After the release of The Island, at least the pressure is not so great, and I can get a whole sleep. I used to transfer to other jobs at 3 o’clock in the morning.
Sina Entertainment: Just now, I said that I also started to take the show. Pick a new role or go in the direction of competing with yourself?
Bo Huang: Yes. Of course, I also want to receive some roles that make me excited. On the other hand, I have also started to make some new director plans, and I think it is necessary to give some help to young directors now. If my performance can bring some good situations to these new directors, it is also in my consideration.
Sina Entertainment: So the next role has been decided, or are they all in the selection?
Bo Huang: Yes, it’s already on. No spoilers.
Sina Entertainment: Is it Bo Ge that we haven’t seen?
Bo Huang: That’s necessary. I want to show you the stills!
Sina Entertainment: When will this film be released?
Bo Huang: I have several. (Sina Entertainment: Shoot at the same time? ) Because I haven’t been filming for a long time, I owe it, so I have to have a certain sense of social responsibility (laughs).
