On July 20, "Fengshen Part 1" directed by Wu Ershan was finally released. This grand Chinese mythological epic is all-encompassing, and in the first part, Fei Xiang's starring Shang Wang Yinshou is a very innovative and thoughtful adaptation of it, and it is also the number one "Wang Zha" in the "Fengshen Men's Group" created by Wu Ershan.
There are too many adaptations of film and television works about the list of gods. King Shang, the most famous tyrant in history, is inevitably left in people's minds by the stereotype of being bewitched by a vixen, wanton and cruel.
"Fengshen Part I" Fei Xiang single poster
The Shang Wang Yinshou that Wuershan wants to shape is "giant and handsome, he is the best in the world; his muscles are super strong, and he is the enemy of a hundred people." This is the description of him in "Xunzi Feixiang Chapter". Fei Xiang, from the moment he wrote the script, has been the best candidate in the director's mind.
The long-lost Fei Xiang, "The Return of the King" on the big screen, brave Kong Wu. On the battlefield, he is the most heroic general, invincible among gold and iron horses; in court, he is even better at demagoguery, young talents regard him as a leader, and are willing to ruin their hearts for him; in "Wine Pond Meat Forest", he indulges his ambition and desire, and the hormonal breath is about to overflow from the screen.
For this role, Fei Xiang has experienced the "most self-disciplined" period in more than 60 years. In the Shang Dynasty, martial arts were popular, and the physique of a brave general needed to be strong. Fei Xiang experienced a year and a half of "devil training" in martial arts, horseback riding and fitness in the crew. He said with a smile that he is actually a lazy person. He was easy to get fat when he was young, and he believes in the "casual" life creed at this age. But since he took on this role, his body has become a tool for shaping the character. Fei Xiang said that he does not take this as the glory of this age group, but only needs the audience to believe in the character creation in the movie when they see his image.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
This is probably the self-cultivation of the "first generation idol".
In 1987, Fei Xiang, who was dressed in red, danced wildly, and sang "You are like a fire, the raging flame burns me", "ignited" the studio of the Spring Festival Gala on New Year's Eve. Since then, this tall, charming voice, dynamic dancing, and handsome mixed-race boy has become the dream of thousands of girls in the 1980s, and also became the first "idol singer" who really became popular from CCTV.
1987 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Fei Xiang sang "A Fire in Winter"
People who haven't experienced that era may not be able to imagine how popular Fei Xiang was at that time. Released 4 albums in three years, sales exceeded 20 million copies, held 65 concert tours across the country, and the venues were sold out. At that time, boys from almost all over the country began to imitate Fei Xiang's outfits and hairstyles. When girls talked about "dream lover", he was almost certainly the one with the highest votes.
Deng Zaijun, the director of the Spring Festival Gala, later wrote in his reminiscence article: The "Spring Festival Gala" in 1987 played a role of "fire", "burning" some rigid and conservative ideas. Fei Xiang and the times are mutual achievements. In the fiery 80s, when Vientiane was renewed, even though the TV directors showed close-up shots of the upper body and face, Fei Xiang’s enthusiastic and unruly dance still ignited the people in front of the TV. Bell-bottom pants, afro, dynamic dance music, romantic and vibrant cultural thoughts are waiting for such a cultural icon to be born.
Now talking about the limelight back then, Fei Xiang has a sober self-knowledge, "Every era will have its idols, and young people need specific people to represent them to make their voices heard." He has also been coerced by that kind of "popularity", felt pressured by his high demands and the eyes of others, and was even "squeezed dry".
"There is nothing new to give to the audience, but the artist must grow with the audience." So, in the 1990s, at the most popular moment, he chose to leave the mainland and go to Broadway to study musicals. At that time, who would have thought that a singing superstar who was in the sky would have to queue up for an interview, but he was still willing to do so because "the picture is that no one knows". Fei Xiang took root on the stage for seven years, polished and improved himself from scratch, and finally became the first Chinese-American lead singer on the Broadway stage.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
Today, Fei Xiang is 62 years old. He does not often appear in the public eye, and he meets a character who "if you miss it, you will regret it". The story of "Fengshen Trilogy" brought him back to the mythical world he loved when he was a child. "Chinese mythology has unique charm, and we have to pass it down from generation to generation." Fei Xiang, who regards time as more and more precious, is still willing to devote a lot of time to a role and work. Being an actor was his earlier dream before he became the popular singing superstar on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
Before the film was released, Fei Xiang accepted an exclusive interview with The Paper journalists. He spoke modestly and elegantly about his experiences over the years. From the adolescent "Little Fatty" who opened his heart through performances before becoming "a generation of male gods", and the anxiety and panic experienced after becoming famous overnight, until now, even though time is precious, he is still willing to challenge for worthy roles and "torture" himself.
"I'm old, I'm 62," he says in almost every interview, "but this is the happiest period of my life."
The Paper interviewed Fei Xiang. The Paper reporter Xue Songtu
【dialogue】
I've seen a lot of big scenes, but this time I was shocked
The Paper: What is your impression and understanding of the story of "Fengshen Yanyi" and the most famous faint and tyrant Shang Wang Yinshou in history?
Fei Xiang: I read "Journey to the West" and "Fengshen Bang" when I was young, and the characters in them all grew up with me. But it never occurred to me that I would have the opportunity to play one of these roles.
The role of Shang Wang Yinshou, we have seen him in the past is relatively decadent in appearance, and everyone's impression of him is relatively stereotyped, but this time the adaptation of Wu Ershan's script, the biggest breakthrough is in the two characters of Yin Shou and Daji. He reinterpreted a story that everyone was very familiar with three thousand years ago, and reinterpreted it from the perspective of modern people, so that modern audiences can resonate, which is very surprising to me.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
Yin Shou in the movie also broke away from the symbol of a so-called "tyrant" and became a more complicated person. He is the second son. From ancient times to the present, the second son has been like a redundant backup, so he was sent to the battlefield to kill the enemy. On the one hand, we see him as a fighter, but from another perspective, it is his father who disdains his life and death at all, which makes him go through such cruel training.
He appears to be a fighter at the beginning of the film, and as the story progresses, his true colors are gradually revealed. And precisely because he looks like a hero, his "sons" can't see his true nature. This kind of person is the most dangerous. The director deliberately wants to show such a person and make him very complete. I think it is a particularly good opportunity for actors, but also a challenge. Because you have to show so many layers of feelings in the performance.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
At the same time, Daji is also very different from the fox monsters we are familiar with in the past. In the past, we all thought that Daji was powerful. The so-called beauty is troublesome, she can control the king with one hand, and destroy the entire country. But this time Daji is just a little fox demon who was accidentally unblocked for some reason and thus gained freedom. Therefore, she is grateful to Yin Shou. Whether she has other emotions is up to the audience.
The Paper: What was your personal experience as an actor participating in the filming of "Fengshen Trilogy"?
Fei Xiang: The entire production of "Fengshen Trilogy" is indeed very huge. We shot all three films at once. I took a year and a half to shoot, and others took longer. The project is huge and every scene is amazing. Our shooting base has 8,000 staff members. As an "old artist" who has been in the show business for more than 40 years, I have watched many big scenes, but this time the scene is really amazing. Especially the Longde Hall of the Shang Dynasty palace inside, if you look at the real scene of the construction, you will find that all the pillars are carefully crafted, which is very shocking. But I was very calm when I was on the scene, because as the character of Yin Shou, I should treat it as my living room. I may have been running around and playing in it since I was a child, and everything should be natural.
The Paper: You and Director Wu Ershan have collaborated in "Painted Skin II". Do you think he has changed in the two collaborations? Did you feel his brilliance and courage in this genre at the time?
Fei Xiang plays the great wizard in "Painted Skin II"
Fei Xiang: I already saw his talent at that time. It was 2012 when he collaborated with "Painted Skin II". At that time, he was still learning technical things, and he spent a lot of time and energy absorbing all the technical knowledge quickly. He had to investigate everywhere, and "Painted Skin II" was his first blockbuster film. At that time, even as an actor, he could feel that his focus was on technology. The biggest difference this time is that I found that his goal turned back to the characters. He spent 4 years on the script alone. Every detail was polished very precisely, and several lines of the whole story were also carefully sorted out. The emotion and shaping of each character are very three-dimensional and touching.
To become a muscular man, in order to increase the credibility of the character
The Paper: This time Yin Shou's shape and figure are quite amazing. How did you adjust yourself to such a good state?
Fei Xiang: Everything is for character shaping. Because Yin Shou is on the battlefield from the beginning in our script, he is first and foremost a general. According to historical records, Shang Wang Yinshou was a very brave warrior on the battlefield, so his figure must look like a warrior when he took off his clothes, so as to increase the credibility of the character for the audience.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
I knew the scene of "Jiuchi Meat Forest" from the very beginning. As long as the story of "Fengshen" is told, it must appear. I went through a period of training for body shaping, and I started classes on the second day after joining the group. My training included equestrianism, martial arts, etiquette, drumming, and body shaping. Attend class on time every day, very strict. Body sculpting is carried out very scientifically. What kind of food must be eaten every day, so much time must be done in the two hours of body sculpting class, and how much weight should be lifted are all scientifically planned. So I just do what they say.
Training in the gym is only one part of getting in shape, diet is another. There are many things that cannot be eaten, but the most terrible thing for me is that I must eat the food they send me every day. I am more able to accept what is not allowed to eat, but I have never tried and accepted that I must eat all these foods. This is the first time I have such an experience in my life.
I don't deny that it's a bit hard to do such a thing at my age, after all, I'm not 20 years old.
On June 9, Fei Xiang (fifth from right) and the crew of "Fengshen Part I" boarded the red carpet of the 25th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Jubilee Ceremony
The Paper: Is this the most self-disciplined period of your life at the age of 62?
Fei Xiang: It should be. The first time the director approached me, I said that I am very willing and can definitely help you complete this role. But I beg you to put the scene in the pond to the last shoot. So when it came time to undress for those scenes, I'd been in shape for over a year.
The Paper: When you were young, you also had the stage of "little fat man". I wonder where the motivation to lose weight for the first time in your life came from?
Fei Xiang: I was really fat when I was a child. I didn’t feel much about my weight. If I felt fat, I was fat. Who cares so much. But in school, children are often quite cruel. They are not as civilized as adults, and sometimes they will attack you directly.
I lost weight when I was in college. On the one hand, I have grown taller, and the university campus I live in is very large. At that time, I couldn't afford a car, so I rode a bicycle around the entire campus every day, which can be regarded as increasing the amount of exercise. Another point is that when I leave home, no one will prepare delicious food for me. All these factors add up and I naturally lose weight.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
The Paper: Now that the audience has not seen you for a long time, how would you evaluate your current state at this stage after seeing your amazing appearance in the movie this time?
Fei Xiang: I am definitely old, I admit this, and I am absolutely aware of my age. On the screen, I can fully present the character of Yin Shou, which I am very happy, but at the same time I feel that I can easily let it go. I don't want to take this as something to get me excited or proud of. I will try to keep my shape, but in the end I am still a lazy person, and I don't go to the gym so hard to maintain my figure. Because when a person reaches a certain age, I think appearance really shouldn't be the biggest focus. Especially because I was overweight when I was a child. At that time, I knew that appearance should not be that important. We should not use appearance as a criterion for judging a person.
Abandoning medicine and pursuing art, the actor's dream was delayed by a singer
The Paper: You studied medicine at first, and then you switched to drama, so before becoming a singer when you were young, was acting an earlier interest or dream?
Fei Xiang: Yes. I used to do a lot of plays in high school. At that time, I was a fat kid in school. At the same time, it may be because I was relatively introverted, so I was not very popular among my classmates. Although I was not to the extent of bullying, I would be rejected by some classmates. But when I came to acting in a drama, I found that I could release a lot of my inner energy, and a part of my introverted self wanted to express emotions that I couldn’t express in normal life, so I fell in love with acting at that time. I starred in almost every play I played in high school.
When it came time to graduate from high school, I thought about going to a good college, and I should be more realistic and stop pursuing this unlikely dream of being an actor.
But in the first year of studying medicine, I found that I was very unhappy. Although in my dream, becoming a doctor is a great career, which can help others and challenge myself, but it is not my favorite career. I am particularly yearning for the opportunity to perform on stage, so I will discuss it with my parents. Of course, for parents, you might have been a doctor, but then you switched to an actor, which is still a big blow. But my parents want to give me free space, their support and love for me are unconditional, they will encourage me to say that if you have a dream you want to pursue, you can go after it. After getting their approval, I transferred to the drama department when I returned to university.
Released in 1982, "Last Night's Light" is a well-known film in Fei Xiang's early career. The film is adapted from Qiong Yao's novel, starring Zheng Shaoqiu and Chen Yulian.
The Paper: You also entered the industry through filming at the beginning, why did you act in so few films later?
Fei Xiang: Because I tried to make a record at that time, some songs were too popular, so I devoted a lot of energy to music. At that time, the film company approached me, and I starred in Qiong Yao's movie at that time. But I'm not particularly happy with my performance. So I thought, I'd better concentrate on singing, it's enough to do one thing well, don't think about doing too many things at the same time. I put all my attention back on singing, doing solo concerts and recording albums. In 1987, I returned to the mainland of my motherland, and naturally, all my time and attention were occupied by music.
Later, when I acted in stage plays and musicals on Broadway, I also extended my singing, and gradually began to regain the feeling of being on stage, so I performed both dramas and musicals in those few years. It wasn't until Wu Ershan asked me to make "Painted Skin II" that I had the opportunity to try to make a movie again. I said yes, give it a try. This time I found that I was satisfied with my performance, so I thought I could come back and try some movies.
The Paper: This experience was also something that some people didn't understand at the time. When you were the most popular, you chose to learn musical theater from scratch and gave up such a good market in the Mainland.
Fei Xiang: It was only after I became famous that I realized that I don’t like being a star very much. My personality doesn’t particularly like to push myself to the front. I always hope to focus on my works and focus on them. This is probably the biggest reason for me to make the switch. So in 1989, when I was holding a national concert tour in the mainland of my motherland, I made a decision to go to the United States to perform musicals to expand my ability. Because at that time, I obviously found that my energy had been drained, and it seemed that I had nothing to bring to the audience. At that time, I had released 13 solo albums and held countless solo concerts. What else could I do? So I knew that I had to learn to expand again.
At that time, I made up my mind to go to the United States to sing better, then try to act in stage plays and musicals, and do better. It was not until 2000 that I came back and was able to introduce musicals to everyone. The audience who love me may be about the same age as me, or younger or older than me, and the audience is always growing, so you can't stay the same, you must have new growth.
On June 24, Fei Xiang, Li Yuchun and Deng Zaijun, chief director of the 1987 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, gathered at the 28th Shanghai TV Festival Awards Ceremony
The Paper: Many people associate you with the fiery 80s, and even become a symbol of the times. What do you think of that experience now?
Fei Xiang: Every era will have their so-called idols. Every generation of young people will recognize a certain person at a certain period. They will feel that this person’s feelings are what I like, and I will empathize with him. He can represent me, or I can express some things in my heart through him. Idols have always existed. In the 1980s, I was probably lucky. In this era, people also have idols they recognize.
The Paper: How do you feel about the standards and pressures faced by young actors today compared to those in those days? As a "first-generation top streamer", how do you view the current situation?
Fei Xiang: There is also a lot of pressure. When I debuted at the age of 20, I became famous overnight. I released my first album "Longlian". But I know that the audience's requirements for me have been raised to a very high position, and I am not prepared enough to face their requirements, so I have been learning quickly.
Each of our artists has different opportunities and paths to debut or enter the industry. I went to the Spring Festival Gala by chance. Today, some people may get some opportunities from various channels. It doesn’t matter, but it doesn’t mean that it will limit a person’s future development.
Stills of "Fengshen Part I"
The Paper: When you return to the role of an actor, you have already "read a thousand sails". Is there any difference between your mentality and state now and when you first entered the industry?
Fei Xiang: I think my current life and mental state, as well as my attitude towards work, should be said to be the happiest stage of my life. When I was young, I was very anxious and had to face many challenges. When I was studying, I would be very nervous and guilty, and I didn't know how much energy I had. It should not be just me, any young person will go through this stage of life. Only in the middle age will he figure out who he is, and his career will be a little more stable, and then he will reach my age step by step.
I believe that many people in their 60s will feel the same relief, and I don't have to challenge myself and prove anything. If another challenge comes, for example, another good script like "The Trilogy of Conferred Gods" is very attractive to me, and I am willing to accept the challenge. I would think that this role is so good that if I don't play it, I will regret it. I also know that I have to sacrifice some personal time for it, but that's okay, I do.
Of course, all choices will be more cautious, because at this age, time is the most precious thing, and there is not so much time to squander. In your 20s you can easily say it took me 5 years to do something, in your 60s you don't have that many 5 years anymore.
My current life is very quiet. I am not a particularly lively person, and I like to stay at home. Right now I want to spend more time with my family and some old classmates. I often call some of my old classmates to meet. If you want to meet, do what you want to do now, don't wait any longer.
