Walking into the interview room, actor Ma Guoming was eating takeout with his team and chatting animatedly, discussing which dish was spicier. He looks like a corporate white-collar worker, not a well-known artist in Hong Kong.
"News Queen" Ma Guoming single poster
Since joining TVB, Ma Guoming has played many good people, such as good doctors, good lawyers, good drivers, good policemen... Therefore, he was very excited when he received the script of "News Queen", "This time I can finally play a bad guy!"
In fact, he was also a villain in "Walker 3", but he thought it was not satisfying enough, "Wei Deli is a character who can kill people, he is simply bad, and it is only shown in the last few episodes; Liang Jingren is not a murderer, the dark side of human nature is more complicated Some are not good people from beginning to end."
But this excitement was also accompanied by worry and nervousness. He went to TVB's news department to find his anchor colleagues and found that they were not emotional when reading the news. This was completely contrary to the actor's basic line training, "Even if it is a very important person, Even if you die, you can't have emotions. It's very different from us as actors. When we act, we read dialogues based on emotions."
Ma Guoming as Liang Jingren
Liang Jingren, played by Ma Guoming, is an important but not too important role in "News Queen". The "Find a man and marry me" that is now out of the circle is indeed coming from Liang Jingren, but the main line of the overall story is still about several women. of struggle. When he first read the script, he immediately felt that it was a "girls' play" and that there seemed to be little room for male characters to develop. But after reading the whole story, he liked the script very much. "Every character plays an important role. In fact, everyone is not a good person."
He carefully pondered every dialogue in the script and recited many lines 100 to 200 times at home, "even while taking a shower." This kind of proactive, delicate, and passionate exploration of roles was not common for Ma Guoming in the past. First, when filming at TVB, there are very few choices. “I don’t have a choice, it all depends on luck every time. He would tell me, Ma Ming, which ones will you film this month? Then I will film this one.” I have to play similar roles before, but I can only think of ways to make it a little different." Therefore, once he encounters a good script and a good role, he can immediately pick up the energy to study it. In addition, he has not worked with Charmaine Sheh and Li Shihua for a long time. Waiting for others to act, "I was very excited when I knew the opponent was them." Secondly, Ma Guoming's own thoughts on acting have indeed undergone important changes.
Audiences who often watch Hong Kong dramas must be very familiar with Ma Guoming. From the young pilot in "Up to the Sky", to the kind-hearted young lawyer in "The Rookie of the Law", to the martial arts master Gu Rutang in "The Iron Horse Seeking the Bridge", and in "On Call 36 Hours" which won several awards, there are also There are several funny and funny costume characters... From a small supporting role with a few minutes of the whole drama to the sole male lead, he grew up in a generation of Hong Kong dramas, and he is also the most stable output of TVB training classes in the same period. of.
"News Queen" stills
"To be honest, I didn't think too much before. I just acted based on my feelings. Some roles are simpler and you don't need to think too much. I was also very nervous when I was a newcomer. I was very nervous every time I filmed. You have to focus on As for the dialogue, I just want to read the dialogue well. Now that I have been acting for a long time, I am more relaxed and have time to think about many other things. If I have the opportunity to see a good script and some more complex characters , I think a lot myself, I keep thinking about it, and I think about it every day when I go home from work. For example, there can be many different versions of the character's reaction. You can show it or not show it. There are many different ways. Now I will think about it. What will be the effect of each one, how will it be different.”
As a mechanical engineering major, Ma Guoming actually wanted to "thank" the various companies that rejected his resume when he entered the wireless training class. He recalled that he liked acting when he was in school and went to acting classes with his friends. However, the main reason was that he could not find a job for a long time after graduating from college. "I really couldn't find one. The economy in Hong Kong was not very good at that time. I I remember that I sent a lot of application forms to different companies, many of which were machinery and subway companies, but no one responded, only TVB did. "Although his parents are both engaged in traditional industries, my mother is very supportive of him giving it a try," She said go if you like and don’t stay at home... The main thing is don’t stay at home hahaha. I think she also felt that TVB wouldn’t want me. But my mother is very good and has always supported me in being myself. Something you like.”
Although many Hong Kong actors have come to the mainland to film and develop, Ma Guoming rarely comes here. His Mandarin... is indeed not very good, but it does not prevent him from saying that the cold Beijing is more suitable for his body that is afraid of heat. "Beijing is much cooler than Hong Kong." !" I have read dozens of his works, so although I have never met him, I feel like an "old friend." In addition to "News Queen", I also chatted about some past events and some life.
"News Queen" stills
【dialogue】
What I don't like the most is fighting
The Paper: With your own personality, would you be able to survive in the SNK NEWS environment?
Ma Guoming: I am definitely not suitable. What I dislike the most is fighting. I am not in the mood to fight. I don’t want to waste time on this matter. I should leave this company soon. If you are really a good person, you cannot survive in this company or be an anchor. If you want to be an anchor, you must use some means to cooperate with something you don't like.
He fights with many women. In fact, George is very grateful to Sister Man in his heart. She is like a master and the first girl to give him a chance. However, due to some misunderstandings and Fei Ye’s small actions behind his back, they are divided. Fei Ye I didn't want one person to dominate, so I arranged for two forces to fight, so that he could get greater benefits.
He is not an ungrateful person, so in the end, when he knows that he and Sister Man have a misunderstanding, there is a scene where he expresses his true feelings to Sister Man. It's hard to say whether he's good or bad. It's hard to say who is the good guy and who is the bad guy in this play. It's just that everyone sees things from different perspectives.
"News Queen" stills
The Paper: Hong Kong’s workplace dramas are very interesting. Many viewers say it’s because Hong Kong actors also have to clock in to work. Is that true?
Ma Guoming: I don’t dare to say that I am. I think the screenwriter definitely does it because he knows what it’s like to work (in order to write it), because Hong Kong really has a corporate culture, and many companies have several forces fighting against each other. The material is more convenient.
For me, I think it mainly depends on the profession of the character in the script. Like when I was acting in "The Devil", I kept taking taxis and chatting with the driver's brother, about what happened to him in daily life, what he did most every day at work, and to understand their lives.
Stills from "Conquering the Demon 2.0"
Many actors in Hong Kong are used to doing this, that is, after reading the script, they keep looking for relevant people in the script. For example, this time I feel that the news department is really difficult. We have a script and read the lines many times before acting. But if they are really a news reporter, they will have to report the first time they read it and have no time to prepare. . I really admire them, they are amazing.
For characters like "News Queen", which are more complex, it takes me a long time to prepare. I recite the dialogue every day in the shower. For example, for the scene where I finally revealed my feelings, I prepared it as soon as I got the script. I didn’t know when it would be shot, so I could only keep preparing. I don’t have another scene to express, only this scene to express my feelings for Wen Huixin, so that section must be filmed and acted well. If not, it will have a great impact on the play.
"News Queen" stills
The Paper: Do you feel anxious before filming?
Ma Guoming: I won’t be anxious. I am the kind of person who acts well prepared. Usually, when I don’t know when it will be filmed, I have already understood the scene with the director and screenwriter, and how they want me to express it, because my ideas are not necessarily the same as theirs.
The Paper: When you were reading the script, did you come up with any acting ideas?
Ma Guoming: In addition to reading the dialogue, we also have our own ideas, that is, how to place the camera and how to shoot. We need to study it with the director. For example, if there is a line of dialogue that is particularly interesting, do we think there is any way besides reading the dialogue? Help us strengthen the feeling? Of course, it also depends on whether it is a script you like.
The Paper: Beyond being an actor, as an audience, what do you think you like most about this script?
Ma Guoming: Every character is very three-dimensional. There is no absolute good guy or absolutely bad guy. Everyone has his own ideas. And every character is beautiful. There are some dramas where the main characters are good-looking, but others are just so-so. In this drama, every character is good-looking, and that's what makes it special.
I am a relatively hard-working actor
The Paper: Have your views on acting changed in recent years?
Ma Guoming: I think (evaluation of) acting skills is a very subjective matter. Just because you like it doesn’t mean he likes it. Everyone has different ideas. It just depends on whether the audience likes it or not, because we are filming for the audience. However, in the past, I would feel that the expressions were rich and the acting skills were strong, but now it is not necessarily the case. Sometimes you look at him and it seems that he is not acting anything, but he has a strong influence and feels very strong, and then you find out that this person has very good acting skills. You really "act" and you don't "act". You have to believe that the audience can feel it. These are two different feelings. I choose the latter one myself.
"News Queen" stills
The Paper: Are you a talented actor? How would it be better to figure it out for yourself?
Ma Guoming: Probably not. I am a relatively hard-working actor because I like acting. I don’t think I am particularly talented, but I enjoy acting.
The Paper: "News Queen" replays some scenes of Liang Jingren when he was young. Does it remind you of yourself just coming out of the training class?
Ma Guoming: There are some similarities. When I came out of the training class, I was also waiting for an opportunity. The first person who gives you a chance will definitely remember it, just like in the movie. At that time, the audience criticized me a lot, saying that this boy was weird, not good-looking, and so on, but my seniors encouraged me more.
The Paper: Are you able to accept these criticisms?
Ma Guoming: Forget it after reading it. I don’t have time to think about this. I just think about how to practice dialogue and how to do it myself. I think I am naturally more optimistic. My mentality is that I don’t care about other people’s thoughts. I am such a person myself. Even now, some people on the Internet still scold me, but I don’t pay much attention to them and I don’t explain. Just ignore it.
Also, when I look at myself, I find that my acting is really not very good. You can’t be too confident. Looking at your dialogue, it’s true that your acting is not good. So shouldn’t the audience scold you?
The Paper: What roles are particularly important to you?
Ma Guoming: I think the most important thing to me is probably the first time I played the leading role in "On Call 36 Hours".
The TV series "On Call 36 Hours", which premiered in 2012, was Ma Guoming's first role as the leading actor.
I often say that I was really lucky to be able to film this scene, because the script was very good and there was a very good opponent in the actor Yang Yi. Many viewers liked watching it. When this scene was broadcast, many female viewers said that Ma I told you to get married to Yang Yi soon and gave us wedding gifts. It was really just a wedding gift sent to the company. They liked it very much and Yang Yi and I were filming together.
The Paper: What we call CP sense here. How do you feel when you receive this "blessing"?
Ma Guoming: Yes, we have a strong sense of CP. I'm happy, I'm very happy. It proves that everyone likes this script, and this partner is very compatible with my ideas. Many of my ideas are similar.
Screenshot of Ma Guoming’s Weibo
The Paper: What was the process of getting this role?
Ma Guoming: The producer of this drama is De Ge, Mr. Pan Jiade. He must use me. He is very good to me. I don’t know why, because I have never been a leading actor before. I am very grateful when I see him now. At that time, he insisted on using me. He said that this role must be played by Ma Guoming. He saw some of my own characters and he felt that he was very suitable for the role of Zhang Yijian. The company was opposed to it at the time and arranged for me to film another film, but they insisted on using me and said that I must film with Yang Yi. I really liked that script and was very moved. I cried when I read the script. When I saw my brother die and I couldn't save him in the operating room, I cried myself.
The Paper: Is there any role that impressed you deeply in terms of acting?
Ma Guoming: I think it is "The White Strong Man". It is a play by Marco (director Luo Yongxian). He told me, if you try this play, don't act. He said that I was "acting" before, "The White Strong Man" Tang Ming in "" suits me very well. He is a character who doesn't like to fight with others. He said that this person is very similar to you, so there is no need to act, just be yourself. It was this play that made me feel that there is another way to act, and that is not to act.
"White Strongman" stills
In recent years, TVB has been quite courageous in making changes in its creations.
The Paper: Has the rhythm of work and life changed over the years? After all, TVB is famous for its continuous acting.
Ma Guoming: When you are a newcomer, you have to keep doing it, because when you are a newcomer, the company arranges for you to work almost 24 hours a day, and you have no time to sleep. We were very powerful at the time. After filming one scene of the movie in the evening, we would go We were filming another movie. TVB had four venues in Hong Kong. We went to each venue to shoot. We went to shoot MTV and some variety shows early in the morning. There was no time to sleep. We were busier than the protagonist at that time, so we had to find it ourselves. It’s time to rest, and go to sleep when I’m not photographing you. Of course, there was a lot of money every year, which was much higher than our basic salary, and there would be "explosion" (referring to performance bonuses in addition to the basic salary). Every job had money, so we were very happy at work. .
The Paper: Does the happy sense of accomplishment lie in having a lot of shots, or in having a "big hit"?
Ma Guoming: A lot of explosive gains. It is very important to make an explosive salary. If the basic salary cannot be reached, the company will have a voice (opinion). In fact, we had many opportunities before, but now I find that their young people have fewer opportunities, not as many as we did back then. I was relatively lucky. When I came out of the training class, there were still many big stars in TVB, such as Louis Koo, Nick Cheung, Luo Jialiang, Ng Zhenyu... At that time, I saw that each of them was amazing, and it was very interesting to watch them filming. happy.
The Paper: If you are so busy, how can you switch between different character personalities? Quick in and quick out.
Ma Guoming: I don’t really have this problem. The director yelled “stuck” and then he stopped working and went home for dinner. I think I should keep filming different movies as a newcomer, and shoot a few movies every night. As soon as you finish shooting this scene, you will be sent to shoot another scene. Different characters and characters are all different, and they are all practiced.
The Paper: Why do you like acting so much?
Ma Guoming: You can keep changing yourself. My own life is very boring. When I am not working, I only play football.
The Paper: Do you usually watch TV series when you go home? Especially your own drama?
Ma Guoming: Mainly watching movies. I watch the dramas that I like, but I don’t watch the ones that I don’t like. To be honest, when I was filming some scenes, I was thinking, "Don't air this drama, don't air it," because I didn't think the script was very good, hahaha.
The Paper: You have acted in many professions. If you were not an actor now, which profession would you choose?
Ma Guoming: I think it should be Mechanical Engineering, because the reason why I studied engineering before was that I didn’t have to face many people, just a computer. I can't say that I am socially anxious, but I don't like to face many people.
The Paper: But as an actor, you have to face a lot of people, a lot of people.
Ma Guoming: It's better now that I'm used to it. It was harder when I just graduated.
The Paper: As a member of TVB, can you feel the changes in its creative capabilities and the changes in the demands of young audiences?
"News Queen" stills
Ma Guoming: Audiences are becoming more and more demanding. They have seen a lot of them. For example, mainland costume dramas, which are honestly really great. My wife likes mainland costume dramas, and there are also Korean dramas. They have a lot of resources. Yes, TVB is really small and doesn’t have that many resources. But I think TVB has had the courage to make changes in its creations in recent years. For example, "News Queen" has never been filmed on this subject before, but now it has the courage to film it. In the past, Hong Kong television did have its own characteristics, mainly in the shooting techniques and the use of lenses. This is difficult to describe in words.
The Paper: Can you recommend a movie or TV series you like? It doesn’t matter if you are not from Hong Kong.
Ma Guoming: If we talk about the past two years, I like "Top Gun 2" very much, because when I watched this movie, I found that it is exactly the same as the first movie in many places, but I still think it is very interesting. I think this is The wonderful thing about it is that many scenes are similar to the first one, but the feeling is stronger than the first one. Because many times when we shoot a movie that is good, when we make a sequel, it is usually not as good as the first one, but I found that this one is better than the first one, and this is amazing.
