Text: July
Editor|Uncle Yu
At the 37th Popular Film Hundred Flowers Awards, Wang Baoqiang was nominated for Best Director.
The tied nominees are Zhang Yimou's "Article 20", Jia Ling's "Hot and Hot", Wu Ershan's "Fengshen Part I: Chao Song Fengyun" and Dong Runnian's "Annual Meeting Can't Stop".
As a director, Wang Baoqiang currently has only two works, namely "In the Octagon Cage" and "Havoc in Tianzhu".
Is being nominated a well-deserved or encouraging comfort?
"Havoc in Tianzhu" has mixed reputations, whether it is a farce, or the result of Wang Baoqiang's continuous exploration when he was the director, the benevolent see the benevolent, and the wise see the wise.
01. The aesthetic habits of Chinese and Indian co-production are different
On May 14, 2015, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China, it was announced that China and India would cooperate in the filming of "Havoc in Tianzhu" at the "China-India Film Cooperation and Exchange Press Conference" held in Beijing at the same time.
This film is another road movie starring Wang Baoqiang after series of movies such as "People in Embarrassment" and "Thai Embarrassment".
Sino-Indian co-production, whether it is the color style or the character habits of the film, there are some Indian flavors.
The story takes place in India, so the film has a strong exotic overtone.
The film locations are some of India's most distinctive attractions, with folklore events such as the Festival of Colours of India incorporated.
The audience's perception is both strange and interesting, and the low rating may be due to the fact that they are used to watching Chinese movies with saturated colors, and it is difficult to accept films with bright and bright colors.
In terms of character creation, the setting of one good and one evil is relatively old-fashioned, and the personalities of the two protagonists form a contrast, which produces laughing points in the contrast.
In terms of character setting, following the convention, the characters played by Wang Baoqiang are still very earthy, but they are very upright and true.
The antagonist protagonists tend to be social elites or successful businessmen who are intelligent but cold at heart.
They all looked down on the role played by Wang Baoqiang at the beginning, but at the end of the film, under the influence of Wang Baoqiang, their personalities changed, and finally changed the trajectory of their lives.
For example, Niu Geng in "People in Embarrassment".
The same main line as Xu Zheng's "Thai Embarrassment", but the effect is very different.
I have to admire Xu Zheng for his comprehensive and professional storytelling ability, and the details are also very good.
And Wang Baoqiang, who is a director for the first time, obviously has a lot of shortcomings.
The audience's evaluation of the movie can be seen that they are no longer satisfied with the simple accumulation of jokes, but pay more attention to the story, ideology and artistry of the film.
Wang Baoqiang should also reflect on this failure and think about the higher standards and pursuits of filmmakers.
02, is the low score of the Spring Festival comedy commercial film a bad movie?
The audience complained that the "most ruthless" thing was the story line of the film, and the Journey to the West mode was scolded for "fried cold rice".
I was expecting to laugh in the theater, but I saw a bunch of Indian elements and vulgar episodes.
Wang Baoqiang's acting skills were also ridiculed by netizens as "using too much force".
's exaggerated performance style and mysterious action design make people wonder if he is really suitable for the path of directing.
There are also comedy commercial films with a good reputation, and Wang Baoqiang's "People in Embarrassment" series of movies is a good example.
In contrast, "Havoc in Tianzhu" is indeed full of slots.
As the audience, when expressing our dissatisfaction with the film, we may be able to give the new director a chance.
03, "awarded" three, only he walked on the podium with a smile
The Golden Broom Award is an award set up by netizens and independent film critics to spur Chinese films.
And "Havoc in Tianzhu" was rated as the most disappointing film, and Wang Baoqiang "won" the most disappointing director.
In the same year, the awards included "Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms" and "Pure Heart, Dream Showbiz".
The Golden Broom Award has been presented for nine years, and no one has ever taken the stage to accept it.
Only Wang Baoqiang, dressed in a formal suit, slowly stepped onto the stage.
The speech with a slight Henan accent is more about the simplicity and sincerity revealed in his bones.
From actor to director, this is a huge leap in itself and takes time to adapt and learn.
The failure of the film's low rating due to many reasons may be a stepping stone on his way to success in the future.
And it turned out to be true.
04, the theme is inspirational, subverting the previous "stupid" image and becoming a flesh-and-blood warm character
"The strongest will is born from the strongest faith and yearning for a new life."
From an ordinary rural kid to a well-known movie star in China, Wang Baoqiang's every step is full of legends.
He began to practice martial arts at the age of 6, and went to Beijing alone at the age of 14 and began a life of "North Drift".
In 03, he was selected by director Li Yang to star in the movie "Blind Well", and Wang Baoqiang became famous in one fell swoop.
He was 21 years old that year, Wang Baoqiang's immature expression and thin body performed the feeling of being dazed and frightened when a junior high school student dropped out of school to work hard in a big city.
After becoming famous, Wang Baoqiang was out of control and created a series of images that are deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
The "silliness" of these images is not the same.
The "stupid root" in "No Thieves in the World" is immature and sincere, and it is the clear "stupidity" revealed in the eyes.
Xu Sanduo in "Soldier Assault" has a kind of "stupidity" in his bones.
Niu Geng in "People in Embarrassment" is ignorant and kind, and there is always a "stupid" with shit luck.
《hello！ "Mr. Tree" is Wang Baoqiang's masterpiece in the hearts of many audiences.
Wang Baoqiang, who has never smoked or drank, must learn to smoke in order to interpret "Mr. Tree" more real and close to life.
The "Mr. Tree" in the movie, after Wang Baoqiang's interpretation, looks like an "old smoker".
In addition to learning to smoke, "Mr. Tree" is also a drinker.
Wang Baoqiang hopes that he can find the usual dizzy state of people who love alcoholics.
As a result, Wang Baoqiang, who was not good at drinking, also began to drink every day.
It is precisely because of the integration of the character into life that the complex character of "Brother Shu" can no longer be reproduced after Wang Baoqiang.
The classic scene of smoking in the film is even placed in the textbook of Beiying.
Duan Yihong even commented on Wang Baoqiang's performance:
There are many ways to smoke, even if other actors can perform, but Wang Baoqiang's has not been surpassed so far.
Released in 2011, "Hello! Mr. Tree has won the Best Actor Award at the Russia, New York, and Italian Film Festivals, as well as the Asia-Pacific Film Awards.
And Wang Baoqiang also won the double actor nomination at the Peking University Film Festival and the Chinese Film Media Awards for the role of "Mr. Tree".
From an actor who creates an image, to a director who creates a film work.
Wang Baoqiang disappeared from the public eye after his first work "Havoc in Tianzhu".
When he appeared as a director again, director Wang Baoqiang returned with the film "In the Octagon Cage".
Based on a realistic and touching story, this work transports the audience into a world full of passion and hard work.
Martial arts fighters who give up their dreams due to the pressure of life meet teenagers who love martial arts in poor mountainous areas.
They grow and redeem each other.
Wang Baoqiang's battlefield boss Xiang Tenghui has changed from a battlefield boss to a "devil coach" due to various plots.
In this process, Wang Baoqiang not only taught the children fighting skills, but also passed on the spirit of adhering to beliefs and bravely chasing dreams.
Compared with "Havoc in Tianzhu", this film obviously has more depth and significance.
Wang Baoqiang's role in the film is very complex, subverting Wang Baoqiang's previous image of being "stupid" in front of the public.
Through his superb acting skills, he vividly expresses the psychological state and emotions of the character.
The director's acting skills are indispensable and an indispensable part of the film's success.
At the same time, the performances of the other actors are also very good, which adds a lot to the film.
For example, the film vaguely exposes the dark side, with poor women exchanging their bodies for living expenses, the media taking social events out of context, and private schools using places to solicit sponsorship......
is different from "Havoc in Tianzhu", "In the Octagonal Cage" is based on real events, and the realism is very strong, which seems real and credible.
Unique expressive techniques, such as imagery and metaphors, enhance the connotation and artistry of the story.
In a warm, touching, and inspiring way, the film shows how an ordinary person can redeem himself and find inner strength in a difficult situation.
The metaphors in the film, in addition to the face on Wang Baoqiang's face, symbolize the transformation of the role,
The color changes of the film are interlocking with the plot, highlighting the visual effects and giving the audience a psychological impact.
In the scene of Su Mu's final game, the black and white picture was turned into color, which symbolized victory.
05. Behind the successful man is a brother who helps silently
The essence of the film is one of the reasons for the box office success.
As the saying goes, behind a successful man, there must be a woman who silently supports him.
And standing behind Wang Baoqiang is Chen Sicheng, a man who has always supported him.
I met in 04 and knew each other in 05, and then Wang Baoqiang cherished each other like siblings.
When you're not popular, I'll support you. When you're in trouble, I'll give you money.
After "Soldier Assault", Wang Baoqiang became more popular and successful than Chen Sicheng, but the friendship between the two is still very deep.
In 12 years, Wang Baoqiang and Ma Rong divorced, Wang Baoqiang was penniless, and Chen Sicheng immediately lent him 3 million to help him fight the lawsuit.
Wang Baoqiang started filming "In the Octagon Cage", and the six years of preparation for the film were the most difficult six years after he became famous.
Investors who are not optimistic about Wang Baoqiang have withdrawn, and Chen Sicheng recklessly gave financial support to his good brother Wang Baoqiang.
It can be said that without Chen Sicheng, no matter how good the film "In the Octagon Cage" is, it will be difficult to meet the public.
Recently, as a director, Chen Sicheng was invited to attend the Beijing Film Festival Film International Cooperation Forum, and revealed on the spot that "Tang Detective 1900" is about to be launched, and the starring role of this film is still his good brother Wang Baoqiang.
06. Six years of polishing, sticking to the original intention, and being ashamed
"I myself told the audience that I wanted to make a good movie, and I gave up a lot of time in the past 6 years in order to fulfill my promise."
Because his first time as a director was unsuccessful, no one was willing to invest in his second directorial work.
At the time, most people thought he should continue to be a comedian.
But Wang Baoqiang never gave up, and insisted on his dream of directing with a sincere perseverance in loving movies.
Director Wang Baoqiang's second work "In the Octagon Cage" will be released in the summer of 2023.
This film has not only been recognized by the audience, but also won the film award.
The Golden Deer Award at the 18th China Changchun Film Festival was announced, and director Wang Baoqiang finally turned over!
Cheng Qingsong, the famous filmmaker who awarded the "Golden Broom Award" to Wang Baoqiang that year, gave a high evaluation of "the best of the year" after watching "In the Octagon Cage", and also shouted to Wang Baoqiang:
"Give me back the golden broom!"
Wang Baoqiang once said,
"Being recognized today gives me a lot of confidence and encouragement in my heart. In the future, I will continue to work hard to create better movies that the audience will love. ”
Wang Baoqiang's life as a director will also begin here.
From comedian to new director, to being nominated for Best Director at the Hundred Flowers Award for Popular Films.
The polishing of time is Wang Baoqiang's masterpiece that has been silent for six years, and it is also his original intention of "respecting the audience and respecting the movie".
epilogue
The nomination for Best Director at the 37th Popular Film Hundred Flowers Award is an affirmation and encouragement to Wang Baoqiang, and we look forward to more and better works directed by Wang Baoqiang in the future.
Some references:
1. Weibo|"In the Octagonal Cage"
2.1905 Movie Network|"In the Octagon Cage" homepage
3. Weibo|Sina Movie.2023
4. The Beijing News|"In the Octagonal Cage" won the "Golden Deer Award" jury award at the Long Film Festival, and Wang Baoqiang said that he was confident.2023
5. Sina Review|"Havoc in Tianzhu": A "road movie" that has gone astray.2017
6. Sohu|"In the Octagonal Cage": A film that deeply reflects social reality.2023