In the Chinese film and television industry, there is such an old artist, his name is Niu Ben. Behind this unique name, there is a little-known past. The young Niu Ben, formerly known as Zhang Xuejing, once participated in an anti-Japanese movie "Tale of the Holy City".
In the play, he plays a character named "Little Calf". Maybe it's because of his young age, or maybe because of his outstanding acting skills, this role left a deep impression on the audience.
Whenever he appeared on the set, everyone would affectionately shout "Little Maverick", as if the name had become his code name. After the filming was over, this nickname actually continued.
The crew, other actors, and even the director habitually called him "Little Maverick". Coincidentally, Zhang Xuejing happens to be a cow. Director Xie Tian learned about this interesting coincidence during a casual chat, and he was inspired to give this energetic young actor a unique stage name.
So, Xie Tian picked up the pen and added a few more cows to the word "cow". The name "Niu Ben" full of vitality was born. When Xie Tian told the young Zhang Xuejing the name, the boy's eyes flashed with excitement.
He seems to have a hunch that this name will accompany him through a long acting career. Since then, the name "Niu Ben" has been like a prophecy, indicating his future progress in the entertainment industry.
This name not only became his code name, but also a symbol of his lifelong dedication to the performing arts. Whenever someone asks about the origin of his stage name, Niu Ben always shows a gentle smile, and his eyes flashed with nostalgia for the past and anti-expectations for the future.
This name full of stories has witnessed the whole process of Niu Ben's growth from an immature young actor to a respected old artist. It is not only a simple codename, but also carries Niu Ben's love and dedication to the acting career.
In 1985, during the filming of "High School Forward, Short Coach", Niu Ben had already suffered from arthritis. However, for the needs of the plot, he resolutely walked into the icy Yellow River at the coldest time in February.
The cold wind was bitter, and the faces were painful, but Niu Ben did not flinch. He walked into the river step by step, and the director did not shout to stop, he continued to move forward. Suddenly, by accident, Niu Ben stepped into the air, and the whole person was submerged in the turbulent river.
The icy river instantly enveloped his whole body, and the top of his head was also submerged. At that moment, Niu Ben felt that life was passing. Fortunately, the crew found and rescued him in time, allowing him to save his life.
But this experience did not diminish his passion for acting, but made him cherish every role and every opportunity to perform even more. A shooting in 1997 was even more terrifying.
In a donkey riding scene, because Niu Ben accidentally alarmed the donkey, he fell heavily to the ground, and his head hit the ground first. It didn't matter if he fell, his cervical vertebrae were misaligned, two ribs were broken, and his sternum was shattered, and he went into shock on the spot.
The crew members rushed him to the hospital, and everyone sweated for him. However, what everyone didn't expect was that Niu Ben did not choose to rest after waking up, but took morphine and returned to the set with his body bolder.
He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, and finished filming the rest of the scenes in one go. This kind of professionalism deeply touched everyone present and made them admire the professional ethics of this old artist even more.
Niu Ben's dedication to performance has even reached the point of "playing with his life". Once, in order to play a good scene of being scared away by a dog, he did not hesitate to put himself in danger. As a result, his leg was bitten by a dog with thirteen tooth marks, and the severity of the injury was so severe that he could not stand up.
Niu Ben recovered from this injury for nine months. However, when asked if he regretted it, Niu Ben said firmly: "If you really like this cause, you must have enough thoughts to dedicate to it!" This kind of almost crazy professionalism not only won the respect of his peers, but also won him the highest honor such as the "Lifetime Achievement Award of the Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award".
At the award ceremony, when Niu Ben picked up the trophy, tears flashed in his eyes. It wasn't because of pain, but because of relief. He knew that his efforts were finally recognized.
In Niu Ben's view, these efforts are worth it, because he has dedicated his life to the acting career he loves deeply. Every injury, every danger, is his interpretation of the role, the pursuit of art.
He used his actions to explain what true professionalism is, and also set an example for future generations. Niu Ben's story is not only a legend of an actor, but also a microcosm of an era.
It tells us that only with love and dedication to the cause can we create the extraordinary in the ordinary and achieve the extraordinary in the ordinary. At a Golden Rooster Awards ceremony, a moving scene occurred.
Chen Daoming, the actor at the time, saw Niu Ben's seniors from a distance in the background, and immediately made a move that surprised everyone present. He didn't wait for Niu Ben to approach, but took the initiative to bend down and nod, and walked forward quickly.
Why is Chen Daoming so "respectful" to Niu Ben? This is inseparable from Niu Ben's "craftsman spirit" towards his acting career. Niu Ben has played a supporting role all his life, but he has never felt aggrieved because of this.
Instead, he treats each character as if it were the main character, pondering it with his heart and devoting himself to it. He often said, "The supporting characters are also the protagonists, but they are the protagonists in other people's stories."
"This dedication and dedication to the performing arts has earned him the respect and admiration of his peers. Chen Daoming's move is not only a personal tribute to Niu Ben, but also an affirmation of this professionalism.
It tells us that a true artist, regardless of the protagonist and supporting role, every role is worthy of being performed with heart. In Chen Daoming's eyes, Niu Ben is not only a respected senior, but also a role model worthy of learning from all actors.
Niu Ben won the "Lifetime Achievement Award of the Chinese Film Golden Rooster Award", which is the best praise for his lifelong contribution. This award not only recognises his achievements in acting, but also recognizes his consistent professionalism.
When Niu Ben stood on the podium, the audience burst into warm applause. At that moment, it was not only an affirmation of his personal achievements, but also a tribute to this professionalism of the entire industry.
However, for Niu Ben, the biggest honor is not these awards, but to be able to present the fate of different "little people" to the audience through his performance. He often said: "I haven't finished playing this 'little person' yet!" This love and dedication to acting is the fundamental reason why he has been able to earn respect and recognition.
Recently, there has been news that Niu Ben, a respected old artist, has moved into an apartment for the elderly in his later years. This news has aroused a lot of attention and speculation. Some people are worried about whether it is the unfilial piety of the children, and some people speculate whether it is the old man's poor economic situation.
However, the truth turned out to be unexpected. When the reporters came to the senior apartment where Niu Ben was interviewing, they were shocked by what they saw. It's not a humble retirement home as they imagined, but a high-end apartment with all the amenities and a beautiful environment.
Blowing, playing and singing, KTV, dancing, table tennis, gym, yoga, flower arrangement, calligraphy, everything. The reporters visited Niu Ben's room and found that it was full of book aroma, like a small cultural space.
The walls are hung with calligraphy and paintings written by Niu Ben himself, and the shelves are full of all kinds of books. Niu Ben told reporters that he is usually very "literary and artistic", and when he is not filming, he reads, practices calligraphy, and paints.
He is also a "little prince of planning", and he arranges his itinerary clearly. Niu Ben explained that he likes the small independent house here, which is just right to live alone, and it is a "carefree" place.
But under this light-hearted appearance, there is a deep feeling of longing. When mentioning why he chose to live here alone, a trace of sadness flashed in Niu Ben's eyes.
He said that his wife has been dead for many years, and he is still not used to living without her. Whenever he did something, he would think, "If only she were there." Recalling the past with his wife, Niu Ben's eyes were full of nostalgia.
He praised his wife for being very capable, and even their house was bought by her. Every income he earns from every drama he makes is also recorded by his wife, and she is the only one in charge of financial management at home.
Even after the living conditions improved, the wife maintained a frugal habit. Niu Ben said that her clothes were often mended and mended, and her son and daughter-in-law were reluctant to wear the clothes they bought; Whatever is delicious at home, she is always close to her husband and children first, nominally she has eaten it, but in fact, she is not willing to eat it.
Speaking of this, Niu Ben's tone was a little guilty. He recalled the old house they had lived in for more than ten years, such a big house, which had not been renovated since they moved in.
Later, his wife was hospitalized, and he asked for his wife's consent to redecorate it and surprise her when she was discharged from the hospital. Unexpectedly, before the renovation began, his wife left forever.
In this well-equipped apartment for the elderly, although Niu Ben lives a worry-free life, the loneliness in his heart is lingering. This old artist, who has created countless images of small people on the screen, also interprets the later life of an ordinary old man in real life, ordinary and real.
His story tells us that even for a highly respected artist, his later life may be filled with nostalgia for his deceased loved ones and nostalgia for the past. As an old artist who has gone through several eras, Niu Ben has his own unique views on today's entertainment industry.
When talking about the current young actors, Niu Ben seems a little helpless. He said that his income is not comparable to today's small fresh meat, and their salary is frighteningly high. Whenever he heard that an actor was taking "hundreds of millions" of appearance fees at every turn, Niu Ben had goosebumps all over his body.
He was not envious, but felt that this phenomenon was not very healthy. Niu Ben also expressed puzzlement at the fanfare of some actors promoting their private lives. In his opinion, marriage, remarriage, and having children should be private matters, and there is no need to be so high-profile.
He said: "I don't understand why I get married today, remarry tomorrow, and have children in a few days, so there is no need to publicize it with such fanfare." Regarding the phenomenon of some actors with a large number of assistants, Niu Ben also has a lot of complaints.
He said that he had never brought an assistant to the show, and he felt that it was not necessary. "I've never seen an actor with so many assistants," Niu Ben sighed. In addition, Niu Ben also expressed concern about the phenomenon of the media's excessive pursuit of foreign stars, which has led to a surge in salaries.
He believes that this not only pushes up the cost of film production, but also squeezes the space for local actors to some extent. "The news media holds foreign stars, and as a result, people raise their appearance fees, so now the cost of many dramas has increased repeatedly, just to invite these people to do it!" Niu Ben said bluntly.
Despite many dissatisfaction with the status quo, Niu Ben has not lost his love for acting. He said that the biggest regret in his life is that he has not played a particularly favorite role, and the "little people" have not been played all.
This dedication and love for performance is exactly what Niu Ben portrays as a true artist. Niu Ben's heartfelt words are not only his personal views, but also a profound reflection on the current situation of the entire entertainment industry.
It reminds us not to forget the essence of art and the professional ethics of actors while pursuing fame and fortune.