In Hengdian, an important film and television town in China, there is such a special group - extras.
With dreams of stardom, they gather here from all over the country, eager to leave their presence on the screen.
According to statistics, the number of extras in Hengdian is as high as 200,000. But behind this huge group, there is an unknown bitterness and dilemma.
It's actually more like a crazy paradise, where many people chase unrealistic dreams every day. ”In the streets and alleys of Hengdian, you can always meet some people who are different. They may be dressed in fancy costumes, or they may be performing all kinds of strange acts.
They are not actors, nor are they tourists, they are crazy people living in Hengdian. It's impossible to say whether they are really crazy or fake crazy, but they are outside of real life and live in their own roles.
In Jin Yong's ** "Dragon Babu", Murong Fu experienced a series of setbacks and failures, and finally played the emperor in the village in a state of madness, making the children chant "Long live my emperor".
This similar plot is often shown in Hengdian, and many people come to Hengdian to fulfill their dreams or become famous in one fell swoop.
In order to get more opportunities, they don't care about the salary, as long as it's the role. Even if it is the role of a dead man, you have to ponder it repeatedly.
They have to try to switch between different states every day, and when they are busy, they often have to play another role in a different context after playing this role.
In the long run, some group performers can't tell what state they live in, and they are a little mentally deranged.
What's more, after the dream was not fulfilled for a long time, just like Murong Fu, the pain and loss in his heart were beyond words, and he finally had a mental breakdown.
Finally, in real life, playing the role you want most becomes a way of self-absorption and escapism.
Although in our opinion, film and television-related jobs have high incomes, and the income of celebrities is often exposed, which makes ordinary people staggered.
But stars and extras are not the same group, and the income of temporary group performances is simply worlds different from that of stars.
Some people may earn a few hundred dollars a month, and some even have to charge a certain amount of management fees to the manager in order to wait for some suitable job opportunities, and their lives are very difficult.
Therefore, choosing to be a crazy person is just a way of life that extras have to have.
On the special soil of Hengdian, the madmen also have their own way of life. Some of them perform all kinds of funny shows in the film and television city, and some rely on the tourists to feed them.
In the world of madmen, Hengdian is not only a film and television city, but also a place full of fantasy and imagination. They have found their own stage here, and they have found their own audience.
Their performances may be a little quirky, but it is this eccentricity that makes people see another side of life. In Hengdian, the story of the madmen is happening all the time.
Their experience may be poignant, or it may be joyful. But in any case, they are part of the industry, a member of Hengdian, and they add a unique touch of color to the Hengdian landscape in an unusual way.
In the temporary group performance in Hengdian, there is also a group of people who are nicknamed "lazy people". They wander around the film and television city every day, doing nothing, only hoping that one day they will suddenly become popular and become rich overnight.
Xiao Ming is one of them, he is slightly chubby, his hair is unkempt, and he wears a shabby T-shirt and shorts all day.
When he first arrived in Hengdian, Xiao Ming was attracted by the bustling scene here, but he soon discovered the other side behind the bustle.
The introducer took Xiao Ming to visit the place where several extras gathered. They arrive at a modest dormitory filled with clutter and shabby beds.
An actor who has been here for a long time, Lao Wang, told them: "This is our temporary home, and many actors sleep on the Chase bunk." ”
Xiao Ming looked around and noticed that there was a damp and musty smell in the dormitory. He asked Lao Wang: "The environment here doesn't seem to be very good, how can you bear it?" ”
Lao Wang smiled bitterly: "We don't have a choice, we can endure anything for the sake of our dreams." ”
Lao Wang continued: "Many people here are from other places and can wait for a long time for a role. Sometimes you can only get paid a few dozen dollars for a hard day. ”
Xiao Ming looked at the humble environment in front of him, and the dreams in his heart were growing wantonly, fluttering in the wind. He was expecting to become famous and soar from then on, but reality hit him hard.
Over the course of multiple auditions, he found himself forever limited to inconsequential roles and even no lines. He began to doubt his abilities and choices, and gradually fell into self-doubt and confusion.
At the same time, the competition in Hengdian is becoming more and more fierce. The number of extras is increasing, while the opportunities are decreasing.
Many people are fighting for a role, which makes Xiao Ming feel unprecedented pressure and helplessness.
Gradually, Xiao Ming began to give up his efforts. He felt that no matter how hard he tried, he would not be able to stand out in such fierce competition.
So, he began to live a lazy life, wandering the streets and alleys of Hengdian every day, playing cards, drinking, and chatting became all his life.
Lao Wang had repeatedly advised him to cheer up and look for new opportunities and ways out. But Xiao Ming always shook his head: "I've given up, this is my life." ”
Later in his days in Hengdian, he didn't seem to be interested in anything other than fantasizing about becoming a star.
Why come to Hengdian? A tourist asked him. Xiao Ming smiled: "This place is the closest to the dream, isn't it?" ”
But in fact, Xiao Ming has stopped working hard for his dream. Every morning, he would get up and wander the streets to see if there was a crew that needed extras to make an effort.
But most of the time, he was absent when the crew was recruiting, or dozed off on set.
His friend Xiaoqiang once advised him: "It's not a way for you to go on like this, let's find something serious to do." Xiao Ming disagreed: "Anyway, the people who come here want to get rich overnight, I'm just more honest than them." ”
Xiaoqiang sighed: "If you continue like this, you won't be able to realize your dreams in your life." Xiao Ming didn't care and continued to live his lazy life.
Like Xiao Ming, there are many people whose lives don't seem to have any plans and goals, just waiting for a miracle to happen day after day. However, the miracle did not come as expected.
There are many reasons for this. On the one hand, the industry is very competitive, and opportunities often belong only to those who have the talent and strength.
And for ordinary people like Xiao Ming, no matter how hard they put in, they may not be able to get the opportunity to become famous.
On the other hand, the social environment and cultural background also contribute to their laziness and idleness.
Many people have lived in a hedonistic and consumerist culture since childhood, and they tend to focus only on immediate pleasure and enjoyment, ignoring the importance of long-term life planning and hard work.
Therefore, to change this situation, we need to start from multiple aspects. First of all, society should pay more attention to the education and guidance of young people, so that they can establish a correct outlook on life and values, and understand the importance of hard work.
Secondly, film and television bases such as Hengdian should also strengthen the management and training of extras, provide them with more opportunities and resources, and help them realize their dreams.
Finally, individuals should also start with themselves, overcome laziness and idleness, actively seek new opportunities and outlets, and take responsibility for their own lives.
In addition to being jokingly called the paradise of the madman and the paradise of the lazy by some people, Hengdian also has another name - the world of singles.
Among the extras in Hengdian, singles account for the vast majority. Due to the precariousness of the job and the difficult living conditions, many actors have a hard time finding a suitable partner.
This makes Hengdian a "singles world" to a certain extent, and many male actors face emotional difficulties and loneliness.
Sun Jiang is one of them, he is ordinary-looking, without special talent and skills, but in his days in Hengdian, he always fantasizes about meeting his goddess one day.
The girls here are so beautiful, if only I could find a girlfriend. Sun Jiang often said this to his friend Xiaohu.
Xiao Hu smiled and teased him: "Then you will stay in Hengdian for a few more years, maybe your true daughter is here." ”
Sun Jiang nodded approvingly: "Yes, that's what I thought." However, the reality is not as Sun Jiang wants.
He found that although the girls in Hengdian were beautiful, they didn't seem to be interested in him. Every time he auditioned, he was always hit by the girls' eyes and words.
You better stop being an actor, I don't think you're a good fit. One girl said to him bluntly. Sun Jiang felt very uncomfortable, but he didn't give up.
He thinks that he just hasn't met the right girl, and as long as he keeps trying, he will find his true destiny one day. One day, while filming a costume drama, Sun Jiang met a girl.
This girl is different from other girls, she does not ridicule or hit him, but gives him a lot of encouragement and support. Gradually, he became friends with the girl.
They often discuss scripts and characters together, learning and encouraging each other. In the process, he discovers that the girl is not only beautiful, but also has a kind heart and a smart mind.
But when he plucked up the courage to confess, the girl said euphemistically: "I think you're good, but I don't think the extras have any future development, let's be friends." ”
Sun Jiang felt very uncomfortable, but he also had to admit this reality, and he didn't know what his future was. As time passed, Sun Jiang began to realize that the girls in Hengdian didn't seem to be so approachable.
Most of them have their own goals and plans and will not easily choose a boyfriend who has no future and future.
As a result, this has become a common phenomenon.
The low salary of group performers in Hengdian, and the great uncertainty and instability of the work are the main reasons why Hengdian has become a "singles world".
Secondly, the number of men in the group performance in Hengdian far exceeds that of women, resulting in women having more choice when choosing a partner.
And there are also some male group performers who have a bad mentality, just thinking about making a living in Hengdian, instead of working hard and improving themselves.
In addition, in terms of social environment, people's values and lifestyles are also changing in modern society.
Many people focus more on personal development and interests than on traditional notions of family and love. This social environment has also had a certain impact on the phenomenon of singles in Hengdian.
Therefore, to change this phenomenon, we need to start from many aspects. First of all, male group performers should actively improve their strength and talent to make themselves more competitive.
Secondly, we should establish a correct view of love and mate selection, and do not have excessive and unrealistic illusions. Finally, one should focus on one's own growth and development to make oneself a promising and future man.
In general, despite the difficulties and challenges faced by the extras in Hengdian, most of them still stick to their dreams.
Many of them are well aware of the hardships of acting, but they still choose to move forward. It is this spirit of perseverance and tenacity that makes them a unique landscape in Hengdian.