"Don't call me a teacher, just call me Salted Fish Qiang. ”
At the beginning of 2024, Chen Xiaochun ushered in his mainland** drama debut, playing the former lion king salted fish in the **drama "Lion Boy"**. He and a group of post-95 young people learned lion dance and challenged plum blossom piles.
Although he has been in the arts for more than 40 years, it is the first time to see the audience on the stage of the mainland's ** drama, Chen Xiaochun regards himself as a newcomer, pushes away all work, and fully devotes himself to rehearsals. When he first joined the group, he found that everyone always called himself "teacher" respectfully, but it was not okay to go on like this, "you can't build a relationship on the stage when you play rival plays". He became active in life, and greeted everyone enthusiastically as soon as he entered the rehearsal hall every day, "Morning! When there was no rehearsal the next day, he would organize a dinner, ask everyone to sing KTV together, and quickly mingle with young people.
Acting in ** dramas with young people, Chen Xiaochun feels very fresh and interesting. And the young actor sees the professionalism of the veteran Hong Kong star in him, Chen Xiaochun's diligence is engraved in his bones, he arrives in advance every day to prepare, practice Mandarin lines diligently, and repeats ** roles with the actors of parallel casts, "Often everyone thinks it's perfect, he still asks to do it again, again", the crew actor said. The stage is the art of time, Chen Xiaochun deeply understands this, "We must keep practicing, practicing, practicing." Even if he doesn't make it to his own rehearsal, he will arrive early to watch the other actors rehearse.
With bubble noodle curly hair, stretching his waist, a mouthful of Gangpu, and walking with a hanger, Chen Xiaochun on the stage made the audience laugh as soon as he appeared, "Isn't this the salted fish being strong!" "I went into the theater to watch Chen Xiaochun perform ** drama up close, the audience had the mentality of watching a little star, but I was pleasantly surprised by his on-site performance, I didn't expect that after 50, he was very vigorous in dancing lions, and he did not lose to young people at all, and he is a film and television singer, acting skills and singing skills are naturally not a problem, "Brother Chun is really a play in every eye" "Brother Xiaochun really has two brushes!" ”
After a meeting, a ** group interview, Chen Xiaochun rushed to accept an exclusive interview with the reporter of this magazine, I heard that he can speak Cantonese, and he spoke Mandarin for an afternoon as if he had been unsealed, and became happy, but chatting and chatting will unconsciously pop out of a sentence of Mandarin, practicing Mandarin lines every day, has formed muscle memory.
can't speak scenes, doesn't understand the eight sides of exquisiteness, and communicates with people, Chen Xiaochun is always simple and direct. Looking back on the past, the hardships of his youth have trained him to be not afraid of hardship and tiredness. Don't be bitter, a lot of people will suffer you more. First bitter and then sweet, it's good, now I have a wife and two boys, and I'm content. ”
Salted fish strong
"I look like scrap like him, but it's actually a bit of a material."
Nandu Entertainment: What was the opportunity for you to participate in the ** drama "Lion Boy"?
Chen Xiaochun:In 2022, I participated in the variety show "Overcoming Thorns", and the last program I performed was the song "Don't Bully the Poor Boy" from the movie "Lion Boy", in order to arrange that show, we went to watch this movie, and after watching it, I thought, wow! So sharp! Ratcha Ratcha! (Applause) I didn't expect the ** film to be so good, so stylish, integrating traditional Chinese culture into the movie, we also grew up watching the lion dance, (feeling) very kind. We found a lot of relevant elements in the movie and put them into the performance, and there were also some text elements interspersed with them.
After finishing the variety show, at the beginning of 2023, I received an invitation from the ** drama "Lion Boy", "Do you want to do it?" "Do! Do it by all means! Without hesitation, I agreed.
Nandu Entertainment: What impressed you the most about the movie "Lion Boy"?
Chen Xiaochun:I think it's the kind of love and enthusiasm of the lion dance, and my hairs stand up after watching it. We have added a lot of stories about Ajuan and his parents in the play, he hasn't seen his parents for a few years, and he looks like a very miserable child, which reminds me of when I was young, and I also tried that the environment was not so good, and I feel the same way.
In addition, the character of Salted Yuqiang is very interesting and funny, and the content of Salted Yuqiang and his wife is also enriched in the play.
Nandu Entertainment: Do you know anything about lion dancing before participating? Have you ever seen a lion dance before, and what is your impression?
Chen Xiaochun:We can easily hear the sound of lion dance from childhood to adulthood, such as the opening of a new store, the New Year's holiday, which is usually festive, and there will be a lion dance when we are happy and happy, and the lion dance is (meaning) auspicious for us. But it is not an easy task to perform a lion dance on stage.
Nandu Entertainment: Is there a big difference between actually dancing a lion and what you imagined?
Chen Xiaochun:I'm OK because I've filmed action scenes before and I'm a quick learner. The other actors in the play, such as (playing) Ah Juan, Ah Mao, and Ah Dog, have never been exposed to this kind of action scene before, and they have to learn well within a month or two, especially if we need to jump the plum blossom pile, we may fall down if we make a slight mistake, and we will be very worried about them.
Nandu Entertainment: Some people describe you as a salted fish strong, what are the similarities between yourself and salted fish?
Chen Xiaochun:The similarity between me and Salted Yuqiang is that we all look like waste, as if there is no material, but in fact, there is a bit of material, and we will slowly find some characteristics that belong to Salted Yuqiang during the rehearsal process, and we can use our own performance methods to devote ourselves to the world of Salted Yuqiang, such as some exaggerated action expressions, "Oops, my wife is here!" (frightened). In addition, I also joined the group in advance, got acquainted with everyone early, familiar with dialogue, practiced Mandarin, and practiced singing, they are all professional in learning ** drama, I was born in red pants, and I grew up singing while learning. During this time I also learned from them, we learned from each other, we were happy, I didn't feel hard. I come very early every day, they say that I haven't arrived at your part yet, I don't have to come so early, I don't know what to do in the hotel, come back early to absorb their nutrients, feel the atmosphere, watch them rehearse and learn something, I enjoy this process very much, and I think it's fun. At first, they would call me Sensei, "Don't call me Mr. Koharu, just call me Salted Fish Qiang." "Now, we're all together.
Nandu Entertainment: When you visited the class before, you said that the most important thing is to cultivate tacit understanding with everyone, so how do you usually cultivate feelings and tacit understanding?
Chen Xiaochun:Meet every day, eat together, such as rest tomorrow and finish work tonight, "Why don't you eat together?" "I often organize dinners. In fact, everyone also wants to establish a relationship, not to build it on the stage, I have to come early, create with everyone, and be familiar with all the processes, this process has enriched me a lot in the play, if I don't do this, I don't dare (relax).
Nandu Entertainment: Share your favorite scenes in the play, as well as your favorite singing segments.
Chen Xiaochun:I like many scenes very much, because the songs created by Mr. Gao Shizhang (applause) in this **drama (composition) are very good, and every song is very good, very **drama. I have always liked to watch ** dramas since I was a child, and I will buy tickets to watch ** dramas when I go abroad, although I don't understand it, if I am asked to go on stage one day and say a few words of dialogue, I am very happy. For example, the song "People Are Still" by my solo this time, and there is also a song called "Enough", which mainly talks about the process of parents watching their children grow up, there are many fantasy scenes, and the children who grow up are in the same frame as the children when they were young, and I am the one who stands inside and watches these changes. Including "A Pillar of Optimus", when I first received this song, I thought it was so difficult to sing, I have been practicing and practicing, and it is not very good to practice until now (modest), but it is much better than when I first came into contact with it, and it has slowly become muscle memory, and I usually don't sing this type of song.
Nandu Entertainment: I can see that you are very happy.
Chen Xiaochun:Happy, I didn't come to do this for (more money than drawing some money action), I have done two ** dramas before, one is "Broadcast Lover", and the other is "A Midsummer Night's Rhapsody", which was 20 years ago. After many years, suddenly someone asked you to do another ** drama, needless to say how much money it is, you know (the situation of the stage play). In addition, I also want to see what the behind-the-scenes production of the mainland's ** drama is, learn from it, and see what possibilities arise, such as doing concerts in the future, I don't want to play the traditional concert mode before, and see if I can combine some gameplay, such as Dawan Chai to do a concert, rewrite a new script, you can also use this (**drama) mode, rewrite the song, re-arrange, it is a very fresh thing, a concert form that has not been played or tried, it sounds very attractive, Anyone who participates will be happy.
Nandu Entertainment: What other feelings, such as cooperating with ** drama young people.
Chen Xiaochun:All of them are post-nates, 94, 91, and 00, and one or two 88 and 89, and they are already called old artists, scared? What about me? The whole crew has a lot of youthful breath, everyone is very energetic, and it is good for me to absorb these nutrients.
Nandu Entertainment: Guo Hongxu, who played Ajuan in the last interview, said that you are his idol.
Chen Xiaochun:Don't talk about this, I've also sung KTV with them a few times, they said Brother Chun, you sing your own songs, I said I don't sing my own songs, it's embarrassing and weird, you order other songs, I can sing with you, they said I'll sing it to you, it's good, it's very happy. The three Ajuans are all different, the voices are different, and the Ajuan deduced is also different, each with its own characteristics.
Drama
"It's not fun if you're not nervous."
Nandu Entertainment: Is there any difference between acting in ** dramas and film and television?
Chen Xiaochun:It's difficult to do both, but there's no ng in the **drama, I can't say I'm sorry I sang it wrong, do it again, it's not good. If you go back to the movie after filming, you will edit, soundtrack and other post-production, but the musical thing is live, and if you miss it, you won't get ng, (need) to rely on usual training-practice-training-practice-practice, if you practice for an extra hour, the stage presentation will be different, and you can't fool people. Fortunately, I have been on the stage since I was very young, whether it is dancing, singing, ** drama, acting, of course, there will be a little stage timidity, but the years of stepping on the stage board are almost 40 years, (have) so many years of accumulated experience, this time it is more fun.
Nandu Entertainment: So you won't be nervous?
Chen Xiaochun:More or less nervous, it's impossible not to be nervous, it's not fun if you're not nervous, it's not fun if you're not nervous, it's too easy, you must be a little trembling, it doesn't matter, if you are nervous and nervous, if you turn tension into strength on stage, then (the play) will look a lot better. I've been thinking about what I'm going to do at the curtain call, I'm going to cry like a pig's head, and I'm looking forward to the tears that will spill over the stage.
Nandu Entertainment: What do you think is the charm of ** drama?
Chen Xiaochun:I have been exposed to this charm for decades, when I was young, I danced on stage, toured to the United States, Europe and other parts of the world, and also went to see some local ** dramas, although I can't understand English, but I think it's very good-looking, I will think, how did those rhythms and stage changes come up with it? You don't need to know what they are talking about on the spot, you can know what they are talking about from their performance, and this is the magic of acting.
Nandu Entertainment: What else did you remember during the rehearsal?
Chen Xiaochun:When I first rehearsed, I really didn't know how to start, to sing a song, you need to find a support point, but it can't be the kind of performance method that usually sings pop songs, the habit of singing pop songs must be changed, and you can't use ** plays. After joining the group for a month or two, I am very grateful to Li Qiumeng, he also played Salted Yuqiang, fortunately, he is here, we are ** this character together, without him, I really don't know what to do, and we have become very good friends now.
Nandu Entertainment: Watching variety shows feels very different from your film and television image, what kind of person are you in life? Will it be more introverted?
Chen Xiaochun:I don't think I'm a talkative person, I'm pretty bored.
Nandu Entertainment: When I talk to you, I feel that you are not bored at all, and you are very lively.
Chen Xiaochun:I may have gotten used to it, I have worked in such an atmosphere for thirty or forty years, and I may have naturally expressed myself in front of the camera, I have very few words in life, and my mind is now on my family, two sons and wife.
Nandu Entertainment: I saw the previous report, and in private, you don't like people to pay attention to you, do you?
Chen Xiaochun:It's best not to let people know that I'm here, because I don't know how to respond, and when everyone calls Brother Koharu, I won't look at them, so I bow my head and say "hello".
outlook on life
"Contentment is important, nothing needs to be compared".
Nandu Entertainment: From doing odd jobs in your teens, to joining TVB, and then to decades in the entertainment industry, looking back on these experiences, do you feel very bitter, and what kind of will have you honed from these experiences? What did it bring you?
Chen Xiaochun:Bitter, but I didn't feel bitter when I was a child, I went out to work at the age of twelve or thirteen, and now it's nearly forty years, first bitter and then sweet, very good, to say bitter, a lot of people are more bitter than you, when I was a child, the family environment was not good, what is the problem, I live like this. Although it was hard in the past and the living conditions were not good, it is now very good, and I have become a father, with a wife and two sons, and I am already content. I think contentment is very important, there is more than what is lacking than the bottom, and there is nothing to compare. I started dancing in 1985, I don't know if it's a tempering, but I have experienced that era and grown up. I think people have to learn to be content, I won't compare with others, if there is something to do, I will do my current work well, just like I arranged to accept your interview today, I will do a good job of the interview seriously, as for what ** cut into, I don't know, I won't think too much, I will say what I think.
Nandu Entertainment: I heard that you are very diligent in rehearsals.
Chen Xiaochun:Yes, according to the original itinerary, I was going to attend the wedding of two friends at this time, but I didn't go, and I planned to accompany my son to go skiing, but I didn't go. In order to rehearse this play, concentrate on staying in Guangzhou to rehearse, don't think too much, in short, concentrate on rehearsing this play, it is more realistic.
Nandu Entertainment: After so many years of acting, will you have a burnout period?
Chen Xiaochun:How much there will be, this time to play a ** drama, I (think) it is very fresh, all of them are post-born children, fun, how good, happy, the whole team is full of youth, there will be no burnout period.
Nandu Entertainment: When it comes to Chen Xiaochun, many people's first reaction is Gu Chao Zai and Wei Xiaobao, why do you think so many people miss old Hong Kong films?
Chen Xiaochun:I am very grateful to the world established by my predecessors, whether it is film and television or **, that world is really big, I used to be a dancer, and followed Anita Mui, Leslie (Leslie Cheung), Luo Wen, Alan Tam to go to the world. Wow, Duoweishui, a group of forty or fifty people, and (have) a band, (have) a backup dancer, and (have) an agent, makeup artist, touring to the United States, Canada, Europe and other places, (because) there were these predecessors in that era to promote good works around the world, so many people like Hong Kong movies, like Cantonese songs, and make these works classics.
Nandu Entertainment: Will you miss your family when you come out to work for a while?
Chen Xiaochun:Of course it will, how can it not be concerned, but "even if there are all kinds of reasons to give up, insisting on only one is enough" (line in the play). In the past, I could only call, and then I could only write letters, but now the communication is very convenient, there is a **call, and I see him say "daddy misses you, you also want to think about me", it is very satisfying, and it can support the energy of the day. Without such a convenient communication, I feel like I might have cried.
Nandu Entertainment: What kind of changes do you think your family has brought to you?
Chen Xiaochun:I have been married for more than ten years, the eldest son is 10 years old, and the younger son is more than 3 years old. I have a family now, I'm comfortable, I'm happy, they're happy, I'm going to be happy and happy, and now I want something different than before, as long as they smile, hard? It's not hard, you can just laugh, you can be happy.
Nandu Entertainment: What do you want your child to look like in the future?
Chen Xiaochun:Of course, I hope he can get ahead, but what if he can't? To be a kind and responsible person, I think a person's kindness is a very important quality, and kindness includes filial piety. I once said that I hope my son will grow up to be a doctor, and being a doctor can save people. But it's not that I want to, I have to respect his personal wishes, the most basic thing is to be kind, and being kind will win.
Quick questions and quick answers
Q: What is the biggest feeling of playing "Lion Boy"?
A: Happy. Q: Why do you want to watch the ** drama "Lion Boy"?
A: Hot-blooded. Q: Is it difficult to act in ** drama or film and television?
A: It's hard.
Q: Describe yourself in three words
A: Pretty boy, pretty boy, pretty boy.
Q: What do you think is your greatest strength?
A: Pretty boy. Q: What about the disadvantages?
A: It's still a little bit pretty boy.
Q: What kind of talent do you most wish you had?
a：**Q: Are there any types of characters that you particularly aspire to?
A: **Drama director.
Q: What do you think you would do if you weren't an actor?
A: Maybe you're still dancing, or teaching people to dance.
Q: I feel like your appearance hasn't changed much, how do you maintain it?
A: It may be that there is something to do all the time, and the mentality is very important.
Q: What do you think is the biggest takeaway in life?
A: Wife and son.
Q: What is the order of family status?
A: Wife, son, son, me.
Q: Name your favorite Guangzhou food.
A: Cheong Fun. Q: Do you have any plans to hold concerts in the future?
A: Yes, but I might think of some new concert formats.
Written by: Nandu reporter Li Chunhua
Photo provided by the interviewee, Guangzhou Grand Theatre Summer and Winter