Hu Ge
Interview with Hu Ge
"The Most Beautiful Performance" meets Hu Ge again, four years later.
In 2015, several major dramas such as "The Pretender", "Langya Bang" and "Good Times" put him in the spotlight. That year, Hu Ge played a boxer in the "Best Performance" short film "Intermission", and went through a month-long fitness preparation for filming.
In 2019, the 37-year-old Hu Ge switched to the film industry, starring in the film "The Wild Goose Lake", which was shortlisted for the main competition of this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
Many people believe that acting in costume idol dramas in their 20s attracts countless fans; after the age of 35, they become movie actors, and their first films can be shortlisted for Cannes. Hu Ge’s transformation has been very successful.
And Hu Ge himself said that whether it succeeds or not remains to be tested by the audience after the release of "The Wild Goose Lake", but at least he has taken that step.
This year, he joined the most beautiful performance again. Hu Ge collaborated with director Diao Yinan for the second time to stage the extra part of "The Wild Goose Lake", and one person played the triangle.
The short film went through 8 hours of pre-scheduling preparation. According to director Diao Yinan, because it was a one-shot shooting, no mistakes could be made in all aspects. All the staff were nervous, and Hu Ge was the most relaxed one on the set.
This kind of ease and comfort is also the feeling Hu Ge gave us. Today, he is open to the transformation of male artists, fan fundraising, film and television winter and other topics, and has also contributed a lot of golden sentences.
Chat with Diao Yinan in the background of Double 11 about the script
Sina Entertainment: This time, one person plays the triangle. Which role are you most looking forward to?
Hu Ge: I treat all the roles I will play and have played equally, with no favorite or least favorite.
Sina Entertainment: Did you have any particular urge to act when you saw the script?
Hu Ge: Of course, because first of all it still has some relevance to our movie "The Wild Goose Lake". Then two new people were added, which didn’t seem to have much to do with the movie.
Sina Entertainment: So the character of the fugitive is Zhou Zenong, right?
Hu Ge: Yeah.
Sina Entertainment: This time I played a fugitive again, and I worked with director Diao Yinan again. Did it remind you of the filming of "The Wild Goose Lake" at that time?
Hu Ge: I don’t have to imagine it. When I got to that scene later, I thought I would go back. Because it was a big night again, we basically had more than 70% to 80% of the scenes were night scenes.
Sina Entertainment: How does it feel to work with director Diao Yinan?
Hu Ge: He is a very pure artistic film director. Working with him, my biggest feeling is that I can forget everything and let it go. Although I have been working with him for more than half a year, although there has been a lot of suffering and pressure, looking back now, I feel that every minute and every second is very memorable for me.
Sina Entertainment: Did you have any discussions and preparations with him in advance about this script?
Hu Ge: Yes, we had some discussions on the details of the script characters’ creation in the background of Double 11, including styling. When we set our makeup two days ago, we re-determined the tone of today’s performances of different characters.
Sina Entertainment: What’s your understanding of this script?
Hu Ge: I think it is equivalent to showing a certain scene in our movie, a condensed version of a bridge, on the most beautiful performance of Sina. Of course, on the basis of the original, some new content has also been filled, expanded and imagined.
Sina Entertainment: After reading the script, do you think the biggest challenge is the presentation of long shots?
Hu Ge: Indeed, the biggest difficulty for this part of me today lies in the operation of the long-shot technology, including the fact that I have to play three roles on this occasion, which is also very difficult.
Sina Entertainment: Have you had such relevant experience before?
Hu Ge: No. But there may be more forms of this in stage plays. For example, in stage plays, I play the role one minute, and then I quickly step down and change clothes, and then I come on stage to play another role. It is often seen on stage. But it is very rare in film and television dramas.
Sina Entertainment: So in the short film, you also need to change clothes very quickly.
Hu Ge: Yes, so when we set makeup, we actually have a lot of early design in technology, how can we go from clothing to makeup to styling in the fastest time?
A good actor can go to the sky as well as the earth
Sina Entertainment: In fact, this is also the second time that Mr. Hu Ge has participated in our most beautiful performance. The last time was in 2015. Do you remember the situation at that time? What’s new this time?
Hu Ge: I understand that the most beautiful performance of Sina is a stage for breakthroughs and challenges. The last role I played was also very far away from me, and for that performance, I also prepared for more than a month. At that time, I had to meet the director’s requirements to play a boxer. In more than a month, I built muscle and increased circumference. Although the time is short, I think whether it is a second or an hour, it should be remembered by the audience.
After 4 years, has your understanding of the words most beautiful performance changed?
Hu Ge: Last time, I also wrote down my understanding of the most beautiful performance on paper very carefully. This time, of course, I am also very serious. I am not lazy, but I did not write a word. I think it is difficult to define the performance in words, especially the most beautiful performance.
Sina Entertainment: So which play or moment brought you this change in thinking?
Hu Ge: It may be a feeling brought to me by so many years or so many characters and works. I feel that there is no standard for performance itself, and there is no standard for good or bad.
Sina Entertainment: What do you think is your most beautiful performance moment so far?
Hu Ge: When I’m not acting in life, I think it should be the most beautiful. You see, I just said that I can’t define it in words, I’ll define it casually now.
Sina Entertainment: Looking back on your long experience in the industry, what stages do you think your performance has gone through?
Hu Ge: It’s hard for me to summarize myself. Generally speaking, I used to be desperately learning tricks and routines, but now I’m desperately trying to hide these tricks and routines.
Sina Entertainment: What do you think is the key to being a good actor?
Hu Ge: If you can go to the sky, you can also go to the earth. Just when you are in the sky, don’t forget that you still have two legs. You can still come back and walk. Don’t forget that you have legs when you are in the sky.
Fans’ love should not be measured by the amount of funds raised
What do you think was the most beautiful moment in "The Wild Goose Lake"?
Hu Ge: After the movie is released, I will tell everyone that there are no spoilers, and the mystery must be kept until December 6th.
Sina Entertainment: What are your current expectations for this drama?
Hu Ge: I hope its performance can be worthy of everyone’s efforts, I mean the performance of the market.
Sina Entertainment: But you said some time ago that you don’t need fans to raise funds to support the box office.
Hu Ge: You may have some misunderstandings about my last comment. I’m not saying that you can’t buy tickets to support it. In fact, it’s impossible. I agree with everyone buying tickets to watch my movie or booking a group to watch the movie.
I don’t always agree with measuring or judging whether he is a senior fan or whether he is an excellent fan by the amount of fan funding. I think this is a completely wrong standard, so I don’t really want to see these things happen. Sina Entertainment: During your growth process, how did the relationship between fans and you change?
Hu Ge: I just celebrated the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the official website some time ago, and they have always been my motivation. I know their intentions are for my own good, so I am also very grateful. I used to say that I and my fans are like friends who don’t meet each other, and we have each other in our hearts. But maybe we met on the road, but we don’t know each other. It’s such a relationship.
I should play a role in guiding them correctly.
Sina Entertainment: In fact, it has become an industry phenomenon for fans to raise funds to support movies or buy endorsements. Do you think this way of fans helping idols help their careers is advisable?
Hu Ge: I am not qualified to comment on the fans of other artists. Everyone’s intentions are good, and they are all for the better development of their favorite artists in their careers. But at the level of execution and operation, everyone may have different ideas. According to my understanding and standards, I don’t want my fans to do such things.
I found the motivation to continue in the movie
Sina Entertainment: In the past two years, you have also participated in the shooting of some films and cooperated with some excellent directors. What do you think is your greatest achievement in these two years?
Hu Ge: Let me find the motivation to continue acting and the courage to return to life completely. In fact, what I think I am most afraid of is a state of being unable to rise. It is like a fallen leaf that is red, but it also falls. It floats in the wind, but it has no vitality.
Sina Entertainment: What does this mean? Does it mean that actors must transition at the age of 30 and 35?
Hu Ge: I mean creativity and artistic vitality. For example, if a leaf is red, it will fall off. For most people, they will be afraid and anxious. They always don’t want it to fall off, but you have to think about it falling and withering, it will rot in the soil again, and it can have new life.
Sina Entertainment: When did you lose your creative drive?
Hu Ge: There are often such things. Not just after the age of 30 or 35, but actually when I was in my 20s, I was thinking about this issue. Because once you are characterized as a certain type of actor, or when you are imprisoned in a certain type of film and television work, it is difficult to get out of this situation.
Sina Entertainment: Do you think your current transformation has been successful?
Hu Ge: At least I made it out. It can’t be said to be unsuccessful. It still needs to be tested by the audience and the market, but at least I made it out.
Sina Entertainment: Everyone knows that acting is a relatively passive chosen profession, so is it difficult to take this step? Hu Ge: Your mileage may vary, sometimes it is forced, sometimes it is active.
Sina Entertainment: Many people think that male actors between the ages of 30 and 35 have to transform. Do you think transformation is necessary?
Hu Ge: Not necessarily. Because if you can be an idol for a lifetime and have traffic and popularity for a lifetime, that is also a benefit. The key is how you see yourself.
If I become an idol for a lifetime, I will only enjoy the halo of an idol, maybe not myself; but if you become an idol for a lifetime, you can continuously bring positive energy to those who like you, which is a good thing.
Of course, some people prefer to immerse themselves in performance, and he prefers to be accomplished in art or creation, which is another way.
But I don’t think there is a comparison, because it’s probably easier to take the first path before you’re 30. And after the age of 30, the first path may become more and more accurate.
Sina Entertainment: As an actor, have you ever experienced the so-called midlife crisis?
Hu Ge: Not yet. Because now I feel that I may not have really reached the stage of middle age. Of course, when I choose roles, I will deliberately avoid some roles such as my father. Maybe after I reach a certain age, only characters like my father will come to me, and when no other young characters come to me, I may have a crisis because I have no life experience. I have not become a father in my own life, so it may be a difficult thing for me to play a father, or to have a family in the play.
Sina Entertainment: Now is the industry’s film and television winter, and many good actors will not be able to receive plays for a long time, including fewer and fewer better projects on the market. As a member of the industry, do you have any personal experience?
Hu Ge: When winter comes, there are still many things to do. I think if filming is not to solve the problem of food and clothing, it doesn’t mean that if I don’t film, I will have no food to eat, and I will not be able to pay the rent. If there are no worries and concerns in this regard, I think when the cold winter comes, it is also a good time to maintain health, right?
We can take the opportunity to let the original impulsive heart settle down. You can use this time to absorb and learn something new.
Sina Entertainment: But some people may worry that if they don’t come out to film for a long time, they will be forgotten by the industry and the market.
Hu Ge: Back to the topic just mentioned, which path do you choose? If you prefer the first path, there is indeed such a cruel reality. If you don’t appear in front of the public for a long time, your traffic popularity may drop significantly. But if you choose the second path, I don’t think it will have much impact.