Wang Yibo, the name which had been mentioned the most throughout the movie industry in 2023. This attention on him reached the peak of its height after he was nominated for Golden Rooster Best Male Supporting Role.
This interview was held during the China Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival period. From the moment he reached and checked into the hotel, we felt the atmosphere changed —— the fans who bear the scorching sun to wait outside, the never ending requests for media interviews, the corridor outside of the interview area filled with people with cameras, the sudden books and photos send to him in the middle of an interview for his autographs…
The interview area was not far away from the elevator, when he was heading down for the nomination ceremony, we could hear screams through our closed doors.
The ceremony was delayed for quite a while and there were many activities arranged after it. Just as when we were worried about our interview timing being compressed or even cancelled, the screams travelled from far-sounding to being near us.
Finally, the door opened and a tall figure dressed in a black suit walked in, bowing as a form of apology as he greeted us and walked over to the sofa. As we adjusted the microphone and lighting, we started making some small talk…
Big Screen: Welcome, Yibo! Congratulations on your nomination!
Yibo: Thank you, thank you!
BS: Come to think of it, the 2nd issue of《Big Screen》has a relatively detailed report on《Hidden Blade》
Y: Ah yes, I know. I read that article.
BS: Then what do you think about the writer’s read on it?
Y: I think there’s no such thing as a correct read! Because the story in everybody’s heart isn’t the same so everyone understands it differently. Which is why I think movies are interesting.
BS: We also did a detailed report on《Born To Fly》and《One and Only》but we didn’t interviewed you so let us talk a bit about them from the sequence they aired!
Y: Sure sure!
《One & Only》
BS: First it’s《One & Only》. The main character of this film is street dancer, which should be your comfort zone so is this role relatively easier for you?
Y: I think it’s my comfort zone regarding dancing. As for the acting side, it is certainly similar to my childhood experiences so I would understand the dancers more and would be easier to get into character which make it seem natural but I think there is not a character which is ‘easy’.
BS: This script was written after signing you on, am I right?
Y: Yes, the director was still editing it in the mid of filming, adding stuff in. The first script I saw was rather different from the result.
BS: There were a huge amount of dance routines in the movie, did you participate in the choreography?
Y: Because this dance style (break dancing) is rather unique, it isn’t danced by standing. There are many moves in breakdancing and although I’m well versed in street dance but for the moves portion, I’m unable to complete it on my own so although I did have my thoughts on it, I didn’t participate in the choreography.
BS: After the choreographer designed the dance routines, did you propose any changes while you were communicating?
Y: Maybe, yes. Because sometimes when I’m dancing during my own time, I might hope that, eh? Wouldn’t this action be better? Un, it’s a process of continuously refining it.
BS: Wow, that’s interesting. Are there significant differences in the way you interact with Director Dapeng as an actor in《Hidden Blade》and as a director in《One & Only》 ?
Y: There is indeed quite a difference because I had relatively little contact with Director Dapeng in《Hidden Blade》. We have no direct scenes together, only group scenes where we were eating and the scene of us with umbrellas at a funeral. In that kind of solemn creative environment we also didn’t talk much together. But when we work together on 《One & Only》 later, Director Dapeng felt like a different person, he was very lively and happy.
BS: 《One & Only》 has a comedic feel while《Hidden Blade》 is very serious, maybe even a bit sorrowful. I think your personal temperament is closer to《Hidden Blade》 …
Y: Thank you!
BS: … And so, in《One & Only》, how did you unleash your comedic performance?
Y: I don’t think I was responsible for the comedy part in《One & Only》. Chen Shuo is more of a naive, serious and hardworking teenager. As for the comedy aspect, it was handled by Yue Yunpeng Laoshi or Xiao Shenyang Laoshi.
BS: But there are also scenes where just one sentence from you made everyone laughed.
Y: Oh?
BS: For example: “Just showing respect.”
Y: Ah, hahaha, true. These gags were thought up by the director and screenwriter. I only spoke them out with the feeling based on the character’s straightforwardness and naiveness. Maybe the contrasting feeling with this sentence may make it seem more comedic.
BS: Although there aren’t many such lines, the impression is still quite deep.
Y: Thank you!
BS: Generally speaking, when an actor completes a role, they will have a certain emotional attachment to it. So when you left Chen Shuo, what kind of emotion do you have towards him and what kind of life do you hope he will have in the future?
Y: After《One & Only》was wrapped up, thinking back to it still brought back beautiful memories because it is similar to my childhood experience. I persisted in dancing when I was young and due to that, I became a celebrity or an actor. So I am very happy that Chen Shuo has such a perfect ending. I wish him a smooth sailing future and win more championships.
《Born To Fly》
BS: Okay, now let’s talk about《Born To Fly》. Director Liu Xiaoshi said that you decided to act soon after receiving the script. Did the theme touched you?
Y: Indeed, scripts like 《One & Only》 have a lot of touching lines and it is also difficult to resist such military themes like test pilot.
BS: Do you have sentiment for the military?
Y: I feel that I have quite the passionate heart.
BS: This film was filmed at the great northwest for a long period of time and during it, I knew you had some training, as well as it being quite challenging. Since it’s the northwest, there must be sandstorms and bitter coldness. So what do you think is the most toughest?
Y: Hmm… I think this is something that I wouldn’t find difficult after really diving into it because everyone is working hard together in the same direction. It might have been tiring or difficult at the time, but when I turn around and think about it —— I’m such person —— if I look back to think about the things I’ve done before, I wouldn’t think it’s anything, nothing big really. Although the filming period was long, on the other hand, it can allow the actors to be more focused and delve into the knowledge of various airplanes as that still requires time to understand.
BS: Hu Jun Laoshi has also been nominated the Golden Rooster Best Supporting Actor for this film. Have you congratulated each other?
Y: Yes! I was just congratulating him at the ceremony then.
BS: He has acted in multiple military roles so I think he is very familiar with this kind of (military) temperament.
Y: Yes, Hu Jun Laoshi has also appeared in《冲天飞豹》（Flying Leopard？） before and is also a pilot.
BS: … He is the team leader in the film, tasked with taking young test pilots like you to fight. Looking at the behind the scenes, he often teaches you guys acting?
Y: Yes, he is just like our big brother, taking us out to exercise and eat and occasionally chatting about the script on set, chatting about each characters. Jun Ge was really good at taking care of people. Our team consist around 7 people, so not just me, Jun Ge has also been taking care of other young actors.
BS: Your team is quite united.
Y: Yes, because (we are) all guys, enjoy exercising and everyone has similar interests and hobbies.
BS: Just to go off the topic for a bit, is it possible for you to pass the pilot selection if you really went for the exam?
Y: That might be very hard, mainly because the physical fitness requirements are too high. I better do well as an actor first (laughs).
BS: (BTF) Is both nationalistic themed yet commercially viable too and we feel that《Born To Fly》has exceeded expectations. So when you saw the final film yourself, since there wasn’t any special effects during filming – what did you feel?
Y: Actually, when I first started running roadshows, due to time constraints, I hadn’t gone to the cinema to watched it yet. Then, in Guangzhou or somewhere, I went watching it in the cinema. The visual and sound effects in the cinema were really stunning. I didn’t expect they are able to create the visuals of a fighter jet in the air like this. Able to visualise some high-altitude actions of the jet that are unknown to everyone and be presented on the big screen in this way.
BS: May I also ask for your thoughts on Lei Yu’s future as well?
Y: He will definitely head in the direction of Captain Zhang Ting but as a new generation of young test pilots. Captain Zhang Ting also once said that test pilots of each generation is different and test pilots like Lei Yu, whose theoretical knowledge are solid, his flying skills will also be better.
《Hidden Blade》
BS: Now we talk back about《Hidden Blade》. I really like this movie so I need to ask more questions.
Y: Thank you, I really like it as well.
BS: Director Cheng Er said that when he saw you in your character’s makeup and clothes, he felt like the characters in his original novel / script had came to life. So when did you feel like you were Mr. Ye?
Y: When I tried on the look for the first time… actually, I had never tried on that kind of look and styling before so it felt like I was in another time period altogether. I was suddenly much closer to this character through the look and clothing. And after, I would think it’s through dialogue with other actors, as well as communication with the director —— because as we all know, the director’s script will be added in bit by bit and as the filming progresses. I gradually got to know the character more and became more immersed in it as well as being more practiced in acting him.
BS: Director Cheng Er said you had ample training. What do those trainings include?
Y: I had some practice before filming started, specifically in watching some films. Like how the director would watch the first, second, and third movies of ‘The Godfather’ with me once again, as well as ‘Pulp Fiction’ ‘Inglorious Bastards’ and so on. Movies that focused on acting performances. Then there were also training on lines reading, as well as action scenes.
BS: Director Cheng Er himself said that many scenes are left to you to ad-lib.
Y: En, sometimes there will be. Sometimes the director will tell me his direction and I will act accordingly, which we then make adjustments; Sometimes the director would give me an idea/a framework; for example, ” in this environment, you would think about what you would do and then what you would after that. ” And you’re done thinking, he’ll start filming.
BS: Oh, it turned out to be such a process.
Y: Yes yes, he is quite meticulous in some aspects and open minded in others. Like how the former process was of very detailed directions, for example, as detailed as telling me how I would take off my clothes first, then release my tie, then change; Or if I feel comfortable, I can also undo my tie first —— just an example —— then undress. But in other times, he also tells me the feeling of the scene and allow me think about how I would do it on my own, waiting until I have figured it out before filming. Giving me a big framework, yes, and inside is my freedom.
BS: What was your deepest impression filming《Hidden Blade》 ? Which scene do you remember that you NG the most?
Y: Actually, I just started acting in movies before I was chosen by Director Cheng Er. And for a very heavy role too, so my impression of this filming was deep. One of them was that the director is accustomed to filming at night or feel that he can get into it better if he film at night. Most of our filming starts at 6pm and ends at 6am the next day. Such highly concentrated and rather tiring work style is really a rare experience! As for how many times I NG… The director is a very, very serious, very meticulous person so maybe during the process of filming, there would be many takes for each scene, yea, it’s about finding the best shot through the repeated acting of the same scene.
BS: Especially the long shot fight scene?
Y: Oh yes, we rehearsed that scene in advance. Arranged the set in cardboards in advance and rehearsed the actions until the official shooting.
BS: I remember Director Cheng Er saying he took over thirty shots and the film used the second to last one.
Y: Maybe it is, but I can’t quite remember because we could only shoot five to six times in a day and we filmed that for a week. The director will be clearer about it as he was the one editing.
BS: Is that why Director Cheng Er said you have enough patience?
Y: I believe that when I am doing something I enjoy, the biggest obstacle is not an obstacle to me, so I just need to keep doing it. Perhaps what the director is referring to is this.
BS: Speaking of language talent, Director Cheng Er has repeatedly praised you on it. Is it due to this talent, that it isn’t too difficult for you whether it’s about learning different dialects or foreign languages?
Y: Well, I think I’m alright on this front, it’s not too strenuous for me. And in another way, I don’t think my line reading is that good, so maybe when I’m speaking in a language I’m not familiar with, I would have somewhat more confidence.
BS: Many viewers have commented that your Japanese is not only fluent, but also accurate in tone.
Y: About this, the production team has a dedicated Japanese teacher who will give me a video with corresponding Chinese characters and Japanese, so I would listen and watch and listen and watched. I am imitating his tone, because the Japanese teacher did actually helped me acted out the tone so I am trying my best to imitate it as close as possible.
BS:《Hidden Blade》 ‘s eye acting, action scenes and multiple languages, which part would you think is the most difficult?
Y: I think it’s the eye acting because maybe I haven’t practiced my eyes all that much before. Adding on that《Hidden Blade》 does have a lot of eye acting scenes, which is why I think eye acting scenes is still harder. Plus I have to sometimes act against Mr. Liang, which is nerve wracking and also puts a lot of pressure (on me).
BS: How did you manage to overcome this pressure?
Y: Prepare in advance and rehearse a lot.
BS: You once said Mr. Ye’s life is bitter and if the story continues, Director Cheng Er is likely to arrange a tragic ending for him. Putting aside the director’s setting, what would you wish for Mr. Ye’s ending to be like?
Y: I think a wonderful ending may be quite hard with him living in that era and even in that work environment, he didn’t leave. I wish for him that in his espionage career, he is able to achieve his goals, complete his work and retire in peace. Un, what should I say, I wish him peace!
BS: Out of 10, how would you rate your portrayal of Mr. Ye?
Y: (Laughs) Maybe a bit higher than the passing score!
BS: 7 – 8 points?
Y: If it’s out of 10.
BS: Having chatted so much about the 3 movies, would you like to have a drink and rest for a bit?
Y: It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m good.
BS: Then let’s talk about your work and development, shall we?
Y: Okay.
About Career
BS: As new actor, to have 3 leading films released in a year, it’s very rare!
Y: Thank you!
BS: I have read some reports and interviews and saw that the directors of these 3 films all approached you first, this can be said to be very lucky. So films for you —— as you debuted as a singer, a pop idol —— does that follow the trend of your career development of a certain stage or was it because you like it, having passion for it so you seized the opportunities to make your dream come true?
Y: My dream as a child was definitely to become a singer. I wanted to stand on stage and sing. This dream of mine can be said to have been realised. How did I come in touch with films, I think it’s a kind of an accident. Actually, my first movie was called《MBA Partners》. At that time, DuHua from my company asked me to go for an interview and then I acted in a movie with Yao Cheng Jie. Including Red Boy in《Journey to the West 3》. From there, I gradually began to understand movies and also watched a few of them. I felt that many movie actors, with their charisma, seemed to have gained a second life through movies and the screen. Why is everyone discussing about Al Pacino’s performance in ‘The Godfather’? It’s really like the blooming of a second life, which will be passed down forever. This is also what makes me increasingly fond of movies. I once watched a movie and there was a line that I really liked that went like: Some movies ended the moment the screen lights up, while others will last forever. Un, good movies will last forever, which is also what I find very attractive about movies.
BS: The charm of films is still quite different from the charm of the stage.
Y: Yes. On stage, I think it may be more of a burst of pleasure of the moment, a kind of release on the stage, while movies are exquisitely crafted.
BS: These 3 movies all looked for you, so would you go hard to win over characters of scripts you like in the future?
Y: Yes, but first I need to have a favorite role and script and then I would go strive for it.
BS: Now that you have already been nominated for the Golden Rooster Award, will you still hand in your resume and go for auditions?
Y: Of course, I will also strive for the directors of the works of I like.
BS: Your personal temperament, as defined by the movie channel, is ‘elegantly romantic’….
Y: Thank you!
BS: … and you also feel to be quite reserved. If you encounter a role with an exaggerate personality and intense emotions, would you avoid it?
Y: I think I won’t go thinking about if the role has an exaggerated personality before liking a role. I might first consider the charm of that role more. If I really like this character, I might want to have a go trying it and not reject it, be it if his personality is outgoing or reserved.
BS: What about comedy? Are you interested in purely comedic films?
Y: Pure comedy, well, I haven’t thought about it yet. If there really is a role I like, I probably won’t reject it and could give it a try.
BS: As a newcomer, you are relatively relaxed in front of the camera, without feeling like tensed up. Is this due to you having started your career in the entertainment industry very early on, gaining more experience in this industry and thus you are more familiar with filming?
Y: I think as a singer, performing on stage, be it facing the audience or the camera, I may relatively be more comfortable and relaxed. But in the eyes of a director, it is still not enough. I think Director Cheng Er gave me a good start. He requested for me not to “act” but to subtract. I am actually very grateful to the director for cultivating such a good habit in me.
BS: During the filming process, in addition to the NG mentioned earlier, people often hear the phrase “let’s do another take for keeps”. Such phrase is usually often said by the director but is there any situation where you have raised it yourself?
Y: Yes, might have done it too.
BS: Why is that, even if there are no mistakes made?
Y: Definitely because my own requirements for myself are getting higher and higher and I hope it can be done better.
BS: What if the director is already satisfied?
Y: Sometimes, actors may have their own obsession, requirements or maybe their own ideas (of the scene) and may wish to try another take on that. Like I may feel like it is better to remove some actions I did, which I think is a bit unnecessary. So (in this case) I might speak up in letting me try another take without doing this action.
BS: When you work, are you in a state where you can get in and out of character quickly?
Y: I would need to delve into character in advance and I think it’s normal as an actor to prepare beforehand. As for whether if you are truly immersed in the role, it all depends on yourself. So the more you put your heart in it, the more immersed you’ll be. If you put in less, the lesser you’ll immersed, that’s how I feel about it. So I would spend more time on set, in that environment, experiencing and immersing myself there. I’m unable to change the moment the camera start rolling and then immediately return to being myself when it stops. I would think that, as an actor in experiencing the character, have I not experienced the character enough? Including how if you are really sobbing hard and bitterly, can you stop at once? That’s impossible.
BS: Oh, speaking of which, your crying scene really left people astounded. You just mentioned that you can’t withdraw yourself after the crying scene ended but what about when you enter (into that state)?
Y: Each actor may have a different way of getting into character. I may need to rely on stuff like some memories or music. So this is also a kind of technique and also a reason why actors need to have a lot of experience. After experiencing more, seeing more, you would then understand things better. When my performance needs to get some help, I can quickly catch similar emotions from my experiences or memories and then combine them with the character to act it out.
BS: People who worked with you, whether they are directors or co-actors, often say you are dedicated and hardworking. So, I would like to ask, in the slang nowadays, are you an ‘overachiever’?
Y: I don’t think I ‘overachieve’. It’s just that I when I have a passion for it, I just purely want to do it well.
BS: So referring it as a ‘pursuit of perfection’ is more accurate?
Y: Yes, I think so.
BS: People also say that you can endure hardships pretty well.
Y: Well, I’m sure I feel tired physically, but back to the previous point, that is, when I am doing this, I had already chosen to do it, and I wanted to do it well too, so I wouldn’t think it’s tough. But if you ask me if I’m tired, it’s still tiring. Maybe bystanders will think, how tired would you be, doing it to that extent? Then it all boils down to if you like doing it or not. Only I don’t think it’s hard, but everyone will see your tiredness, so when they talk about it, they will say I’m good at enduring.
BS: You had 3 films were released this year and 2 were nominated for the Golden Rooster Award. How would you evaluate this year?
Y: I feel very satisfied and very fortunate to be able to produce 3 such great films within a year. As an actor, I think it is really a blissful thing to happened. And no matter if it’s about me trying different roles or experiencing different lives, I’m very happy (about it).
About Personality
BS: The word that Director Chen Er used to describe you left quite an impression on me, he used ‘warm hearted’. This ‘warm’ should have the meaning of ‘soft’. Are you a person who has a soft heart?
Y: Hm, I think it depends on the situation. It can be considered to be relatively soft when I’m interacting with others. But when it comes to the things I’m pursuing and wanted to get to the top, I won’t be soft but very determined, so it depends on the situation.
BS: We have been paying attention to you since there are news from《Hidden Blade》and《Born to Fly》. And I feel that your change in temperament this year is quite significant. Previously, you have more of a youthful temperament, but this year, be it in attending activities or during promotions (roadshows), you have became calm, just like an adult. Do you feel this change yourself?
Y: I don’t actually have much of a feeling myself, but I think it might be due to the rapid improvement i had during the year I filmed 3 movies… Maybe it might also be because of my experiences, various experiences, I think… And also, I think maybe of the influence from Director Cheng Er.
About Hobbies
BS: You are usually busy with work and your schedule is pretty packed as well, so there isn’t a lot of time that truly belongs to yourself?
Y: Actually, when if I wasn’t on the set, my private time wise is still considered okay, hm, yeah, still okay.
BS: Do you watch movies during your spare time?
Y: Yes, recently I watched a lot of movies with the director.
BS: Projected on the wall at home or something like that?
Y: No, I watched it in a cinema with the director.
BS: Derailing for a bit, are you able to head to a commercial cinema to watch movies now?
Y: I haven’t tried that yet, haven’t tried that for now (laughs)
BS: So as an audience, what kind of genre of movies do you like?
Y: Director Chen Er brought me along to watched a lot of art films, such as ‘Songs from the Second Floor’, ‘A Pigeon Sat on a Branch’, ‘All That Jazz’, which I quite like, as well as ‘Leviathan’ and so on.
BS: They are all foreign films.
Y: Yes, there are more in Europe.
BS: Do European art films feel boring?
Y: I didn’t fell asleep (laughs), I quite enjoyed it actually.
BS: So you watched a lot of movies with Director Chen Er and a few days ago, the both of you also went to a drama festival to watch many plays. He even recommended you to (Movie Channel) ‘Stars and Ocean’.
Y: At the (Golden Rooster Award) nomination ceremony, I mentioned that I was very grateful to the director for his help on the films side but I might have been a bit nervous on the stage at that time. Actually, what I wanted to say was that not just in《Hidden Blade》but more on the outside of it, be it on films, on aesthetics or even music, the arts. He told me, once you have seen enough quality stuff, you’ll be able to differentiate what’s good and what’s not.
BS: My understanding is that in addition to the cooperative relationship between actor and director, Director Cheng Er also have a sense of appreciation and guidance for you.
Y: Well yes, you can understand it that way. The director is like a teacher guiding me, he is both my mentor and friend.
BS: Coming back to movies, do you rarely watch commercial films?
Y: Commercial films? I do also really like the Batman trilogy. But certainly, I have not really been watching commercial films recently. Yea, mainly focused on studying art films.
BS: Do you have a favourite actor?
Y: Ah, let me think. The Spanish actress from ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ Penélope Cruz. And the male actor in ’21 Grams’ Sean Penn.
BS: Ah, Oscar Best Actor, he is very charismatic.
Y: Ah yes. Very charming, he has a lot of films. I also really like that movie about a death row prisoner.
BS: ‘Dead Man Walking’
Y: Yes!
BS: You have a lot of hobbies, many of which have become your skills and has been recognised as an all-rounded artist…
Y: No, no, I just simply have more things I like to do so I can’t be considered to be all-rounded. There are many things I like, but none of them perfect, so I don’t think I can be considered all-rounded.
BS: But the three directors noticed you, chose you and your skills in such as motorcycle racing, street dance, etc. played quite an important role.
Y: Ah, that’s also one of the lucky point. I think I need to persist on my hobbies, it’s one of the joys in life as you can’t just do one thing forever. I enjoy approaching new things and I also hope I can persevere as long as possible. But sometimes my hobbies change fast, such as when I was just enjoying golf and then suddenly switched to tennis. So it’s hard to continuously practice and improve on a particular hobby. Perhaps I would delve into it at different periods. That’s why I feel like I have a lot of hobbies, but it’s like a ‘jack of all trades, master of none’. But I just like having a lot of hobbies. They make your life richer, more enjoyable, and can help you maintain a good state of mind, including mental state, in your spare time. And well, exercising is a very good thing.
About Traffic
BS: I would like to ask a question about ‘(fans) traffic’.
Y: Sure, sure.
BS: Shooting a movie is a long process, some of which are kept confidential. During this process, as a celebrity, would you mind if there is a loss of popularity and traffic?
Y: I definitely don’t mind. Because I think my main role now should be as an actor. Of course, because I have loved it since I was young, I will also release new songs. Now that I am an actor, I actually would like spending more time on broadening my horizons to enriching myself as so to be able to create a different character. So how can I broaden my horizons and let myself be more knowledgeable? I would need to go out. Similarly, when I am working as an actor and filming, maybe the time needed to appear in public will decrease, which leads to lesser fan traffic, but I am still doing what I like and I am putting in effort for that.
About Future
BS: Leak some information about the new film to us!
Y: Ah, I have already gone on location scouting.
BS: Do you already have a script?
Y: Uh… yes! But I’m not sure what the end results will be like (laughs).
BS: In your future career plans, will movies still occupy an important position?
Y: Yes and as I have said, If I can, I won’t give up (on the things I like) and persist in (doing it).
We have been urged several times to end the interview as soon as possible as the activities after had been delayed.
BS: Okay, that’s all for the interview! And congratulations to you again and I hope the new film goes smoothly!
Y: Thank you, thank you!
This is the longest interview we have ever done during the Golden Rooster Award period. The lovely interviewee was always attentive, calm, frank, occasionally thoughtful and often smiling.
Not drinking any water, not having any rest.
His frequent vocabulary includes: Thank you, like, passion.
The deepest impression he left on us:
Extremely polite, always with a straight back.
Later, as I watched his photography shot, in the dark and retro setting, he calmly changed his posture, elegant and stable, with a charm that emanates only for the camera rather than the crowd.
This young man satisfies all people’s fantasies about idols.
This young man is already pursuing the blooming and eternity on the big screen.
This young man rides the wind.
His wings just being freshly created.
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