Exclusive interview with the face of the times｜He once served as a thief, but he is respected by people for his strength...

He is a domestic slave with three surnames. He has worked for the Kuomintang, the two parties and the Japanese. In the well-received spy drama "Forerunner", the treacherous villain Pei Ruhai made the audience gnash their teeth with hatred.

Actor Huo Qing gave an answer that satisfied the audience on how to break away from the facial expression of the villain and vividly portray the character's personality.

Perhaps many people are not familiar with Huo Qing’s name, but they remember many of the roles he played. In the entertainment industry that changes frequently, he devoted himself to acting for 20 years and established himself as a "gold medal supporting actor".

Give the villain personality charm

In the TV series "Forerunner", Pei Ruhai is suspicious and cautious by nature. For his own safety, he does not hesitate to use women and children to force others to submit. He ignored his conscience, and when his plot failed to succeed, he carried out inhumane electrocution on his former friends to extract confessions. In order to save his life, he became a guest of the Japanese without any shame and served as a thief.

Before taking on the role of Pei Ruhai, Huo Qing went through a fierce ideological struggle.

"The character Pei Ruhai is disloyal and unjust. He first betrayed the Communist Party, then the Kuomintang, and finally betrayed the entire Chinese nation. He is a completely heinous bad guy." Acting like this Huo Qing was worried about the role: "Audiences who are not familiar with me will instinctively identify the character with the actor, and feel disgusted or even disgusted, thinking that I am so bad."

"But I am confident that I can play this character well." Huo Qing affirmed, "My age and experience make me confident enough to portray this character well."

I usually have a deep understanding of modern history and China. Huo Qing, who is very interested in the history of the Communist Party, eagerly hopes that through Pei Ruhai, a negative teaching material, he can show the perseverance of that era to today's young audiences, show that period of suffering and glorious history, and inspire young people to thinking. "I 'sacrifice my life for justice' and took on this role." Huo Qing said.

It was the winter of 2020 when the most important underwater scene in "Forerunners" was filmed. Considering that the weather was cold and Huo Qing was nearly 60 years old, the crew arranged a stuntman for him in advance to complete most of the underwater scenes on his behalf.

Huo Qing recalled: "It was a major event, and I felt that I couldn't act it clearly, so I insisted on acting it myself. The expressions, movements, and psychology of the characters underwater should all be clear. Only in this way can we be responsible for the character and the audience." The scene was filmed in the water for more than 3 hours without going ashore to rest. Huo Qing's eyes were red because he had to keep his eyes open underwater. For 2 days.

This underwater scene is exactly the scene in the finale of "Forerunner" where Pei Ruhai was trapped in an iron cage under the sea and executed. Several close-up long shots of faces delicately show Pei Ruhai's transition from confidence to panic, unwillingness, and finally drowning. The audience finally came to the ending of this big villain, and they all applauded.

Huo Qing also received a wave of praise from the audience: "Huo Qing brought Pei Ruhai to life, and he was very bad!"

Making the character closer to human nature

This is not the first time Huo Qing has played a villain.

"In the TV series "Aiming" broadcast in 2020, I played Fang Jinfu, the head of the Songjiang Station of the Military Secrecy Bureau. Although he is also a villain, in fact, the character's personality is in line with the era at that time. His background and identity are consistent with his so-called 'faith'." Huo Qing has a deep understanding of each character.

Among the various characters Huo Qing has created in the past, decent characters such as soldiers, policemen, and intellectuals are well known to the audience. The recent villain roles he has played have made the audience take another look at his acting skills - a cold look, a complex inner struggle, and a forbearing emotional expression, combined with the cadence of his lines, can create the image of a villain. .

Huo Qing gives each character a unique personality.

In Huo Qing's eyes, bad guys are not only ruthless, but also struggling, changeable, fearful and even inferior. To this end, he studied many rule of law videos and documentaries, observing and scrutinizing every move of the characters.

Huo Qing said that playing a villain is also a training for himself. "In the process of shaping different characters, it will also inspire another side of me that shines."

The ups and downs of the business world Returning to the Unfinished Dream

Huo Qing’s dream of becoming an actor began when he was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in 1988. After graduation, he was assigned to work in the drama troupe of the China Railway Art Troupe, and also participated in several movies, fulfilling his acting dream.

However, the income from drama performances is meager, and as a newcomer, there are few opportunities. I am always short of money and can’t bear to take the subway or bus. After careful consideration, he decided to leave his beloved acting job and turn to business.

He opened his own advertising company and struggled to make a living. However, his income in the first year was only 2,000 yuan. He even worked as a driver to earn living expenses.

The hard work he put in will never be let down. Huo Qing's company gradually improved and he worked there for ten years.

Only Huo Qing understands the bitterness of a dream that lasts ten years. However, what cannot be avoided is that acting is still the most difficult love in his heart. When discussing business, he would be distracted by the performance on the TV nearby. When he meets a film crew on the street, he will stop and stop, feeling longing for them, but afraid of meeting his former acquaintances.

A friend once teased him: "Why did Huo Qing start a company? He can't act!" Huo Qing's unwillingness to admit defeat made Huo Qing feel uncomfortable and he re-examined himself.

In 2002, when the company was still in full swing, 40-year-old Huo Qing decided to return to the entertainment industry. After ten years in business, the irregular life and the pressure of running the company made Huo Qing gain weight to nearly 200 pounds. In order to regain his dream of becoming an actor, the first hurdle he had to overcome was to lose weight.

In order to lose weight as quickly as possible, he wore long clothes and long pants for running every day in the hottest time in the afternoon. It took him half a year to lose 50 pounds, and he received the first TV series after his comeback, "The Law Is Not Merciful" , although it was a small role, he finally took the first step successfully.

Perhaps the age of forty is really "no confusion". Huo Qing's goal is clearer than ever before when he returns to the entertainment industry. He must seize every opportunity, no matter how big or small the role is, and must interpret every character well.

Huo Qing also developed the habit of running. At first it was just to lose weight, but later it became an essential daily homework. Especially when he goes to the set for filming, he will bring the treadmill with him. Because actors have very irregular work and rest schedules, and the opening hours of the hotel gym are limited. No matter what time he starts work in the morning, Huo Qing will get up 2 hours early for a run. "I have to run 10 kilometers every day. After the run, I feel relaxed to avoid swelling and not looking good on camera. I'm sorry for the audience."

It may be said that Huo Qing's career as an actor has been full of twists and turns, but more of it fell into place naturally. "As I grow older, my understanding of characters and my portrayal of characters have grown by leaps and bounds." Huo Qing said, "Only when an actor has mature concepts can he be called a good person with both virtue and art. Actor."

A studious and thoughtful actor

In 2005, Huo Qing received a very important role in his career - the young master in the TV series "The Walking Feather Duster" Geng Hanliang.

"The psychological pressure was very high at that time, but I tried my best to make this character seem to have grown up on me. Not only the appearance, but also my eyes, movements, every word and deed were like Geng Hanliang, all the time. To understand the state of this character, this enriches the character." Huo Qing successfully portrayed Geng Hanliang's intelligent, calm, restrained, bold and bold character.

From "The Law Has No Mercy", "The Sky Has Eyes", "The Walking Feather Duster", to "My Brother's Name is Shunliu", "Three Kingdoms", "Legend of Chu and Han"... one work after another steadily, Huo Qing's screen image began to gain popularity.

For those in their forties and fifties, it can be said to be a late bloomer, but for Huo Qing, who has seized the opportunity again, it is the right time to work hard and make a difference.

Speaking of the real hit on the screen, none other than Lu Su in "Three Kingdoms" directed by Gao Xixi.

Lu Su, played by Huo Qing, changed the image of an honest man in the old version of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and became a little more wise and resolute. In order to play this role well, Huo Qing read countless materials related to the Three Kingdoms, not to mention "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", but also various historical materials and pictures such as "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms". "If you want to portray a character, you must first be moved by the character. I truly love and admire this character. Only when the audience sees my performance can they feel it personally."

And that scene touched countless audiences. "The Death of Lu Su" was actually changed by Huo Qing through on-site discussions with the director based on his own understanding. Since the filming of TV series does not follow the order of the plot, it is impossible to predict the layout of the filming scene. The script originally stipulated that Lu Su died on the bed. Huo Qing had been thinking about how to perform this scene since he received the script.

Finally, the day of shooting arrived. The photography base in Jiaozuo, Henan Province had been raining heavily for three consecutive days, and the scene was muddy. When they arrived at the scene, the staff had set up six cameras in advance, and equipment such as lighting and tracks had also been arranged. Huo Qing said softly, "It's not what I thought," and the director stopped working to discuss it with him.

Huo Qing said: "Lu Su should not die on the couch. He was such a loyal adviser to his lord and devoted himself to the country, how could he die on the couch?" The director immediately decided to re-set the scene. This is the climax of the play in which Lu Su drags his terminally ill body to the case and picks up a pen to write a letter to his lord.

With the role of Lu Su, Huo Qing received rave reviews, and the audience praised: "This is the most perfect Lu Su." Before "Three Kingdoms", Huo Qing had good works but no reputation. With superb acting skills, he took off from "Three Kingdoms" and became an absolute guarantee of acting skills.

"I dare not be sorry to the audience"?

Huo Qing, who was born in the drama troupe of the Railway Art Troupe, is still active on the drama stage. He starred in the large-scale dramas "The Story of the West Flower Hall" and "Eight Hundred Miles of Cold" rehearsed by the Railway Art Troupe.

“I have a deep affinity for theater performance.

"Huo Qing said, "When performing a drama, it is constantly pushed to a climax in an atmosphere where all the actors and the audience are supporting each other. It requires a high degree of concentration. The whole performance is completed in one go, and there is no chance of a repeat. "

"Wind borrows the power of fire, and fire borrows the power of wind" - In drama performances, there is no camera switching to express changes in scenes, emotions and atmosphere, which further tests the actors' skills. "Actors The degree of performance must be very precise. One more point is redundant, and one less point is not enough. Therefore, performing arts must be both emotional and rational. "

Huo Qing put all his thoughts into acting without reservation. "The same line can be interpreted by 100 people in 100 ways. The rhythm, stress, and pauses of each sentence need to be carefully considered. Only when the lines are said accurately can the emotions and personality of the character be better reflected, and the audience can be brought into the play. If the lines are as boring as boiled water, it will be very disappointing to the audience. " Huo Qing said.

During the interview, the phrase "I'm afraid of sorry for the audience" has always been on Huo Qing's lips. "Now when I go back and look at the previous roles, I find that there are areas that can be improved. But as far as my conscience is concerned, every character has put all their efforts into it, and in my heart it is the best work.

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