Congying’s premiere in 39 years, Music Teacher will be released tomorrow
Andy Lau: Youth has never left me
"If you're sad, just sing it out loud!" In the movie "Hot Blood Choir", Andy Lau became a music teacher and life mentor, leading a group of students who were forced to participate in the "Hot Blood Choir Pilot Project" because of trouble. , Learn chorus from scratch.
The students gradually took music as the motivation and dream of life and walked out of the trough of life together.
"The Hot Blood Choir", which will be released tomorrow, is a "healing drama" that gathers youth, passion, dreams and warmth.
In 39 years of filming, Andy Lau has participated in more than 100 films, interpreting many different styles and rich types of characters, and has won the laurels for many times.
"Hot Blood Choir" is his first performance as a music teacher. Andy Lau said that he hopes that the image of a music teacher he has created for the first time can be recognized by everyone, and especially hope that it can be recognized by teachers, parents and students across the country. "If there is a chance As a teacher, I also want to be a music teacher because I think music lessons are very important and the power of music can change lives."
Inspirational story to cure "waste wood" youth
Handwriting to everyone in need of healing
"Hot Blood Choir" is directed by Guan Xinhui and written by Zhang Peiqiong. The two have collaborated on the educational film "Lovely You". The film not only topped the box office list of Hong Kong, China, in 2015, but also won a lot of praise for its plain and moving style. .
The "Hot Blood Choir", jointly created by the two again, explores the problems of campus, family and society in the youth growth through passionate and inspirational counterattack stories, and presents a moving theme full of youthful passion.
The sincerity of Guan Xinhui and Zhang Peiqiong won Andy Lau's support and support. In addition to starring, Andy Lau also served as the producer of the film.
As we all know, Andy Lau is a producer not for making money, but for making good movies. For example, because of Andy Lau's support, Ning Hao's "Crazy Stone" was created, and because of Andy Lau's investment, Xu Anhua's "Peach Sister" was created.
In the production of "The Hot Blood Chorus", Andy Lau also valued the inspirational and passionate theme of the film.
"Hot Blood Choir" is Andy Lau's first work to be screened in theaters this year. He said that his biggest wish is to pass this warmth and healing to the audience through the big screen.
Due to the epidemic in 2020, people have had a difficult year. In order to encourage everyone, Andy Lau wrote a personal letter before the release of the film. The letter read: "During our growth, we often We will encounter countless malice, misunderstood, reprimanded, and attacked. We begin to feel inferior, closed, and suspicious. Finally, we forget how to love ourselves. We, who should be shining, fall into the dark bottom. At this time, many I hope there is a light that will take us out of the darkness and find ourselves... If no one gives you that light, you have to work hard to be your own light. If you are sad, sing it out loud, and you and I need to be cured. Every Individuals need encouragement, so sing loudly! Join us and heal life with singing!"
There are many subtle things to pay attention to in the first performance
In the movie, Andy Lau, played by Yan Zilang, is both a music teacher and a music conductor. Facing a group of students who are regarded as "waste" by the outside world, Yan Sir has not flinched but instead created a series of teaching methods. Successfully led the students to comeback against the wind.
Andy Lau said that although his character Yan Zilang is a good teacher who changed the fate of students, this character is not perfect: "Sir Yan is a person with a little'quirky' personality, and everything in his family has different stories. In it. He is more obsessed with some things, such as winning or losing, and his views on life. He will have his own persistence. I feel that this role represents the mentality of modern people, and he is not satisfied with the things around him and has high demands on himself. , But when I fail, I don’t know how to deal with it."
In Andy Lau's view, compared to a simple teacher-student relationship, Yan Sir's relationship with these "waste" students is more like healing each other and illuminating each other's life trajectory together.
Yan Sir helped the students get out of the growth dilemma, and this group of students also used their talents and hard work to illuminate the life of Yan Sir.
For the first time challenging a music teacher, Andy Lau felt that the difficulty was that he was not only a music teacher, but also a conductor, so he needed time to learn. Andy Lau said: "I went to study with the conductor of the Hong Kong Children’s Choir before making a movie. Considering that I have to cooperate with the film as well as the camera as a conductor, I will study with professional conductors to see if there can be a more suitable method of conducting that is presented in films. In addition, we have all the basic music knowledge before. I have learned it, but if I want to be a real conductor, I still need time to figure it out. The instructor was also there when we were shooting on site, and they would pay attention to every gesture, whether this action is possible, whether this rhythm works, Whether the posture is accurate or not, whether the body movements match the music, in short, there are many, many subtle things that require special attention."
Fortunately, they were born more than 40 years late
Otherwise I'll be in trouble
In "The Hot Blood Chorus", the few students that Andy Lau focuses on are all starred by newcomers who are new to the film industry. They all have full gratitude to "Mr. Liu": "Brother Hua is not only a passionate teacher in the play, but also outside the play. He also gave us a lot of guidance, which made us very touched.” Andy Lau responded modestly: “I am a teacher in the play, but while I help these young people, I am also healed by them, learning and growing with them, so this The movie gave me more feelings and gains in music and life."
Speaking of the performance of these young actors, Andy Lau said with a smile: "I think their performance is really good enough to make me ashamed. Fortunately, they were born more than 40 years late, otherwise I will be in trouble and I will not be in my turn. Although They are young people, but their handling of emotional dramas actually surprised me. When the movie is released, you can pay attention to any student role in the drama. They are really too good."
In this "patch together" chorus, some are withdrawn and weird, some are sensitive and reckless, and each student has his own story.
Andy Lau said that every character has something to move people, and each person's story gives him different touches and feelings.
"If you ask me which character or story is more special, it may be the child with autism. I remember her name is Miao Li. Why is she special? Because most of other children’s problems are external Causes, such as family pressure, negative energy from their parents, etc., have a bad influence on their mentality, but that kind of influence is not "illness", as long as you give him the correct guidance and company in time, let him If she understands the truth and understands herself, the problem can be solved slowly. But the child with autism does not understand herself. She needs someone to help her open the door and bring her out so that she can see the world How beautiful, how blue is the sky, how white the clouds are, how beautiful the music is, and how many people are in love with her. One more thing, although this child is sick, her heart is very pure and I am thinking of a cure She was actually being healed by her at the same time, so the feeling it gave me was the most special."
The story of "The Hot Blood Choir" is a teacher who heals a group of "problematic students" with music. Do you hope that this movie will awaken the society and give more care to teenagers?
Andy Lau said with a smile that he actually didn’t have such big ambitions. “It’s not that we must wake up some people. What I want more is to remind everyone to feel more about what’s happening around them and to care more about the closest people around them. Let’s choose whether to continue this way or make a change. This is left for everyone to think about. I think it is also something that a connotative movie should bring to the audience."
Everyone should have their own persistence and dreams
In "Hot Blood Choir", Teacher Yan always believes that "music is all-inclusive, and music is not biased." In the process of teaching students to sing, it also teaches them how to listen to their inner voice and regain the courage to live.
And tolerant and unbiased are obviously also the attitude of Andy Lau himself. In Andy Lau's view, "Hot Blood Choir" tells everyone that everyone is not what you can see with your eyes, and the most real they may be hidden in someone you can’t see. At the level of, you need to understand, give care and support, encourage them to come out slowly, and then show their true abilities.
Teacher Yan saw their true heart, then used music to convey strength to them, and taught them to use music to express their inner feelings, and finally the "hot blood choir" was born.
Therefore, Andy Lau believes that everyone should have their own persistence and dreams, "No matter what you are doing, whether you are an actor, a scientist, or an inventor, it is good if you have an ideal, just work hard. Don't I care about what others think of you during a certain period of time. For example, many children will be criticized by adults for not studying well, but in fact, many things that happened afterwards have nothing to do with whether you were good or not when you were studying, but I say so, It doesn’t mean you won’t study hard, young people still have to work hard."
And starring in "The Hot Blood Chorus" also enabled Andy Lau to improve his ability to deal with problems.
For example, in the film, a student cut his wrist because of emotional trauma. Teacher Yan was nervous to save her.
Andy Lau had never encountered such a situation in his own life, so when he was shooting this scene, he wanted to know her.
"I will always think about why she would hurt herself by cutting her wrists when she encounters a relationship problem. What can I do to persuade her to dispel this idea. If a person is extremely depressed, she must use the way to hurt herself. To get the so-called'comfort', how can I talk to her."
Andy Lau said that he couldn't think of how to do it at first, "but the director gave me some choices and suggestions from his perspective, and then said to me,'I have finished my thoughts, and now I will go away. Think about it.' I suddenly felt that this method actually conveyed a very good thing to me, that is: you tell her what you feel, and at the same time convey a truth to her, and finally leave it to her to change or not. Decision. It is respect and understanding."
First film with Lu Guanting
The movie is called "The Hot Blood Choir", and the music in the film must be mentioned. Andy Lau has deep feelings about the three songs "Under the Lion Rock", "You Raise Me Up" and "Who Can Understand Me".
As for why he chose these three songs, Andy Lau explained that the choice of songs was actually decided by the director and the screenwriter on the basis of the script creation. He also felt that it fits well with the movie itself and can convey the voice of the characters. More powerful songs.
"I think everyone needs a song to give you strength at a certain moment in their life. I can feel the power that music brings to me when I enter the role."
In the film, the famous composer, actor, and singer Lu Guanting plays the principal role. Lu Guanting's representative works include "Love in a Lifetime" and "Time Crazy".
Andy Lau and Lu Guanting have collaborated many times in music, but "The Hot Blood Choir" is the first time they have collaborated in a film.
When talking about Lu Guanting, Andy Lau was grateful: "I always remember how he slowly nurtured me back then, how he taught me to sing a little bit, like the song "Love Is Not Bird" (composed by Lu Guanting, sung by Andy Lau, awarded in 1995 by Hong Kong Ten Great Songs). Because of his guidance, everyone felt that I had changed. Some people told me that this song was sung in their hearts. He is really a person with a passion for music and a very social person. A responsible person."
Therefore, when he first read the script of "The Hot Blood Chorus", Andy Lau hoped that Lu Guanting would play the principal: "Because I know he truly believes from the heart that music can heal everyone. If I want to find someone Make everyone believe that he is the principal, then only he can do it. From what I know about him, I know he is such a person. His requirements for his life are very simple, but the requirements for a song Very high."
The coming age
Is the most energetic time
Most of the members of the "Hot Blood Choir" are young people under the age of 20. When Andy Lau saw them, would he think of when he was 17? Just like in his song "I participated in the year when I was 17 challenge"?
Andy Lau frankly admits that they are actually a bit close.
"Young people at that age have many ideas about the future. I remember that when I was young, I dreamed of being a director. After a period of time, I felt that acting was more suitable for me, so I went to acting. This is to find the best The direction that suits me. So when I see those children, I naturally think that when I was young, I wanted to try everything and learn everything. Of course, I had to go through a process of adaptation. Dreams are the same, everyone’s dreams Persevere for a period of time. If you find in the process that you can no longer continue to adhere to your original ideals, you must learn to change your mindset and accept the reality. You will not find your way until you learn to afford it and let it go."
Although it was the strict Sir in the play, Andy Lau outside the play was described as "naughty" by the young actors. He would perform magic tricks for the little actors and joking with them.
When asked about his impression of Andy Lau, the young actor said: "I don't think he is like a star, he is particularly friendly."
Talking about this, Andy Lau said with a smile that maybe everyone doesn’t know his life very well. “Actually, there are many young and motivated children in my life who often appear by my side, from members of my fan club to the screenwriter of my company. , There are many children in their early 20s. I have been paying attention to these young people, often contacting them, and then understanding their thoughts. As for whether I am young, first of all I don’t think I have to say about my posture. Deliberately pursue youthful appearance, but always maintain a communicable state of mind, so I dare to say that youth has never left me."
Andy Lau is the unold man in the hearts of fans, and is also an eternal role model.
In the nearly 40 years since his debut, he has grown from an unknown person to the current "Liu Tianwang".
I have experienced doubts and troughs, but I still strive to enrich myself.
Ask him what period or age in his life is the most energetic?
Andy Lau replied: "The age is coming soon."
Text / reporter Zhang Jia