Hu Jun: Be an actor-like star, not a star-like actor

BEIJING, May 5 (Zhongxin.com) -- The first time I met Hu Jun was in the lounge of a movie theater.

He was dressed casually that day, and after greeting everyone, he sat down, took the portable microphone and pinned it to his body - unlike the celebrities interviewed by reporters before, his attitude was as relaxed as if he was attending a gathering of friends.

No makeup, no styling, no lighting, no one staring at the camera to monitor whether he is "perfect" at any time, Hu Jun only raised his hand to straighten the cap at will, and then smiled: "Let's start." ”

Hu Jun in an interview. Photo by Dong Yufei of China News Agency

However, the interview was interrupted at the beginning - someone came in to say goodbye to him, Hu Jun stood up and chatted with the other party, and then saluted each other. Later, the reporter learned that it was the firefighter he invited to watch the movie.

On the same day, he specially chartered a venue for firefighters, medical staff and public welfare volunteers to watch the new movie "King of the Long Sky" starring him. Halfway through the interview, Hu Jun was pulled to take a photo with the big guy, and he was surrounded by everyone, like a hearty and enthusiastic big brother next door, Bei'er down-to-earth, and be'er was at ease.

"Success does not have to be me, success must have me"

"073 skydive immediately!"

"There are also large private houses below!"

“073！ Skydive now! ”

"Tell my family and brothers that I love you! I can't go back, keep up the good work! ”

Screenshot of the trailer for "King of the Long Sky"

This is a scene from the movie "King of the Long Sky". Zhang Ting, the No. 073 test pilot with "obedience" engraved in his blood, refused his superior's skydiving orders four times. As the plane disintegrated, it was finally martyred.

"King of the Long Sky" focuses on the group of test pilots, telling the story of their life and death to protect the blue sky of the motherland. Among them, "Zhang Ting" played by Hu Jun is China's second-generation test pilot and the captain of the group.

"Success does not have to be me, success must be me." Hu Jun commented on Zhang Ting's sacrifice: "A soldier has three lives, and life plus mission is the life of a soldier. The plane is over the city, and there are civilian houses below, so Zhang Ting refuses to parachute, and the sense of mission and responsibility in the military does not allow him to do so, which is engraved in the bones and flowed in the blood. ”

Hu Jun was deeply touched by this. As early as 24 years ago, he participated in China's first film about the group of test pilots, "Flying Leopards": "I filmed "Flying Leopards" in 1999, and 24 years later I played test pilots, so I am very familiar with this group. This is one of the most dangerous professions in peacetime. ”

A still from "Flying Leopard"

"This group has been changing because the risk factor is too great, and now there are only a hundred test pilots in the country who are really on the job." They're a small group and they do great things. ”

The understanding of the "test pilot" made Hu Jun's performance more vivid. When filming the highlight of Zhang Ting's sacrifice, he immersed himself in the cabin for a long time, and also designed specific details for the characters: "When he was about to fall to the ground in the end, Zhang Ting pulled the rod three times in a row, which was an action designed by me. Because people have a desire to survive, he is not sacrificed to be a hero, no one wants to die, and if there is a chance to survive, try to fight for it. ”

The true manifestation of human nature will not detract from the greatness of the hero, but will make the character more flesh and blood. Just like the suicide note Zhang Ting left to his wife in the movie: I regret that I couldn't accompany my parents to Beijing, didn't have time to take wedding photos with my wife, and didn't play a football game with my son.

A still from "King of the Long Sky"

Hu Jun revealed that he wrote the last letter many times, because in reality, many test pilots will also leave a suicide note before leaving the mission.

"Some people think this is very frustrating, forget it, don't write it. But some people really write a letter to their wives in advance when flying particularly dangerous subjects, and in case they can't come back, there is a letter left at home. When they landed and succeeded, they would tear up the letter so that the family would not see it. ”

It is not difficult to see that as the leader of the first acting class of the Central Academy of Drama, Hu Jun's academic atmosphere is not too strong, he prefers free creation, "Many things cannot be designed, it is completely the substitution and expression of feelings." ”

Indeed, looking at Hu Jun's background and resume, it is not surprising that he will empathize with his "military" identity.

"Children of the compound of the military district who have not been beaten"

"My father is in the navy, my mother is in the air force, and later I married my daughter-in-law, and her parents are in the army, and I have all the 'land, sea and air'."

Hu Jun grew up in the army compound, and his father Hu Baoshan also participated in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, so he is very familiar with the image of soldiers: "No matter how big an officer and how small a soldier, the cooking class and the driver class, we are all fine, from childhood to adulthood." This may be my unique place to play a soldier, first I feel kind, second I am not daunted, I have seen all kinds of soldiers. ”

"Hu Jun has liked these things in the army since he was a child, and when he played a movie every week, he always loved to watch it." While waiting for Hu Jun, the reporter and Hu Jun's mother, Wang Yiman, sat on the sofa and chatted. The 85-year-old lady was in good spirits, and also revealed her son's old bottom: "The old Hu family is relatively strict with children, and Hu Jun was particularly naughty when he was a child, and he was beaten by his father." ”

Hu Jun and his mother Wang Yiman. Photo by Dong Yufei of China News Agency

"Who in the army compound hasn't been beaten? Sometimes when our family is eating, the children on the other side of the door get upset. My mother is also not very gentle, and our family often 'double-pronged, double-dragon plays'. Recalling the days when he was played by mixed doubles, Hu Jun laughed heartily: "You really should beat me, because I was really too diligent when I was a child, and I always caused trouble at home." ”

Hu Jun's mischievous "glorious history" when he was a child is so rich that it can be published in books: fighting with children, pricking cabbage with a red tasseled gun, kicking a ball to break glass, and pouring water into wheels are routine operations. When he was in the first grade of primary school, Hu Jun ran to Beijing Liuliqiao Lianhuachi Park to fish for fish and insects, and almost drowned in the mud, his father Hu Baoshan was angry and anxious, went home and caught his son and pulled out his belt for a good beating...

"King of the Long Sky" has a scene where there is a conflict between young test pilots. During the filming, with his childhood "rich experience", Hu Jun also personally went into battle to demonstrate to Wang Yibo: "In the process of walking, he was a little shy, so he always wanted to tell a truth, 'Why fight?'" Why? ’”

Hu Jun and Wang Yibo. A still from "King of the Long Sky"

"Actually, there is no reason for boys fighting. I told him that if you fight, you will start directly, because your emotions are there, and if you talk too much, it is not a fight, that is called a fight. He understood at once, I think it's good, he accepts things quite quickly. ”

The years have passed, and the "skin monkey" who was beaten by the neck has now become the predecessor of the "passing on the gang" and the pillar of the family. One Jiu'er, one Kang Kang, the old father Hu Jun's capital letters of both sons and daughters, but he did not apply the education methods of the previous generation to his children, "I have not beaten children, and I dare not move a finger." The environment and the age do not allow you to do this, and you can't do it yourself. ”

Majesty and saying one thing is Hu Jun's impression of his father Hu Baoshan. Perhaps affected by this, although Hu Jun did not beat the child, he also had a tough attitude towards his son Hu Haokang at the beginning, and the relationship between father and son was a bit "awkward". Whenever Hu Jun came home between filming, Kang Kang would always say hello out of politeness, "Hello Dad", and then quickly turned his head to avoid getting close to Hu Jun.

Fortunately, later, the relationship between the two improved greatly. Hu Jun bluntly said that "too much has changed": "Now it's like being with friends." Sometimes I don't understand some things in the military, and I have to consult Kang Kang, do you say that attitude can be bad? ”

Hu Jun and his son take a group photo. Photo courtesy of interviewee

When Hu Jun filmed "The King of the Long Sky", Kang Kang came to the crew to visit the class, hit it off with the director, and talked hotly about various armaments. Later, the crew wanted to find Kang Kang as the "youth recommendation officer" of the movie and asked Hu Jun's opinion. Hu Jun said: "Don't ask me, ask him and his mother, the family is not my decision." They both agreed, so do it. ”

Just a few words revealed Hu Jun's view of education: "My lover Lu Fang and I are completely free-range for children, and do not require them to be ranked first in the class. I think it's stupid, I was born to be useful, I don't necessarily have to learn well. Speaking of this, he changed his tone and said proudly: "Of course, our daughter and son also compete, and studying is really good, much better than when I was a child." ”

Hu Jun's family. Photo courtesy of interviewee

The premise of happy education is full respect for children's preferences. Therefore, when asked whether he supported his son's future military service, Hu Jun said bluntly: "I don't care, look at his development." It's good that he keeps studying, and it doesn't matter if he likes something else in the future. ”

"Then do you support him to enter the show business like you?"

"Not supported. I've done this with my mother, and he's experimenting with something else. ”

Be an actor, not a star

The categorical "unsupport" may be due to the parents' love for the son, or it may be out of Hu Jun's awe of the profession of actor, just like the four big characters on the wall of the Beijing Renyi rehearsal hall - "the play is bigger than the sky".

Hu Jun has experienced the unknown dragon trap period, and has also drawn energy from dormant trials. More than 30 years in the industry, from Qiao Feng in "Dragon Babu", Xiang Yu in "Chu Han Fengyun", Zhao Yun in "Red Cliff", to Lei Gong in "Changjin Lake" and Zhang Ting in "King of the Long Sky", Hu Jun has played countless tough guy roles with iron bones, and he has a straightforward sassiness.

A still from "King of the Long Sky"

Many viewers said that Zhang Ting sacrificed too early. In fact, it is not that there are many lines, the length is the best. Hu Jun said bluntly: "Maybe some actors will care about the scenes of the characters when they read the script, and feel that (the protagonist) must fight to the end." (Actually) the characters are in place, let the audience feel it, when it is time to go, why do you have to go to the end, tired or not? ”

When he was just starting out, Hu Jun once borrowed a quote from idol Nicolas Cage to describe his ideal as an actor: "I became famous, and I will be free from now on." Today, Hu Jun still emphasizes so.

This concept can be read as a pursuit of "purity" in art. He used the method of negative argument to explain his concept -

"When an actor wants to retain his position and traffic, he can't keep it 'pure'."

"When others give you traffic, you are 'controlled' in their hands, and this 'control' is very tragic. He must have followed the crowd, was wrapped up by many people, and seemed to be famous, but he is no longer an actor. ”

Hu Jun photo. Photo courtesy of interviewee

"Today's Chinese audiences, especially those with high requirements, know who plays well and who does not play well, and you can't fool the audience." Hu Jun does not evaluate the values of others too much, but he stressed that in the actor's profession, the most important thing is to recognize yourself.

"You want to be a traffic star and want to be known by more people, you can." Then you have to endure all being 'coerced' and 'controlled', and be willing. Otherwise, it's painful. ”

"If you just want to be an actor, an actor-like star, not a star-like actor, don't focus too much on other references. You know, your roots are always in acting. (End)