Earlier this month, "The Sorcerer and the White Snake" stood as the first Chinese language movie to mount the Venice stage. At the press conference, Ah Sa, portraying Green Snake in the movie, wore a dark green and deep V long dress, still with a lively and cute smile, but also exuding maturity and tranquility. This year is the tenth anniversary of the group Twins, and previously a young girl idol, nowadays she is blossoming and shining at the international film festival. During a crack between intense promotions, Ah Sa accepted an exclusive Mtime interview.
The few words "I am old" spoken from Ah Sa genuinely makes people feel as if it were a lifetime ago. We sometimes forget, idols are just like us -- they also mature. From filming 6 movies in one year and sleeping 3 hours in 5 days during the time of greatest popularity, to nowadays accepting to film Tony Ching's "The Sorcerer and the White Snake", portraying the part of Green Snake just like her idol Maggie Cheung. Still with a baby face, Ah Sa also hopes to receive a role that will allow her to have a breakthrough. She says that she truly is fortunate to have been able to start her career during the prime time in Hong Kong, and to still have movies she is able to continuously accept in today's time where movies are male-dominant.
In Waterdown Venice, aboard a passing boat, enthusiastic Italian men shout out to Ah Sa: "Pretty girl, please turn around", but this smiling honest girl nevertheless has her own worries. In this time of popular movie productions, men take the lead in films while women merely serve as a foil. Moreover, it is often a "Hong Kong male actor, paired with a Mainland actress." Looking at the difficult situation of new artists in the newer generation, Ah Sa's recollections reveal a trace of helplessness.
Waiting for further breakthrough roles; "If I still have not by the time I am 30, I will wait until I am 40"Q: Ah Sa, it seems like you have said many times that you want to play some roles that are more mature, for example sad movies or more feminine movies.
Ah Sa: I of course want to. I have all along been waiting for the opportunity, but I am not anxious. If it will not work out now, then I will wait until I am 30 to play it. If I still have not by the time I am 30, then I will wait until I am 40. I extremely hope to play the type that seems very well-behaved on the surface, but is actually a very crafty woman. It does not necessarily have to be a bad woman. In brief, my roles currently are not challenging enough. I also have not at all tried a very largely eye-opening role, so I really hope to be able to find a breakthrough role that suits myself.
Q: Can you give more concrete examples?
Ah Sa: If it is in ancient times, in that case it might be like "Beyond The Realm Of Conscience" or like "The Silence of the Lambs", that kind of story. But I still really like acting comedies, I want to try a comedy role something like the mature woman look of Julia Roberts. I really like watching "Notting Hill".
Co-Productions: Hong Kong actor and Mainland actress; "I feel that I am in a very passive situation"Q: This time playing the part of Green Snake, did you look for director Tony Ching to discuss about your role?
Ah Sa: Actually, besides the screenwriter, the director is the person who understand the entire movie the most. This time, I did discuss with him many times, but in the end the power of the final decision still lies with him. And to tell the truth, there are many 'men movies' nowadays, female characters seem like foils ... (Note: Meaning movies focus & revolve around a male character, while female characters are simply accompaniments to bring out qualities in the male character)
Q: But this time White Snake is a 'woman movie'.
Ah Sa: Yes. Even though I did not play the female lead, I still rather look forward to it. We also have some newly added roles, like Wen Zhang's Neng Ren, and my parts are primarily interacting with Neng Ren. Actually I have filmed fewer films in comparison these past few years. When I was young, I would simultaneously film 3 movies and I would still be okay. At the peak, I was able to film 6 movies in one year. That really is too much. And I am old now, sometimes simultaneously filming 2 movies, I already feel very exhausted.
Q: Actually, only being an actor, 6 movies in one year is considered high, and you also have to sing, endorsements, and so on, other work ...
Ah Sa: Yes, during the most tragic time I once only slept 3 hours in 5 days .... Well I should not say tragic, I'd say that time I was too fortunate, having so much work. In the early years in Hong Kong, I could still film some small budgeted short romantic productions. But these past few years have all been major-production high-budgeted films, so I will not be filming as many as before. Actually there are many co-production films between Hong Kong and Mainland, there are many 'men movies' and in comparison, they select with a "Hong Kong actor paired with Mainland actress" method. So now I feel that I am in a very passive situation.
Q: Then what reaction do you have to this situation?
Actually I am alright, because I have debuted such a long time ago and have accumulated many experiences. Now there are people who look for me to film movies, perhaps not as many as before, but I still have movies to film, and there will also be good scripts. In comparison, it is more of a pity for the new artists nowadays, there are fewer opportunities. Actually, not everyone is naturally an actor, it is necessary to continuously accumulate acting experience. So sometimes seeing many new artists, I feel that it would have been better if they were able to debut earlier.
Source: MtimeTranslation: mutts @
AsianFanatics
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