Growing up with the “Big River” trilogy
Wang Kai interprets the ups and downs of the same character’s struggling life for six years
Beijing Evening News reporter Qiu Wei
The reform-and-opening-themed TV series “The Big River” is currently being aired on CCTV. From the official launch of the first part of “Dajiang Dahe” in February 2018 to now, Wang Kai has spent 6 years interpreting the ups and downs of a character’s struggle. He regards Song Yunhui as one of the important roles in his life. From a child in a village to a college student, from the technical backbone of a state-owned enterprise to the head of a factory, the protagonist Song Yunhui grew up all the way in the “Big River” trilogy. This is a unique and unforgettable experience for any actor, and the filming lasted 6 years It also allowed Wang Kai and Song Yunhui to gradually merge into one.
The final chapter of the story lacks the halo of the protagonist
“Dajiang Dahe” is the third part of the “Dajiang Dahe” series. It is adapted from Anai’s original novel “Dajiang Dahe Goes East”. This is also the final chapter of the “Dajiang Dahe” series. The “Big River” series closely follows the destiny of individuals and writes the history of reform and opening up. It does not avoid the contradictions and problems of the times, nor the multi-faceted nature of human nature. It uses the spirit of reform and opening up to shoot reform and opening up themes. The trilogy received 8.8, 8.8, and 8.4 respectively. High rating. Song Yunhui, the soul of the whole drama, is also regarded as one of the most representative characters in recent screen works on the theme of reform and opening up.
In Wang Kai’s eyes, the fate of Song Yunhui’s character is like a winding and undulating line. In the first two parts of “Big River”, Song Yunhui had successes and setbacks, but the twists and turns were basically small fluctuations, and the overall trend was upward. And “The River Cantabile” is a story about bottoming out. Song Yunhui in this drama is less energetic than in the past, and even a little bit disgraced. At the beginning, the character is transferred from the East China Sea to Pengyang to work as a pesticide factory. Growing up, he not only experienced a huge gap, but also encountered various difficulties and setbacks one after another. The helpless Song Yunhui stepped into the trough of life step by step, but still adhered to his original intention of hard work and led everyone in research and development to bring the pesticide factory back to life.
In Wang Kai’s view, Song Yunhui is a growing character who has learned different skills at different stages of his life. When he first entered the factory, Song Yunhui worked hard alone. Later, he learned the power of uniting everyone. Gradually, he learned management and exercised his leadership skills. Song Yunhui made up for his own shortcomings at every step. Let yourself become more and more perfect and mature, like steel tempered in the fire.
Act as you please, let everything take its course
Wang Kai believes that many of Song Yunhui’s characteristics are very similar to his own. “When I first took on this role, I felt that I had many similarities with him. We are both children from ordinary families. We have no background and rely on our own beliefs.” Persevere to the end. You will also encounter some help and luck in the process, and then you will realize your ideals and life value.”
When filming the first part of “Dajiang Dahe”, Wang Kai, who was already thin, lost more than 10 kilograms in order to get closer to the state of Song Yunhui when he was a student. When filming the second film, in order to reflect the maturity of the character, Wang Kai gained a little weight. In the third part, Wang Kai admitted that he understands Song Yunhui better and better, and feels that he has gradually integrated with the character, and everything goes naturally. “I can understand everything he decides and says. Song Yunhui seems to be a parallel, Another me in time and space.”
In the first two parts, Wang Kai’s interpretation of Song Yunhui also had some deliberate designs, such as using his nose to cup his glasses. In the third part, Wang Kai no longer needs to start from the outside, but digs inward and depicts the changes in the characters from the inside. “Song Yunhui no longer needs me to do any deliberate design to make the audience remember him.”
Pay tribute to millions of Song Yunhui
From a young and stubborn college entrance examination student to a mature and prudent leader of a state-owned enterprise with “almost no shortcomings”, the “Big River” trilogy draws a huge arc of growth to show Song Yunhui’s life path. Wang Kai believes that Song Yunhui’s appeal comes from the character’s charm. Although he has experienced many things and has been smoothed by life and society, he has persisted in what he should persist in. He has the tenacity endowed by the times. “I admire Song Yunhui’s spirit of not admitting defeat. He will take real actions for his ideals. Even if he encounters many difficulties and obstacles in the process, he will never just talk about it.”
After spending 6 years with the “Dajiang Dahe” series, Wang Kai has accompanied and grown up with the characters. He lamented that it took 6 years for everyone to complete a particularly serious and excellent work. This is a particularly remarkable thing. “We are like parts on a big machine, everyone is operating at their own position.” Every moment of filming will also bring special deep feelings to Wang Kai, “Today we can have such a happy life, leaving behind Instead of using Song Yunhui, who refused to admit defeat, we should make a film like this to record and pay tribute to the tenacity and hard work of our father’s generation.”