#吴磊: interview

[langyabangs]

Wu Lei for 中国UP (S4)

Embracing passionate dreams, he is heading towards the next adventure amidst mountains and seas.

Original text from 中国UP, rough trans by langyabangs.

"At the age of 5, actor Wu Lei embarked on his acting career, accumulating 19 years of experience in the industry.

He expressed, "Acting is fundamentally an art of connecting with others; understanding their stories enables me to portray the scripts in my hands more authentically."

Wu Lei expressed his dream, saying, "My dream is to become an actor who captivates the audience through my acting."

He began his acting journey at the age of 5, and during his teenage years, he realized that acting was his most passionate pursuit in life.

"Once I inhabit a role, I can completely immerse myself in it." Said Wu Lei. In recent years, Wu Lei has been featured in numerous films and television dramas.

In the movie 'My Country, My Parents,' he portrayed a young cavalryman named Ma Chengfeng. Despite his tender age, Chengfeng joined the army alongside his father."

To authentically embody the character, Wu Lei shaved his head and braved the scorching sun, committing himself to daily sessions of horse riding and marksmanship training.

During the filming process, Wu Lei encountered moments of self-critique as his performance and emotional state didn't meet his expectations. However, in the world of filmmaking, time doesn't wait, so he had to quickly readjust his mindset.

"My dream is to become an actor who enchants the audience with my acting skills. Though I am still a long way from achieving it, I am committed to extending this journey, accumulating experience, and maturing," he stated. "I understand the responsibility I should bear as part of the older generation of artists."

In 2022, Wu Lei participated in a significant cultural program produced by CCTV titled "Setting Off from Yan'an." In the show, centenarian singer Meng Yu shared the original intentions behind the creation of timeless literary and artistic works and the stories interwoven within them.

Reflecting on their artistic journeys, Meng Yu couldn't help but hum the anti-Japanese patriotic song "Yellow River Cantata."

When she sang the line, "Sending out the battle alarm to the people laboring all over the world," tears welled up in her eyes, and she was moved as if she had returned to the youthful times of fierce battles. Wu Lei mentioned that this scene deeply touched him.

"Conveying spirit through spirit, and faith through faith," Wu Lei expressed his belief that maintaining respect, passion, and dedication to the acting profession is essential for creating works that are genuinely impactful, heartfelt, and enduring.

"Understanding others' stories enhances my interpretation of the scripts I work on."

In addition to acting, Wu Lei finds joy in cycling. He observes that actors, often immersed in the world of lights and cameras, can easily overlook the subtle intricacies of real life.

Cycling, for him, serves as a gateway to rekindle those nuanced connections with reality. These wonderful encounters have allowed Wu Lei to experience genuine human warmth beyond the camera lens.

There was a kind stranger who offered him a pot of hot water while camping in the wilderness, a friendly young man who guided him to a barber shop, another who helped him with shaving, and a fellow cyclist who approached him during a ride around the lake, engaging in warm conversation.

"Emphasizing the importance of connecting with people, engaging in self-reflection, and understanding others' stories for effective script interpretation," Wu Lei underscored.

Looking ahead, he intends to continue exploring the diverse landscapes of China, encountering moving stories along the way and capturing countless remarkable moments.

Given the opportunity, he also aspires to portray a professional road cyclist, facing the sunrise, pedaling through the sunset, and conquering one hill after another amidst the challenges.

This reflects his ambition in his acting career: "Fearlessly embracing challenges, constantly aiming higher, nurturing fervent dreams, and embarking on the next adventure in the mountains and seas."

[chronicleofleo]

吴磊 奔向旷野 | Cover Story L'Official Hommes

In Nothing But You, Wu Lei who portrays Song Sanchuan, once expressed that tennis is a romantic sport, intricately entwined with the four seasons and weather; so as the wind, sunshine, rain, and snow where each game embodies a unique encounter. As an actor, he experiences the beauty of various seasons while filming: from the vibrant flowers of winter to the delicate snowflakes of summer. Although the seasons may be fictional in the productions, the emotions and moments of each character are genuine and irreplaceable.

Having embarked on his career at the age of 5, Wu Lei has always aspired to become an intelligent actor. He has mentioned in interviews that being referred to as a new actor is a great thing because newcomers carry such enthusiasm and yearning for this profession. After many years in the industry, he dreads the possibility of becoming complacent in his career and, more importantly, developing detrimental acting habits as habits tend to become deeply ingrained over time and make change arduous.

Therefore, he approaches every performance with a fresh perspective and leaves the past behind. As an actor who reflects on the pursuit of wisdom and has dedicated himself unwaveringly for two decades in the acting industry, his love for art and sincerity shine even more brilliantly.

Wu Lei enjoys cycling and horseback riding in his free time, and there are fascinating tales of fans meeting him during his cycling expedition to Xinjiang. In his Fly To The Ground VLOG, he shared with his fans the scenic views of ice glaciers, starry nights, and sunrise journeys in temperatures as frigid as -30°C. Riding horses across the expansive wilderness, he radiates both the unexpected romance of a poet and the youthful vigor of a young man.

In both Amidst a Snowstorm of Love and Nothing But You, Wu Lei portrayed protagonists who also happened to be athletes. The demands and brilliance of competitive sports, combined with years of training, have been lessons that Wu Lei has continuously learned from.

“Sports provide me with the most direct experiences: health and freedom. Of course, sports come with challenges, and conquering these challenges is fascinating. However, it's an entirely different experience for professional athletes; they face peaks and low seasons and can be susceptible to injuries. Therefore, it's crucial to delve into their mindset, techniques, and expressions in competitions. These aspects play a pivotal role in shaping a character and ensuring the audience's ongoing engagement. It's quite a formidable task.”

Upon receiving the script for Nothing But You, Wu Lei felt that the line “We are all hot-blooded idiots;” perfectly encapsulated his character, Song Sanchuan. “Song Sanchuan is someone who approaches his career and relationships with sincerity, boundaries, and balance. I wanted viewers to grasp that immediately. Back then, if people could know at first glance that he's an athlete, that means I've already achieved half of my goal.”

When preparing to portray Song Sanchuan, Wu Lei understood the importance of capturing the essence of tennis; that's why he conducted private studies of Rafael Nadal's matches and playing style as he considered Nadal to be a resilient player. Given Song Sanchuan's late transition from badminton to tennis in his athletic career, marked by numerous setbacks and comebacks, it was evident that the same level of resilience was indispensable.

Then, when working on Amidst A Snowstorm of Love and taking on the role of snooker player Lin Yiyang, Wu Lei conducted in-depth research by studying contemporary snooker players; specifically Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby, both of whom he regarded as prominent figures in their time. By identifying and incorporating these crucial elements into his character portrayal, Wu Lei aimed to enhance the authenticity and vibrancy of his performance.

Samuel Johnson once stated in The Idler that to fully commit to any endeavor, one must first have a love for life. Wu Lei consistently absorbs the details and stories of the places he films. He shared an anecdote, saying, “During my time in Finland, the weather wasn't exceptionally cold, and I observed many locals enjoying open-air seaside pools. I decided to give it a try, but within seconds, I hastily retreated – it was unbearably cold. However, the most profound memory I have from that experience was witnessing the Northern Lights; it was truly awe-inspiring.”

Despite spending years on set and in the spotlight, it didn't cause him to lose his sensitivity to real-life emotions. At its core, acting involves the study of people, interactions with others, introspection, listening to others' stories, and portraying one's character with authenticity.

While playing the role of Lu Xiaobei in Crossfire, Wu Lei observed a person in an elevator using crutches because of a broken foot. He noticed how they shifted their weight away from the injured foot and incorporated this detail into Lu Xiaobei's character, thereby enhancing the authenticity of his actions.

In the highly acclaimed film Love Like The Galaxy, there is a scene in which Wu Lei's character, Ling Buyi, swiftly grabs his weapon and seamlessly mounts a horse in one fluid motion. Netizens have commented that the young general from the novel, described as "whose silver saddle shines on the white horse and who runs at shooting-star speed," now has a face, bringing Li Bai's poem to life.

This natural ease on camera was the product of rigorous training behind the scenes. While shooting My Country, My Parents, he fell off the horse because he needed to hold the gun and shoot with both hands. Yet, he calmly distanced himself from the horse's hooves and assured the director that he was unharmed. His willingness to remount the horse and continue galloping after such a fall is a testament to his bravery.

The film All Ears, in which Wu Lei plays one of the main characters, is set to be released on September 9th. The movie explores a unique profession – eulogists, with Wen Shan, portrayed by Hu Ge, at the center. It tells the story of someone who straddles the line between the departed and the living, offering comfort to others while seeking warmth within themselves. This marks the third collaboration between Wu Lei and Hu Ge. In the film, Wu Lei takes on the role of Xiao Yin, a character who exists and yet doesn't, encompassing both his individuality and serving as a projection of Wen Shan.

Wu Lei possesses a profound understanding of this role: “Xiao Yin is a truly unique character. I must convey my individuality while also capturing Wen Shan's traits. Xiao Yin and Wen Shan share a conflicting yet harmonious relationship, making this approach to acting innovative and demanding. Each time I delve into understanding these characters and interpreting their stories, it offers me new life experiences. The journey I embark on with these characters provides fresh insights into both myself and life.”

The movie Dwelling By The West Lake completed filming in 2022. It's the second film in director Gu Xiaogang's Shanshui painting series, following Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, which was the closing film at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival's Critics' Week and earned Gu Xiaogang the Best Director award at the 13th Youth Film Festival.

As a native of Hangzhou, Wu Lei feels a deep connection to his hometown, which significantly influences Gu Xiaogang's work. The English title of the new film is "Dwelling by the West Lake," and its narrative centers around West Lake, a renowned landmark in Hangzhou. In the film, Wu Lei plays a character named Mu Lian, and by combining this with the classic folk tale of "Mu Lian Saving His Mother," one can infer that the movie's theme revolves around redemption between mother and child.

From Wu Lei's perspective, Hangzhou is a very poetic, beautiful city enveloped by greenery and filled with stories. His experiences working with director Gu Xiaogang differ significantly from his previous collaborations. “Collaborating with Director Gu brings a more spontaneous experience. Often, you must depend on instinctive physiological responses to enhance your performance because he excels at crafting an authentic environment for actors. This distinguishes him from other directors I've had the privilege to work with. For instance, Director Fei (Fei Zhenxiang) brings a cheerful demeanor and knows how to ease the tension on set.”

“While filming Love Like The Galaxy, I faced considerable pressure, and it was quite challenging. Director Gu had a knack for helping me relax. He invests significant time in addressing the 'unseen' elements, striving to enrich the emotional journey for both us actors and our characters. His efforts, often behind the camera, have proven immensely valuable, providing me with a fresh and enriching learning experience.”

Nietzsche once said, "What matters is not eternal life, but eternal vitality." Observing Wu Lei is akin to witnessing a vibrant tree. Although he may not have reached the sky yet, he is already flourishing. Bathed in sunlight, the signs of his growth remain hidden beneath the lush foliage, and, like a tree, he continues to firmly anchor himself in the soil while fearlessly growing upward without forsaking his roots.

[dilirebas]

I found a small behind-the-scenes detail from 4/6!!

The interviewer for their 4/6 joint interview with 入戏 goes by the name 天真小志. On his bilibili account, he posted an article reflecting on his experience interviewing different celebrities. Here’s what he wrote about interviewing Dilraba and Wu Lei:

2.       热巴吴磊

采热巴吴磊是在《长歌行》热播的时候，我给他们做了唯一一个合体采访。当天吴磊弟弟前一个剧刚杀青赶着高铁来的，时间非常的紧张。就在采访前几天我刚去他那个新戏剧组探班采了他，当时我就说“可能我们几天后要再见了“哈哈哈

然后他一进到采访间看到我还开起玩笑说“你今天穿的好正式，上次去采我就像是去夏令营一样，一看就是因为美女不是因为我”然后看向了热巴。满屋子的人大家都被逗笑了。

当时我都有点笑懵了说“哪有哪有”。 

Translation:

I interviewed Dilraba and Wu Lei while The Long Ballad was airing, and it was their only joint interview. That day, Wu Lei had just wrapped filming for another drama and he rushed over by high-speed train. Time was tight. Just a few days before the interview, I had also interviewed him on the set of the other drama and I had told him, “We might meet again in a few days” hahaha

This time, the moment he entered the interview room, he saw me and joked, “You’re dressed so formally this time; last time you interviewed me you were dressed like you were going to a summer camp. It’s clearly for the beautiful woman and not for me.” Then he looked at Dilraba. The whole room laughed.

Laughing, I said, “No, no.”

天真小志 had previously posted part of this story on his weibo account, but not the part about the beautiful woman. In his weibo post, he only mentioned that Wu Lei had commented that he was dressed more formally this time, but on his way home, he realized he was wearing the exact same outfit as last time.

(Note: I’ve translated “美女” as “beautiful woman” because, well, that’s exactly what it is. But in Chinese it’s less formal and more commonly used. But it still feels like...not quite the type of thing Wu Lei would say publicly.)