This article is from the WeChat public account: Entertainment spur (ID: haozhugongshe) , of: cold, editor: Can stone, the subject map from: IC photo
Liu Yifei went on a hot search again. Some netizens said that Okafina, who is of Chinese descent, is more suitable than Liu Yifei to play “Mulan” in terms of image, temperament and acting skills.
On March 27, the live-action “Mulan” will be released simultaneously in North America and most countries and regions around the world, with Liu Yifei as the heroine Mulan. Recently, Liu Yifei has become the topic of the moment with her high-profile appearances in film promotional activities and major fashion magazines, and her amazing performance in previous trailers.
In fact, finalizing Liu Yifei’s appearance in “Mulan” was a deliberate decision by Disney after a one-year search and interview with nearly 1,000 audition actors.
According to a number of foreign media reports, in addition to performing auditions for cultural performances, Liu Yifei also conducted 90-minute physical training, including push-ups, pull-ups, and equipment. The director of “Mulan” also confirmed that Liu Yifei still performed very well under severe jet lag, and especially completed her physical training very well. “When she finished the audition, I knew I had found my fighter.”
Photo source: Weibo @ 娱乐 闻 蜀 黍
Such a long and difficult casting process is very common in the film and television industry. The reason is simple: A good actor can restore a lively character and even make a good work; similarly, a bad casting is likely to ruin the whole team’s efforts . A group called “casting directors” needs to take some responsibility for this result.
Wei Wei, founder and casting director of Casting Studios CD Home, told The Hedgehog Corporation that casting is not a fixed process that can be measured by standardization, but an autonomous art creation process. However, countless realistic factors are becoming the shackles of casting art.
Not only should you consider the shape, personality, and drama of the character, but also the schedule, pay, and position of the actor … how hard is it to choose an actor?
Is the face of an actor important?
It is not difficult to find that in the film and television works that have gained a good reputation in recent years, at least there will be a deep-rooted role, and the actor who plays this role will also become famous. For example, “Su Daqiang” in “It’s Fine”, “Li Ziwei” in “Want to Meet You”, “Iron Man” in “Avengers”, “Arthur Frank” in “The Joker” and so on.
This also shows that actors and roles are mutually reinforcing and mutually successful relationships. In the creation of film and television works, casting is another important link after determining the script.
Wei Wei described himself as a casting director who is “especially unwilling to set up actors and actresses.” All actors he has contacted do not want viewers or directors to fix themselves into a certain image, but rather want to go. Try more types.
In the process of experimentation, the actor’s practical experience and business ability will be improved. He will find a role that he can control very easily, but he will not be inferior in other types.
Of course, not every exchange is smooth. Factors such as film productions, film pay, roles, group time, and filming cycle will affect the decisions of actors and agencies.
“If we have a strong willingness to cooperate and the actor has room to maneuver, we will also use the script content and team situation we have mastered-such as the production company, director, photography, art, or other collaboration with him Actor—comprehensively to talk to him. Of course, if the other party expresses his rejection very clearly, we will not chase after him.
According to Wang Ying, Internet film and television companies usually conduct early stage screening of actors through technical means. The company she works for has her own artist reserve and actor library system. “For example, we have a suspense drama where the protagonist is a middle-aged man in his 40s who is cold and sharp. Information, match the actors with the same age, similar personality, and starred in the suspense drama for our reference.
“This method should be more common in Internet film and television companies. The traditional production industry mainly relies on the experience and judgment of the casting team.” Wang Ying added.
CD Home stipulates that casting directors should read the script at least three times before entering the project, have a deep understanding of the story and characters, and determine the cast list for the producer based on their own judgment. At the same time, many casting directors have a professional background in acting. Like Wei Wei himself, he has participated in TV series many times, and can start more targeted casting tasks based on theoretical knowledge and his own experience.
If there is no clear selection target, the casting team will also inform the broad group of agents and actors, and encourage them to actively submit resumes and materials to choose from.
As for most casting directors, they have been immersed in the industry for many years and have a clear grasp of the industry information and the basic situation of well-known actors. “So these materials also have a function to show the director, especially some older directors, who may not pay much attention to the dynamics of young people, and it will be clearer to show them photos and videos directly.”
Wei Wei revealed that the most data received for a project can fill the entire data room. Of the hundreds or thousands of resumes, only a few can stand out.
Temporary substitutions are common “
Zhang Yimou once talked with Gao Xiaosong about the logic of choosing actors.
He believes that before the selection, the role must be greater than the actor, and you must hold the mold to cover and sieve; but after the selection, the actor is greater than the role, and the actor is a living independent person It is his own strengths and weaknesses that define the role you let him play.
The implication behind this is that actors should be derived from, and above, characters.
In general, auditions are an important way to check whether an actor can be “above the role”. Hollywood often releases audition notices for new films, and audition videos of foreign actors will also flow out on the Internet. However, in China, the audition procedure is not so transparent, and may even be simplified and omitted in some cases.
Invitation for the audition of “Shangqi” on the Internet Source: Sina Entertainment
According to Wei Wei, if a young actor cannot find video materials that can effectively prove his acting skills, he will be auditioned to evaluate his acting skills. But if it is already a well-known actor and there is a lot of video material for the director’s reference, the audition step will be skipped.
Another “cruel” reality is that, in many cases, the acting skills of actors are not so important, and this phenomenon is particularly prominent in the field of online drama. Wang Ying told the Hedgehog Commune that young actors will have a training period after they join the group and focus on improving their acting skills. “As long as they are not acting poorly, acting skills will not hinder a web drama actor from being selected for the role.”
The main reason is that online drama is an area where “actors eat role bonuses, not role eats actors bonuses”, especially for dramas that are biased towards younger female audiences.
Wang Ying explained that in the field of traditional film and television, regardless of the screen