"Life of Arts" Interview

[Looney Tune]

Thanks to phyllisliu of Springlight for the transcript.

I think this is an interview that Tony and WKW gave in China as part of the promotional tour of 2046. It’s a rather lengthy article, so I shall attempt to translate the interview in parts. This is the article where Tony said Carina is his "thermal cup".Stay tuned.

2046有点花、有点“坏”的新角色

　　朱军（以下简称“朱”）：《2046》这部电影是你跟王家卫的第六次合作，你对这次合作怎么评价？

　　梁朝伟（以下简称“梁”）：各方面都很好，制片、导演、美术、摄影，我觉得各方面的水平都很高。当我第一次看完整部电影以后，感觉很开心，因为五年的心血没有白费。

　　朱：对一个演员来说，五年这个跨度挺长的，你有没有烦过？

　　梁：我演戏演了二十年，五年演同一个角色，会比较累，因为有一件事好像永远不知道什么时候才可以完结，中间断断续续拍。跳出去演其他角色时，要忘记这个角色，再投入另外一个角色，这需要很长时间。你又还要回来，觉得很痛苦。

　　朱：还是希望善始善终把它做完。你们从《阿飞正传》合作到现在，应该说你对王家卫导演也越来越了解，与他合作过六部影片，这些表演如果让你自己排一个名次你会怎么排？

　　梁：通常我最喜欢、最满意的还是刚刚拍完的一个角色，因为我觉得在表演方面、人生方面都累积了更多经验。

　　朱：但你曾经说你最喜欢的是《阿飞正传》中一个镜头的表演。

　　梁：拍那部电影之前我对演戏失去了兴趣，觉得自己怎么演都没有进步。然后就碰到了王家卫，拍完以后自己去看，觉得自己还可以演成这样，突然间兴趣又回来了，觉得王家卫可以发掘一些我自己没有察觉的内在的潜力。所以那个镜头对我意义很大。

　　朱：你觉得《2046》你自己好在哪里？

　　梁：我从来没有演过这种类型的角色，一个情场老手，老练、比较“花”，还有点坏的感觉。拍完后对自己的演出也蛮满意的。

　　演戏躲在角色里释放感情

　　朱：你上次在节目中说你的自卑是小时候父母的离异，让你觉得跟周围的孩子不一样，于是把自己包裹起来。通过这么多年，你觉得打开了吗？

　　梁：可能某种程度上会比较开放一点，但是整体来说还是老样子。

　　朱：可是在电影当中你所扮演的角色，有的风流倜傥，有的很潇洒，有的还很变态，是吧。

　　梁：我平常都是不太爱讲话，也很少跟其他人来往，平常生活里压抑、不主动。只有在电影里面我会觉得很活泼，在电影里才有机会去做，所以表演对我来讲是一种平衡吧。

　　朱：小时候梦想是什么？

　　梁：记得我小时候曾经跟爸爸说，我大了以后一定会赚很多钱，买什么东西给妈妈，买什么东西给爸爸。他常常会骂我：这样是作白日梦，会被你妈妈骂的。

　　朱：为什么会许这么个愿？

　　梁：小时候家里边穷，所以有这个想法，因为什么东西都没有，就想买一些他们缺的东西。

　　朱：让他们过上相对安逸一点的生活，很孝顺。

　　梁：我觉得每个人都应该很孝顺。因为（父母）把你培养成人是需要很多心血的。

　　朱：那时父母没有鼓励你，虽然小时候屡次被打击，你放弃过你的梦想吗？

　　梁：没有放弃过，但是也没有刻意。我进入这个圈演戏，都没有很多想赚钱的目的，演戏可能是自己感情的一种发泄吧。

　　朱：一年跟家人在一起的时间有多少？

　　梁：大的节日会在一起，或者是妈妈生日，妹妹生日，或者是中秋———今年中秋没办法，还有过年哪，都尽量争取一家人一起过。

　　朱：他们不会夸你吗？说这戏演得不错。

　　梁：我跟我家人很少讨论这些，我妈妈也不说，我也不需要人家夸我。

　　朱：被别人夸是很愉快的一件事。

　　梁：但是那个不代表自己很满意啊。

　　朱：对自己不满意的时候别人夸你会多少找到一份平衡。

　　梁：对我来讲还是自己觉得满意比较重要。

　　朱：你还记得你在《430穿梭机》现场的情景吗？那时候多大？

　　梁：那时20岁吧。还有一点点印象，觉得小孩很难应付，你在主持他们自己在玩儿，我完全不享受那个节目。我不会当主持人，因为进了训练班我的心就在演戏上。当时那个儿童节目的主持人，觉得我是演戏的材料，希望给我一些面对镜头的机会，所以让我去做主持。我一点都不喜欢，做了三四个月后就完全投入拍电视剧。
朱：从什么时候开始喜欢表演的？为什么？

　　梁：在“无线”训练班接触表演后，发现是对自己感情的宣泄，开始喜欢。

　　朱：那在这之前为什么要进这个表演班？

　　梁：完全是觉得试试看，觉得里面有很多东西可以学。

　　朱：你在拍王家卫的电影前演过很多喜剧。我真想不出来，你在喜剧的片场怎么可以撒开了去闹。

　　梁：我是一个很害羞的人，所以才当演员，演戏的时候我可以永远躲在一个角色背后，把感情完全释放出来，那个时候是最快乐的，不觉得是我自己，当每一次跳出这个角色以后会很不自然，所以常常你会觉得我很腼腆，很拘谨。

　　王家卫演员被他调度得特别出色

　　朱：很多演员拍完王家卫的片子后都会发狠说，再也不跟他合作了，因为根本不知道自己在干什么，你有没有这个感觉？

　　梁：我每一次基本上都知道自己在做什么，但是会想，我们还要拍什么呢？我们的合作方式是很少在镜头背后讨论剧情，我又不好意思去骚扰他，他每天都坐在那里发呆，想怎么拍，因为他肩负的东西实在太多，他给我什么我就去演什么。

　　可能从电视台开始培养成一个习惯，我从来不问导演为什么要这样拍，我觉得他肯定有他的道理，可能有些东西不能用语言解释，是一种感觉。我一直觉得演员的本分就是帮助导演表达他要表达的东西，不需要知道得很清楚，他（导演）清楚就可以了。

　　朱：这部片子拍了五年，你没怎么变。

　　梁：有变胖啊，后来又瘦，又黑了又白了，夏天游泳，冬天变得很白，都有一些改变。

　　朱：还好在片子里看不出来，胖了你怎么控制？

　　梁：可以去运动啊，但是也很难控制，因为他不会三个月前通知你，他是很突然的：“明天就去开工”。

　　朱：你跟王家卫导演合作这么多年，怎么评价他？

　　梁：他是一个非常有才华的导演，他很爱他所有的演员，所以在他的电影里，演员表演特别好。他很随和，讲故事很厉害。我很喜欢演戏，跟王家卫合作以后，在表演方面，他帮我提升了不少。

　　朱：我觉得应该把王家卫导演请上来。他（梁朝伟）说你什么了，你猜猜。

　　王家卫：说我一路在折磨他，是不是？

　　梁：没有，我哪敢这样讲。我记得在戛纳，《花样年华》（获奖）那一年，记者问希望下一次怎么样，我讲了一句，希望下一次快一点，结果一下拍了五年，所以我不敢讲了。

　　朱：两个人合作十年，完成六部作品，这其中除了信任之外，相互欣赏非常重要，你们觉得是吗？

　　梁：我们平常不拍戏，也不是常常见面，感觉他比较神秘，我是比较忧郁、沉默吧。

　　王家卫：我跟梁朝伟合作那么多年，第一次是《阿飞正传》，我们第一天开工就是拍一个镜头，吃一个苹果。

　　梁：好像是梨子。

　　王家卫：吃一个梨子，我拍了十几次。

　　梁：哪有，二十七次。

　　王家卫：他很生气，受了打击，这么简单的镜头。这几年我们一路合作下来，我感觉到他的进步，尤其是《2046》，这是他目前为止最好的，我说他有经验到这个程度———就是演电影已经是一个精了。

　　梁：可能是大家已经合作那么多年，我跟王家卫导演比较熟，演戏的时候又没有什么牵挂，所以演起来比较放松。

　　朱：放松了嘛就成精了。

　　幸福就是有一个温暖的伙伴

　　朱：你们相互之间觉得了解吗？

　　梁：他肯定了解我，我不一定了解他。

　　王家卫：我们是彼此彼此，其实大家性格上有朦胧的地方，就有想象的空间。

　　朱：你以前写剧本的时候挺快的，几个月就写完一部戏，怎么当导演就这么慢了，把一个演员一拖五年。

　　王家卫：我有剧本给他的。有两张纸是不是？那不就是剧本吗？

　　朱：两张纸就是剧本啊？

　　王家卫：有一个开头，当中有很多改动，还有就是你发现拍的过程中可以把这个人物再深化。

朱：你是一个剪刀魔术师，听说戛纳版的《2046》张曼玉的镜头不足十秒。

　　王家卫：不止。对演员来说，比如梁朝伟在《阿飞正传》的戏只有一个镜头，但是他演得非常非常好，一个镜头就让所有人对这个人很好奇，大家说梁朝伟非常棒。重量级是什么？不是靠长度、靠时间体现出来的。

　　朱：你们眼中对方是什么样的男人？

　　王家卫：我先讲，他讲完我就没讲的了。在我的心目中梁朝伟其实还没长大，有些时候他是一个孩子，他永远都保持着一个空间给自己。

　　梁：他是成熟的、很家庭型的男人，他尽量会抽时间陪他的家人。

　　朱：你们挑挑对方的毛病。

　　王家卫：我先讲。他太慢了———我讲了你就不能讲这句了。

　　梁：他要求太高了。他总会觉得明天再拍一次肯定比这次再好，后天拍一次会比明天好。

　　朱：你们觉得对方的优点是什么？

　　梁：其实缺点也是优点吧，要求很高，也是优点吧。

　　王家卫：我也讲梁朝伟的缺点恰恰是他的优点，第一他其实是一个很细心的人，很善良的人，他有一种很纯的东西，所以《2046》要是没有梁朝伟也不可能拍五年，这个电影要不是他用这种精神跟我们一起做的话，可能不是这个样子。（掌声）

　　朱：这个影片中男主角是特别有桃花运的人，被美女包围，但爱情都没有结果，失恋后又很内敛坚强，生活当中你是这样吗？

　　梁：我不像我演的角色那样，我是非常激动的，尤其是失恋，不像电影里面好像无所谓。

　　王家卫：人看自己永远看不清楚的。他说他激动，他最激动就是这个样子。

　　朱：在你们心里，如果还有机会的话，你们期待什么样的爱情？

　　王家卫：我追求一见钟情，这是最幸福的事情，但是怎么样去维持是一个学问。我已经结婚，有一个很好的家庭，就是说你一路要让这个浓度（保持）。

　　梁：现实中我觉得爱情就像泡茶一样，第一、二遍的时候很浓，后来很淡，最后你分不清楚爱情是一种习惯，还是一种依赖。每个人都希望保持浓度，但是这个很难。我比

　　较悲观，到最后就觉得很淡，那没办法，本来就是慢慢从浓变成淡。

　　王家卫：以前我拍过一个保暖杯广告，说幸福就是有一个温暖的伙伴。（掌声）

　　朱：你期待的温暖伙伴是什么样的人？

　　梁：我已经有了，有一个保暖杯了。

　　朱：是一个什么样的人？

　　梁：大家都知道吧。其实我跟刘嘉玲这么多年都保持很好的关系。

　　朱：她是你的保暖杯。（掌声）。

[Looney Tune]

Here's the first part, pardon the spelling and grammar

Z: The interviwer. Zhu Jun
T: Our dearest Tony Leung Chiu Wai
W: the enigmatic (albeit a little eccentric) director Wong Kar Wai (“WKW”)

Z: This is the sixth film that you have cooperate with WKW. How would you rate the cooperation for this film ?

T: It is good in all aspects. Production, directing, art and cinematography are of a high standard. When I first saw the complete film, I was very happy, because the 5 years of work did not go to waste.

Z: Five years is very long for an actor. Did you getting tired of it?

T: I’ve been acting for 20 years. To act the same character for 5 years is tiring, not knowing when it’ll end, and it was also intermittent. When I have to forget this character to act in another film, it takes a long time. And then you have to come back. It is very difficult.

Z: You would want to have an end to it. You have been working with WKW since “Days of being Wild”. You must know WKW well. How would you rank the six film that you have done with him?

T: I normally liked the character that I’ve just finished filming best, because of the accumulated experience in life and acting that’s behind it.

Z: But you mentioned that you liked that one scene in “Days of being Wild”.

T: Before making that movie, I had lost interest in acting. I felt that I can’t improve. Then I met WKW. I saw my performance, and the interest is back. I think that WKW could bring out potential in me that I am not aware of. Therefore, that scene is significant to me.

Z: In what way are you good in 2046?

T: I’ve never acted this kind of character. A experienced playboy, a bit bad. I was happy with my performance.

Z: You said in the previous interview that your inferiority complex was due to the separation of your parents. You felt different from the rest of the kids. After so many years, are you more open now?

T: To a certain degree, I am more opened up. But on the whole, I am still the same.

Z: But in the movie, you portrayed characters who are playboy, debonair, and even pervert.

T: I don’t like to talk, and seldom socialize. In real life, I am repress and doesn’t make the first move. Only in the movie, I feel and act lively. Maybe that acts as a balance for me.

Z: What was your childhood dream?
T: I recall that when I was young, I told my dad that I’ll make lots of money, and buy things fir him and my mom. He always chided me for daydreaming, and said that my mom will scold me.

Z: Why this wish?

T: My family was poor, and we lack things, That is why I want to buy it for them.

Z: To give them a comfortable life, that’s very filial.

T: I think that everybody should be filial to their parents, as they put in a lot of effort to bring you up.

Z: Your parents did not encourage you. With all the setbacks in your childhood, did you think of giving up your dreams?

T: I have not given out, but also did not make any deliberate attempt. I enter show business not thinking about making money. Acting gives me a channel to let out my emotion.

Z: How much time do you spend with your family in a year?

T: During major occasions. Mom’s or sister’s birthday. Lantern festival- but not this year. Chinese New Year. I try to spend as much time with them if I can.

Z: Do they praise your acting?

T: We don’t talk about this. Not even my mom. I don’t need people to praise me.

Z: But to be praised by others is a happy thing.

T: That doesn’t mean I am happy with it.

Z: When you are not happy with it yourself, letting other praise you will balance it out.

T: I think it is more important that I am happy.

Z: Do you remember “430rocket”(the kids programme that Tony hosted)? How old were you?

T: I think I was 20. I still have some impression, the kids were very difficult to handle. You are hosting, and they continue to play. I don’t enjoy that programme. I will not be a host. My heart is in acting. The producer of that programme thinks that I can act, and gave me the opportunity to have more time infront of the camera. I don’t like hosting. After 3-4 months, I went fully into drama.

Z: When did you start to like acting? Why?

T: When I was exposed to acting in the training class, discovered that It’s a way to release my emotions. That’s when I started liking it.

Z: Why did you want to join the acting training class?

T: I wanted to try it out. I felt that there’s a lot to learn.
Z: You acted in a lot of comedies. I can’t figure out how you can let yourself go playing those characters.

T: I am a very shy person, that’s why I am an actor. I can hide behind a character, and let the emotion out. That’s is when I am happiest, feeling that it is not myself. Once I have to leave the character, I feel unnatural. That’s why you always see me a bit awkward and uptight.

More to come.....

[mu99le]

*shower Looney Tune with kisses* thanks babe!! hahahah...seen this interview on cable but could only understand like 20 percent of it...thanks for translating it!

[eliza bennet]

Thank you so much for this Looney Tune

Very excited for the upcoming part!

[Looney Tune]

Here's more......

Z: Many actors who had worked with WKW would not want to work with him again, because they don’t know what they are doing. Do you feel that way?

T: Basically I know what I am doing every time. But I would think, what else are we going to shoot? The way we work is we don’t talk about the plot behind the camera. I don’t feel good about disturbing him as he sits there deep in thought, thinking of how to film. He has too much burden on him. I just act whatever he asked me to. May be this is a habit that is cultivated from the TV series days, where I never asked the director what he is doing. I feel that he must have his own reason. Some things cannot be expressed in words, it’s a feeling. I always feel that an actor is there to help the director to express what he wants to say; there is no need to know too clearly, as long as he (the director) knows.

Z: This film took 5 years. Why have you not changed?

T: I did become plump, and then slimmer, and then darker and fairer. Swam in the summer, fairer in winter. There were changes.

Z: You can’t tell from the film. How do you slim down?

T: You can exercise. Actually it is difficult to control. He doesn’t inform you 3 months in advance. He’ll suddenly say “We’ll start work tomorrow.”

Z:You have worked with WKW for many years. What do you think of him?

T: He is a very talented director. He loves his actors, that’s why in his film, the actors performs especially well. He is easy going, good at story telling. I love to act, and after working with WKW, he raised my level of acting.

Z: I think it’s time to invite WKW up. Can you guess what he (Tony) said about you?

W: That I’ve been torturing him, right?

T: No, I wouldn’t dare. I remember in Cannes, the year when ITMFL won, the journalist ask what I hope it’ll be like the next time. I said I hope it’ll be faster, and it took 5 years. I don’t dare to say anymore.

Z: Both of you worked together for 10 years, made 6 films. Besides having trust, there is also mutual admiration. Is that right?

T: If we are not making a film, we seldom meet up. He appears mysterious, while I am melancholic and quiet.


W: I have been working with Tony for many years, our first time was filming “Days of being wild”. On the first day, we filmed one scene, which is Tony eating an apple.

T: I think it was pear.

W: Eating a pear, I shot over ten times.

T: It was 27 times.

W: He was angry, he felt upset, it was a simple scene. This few years after working together, I can feel his improvement. Especially 2046, it’s his best so far. To be so experienced in acting, he is a master. (WKW uses the word “jing” which also means spirit. I suppose it further emphasized how good the person is at doing something)

T: Maybe it’s because I’ve been working with him for many years, I am more familiar with him. I have no worry when I am acting, so I am more relaxed when I act.

W: You are relaxed and you become a master.

Z: Do you think you understand each other?

T: He definitely understands me, but I might not understand him.

W: We are both the same. Actually we have a hazy part in our character, which gives more room for imagination.

Z: You were quite fast when were writing script in the past, you can complete a show within a few months. Why are you so slow now after becoming a director. You delayed an actor for 5 years.

W: I have a script for him. There was 2 sheets of paper , wasn’t it? Wasn’t that a script?

Z: 2 sheets of paper makes a script?

W: There is a beginning. There are many changes in the middle. And you discover that you can go deeper into a character as you film.


More to come.....

[eliza bennet]

Looney, there is no way for me to express my thanks to you. Thank you so much and as we Turks say in this kind of situation "your hands never see anytrouble" (sorry I'm not good at translating as you are )

It is such a delight to read my favorite director and my favorite actor praising eachother - I hope everyone is this happy.


He made Tony eat a pear 27 times!!!!!!! Wow - you guys remember he had to eat durians in In The Mood for Love (in the deleted scenes) I had a chance to taste durian and count me in with the 'hate it' group. Actors have to a lot of stuff in order to get good performance.

I also admire Tony in the trust he gives to the director of the film. And he did not single out WKW while saying this - No wonder every director wants to work with him

[Looney Tune]

The final part...

Z: You are a “scissors magician”. I heard that in the Cannes version of 2046, Maggie Cheung’s appeared for less than 10 seconds.

T: It was more than that. Take for example Tony’s one scene in “Days of being Wild”, he played it very well even though he has only one scene. That one scene was enough to make everybody curious about him, everybody said Tony Leung was great. What is heavy weight? It’s not dependent on length or time.

Z: What kind of a man are you in each other’s eyes?

W: I want to go first. If he does, I’ll have nothing to say. In my eyes, Tony Leung has not yet grown up. Sometimes he is just like a child. He always leaves a space for himself.

T: He is matured, a family man. He’ll make time to spend with his family.

Z: Pick on each other’s weakness.

W: I want to go first, he is too slow. You cannot repeat what I say.

T: His demand is too high. He always feels that the re-shoot tomorrow will always be better than
today’s, and the re-shoot the day after will be better than the day before.

Z: What about strengths?

T: Actually weakness can also be strength, to have high demand.

W: I would say Tony’s weakness is also his strength. He is a very thoughtful, very kind man. He has got something very pure in him, that’s why without Tony Leung, 2046 will not have filmed for 5 years. If he has not used this spirit to work with us in this movie, it might not have turn out like this. (Applause)

Z: The male lead here is popular with ladies, always surrounded with pretty women, but there is no happy ending to the romance. Yet after disappointment in love, he remains strong. Are you like that in real life?

T: I am not like my character. I am very emotional, especially when disappointed in love, unlike the indifference in the movie.

W: You can never see yourself clearly. He says he is emotional, his most emotional state is as he is now.

Z: If you have a chance, what kind of romance would you like?

W: Love on first sight. This is the happiest thing. Maintaining it is the question. I am married with a good family. You have to maintain the intensity.

T: I think love is like making a cup of tea. The first 1 or 2 times, it’s concentrated. And then it dilutes and become bland. In the end, you can’t tell if it’s love or habit, or a dependency. Everyone wants to maintain the intensity, but I think it is difficult. I am more pessimistic. In the end it will be very bland, nothing can be done about it. It is suppose to turn from concentrated to bland.

W: I made a commercial before for a thermal cup, it says happiness is to have a warm partner. (Applause)

Z: What do you hope for in your “warm partner”?

T: I already have one, I have a thermal cup.

Z: What kind of person is she?

T: I think everybody knows. Throughout all these years, Carina Lau and I maintain a good relationship.

Z: She is your thermal cup. (Applause)

The End....

[eliza bennet]

Wow, although Tony's views of excitement in a long lasting relationship are pessimistic, the thermal cup comment was great and probably made Carina happy

but Wong Kar Wai is such a romantic, love at first sight, maintaining intensity... He truly is a man of romance.

Thank you so much for this work Looney Tune

[Tony Grrl]

Thanks Looney Tune you are a star! I love the piece about the thermal cup too. Very revealing interview!
_________________
Sheila

TLCW Fan UK