Magazine Interviews 2014-2015Dec 2015 Newsweek
Wallace Huo – There is a Yang Guo living inside him
China Newsweek
December 24, 2015
Wallace Huo is in fact very handsome. He has sharp facial features, deep eyes, his forehead is filled with profundity and mystery.
Although no advanced news had been released, many fans came to the ceremony of China Newsweek’s “2015 China Influential” event after learning the news from other sources. They looked enthusiastic. Wallace Huo seems getting used to that scene. He smiled slightly among the crowd with a good manner. He didn’t act too warm. He didn’t try to please his fans and yet he neither didn’t ignore them indifferently.
He doesn’t have a Weibo account. He doesn’t participate in Wechat. He uses mobile to contact people, not the internet. He doesn’t even watch his own shows. He doesn’t understand why people put in so much emotions to the imaginary dramas.
Acting is Hide and Seek
In 2015 Wallace swept the TV screen. Other than the re-airing of his older shows, his ancient fantasy drama “The Journey of Flower” and modern psychological suspense drama “Love Me If You Dare” once again hit the viewership chat.
Especially “The Journey of Flower”, which is wrapped with a fantasy theme about a tragic and forbidden love story, is unstoppable getting the attention of the audience. It seems to become the national drama of 2015. Even during the morning and evening peak hours in the MTR, numerous people who are under the pressure of work and life, watched the screen of their small phones. Wallace is wearing a white gown, elegantly playing the cool and lonely male lead.
From the original novel, there is a paragraph describing the master this way: “Slightly frown eyebrow, cool and indifferent; gentle like thin wind; solitary, cold and outstanding, long hair like waterfall; eyes like falling stars; his gesture moments can make the land seem pale; his elegant style can make people crazy watching him.” Although such a description seems to be fundamental to any popular online novel, on the screen Wallace stands such an exaggerate description. After the heat of “The Journey of Flower” Wallace has tried to clear himself from his character: “Bai Zihua doesn’t resemble me. He is an immortal. I’m an ordinary person.”
During the interview with China Newsweek, Wallace emphasized his ‘normal’ and ‘ordinary’ characteristics. “I’m a down-to-earth person.” “It’s work that makes me seem extraordinary. I’m actually very ordinary.”, he told China Newsweek. Contrary to his fairy tale characters, Wallace doesn’t think high of himself during daily life. The reason he seems secretive is because he doesn’t follow the trend. He doesn’t know the internet language. He doesn’t know the difference between CP and IP. He doesn’t want the meaning of ‘warm man’. He doesn’t understand why the audience likes to see him being tortured. During the Weibo chat for “The Journey of Flower” he casually and lovely answered a fan-raised question: “What do you like about Bai Zihua?” with “White”. He loves his acting career. But he doesn’t do any ‘add-ons’ required to be an idol. He generally and unknowingly breaks any image or aura of an idol being imposed on him.
“My life would be pale if I weren’t an actor. I’ve been to many places and have seen many people. I’ve even suffered a lot.”, Wallace told China Newsweek. Although in love with his career, Wallace has maintained a certain distance and sober. “I can’t understand not being able to split between acting and real life. This is only a job. Don’t bring your character with you to real life. I own my life. My characters are fixed by the scripts. Bringing something fixed to your own real life isn’t worth.”
Wallace likes to describe his acting as ‘hide and seek’. “Sometimes you can see my real heart in my plays, it’s just that you don’t know.” He joked slyly. “Sometimes I use my characters to say something from my heart. There are complains and scoffs. But the audience thinks those are from my characters. This is like hide and seek. It always leaves room for imagination.” Wallace explained to China Newsweek.
“Should I come to this place?”
In Wuxia novels we often see this: an insignificant young man, resort on talent, effort and a bit of opportunity, finally reaches the throne and becomes a master in the martial art world. But the young man doesn’t want to live that life. In his heart, though the hut is small, the fields and frog are somethings what he misses the most. To some extent this is like Wallace’s life track.
He has never wanted to be a star. But he became an an undoubted idol during a period of the sound of many voices. He loved singing when he was a student. Because of a chance to sing the theme song if he was picked to play the lead role, he went to apply for the role. By chance he has become an actor.
He doesn’t process what an idol more or less has: an ‘acting’ character. He is introvert and once very shy. When he was at first in the showbiz he was afraid of the camera. He didn’t know how to work and where to place his fingers. He has accumulated his experience gradually, under the harsh criticism and revile of the directors. For a long time he didn’t put acting as a long time career, but just a job needed to be done.
Like many people, Wallace liked Wuxia novels when he was a young man. Although he has played many Wuxia characters there is only one character that he feels with a sense of identity – it’s Yang Guo.
Yang Guo is a loner. Wallace looks about the same on screen. Yang Guo doesn’t have a perfect family and because of such it leaves a trace of scars. Wallace once felt a sense of humility because his parent breakup. Yang Guo most of the time is silent. Wallace is also someone who doesn’t like to explain and advertise himself. In addition, when they’re surrounded by a crowd they still feel a sense of loneliness --- after these comparisons, Yang Guo is closer to Wallace Huo’s heart than the Bai Zihua and Linghu Chong he has played.
“I like to soak myself in the story of “The Return of the Condor Heroes”. Yang Guo’s defiance loneliness and independence more or less are something Wallace once has experienced before.” Wallace told China Newsweek. “My schoolmates said I look cold. Because I didn’t like talking I seemed not approachable.” Later on after joining the showbiz, “Because I was raised up in an ordinary family I didn’t know anyone in this business. For a long time I felt I don’t fit in. Many times when I stood under the spotlights I thought should I come to this place?”
After a long period of time between feeling lost and fitting in, Wallace still feels he shares some characteristics of Yang Guo even though he has determined acting is his goal. Wallace’s attitude toward life is both ‘optimistic and pessimistic’. He hates crowds and likes to be alone. He likes to give himself room even when he is most busy. Wallace has little expectations from other things and people. He even has a sense of ‘negative’ value as generally processed by old style people: It’s normal if people treat me badly; if they treat me nicely I need to do extra to thank them.
He never watches his own shows. He also doesn’t feel his face makes him appearing as a star. “I am in fact non confident. There are so many good artists and I think its because I’m lucky that people knows me.” Whenever a show is out, he takes the comments easy. “If people thinks the show is good I’m happy. If they think the show is so so I won’t feel lost because I think that’s normal.”
Hong Kong novelist Lin Yanni once wrote an essay titled “Miss a lifetime After Seeing Yang Guo”. In fact, based on factual analysis the different ladies appearing in “The Return of Condor Heroes” who are more or less related to Yang Guo to certain extent ‘love him but can’t get him’; somehow reveal the sadness of all the fans in the world.
Based on numbers, Wallace must have more fans than Yang Guo. In whatever events he turns up a vast number of fans show up. Some internet pals also post on social media, “Every time when I read an ancient love novel I have Wallace as the male lead.” But no matter it’s Yang Guo or Wallace Huo, they hope to have respectful audience, rather than admirers.
“When I left Taiwan for Mainland China because I hoped to be a real actor, I had to sacrifice my appearance to be an actor. I don’t mind to look ugly. I don’t need to be a mega star. I only hope I have some respectful audience who can see my hard work.”, Wallace told China Newsweek. In the early years Wallace made friends with some fans. “I hope they’ll tell me what I have done wrong in my plays and parts they find funny….” But in recent years the interaction is getting less and less. “I think it’s because the technology is too advanced. They lift their phones and shoot me when they see me.” He seems helpless when he speaks about this.
Used to be slow
Although as an actor in the 21st century, you can still often find that Wallace still processes the old style of those old Shaw Brothers and TVB actors. They’re referred as ‘liquorice actors’ meaning they are important but yet can’t be the leads. They support, reconcile and guide the plays. They have excellent acting skill but they don’t steal the shows. They leave deep impressions to the audience with just a line or a gesture.
As a male lead in most TV plays, Wallace however has that ‘liquorice actor’ characteristic. He is devoted, professional, never late and 120% enthusiastic about his work. Before turning up for any event, he prepares his matching clothes and shoes. He is gentle and friendly, but doesn’t try to look lovely. He mingles with fans. In other words, deep in his heart, he treats acting as a technical work, he stays a distance from the showbiz.
Because of the above characteristics Wallace is being called by his partners and fans as the ‘old veteran’. He doesn’t understand this nickname which is full of reverence and compliments. But somehow he admits he is ‘old style’. He isn’t keen on popular digital products and communications. He even resists using them. “I call when I want to talk. I can’t chat on Wechat.” He insists on not opening a weibo account. When the producers ask him to open one, he thinks: “In the old days there was no weibo, weren’t the shows promoted?”
He thinks he is someone who doesn’t like to share his life. The vast self promotions on Weibo is something new that he can’t understand. “I will always find that there is nothing to share of my real life. To me it’s about 3 meals a day.” Then he lovely adds: “Sometimes maybe two or four meals.”
“Everything used to be slow in the old days, cars, horses, posts.” Wallace opts for those old days, such as the song “Used to be Slow” by Mu Xin.
Many years ago Wallace started to love vintages. Even now he still likes singers such as Luo Dayou, Jonathan Lee, Sarah Chen, Jacky Cheung and Sandy Lam. “I used to think the melodies are nice. But now I know what the songs are about.”
He never watches his own plays. But he likes to watch old movies during spare time. He likes the “Rouge” most, directed by Stanley Kwan and led by Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung. It is about a story of a bumpy ride which turns the vast sea to a vast land. “The love in the old days is so strong. I’ve watched many times and still feel touching.” In his era Wallace has gained popularity and success. But he tries to keep a slight distance from it. “Everyone has the right to choose whatever life he wants to live. Time will move ahead, but I don’t need to follow it slavishly.”
Sometimes he mocks himself: “Generation goes by quickly. I can’t follow it.” In fact, he resists on some principle. “I’m an actor. My job is to play my characters well. I don’t know how to promote myself. I learn that you don’t do something you don’t know. It’s no good if you force yourself.” “I wouldn’t know what to say if I opened a weibo account. Do you want me to say how good I am? I really can’t say it.”
“I want to act a little guy.”
Some years ago Wallace participated in an ancient drama calls “Strange Hero Yi Zi Mei”. The biggest gain from that drama isn’t about his character, but because he got to know his admired idol Hong Kong actor Liu Kaichi.
To many people Liu Kaichi isn’t a name they can remember right away. But when they see his face, and if they have seen TVB shows, they will know him. Graduated from TVB’s 8th artist training class, he has participated in many plays, some even have disappeared. In his era when Chow Yunfat and Kent Tong became famous stars, Liu Kaichi still played a small role in many dramas with his excellent acting skill.
Wallace admires him greatly. To him Liu Kaichi completely demonstrates all the elements of a good artist or actor: Excellent acting skill, a villain, never show off, doesn’t participate in gossip, and no bad rumors. In other words, he is an actor, not a star.
One day at the filming set, Wallace shared the same car with Liu Kaichi. The young Wallace couldn’t wait to consult the elder: “Can you tell me. What should I do to be like you?” Liu Kaichi replied faintly, that even sounded like perfunctory. “You don’t need to learn acting. All you need to do is to be a good person. “I was totally confused.” Wallace remembers now after that, with a question mark in his head, he started to observe Liu Kaichi. Wallace discovered that he is simple. A simple person.” Also everyday he demonstrated to me how to be a good person”. Liu Kaichi came and went silently with a backpack. He didn’t participate in discussions. He never complaint. He didn’t participate in gossips. Other than work he listened to the songs recorded by his kid.
“Anyone can act as long as someone wants to cultivate you. But to be a good person is something not all people can do.” Wallace concludes. He doesn’t think this career which seems bright and dazzling is amazing. The real amaze is when you can still insist on being yourself and not following the wave in this chaotic condition. Since entering the showbiz in 2002, in more than 10 years Wallace has played many roles but he doesn’t really want to be like any of his characters. “Actually I want to play something resembling real life such as a bottle neck at work, troubles at some encounters and trivial problems. I don’t want to play a high ended person or role which is trying to transmit positive energy.”
When being asked to describe his ideal character and story, Wallace said: “My story has a little guy. He is ordinary but works hard to climb the ladder. Finally he gains his own piece of sky.” Wallace slowly says that out. “You know that piece of sky doesn’t have to be big, but it can feed yourself, support your family and that’s enough. This is the kind of story I find meaningful.” Wallace suddenly laughs, with a lively tone, he adds: “That’s actually my own story.”
автор КуЗьКиНа_МаТь Ср 06 Янв 2016, 23:29
пишите еще)))))))) прям бальзам на истерзанное сердце)))
а скажи, не ожидала подвоха? 
