The Chinese film market may have hits its 100-million yuan box-office goal, but many directors and critics have expressed their worries at a lack of new talent in the film industry. Now sixth-generation director Ning Hao is experimenting with discovering acting talent through a talent-seeking and training program.
According to Ning, the talent program started last September with over 20,000 applicants from all over the country. A six-month selection process has left ten finalists, aged from 19-35, most of them amateurs, including a sculptor and a construction site worker.
"The purpose was initially finding actors for my new film but I realized that I want to find good actors maybe not just for my next film, but for the long term. Therefore I set up the training course in the program," said Ning.
According to Ning, he has auditioned about 100 applicants for the second round of the program. "I have seen a variety of applicants with great passion. That's exactly what directors need. There are a few white-collar workers who quit job to take part; there were people standing for 48 hours on the train to be auditioned… All these ordinary people can be trained to act," Ning told the Global Times.
Taking place in Beijing last month, the 10-day training course, free of charge with accommodation and living expenses provided, was taught by three well-respected and experienced actors and teachers - Zhang Songwen from Chinese mainland, Jim Chim from Hong Kong and Yiwen Chen from Taiwan, who all agreed not to charge for their services.
"Witnessing how much effort Ning put in and his fascinating idea, I volunteered to do my part for Chinese film," said Zhang.
At one of the classes, Zhang was giving a tutorial about controlling emotions from instincts. The ten students were sitting on the floor, talking about their happy memories and sad ones; there was laughter, giggling and tears in the studio. "It may be very basic but very essential: actors need to control their emotions, from the lowest point to extreme happiness. I helped them feel it and do so in a natural and instinctive way, not mechanically at all," said Zhang.
Students have also responded well, with most of them having written daily on Weibo (a Chinese microblog service). "I have learned a lot from Chim's acting class. For instance, he told me an actress should discover one's beautiful side and act on it, not just be pretty. I will always remember that," 24-year-old student Gao Fei blogged.
Having reaped large profits for directing low-budgeted films Crazy Stone and Crazy Racer, 34-year-old Ning is considered one of the top sixth-generation directors. In fact, he was discovered and funded to direct his first feature film Crazy Stone by a talent program that set him on his career.
"I knew how precious opportunities are for new talents. There are superstars in China [but] no one seems to care about potential ones. We can't always pick apples from the tree, but someone has to plant the seeds," Ning said.
"There are great actors in Hollywood, such as Edward Norton and Tom Hanks, who went to amateur training courses. It is an important way for both directors finding talents and actors finding opportunity," Ning added.
According to Ning, the chosen talents will very likely act in his next film which starts shooting next month.
"They are all very gifted. Some of them are proper actors already but, of course, great actors need lots of practice and experience of life. We hope more Chinese actors will emerge," Ning commented.
