It was 2:10 pm, nearly an hour to go before the lecture began, but the old library at Wuhan University (WHU) was already thronged with people, blocking the entrance. Some stood in the aisle, while others were beside the door on their tiptoes. At 2:47, a storm of applause began to gush. The man, Feng Yuanzheng, a famed actor, came in with prolonged claps. In white shirt and black suit, this 54-year-old man looked slim and healthy. “I am an actor named Feng Yuanzheng”, he introduced himself briefly and bowed to the audience. His speech was the 143rd lecture of Luojia Forum, a noted high-end academic lecture project at WHU.
Feng is well-versed in acting. His works include more than 12 dramas, 23 movies, 55 TV series and he has also done dubbing for a film. One of his well-known works is a TV play called Don’t Talk To Strangers, a story about domestic violence. In this TV drama he starred as a doctor named An Jiahe who abused his wife atrociously. The play finally became a hit in 2001, but Feng became a likely target for assault because the audience hated the brutal character he played.
The lecture hall with audience
After graduating from high school, Feng missed out on the opportunity to take the National Entrance Examination and failed to be a paratrooper. He was vexed and lost, not sure what to do in the future. Later, he was introduced to work in a zipper-making factory, repeating one procedure everyday. After one year, he decided to resign from this drudgery and spent all his spare time to take vocal and acting training courses. He settled on acting.
In 1984 he got a chance to star in Sacrifice of Youth, directed by renowned filmmaker Zhang Nuanxin. This movie was shot in Wuhan and helped Feng to accumulate acting experience. “I want to stop my performance in the retest because the interviewees had interrupted me and I felt disappointed,” he recalled his past in a light tone. However, the interviewees were impressed by his sketch show. Finally, he was admitted to Beijing People’s Art Theatre in 1985, and 4 years later he went to Germany to study theatre and performance.
He said that a thought had occurred in his mind several times while learning acting—he wanted to give up because he reckoned that he was not as handsome as those contemporary popular stars with bushy eyebrows and big eyes. But his teacher encouraged him to stay and continue his study. In more than 20 years of acting, he is now convinced that everyone can be an actor if he tries hard and perseveres. It is your spiritual world or your talents that determines how far you can go.
Actor Feng Yuanzheng
Before he became an actor, he wanted to be a teacher., However, without a degree, it seemed that he couldn’t manage it. “Probably, I will be recognized by some school principals if I act well and they would like to invite me to teach,” said Feng. So he was determined to be a good actor first. After 20 years, he finally got a position in the Beijing Film Academy as a specially invited professor. As for teaching, he contended that there are important sides to it. On the one hand, he hopes his students love acting sincerely rather than foraging for fame and money that professional actors usually get. “If you want to be a good director or playwright, you should read as many books as you can,” answered Feng while some students asked him how to be better. He thinks most students get tardy and indolent in school, “we students should be strict with ourselves, know yourselves and make plans for your future.” On the other hand, teachers should edify their students with heart and soul. “I don’t know how to teach students unless I see them. Every student is unique, so we should adopt various teaching methods accordingly.” Just as Chinese philosopher Confucius put it, teaching students in accordance with their aptitude. Teaching is also acting, playing another rule with your students.
Students applauding Feng's lecture
"Death befalls all men alike, or weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather,” the old saying comes from Historical Records, written by Sima Qian, a famous Chinese historian in Han Dynasty. Feng Yuanzheng cited these words more than three times in his speech not only because this saying is meaningful but also Sima Qian was his fellow-townsman. They are both from Hancheng City, Shensi Province. Unfortunately, very few people know their hometown. “I must do something to make it known,” Feng said to himself in 2005, he wanted to produce a drama about this well-known historian. He found several writers but things were not going well. “They seemed constantly swamped with work,” Disappointments came and went but his decision never changed. At last, Xiong Zhaozheng, contemporary author in Wuhan, wrote the play Sima Qian for him. Last year, this historical drama was released and gained a torrent of praise across the country. Feng Yuanzheng himself plays Sima Qian. “I hope it can be a cultural card of Hancheng city, which deserves much more attention.” This man spent 10 years to live up to his promise, “If you want to do something, do it and do not give it up, that is exactly what Sima Qian’s story tells.”
In Feng’ mind, life is measured by love and dream instead of money or fame. Everyone is like a feather, but if you can do what matters to you, you will live a life weightier than Mount Tai. Finally, he gave his blessings to young people today by quoting Mao Zedong’s words, “The world is yours, as well as ours, but in the end it will be yours. The vigor of youth radiates like the sun at eight or nine o’clock in the morning. Hopes are placed on you!”
（Photo by Wang Ziyao, edited by Liu Yinglun, Mark & Hu Sijia）
