Xiao Zhan | Marie Claire Cover
Marie Claire Weixin, 2023-12-29
When I utter the word “future”,
the first syllable already belongs to the past.
When I utter the word “silence”,
I have disrupted it.
When I utter the word “nothingness”,
I have created something that nothingness itself cannot grasp.
—Wisława Szymborska, “The Three Oddest Words”
Xiao Zhan holds a fan, drying the slight perspiration from the shooting. As the photographer signals the start, he steps forward, retreats, steps again, and continues to retreat. The props on his back mimic an airplane, his eyes constantly searching for the lens, resembling a mischievous child exploring an unknown world. With each cycle, he contemplates the finer possibilities between advance and retreat.
It’s hard not to notice Xiao Zhan’s sense of propriety. When interviewed, he often says, “Can I say it like this?” or self-affirming, “It can be said like this.” He is introspective as well, repeatedly reminding himself not to fall into inertia in performance. Once accustomed, it can develop into a terrible habit. For example, he emphasizes that he doesn’t like to be mysterious; he may not understand many principles, and what he shares is only sincere daily experiences. Also, when hearing crew members praise him for “seeking perfection”, he responds by saying that he hasn’t reached “perfection”, only aiming for “improvement”.
Xiao Zhan speaks at a moderate pace, narrating smoothly. His personality is not fiery and thunderous; he engages in casual conversation with a relaxed demeanor, subtly carrying an ancient scholar’s aura. Yet, he is not tense at all. Engaging in wide-ranging discussions, when the conversation reaches its climax, he naturally leans back against the chair, gently clasping his right leg with both hands. The topics range from timeless emotions hidden in classic songs to AI, perspectives on humanity, and his own experiences in acting and life.
In 2023, three TV dramas starring Xiao Zhan were successively broadcasted. He played vivid parental roles, a lofty and aloof heir, and a newcomer striving in the workplace. Every time he joined a cast, he would dream about real scenes and pressures related to filming. After the dreams, he immersed himself in the character’s inner world and portrayed it, leaving behind vivid memories and feelings.
There’s a gauge in his heart, a sense of propriety in his actions. Between the lines, Xiao Zhan reveals his precise views on work, life, and self. Beyond the lines, his outward perspective reflects a sensitive understanding of the past, time, and the world. In the interplay of length and breadth, a universe unfolds.
Three TV dramas have been aired, a new play is in the making, and for actor Xiao Zhan, 2023 has been a year of abundant harvest.
Occasionally looking back on the journey of being an actor, Xiao Zhan experiences a moment of trance. In the blink of an eye, it seems like he has been on this path for quite some time. Almost every time he films a drama, he has a ritual: dreaming. He dreams of reciting lines, acting with the director, and sometimes even dreaming of taking a math exam where he can’t answer a single question on the paper, only to wake up startled.
Xiao Zhan believes that this is caused by pressure, and he accepts it calmly. Perhaps there is another reason deep down; he doesn’t consider himself as an actor with a rich experience. Instead, he consistently places himself in the position of a newcomer, maintaining an attitude of learning and exploring. Therefore, every time he joins a new production, he experiences it as if starting from scratch.
Concerning inertia, Xiao Zhan is very vigilant. Sometimes he advises himself not to have too much pressure, not to get caught up in trivial matters, and to try to take it easy. But once he realizes that he’s beginning to rely on patterns, experiences, and habits in his performances, he reminds himself that getting too accustomed is dangerous. Persistent habits can lead to inertia, and inertia will result in a sense of entitlement. Therefore, every time he interprets a role, he always seeks to draw in some freshness.
In the series “Where Dreams Begin”, Xiao Chunsheng is a character full of freshness. This is because he has extremely obvious differences from Xiao Zhan himself. Xiao Chunsheng is a young man from Beijing in the 1970s, a time and environment completely different from Xiao Zhan’s growing years.
Military greatcoat, “erba dagang” bicycle, the frozen surface of Shichahai, from a young boy to a middle-aged entrepreneur, these things are not familiar to Xiao Zhan. Even today, traces of Xiao Chunsheng can still be seen in Xiao Zhan: when talking about the character Chen Hongjun in the drama, he frequently uses the nickname “Hongjun’er.” These are remnants from practicing Beijing dialect and childlike pronunciation during the filming, and phrases like “aiyo,” and “huo” were once common expressions for Xiao Zhan.
Language, objects, and the sense of the era are relatively easy to handle, but the biggest difference between Xiao Zhan and Xiao Chunsheng is in their personalities. Xiao Zhan is an “I-person” who enjoys solitude, while Xiao Chunsheng is completely the opposite, making many friends and being overly enthusiastic. By today’s standards, such extreme warmth often implies a lack of boundaries. Xiao Zhan comments, “As the times develop rapidly, young people nowadays live at a fast pace and won’t easily cross the boundaries of interaction”. He adds, “But Xiao Chunsheng is someone who loves to take charge, making it easy to unintentionally offend others”. When reading the script, he felt quite apprehensive about this character, finding it challenging to make him likable. However, after much hesitation, he had a change of heart: perhaps, within the traits we currently mind, there might be something we actually need.
Vibrant, that’s Xiao Zhan’s summary of Xiao Chunsheng and his peers. “Dislike is dislike, and like is like. Don’t you think each of them has such vivid colors?” he asked. Even now, recalling some scenes from “Where Dreams Begin”, he still feels the characters are shining, vivid, and bright.
After portraying a character like Xiao Chunsheng, who has a certain distance from contemporary values, Xiao Zhan also gained insight into his mindset: Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. He said, “A truly likable character will have imperfections”. During filming, he once asked the director if Xiao Chunsheng, who loves to worry about others, is particularly annoying. The director told him that it’s precisely because of this “annoyance” that he is Xiao Chunsheng; the “annoyance” is his charm.
The director’s words immediately awakened Xiao Zhan. He realized that sometimes he would fall into a trap, trying to avoid or correct the imperfections in the character. “When you change things like that, the character loses its charm”, Xiao Zhan said. “So, I think when doing character work, don’t be afraid. Be warm-hearted when needed, cross boundaries when necessary. If you always think about the character’s flaws, worrying about how the audience will criticize me later, then it’s hard to act.” Because an actor portrays a character, not a predefined persona.
Facing flaws, to some extent, also implies the courage and capability to seek truth. “Sunshine by My Side” marks Xiao Zhan’s first foray into urban workplace dramas. The reason for taking on this role is quite simple: contemporary dramas are too close to reality, and convincing everyone through performance becomes challenging. Due to the lack of certainty and confidence, he firmly believes that tackling such challenges will lead to valuable learning experiences. Hence, the character Sheng Yang comes into existence.
“Sunshine by My Side” allowed Xiao Zhan to realize that urban dramas heavily rely on the collaboration among actors. Due to their lifelike nature, every detail remains flexible, and both dialogues and performances undergo slight adjustments. “Everyone is a living person, not existing just to maintain a certain image. Everything one does, says, and the emotions portrayed are natural, rational, and fluid. If you change, my performance will adapt accordingly,” Xiao Zhan remarked. This creative coupling eliminates the possibility of actors becoming stereotypically mechanical, making it an exciting and refreshing experience.
Sheng Yang is a designer, and coincidentally, that’s exactly the kind of work Xiao Zhan has done. With firsthand experience, the flexibility during performances is better assured. “When Sheng Yang has to draw design sketches, I’m really there drawing with him. Sometimes, I even say to them, ‘Art teacher, it seems like your layers are locked, why can’t I move them?'” Xiao Zhan recalled, “Because it’s my own life, I’m more adept at it. Can I say that? I guess I can.” In the face of real experiences, he always keeps a sense of proportion.
As for TV dramas with the theme of fantasy and martial arts, Xiao Zhan is no stranger. “The Longest Promise” is the most recent example. For him, acting in such a fantasy setting requires going through the process of creating something out of nothing. Facing a green screen, one has to imagine extreme weather or breathtaking scenery, and actors have to establish that themselves. As for whether the state is genuine or the emotions are detailed, most of the time, it’s about trusting the director’s evaluation behind the monitor.
Regardless of whether it’s a period drama or a modern one, Xiao Zhan consistently embraces a clear understanding of the script and characters. “At any time, good things are always scarce, which is why people always say they are hard to come by,” he recalls his observations over the years. “Some scripts, considered good within the industry, may not receive such positive feedback in the market. What exactly defines ‘good’? Is it box office success, or is it word of mouth? It’s hard to evaluate.” Therefore, for him, the current approach is to return to his own understanding and feelings, selecting roles that he perceives as the best within his reach. As for the role he most wants to play, Xiao Zhan mentions, “I’ve mentioned it for many years—an adorable and charming antagonist, if the opportunity arises.”
When going through the script of “Where Dreams Begin,” images of Xiao Zhan’s parents in their youth would come to his mind.
His father riding a bicycle, his mother seated at the back, wearing a red dress and a white blouse. Passing by a large stone, his father took a photo of his mother as a keepsake. In the frame, her smile was radiant, portraying the appearance of a bright and beautiful young girl. When it comes to portraying the younger years of his parents, Xiao Zhan tries his best to recreate the vividness and even the craziness of that youth. He doesn’t want to deliberately shape it towards the old-fashioned and serious just because it’s a story from the older generation.
Regarding time, Xiao Zhan seems to have a special perception. He cherishes the past and feels nostalgic. Whether singing on variety shows and evening events or privately listening, he has a preference for old songs. They hold memories, rich in meaning, and provide him with space for contemplation.
Back in his childhood with not much pocket money, Xiao Zhan used to rent discs from the audio-visual store or exchange CDs and tapes with classmates. He can still vividly remember the prices. Even today, his home still has the CD player and Walkman he used back then. Sometimes, he goes back to using wired headphones because they are convenient and easy to find. In the quiet of the night, he occasionally thinks about the objects gradually disappearing in the tide of time. Being alone, with emotions surging, is his state of freedom.
Xiao Zhan mentioned that he is a particularly homebound person. During his leisure time at home, aside from resting, he mainly engages in activities like exercising and watching movies. He doesn’t treat watching movies as a task and doesn’t limit himself to any specific genre. He watches everything, whether it’s mainstream popcorn films or niche art films. Recently, he watched the award-winning film “Anatomy of a Fall” at the 2023 Cannes International Film Festival.
Around the New Year, he often revisits “Love Actually”, watching it every two or three years. The reason is straightforward; the movie conveys genuine goodness and beauty through its depictions of family, love, and friendship, warming the hearts of those who watch it.
“Don’t you think that the emotions between people haven’t really changed? Old movies are always brought out for viewing, old songs are continually listened to because the emotions celebrated in truly classic works are timeless. Only sincerity can move people.” Xiao Zhan, as if inspired, drew a comparison with AI, saying, “I believe AI cannot replace humans. Perhaps its technology may one day surpass human limits, but the complex emotions that humans possess far exceed those of computers. It can be said that humans are the most accurate, mysterious, and intricate supercomputers.”
Xiao Zhan pays attention to AI, just like he pays attention to all the profound connections between people in the world. He reads the news, engages with content written by AI, and finds the depth of thought and logical reasoning intriguing. Perhaps, in the competition among various occupations, the threat of AI to humanity is imminent, but he still firmly believes that face-to-face communication between humans, whether instantaneous or complex, is irreplaceable by AI.
When these concerns about new things are temporarily set aside, Xiao Zhan also has his own aspirations for the world. A few years ago, while filming “Ace Troops,” in order to portray a soldier closely tied to the national image, Xiao Zhan observed and trained with the military for over a week. He woke up at five or six in the morning every day, sharing meals and living with the soldiers. After completing this role, he keenly felt the cruelty of war and gained a deep understanding of the preciousness of peace. “I cherish my life even more now, that’s the truth,” Xiao Zhan said. Therefore, his current vision for world peace may also be connected to the vast distance and numerous people around the world.
As for his expectations for himself, he outlined them more simply: “2023 has been good, and I hope to maintain that.” After a brief pause, he added, “In 2024, I hope to love myself a bit more, to care more about my own feelings and thoughts. This statement is not just for myself, but for everyone.”
In Xiao Zhan’s mind, the him on the screen and the him in real life are different. Privately, he won’t overly embellish himself, nor will he dress too brightly. Everything is aimed at being natural and true to himself.
“Like the current conversation, in such a comfortable state, just maintaining it is good. I won’t put on a different face to play another person,” Xiao Zhan said. “Too tiring. Too tiring.” He repeated it twice.
As a poet wrote, “My heart is slightly larger than the entire universe.” In Xiao Zhan’s limited space, there is moderation in the “slightly” and vastness in the “universe.”
Read the original interview in Chinese at the following link: https://t.ly/RmxN3
NOTE: This translation belongs to me. It is prohibited to copy / Re-translate / Re-distribute my translations without my prior permission. Thank you.
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