In the sea of people, you may pass him by. His face is nothing out of the ordinary, just like a glass of plain water, as ordinary as a cup of water. However, when you take a closer look, this face is like a sponge, absorbing the joys and sorrows of countless little people.
Who is he? He is the miserable man who was teased by fate in "Fugui", and he is also the disabled teacher who was struck by reality in "Kong Erpi Enters the City". He was once the husband whom he loved deeply but could not have in "As Long as You Live Better than Me", and he also transformed into a heart-warming math teacher in "Wind Blowing Pinellia". Every time he changes roles, he seems to transform into another person, making people completely forget his original appearance.
Speaking of Chen Chuang, the first thing that everyone may think of is the label "acting school". Indeed, in his 26 years of acting, he has created hundreds of vivid characters for us. But what is interesting is that what makes him remembered by the audience to this day is the dog he once played - the barking dog in "The Lotus Lantern".
I remember that at that time, the director of "Lotus Lantern" Yu Mingsheng once said of him: "There will be no roaring dog after Chen Chuang." This is not an exaggeration at all. Chen Chuang's performance really brings the role of Roaring Dog to life, as if he is the loyal and clever dog, which is unforgettable.
But having said that, Chen Chuang's acting career has not been smooth sailing. Although he has excellent acting skills, he has never become a big success. This makes people wonder: Why is this?
The acting giant under the thin figure
I think back then, the young Chen Chuang gave people an unruly feeling, as if he was a wild horse that was difficult to control. His modern dramas often portray him as a scoundrel, while his costume dramas or Republican dramas often feature playboys or lower-class characters. But it is this image that makes him unique in the entertainment industry.
However, as time goes by, Chen Chuang gradually becomes as gentle as jade under the temper of time. His eyes revealed a kind of humility and wisdom, as if he was a wise man who had experienced many vicissitudes of life. This change reminds people of the old saying: phase comes from the heart. Chen Chuang's heart is probably the same. The years are quiet and peaceful, and there is no fighting or grabbing.
Speaking of Chen Chuang's acting career, it is actually not smooth. His image is not particularly suitable for the career of an actor, but he has carved a world in the entertainment industry with his own hard work and talent. Behind this, it is inseparable from his family background.
Chen Chuang's parents are both opera actors. He has been influenced by his parents since he was a child and has his own unique understanding of opera. This understanding also made his body and steps appear so natural and smooth in his later film and television dramas.
During college, Chen Chuang was the kind of student who studied hard. He is very able to calm down and study the subject content, and has his own understanding and pursuit of performing arts. Although this gave him little opportunity to contact a real crew before graduation, it laid a solid foundation for his future acting career. After graduating from
, Chen Chuang faced huge challenges. He had no connections or resources, so he had to start from scratch. Fortunately, he met Zhang Guoli, a great talent.
Under the guidance of Zhang Guoli, Chen Chuang gradually emerged in the entertainment industry. His acting skills were recognized and his works were loved by the audience.
Meeting Zhang Guoli, Chen Chuang's acting career started
The encounter between Chen Chuang and Zhang Guoli seemed to be a destined fate. At that time, Chen Chuang was just a junior student who was playing a small role on the set, while Zhang Guoli was already a famous acting star with half the sky.
Recalling those days, Chen Chuang always smiled and said that he was "shy and didn't like to talk much." But deep down in his heart, his desire for acting and admiration for his predecessors burned like a fire.
So, by chance, he mustered up the courage to ask Zhang Guoli for advice. He originally expected to be indifferent or perfunctory, but he didn't expect that Zhang Guoli had already been paying attention to him secretly.
"You are on the right track, there is nothing wrong with you." Zhang Guoli's words seemed to illuminate Chen Chuang's acting career.He felt unprecedented affirmation and encouragement, and he became more determined to go on.
Zhang Guoli's appreciation of Chen Chuang is not limited to verbal encouragement. In the days after "Dangerous Times", he always remembered this young man with potential and talent. Therefore, in "Kangxi Private Interview", he once again extended an olive branch to Chen Chuang.
This cooperation seems to have opened the door to cooperation between the two. In the "Kangxi Private Interviews in Private Interviews" series, Chen Chuang's figure follows him everywhere, from Beggar Wen in the first film to Liansheng in the fourth film. His acting skills gradually matured and transformed under Zhang Guoli's careful guidance. And during these five or six years, he almost became Zhang Guoli's "Queen Supporting Role".
Whenever he recalls this experience, Chen Chuang is always filled with emotion: "Without Teacher Zhang Guoli, I would not be where I am today."
The extraordinary road of interpretation from "Roaring Dog" to "Fugui"
Who says people can't Dancing with dogs? Chen Chuang did it. In the crew of "Lotus Lantern", he is always elusive, and whenever there is no show, he disappears without a trace. Everyone on the crew was speculating: Where did the actor go? It turned out that in order to play the role of "Roaring Dog" well, Chen Chuang actually became friends with the dog.
When he first received this role, Chen Chuang was actually a little hesitant. Not because the character is humble, but because the habits of animals are truly elusive. But after some ideological struggle, he decided to challenge himself and took on this seemingly inconspicuous role. After
joined the crew, Chen Chuang seemed to be a different person. He no longer just memorizes lines and moves, but devotes himself wholeheartedly to the study of the character.
He discovered that in order to play a dog well, you must first understand dogs. So, he began to observe every move of the dog, including sitting, lying, walking, standing, eating habits... He even knew the dog better than some professional dog trainers.
His observations were not limited to one dog. Every dog around the crew has become his research object. He alternately observed, constantly figured out and imitated. Not long after, everyone on the crew was surprised to find that the tacit understanding between Chen Chuang and the dog had reached such a high level! After the
TV series was broadcast, Chen Chuang's image of "Howling Sky Dog" became deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. The audience all said: This is a real actor! He vividly demonstrated the dog's loyalty, wit, and flexibility. Some people even said: If I hadn’t known that Chen Chuang was a human being, I would have thought he was a dog!
With the successful performance of "Howling Dog", Chen Chuang soon received another important role - "Fugui". This character comes from Yu Hua's novel "Alive", which was adapted to the big screen by Zhang Yimou, played by Ge You and won the best actor award. Now, this role is in the hands of Chen Chuang.
Faced with such a challenge, Chen Chuang did not back down. He knows very well that in order to play "Fugui" well, he must have a deep understanding of the character's inner world.
So he began to study the novel, understand the historical background, and communicate in depth with the director and screenwriter... He used his own way to get closer to the inner world of "Fugui" step by step. In the end, Chen Chuang's performance once again won the audience's recognition.
The acting path from Fugui to Kong Erpi
If Chen Chuang and Ge You are somewhat similar, it is not entirely because of their acting skills, but more about their deep
understanding and delicate expression of the characters.
In the TV series version of "Alive", Fu Gui, played by Chen Chuang, went from being a prodigal son to being strong after losing a loved one. He perfectly interpreted the transformation of the character and the depth of his emotions.
's numb, calm expression, as if everything has been put away, makes people couldn't help but applaud his acting skills. Although this work made Ge You the best actor, Chen Chuang's outstanding performance also earned him a nomination as the best actor.
However, the hustle and bustle of the entertainment industry is always short-lived. Chen Chuang, this seemingly ordinary actor, has been silently adhering to his acting career.He doesn't care about the size of the role, he just wants to be able to devote himself wholeheartedly to every role.
It was not until 2014 that Chen Chuang finally won the title of actor with "Kong Erpi Enters the City". Although this film focusing on rural private teachers did not have a large audience, Chen Chuang's stable performance was impressive. His awards may not be as well-known as the Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers, but his performance is enough to be remembered.
Chen Chuang's acting career has not been smooth, but he has always adhered to his character as an actor. He does not pursue short-term excitement, fame and fortune, but only hopes to touch the hearts of every audience with his acting skills.
A Liyuan opera actor who raised his son alone
In life, he is a theater fan who has an indissoluble bond with opera. Whenever he takes off his role, he always likes to hum a few lines, as if he has returned to the opera stage that accompanied him growing up.
Chen Chuang’s ex-wife, Jinghu performer Zhou Youjun, once formed a good relationship with him because of their common interests, creating a good story in the Liyuan. But the trivialities of life eventually defeated romance, and their marriage came to an end after just one year. They did not choose to continue to entangle, but let go and gave each other freedom.
After the breakup, Chen Chuang took on the responsibility of raising his son alone. During that time, he had to face the pressure of work and take care of his young children. When
participated in the live-action version of "Big Head Son and Little Head Dad", his identity even became the subject of ridicule by the crew. Director Yingda and his co-stars often joke that he is a "new dad", but this identity unexpectedly helps him integrate into the role better.
Chen Chuang is a serious person in private, but whenever he has a video call with his son, he seems to be a different person.
His partner once complained that as soon as he answered his son's call, Chen Chuang's tone became gentle, and he even winked in front of the small mobile phone screen, just to make the child happy. That look was almost impossible to look at, but it also showed his tender side as a father.
A simple traveler in the entertainment industry, a forgotten sincere person
He is not a person who pursues luxury. On the contrary, his life is incredibly simple. In him, you don’t see the ostentation and glitz of those young popular stars. There is only a thermos cup that has accompanied him for seven or eight years.
This thermos cup is not only a container for drinking water, but also a precious memory for Chen Chuang. It was a souvenir from the 60th anniversary of the Film School. Although the engraved words on the cup were a little worn, those words were as deep as a brand in his heart.
He once hesitated whether he should collect this commemorative item and never use it again. However, when his sister gave him an identical cup, he chose to put the old cup away and continue to use the new cup to accompany him in his life.
Chen Chuang's simplicity is not only reflected in his life, but also runs through his work. He is an actor who has been promoted by the older generation and knows that his success is hard-won. Therefore, he always hopes to give some help to the younger generations so that they can avoid detours.
However, his good intentions were not always accepted. In this seemingly glamorous entertainment industry, traffic and interests are often given top priority, while people with real talents and learning like Chen Chuang are often ignored and excluded.
Once, Chen Chuang saw on the set that the acting skills of a starring child were somewhat lacking, so he stepped forward to give some guidance. However, he did not get the gratitude and understanding of the other party. Instead, he was considered to be playing on the power of his predecessors.
At that moment, Chen Chuang's heart was filled with helplessness and loss. He doesn't want to compete with others, he just hopes to do his part and provide some help to the younger generations.
Since then, Chen Chuang learned to speak less. He no longer readily lends a helping hand to others, but becomes more focused on his work.
When meeting younger people who treat each other sincerely, he will share his experiences and insights without reservation; but for those who only value interests, he chooses to remain silent and only do his own job.
The emotional collision in "The Three Brigades"
In "The Three Brigades", Chen Chuang played the role of the deeply hurt father. When Cheng Bing, played by Zhang Yi, walked out of prison and regained his freedom, Chen Chuang was waiting for him there.
The two people's eyes met, as if a thousand words were hidden in this glance. Chen Chuang's eyes were slightly red. Did he think of some old events? In his heart, in addition to his deep guilt for Zhang Yi, there were also some unspeakable feelings.
At that moment, Chen Chuang suddenly knelt down. This scene seems to have frozen time and has become an indelible classic in the hearts of the audience.
I have to say that compared to Zhang Yi, Chen Chuang's acting skills are really even better. But having said that, the big stage of the entertainment industry has never lacked capable actors. What is lacking is just opportunities and stages for them to shine. I sincerely hope that good actors like Chen Chuang can get more opportunities to express themselves!
