’s ability to become the “first person” at the Shanghai Film Festival is not just luck. Sitting in a cafe across from the movie theater, Li Changnian chatted with a reporter from Jiefang Daily and Shangguan News for more than two hours, smiling as he recounted the inextricable connection between an ordinary and extraordinary movie fan and the city——
"I have participated in the Shanghai International Film Festival 26 times; movies have been with me throughout my life."
Born and raised in the "City of Movies"
Li has watched movies all his life. He has a habit of always taking notes after watching a movie. The content of the record was also simple, probably "I watched a certain movie on a certain day of a certain month"; just like that, I filled up several notebooks.
He likes to watch movies in cinemas and at film festivals; the Shanghai International Film Festival has been held for 26 times, and he never fails to do so.
Born and raised in Shanghai, the "City of Movies", Li Changnian has an inextricable bond with movies. When he was a child, he often went with his father to the Paris Grand Theater (later renamed Huaihai Cinema) at the intersection of Chengdu South Road and Huaihai Road to watch cartoons and children's films. Watching the Hengshan Cinema being built little by little, he naturally fell in love with the performing arts.
Many people in his family are literary and artistic workers. His uncle Huang Yijun was the first director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra after the founding of New China. "When I was a child, I watched him composing music at home. One day, I saw a notebook on the table with "The Crow and the Sparrow" written on it. I curiously asked my uncle, is this a mythical film? He said, no, it is about society. "
"The Crow and the Sparrow"
75 years ago, Li Changnian witnessed the birth of "The Crow and the Sparrow" with Huang Yijun as the film composer. This year, the new Shanghainese dubbing version of "The Crow and the Sparrow" premiered at this festival. reflect. This important work in the history of Chinese film has rejuvenated the vitality of the new era, showing young audiences a unique Shanghai style. "If my uncle can see it, he will be very happy."
Li Changnian chatted with reporters while walking. Photographed by Zhang Yi
Li Changnian entered as a boy The Shanghai People's Art Theater Actor Training School was founded by drama and film artist Huang Zuolin. His classmates include Jiao Huang, Yang Zaibao, Liang Boluo, etc. "At that time, we learned basic skills such as drama performance, Kunqu opera, dance, ballet, etc. Huang Zuolin's wife Danny also came to give us lessons." The theater is located at No. 284 Anfu Road. When they were studying, several of Huang Zuolin's children would come to play. Li Changnian remembered that Huang Shuqin, the young daughter of Huang Zuolin, would show slides to older children like them.
"Although I studied acting, it was not until 1983 when I entered the Zhejiang Television Station that I started to get in touch with the film and television industry." After finishing his studies at the academy, Li Changnian went to study at the Shanghai Theater Academy, where he studied with Xiong Foxi, Zhu Duanjun and others. The famous drama master studied acting systematically. After graduation, he worked in Shanghai Youth Repertory Troupe, Fujian Provincial Repertory Troupe and other units. When he entered the Zhejiang Television Station, "Little Li" had already become "Old Li" in the mouth of young colleagues.
At Zhejiang TV Station, Li Changnian directed and starred in the TV series "Hairstyle Symposium". This realistic and avant-garde work was highly praised in the circle, and he received an olive branch from Shanghai TV Station at the age of 52. . While serving as the leader of the Shanghai TV Actor Troupe, Li Changnian filmed well-known TV series such as "Fengshenbang", " Shanghai Family " and "Family Spring and Autumn". He also played a guest role in the movie " The First Time " directed by Li Xiepu. .
In this film festival, Li has been watching many movies such as " Metropolis ", " Gaslight ", "Exhausted", "One House, Three Nights and Three Murders" for a long time.An expert in the industry, he especially praised the performances of Joseph Cotton, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Boyer and others in "Gaslight", "That was the acting method used in American Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s, with a soft voice. Even if he is a murderer, he seems to be amiable." These reminded him of Huang Zuolin's teachings back then, "Actor is actually the art of control."
The opening film of this year's Shanghai International Film Festival is the dance drama film "The Eternal Wave of ", directed by Zheng Dasheng, Huang Shuqin's son. The legend of this city has been constantly told by generations of filmmakers, and it has also witnessed the wonderful fate between this city and generations of filmmakers.
At the Golden Goblet Ceremony, the main creator of the dance drama film "The Eternal Wave" made an appearance. Photo by Lai Xinlin
Watching movies when you are happy, and watching movies when you are unhappy
On weekdays, Li Changnian is a frequent visitor to the cinema. Every three or two days, he goes to the Xingfanghui Cinema or Baiying Sanke Cinema nearest his home to watch movies.
In Shanghai, senior citizens aged 60 and above can enjoy discounted ticket prices when watching movies on weekdays. "There are three managers in Xingfanghui Cinema, and I am familiar with them all." What particularly touched him was that sometimes during the day on weekdays, when there were not many viewers in the cinema, the staff would show movies for him alone.
After the tickets for this film festival were released, Li Changnian grabbed the tickets with the help of the cinema staff. Photographed by Zhong Han
Li Changnian has no choice in watching movies. As long as it is the latest movie, he will almost always go to the theater. "I like to watch stories that are ingenious, unexpected, and unexpected by the audience." When talking about movies, he knows them all. He was deeply impressed by the recent ones he watched " Stuntman " and " Swimmer's Heart "; He also likes " Third Brigade " and " Article 20 ". "Chinese movies have been getting better and better in the past two years. In some comedy movies in the past, the images were very strange, and the performances were even more exaggerated; but In the past two years, the actors' performances have become more realistic and their looks have become more life-like. "
Family members and relatives often advise the elderly Li Changnian not to go out to watch movies alone, or advise him to take a taxi instead of taking the bus. He waved his hand and refused. Li Changnian said that although he is old, he is still a person who refuses to rest. When watching movies in theaters and at the Shanghai International Film Festival, in addition to watching the plot and story, he also pondered the editing skills and thought about why the director did not leave a frontal shot here and why he used this method of processing there.
"Watching movies can give us a lot of thinking, and we should learn as we go along." At home, he would use his computer to edit the videos he took while traveling to Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and other countries in 2016, just like editing a Like the movie, "I am enjoying myself."
Movie elements can be seen everywhere, photo by Zhang Yi
When he was working at Shanghai TV Station, Li Changnian liked to collect movie information. In the early years, each film festival would publish a thick information collection, which included detailed information such as stills, country, year, director, plot synopsis, etc. of all the films screened at that festival. Although the price was high at the time, Li Changnian always kept it in his pocket. "Later, such information no longer existed, so I figured out a way on my own." One year, he learned that the 13th floor of Shanghai TV Station happened to be the two-section office, so he went to the office to ask the staff if he could purchase a collection of information. "Later, the staff introduced me to Mr. Shen, who specializes in information management. Before and after the film and television festival, he would ask me to pick up large program catalogs and small citizen handbooks."
As a loyal movie fan , he wished the Shanghai International Film Festival would get better and better, and also hoped that more and more young people would come to the cinema. "Movies have been with me all my life. I have been exposed to movies and loved movies since I was a child. I watch movies when I am happy, and I watch movies when I encounter difficulties and dissatisfaction. Movies have simply become a means of adjusting my life." Li Changnian said that there are more and more movie theaters in Shanghai, providing people with a rich cultural and entertainment life. "The Shanghai International Film Festival can broaden our horizons, introduce movies from all over the world to China and Shanghai, and give Shanghai a 'movie The city' adds to the brilliance."
After the interview ended, Li Changnian walked to the bus station opposite Shanghai Cinemas. A bus can lead to Jing'an Temple, and then transfer to the subway to reach his doorstep. "The transportation is very convenient. He made an agreement with reporters, "I will call you when I come to the International Film Festival next year."
