According to Maoyan Professional Edition data, on July 28, " Catch a Baby " was released for 13 days, with a box office exceeding 2.2 billion, becoming the 2024 summer movie box office champion, and entering the top 40 box office list of Chinese film history.
The story tells the story of Ma Chenggang, the richest man in Xihong City, who "pretends to be poor" in order to train his son Ma Jiye to become a talented person. The educational concept of "hoping for a child to succeed" in the movie resonated with many viewers. Starring Shi Pengyuan's interpretation of young Ma Jiye is also very immersive.
Recently, Shi Pengyuan was interviewed by Jiupai News. He made his debut at the age of 8 when he played the role of Nicholas Tse in "One Life to Live". In 2020, at the age of 15, he played the role of Yan Liang in "The Hidden Corner" and became well-known to the audience. Later, he showed outstanding acting skills in film and television works such as "The Long Season", "The Octagonal Cage" and "Where the Wind Is".
In "Catch a Baby", Shi Pengyuan plays the young Ma Jiye. Picture/Official stills
In the movie shot of "Catch a Baby", Shi Pengyuan's face can barely see Yan Liang from "The Hidden Corner", Wang Bei from "The Long Season", and boxer Su Mu from "The Octagon" shadow. Many viewers lamented that the wheat-skinned boy who often wore a vest and talked about loyalty has now grown up. During the conversation with
, Shi Pengyuan said that the role of "Ma Jiye" was the most difficult role he had ever encountered. This is the first time he has appeared in a comedy-type movie. Different from the more realistic characters he has encountered in the past, this time he spent a long time exploring how to accurately present the "reality" and "reality" of young Ma Jiye in his performance. Pain" without breaking the curtain of comedy.
"Actually, you have to act very seriously to have a comedy effect. This is my first time filming a comedy theme, and it will test my sense of belief and performance standards even more." Shi Pengyuan said.
The following is a conversation with Shi Pengyuan.
[1] Ma Jiye is the most difficult character I have ever encountered since filming
Jiupai News: When did you receive the invitation from the crew? Were you originally set to play the role of Ma Jiye?
Shi Pengyuan: This is my first attempt to participate in a comedy performance, including the role of Ma Jiye. It is a very rare and innovative challenge for me. At that time, I recommended myself to the crew and the director. This was the beginning of our fate. But the role of Ma Jiye was not decided upon from the very beginning. It also went through several meetings, including meetings with the director, auditions, and makeup trials, before finally settling on the role.
Jiupai News: Which part of the audition was used?
Shi Pengyuan: is the part that finally discovered the truth.
Jiupai News: What do the directors think are more compatible between you and Ma Jiye?
Shi Pengyuan: When I first met the director, the director focused more on my temperament and feelings. He may feel that he is similar to Ma Jiye.
Jiupai News: What preparations did you make before shooting?
Shi Pengyuan: is mainly about losing weight. I was still a little fat before joining the cast, but the director wanted me to lose weight and look more youthful. In about half a month, I lost more than ten pounds.
Jiupai News: How do you define the character and role of Ma Jiye?
Shi Pengyuan: I think Ma Jiye is a very calm, thoughtful and independent boy, but his emotional intelligence is a bit low. His scenes with Zhang Feifei show that he is a very direct person.
Jiupai News: When interpreting, do you specifically grasp a certain feature to interpret?
Shi Pengyuan: I will capture his seriousness to express his character. For example, in the scene of debating with the teacher in class, what needs to be achieved is seriousness and belief. His logic was not for sensationalism or other purposes, but he was very serious about discussing something with the teacher.
Young Ma Jiye.Picture/Stills of "Catch a Baby"
Jiupai News: What are the difficulties in playing the role of Ma Jiye?
Shi Pengyuan: It was actually quite difficult to shoot . This should be the most difficult role I have shot so far. Although the director told me that I should act according to the realism-themed acting method I have played before, this role is still more or less different from other roles in terms of performance scale. For example, the director would like me to be more exaggerated in this scene. The scene like picking up the bottle at the end actually has to be acted very seriously to have a comedic effect. This is my first time making a comedy-type film, which will test my sense of belief and performance standards even more.
includes other clips, such as Ma Jiye’s many crying scenes. In the scene at the funeral, Ma Jiye actually didn’t know it was fake, but the audience’s perspective knew it, which may bring some absurd comedy effects. But when I was acting, I had to put all this behind me and really believe in my grandma's death.
Jiupai News: How does it feel to act in a comedy for the first time?
Shi Pengyuan: Compared with previous realistic themes, for me, comedy performance is difficult because it has no fulcrum. This was not something that was easy for me to accomplish at first.
In fact, comedy baggage is a very difficult and researched matter. It requires long-term adjustment to find the most accurate feeling. For example, which baggage is suitable for this person and in what stage it is suitable to appear? It is actually quite interesting to study it. I have never tried comedy before, so I don’t know what kind of logic comes with this comedy. So on set, I had a long adaptation process.
Fortunately, the two directors gave me a lot of space and were very patient with me. We worked together little by little, and after slowly filming one or two scenes, we found the feeling that the director wanted. After that, the tacit understanding of cooperation became stronger and more comfortable, and the current results were achieved.
[2] Off camera, Ma Li also called Shi Pengyuan "son"
Jiupai News: What was it like working with Shen Teng and Ma Li this time? Was it fun on set?
Shi Pengyuan: is right. In fact, Brother Teng and Sister Li are both relatively relaxed people and very kind. At the scene, our overall creative atmosphere was relatively relaxed and pleasant, which allowed me to let go of the psychological pressure I felt before joining the group.
Jiupai News: Is there any interesting incident on the set that impressed you deeply?
Shi Pengyuan: In the basement tunnel scene at the end of , Brother Teng had a long list of lines and body movements before opening the rolling shutter door. If there is a shot that requires me to be shot alone, he will not say anything about it. But Brother Teng was with me outside the camera and was still acting. Although Brother Teng didn't make a sound, it was very interesting to match his body movements. I almost couldn't stand it at that time.
Jiupai News: Is there anything impressive about your relationship with Ma Li?
Shi Pengyuan: I feel that I can feel a lot of tenderness and warmth from Sister Li, and she will give me more care. In particular, in order to shorten the distance between us, and to make me less nervous on set, and to be like her son when acting opposite her, Sister Li called me her son on set, which made me feel very cordial. .
Sometimes there are many people at the scene. Sister Li senses that I am very tired, so she will pull me to her side and say, my son should rest for a while.
Shi Pengyuan. Picture/provided by interviewee
Jiupai News: When you played Ma Jiye, were there any memorable moments?
Shi Pengyuan: The scene that impressed me the most was probably the scene with Zhang Feifei who was kicked down while riding a bicycle. I think Teacher Li Jiaqi is a very lovely actress. We were both very happy in the scenes. The happiness I am talking about does not mean in the scene, but in the atmosphere of our scene.
[3] "Acting is something I really like to do."
Jiupai News: When did you see the finished film?
Shi Pengyuan: I watched the movie with the audience after it was released. I saw everyone in the theater laughing happily, which made me feel good.
Jiupai News: What are you like in life? Do you have anything in common with Ma Jiye?
Shi Pengyuan: In life, I am just an ordinary person. There are not many similarities in my personality and roles. What I have in common with Ma Jiye may be that we are similar in age. And Ma Jiye's seriousness may be more similar to mine.
Shi Pengyuan. Picture/provided by interviewee
Jiupai News: When did you fall in love with acting? How does performing make you feel?
Shi Pengyuan: In fact, I have always been very passionate about acting. I think this is something I really like to do. If I have to say when, I think it will be after 2020. I filmed a movie called " One Knife Paradise ", cooperating with teacher Duan Yihong. Since that play, I felt that I really had some resonance with the performance, and I particularly enjoyed doing it. Maybe I was still too young when I acted in "The Hidden Corner" and didn't have my own feelings about many things. When it came time to film "One Knife in Heaven", I felt that I had grown up a lot and had my own judgment on things.
As for acting, I feel that every time I try a different role, it is a breakthrough and challenge for myself.
Jiupai News reporter Wan Xuan
Editor Wang Jiaqing Wu Di
[Source: Jiupai News]
