​​Gong Jun: Discovering The Way Forward

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​ELLEMEN MAY 2022 ISSUE

​TRANSLATED BY GONG JUN GLOBAL

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Actor Gong Jun's 2022 began with the end of the shooting of a drama. After completing the shooting for "Rising With The Wind", "Gong's Note on Work" Vlog had a new entry. He managed to have some time to take a breather, to fully engage in life, feel the tempo of the bustling spring, and give some thought about the pace of his future work commitments , as well as prepare for his new role.

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​If we raise the dimensionality a bit, it is by efficiently accomplishing small goals one at a time , step by step, that Gong Jun is able to reach a longer-term dream of becoming a recognised actor. 

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​As the saying goes, "The road is long, but the journey will take you there", he understands that an acting career is a long road, made up of different milestones, and that only when one reaches a milestone can one see the unknown and the challenges ahead.

Mr Gong Jun took his long legs and dove into the Ferris wheel carriage in one go. The cover shoot took place in a slightly confined space. He took it all in stride and said to the photographer, “Come on!”

 

The Ferris wheel starts up, slowly moving upwards in a clockwise direction. In a way, Gong Jun's experience is similar to that of the Ferris wheel. 2021 will see him in five dramas, and he will be sent higher and higher to become the object of more admiration. He is constantly moving upwards, just like the Ferris wheel, the higher he spins, the easier it is to see a better view.

And yet, it is only when one actually reaches that position that one realizes the uncertainty that accompanies it, that the surroundings are suspended and that none of the grips are stable there. Like the hands of a clock, the carriage reaches the 12 o'clock position and then starts to slowly descend. It is not until it stops at the 6 o'clock position that it feels secure again.

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The moment of bliss on the Ferris wheel is not just the moment you reach the top, but the tranquility of the cycle and the experience of the ups and downs is just like Life. Everyone can reach the heights and gaze into the distance on the Ferris wheel, but in the end they will return to the ground and start another journey on the ground.

For Gong Jun, popularity and praise, flowers and applause are important, but to him, a fulfilling life as an actor is even more satisfying. When he was filming “The Legend of An Le”, he was on set for about four months; when he was filming “Rising With The Wind”, he was traveling between the sets in two cities and didn't go home during the New Year.

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​In comparison to the  proverbial glitz and glamor of the past year, Gong Jun prefers to recall these uneventful but fulfilling days when he became one with his role.

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For example, when he first joined the cast of “The Legend of An Le”, the director told Gong Jun that the character had to be "more poised". He acts as Han Ye, a crown prince who is both broad-minded and stoic. “I was a bit lively at the beginning, but the director told me to be more reserved because I am a crown prince, unlike other identities.”

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​When he first got the script, Gong Jun was drawn to the complexity in Han Ye. He read it in one sitting and knew it was a challenging role. "He has his heart set on his family and country and has always kept his promise to the heroine. He believes that what the heroine is doing is the right thing, and keeps moving towards that goal to help her. Throughout this process, even when he and his father hold  different opinions, he has neither compromised nor bowed down to the opinions. 

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​Han Ye's only friend inside the capital is Luo Mingxi (acted by Liu Yuning). He could only confide his bitterness and heartfelt feelings in his “brother” during the many years that Ren Anle (acted by Dilraba) has been locked up in the mountains. " He was dealing with a lot of people who didn't understand him, or those who were focused on power politics, and he couldn't let those people know what was in his heart."

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​With the deepening of the performance, Gong Jun got to know Han Ye's innermost heart more intimately. The position of the Crown Prince predestined that his emotions would not be outwardly expressed. For an actor, it is precisely this kind of emotion concealed in the heart that is the most difficult to depict .

 

Gong Jun carefully analyzed the character, as if he was doing a professional /business review, and it was only after he had thoroughly studied the character relationships that he understood the logical chain of how he had to "reel in" the role. He feels that he has matured in the process of delving into Han Ye – that is, attempting a restrained approach to acting that he has never tried before; yet, on the other hand, he had to depict the  character’s self-control and heart for the whole world.

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​The flow of the Ferris wheel from high to low is not so much a descent as it is a new beginning. Gong Jun knows that when the hustle and bustle of the outside world gradually fades away, the only way to stay true and enduring is to act in a down-to-earth manner and to bestow true emotions in the work.
 

The entertainment industry has no shortage of examples of celebrities gaining fame early in their youth, but Gong Jun does not belong to this category. The story of Gong Jun's silent efforts is repeatedly told. From the early days of shooting commercials in Shanghai to his northerly move in pursuit of his dream to become an actor, no detail is left untouched.

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To others, it might have seemed like a hard time, but Gong Jun doesn't think so. In his opinion, moving around the different sets, the lack of responses after auditions and the anxiety when there is no income are all part of the indispensable experience. There is no path in life that is taken in vain, every step counts.

 

​Gong Jun knows that there is no quick success on the road to performance. Experience is the best teacher, and it is only when you have acted and seen a lot that you gradually learn what good acting is. It was in the midst of such trials and tribulations that he came to prominence in “Love in Lost Times" and "Unique Lady"; it is also after a dozen works under his belt that he was able to master the composed and wise Lin Shen of "Dream Garden".

The Gong Jun of the past used to prepare thoroughly for his auditions, and to do his lines step by step on set, but he tended to panic when he encountered those sudden and unexpected changes on set that required spontaneous changes in his acting. It was an intense and hard stage of his career. He was making progress, but he knew that there was still a gap between "portraying the character" and "becoming the character", and he needed to climb to close the gap again.

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​Later, an experienced senior told him that whether he was acting or singing, he would be more casual and comfortable if he was relaxed. At that time, he knew what he was doing, but he did not really understand the sense of what he was doing. However, he remembered what the senior said by heart. Gradually, he gained some insight and understood that "real acting should be based on the real reactions of the co-stars' performances", not on pre-designed steps.

 

Gong Jun found that relaxed feeling in 'Rising With The Wind', which recently wrapped up.

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​It is a realistic commercial drama about the rise of the national fashion trend, with many topics and social hot conversation topics relevant to young people being presented. Gong Jun acts as the male protagonist Xu Si, a young and promising investor who used to struggle alone in Hong Kong and has his own very unique perspective on business. Upon his return to the Mainland, he coincidentally works alongside the female lead Jiang Hu (acted by Zhong Chuxi) to revitalise a local brand.

In the drama, he has scenes opposite several "veteran actors and actresses". Zhang Chenguang and Liu Peiqi each have a different style, but in front of the camera, they all have the common characteristic of being relaxed. Gong Jun likes to observe their state of being - he can't see any obvious signs of acting, but simply by standing there, they have depicted the right state.

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​The scene that left the deepest impression on him was with Zhang Chenguang. Xu Si comes out of the bathroom and meets Pei Zhiyuan, portrayed by Zhang Chenguang, and there is a bit of conflict between the characters. The script does not specify every action in detail and there are no colloquial lines from everyday life specified, it relies on the actors to portray the dramatic tension.

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Gong Jun says that Zhang Chenguang suggested a lot of improvised details, "For example, when Xu Si's suit was dirty and he wanted to help me wipe it, I acted a bit impatient. This character is usually quite a sophisticated and particular  person, and this impatience is a realistic response". This is not an effect that can be achieved by designing the steps in advance, but achieved only through the cooperation of the two actors, "he will give some random reactions and you have to be able to catch it".

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​"Sometimes acting is about having to relax and learning from the old actors, not necessarily following the script exactly." Gong Jun finally understands what it means to be truly relaxed through the interactions inside the drama.

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​For a character like Xu Si, relaxing allows Gong Jun to better interpret the character's personality. "Ruthless", " irresponsible in relationships, but charming and very attractive" and " a person who is kind and gentle on the outside but scheming on the inside" are the labels he gives to his character. "He is a man who presents the opposite externally, not only in his feelings but also in his business acumen." Xu Si is unconventional and has business ambitions, but ultimately achieves a change in his ideal values - all of these characteristics which are different from Gong Jun's previous roles, he needs to adapt to this " role reversal " as the more nervous he is, the more awkward he becomes. But when he lets go, his aura comes out.

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​Gong Jun speaks seriously about his analysis: "Being ruthless and scheming can describe him, but not in the simple sense of being diabolical. He is bent on finding the business value of a company in order to reach commercial success. His original belief was in expanding the company and making it more competitive through quick acquisitions. But after meeting the heroine, he gradually realizes that investors have to support the growth of domestic companies so that they can achieve the rise of a national trend and turn the tide against the wind. He represents a change in values."

At that moment, it was as if he saw Xu Si already twinkling in his eyes. But after saying this, Gong Jun was amused by himself and came back to his senses, "Oops, I talked too much, let's wait for the drama".

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Relaxation in acting does not mean relaxation in life. On this long road of acting career, Gong Jun has never thought of stopping.

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​In February this year, when "Rising With The Wind" was still being filmed, Gong Jun had a vision in mind - to go on a self-drive tour after the filming. This is an experience that he likes the most, driving on the road and being close to nature without any restrictions, “I'm a Sagittarius, I love freedom.”

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​However, the driving tour did not materialize after the filming completed, waiting for him was a series of other work commitments and he could not get time off. The last time Gong Jun went on a self-drive trip was more than two years ago when he went to the grasslands over in Zhangjiakou with his classmates, "a very free and relaxing day". But now, it's too much of a luxury to have such moments.

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​It was assumed that Gong Jun would be a little disappointed that his wish had not been fulfilled, but he was more lucid and clear-headed than we had expected. The busy work schedule and the sacrifice of personal time are directly proportional to each other, he accepts this fact.

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​It's a professionalism that belongs to Gong Jun, no matter what the situation, it's important to get the job done. On set, he changes clothes in short intervals, the image of the "little prince of advertising" still fresh in his mind. He never delays or hesitates, but always says, "Let's begin!"

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​"Adapt quickly, there is no other way, when there is more work, I just have to complete it". Gong Jun is clearer than anyone else about the cause and effect of this, "this is the work you take on, if you don't want to do it in the first place, you can refuse, since you took it on, you have to finish it properly, this is the most basic expectation". This is his attitude towards work.

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​He believes in "getting a little bit better every day, not bothered if it's fast or slow" and consciously allows himself to take one small step forward each time.

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​When filming “The Flaming Heart”, he embarked on training in advance, eating and living with firefighters. When preparing for the role of Lin Shen in “Dream Garden”, he read a lot of material on psychology, not only to increase his understanding of the drama’s plot, but also learned how to adjust himself when he is distressed.

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​Now Gong Jun has gradually found his own methodology. "First of all, I  go through the script to understand the construction of the story, the era the characters are in, and then I start with other aspects depending on the character, such as the era and the environment he is in, or the need to get to know the relevant profession. During the script reading session, I will talk to the director and the writer with some questions, and these methods are not always the same, it depends mainly on what I will be portraying."

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​Taking the initiative to talk to directors and scriptwriters is a habit Gong Jun has developed in the last two years. He finds that being proactive may have a different effect. “Because everyone's ideas are different. The director's feeling, the scriptwriter's feeling, the feeling on set, when looking at the script, everyone's understanding may be different. Sometimes these ideas need to be brought together, and we all have a discussion, and maybe someone else's thoughts will make the scene more outstanding.”

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Before filming “Rising With The Wind”, Gong Jun learnt that both the author of the original novel and the scriptwriter of the drama was WeiZai. After reading the script, he highlighted the professional content in it and took the initiative to communicate. On the recommendation of the screenwriter, he watched some film and television works on the subject of business battles and learnt some business terms. All this homework became a prerequisite for him to be able to relax when playing Xu Si.

Drawing sustenance from great works is also something he enjoys. It's not hard to get Gong Jun to open up, just ask him directly what he's seen recently. He is definitely not vague, but carries a great desire to share.

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​Recently, he watched "The Queen’s Gambit", a drama about a "talented female chess player", and his biggest takeaway from it was that "you have to persevere in doing something". Gong Jun says "she is a genius, but if you are not that talented in a certain area, you have to  work hard." He also watched the war drama film “Persian Lessons” . "In times of desperation people can do things beyond their capabilities”. He also watches stand-up comedy with talented Hollywood actors, "Most actors who are good at acting are very good at mimicking, Kevin Spacey is very good at that and does a good imitation.”

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On Weibo, Gong Jun set up a topic "Gong’s Notes on Work VLOG”. He says "I named it because I want to share my life and work with everyone like a daily note, and I will film vlogs for everyone to see when I have time." He will observe everything around him.

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In 2018, Gong Jun made two analogies for "life" in his first book, “1129” - "a long journey" and "a wonderful movie". This is also a summary of the path he has chosen as an actor, with ups and downs, scenery along the way, unknown choices, and has the meaning of exploration and going forward.

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Lately, Gong Jun's anxiety has been about the strange and nonexistent things that he has been accused of. But he quickly adjusted his emotions, "I think it's some of the trials and tribulations that I have to go through at the moment, it's all about growth, I guess.”

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However, he is not thinking about the longer term at the moment, and contentment is still a motto that comes up often. He is happy with where he is at the moment and wants to "do his best and have no regrets" as he explores the road ahead. When it comes to what he wants to accomplish now, he says, "Act well in my next role."

 

-END-

(翻译：海仙花成员 @清风吹空月舒波_）

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