News Article

Cover Story: Zhao Wen Zhuo

U-Weekly, April 2002

Ah Wei

No Pressure Acting in Romance of the Book and Sword

Currently, Zhao Wen Zhuo is shooting Channel U's heavyweight drama serial, Romance of the Book and Sword, in Hengdian, China. He's playing the lead role, Chen Jia Luo. Romance of the Book and Sword is Jin Yong's first novel and has been brought many times onto the screens. Adam Cheng's version of Chen Jia Luo has the most impact on the viewers. Now that Zhao Wen Zhuo is acting as this character, is he carrying all the cares of the world on his shoulders?

In this phone interview, Zhao Wen Zhuo explained that he does not feel any stress when shooting Romance of the Book and Sword. Neither did he review Adam Cheng's version nor other adaptations. He said "I want to use my own style to act as him. If I deliberately watch the older works, it may inevitably create some obstacles when I'm acting for I may unconsciously be carrying traces of other people's presentation." While he didn't take reference from others' performances of Chen Jia Luo, he still bought a set of the Jin Yong novel, to get himself familiar with the story.

On the other hand, he feels that Chen Jia Luo is the most difficult character to play since his entry into the entertainment circle, as "He is a very intelligent, wise and profound person. He is able to foretell the future. He became the head chief of Red Flower Society at a very young age. So, sometimes, he takes on the role of a parent, listens attentively to the other headmasters' matters of the heart and analyses their words. Moreover, he is very learned and poetic. I have to portray someone who, with one look, can read people's mind. Another major challenge is portraying his love that hovers between Huo Qing-Tong and Princess Fragrance, his inner conflicts and dilemmas."

Zhao Wen Zhuo said that he doesn't have anyone in his mind who is best suited to the role of Princess Fragrance, "It's too difficult to find one. Princess Fragrance is a guileless beauty. If she is played by a familiar actress, it may not be possible to show her uniqueness. So, I believe that it's better to get some unfamiliar face, the results would be better."
 

Most Enjoyable when Shooting Wind and Cloud TV Series

While acting as Chen Jia Luo is a tough challenge to Zhao Wen Zhuo's acting ability, he finds it most relaxing when shooting Wind and Cloud series, "The action scenes in the drama serial employed lots of computer generated images - this is the post-production work. When we were in production of the series, most of the time, we were just striking some poses and needed not do any punches and kicks. Even those scenes with people leaping, flying, doing somersaults were handled by the computers in the post-production. It's the least demanding show physically."

When asked to about the differences between Ekin Cheng's Stormriders movie and Wind and Cloud series, he replied, "I only watched half of the movie, but I have read the comics before. Everyone has their own unique characteristics and their styles of acting are different too. So, I do not fear comparisons. Actually, I took up my role in Wind and Cloud mainly because of the script was pretty well written."

Word has it that Zhao Wen Zhuo received an considerable wage of NT$10 thousand for Wind and Cloud, the highest pay among all the cast. While Sonny Chiba also received a very high high pay, he did not appear in many episodes and hence his total pay is not even half of Zhao Wen Zhuo's. Zhao Wen Zhuo denied the rumour, saying that he is on a four-year contract with Chinastar and draws a monthly salary. His salary is not affected by how high or low a show's pay is.

He Run-Dong was originally supposed to be playing Wind but Zhao Wen Zhuo felt that he was more suited to play Cloud and suggested that he should take up that role instead.

Wind and Cloud received very high viewership rating in Taiwan and so Producer Xu Jing Liang decided to bring together the original cast to produce a sequel. Wind and Cloud was based on the first 138 chapters of Ma Rong Cheng's comics, until the death of Conqueror, played by Sonny Chiba. However, Ma Rong Cheng has sold the rights from chapter 139 onwards to Producer Yang Pei Pei. As such, Xu Jing Liang's intention to produce the sequel quickly became the focus and speculation of everyone.


Joys and Sorrows of Filming
 

Zhao Wen Zhuo said that Hawthorn Blossom Heroes (Yi Jian Mei) is his toughest work so far, "I have never attempted a project with so many scenes relating to personal feelings and affections. Through Hawthorn Blossom Heroes, I discovered that it's so tiring to do a show about feelings and love. I was caught in complicated relationships in the series, having to deal with my feelings between two women - One whom I love, yet we cannot be together; One whom I had to marry, forced by circumstances, whom I don't love, but lavishes me with all her affections and graciousness. I was vexed by such emotional scenes daily. I was stumped. I did not know how to express the complex feelings of Zhao Shi-Jun."

Zhao Wen Zhuo was in especially high spirits when shooting Hua Mulan series. It was shot on location in Beijing, was done pretty quickly, and moreover, he had many close friends in Beijing, so it gave him a homely feeling. As such, he was particularly delighted everyday.

Zhao Wen Zhuo also mentioned that he hopes to act as a treacherous villain. While he has acted as an evildoer in Fong Sai Yuk before, his craving is not yet satiated, "To act as a miscreant is a good test of one's acting skills, especially someone who conceals blade within their laughter (a wolf in sheep's clothing), it's even more difficult to act. As such, I hope to be given such a type of role."

Zhao Wen Zhuo revealed that Hawthorn Blossom Heroes is his first art drama, and when shooting the series, after they were off-work, he would spend 3 hours daily reading the script for the next day's shooting to review his character and story. Sometimes, he would discuss with the director on how to handle certain intricate stuff, such as the expression in his eyes.
 

Girlfriend is from Shanghai

Zhao Wen Zhuo admitted to going steady when his romance was uncovered, "My girlfriend is a Shanghai people. She is studying in Canada and younger than I. When production of Huo Yuan Jia was wrapped up, I went frolicking in Shanghai with my friends and became acquainted with her. We found that we clicked very well and began seeing each other."

On the other hand, he does not plan to settle down yet, "I think I ought to focus on my career right now. I am only in my 20s, work should come first. Even if I wanted to start a family, it would be when I am in my 30s."

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