Shenghuo Times, 16 October 2001

by Li Hao

Currently, Beijing Broadcast Station is airing the popular Ordinary Bigheaded Yang (The Bigwig) and we yet again get to view the bright and handsome face of this kungfu youngster, Wu Jing. We could see him in practically every major martial arts epics that were broadcast in the recent years: Ah Fei of Swordsman Lee of Flying Dagger, Bei Yuan Qing of Love in Turbulent Times, Ximen Jin-Ge of The Aftermath Of Water Margin, Yang Lu Chan of Master of Taichi. His bewitching smile, air of wandering hero, agile and graceful moves of martial arts leave very deep impressions on the viewers. However, we hardly see any of his shadows in media reports.

Wondering about what kind of Divine Dragon he is, I wanted to pay him a visit. Asking around, no one knew which agency Wu Jing belongs to. Finally, on realising that Wu Jing has just completed the shooting of Wenlian Studio's Martial Arts King of Shaolin, this writer, through the help of Miss Pan of Wenlian Studio, found out Wu Jing's contact number. Wu Jing happened to be in Beijing on that night and we arranged to meet at Sanli Village.

Wu Jing showed up in a haste later than appointed time . Under the cover of baseball cap and a pair of glasses, I still managed to identify him.

"Pardon my tardiness. I went to buy a ticket at the train station. Have to rush to Shijia Lodge tomorrow."

Wu Jing's current production was moving location from Hangzhou to Shijia Lodge and, out of filial piety, he returned to Beijing to pay his parents a visit, making the best use of the free time slot of twenty hours. As Wu Jing seldom appears on the media, many people and I thought he was from Hong Kong. Actually, he is not only a Mainlander, but also Pekinese. Wu Jing said that he was approached by a Mainland director regarding a new production a few days ago.

The first line asked with caution was, "Are you from Hong Kong or Mainland?"

It made Wu Jing unsure of how to answer. Wu Jing is a martial artist and entered a sports school at the age of six. Later, Wu Jing became the protégé of Wu Bin (Jet Li's coach). He had received countless trophies and plaques. Had he not been brought into the entertainment circle by Director Cheung Sing Yim and Yuen Wo Ping, he would have garnered a few more championship awards at the National Wushu Competition.

In 1995, to produce Taichi 2, Cheung Sing Yim and Yuen Wo Ping went to Beijing Wushu Academy to reconnoitre for talents. Coach Wu Bin had Wu Jing and some other outstanding students hidden out of sight. Cheung Sing Yim and Yuen Wo Ping couldn't find anyone suitable on the first round of selection and left in a fury.

During lunch time, Cheung Sing Yim and Yuen Wo Ping wanted to have dumplings. In an especially inconspicuous dumpling house, they spotted Wu Jing and forthwith decided that "It's him." Since the outset, Wu Bin was loath to let go of Wu Jing, saying that he still had to take part in the forthcoming competition. However, Cheung Sing Yim mentioned that he could postpone the production. Eventually, Wu Bin yielded to his old friend's coercion and persuasion.

Later, Wu Jing asked Cheung Sing Yim, "What did you see in me?" He asked it thrice and Cheung Sing Yim always gave him a different answer.

During the first time, Cheung Sing Yim's reply was, "Couldn't find anyone else. Your look is not bad, so we made do with you."

When Wu Jing asked the second time, Cheung Sing Yim replied, "Had to save old man's (Old friend Wu Bin) face, and no one else was around. Hadn't seen any promising ones. So, decided to take the risk."

On the third occasion, Cheung Sing Yim said, "After having chosen you, I went home and told my wife, Found an actor. Looks somewhat like your son. When he laughs, looks like a bun."

On saying this, Wu Jing also laughed. However, I could in no way connote him with a bun. Actually, the real reason might never be able to be found. The interaction between people is inevitably determined by the momentarily exchange of glances, and everything happens because of that certain feelings.

Having been inducted into the the entertainment circle due to chance meeting, Wu Jing has become deeply in love with this profession, "In an ordinary life, I could only have dual personality at most. However, acting can enrich my life. From heroes, vagabonds to emperor, I get the chance to experience them all. When I was training in martial arts, I only had two chances to perform each year. Now I have more chances to perform martial arts to the audiences."

Now, acting has become an inseparable part of Wu Jing's life. He's such a workaholic that an assistant director once said, "You are so single-tracked minded and lacked flexibility?"

He said this due to Wu Jing's Trilogy: During shooting, Wu Jing only sleeps a few hours a day. On waking up the next morning, he is unwilling to get up. But when on set, he would be full of drive and would always approach the director on his own accord, "Do you want do another take?" When it's time to pack up in the evening, he would still beseech the director, "Let's work longer."

On set, Wu Jing never behaves like a big shot and would do any chores. He would render his help when the working team needs helpers and when crowd actors are lacking, he would join in. He has also taken on the responsibility of being director and also being martial arts choreographer. Once, due to high temperature, the cinematographer was unwell, Wu Jing, on the account of his good health, took over the camera and made use of the resting time to "sneak" learn some skills, becoming a temporary cameraman.

[ Main ]