How VORTEX Began: First Interviews & Early Rehearsals (2021–22)

[Public-access note: background music in the recovered recording has been muted pending rights verification.]

If I didn't have this e-cigarette, I'd smoke a pack and a half a day.

Right. Smokers generally—if they have one of these, they smoke less than a pack a day.

Without it, it's a pack and a half.

So you're still using some tricks, huh?

Yes, exactly. Even if you add a bit of this specific detail,

it's better than this...

If all three of you were the same person.

Unless it's purely a monologue, like your play is just a monologue,

I've seen something like that,

where the first half is 20 minutes of a guy complaining about a woman,

and the second half is 20 minutes of a woman complaining about a man,

you either have to take it to the extreme.

I know, I know, I know.

Otherwise, this kind of thing, I just can't get into it,

as an audience member,

it's just a guy talking about all this nonsense.

If you're imagining it as it's done, then...

But the last scene, that last scene of yours,

Take that host. Even someone like me—a Douyin user

without much education—

You just tell me about the population dividend and the population crisis,

and we're going to pass a law.

This just feels like a skit to me.

It's like a play, right?

If you imagine how it's supposed to be done at the beginning,

how it's supposed to play out.

You can try acting it out.

No, I can't act it out, like...

You do whatever, I haven't tried to feel how...

I have an idea, I have an idea,

The initial state, the initial state, is...

There's no dialogue, nothing.

Maybe right from the start, the male lead grabs the female lead,

and drags her into a small dark room.

It's just, you know,

It's just a sudden thing that feels really abrupt.

And from that point on, it's like,

They drag that woman into the room.

No matter what I'm doing, dragging her while pulling off her clothes,

but I say nothing.

Then?

Then, it's like, this is the beginning, the beginning.

Then, moving forward, it starts to show other scenes,

other scenes can be shown, where they might drag her away.

Just drag her straight away, from one side of the platform to the other.

Right, and then after that, it's like,

like, the matchmaking thing.

Are you still thinking about the audience's experience?

I'm not thinking about the audience's experience.

Why do you think that?

It's like he wants, you know, your,

needs to tell the audience, needs to tell the audience, uh,

We're starting.

Not necessarily, not that we have to tell the audience we're starting.

Not necessarily, no, no, not necessarily.

Right, this is just one thing.

Even the curtain hasn't even risen yet, I just dragged her away.

Even from the audience...

I could drag someone straight out.

That's what I mean—this already turns it into an event.

And it's very violent.

So... have you seen The Square?

Exactly, exactly, I can, I can roughly,

roughly tell you about that,

There's a part in the movie I think is really amazing,

but I didn't understand it at first.

There's a male lead in there, he comes on, he,

he's actually an artist, he's doing a,

performance, this performance is in a,

restaurant full of people.

Then, at first, the artist said,

This artist is quite famous,

Then he keeps imitating an ape.

He said it's from a contemporary art perspective, then,

When they were having dinner,

suddenly the male lead suddenly appeared, really, like, like,

He's completely like an ape, moving like this, like this,

and it began, began.

Then, at first, everyone thought, hey, this, this,

this is just performance art, performance art.

Then he suddenly started jumping onto the table, onto the table,

After jumping onto the table,

he was still very normal, like, for example, I came over,

I touched you like this, touched you like this.

Then, at this point, they still thought, hey,

this is just performance art.

Right, and then it went on.

Then, then, then directly like this, touch, touch, after touching,

After that, *thud*, they pinned the woman to the ground.

Yes, yes, yes, yes, that's right.

This is it.

Yes, this is it.

Exactly, exactly.

I think the initial state was like this.

This, this, this.

Just like this.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Yes, this, yes, this, yes.

This is real now.

This, this, this.

You're talking about the details.

This, this, this, that's it.

Yes, this, this.

I think, the initial state isn't like this.

It wouldn't be like, like, like [inaudible],

that Meng Jinghui kind of style. Right at the start, I—

"I fell in love with a woman."

Then this woman is named Mingming, and then what?

What? What?

So, in this world view,

there will be many details and...

Absolutely, absolutely.

Yes, yes, yes.

So I, I, I understand what you mean.

Yes, that's exactly it, that's exactly it.

Suddenly, like, you just come from some...

from the audience, maybe one of our actors or something.

Suddenly, from the audience, drag a woman right over.

At that moment, this situation might be very forceful.

Very violent.

It's very violent, and no one knows what's going on,

or something like that.

Then, well, it's probably this kind of situation that comes first,

I don't know, maybe he's carrying some kind of.

That is, that is, that's it, that's it.

It's implying that this is something that happened between a man and a woman.

That's it, that's it.

He just knows that it's these two men,

this man and this woman are how, how.

Yes, this is the right starting point.

Hmm.

He must be like this, he must be like this.

Yes.

More and more Alice is coming out of the mirror,

Pulling that Alice into it, from the mirror,

When pulling her in, the one outside woke up,

After waking up, she looked up, then looked down,

Then she's no longer here, yes, she's not online anymore,

The story ends here.

This play is a play, right?

It will exist in everyone's phones and minds at the scene,

Of course, if you say 'mind,' yes, it's definitely there,

The phone will send a text message, repeating just one sentence,

But what that sentence is hasn't been decided yet, just one sentence,

It keeps repeating, everyone present, including security, right?

The theater's security, staff, and passersby,

Everyone is saying this one sentence, and then it ends like this.

Okay, let's get started now, let's talk about,

Hmm, talk about whether you've been swept up, swept up, right? You have, don't you?

Of course there is, talk about it, being swept up is like old thoughts,

Old thoughts sweep up some very individual things,

But the extent to which I've been swept up isn't very high,

Because I'm a relatively self-centered person,

Including I no longer have it now, recently, that nail art, including,

Nail art, no, I can show you photos at the end,

It can be edited in, then, uh,

Then later, get your ears pierced and get a tattoo, then a tattoo,

Check out your tattoo, uh, check out your tattoo, I just paid,

Oh, I haven't started the tattoo yet, I just paid,

This kind of thing, then, uh, these things are,

Maybe the older generation or something,

They see it as some very rebellious things, uh, yeah, yeah,

Not part of these normal things, uh,

So, I'm just more unconventional,

I just step outside of these things,

They basically can't hold me back, like when I came to Beijing,

If I were heavily swept up in it,

I probably wouldn't be carrying this now, uh,

Are you a bit nervous? Not too bad, relax, hahaha,

A bit nervous, not too bad, actually not too nervous, uh, uh,

Tell me about why you came to Beijing,

Why did you come to Beijing, come to Beijing, why did you come to act in this play,

I've been preparing for a long time,

I've been looking for opportunities to get into acting

Like when I did ads before, and then acting too,

It's like going from dreaming to creating dreams,

a process of being immersed in the dream itself,

Yeah, I'm someone who loves to dream a lot, including,

I shouldn't always use 'including.' Like, take ads for example,

and working on large-scale visual-merchandising projects and events,

taking what's in my head and putting it into reality,

and acting is about becoming part of it,

wanting to become someone else, taking on another role,

to live another life, another way of living,

These things are basically impossible in real life,

So this is the fundamental reason I'm here,

I've been pursuing acting for quite some time,

since I first started working, getting a job,

when I first started my own company,

That was the original intention; now and then I'd also work on children's plays,

playing trees or rocks, it was kind of awkward,

and this time I finally seized an opportunity,

I can finally be part of this play.

What do you think about theater?

What do you think about theater?

There's an old saying, 'Life is a play,' isn't there?

Actually, theater is meant to reflect,

to directly reflect things we commonly see,

or even uncommon events. And theater,

The word itself is really worth pondering.

Aren't we all acting in life, or at work,

in love, in a series of events,

how many moments are there where we truly are ourselves?

acting for bosses, acting for family,

acting for all sorts of places,

but theater is really fascinating.

What do you think of the play 'Vortex'?

What do you think of the play 'Vortex'?

For the play 'Vortex,' are we spoiling it?

Can't we spoil it?

Sure, go ahead.

That's the 'Vortex' scene,

showing the tension between the male lead and multiple other characters,

including the inner conflicts he faces with himself,

you know?

The 'Vortex' scene is more about,

the setting it's based on, and I need to organize my thoughts,

how to put it, organizing my words,

the overall setting is built on the idea that a person can,

if a person has no partner, they get reborn, then,

yes, in such a social environment,

then the most primal state of a person is triggered,

unleashed.

For some, it's, uh.

longing, and not wanting to be reset, so they'll do anything,

and others still maintain a high stance,

yes, like Karla, even in this situation,

even if life ends and resets, he won't lower himself,

To blend into a lower tier, uh, one,

This level, like in the 'Vortex' scene,

Overall, it's quite realistic, and, uh.

You could say it's chilling when you really think about it,

It might be happening right around us,

Then exaggerated to show it,

It's like the pressure we asked about earlier,

Then, a group of people swept along within an institution, and then,

Showing different attitudes towards these issues.

Uh, what do you think, like,

Beifeng Theatre?

What do you think of Beifeng Theatre?

Hmm.

Beifeng Theatre is pretty wild. Here,

Even though we've only been in contact for a short time, like,

Most everyone has met each other, then,

Like our screenwriter, our various leads,

We don't have a specific lead, but,

But everyone's handling all the tasks, from all walks of life,

More than I expected, the lineup was quite impressive,

Really, there's all kinds of people, yet no one in particular,

Like that thing, you know, that thing before,

That "Mengzi" who went viral online, everyone laughs at Mengzi,

Everyone's Mengzi, you know, everyone's just like that,

Even in this scene, everyone's part of the whirlpool,

And at the same time, we're also part of those who step out of the whirlpool,

Speaking of Beifeng Theatre—Beifeng Theatre, uh,

Unlike some other theatre companies,

Because I've been involved with other groups, some doing comedy,

Some doing stand-up comedy, like that stand-up group called Cao Tai,

It's from Northeast China, then,

It's just a different style, but,

From what I know of Beifeng Theatre, I can say that

They create very authentic works, addressing social phenomena,

Including the previous "Iceberg" and other topics,

They bring to the stage things people usually don't pay attention to,

They bring things people don't see or think about to the table.

It's very... I think Beifeng Theatre...

I keep repeating 'Beifeng Theatre'; maybe I'm a bit nervous,

Still, I don't have a specific, fair evaluation,

But, to say, it's me, in my pursuit of this,

acting, uh, this journey, it's a,

truly excellent choice, well, for the future too,

what kind of expectations, for which aspect of the future,

on life itself, on life itself, on life,

what expectations for the future of life, expectations for life's future,

Actually, I don't have many expectations, basically,

You see, we think, like, following that,

that pyramid thing, what's it called,

this Maslow or something, about those needs,

Expectations for life, first and foremost is to live,

This is easily satisfied, then what's the second,

I've already forgotten, but it's basically this idea,

Expectations for the future are, first and foremost, to survive,

Then go after more things I want, like,

Like getting a manicure, or skydiving,

Doing things I like, even if the public,

Can't understand, or just can't grasp the idea,

More personal things,

I'll do whatever I like, I think I probably won't,

Well, what I feel for this—for Beifeng Theatre, for example—

I love theater itself, but, um,

While I love it, I probably won't abandon it,

But I'll also pursue more, more, more,

This is about the future, building on just surviving,

Pursuing more things I want,

Is there anything special you want to say to the camera,

What they especially want to say to the camera,

Not just saving the special things to say for the end, making a special feature,

Everyone's special things to say to the camera,

Damn, can this even be broadcast? You say, communism is crap,

This is what I'd most want to say to the camera, not that,

I'm not someone who blindly worships the West, but it really is dog shit—I mean,

It's terrible, I've never liked this stuff since I was little,

But you can't say it openly; if you do,

you'll get shut down. I don't think this part will even air,

Maybe switch it up. Let's talk about why it's dog shit,

why it's dog shit,

Because this thing, first of all, from the very beginning,

the earliest times, five-year plans, five-year plans,

Wasn't our primary goal to achieve moderate prosperity?

But in reality, this 'prosperity' is a fake one,

its overall central goal is completely fake,

what's the difference from capital anyway?

I've been thinking about this: it's still maintaining those,

we don't judge people by status, but,

when it comes to this matter,

it's about,

maintaining those in high positions or bureaucrats,

or zaibatsu, to ensure their basic foundations,

How do you use this word? I don't know how to use it,

But I think the people in front of the camera might understand if this could be checked,

they should be able to understand,

really, the true underclass will always remain the underclass,

Including a few years ago, Li Keqiang, I think,

isn't it said that the well-off standard has already been achieved,

the well-off standard has been achieved for many years now,

I can't even remember,

but this so-called well-off standard is too fake,

because the data we publish shows the well-off standard is around tens of thousands,

or maybe a few thousand, I've forgotten, then,

but in reality, it's only a thousand or so,

or living on just a few hundred yuan in subsistence benefits,

there are still many people like that, and some cannot even receive those benefits,

it's not that they don't qualify,

but rather, like a classmate I had before, I won't mention the name,

a classmate whose family is extremely wealthy, you could say,

a rich second-generation heir driving a Porsche to collect subsistence benefits,

It's kind of weird, I guess, not that I don't understand it,

because people have long said that subsistence benefits are claimed by the rich,

In today's society, the rich get richer,

while the poor get poorer,

And actually, this so-called freedom is also fake,

There's no freedom of speech, no freedom of opinion,

and no freedom of any kind,

In foreign institutional terms, their approach is a bit too...

respecting human rights,

respecting human rights is kind of, well, appealing,

But it also has some downsides,

after all, everyone has their flaws,

it's just a matter of which is relatively better,

I might be an independent person, you know,

So I think it's nonsense, way too fake,

Too fake. Thank you.

Say whatever's on your mind

It's all very casual, very relaxed

Okay, let's get started.

Let's talk about it.

So far, up to now.

What do you think of Vortex

What's your take on this?

First off, I'm really happy.

and to be able to take part in Vortex,

This play's.

In the process of creation.

I feel it's different from what everyone thinks.

In the traditional concept, it's a.

Beautiful stage play.

We're still more focused on.

What we want to express and focus on.

Some of these.

Some things in this era.

The voices of being swept along and resisting.

I think this is still important.

It's pretty cool, and I hope we can

use this theatrical form

to perform, and bring people

some thoughts

Actually, I understand this

because this time we're creating

like this space, where we're rehearsing today

part, actually, my understanding

it's not just a

limited form of a play

or a theatrical form

it's more like a connection with the audience

a work of synesthetic art

or something

feeling, hoping the audience will also feel

this way, from multiple perspectives

dimensions, and be able to mutually

feel what we want to express

And it can give them something to think about later

Some thoughts to ponder

How do you see it

This play

Its

How do you see it specifically

For example

The current state of this play

Are you talking about the current script?

This current script

Because there are still some parts to work on

We still need creative space

And actually, I think what we discussed back then

This point was quite good

It's about a genuine voice

This voice might not be particularly pleasant

Pleasant to hear, nice to look at

But

It's just real stuff, kind of like that

a reflection of real-life environments

Then we just let this play stand

right there, and it just stays there

And it's not about saying

standing from a higher place

a starting point

lecturing the audience

or any kind of format

just like

like a mirror, you know

I see this play as more like a mirror

So how do you

see it, I mean

Right now, in this play

in this play

the state of the entire cast

my own state of mind

I'm more of an observer, really.

And working state.

Can you talk about these two states?

Because it's my first time here at P4.

So I'm curious about a lot of things,

like how we operate,

how we run things,

and I'm really curious about this approach,

coming here,

working state,

Basically, I want to,

if I were to look at it from a theater person's perspective,

whether it could start from some creative development and rehearsal...

some thoughts,

some collisions,

to really make this work,

bring in some of my own thoughts,

and have them presented.

This is where I've thought a lot about.

So these are the two states, right?

More of that.

So, what do you think of Beifeng Theatre?

Beifeng Theatre?

Beifeng Theatre...

That's about it, I guess.

Haha.

I still

Complaining, complaining.

Not complaining.

It's that.

Because when I first joined this

This place here, you know?

There are also many mutual friends.

Some mutual, mutual things.

How to put it?

Pushing it, I guess.

So I found out about this

Actually, among young people

The P4 brand is also well known.

So, about your

But as for Beifeng Theatre,

Actually, when I first started connecting with them

Uh

Uh

Whether it's the copy

Or uh

and in our conversations, P4 didn't seem to come up

There's no connection

It makes the concept feel very vague

Hmm

I don't know if you're intentionally making it vague

Hmm

Or what's going on

Because I'm not sure if you're trying to create two brands

Or is one meant to be a community?

And the other a brand?

Hmm.

Because this is indeed

So I don't really have the authority to comment on this or say anything about it.

Hmm.

You're now a member of Beifeng Theatre, right?

Yes, I'm a member.

Mm, okay.

Haha.

Haha.

So you don't feel like...

You feel like there's a difference between theater and traditional theater?

Do you need to distinguish between them?

Or do you not really care about these things?

Hmm.

That's what I was just saying.

If you're going to categorize theater,

into a few categories,

I think this form is—

it's also a branch of theatre.

But,

Uh,

It's just that, for me personally,

or the thoughts generated by this era,

Hmm,

I'm still more interested in some more rebellious voices.

Because without this part,

he wouldn't be here.

Right?

nor could they become a member of Beifeng Theatre.

So,

Well,

This is what I'm really interested in doing.

Hmm

Then, unlike other theatrical aspects

For example, other dramas might more often showcase beauty

Or carry some technical aspects, right?

Tech-focused stuff

Such things might be more widespread

Whereas here

What we're doing

How to put it

Feels more niche

But

It's still a unique form

As I said, it leans more toward synesthetic art.

Not like the traditional setup where audience and performers are separated

A form with a clear barrier between them

Mm, is it called connection or synesthesia? Synesthesia, synesthesia.

There's an English word for synesthetic art... I've forgotten it. It's quite long.

Connection? No, no, no. It should be... synesthetic art?

Synesthesia, synesthesia, synesthesia.

Right, that's it. Where did you get this concept from?

Our company used to have this art form too.

What we're doing—synesthesia isn't especially widespread in China,

It is indeed, uh,

It's part of the international art market.

It's one of the major art forms.

But,

It is indeed, uh, a bit more niche.

It's usually through, uh,

For example, sound, poetry, or visual elements,

anything that resonates with the audience,

but it's not limited to just one theme for you to see,

you just feel that way,

it's not like that,

so,

I feel this is quite similar to what we're doing.

I think the drama we're doing

It is a form of synesthetic art.

It already is.

So what do you think now?

In the course of rehearsing

or putting it into practice,

Hmm.

Ah.

Did you—you—feel this synesthesia?

Yes, yes.

Hmm.

Where exactly?

Or can you describe this feeling more specifically?

Ah.

I think that first sense of synesthesia came from meeting the person in charge and meeting Wenhao.

Hmm.

That sense of synesthesia had actually already begun.

Oh.

Because I think it was when we first met.

We started talking about our ideas.

I felt like

Because there's this kind of

acknowledging that this resonance exists

we could work together on this

Because at the beginning

some other partners had already left

Right?

He didn't continue participating

Then perhaps that synesthetic connection didn't continue.

Hmm

Ah

I think if we can keep going until the end

he must have a shared goal

or something that leads to the same destination

to support all of us working together to complete something

Hmm

So what do you think about the future?

What kind of future do you expect?

Or in what areas do you hope to develop this synesthesia further—

To spread out more?

Connect with more people or our audience?

First, I think the play we're heading towards now...

And I also hope to bring more through...

Physical expression?

Through music?

Then give the audience something without words

That they can feel without words.

I think what sets this apart from spoken drama is—

and also from the physical beauty and technique of dance theatre.

Hmm.

Maybe through physical movement?

Through some abstract things.

Maybe such things, not everyone may accept at first.

Everyone may not accept it.

But I hope that after the performance, the audience will have a very new

a fresh experience, I hope

Hmm

Or if it can resonate with people, that would of course be best.

Mm.

And I also hope that, in the end, the play Vortex will be just as I expect it to be.

I hope it can appear as a voice in society against

being swept along.

It may not be something everyone accepts

Because what we're doing isn't about box office success

Everyone who comes isn't there for box office success

What we're doing is to create a voice

This voice, I'm expressing myself

As for how everyone understands it,

that's up to them.

Then I hope to express my own attitude.

What's your attitude?

My attitude is, umm.

I don't want to live up to what society dictates as good.

I want to live as I see it.

I want to live a free and easy life as I imagine.

Then, based on my values and life perspective, I live.

But it must be, umm.

at odds with society's very

snobbish values.

So my attitude is to be brave.

Umm, umm.

Do you think you'll become a brave person in your future life?

I've always been.

Umm.

Oh.

Haha.

Thank you.

OK, thanks.

OK, good. Let's get started.

So, tell me about yourself.

Just getting by.

What do you think of the play Vortex?

I think it's about the things in this play,

it happens to everyone, including me.

it's like tossing and turning, then feeling a bit lost,

but ultimately, I face and accept it.

Do you feel like you're being swept along?

I feel like I'm swept along too much, by life,

by my own emotions, by money, by feelings, by everything.

So, why do you think we're alive?

It's about continuing, continuing strength,

continuing bloodline, continuing spirit.

Do you want to have a child?

I do, very much so.

What do you mean by 'bloodline'?

Go ahead and tell me.

Bloodline means family, a continuation of the family.

Because for generations, if I don't have a son,

it might end with me.

Living, it's a lot of pressure.

The pressure isn't that bad, if I really don't have one,

I can accept it.

Honestly, I don't care if it's a boy or a girl.

It's just about continuation.

How do you view love, for example?

I've been asking myself this question today.

Is it desire, or just a habit,

or is it really that kind of love everyone longs for,

where you're friends, comrades, and soulmates,

a state where you're lovers too.

I've been thinking about it a lot, given how many relationships I've had.

Sometimes I feel sad or hurt, for me,

with feelings, I just feel like I might be losing in this relationship.

But sometimes it's really like that,

It's that heart-wrenching pain.

Because I used to admire my partner.

That's right.

That's how you could put it.

Admire.

Admire.

I mean, I think of them as a mentor and a friend.

But every time I end a relationship,

I go back and think about why I ended it.

I can't even figure it out myself.

And the fact that I get to be part of Vortex,

I think it's just part of the plan.

How do you think about freedom?

Freedom.

I think freedom means being happy first and foremost.

That's what freedom is to me.

Because if you're happy inside, you're fine anywhere.

Even in the bathroom, I'm fine.

Are you happy?

Right now, I'm not happy, very unhappy.

What's holding me back? What's holding me back?

It's the so-called love.

You know, just a couple of days ago, over drinks, I was solemnly telling someone

Telling others I'm coming back, I'm coming back.

Because there are many friends around me who support and recognize me,

Everyone thinks I'm capable,

That my energy isn't just like this.

OK, I also think that way,

At that time, it felt like a whirlpool, right in the moment,

When it really happens to you,

I felt like I suddenly fell to the bottom,

But I feel like I'm still holding onto the edge of the cliff with one hand,

But if I let go, I might fall.

But if I climb up, I don't know what the view is like above,

But if I let go, I'm dead for sure, so...

I don't even know what happiness or unhappiness feels like right now,

I don't know what happiness is anymore,

Even though I'm speaking well now, I don't know what happiness is,

Even if they gave me money right now,

and sent me to the place I've always wanted to go,

I couldn't guarantee it.

Hmm.

I think I can be quick,

happy? Is that okay to say?

Of course. What do you think of Beifeng Theatre?

I don't know Beifeng Theatre very well; I only know everyone feels familiar,

Actually, I have many friends all over the world,

maybe just meeting once,

I could call him brother,

that feeling everyone shares,

and I get that same feeling at Beifeng Theatre,

This is also a kind of love for me, without any strings attached,

no ulterior motives, just between people,

A love that clicks, maybe my understanding of love isn't clear,

I'm learning love, just as I am,

People think, 'Oh my god, you're an artist, '

How are you? What you do is,

But before joining this drama,

I was deeply stuck in a dilemma of self-doubt,

I know that's not good.

What do you think drama is?

For me, drama is just, well, for me,

It's just life.

Right now, at this point in your

life?

What moment?

I'm in a pit full of thorns,

But I still have a chance to climb out, myself,

I know I have a chance to climb out,

Unless I can't bear the pain, I can endure it,

I'll get out, the wound will heal, and I can keep moving up.

If I can't hold on, I'll die right here in this pit.

Have you had these thoughts lately?

I've always had them, especially lately.

Actually, every time I went there before,

when I went to practice in Wangjing, I was avoiding myself a bit.

Because I've gone through some things myself.

Facing some issues, I know,

Some people might have gone through worse than I have, you know,

But I still choose to get out of this pit,

I don't want to die here, because I don't think I'll die from this,

When I say 'die,' I mean my spirit, not my body,

That's it.

Any thoughts you'd like to share?

The most important thing to say?

To myself, or to this camera?

Either way.

Live in the moment,

Be content and happy.

This is what I want to say most.

That's it.

Okay, that's the end of the interview.

Okay.

- Should I drag you by the legs or by the arms?

- By the legs, otherwise... - Then let's do the legs.

- Dragging by the legs is fine. I'll do it again. - Give it a try.

- The kind you need to act out, you know, like - Struggle.

- Struggle - Struggle.

- Struggle - Struggle.

- Turn around, like this,

- Turn around, then - Yeah, right, right.

- Right, right, struggle - Is this audio okay?

- This is kind of like an animation - Hahaha.

- Like Tom and Jerry or something...

stuff - Not chosen yet, not chosen yet.

- Won't hit anymore - Yeah.

- Anyway, everyone can, yeah, feel free to give feedback.

Is it starting?

No music in this part?

Three ways to come out,

Which one looks better to everyone?

Okay, okay,

Okay, too fast. This is one way,

Because I used to wear a full suit,

sliding is better,

Another one, the second one, this is good,

This one, like this, the third one,

Try another one?

Maybe even better,

Now I go out, I either crawl like this,

or crawl like this. It makes sense,

I think crawling like this, and now it's like this,

Don't worry about anything, don't be idle. Okay, come on,

Okay, okay, okay. Right, don't worry about anything,

Even though I didn't see anything, I'm not sure how to say it, uh,

Whatever, yeah, whatever, whatever,

Just call it whatever, interact,

Not interacting yet, no,

Not enough interaction,

That's too much mental preparation.

First lower your guard; you need to interact with me.

Right—[inaudible] on display; you can do whatever you want.

Play around with it more, play around with it more.

As long as it doesn't look human.

[inaudible] on display.

No—because I'm in front. How am I supposed to show it?

But when you drag them, make it look a bit like dragging a person.

the burst of that,

Then I use my mouth,

with my feet biting down on it,

Not when dragging,

You might not be like that,

dragging like this,

you have a discovery for me,

it's possible when dragging,

it's also dragged like this,

it's even different,

it's clearly a person,

If you're not going to treat him as a person,

if you treat him as a person,

then treat him like an object,

you have to treat him like an object.

Don't treat him as a person

Don't treat him like an object—oh, no, don't treat him like a person;

treat him like an object. Give it a try.

Let's all sit this way

Then Guo Qian is one of our audience

One of the audience

Who is Guo Qian?

I think anything is fine—anything is fine. Just don't think, don't think.

Don't think of yourself as a person. Don't think of yourself as a person.

Don't treat him like a person.

A state of mind.

Don't treat him like a person.

Don't treat anyone like a person.

It should feel like no burden at all.

We need to imagine the audience.

Let's get the audience to this position first.

It's fine, it's fine. Just push through,

just part the audience and it'll be fine.

Maybe the second option.

The second option.

And make the audience think

He might not like to hear it.

Technically.

Artistically.

Just be casual

Be casual

Really relaxed

Don't ever

Don't worry

No good.

Music at the beginning? What music?

No music.

No—start acting first. No music. Start acting.

Come on, come on.

I think it's pretty good.

This...

This feels right.

Not human anymore.

Not human anymore.

Right.

Right.

Right.

Not human anymore.

Bang, bang, bang. Cue the music, cue the music.

Cue the music. Come on.

If you [inaudible] like this, will that work for us?

No, it's fine.

Even if the audience is sitting here,

just lift him away.

Just push him back.

Anyway, this is the energy I've got—[inaudible].

Okay.

Right, that's the feeling.

[inaudible].

Right.

Exactly.

If you're going to be irritable, be a bit more irritable.

This light needs to be on.

Where's the light?

Turn on the light.

Open the door.

The moment the door opens, the light should come on.

Turn on the light.

The audience might sit here.

Oh dear.

There is.

But some audience just stays like that.

If he won't move, just yank him away.

Then he'll lie across there.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The audience won't have it.

[inaudible].

No.

[inaudible].

Your family?

Doesn't my mom argue just for the sake of it?

Oh, come on.

And you're from Tianjin.

I mean,

then you'd have to change professions, right?

How could you act so stupid?

What are you filming?

What are you filming?

Just film it.

Someone's coming to see

Mm.

[inaudible].

Mm.

[inaudible].

Who turns on the main light?

[inaudible]

Where does this scene end?

I think you just haven't done enough filming.

In that rented room of yours,

you couldn't come out looking like this.

You're definitely the kind who [inaudible].

I haven't edited it yet.

I haven't edited

the first scene yet.

When you walk in from the door

You should

Take those things off the wall

Then over here

Over here

Look at these things

Just their comments

These, these are their messages

Assuming it's us

[inaudible].

Right.

That's a little heavy.

This is a little heavy.

I mean, you can—you can

on your own

comment on his... right,

all of his...

what do you call it,

that love...

What was that declaration of love called, or something like that?

A declaration of love: 'Love is like eating potato chips.'

[inaudible]

[inaudible]

The more you eat, the more satisfying it gets.

Anyway, that's what I mean. The main thing is: how does this scene end?

How does this part end?

No

You should walk over there

Then speak before you quickly walk to the bed

Then after getting into bed

Just rub it

Then just rush out

You're still asleep

The music should actually start here, understand? Just tell me when to start.

Right, right, right.

Isn't that the sequence? The music starts as soon as the door opens.

Isn't that the musical effect? Is this the overture?

The overture, yes. This is the overture.