Wang Baoqiang

As an Extra

By the front gate of Beijing Film Studio, there are always people queuing to get a job as an extra. Wang joined this queue and got some roles as an extra. During this time he lived in the cheapest accommodation possible (approx. 100RMB pcm) with several other people and walked to the film studio early every morning. On some films he could do extra work for 20 - 25 RMB per day (about 3 dollars). When his 500 RMB collection of savings and pay had nearly run out Wang took a temporary job in the construction fields. He remembers that during Spring Festival Eve one year he even needed to borrow money to buy steamed bread. He recalls this time in Beijing as the most trying period of his career. Recalling the days waiting for a role outside the film studio, Wang said to those still queueing: "This is what I, also, have been through."

Blind Shaft

Wang apparently received news he had been cast in "Blind Shaft" whilst working in the construction field. A communal pager went off and the workers who checked it told Wang he had been called on for the role. As his first role playing a main character, Wang was initially disappointed that the film was not a martial arts film, but he recognized it as a good opportunity for his career. He was given 500RMB up front, which was a huge amount of money for him at the time. During the filming period conditions for the cast and crew were low. They were the subject of abuse from the people actually working the mines and a couple of accidents happened. Several members of the team even left and pressure was put on Wang to also quit. He didn't, and so earned a further 1000RMB for his work. Critics later agreed that Wang naturally fit the role of Yuan Feng Ming and he was given a warm reception abroad. For his role in "Blind Shaft", Wang received the Golden Horse Film Festival's Best New Performer Award as well as two prizes from France and Thailand for Best New Performer. However, the film was never permitted release in Mainland China.

A World Without Thieves

After Blind Shaft, however, Wang Baoqiang didn't attract much attention. But his confidence made him strong enough to continue to fight for his dream. In 2004, Feng Xiaogang was selecting actors for A World Without Thieves . The leading role of the movie, "Sha gen", was uncertain. Once Feng watched Blind Shaft, he decided Wang Baoqiang as "Sha gen". When the film was released, Feng said:" the only one person who will become a new star will be Wang Baoqiang!" He appeared as Shagen in Feng Xiaogang's 2004 film A World Without Thieves as a naïve village boy who is carrying his life savings in cash home with him on a train. On the way to the station, he loudly professes that he does not believe in thieves, while oblivious to the fact that one team of professional pickpockets are competing to steal his money while another two thieves seek to protect him. The two Thieves, who were acted by Andy Lau and Rene Liu, become his best friends throughout the film, even with Rene Liu calling him "younger brother" jokingly.

"He isn't a blind person!"

After A World Without Thieves He appeared as "A Bing" in TV Series An Suan as a blind intelligence agents who has extraordinary hearing abilities. An Suan was the most popular TV Series of 2006 in China. It's a hard work for Wang to act as a blind person, he was arranged to live with real blind people and then had a good performance in the series. In 2007 when he was filming the movie The Assembly, people who lived near their playstaff saw him and screamed surprisingly: "He is A Bing in An Suan! But he isn't a blind person?"

Everybody loves Xu Sanduo

Although Blind Shaft, A World Without Thieves and An Suan had achieved great success but it was only a beginning for Wang. In 2007 the TV series Soldiers Sortie had unprecedented influence in many aspects of Chinese people's lives. Its value goes far beyond just a piece of art work. Wang's character, Xu Sanduo, is a young military recruit who is not clever but very devoted to whatever he does. With his own efforts and some companions' help, the simple man wins respect and confidence.

The drama was a quick hit on China's small screens. Almost every main actor now has his own group of fans. "Xu Sanduo" became a household name overnight. Wang Baoqiang, as the leading actor, became one of the most influential people of 2007 in China, and has hit headlines of almost all major newspapers, and his signature smile is seen on one magazine's cover after another. He is also planning to release his first song.

The Chicago Tribune reported on Sunday the fondness by the Chinese people of a dramatic series Soldier Sortie, saying the hero captures a spirit of innocence.

Xu Sanduo, the hero in the TV dramatic series, is a "character whose mix of laws and charms has made him an unlikely television phenomenon who seems perfectly crafted for his time". Xu, a shy, simple son of a poor farmer, is the subject of complaints by his father for his lack of skill about planting crops. After his father forces Xu to show off his physical strength by climbing a tree, the army recruiter takes pity on Xu and signs him up just to get him away from the father. The drama shows how the country boy becomes a special forces star through training such as carrying heavy logs. He also fights valiantly against unnamed foreign foes with his companions. "The pyrotechnics are impressively lifelike and modern," Chicago Tribune said. "Xu's flaw is dimness. But his determination to succeed through hard work seems refreshing in today's China, in which connections and canny strategy seem to guarantee success more often than simple perseverance."

Top Chinese search engine Baidu.com has put a character sketch of Xu Sanduo, the hero of a popular TV series, at its logo on Wednesday, declaring they will pick a person in the spotlight every month starting from November. Beijing Daily Messenger reported that the website will choose the logo person based on search rankings by netizens on their engine, like Time Magazine's Person of the Year. The person should have been in the public arena during the latest month and he or she will represent a current trend, spiritually or practically speaking, an officer from Baidu told the newspaper. For example, Xu Sanduo, this month's person, is a devoted soldier. He is an ordinary person but he possesses an optimistic and persistent spirit, which is greatly applauded by audiences, the officer said.

The move has been welcomed by netizens. "Whenever I log on to the website and am greeted by Xu Sanduo's smiling face, I feel encouraged and full of energy," one user was quoted as saying.

My Brother is Shun Liu

Wang Baoqiang starred in an endearing militaristic series about the invasion of the Japanese into China. He is Shun Liu, a skilled sniper, and after just 8 months of training, he is able to kill thousands of Japanese. He is held as a hero, and his officer in command is so attached to him that he decides to call him Chen Xiao Lei because his name is Chen Da Lei. Shun Liu disagrees and claims that it sounds as if he is his son, which he is not. So his commanding officer agrees and decides to call him Chen Er Lei.

Throughout the series, Shun Liu continually works hard despite his inability to comprehend certain things. He makes efforts to learn how to read and charms all around him. His comrades appreciate and admire his abilities. Shun Liu is instructed to kill the commanding Japanese officer. He is prepared and well hidden, waiting for the perfect moment. As he is hidden, he witnesses a Japanese soldier raping his sister. He is unable to do anything because he cannot give away his position. He kills the commanding officer, and he returns full of vengeance. He then goes to see his sister who is crying out "My brother will come to save me." while in a trance. When Shun Liu turns his back, his sister commits suicide, jumping into a well.

Despite warnings and pleas, Shun Liu is determined to seek revenge. When the Japanese surrender and board their ships at the port, Shun Liu desires to kill the soldier that murdered his sister. He is hidden, ready to shoot, but he cannot bring himself to it. He fires a few shots at some flags, and in turn, the Nationalist army begins shooting at him. Most of the shots miss, and Shun Liu shoots a box filled with ashes (that the man who killed his sister is carrying), but does not kill him (this soldier ends up committing suicide). The Nationalist army continues to shoot, even when Shun Liu's commanding officer demands them to stop. Finally, the tower that Shun Liu is on explodes, and he falls to his death.

Chen Da Lei narrates the whole series, endearingly referring to Shun Liu as his brother.

Film

Television

Variety

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