Education

Fame and fortune for the lucky few

By Wang Chao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-03-02 14:10

To anyone still dreaming of being famous overnight, working actors have only one thing to say - "Think again, it's hard work."

"In this field, to be successful is very tricky," said one freelance actor, who graduated from the Central Academy of Drama in 2007, and who now has a regular role in a soap opera.

He said as well as acting skills, social skills are the key to success.

"Opportunity does come, but you never know when," he said.

The actor still remembers the excitement in his class when a female classmate was chosen for a key role in a Zhang Yimou film - and they all thought, "Maybe we are the next to be chosen!"

"But it's hard," he repeated. "Although sometimes it is not the actor's fault." Some actors for instance look much younger than their real age.

"Many of my colleagues with a young face can only play security guards or other secondary roles, if they are not handsome enough to act in youth idol dramas,"Song Yanzhou said.

Besides the harsh reality of looks, prospective actors are advised to have a wealthy family to support them, especially at the start of their careers.

Song said it was very hard for him as, "My family didn't support me in this career, because there are no other family members involved in this business and it is not a mainstream job."

Financial support is also important because actors and actresses need to dress up and take care of their image, and because it provides the luxury of choosing roles, for those not lucky enough to have such economic back-up, it may be imperative to take on a role in a bad film just to pay the bills.

"After several such roles, your reputation will be ruined," the soap actor said. "Besides, there is an opportunity cost: what if a really good script comes when you are in the middle of a bad one? You cannot just quit the early one, you have a contract!"

Unlike the dreams of many applicants, only a small number of actors in China will get millions overnight. "I guess only ten to twenty people in China can get a paycheck of 150 thousand yuan per episode in a soap opera," Song said.

Actress Cheng Cheng, who does have a good role in a soap drama said that even then it is hard work. At one point she worked 75 days in a row, staying on scene from morning to night. She recalled shooting a rain scene, which required her to stand under a shower from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. in December.

"To be a successful actor or actress involves 60 percent effort, 30 percent opportunity and 10 percent random chance," Cheng said.

It is hard to be a successful actor. But for those who love it and stick with it - break a leg.