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Get ready, place props well.
Take it easy!Good luck guys!
When we talking about showing the Chinese ancient civilization,
the revolution of Chinese character should't be forgotten.
In fact, as the square writing character,
had ever deeply influenced the Asia especially in East Asia in history.
It also has artistic charm.
What is the theme of this section?
Yes, we chosen Chinese movable type for the performance, but how to use it smartly?
and in what kind of way?
There were a bunch of questions which need us to answer.
Because of the limited practicing time, we should make our plan early,
so we had to spend all of our time thinking and imaging
for seeking the answers
Finally the director asked us to create 15 different styles of motion using movable type blocks.
In other words, 15 performing ways.
That was too difficult !
I said: " we should be openminded and creative ,try our best to do on artistic creation.
and computer technology can help us."
The better we create, the better performers will do.
(This was the primary performing plan simulated by computer.)
(Chinese movable type blocks increased scale were the most important props.)
(and they were made for special requirements which can be moved up and down by manpower.)
(In June 2007, the props ( movable type) were tested by performers.)
Director, can we start now?
Start....
3, 2, 1. go...
(command....)
(some of props were broken...)
The result of test was really bad.
but I didn't feel sad, because we hadn't have same experience before.
The failure encouraged me to find out problems.
The key was how we would solve the problems and recreate it.
That was the biggest challenge to us.
We didn't want to give up because that would be painful.
We watched test on stairs
I found that performers felt struggle to use those props by looking at their faces.
Some of props also got stuck
The maximum lifting height was not enough for the show.
(One month later...)
lift it...
higher...
higher...
Designer Han: It can be lifted up higher more.
No problem.
There are 3 levels of height, and we can add more stages if possible.
Second stage..
Third stage...
They are better for us to perform water waves...
You can notice that is very soft and stable from first stage to third stage..
Very easy to control the lifting speed
Assistant director Zhang : It is 100% better than that old one.
Designer Han: May be we can improve that old prop to cooperate with this new one.
Assistant director Zhang: The new design is better.
The former prop is too bad.
Don't rate that old design any more, it is really garbage.
This new one gives us hope,
that old one is just sucks.
go..
(Although the improved props brought hope to the directors,)
(it needed several months to be manufactured in factory.)
(so performers had to use simple props for rehearsal.)
(In December 2007, the assistant director Zhang jigang came to watch the first training of the movable blocks.)
We also made new improvements on this prop, which referenced the mechanical technology.
installed springs on the lifting system of blocks.
helped performers lift.
so a lot of power was saved, performers wouldn't feel tired.
because springs let the lifting force equal to the resistance.
Before we did this improvement, the biggest problem was that actors had to spend too much power lifting blocks.
so jokes came from director: " In actual opening ceremony, all performers will faint on stage because of lifting such heavy blocks."
"I hope that a performer can only use one finger to lift props."
Then we asked mechanical engineers from Beijing Qinghua University for help.
The final prop was great due to amazing mechanical design which is reasonable internal structure and light materials.
It was very easy to lift 6 meters high, drop down within 2 seconds.
After that we did more detailed improvements by ourselves.
The final props were simply the wonderful artwork with very precision manufacture.
There are no words to describe how excited we were!
Personally, I thought would probably be the most advanced mechanical engineering design in the world,
and there were no big issue on props any more after that.
( training command)
Get ready...
(training command)
People often talk about Chinese sayings: " The peace in heart like a lake".
"Ripples on the lake."
so we decided the nature of water need to be performed carefully.
"The gentle billows of water."
The moving printing blocks is for showing the revolution of Chinese character. However, people watch it as if watching a lake.
At the same time we try to make water waves unusual,
they almost like floating silk under the peaceful wind.
The Chinese character "Harmony" heads above the water.
It is the Chinese ancient philosophy on relationship between water and harmony.
Moreover, we created the picture of drops of water firstly, then what happend next?
You saw the ripples appeared on the blocks.
That is beauty of peace and harmony.
The ancient Chinese world view: "Orbicular sky and rectangular earth". You also find Chinese character is square.
so, different kinds of square appeared on the surface of blocks.
From low speed to high speed with complex motion. Catch the idea of water and square.
Overall, we wanted this concept of Chinese culture to be visually performed by movable blocks.
One performer 's command was totally different from others' one.
unlike any other traditional performances which use same command.
so we needed to analyze every single frame of motion helped by computer animation.
After we finished, we were shocked because it was impossible to be performed by human beings.
For example, 3 frames per second. That was so crazy!
After that we decided to choose reasonable frequency of motion so that performers could comfortably accept.
Then we converted animation frames into real commands for 897 performers.
but he real command shouldn't be heard by audience, so it was a good idea for performers to remember the beats of background music, headphones were also provided in case of noise.
(On May 31 2008, the director Zhang yimou came to exam performers' training of movable blocks.)
He pointed out some problems and gave some advice.
The motion was over height, i think it is necessary to pause for 10 seconds between some of frames.
Everyone knows the design of this performance was increadble , but the beauty couldn't be shown perfectly due to a little high frequency.
so it should be more relax and soft ...
I understood that Yimou had really high ambition on this show, but I already felt really headache on design and rehearsal.
I thought there were just a few tiny problems, and that was ok. Is it really necessary to improve more ? Our training was good enough.
so the difficulties were always in our work, but I am a person who likes challenging himself.
Finally, I accepted his advice because this performance was a wonderful project that had never been done. I should ask myself to be optimistic to solve problems.
I said to my teammates:" Please believe ourselves, we can do it, we shouldn't be scared when extreme challenges comes! let﹐s give people a perfect show .‧
( 3 days later...)
I am excited to watch this practice again, it was spectacular and heartbreaking!
I am amazed that you guys just spent 3 days solving all the problems mentioned last time. Your team is the best team!
(They are designing the Manners etiquette for actors who will act Confucius' scholars .....)
First gesture .... what they going to do next is.........then.........
This one can be created......., Ok,,add it ......
Ok, sure......
return to first one......good.....
first one, second one
They can act like this........ perfect.....
These gestures can be counted as one group.....
Sounds good..
When we talk about Chinese bamboo slips, there was always a historical picture in our mind,
2500 years ago, Confucius were traveling around China with his 3000 scholars, they were natural and unrestrained like gods.
They were learning the thoughts which were written on bamboo slips.
I think we chosen a good theme by combining two important elements which are Confucius' scholars and Chinese movable type.
Please listen to me guys.....
Then pause for one second....
Please notice what i am going change gesture next.........
Perfect......
(In fact, it was uneasy to act Confucius' scholars because actors were lack of good understanding on historical people, so a few history classes were very important.)
(command...)
Your expression should fit to be an ancient scholar, the ancient scholar should be very gentle.....
Gently hold the bamboo slips please.....
Let us exam him and try to find out his issues.... Ok, start now....
I want suggest you: Relax more, don﹑t act like a warrior
On August 8th 2008, the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympics. We found a prop(block) moved down suddenly slower than others.
What happened?
The hand-railing of that prop broke up.
At that moment, that performer inserted his one finger as the bolt and finished all the processes of the performance!
Performer:This part broken up when I was using prop do the motion,then I inserted my finger to continue without thinking anything because I didn't want my failure to disturb my team. and my finger was got injured.
His finger was bloody after the performance...
(When this performance showed to audiences in 2008, it got lots of applause, we will remember that great moment forever. However don't forget to give respect to all these selfless and hardworking performers because they are truly the lovely people!)