Interview with Liang Zhiqiang, director of "Kids Are Not Stupid 3": After 18 years, the sequel is released, hoping to inspire the audience about parent-child education
2024-08-16
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When children face the problem of further education, should parents train their children according to their expectations or let them fully develop their potential? The movie "Children Are Not Stupid 3" to be released in China on August 16 may provide a reference answer.
▲Director Liang Zhiqiang. Photo provided by the interviewee
Early in the morning of August 15, the director of "I'm Not Stupid 3" Jack Neo and the main actors flew from Shanghai to Chongqing. They will start a road show in many theaters in Chongqing on the 16th. It is worth mentioning that as a national IP of Singapore, the "I'm Not Stupid" series of films has a good reputation. Both "I'm Not Stupid 1" launched in 2002 and "I'm Not Stupid 2" launched in 2006 have a score of more than 8 points on Douban.
It has been 18 years since the last work. What opportunity prompted the director to restart this IP? After years of hard work in realistic themes, especially in the field of parent-child education, what core expression does the director have? On the afternoon of August 15, with these questions, the reporter of New Chongqing-Chongqing Daily exclusively interviewed the director Liang Zhiqiang and the leading actor Rong Qihang.
Talk about creation
There is a "secret weapon" to balance preaching and storytelling
"Children Are Not Stupid 3" continues the previous two works' deep concern and discussion on children's education issues, and revolves around two families who secretly compete for their children's entrance examinations. On one side is Wen Ting (Hu Jing), a full-time mother who takes her son Zihao (Zhou Yuchen) to study in Singapore. In addition to adapting to the new environment, she also has to motivate Zihao to improve his grades and balance his mental health issues. On the other side is Huang Huimin, the mother of Li Junwei, a local top student who believes that "people can become talented under the stick". She had a brief harmonious relationship with Wen Ting, but after discovering that Zihao's grades surpassed her son Junwei in all aspects, conflicts began...
"When filming the first two works, we received a lot of feedback from parents and students, which taught us to face educational issues more rationally. But almost 20 years have passed, and those problems in parent-child education still exist and have taken on new forms as the times change." Liang Zhiqiang said that this was also an important reason why he restarted the IP of "Children Are Not Stupid", hoping to bring some new thinking to the audience.
It is easy to say that a reboot is easy, but it is not easy to do in practice. Liang Zhiqiang played multiple roles in this film, writing, directing and acting. He spent a year preparing for the film, collecting a lot of real information, and then making a dramatic adaptation and filming.
Although the goal is to make the audience think, educational films can easily fall into the trap of "preaching". In this regard, Liang Zhiqiang said with a smile that he has a "secret weapon", which is to use highly entertaining packaging as the main means to let the audience "understand" by themselves in a smile. "This may be related to my background as a comedian. I am used to using fast-paced, relaxed and cheerful narratives and performances to naturally convey my views to the audience." Liang Zhiqiang said.
When the first film was filmed, Liang Zhiqiang's children were still in primary school. Now his grandchildren are also facing the prospect of going to school. Liang Zhiqiang considers himself an "enlightened" parent. "Every child has his or her own talents. Some may be good at studying, some at sports, and some at music. Parents should discover their children's shining points more, and not force them to grow up according to their imagination of a 'perfect child'." Liang Zhiqiang suggested.
Talk about roles
The little boy who benefited from the movie finally became an actor
In the movie, in addition to the "tiger mom" played by a local Singaporean actor, the accompanying mother played by the famous actress Hu Jing is also a highlight of the movie. Why was Hu Jing chosen to play the role? Liang Zhiqiang said that Hu Jing has a "dual identity". In addition to being a Chinese actor, she is also a Malaysian daughter-in-law, which is very close to the role in the play. When the script was given to Hu Jing, she quickly expressed her willingness to try it.
In addition to the comparison between parents, the comparison between new and old teachers is also a special design by Liang Zhiqiang. Actor Rong Qihang plays a young and open-minded new teacher in the film. He is dedicated to his students, knows how to think from their perspective, is willing to take risks for them, listens carefully to their ideas, believes in them and actively explores the truth, speaks for them sincerely, and acts as a lubricant between children and parents, and between children and the school.
▲Actor Rong Qihang. Photo provided by the interviewee
Interestingly, Rong Qihang is also a beneficiary of the "I'm Not Stupid" series of movies. "I clearly remember that the first time I cried in a movie theater was when I watched "I'm Not Stupid 2." Rong Qihang said that his parents who watched the movie with him even apologized to him after watching it. The educational atmosphere at home has also become more relaxed, and his parents have encouraged him more. Rong Qihang said that since then, a seed has been planted in his heart that if he can become an actor, he will also perform such a realistic and influential work.
The little boy who benefited from the movie was finally able to participate in the filming of the series to influence more families. Rong Qihang said that this might be the meaning given by the movie.
Talking about the trip to Chongqing
For noodles and hotpot, come to Chongqing CityWalk again
Although this is the first time that the "Kids Are Not Stupid" series has been released in China, it is not Liang Zhiqiang's first visit to Chongqing. Before this, he has visited Chongqing as a tourist for many times to "scout" the scene, and has visited Wulong Tiansheng Three Bridges, Hongya Cave and other places, and eaten Chongqing noodles and hot pot.
"Chongqing hotpot is so special, a unique delicacy in the world." Liang Zhiqiang revealed that after this trip to Chongqing, he will come to Chongqing again in November and take his relatives and friends to a CityWalk to deeply appreciate Chongqing's topography and urban culture. Of course, if there is a suitable opportunity, he also looks forward to shooting a costume film and television work in Chongqing.
"Chongqing is indeed a 'hot' city." Rong Qihang felt the "passion" of Chongqing as soon as he got off the plane when he first came to Chongqing. When he knew that Chongqing was a stop on his China trip, Rong Qihang had already searched for what kind of food there was in Chongqing. When he was interviewed by reporters, Rong Qihang also talked about travel tips with reporters and said that he must go to eat an authentic Chongqing hot pot.
