At the end of 2024, singer Wang Yibo releases his solo single, “I Am Here”. Bypassing the four seasons, let you and I meet each other again briefly through this song.
“I Am Here” is the initial declaration to the world, and it is also the firm response to the thousands of questions asked. The lyrics carry a sense of belonging, and this sense of belonging originates from oneself. “I” will no longer exist passively, and instead will partake actively. I am here – this reflects a self-awareness.
“I Am Here” is charging forward with sureness; it is that if I leave, you will continue to bloom. It is that I am not leaving, because I am in the mountains and the sea. No matter if we are close to one another, or if life and death separate us, no matter the distance and no matter life or death, I am here. I hope that you may find sureness through my sureness. Every time you look towards the mountains and the sea, every time the fireworks bloom, life renews. The song opens with the fine murmur [of Yibo’s voice], accompanied by the rising and falling arpeggios on guitar, like the trickling of clear dew, bringing a sense of calm. With a sudden surge of emotion, rich layers of instrumental accompaniment add strength to the vocals, layering on top of one another, like lava bursting forth. “Let my heart enter the mountainscape, let my body immerse in the great sea,” reverberates towards a point of overflowing emotion. There is nothing more powerful than the present heartbeat and loud call, and there is nothing more deafening than the resounding cries of, “I am here.”
“I am here,” is what resonates between person to person.
This time, Wang Yibo chose to depict “I Am Here” through nature. “I/My” root is of this earth, with veins connected together, time and space become almost transparent, “I” exist together with the mountain, breathing together with you, experiencing the ups and downs of life, weathering the waxing and waning changes with all things of the universe, and so the green mountains meet rise and fall, “I” am always here.
“I am here,” is a conversation with the universe.
I AM NOT HERE, but I will always be here. This is what “I Am Here” encompasses.
"Everytime you undergo a role change, you have to start from zero again. To learn and to improve. It's as if you're starting from the base of a new mountain, challenging the summit. It requires both taking the lead and being led. From this, a lot can be learned. There is no path that is taken in vain." —Wang Yibo (Exploring the Unknown, ep 4)
Translated excerpts from Wang Yang's interview with "Spotlight on the Legendary Drama" 《神剧亮了》
Did your impression of Yibo change after working with him?
WY: I don't watch a lot of dramas, even for my own dramas, so for Yibo, I had watched his movie, but haven't really followed his other works. But I think everyone knows of Yibo, plus with how handsome he is, I always see him on various ads. So I know of his level of influence. But I had never worked with him in a drama before and I also didn't know what kind of person he was, or what sort of mindset he would have coming into filming. But once we began filming, my first impression of him was quite significant; it was when he was strung up, after being interrogated by Lin Qiaosong. He looked to be in quite an awful state. Once he entered my line of vision and I saw how badly he had been beaten, first, for his makeup to look like that, it was unexpected, to look so tragic. Second, it was a very cold day, it was rainy and chilling. When I arrived on set at nighttime to film the scene, it was already past 8pm. Shanghai was very cold. He wore that shirt and was strung up, and he was there to be a point of focus for me during my scenes, after he had already finished filming his part. I stood there and was looking down upon him, and he would squat there, to help be a point of focus for me to look at. That left a deep impression for me. I don't know if every young actor who has this level of influence would be able to do this much, but on the first day that Yibo met me, he did this. He was covered in blood, wore very little, and squatted there to be a point of focus for me. Even up until the very last scene with Yibo, he would always fulfill this role, he never slacked on this, he would never say, "while Yang-ge is filming, please ask someone else to take this role of being a point of focus for him." Even when I said to him on that first day, "Yibo, you don't need to squat there, you can just stand on the side and say your lines and that would be ok, you don't need to keep squatting," he wouldn't listen and would continue to squat there. Also, when he first started, both Yibo and I are slow to warm up, but since I am his senior and we would have so many scenes together, I was willing to be the one to take the first step. I would always choose a conversation topic to start the conversation between us. I found that after a few days, Yibo would slowly start to open up. Although he is slower to warm up than I am, he is very sincere and would be very sincere in his interactions with me, no matter if it was just day-to-day or while acting. I feel that he is a young person who is both capable and has a good attitude. I think his attitude towards life is also quite impressive. He likes exercise, likes racing cars, likes motorcycles, and likes a lot of sports. When I was speaking with him, I felt that his understanding and knowledge towards these far exceeded me. So I think Yibo is very interesting and is a contender who is quite moving. In the process of making this drama, you could clearly see his growth. From the first day to our last scene together a few months later, he brought Wei Ruolai's character to life, and I was able to see how quickly his acting improved. Yibo is a very capable and zealous young person. I learned a lot from being with him.
When you mentioned that you watched one of his movies, was it One and Only or Hidden Blade?
I didn't watch One and Only, but he did show me some clips before it started playing in theatres, how he was when he was dancing. I watched Hidden Blade. Although it was a Republican era show, Wei Ruolai is still quite different from the character he plays in Hidden Blade. Because of this, you can see how much Yibo has grown, as well as his understanding and interpretation of characters. In Hidden Blade you can see how his character has his morally gray moments, with a slight deranged, perverse and twisted tendency, even obstinate. Although Wei Ruolai can be stubborn, he is not as perverse as the character in Hidden Blade. This is not easy to achieve. Although both characters are dressed in suits, you can see that Yibo is able to convey the characters differently.
Why did Shen Tunan decide to take Wei Ruolai on as a disciple? Was it because even when his life was under threat, he wanted to protect Shen Tunan?
This is the more personal reason. The public reason is because Wei Ruolai is a talent hard to come by. I believe Shen Tunan saw a younger version of himself in Wei Ruolai. He was not only ambitious but also capable. When the more senior Shen Tunan saw this junior Shen Tunan, it was impossible for him not to feel touched. This is the public reason. The more personal reason is that, when a disciple is willing to sacrifice their own life and put up with such cruel punishment and yet still not confess anything, for such a devoted disciple, even if he was not yet officially his disciple, would a mentor not want him to be his disciple, to recruit such a capable person to be by his side (more literally: to recruit his capable general)? Both for public and personal reasons, Shen Tunan making this decision was certain to happen. And when he said to Chief Deng, "One may choose the most advantageous path, but in doing so, one must not forget morality." I believe this is one of Shen Tunan's principles. That he will not forget those important to him in pursuit of personal profit.
Wei Ruolai is willing to sacrifice his life to protect Shen Tunan, what is Shen Tunan willing to give up to protect Wei Ruolai?
I really want to say, if it was in extreme circumstances, if Wei Ruolai's survival, or if the value of his survival was greater than the value of Shen Tunan's survival, then I also believe that Shen Tunan would sacrifice himself, as Wei Ruolai's survival was more valuable. Shen Tunan is someone who is patriotic and wants what's best for the country. If Wei Ruolai, with his strengths and capabilities, is able to help the people, the country, and the state, no matter if it is in Soviet Jiangxi or if it is under the communist regime, then I don't think Shen Tunan would second guess this decision, he would not think, this is just a disciple, how much responsibility would he have to bear, I don't think he would have these thoughts. He is someone who sees the bigger picture and has far-reaching goals and a vision for the future.
If you could only choose between Huang Congyun or Wei Ruolai to invite over for new year's dinner, who would you pick? This is similar to a question you were asked previously, who would you choose to save if both were drowning?
I think sometimes, it's hard for a person to be unbiased or not show preferential treatment, this is just common for human beings. If you ask me this, then my answer is still, I would definitely still ask Wei Ruolai. Especially after having received blood—within Shen Tunan's body there remains a portion of Wei Ruolai's blood—how could he not ask Wei Ruolai to spend the new year's at his home? Or otherwise, would he ask Wei Ruolai to go back to his home in Jiangxi and invite Congyun instead? Why would he do this, right?
In the drinking scene where Ruolai becomes drunk, Shen Tunan carried him home. How many people in Shen Tunan's life does he show this amount of care towards?
I think, other than family, there is only this disciple. Of course, if you bring up Congyun, before Ruolai showed up, if he had gotten drunk on behalf of his mentor for such an important matter, I think Shen Tunan would still carry him, but these were not the circumstances. Wei Ruolai got drunk, so sure, he'll carry him—his own disciple, who is like family. After all, why would there be this serving of tea between mentor and disciple? Although it is not a blood tie, it is similar.
After Shen Tunan carried Wei Ruolai up, what did he discover?
He discovered that the wall was covered with Shen Tunan. The object of Wei Ruolai's interests, including being able to discover Shen Tunan's secret about Kunpeng, this was all the result of Wei Ruolai's efforts. I think in that moment, Shen Tunan was thinking, "This youngster!" But actually, I think he was very happy. As a Central Bank economic advisor, to be so worshipped by a young person, to be studied so closely, it is a very happy thing.
Was it hard to carry Yibo?
Not at all, Yibo is about 60kg or so, so it was not difficult. Also Yibo is quite lean with long limbs, so he was pretty easy to carry. It was just that the stairs in the alley building were too narrow and steep, so it still took some effort. But, although we did a few takes of the scene, it was still feasible, it was not a problem.
When Shen Tunan ended his relationship with Wei Ruolai, and he broke the teacup, was this something you came up with on the spot?
This was something I improvised. The script did not say that I had to throw this, it was a spur of the moment action. When we filmed this, it hit the table with a bang and it scared Ruolai, it startled Yibo. Because I did not tell him, and I also did not think that I would do this. Through the interaction between the two of us, he helped set the tone when he urgently pled his case, and it reached a breaking point. Sometimes when a person gets angry, they will externalize it in some way, and this action was impromptu. I think it came out quite well.
Some people say that Wang Yang's acting is such that he can even bring out the veins on his forehead, have you seen this review?
I don't think this is a marker of whether an actor is good at acting or not. I think, once an actor feels these genuine emotions, when you really get angry, then the veins will come out like that, that's because my feelings were really moved, I became immersed, and entered this character's state of mind. I think this is something a lot of actors do, I don't think it's anything special.
War of Faith
Translated excerpts from the livestream where the cast watches ep 28-29 (spoilers under the cut)
Director Yao says that Wang Yang added this gesture of straightening Wei Ruolai's clothes in this scene (unscripted)
They get to the part where Wei Ruolai is being taken to the execution grounds.
The MC asks Yibo: At that time was Wei Ruolai preparing to meet his death or did he think that he was going to be saved?
Yibo: Who would think that there would be someone that would save him?
They watch Wei Ruolai run away from Lin Qiaosong
Director Yao says about Yibo: He could join the Olympics sprint! He performed so well here.
Wang Yang (on when Shen Tunan realizes that Shen Jinzhen is the sniper who saved Wei Ruolai): [Tunan] is very conflicted, because on one hand, Wei Ruolai still lives, on the other hand, the person who saved him is Shen Jinzhen. So this was really difficult for him.
Director Yao: He was always guessing that maybe his sister was a communist, a part of him had already prepared for this, but he didn't want to face the reality.
They watch Ruolai, after he has escaped from Lin Qiaosong and is alone with Niu Chunmiao.
MC: At this time, director, do you think that Wei Ruolai is in a perplexed state of mind?
Director Yao: Yes, because right now he is at a dead end. He has already given up his previous set of beliefs, but he has not yet found a new set of beliefs. He followed what his parents believed in, but he was unfamiliar with the communist set of values, which were different from what he knew. He had never met a communist, the only one he knew was his brother, but his brother passed away. So he didn't know the theories behind it. He wouldn't easily accept a new worldview that he was completely unfamiliar with. At this point, the two female characters helped to push him in that direction.
The MC then asks Yibo to share what his thoughts are on Wei Ruolai's state of mind at this time.
Yibo: I think the director's analysis is very well said. (gives a thumbs up)
Director Yao: Yibo is very good, he will immerse himself in his own imagined scenario, a certain atmosphere, in which he will then think about how the character will respond.
On Wei Ruolai's character development
Director Yao: I think [the way Wei Ruolai's character develops] is more of a realistic take. A person will not think, I want to join the communists and immediately convert to that side. It's not realistic. We want the audience to believe in this process. His change happens one step at a time. Even when he arrives in Soviet Jiangxi, he didn't immediately join the Red Army. He wanted to see a bit more. Then after another incident happens, in his heart he holds a lot of resentment and hatred, there were things that he felt were unresolved in Shanghai; he met a group of lousy people and this made him angry, but there was nowhere to direct this anger. Then when he went to Soviet Jiangxi, he found the same thing that happened, but that the Red Army really seemed to treat those who are poor well. He thought, this is what I want, what he couldn't get where his shifu was, so this excited him.
Director Yao says that the little motorcycle that Yibo rode was vintage, and that it broke after Yibo rode it once.
They talk about the scene where Shen Tunan slaps Shen Jinzhen
Director Yao: That day, Wang Yang's biggest dilemma was whether he should really slap her, while Li Qin was thinking about how she should respond to the slap. Wang Yang is quite softhearted. He had quite good control, he didn't actually hit her and his tears also came out. This is very difficult to control. That day Li Qin also said to him, "Ge, just go for it." But he never actually hit her. He's too softhearted. (jokingly) Once we got the scene I yelled cut right away. It was a difficult scene to film.
The mentioned scene starts to play.
The MC asks Yibo a question about Wei Ruolai but Yibo points to the screen and says (with a gremlin smirk): Let's continue to watch this scene
Li Qin: The audience has already seen this.
Yibo: Oh I haven't seen it yet
Director Yao and Li Qin: Oh then watch!
The MC brings up that netizens discovered that Wei Ruolai, Shen Jinzhen, and Niu Chunmiao used the same red swallow cup, and that this was an easter egg that showed that they were all on the same side. The director clarifies that this was a coincidence.
The MC then asks: Did the actors themselves notice this detail?
Yibo: I also only realized after it was pointed out.
Wei Ruolai's letter to Shen Tunan
(spoilers under the cut)
To xiansheng:
The day before yesterday, the Chinese Soviet Republic National Bank held an exhibition of gold and silver in the Soviet region, featuring special performances to show appreciation
Jinzhen performed "Farewell" on the harmonium, accompanied by a group of children
At the end of the performance, they were met with a surprise bombing, ordered by Lin Qiaosong. The stage pillars collapsed. Jinzhen used her body to protect one of the children, and even when she was struck by one of the falling roof beams, she continued to protect the child until the child could be rescued. Jinzhen passed away on the scene; she did not suffer in her passing
My condolences to xiansheng. Jinzhen has been given a proper burial.
Ruolai was not able to protect Jinzhen. I am filled with grief and am unable to control these emotions. I am too ashamed to ask for xiansheng's forgiveness
Signed*, Wei Ruolai
*The closing phrase here can also mean to kowtow, and is a formal closing phrase used as a marker of respect
Translated excerpts from the War of Faith livestream interview of the cast
Each of the cast members are asked to bring something which represents their character. Yibo brings an abacus pin, to represent one of Wei Ruolai's talents.
Wang Yang brings the fountain pen that he used on set, because his character has to sign a lot of important documents with this pen, and, "More importantly, during the scene when the disciple bows to his mentor, this is a very very important gift."
MC: There was a trending search before that said, "In War of Faith, the male and female leads do not really have any development of (romantic) feelings, they are all focused on their careers." Did you see this?
Li Qin: I think that there can be many different types of feelings. And also, when the director had introduced the character to me, he wanted to showcase what a woman's thoughts and dilemmas might be in that era, that this would be more meaningful and more interesting. So...it is up to the audience's imagination.
MC: So how would you describe the relationship between Wei Ruolai and Shen Jinzhen?
Li Qin: They are comrades in revolution, and she is also the one who guides him on his path of changing ideologies.
The cast plays a game (near the end of the interview), where they point out who they believe fits the prompt.
Which actor is the most active -> Yibo
MC: Yibo, why do you think everyone says you're the most active? Yibo: Then you'll have to ask everyone
(MC prompts Li Qin) Li Qin: Because if you watch the bts you'll know. Like when he slides down the stair railings, it's rather unexpected.
Who do netizens call the Red Wolf (character from the cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf) -> Li Qin
Li Qin: I don't know why everyone gave me this nickname
(MC prompts Wang Yang) Wang Yang: Because she has a red dress, and sometimes she has a serious expression like a big wolf
MC: Because she can be very serious when she's facing her enemies
Who laughs the most easily -> Li Qin
Li Qin: The trio from the Central Bank are together on this, they're ganging up together
(MC prompts Yibo) Yibo: She has a lot of scenes where she ends up laughing in the middle
MC: She's very cheerful?
Yibo: Yes...she doesn't realize herself
Li Qin: My brother (Wang Yang) laughs a lot in the middle of filming, don't you see this in the bts?
Wang Yang: I very rarely do, this happened once with Gao Lu. The rest, really, you laugh very easily on set. And when she laughs, she easily makes the rest of us laugh. Her behaviour is very cute.
MC: That means, Qin Qin, you bring a lot of joy to the set
Li Qin: They've already started, if not for Yang-ge today, they probably wouldn't gang up like this
Who is the most different from their character -> Li Qin and Wang Yang (2 votes each, then Wang Xueqi adds his vote for Li Qin) (MC asks Yibo why he picked Li Qin) Yibo: Because like we just said she usually...*looks down thinking*
MC: Her joyful times?
Yibo: Yes, but her role needs to be very serious, so there is quite a difference
(MC asks Song Shuai why he picked Wang Yang) Song Shuai: Maybe because Shen Tunan is very serious and solemn. Usually Wang Yang is like a big youth in his spare time, so he leads us along
Wang Yang: Because they are all young, and I have to bring up the mood on set. Because Yibo is quite shy, so I do this so that everyone can work together in a cheerful environment
Lan Xiya: When Wang Yang-laoshi is on set, he's very amicable
Wang Yang: Call me Yang-ge, don't call me Wang Yang-laoshi
Lan Xiya: Wang Yang-ge...sounds so awkward (laughs) Wang Yang-ge, he's very amicable and leads us with his energy
Wang Yang: Do you not agree (to Li Qin)
Li Qin: I completely agree, I think they are very fair/unbiased
Who's the best at taking action -> Yibo and Wang Xueqi (2 votes each)
(MC asks Li Qin why she picked Yibo) Li Qin: Because as you just watched, like when he plays games, he's very good, he's a quick learner and has a quick reaction time
Whose character would you want to be if you could choose anyone? MC: Secretary Huang chose Ruolai immediately without hesitation Wang Yang points at Song Shuai and MC asks: You want to be your own secretary?
Wang Yang: I want to be like him so I can compete with Ruolai
MC: So you think if it was you then things might not turn out the same
Wang Yang: Definitely, at least I wouldn't waste my time being jealous
MC asks Yibo who he would pick and Yibo says: I think Ruolai is pretty good
MXTX Diaspora May is an event in which Chinese diaspora creators come together to share the diverse aspects of Chinese culture, as well as connect with each other over lived experiences.
Through the promotion and creation of these fanworks, we hope to encourage thoughtful self-reflection throughout the broader fandom, especially with regard to embracing cultural humility and dismantling structures and behaviors that allow racism to flourish, both in fandom and in real life.
Support of MXTX Diaspora May will go a long way towards creating a more inclusive and open climate in our shared online spaces, especially for creators who rarely get their voices heard in the English-speaking side of fandom. We aim to uplift the unique voices and stories of our participants, and we encourage anyone who enjoys works from this event to share in the celebration of Chinese culture from Chinese creators.
Any creator with Chinese heritage may participate in MXTX Diaspora May. Event rules and work requirements may be found at the link below.
Please note one major change from last year: all works must be complete at the time of posting. We will not accept works-in-progress into our collection.
Event Rules & FAQ
Our prompts this year are based on 四象, the Four Symbols, also known as the Four Guardians, Four Gods, or Four Auspicious Beasts. You can find an overview of the Four Symbols on wiki.
Sub-prompts for the event will be posted soon.
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Sign-ups will run from March 17, 2024 to April 9, 2024.
Sign-Up Form
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Feel free to check out our collections from previous years. Comments and kudos are always appreciated by creators!
2021 (MDZS only)
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We look forward to sharing and celebrating everyone's works from the 2024 event!
His "Border • Boundary" (边 • 界), embarking upon the "train" for Milan, "circling" around for a few days.
Experiencing: the fine drizzle and drifting dust of the city's scenery cleansed by the rain;
Listening: to the blazing grand surging waves on the streets of another country;
Recording: the sunset in the fading light of dusk, capturing a moment of tranquility for Xiao Zhan
Walking: in the grand "circle" of this "world" (世界)
With each passing moment, surpassing a new "border".
山不让尘, 川不辞盈
智行方圆, 曲中求直
(The closing phrase in the video)
山不让尘，川不辞盈
Mountains do not heed the dust which form them,
Rivers do not retreat from the trickles that fill them
All great things come from all the small things that we accumulate, from a Jin dynasty poem by Zhang Hua (I've incorporated some of the preceding lines into the translation).
智行方圆, 曲中求直
Wisdom is in knowing the perimeters (more literal: square-circle) for the journey taken,
Seek straightness within the curve
Have a clear goal and hold firmly to your principles in what you do, even in different settings,
Adapt to the curveballs we encounter to find the straight path forward. (This last phrase actually comes from one of the principles in tai chi. In order to deliver a move, one must find the balance between moving through a circle and moving forward in a straight line; the principle of yin and yang is at the foundation of tai chi and is what is at the core of this phrase too.)
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