#lu yang

WANG YIBO as LU YANG

Director Lu Yang iFeng interview. The parts where he talked about Bai Yu and his character Xun Xu in The Wind Blows From Longxi.

Lu Yang has watched some of Bai Yu's previous works and considers him a good actor. Bai Yu has a natural stubbornness which suits the character (of Xun Xu).

But because of that, it took him quite some effort persuading Bai Yu into playing the role. "Bai Yu is exceptionally interesting and funny. (In the process of trying to persuade him), he was always talking about the character with me. He had many things to verify with us (about the character) and he wanted to find out the more interesting and profound part (of the character). He's a person of clear ideas. He wouldn't take a project because it has big budget or a good platform. He's an actor who starts from creativity. He likes creation and wants to find fun and challenge in creation.

Lu Yang said with a smile: "We weren't familiar with each other. He is an introvert, so am I. At first, when we were together, our communication wasn't very effective. Then we talked by phone several times and I tried to convince him and because of some lucky event, he finally came."

Bai Yu's own cheerfulness and positivity add to the character. "Bai Yu has a kind of innocence. When dealing with character relationships, he will add some of his own colors." Lu Yang described, "Sometimes I will say, "Old Bai, keep it away, your own things are shown again." Yes. I said 'It's a good thing, you need to control it a little bit, you're being too happy', he's a very lovely person."

Bai Yu's character Xun Xu had only one fight scene so they only did traning on the spot. "Because Xun Xu worked in the Jingzhou navy, and several generations of his family members have been spies of the Zhuge clan in Langya, what we designed for him was a short, flat, and quick melee combat style, using a short knife. The most important aspects for a fighting are: coordination, rhythm, and explosiveness, and Bai Yu has done a good job in all three."

As someone who works for the anti-intelligence department, some audiences do not appreciate Xun Xu's innocence and his working against leaders' plan. Lu Yang's view on this: "Xun Xu is not stupid. He understands survival style and rules under such environment, he just doesn't want to do it. He is clear on right and wrong and refuses to pretend to be confused. His friend tells him to stop and he understands it, but woudn't stand it. His attitude seems to be out of place, but that's what attracts people like Chen Gong. Chen Gong has seen too many people, and he sees Xun Xu as a rare animal, so rare that he thinks he is too precious."

Lu Yang was surprised at the chemistry of the two leads. "I didn't expect that Brother Kun would like Bai Yu so much on the first day. They naturally formed an atmosphere of the characters in the play."

There were a few very important emotional scenes, Lu Yang didn't look at the monitor, but watched them perform at a distance of less than two meters. "It's so close, I can see the slightest changes." Especially in the last scene of the two, Lu Yang didn't have complicated expectations at first, but the effect moved him so much, beyond his imagination, it was an accident.

Xun Xu and Liu Ying's relationship is very restrained and nuanced. Lu Yang said that Xun Xu is a direct person but he's a bit shy in romantic relationship. This idea is inspired by Bai Yu so that the character is closer to his own.

In the drama, Xun Xu shows restraint and politeness towards Liu Ying. On one hand, he is attracted to her, and on the other hand, he is worried that his love is unrequited. The relationship between the two is more like a call for life, "Xun Xu inadvertently realized that he and Liu Ying are the same: both are constantly being used for the greater good, and will soon disappear. He has great respect to Liu Ying."

The drama version of Zhu Geliang cares about the people and respects life and Xun Xu is the heir of Zhu Geliang's spirit. The drama's focus is on small people, their choices and fate under "the greater good" as Zhu Geliang said to young Xun Xu: "Every person on this land is worth 10000 pieces of gold. You should cherish them."

Wang Yibo as Lu Yang in "My Youth and I" movie