The movie "Table", produced by Shanghai Film Group and starring Wang Chuanjun and Jiang Shuying, premiered in Shanghai on March 12 and will be released nationwide on White Day on March 14. The film accurately pokes at the "hookup culture" of today's young people, focusing on the daily trivial matter of "eating", using food as a carrier to tell the story of Lu Shigu and Zhang Jiayi following their taste buds to choose what they want from meal to meal. At the premiere roadshow, director and screenwriter Wu Jing expressed special thanks to the city of Shanghai and Shanghai Film Group for their support. “Shanghai’s local cuisine and Shanghai culture are very interesting. It perfectly combines Lower Riba people and Yangchun Baixue. This is what Shanghainese are so particular about.”
Road show scene, photo by Lai Xinlin
As a Shanghai-themed movie that was shot and filmed in Shanghai, you can see the fireworks on the streets of Shanghai, special delicacies, and some Shanghainese dialogues that are full of life. It is expected to once again set off a craze for traveling and tasting Shanghai with movies after "Love Myth", "Good Stuff" and "Vegetable and Meat Wontons".
Focus on young people's "riding culture"
At the road show in the Thousand-person Hall of Shanghai Cinemas, Wu Jing said that during the filming, he often thought of the scene when he came to Shanghai three or four years ago to collect and create works. At that time, she lived on Taiyuan Road. She passed Laodi Noodle Restaurant every day and saw many people queuing up. "There are so many small restaurants in Shanghai. Because of the small space, young people are forced to work together. This was my original intention in writing this play. I love Shanghai's human touch and community culture, and hope to see more Many people fall in love with this city. "In her opinion, she chose food as the entry point because the word "taste" is very interesting. "Taste" is a particularly intuitive feeling. Taste can reach the soul and rise to the "tao". "
Shanghai Cinemas, photo by Lai Xinlin
Nowadays, "hookup culture" has become a popular social choice among young people. In "Share the Table", Lu Shigu, played by Wang Chuanjun, and Zhang Jiayi, played by Jiang Shuying, shared a table for dinner. Because of the restaurant owner's mistake in the checkout, they added their contact information and gradually became food partners, starting a journey of healing together from "food acquaintances" to soul confidants. The two are both actors in Shanghai, and they are also theater classmates who have known each other for 22 years. They had such a tacit understanding on the set that they felt like they were back in college acting class. On the eve of the premiere road show, they also teamed up to accept interviews with the media. They complemented each other on every question and answered each other's questions in a relaxed atmosphere.
Wang Chuanjun
Jiang Shuying remembered that when she was putting on makeup, the makeup artist talked about looking for a "travel partner" when traveling. In her opinion, young people are under great pressure in work and life nowadays, and finding a partner is a tacit relationship between supply and demand, which can avoid unnecessary troubles in life. "Taking culture not only happens in Shanghai, it is a common state among young people today. I believe it can arouse universal resonance."
Jiang Shuying, photo by Lai Xinlin
Wang Chuanjun also believes that rides are a kind of sustenance and power that can help relieve stress and lead a relaxed life. "When I was young, my neighbors were very close to each other. Now we are getting farther and farther apart physically. As time goes by, we need playmates and someone to sit next to and eat with us. Usually I will also find a partner in Werewolf."
Wang Chuanjun, photo by Lai Xinlin
Jiang Shuying
"Table" is written and directed by emerging director Wu Jing, with well-known director Zhang Lu as producer, starring Wang Chuanjun and Jiang Shuying, and starring Li Xueqin, Zheng Yunlong, Fu Seoul, and Liu Jia. The film is like a prose poem about life, with a fresh and soothing style. "I have always wanted to act in a film that slows down, and I also want to participate in local film shooting in Shanghai, so that I can go back to Shanghai to work for a while." Lu Shigu, played by Wang Chuanjun, is a programmer, which is different from the extreme characters he created in films such as "All or Nothing" and "Nanjing Photo Studio". "If you use an animal metaphor, it might be a turtle, slow and leisurely."
Zhang Jiayi, played by Jiang Shuying, is a book editor. In order to play this role well, she found a publishing house and worked from morning to night for seven days. "I sat in classes and meetings with the editor and got to know the state of the publishing house staff. At that time, there was a girl sitting next to me. Zhang Jiayi's state basically came from her state. She looks soft and frail on the outside, but she is actually a very firm and plump girl on the inside." When talking about how to interpret Zhang Jiayi, Jiang Shuying said that the core is to see the growth in this girl and see her more sublimated understanding of emotions.
Experience Shanghai in depth with the movie
One of the themes of the movie is "eating". Before the interview, Wang Chuanjun picked up a plate of snacks on the table and distributed them to the reporters one by one. In his opinion, the two protagonists in the film found comfort in each other through "eating". "Lu Shigu has his own family problems, and Zhang Jiayi has his own family problems. The two of them did not help each other accomplish anything. The knot was opened by themselves. But in the process of opening, each other accompanied each other, there was a meal partner, and the food that never changed, took you through that difficult time."
"Table Sharing" Poster
"Love it well, eat it well" is a slogan of the movie. In the movie, Lu Shigu and Zhang Jiayi both like to eat fried pork liver with soy sauce and noodles with scallion oil, and they have their own sense of ritual about food. Love of "eating" is also what attracts Wang Chuanjun to the character. "In the movie, Lu Shigu's father is gone, and in reality, my mother is gone too, and she is a chef. Lu Shigu loves to eat the meatball soup made by his father. I also like the dishes my mother cooks, and I will learn to make it myself."
Jiang Shuying was also attracted by the character's "love to eat". When filming, she couldn't help but think of her childhood memories of food. "At that time, I had a little pocket money. After school, I would buy stinky tofu and eat skewers. Every time my father saw me coming back with sauce on my mouth, he would say, you went to steal food again. "In the movie, there is a mutton noodle shop opposite the restaurant where the two are sharing a table. The mutton is dipped in sweet sauce. "When I was eating that dish, I remembered that my father often bought this for me when I was young. Food will bring back memories of a certain period in our lives, and the experience of that period of life will also come with it. "
Road show scene, photo by Lai Xinlin
"Braised pork, braised bamboo shoots in oil, braised luosu (eggplant)…" Upon hearing the reporter's request to introduce the specialty dishes in Shanghainese, Wang Chuanjun came up with it at his fingertips. He specially emphasized the word "luosu". Many young people no longer know such an authentic pronunciation. In the movie, most of the dialogue between Lu Shigu and Zhang Jiayi was in Shanghainese. Acting in Shanghainese, walking the familiar streets together and looking at the mottled shadows of the sycamore trees made him feel very comfortable and comfortable.
As a native of Shanghai, Wang Chuanjun feels that Shanghai is a very tolerant place. Filming this film also allowed him to see the changes in Shanghai. "There was a scene that was filmed on the rooftop. Looking at the Suzhou River at night, I felt that Shanghai has changed a lot. The surrounding green belts, fitness trails and other facilities have become very complete." He said that the Shanghai-related films produced by Shanghai Film Studio during this period are like business cards of the city, allowing more people to see, understand and experience Shanghai.
road show scene
"I have never been to the front section of Suzhou River before. It is quite niche. The surrounding environment is very good. There are not many people. You can walk, run, and see the 'three-piece suit.'" When talking about the same check-in spot recommended in the movie, Jiang Shuying also recommended Suzhou River. "I hope the audience can find their own life partner through the movie, and also see modern Shanghai and Shanghai's food."
At the road show, Wang Chuanjun said: "Everyone must be craving for a bowl of scallion noodles right now. I believe Shanghai's fried pork liver will be out of stock in the next week. I hope everyone likes this film, just like every encounter with food."
Reporters learned from Shanghai Film that "Table" will launch a Shanghai food check-in map activity with some gourmet brands in Shanghai. During the movie's release, you can get the film's co-branded packages at some stores of the cooperative brands. In some stores, you can enjoy designated discounts with the ticket stubs of the movie "Table" from any theater in Shanghai and any show.
The movie "Table" is produced by Shanghai Film (Group) Co., Ltd., Matt Film (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., First Line (Shanghai) Film and Television Culture Co., Ltd., Shanghai Taopiao Piao Film and Television Culture Co., Ltd., and jointly produced by Shanghai Mengyang Culture Co., Ltd.
