Director Hao Jie and "My Original Dream" cast attend a press conference for the Tokyo International Film Festival. (Photo : Zimbio)
It's an important time in Chinese actor Bao Bei'er's career, as he has two films scheduled for release on the same week.
However, the comedy actor is prioritizing the promotion of "My Original Dream," a film which stars him as the lead role.
"My Original Dream" is a coming-of-age story about a man who was born in the 1980s and goes to Beijing to pursue a film career.
The film is directed by Hao Jie, whose directorial debut "Single Man" in 2010 was critically acclaimed, winning several major prizes, including the Special Jury Prize in the Tokyo Filmex Festival.
"Bao Bei'er is a man of cheeky humor. He often shows on Weibo how he's a typical, good Chinese man. I know him very well. He is actually impulsive, and is very lustful in the movie. This film is outstandingly funny because Bao Bei'er is detestable, moody, which other young adult dramas may not have," Hao said.
Hao, who also wrote the screenplay, said that the film was based on his personal experiences.
Bao only portrayed the adult version of his role, while the female lead Sun Yi plays her character from youth to her older years.
"The movie used to be titled 'My Wet Dreams' when I first agreed to act in it, and I didn't realize it's a young adult film," said Bao. "I've also asked the director why I can't act in the role from his younger years to an elderly man like Sun Yi, for I think it's not difficult for me to portray a young middle-school student. The director explained the reason is he thought in a man's mind and dream, the look of his first love would remain the same."
Sun, Bao's 21-year-old leading lady, used to be a piano teacher and is much less experienced in the film industry. This is her first lead role.
"I act from a young girl to a married woman which spans more than a dozen years. It's easy to play a young girl since I have that experience. The most difficult part for me to portray is pregnancy and giving birth simply because I'm still young and single," said Sun.
Last month, "My Original Dream" was screened at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Bao's other film scheduled to hit theaters this week is "Young for You," which is also a young adult film in which people from the post-'90s generation reminisce their time in college by celebrating a day before graduation.
