Zhou Yiwei Joins the 15th BJIFF as the Mentor of the Year for the BE SEEN Training Camp: Craft and Life
For almost every actor, the career dream begins with an unforgettable face on the silver screen. As the images unfold, the magic of performance is not solely defined by the brilliance of the story - more often than not, it is the character itself that determines whether an actor will be remembered.
As an art form that cannot be easily summarized by scientific formulas, the emergence of great actors does not come with a detailed instruction manual. Instead, they often follow the path forged by predecessors through the fog, seeking the distant stars. Untapped acting talents may simply need guidance from a mentor to blossom into the next screen sensation.
To help young actors refine their acting skills and build a correct professional outlook, this year's BE SEEN Youth Actors Support Program has invited Zhou Yiwei as the Mentor of the Year of the training camp, to guide the growth of young actors with his practical experience and life wisdom.
Mentor of the Year for the BE SEEN Training Camp: Zhou Yiwei
About Zhou Yiwei: Chinese mainland film and television actor, graduated from the Beijing Film Academy, widely known to audiences for his lead role in the TV drama The Sun Shines Like Bloom. His roles in numerous hit films, including Dying to Survive, The Tipping Point, Brotherhood of Blades, The Founding of an Army, and Beginning of The Great Revival, received rave reviews from the public. Zhou has also starred in popular television dramas including The Longest Day in Chang'an, Introduction of The Princess, Lonely Boat, and Riverside Code at Qingming Festival, leaving a lasting impression with his performances. Dedicated to his craft, he brings a professional approach to portraying the complexities of human nature. His lead role in the touring play The Pillowman has received widespread acclaim from both industry insiders and audiences alike.
▍ An important lesson to teach young actors
The BE SEEN Program is the first actor-focused development program of the 15th Beijing International Film Festival. The inaugural edition focuses on adapting classic films into stage plays to help young actors return to the fundamentals of acting, reshape characters on stage, and connect with the industry. Recently, the BE SEEN Program has announced four plays: Contratiempo, Dislocation, The Gunshots of Secrecy Bureau, and Why Brother, He Bi.
As the Mentor of the Year for the training camp, Zhou Yiwei's role goes beyond guiding young actors in performance techniques and craft. For many who have chosen acting as a profession, it is more than just a job - it becomes an inseparable part of their very being. One of the most valuable lessons Zhou hopes to impart is how to stay true to one's passion amidst the inevitable solitude and spotlight that come with the profession.
▍ Nurturing future possibilities with personal experience
During his early career, before he became famous, Zhou Yiwei often watched Stephen Chow's King of Comedy to inspire himself. His journey from an unknown actor to a celebrated star resonates with newcomers: after graduating from the Beijing Film Academy, he went through a two-year slump where his acquired knowledge seemed inapplicable; when there were no opportunities to perform, he took on various roles, such as camera tracking assistant, sound boom operator, and even a host. It is precisely because his success was not a matter of pure chance that he can offer hope to aspiring actors, showing them that with dedication to their craft, they will eventually be seen by the audience.
Today, Zhou Yiwei's tangible career path, like the inspiration he once drew from the character Yin Tianchou, will help more young actors understand the essence of "An Actor's Self-Cultivation" and provide them with the confidence to refine themselves and shine. In this intergenerational inheritance, we will surely witness once again the penetrating charm of performance on stage.