Exclusive Interview to Jiang Wenli

TO SHANGHAI TV FESTIVAL

It is my honor to chair the Jury Panel for the TV series and TV Film sections of the 17th Shanghai TV Festival Magnolia Award. In my limited experience as a jury, I figure out that excellent works are the ones which were universally recognized and combined with artistic quality, appreciation and humanity. These works exceed the boundary of nation and language because the feelings of human beings are connected together. The TV series in China are changing and flourishing day by day. It will be an unforgettable experience for me to discuss and elect with those outstanding artists. We will accord with the consistent authority and equity of the Magnolia Award and elect the most excellent works. Jiang Wenli, Jury Chair,the 17th Shanghai TV Festival Magnolia Award

Jiang Wenli:
If the Production is Good,
We\'ll Share the Same Opinion

By Pan Xin, Daily News

Jiang Wenli has fond memories of the Shanghai International Film Festival and Shanghai TV Festival. She won Best Actress Award at the 14th STVF Magnolia for Golden Anniversary and at last year\'s SIFF her debut film, Lan, won Best Asian New Talent Film Award. Jiang was a juror in 2005 but this year will lead the STVF Jury Panel and Daily News interviewed her by phone before she set out for Shanghai. Despite receiving many awards, Jiang is modest about her achievements and sees the role of Jury Panel Chair as a good chance to learn. She indicated she would apply an audience perspective to choose the most impressive TV work.


Daily News: You won awards twice at the SIFF and STVF. Do you feel different this time as a Jury member?
Jiang: I feel the pressures actually! But I\'m pretty glad to chair the Jury Panel and I\'ve been preparing for it by watching the entries.

Daily News: So have you decided on your preferred programs or actors and actresses?
Jiang: Yes. I think TV series on the mainland have made great progress in production and filming in recent years. Some series attract me from the 1st episode.

Daily News: You were a Jury member of the 8th Shanghai International Film Festival in 2005, but this year you\'ll chair the panel. Have you detected any differences in judging standards over the years?
Jiang: I learned a lot by talking with senior screenwriters and directors at the SIFF in 2005. The TV festival has a few differences from the film festival because films are from countries all over the world but TV series are mostly from the mainland. Though films are usually big-budget productions, TV series are closer in plot to audiences\' daily life. The stories and characters are important.

Daily News: You are an actress and recently became a new director, so when you judge entries do you think like an actress or a director?
Jiang: I\'ll give comments from the view of an audience. I think good TV series can grab our attention.

Daily News: How do you handle it if you disagree with other Jury members?
Jiang: The SIFF and STVF are very fair in judging awards. In 2005, we would have further discussion after the secret ballot if our opinions were different. But if the production is good, we\'ll share the same opinion.

Daily News: What influence do you think STVF has on domestic market TV series?
Jiang: Actually I\'m not familiar with the market, but the STVF has already been a good platform for domestic TV series. Also, as the SIFF opens right after the STVF, I think it\'s a good forum for us to learn more.

Daily News: You have done no new TV series in the past three years since Golden Anniversary, but your series When Happiness Knocks has been screened recently. Are you now focusing on films and which kind of TV series would attract you to join?
Jiang: It\'s true that I did a lot of films and had no time to do TV series. But good scripts and characters will always attract me, no matter they\'re in films or TV series. I prefer series about realistic themes because they\'re closer to life and easier to perform.

Daily News: Your debut film Lan won the Best Asian New Talent Film Award at last year\'s SIFF. How do you balance the role as a director and an actress? Also, what\'s your next project?
Jiang: It\'s very hard to be a director, so after finishing that film, I thought that was the last time. But it received lots of prizes after being released. I hope to make another film in the future if I get a good script.

Daily News: You can devote yourself to a role, such as putting on weight for Beginning of Spring and riding a pig in Best Love. What\'s your idea of a good actress?
Jiang: One of the reasons I like my career is that I can experience different life styles. I\'m ordinary in the real world, a good daughter, a good mother, and a good wife, so I\'m interested in roles that contrast strikingly with daily life. I want to explore my potential by trying different roles.

Daily News: You have performed many characters in your works. Is there anyone that you dearly want to try in the future?
Jiang: It\'s hard to say. We put our best into the role after seeing the scripts. I\'ve tried most kinds of roles in the past and I\'d like to try acting as a male if possible (laughing).