As movie industry folks from two coasts-three regions are making the film Mei Lanfang together, a global press conference was held in Beijing. Director Chen Kaige, Leon, Zhang Ziyi, Gillian Chung, and others were in attendance. This film is regarded as Chen Kaige's return after the flopped The Promise, and attention is focused on. Chen Kaige continued to emphasize that he wanted to film Lanfang peacefully and steadily. Presently, awards are not in consideration.
As the key person in the film, Leon plays Beijing opera master Mei Lan Fang. Without a doubt, everybody is paying the most attention to. Leon poured out to the press that to act this role better, he started flying to Beijing to start preparing last year, "Actually, I was uncertain if I was going to act at that time, but because I really like this role and hope to work with director Chen Kaige, I committed to it in the end."
Leon expressed that acting the role of Mei Lanfang is not an easy one. Because Lanfang is a Beijing opera master, all innermost feelings must be turned into artistic qualities of him in order to achieve the director's requests. In this aspect, Leon has been applying his point of views. Besides reading books and watching DVDs, he spoke a lot with people working in opera and listened to what they say, slowly absorbing Mr. Mei's qualities.
Leon also acknowledged that in order for his hands to look closed to professional Beijing opera dans's hands on camera, he bought a specially-made hand care machine. He smiled and said that he does have one, but he can't allow his hands to expose to too much sun and his hands aren't that rough.
Regarding the outside questioning Leon's ability, director Chen Kaige expressed that Leon really suits the role, "I depend on intuition when looking for actors. I feel Leon is a quiet person. Lanfang's humbleness and politeness can be found in him. Usually, I said to him to believe in himself, because we believe he can act this role."