I saw the movie by chance and loved it. I lucked into this article.
Its heartwarming.
Wei Minzhi: Movie Acting Changed Her Life
June 18, 2007
http://www.10thnpc.org.cn/english/features/cw/214270.htm
The poster of Not One Less
Eight years ago, the village girl, Wei Minzhi, from Hebei Province
became world-famous overnight for the role she played in a film
directed by Zhang Yimou, Not One Less (Yi Ge Dou Bu Neng Shao).
However, Wei has not appeared in many movies since then.
Eight years have elapsed and Wei is now studying on a full scholar****p
at Brigham Young University - Hawaii.
World-famous Overnight
If it were not for that film, Wei would have had to leave school at an
early age, tending sheep, and then getting married, like any other
girls in her village in Chicheng County, Hebei Province. However, a
chance encounter changed the course of her life.
Wei was born to an ordinary family in a mountainous village. She led a
poor and plain life. Before she was 13 years old, she had never
stepped out of the mountains. She recalled, "At that time, I felt that
the whole world was only as big as my village."
In 1998, 13-year-old Wei graduated from primary school. That very
summer, Not One Less was being shot in a neighboring village. They
were casting the main character–a 10-year-old village teacher.
One afternoon, Wei and her sister caught the attention of an assistant
director. Wei was not shy in front of strangers. When she was asked to
act out a part in the film, she did amazingly well and stood out among
over 20 thousand other candidates. She was therefore selected as the
leading actress.
Several months later when the filming was done, Wei returned to her
school and life as if everything had happened. At that time, she did
not realize the film would for ever change her life.
Not One Less became popular around China a year later. The film won a
Gold Lion Award at the 56th Venice International Film Festival. Wei's
acting turned out to be a great success. She was remembered fondly by
audiences. Her nickname quickly became "Teacher Wei".
Unable to Attend Beijing Film Academy
As time passed by, the influence of Not One Less faded away from
people's mind. However, Zhang Yimou planted a seed in the young girl's
heart and she began to fight her way into the movie industry.
Zhang Yimou said that Wei was not of the right making to be an
actress. Wei knows that she is "not as beautiful as those actresses
and her body not as good". But after several years, she still cannot
forget that intimate feeling with movies she had through that single
fortunate acting experience. Wei defiantly stated, "If I cannot act, I
will direct. Anyways, I will not give up."
In February 2004, Wei attended the entrance examination for the School
of Directing at Beijing Film Academy, but in the second round she was
eliminated.
Shortly afterwards, a PhD candidate from the US was looking for her.
His Chinese name is "Chen Ergang" and he was an associate professor at
Brigham Young University–Hawaii. In 2004, Chen Ergang came to China to
learn more about the educational idea "not one child to be left
behind". He thought of the Chinese film Not One Less, so he looked for
Wei who was then a student at Xi'an International Studies University.
He was deeply impressed by Wei, seeing that she still looked exactly
like the leading role she played in the film–persistent and romantic.
Study in Hawaii
On August 19, 2006, Wei Minzhi went to Brigham Young University-Hawaii
for further study. Brigham Young is a famous university. It has
attracted outstanding students from around the world. Good luck
favored her again and she was offered a full-scholar****p. Every year,
among thousands of applicants, only one tenth are admitted into the
university, and it is even harder to get a full scholar****p.
Wei leads a happy life at the Brigham Young University-Hawaii in the
US and continues striving for her director dream.
At school, each time she met the University's president and was asked:
"Are you used to life here? Are you homesick?" Wei's answer was always
the same, "I am very happy!"
In the beginning, her English was poor. She could not even understand
simple English expressions. She studied English for two years with the
help of two American teachers. Her hard work paid off. Now, she can
even act as an interpreter for others who don't' speak English. She is
the leader of the University's choir and the vice director of the
University's touring troupe. She is also working at the University's
television station, editing videos and films. Her next plan is to take
art cl*****. After all these years, Wei has continued pursuing her
dream to become a director.
On May 18, the Brigham Young University-Hawaii Concert Choir toured
China. Wei hosted the event. Her fluent English set her apart from her
former self - the little village girl in the film. When she appeared
on the stage and introduced herself, she received thunderous applause
from the audience.
The ugly duckling has grown into a white swan. Wei said, whatever she
has achieved so far is not only due to good luck, but also due to her
hard work and courage. She believes that op****tunity favors those who
are prepared.
(Women of China June 18, 2007)
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