My Dubbing Career (CD) Collector's Edition

Author: Su Xi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Every voice actor of that generation was imbued with an extraordinary talent, as if they had bet all their emotions on their voice acting career. Moreover, how did these excellent voices find their place? I am deeply grateful to the genius voice actors of that era. They were like a small "external" sky within the cultural system, spreading the sounds of humanity from above. — Chen Danqing
Su Xi's voice remains as melodious as ever, tinged with a touch of weariness, yet even more captivating. Her voice is bright, grand, and genuine. I believe her voice can brighten those around her, and it must be a comfortable experience to interact with such a person. I truly envy her family and friends. Although I also have such loved ones, when it comes to beautiful things, who wouldn't want more?
Regarding the current state of voice acting, Su Xi does not express too much melancholy about the inevitable passing of time. Instead, she exudes a calm and steady composure. This attitude toward life is something I deeply admire and long to possess. I also yearn for the days of my old age. — Sai Ren
The translation of "Up to the Stars"
That group of people bought cabbage, rode bicycles, bought monthly tickets to go to and from politics, held group meetings, and read newspapers. They lived just like every Chinese person. Why, then, could they enter the space of Jane Eyre, War and Peace, and Les Misérables? Those people stood firmly on Chinese soil, yet they also lived in a world above the clouds. — Northern Film Warrior
Many of us have had some memories of the solid, rich, and meticulously crafted golden sounds of the past that are deeply etched in our minds. Yet, those memories are slowly and helplessly corroded by reality. I still want to hold onto the beautiful voices in my memories and remain a devoted voice enthusiast. — Yan Feng
The world Su Xi depicts far exceeds her personal experiences. In the first section, "Charming Anecdotes of the Past," she writes about the early spring weather of culture in 1957, the origin of "internal reference films," and her own moments of innocence and enlightenment. Yan Feng's Good Voice has been widely circulated online, with a small passage that reads: "Ironically, many of the excellent dubbed films were completed during the culturally barren period of extreme leftism, such as The Blue Bridge, The Sound of Music, and Jane Eyre. At that time, they were made as internal reference films for the 'Gang of Four' to enjoy. Actors like Qiu Yuefeng, such as us outstanding voice actors, used a serious artistic attitude to dub numerous classic films, seen by only a few people in the world." For those who remember this, reading Su Xi's chapters will surely bring many artistic and non-artistic insights.
The third section, "My Predecessors, My Comrades," wrote about more than thirty people, from the former factory head Chen Xuyi to Wei Yuping, Qiu Yuefeng, Bi Ke, Li Zi, and then Cao Lei, Liu Guangning, Tong Zirong, Shi Rong, Shen Xiaoqian—these names, household in the audience, are almost all present in her book. She writes about this group of people's days in the sacred and almost mysterious Yujia Road recording studio, or depicting divinity, or mimicking forms, or solemn or humorous, effortlessly guiding us back to those closed yet open years, where so many innocent and pure youthful memories are buried.
The second section is a set of notes on dubbing directors and film art, including "What Do Dubbing Directors Actually Do?," "My Views on Dubbed Films," "Dialogue: A Thousand Ways to Read," and "Psychology Before the Microphone." In these chapters, Su Xi's very unique and outstanding side quietly emerges. As a dubbing director, how to work with translators to revise scripts, fully grasp the original intent of the filmmakers, how to assemble an actor's team, and how to guide actors into character at the recording session—why is it that great dubbed films should make the audience forget the existence of voice actors? Her directorial art, her work experience, and her rich scholarly aura, accompanied by one decryption after another, make this relatively professional text particularly valuable. Those examples and characters she picks up effortlessly are both familiar and fresh to the reader, making the reading experience anything but dull. Even, I dare say, it will captivate you.