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Um. Today is November the 14th, 2018. It's uh 1:10 p.m. in the afternoon. We are interviewing Lily Chen Foster at her home in Houston for Houston Asian

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American Archive. I am Xingyi Li. My name is Sunee Kate Quirante. Hi. So for the record, could you tell me your name? It's... um. My name is Lily Chen Foster.

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Um. My professional name is Lily Chen. My Chinese name is Chen Ye. And when and where were you born? Um, I'm born in China, Shanghai.

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Um, so can you describe your childhood experiences in China? Ok. Uh, I think I have a great memory about my childhood. And- do I look at the camera or look at you? Look at the camera, fine yea.

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Ok. Um yeah, uh wh-when I was a kid in China, at that time it's very, uh, kind of very rich. Um, for me is happy. Uh, just before the Cultural Revolution.

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Before the, um, like, uh, the Natural Disaster. Uh, so I was a little, everything is alright. My parents were working so.

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Until, um, 1966, I was second grade. Then the Cultural Revolution started. Ok so what were your parents' occupation before Cultural Revolution?

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Ok my father was an engineering working for the Shanghai Coal and Mine Research Company. My mom was a CPA for Shanghai Power Company. So how many siblings do you have?

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I have one brother, younger brother. Ok. Do you um, took care- did you take care of him like for your parents when you were a kid? Yes. I do. I remember uh...

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He is four years younger than me. And uh, I remember one time uh, there was afternoon school, big rain. I probably- he is like kinderg-kindergarten.

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I'm like- No he is preschool. Three years old. I'm like a kindergarten or first, I think. Yeah, four years. Like a first grade or the

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kindergarten, whatever. Um I remember I carry him back home. I was very little, yeah, because I love him so much you know? And I feel like as a big sister, I have to protect him, so I carry

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him home. And uh you know that time, we all played in the-in the one neighborhood, you know, backyard. You always as a kid.

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Not like here, right now, people play game and watching T. V. That time we don't have that kind of things. So sometimes, because he was a little, some other kids probably beat him or whatever. Bully him. I would

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laugh it out. Before my parents come home, I would take him to other kids’ home, to knock the door, to tell the parents— your son beat my brother. So I feel like a- just like- I just want to help

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him... Like parents tell the kids not beat my brother anymore. Stuff like that. Can you describe the neighborhood that you grew up in? Yeah I feel like uh- I remember we- we have a big apartment, living

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17 families. That big building was only owned by one family. But that time they- after '49 China liberation and they went

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to Taiwan. So I think my parents and my father's company just have that. Think about before, only one family, they have lot of servants. Now become 17 families there.

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So we live in the first floor. Uh, one room has like a four... four kitchen… four, like, stove. So when you’re cooking, you’re all the neighbors—it was very funny you see what

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other people cook, how they cook. You know they talk about things. So that- that's… you know, neighborhood. Everybody knows each other.

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You know, what you eat today- tonight. Um so the 17, 17 families share a same kitchen? Uh, not the same kitchen.

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One level like 4. And the second level you know. Some family is very few people, like one person, two persons.

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So they just- outside they go. That I remember they have a thi-third floor. Like third level’s. Kind of very nice house.

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But I just cannot believe it right now, cannot even think about 17 families’ here. Um so were you having a good relationship with your neighbors? Um, did you make any friends?

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Yes we do. As a girl, we- I learn from other, uh girls like older than me. I like knitting. I learn,

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especially during the summer time, I can sit there and knitting for my grandmother. My grandmother was big on knitting. They say, can make you, can sit there for long time. And I learn from other, a girl next-

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next door to me. I can make shoes from the scratch from anything—from the bottom and from, like a black cotton shoes.

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And right now thinking about it, probably hefty you know. And it's kind of incredible, you can make the things you use. Uh, worn clothes—take off all the use. Uh, use flour as the

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glue—flour, you know, pas-paste. And then make them every layer stackable. And put outside under the sun, let them dry. And you cutting the shoe bottom size with many

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many layers. They use a big needle, have tie them. Every stitch, probably hundred stitches all down there. And then you have to make the top one. Kind of an art I

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think right now. I don't- but I can do it. And also I learn how to do the crochet. Uh, I make lots of things for- for the tea, teapot, underneath or whatever.

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Something like that. Yeah we- and we play with the neighborhood boys and girls. We don't have much, um fancy stuff but we play. I remember I like my favorite game was counting for 24, or 21.

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And yo-you- you use all the numbers and, uh see who can counting first. You just pu-push this. And you gonna tell them how become

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21— uh, 6 + 1, and then - 3— 21. So you have to tell them. So who is fast, winning. I think this is good

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for your brain and so my maths is very good. So do you have uh, extended family members who live with you? Yes I- I live with my parents, my brother, and also, my grandfather—from my father's father.

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And we live together. I have my mom's parents live in different houses. Like uh, you have to take bus like 5 stops. We visited there every Sunday. China at the time doesn't have two days’ weekend.

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Only Sunday. Now they have Saturday and Sunday and like here too. But that time, every Sunday, we go to grandparents’ home, we call lǎo lǎo , lǎo lǎo’s family to have dinner.

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So we live with my grandfather and my grandmother I never see. She died when- when my father was like uh, 15 years old. Um can you- so can you describe your primary and secondary school

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experience? Um, so your schooling experience before Cultural Revolution? Okay yeah. I- I been to the very good uh,

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kindergarten school. Preschool. So that time my kindergarten teacher recommend me and with other two girls. I think we are her favorite kids—students.

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So she recommend um, three of us go to particular school called 华二小学 . Um this is only for 5 years. Usually all the other schools uh, for elementary is 6 years, but this

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like exclusive. They have different c- textbook. Like you have to be smart, you have to pass a certain test. Then, you can go to the school, so I did. A little bit fu- far from our home because you also go to the home, go to school

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next to in your zone, y'know? But this one little bit further but it is still okay. I just walk there everyday. I have a great time for

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the first two years. Um you were only there for two years? You were only there for two years? No before she ask- before the Cultural Revolution.

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After the Cultural Revolution, wait I still in the school but things are different. You don't really learn that much. Um so what are the courses offered um in

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your primary school? What are the courses offered? Okay, yeah we- we have uh, math and Chinese and uh... and...

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art, music, and uh physic, things. Then, there was very low age. Then, later on we do have history and political , and uh, chemistry, whatever things like that.

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And then nature. The history thing is kind of weird. Not like uh, really Chinese history. We call like political, all the you learn whatever Mao have new, uh, report

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or he say something, the Cultural Revolution. We have th- so we- so kind of like a newspaper. And the newspaper, the front of a page, article. So everybody read that,

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or listen what Mao wants, wants us to know stuff like that. So my s- mm, Chinese also too. But the article is different. Article is kind of like uh- they pick up somebody like a léi fēng is a one

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soldier. You probably know it. And he died at like 19... or 21. H-He was a soldier but he- he very cheap on himself. He- he- I remember his socks have like a many many holes.

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He patch again, again. And h-his socks become very thick but he save all the money to helping other people. So we have to learn his spirit- spirit, ways to helping people, serve the people. So that's- uh that

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information is good when you uh on the bus, you gonna learn from léi fēng. You let your seats give older people or give a pregnant woman. Probably better that time now.

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Don't see learn something right now. They see some o-old people there on that bus, you pretending you didn't see it so- so I say that time I think is good time.

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So that's for your history class... um... History class, actually when we was 1st, 2nd grade, not that much because it's t-too young. You just a little bit. Through the, um through the language

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and the points stuff. But when you getting older it's not really have history. We learn history of all the Communist, uh, Party, starting

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1921. And then Long March is all the- I know very well whatever any battles with the Japanese and then with the guó mín dǎng , we called the Civil War.

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Um then until fif- ‘57 is against the ri-right wing, fǎn yòu. and uh, before- after that was a natural

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disaster we call zì rán zāi hài. Um after that then starting... Cultural Revolution starting 1966. Oh so you've been through um, sān nián zì rán zāi

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hài ... right? You've been through zì rán zāi hài ? Uh then, I was very little. Um not cannot remember but I remember my mom and my parents told me, I think my brother born the '60 so he just.

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When he born is not lucky baby. You know when I born you have everything. And everything need to have ticket. Like one family one month you probably have what,

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12 eggs, and each person have a half pound oil, cooking oil. And uh, whole family have one pound sugar. Kind of things like that—meat...

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So every— the food is very limited. So I remember my grandf- my grandmother raise a chicken that h- she self cannot save, you know, not eating enough.

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So she saved the food for the chicken so the chicken can give my mom and have a baby. So the chicken, my mom eats, very thin, bony, not very fat chicken. And you have to go to—my grandfather had to go to the

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countryside, to get direct to go to the farm with a farmer. Buy any yams, yams something. Anything you can eat. You know it- it is, 3 years is very hard.

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So I think my brother when he was a baby, he's basically not very eat enough good nutrition. So back to your education experience, so did you have any dreams when you were a primary school

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student? Yes, um I remember I want to be an engineering because I remember my father say, you learn, you 数理化— like maths, physics, and chemistry, you can- you can find a job in the world.

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So that's my— l feel like I want to like my father be an engineering. So and uh... But I like Beijing Opera.

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I think if I can be a Beijing Opera- Opera player but I never even thinking about that. That's too difficult like you have to be train when you was very young.

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So just, just like that. Family, uh my grandparents, mom side they all like it so I just like it. That's it. Have you ever dreamed about being, being an

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actress? No. That time just want to be, could be Beijing Opera . If I can be on stage play that. Didn't think about um movie or something.

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No. Have you ever imagined immigrating to the United States? No. To when I was a kid right? No. That time, we don't really know about American,

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about the outsider and the world. I think China block all the information. We don't really know. We know lot about the Russia.

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W-we see old movies at that time, and black, white. And in China has lot of buildings built by the Russian professional because we call them

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big brother, that time. And uh, also influenced by ballet. And the Russian influence ballet so... all the most Russian.

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Even songs. So how old were you when Cultural Revolution took place? Um I was second grade. I think 7.

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7 or 8 or something. Do you have any memories about it? Yes, um the worst thing was... um I remember like uh, lots of

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students make the- make it kind of a hat put on our teachers head. And uh, one woman teacher she wearing a point shoes.

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So that time, say if you wearing point shoes, it's kind of uh, against the revolution. So they cut the shoes, the point the top one. And also if your hair permed long hair, not good too.

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They cut it. The hair very short. If you wearing skirt over your knee, that's no good either. They cut them. Or you have pants, your trousers is

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very tight on your leg. They just cut all of that. So once I remember my mom come home I- she wearing cotton shoes. I said where are your shoes.

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Mom said I throw away. I said why. She said cannot wear this anymore. And uh, so uh, lots of people become short hair, and like where in army..

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um.. soldiers clothes without the red one and a star. So this become like a fashion. No color. Um ho-

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how have your family members been influenced by the Cultural Revolution? So um, my father- my grandfather live with us. It's ok. He was um, worker for the post office and before that h-he was...

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what you do called flowers, flow- florist. He can, he can plan, arrange flower. Then he become work for the post office. They, they pick

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up, pick up you— how can you qualify? It was like if you can, you can, you can say ABCD—26 characters. So he can do it. I cannot

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believe. He do it. So he been hired. But my mom’s parents is different. My mom's father was uh, working for Shanghai Customs Company. He’s the first graduate, uh special like

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a college for the custom. He's number two person. Number one is my- is his brother in law so that's a bad thing.

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So during the Cultural Revolution, they say company have like Red Guard go to the homes. They say 抄家 , just like bottom up. They just- they just take most valuable things away.

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And after one company, and anybody—Red Guard from Beijing or from any other city or anybody— just if you’ve been robbed one time, they can come your home anytime they want. So I remember my mom so upset, she put

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all her jewelry in her mother’s home. So everything's gone. Yeah and uh, I remember my grandmother burn all the, uh, kind of fan—wood fan, you know; when you

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fan, have kind of special scents, smelling. And all the beautiful purse all burnt up. Yeah, one of my, one of my aunt— my uncle's wife.

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She- when she was a high school student Chiang Kai-shek, from you know, later went to Taiwan, come to their school. And she's the one choosing,

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sending, give him flower. So she has a picture about her flower give to Chiang Kai-shek. So the Red Guard found this picture, then nightmare started.

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So she's the worst one they think they got. “Confess! You have anything rela- relationship with Chiang Kai-shek. You are spy…” or whatever thing is. So she cannot handle that.

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She, she, she tried to suicide but-but the revolver was broken, and she didn't die. But I think this is very haunting on her. Later on she has cancer.

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Died. Um so did- was your parents influenced by the Cultural Revolution? Yes, my mom was, because my grandfather home. So she like not, a “Red roots”—so not from,

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ah uh, they say— soldier, worker... uh parents. If they are like high lectured, so she cannot become a Communist Party. I think she write application but they banned

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that. My father was Communist Party. Because his father's like worker in the background, and they both graduate from Fudan University. It’s after '49 so it’s not old China is like

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new China. Um but during the Cultural Revolution even my father's family is fine, but uh, they think he- he follow the “Liú Shàoqí’s way” . So they have to be meeting every night like 9 or 9:30, come

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home, write, confess. I don't know what he confess about it. But they just write to him, you know, after you study the article, you need to write something.

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Just kind of being very weird. Um were your parents able to kept their jobs? Yes they always have their jobs. They never uh, lost job during that time.

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How do you think Cultural Revolution have influenced you? Yeah, oh big! If not Cultural Revolution, probably I'm not become actress. I probably... Also when I was kid, one thing I want to— my father told me— become engineering.

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But for me and my grandparents, other side, always want me to become a doctor— surgeon. I like surgeon doctor. If I you know uh,

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thinking our family nobody is a doctor. They want me a doctor because I'm not afraid about blood. And uh, I'm very good at hand. So I want to be a doctor.

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So how has the curriculums in school have changed before and after the Cultural Revolution? Yeah later after Cultural Revolution we still g-graded like 100; or they call five, or 优良

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whatever. You know my- my math always like a 100. But the other thing you know it’s not that much difficult. You know, cannot compare it with now, like crazy. I feel like it’s not really...

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We never really learned the real history about China—five thousand years. You don't need to memory all the dynasty. We never got that. I had to learn by yourself. Um were you allowed to read like history books?

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Um I don't think so. If your family has book, you’re still lucky, keep that. You- you just secretly read it. And outside the library, all bookstores— they don't

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sell that time. Later on they do but that time no. Um so um, when were you sent to the labor camp? After I graduate from high school. Um that was ‘73.

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Um because my parents have two kids. I am the older one. I have to go to countryside. If I don't, my brother never gonna get a job, or my parents' salary will be cut. That's Mao say that “go to the countryside, receive the

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poor and the low middle class— re-education”. And I was lucky enough, you know, not sending to a Xinjiang or some Mongolia faraway.

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So just two hours by bus. In Shanghai countryside. There was uh, paper. Um they didn't send me to the farm on the f-field, but I was sending to a paper bag

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com- uh.. factory. Make uh, cement bags. Cement— you know you make all the floor and the road, kind of uh.

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I discover cement bags, you have to be... made 800 a day. Use your hand to fold the four layers—very hard paper— you fold them, use um metal;

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press them flat, and then use kind of, a chemistry glue to glue them in uh... together. Save one hole so they can, you know, the machine, they can put down the cement inside.

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Well you were 17 by that time? Uh how old were other people who were at work? The same, my age. Yes, probably one year older or... When we go there, s-same age, yeah.

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Because we... That time uh, you graduate from high school, all the universities in China was closed. No university was open. No school. You- you, either you go the countryside or you go to,

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uh factory. Your parents have to be retired, or some parents because their children, they early retired, like- like uh, the kids can go in to continue what the parents do; or you

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go into army. That's hard choice. Not everybody can get it. Um so, um when you were in high school and middle school um, what was the schooling

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like um during Cultural Revolution? Um we have a class like 42 people. Um boy and girls. We-we do have a recess.

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They play basketball or something. We have a music class, sing all the revolution songs. We- everybody have a red book— Mao's book. During that time you come to the class,

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you have a standing-up Mao's picture was hanging at the front of the, uh row, the blackboard. We have to bow to him three times, and say "long live Chairman Mao"— three times and then you can sit down.

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School starting like that. That was very crazy. Um... yeah we also needed, have to go to countryside; old factory.

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I remember we have to work one month in factory— no class. The factory we go to is make the thermom- 热水瓶. What do you call the

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thermometer? No, the water- keep the water hot. Thermos- Yeah the contain- Thermos is big one. That big. So inside the, the factory, I learned, is like

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glass— just like in Italy they make the kind of glass. They blew them inside the glass, and then outside they have different color of- of plastic, of metal things. So we have to work there.

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Um I think I’ve been send in to a kitchen. Wash all the dishes. Kind of dishes like uh- I remember the sound’s great. When you wash the— pia, ting tang ting tang— lots of sounds.

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And then I spent one month in the countryside, and I remember that still want you to get uh... Because Mao say that “the

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student only knows study; you have to be physically, you have to be close to the farmer or the workers”. I remember there was- there was raining day, and me and my- my classmate, as a girl.

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We have to carry that buckets of, pig shit, on one big bamboo stick holding. It’s very heavy and we have to walk.

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Because that was on the big hole , we have to carry this to the boat. Between that, has a one very narrow board, like underneath it is a river. And very big rain, and very slippery, we have to

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carry this one... go. I was thinking, “oh gosh don't fall; if fall, go to the poo's pool.” That’ll be whole thing... and my friend did it.

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Fell inside... then you have to wash like three times, your whole body just smelling, just terrible. And I just told my friend, “you just ca- yo- you have to hold whatever”— she’s crying— “you have to go through that; otherwise we both there”.

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You know, got the other two pair dropped on the boat. And there was a- and we have to um... we have to go to the field to- to pick up the

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branches, kept burning for the farm family. Something like that. I don't think there's anything good can really change you know,

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just kind of like- kind of like a physical abuse for little kids. Yeah, um so do you know anyone who's like in the Red Army? Or like did your classmates join the

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红卫兵 ? Did your like classmates or like people in your school join the 红卫兵? D-during the Cultural Revolution?

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During the Cultural Revolution. What do I know? Do they- Um did you know like anyone who joined the 红卫兵? Yeah, that time the elementary is

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红小兵 . That is 红卫兵 . Actually, 红卫兵 , um I joined 红卫兵 too, because that is like 红小兵 , like you are good student. But not every 红卫兵 or 红小兵 is bad you know.

00:34:01.440 - 00:34:10.730

They just is... they have a band . That was early, like Beijing’s was all from university—they are big one.

00:34:10.890 - 00:34:24.670

When I go to the high school that time, the worst time already passed, I think. W-when that time, when I was in elementary, it was very bad. When we become uh, 红卫兵 it's already not- not like

00:34:24.910 - 00:34:39.700

that, yea. You have to be a good student. You have the ah, you have be a good student; your grade have be high. You do lots of like community service, like uh, community service like clean...

00:34:40.310 - 00:34:56.780

值日生 —whatever. You have to clean the- clean the classroom, and clean the board, and do something like a news- newsletter on the blackboard.

00:34:58.340 - 00:35:07.210

Right now we write, you know, on computer— but that time you have, every week need to change. You have to be very creative. You draw some, paint

00:35:07.210 - 00:35:23.200

something, then you write article, you know. Things like that. Oh, I didn't say the worst things is— when I was in the elementary school during the worst time; one day

00:35:23.200 - 00:35:42.680

I come to the cla- the school, I saw all the teachers banded, wearing a hat, and then shoes being cut. Lots of boy, couple of them actually—they are not very good student— they are very tough on the teacher.

00:35:42.720 - 00:35:51.790

I feel so upset. I think, god! The teacher we respect the most! How come they do this! So every time they

00:35:51.850 - 00:36:10.700

announce— “today, this afternoon has some meeting to- to down with one of the teacher”, the other one. I- I never go there. Um so, back to your experience in the labor camp, can you describe um, your daily tasks and routines

00:36:10.700 - 00:36:26.040

to me? Ok, yeah we- we stay we eight girls stay in one rooms. That kind of room is straw, uh kind of mud straw room. But they build whole big house, in

00:36:26.580 - 00:36:43.630

the top is empty. Top, you can hear next door, next uh, room talk. So we have uh, bunk bed—double bed. Eight people. I remember ahh, if outside big rain,

00:36:44.270 - 00:36:57.950

we- we inside small rain. Our floor is kind of mud, not smooth. No air conditioning. No heat—uh, worst thing is the winter, where everybody has a mosquito net, so you inside,

00:36:58.340 - 00:37:17.990

uh. My mom made a very thick comforter for me, and also have the like a small jacket— you say 棉敦子 . So when I sleep I just wear inside tight, cover the thick one end with the mosquito net.

00:37:18.990 - 00:37:31.070

But the morning when you get up, wake up, you towel— your wash towel is all frozen. You cannot touch it. It touch— it brokes. So you just wait there until it melted.

00:37:32.100 - 00:37:45.730

And worst thing was one day it was big rain, and inside our shoes all floating there. I was a leader of the workshop. Under my leadership, I control like 150

00:37:47.410 - 00:38:01.090

kids. I told them, “lets go to the workshop we have to save the paper bags”. Otherwise you know floating we work all wasted. So I just let our shoes floating,

00:38:01.530 - 00:38:15.970

we just wen- went to the workshop, we carry lots of um, bags up to the high table, but still damage a lot on the ground. And so that... that was, uh um.

00:38:17.960 - 00:38:37.110

Everybody inside your net in the bed- your mosquito net, you have a containing — cookie containing. So every— we can go home every month 4 days or sometimes, yea every month 4 days— so

00:38:37.670 - 00:38:52.230

every time I go there, mom going to make some, um jam. And I bring some cookies and chocolate, whatever they put on, like my treasure things. Because we eating things not much oil...

00:38:52.230 - 00:39:06.070

it’s like Bok Choy—青菜. And you know, you are 17, 18 this time you grew up, y-you work very hard. You- I remember I can eat like a half pound rice

00:39:07.270 - 00:39:25.100

one time, and always all the 青菜 , little bit of meat; or I just used my mom gave the bucket- one can of, kind of like, jiàng , probably eat like three days— gone. So then the next uh, waiting for next month

00:39:25.100 - 00:39:40.690

to go back you know. Um so lots of friends they make- make uh- make some food by themselves anything they can think about. And I don't know what they call it — 面疙瘩, 你可能都没听到过.

00:39:41.310 - 00:39:59.620

It’s like a- like a rice paste. Just drop in the- in the hot soup, become sticky nuggets, with uh, vegetable. But you don't have some, you know, just only- only you feel

00:39:59.620 - 00:40:13.140

your stomach full, but not enough nutrition, I think. No oil stuff like that. So that's our our life. And the night time probably 9 o’clock, you have to turn off the lights.

00:40:13.890 - 00:40:28.710

Only one light in the whole room. It very dark so everybody has a flash light inside your mosquito net. At that time, I read inside the

00:40:28.710 - 00:40:42.760

mosquito net in the night time. So did you know anyone who were also working in the labor camp? Yes, some friend of mine still there. But now they’re different.

00:40:43.620 - 00:41:00.480

Now and they are being visited there . I always wonder now—the strawhouse is all gone, all like Disneyland. All they build all the different colors— second floor houses— different colors, beautiful.

00:41:02.030 - 00:41:17.190

And uh th-they grew a kind of grass for all the hotels. They have, um fruit... land. They just- they have all the

00:41:17.190 - 00:41:27.040

fish and stuff in the pond. They just- they use a helicopter to- to put down the fertilizer. Right now, life is really good there.

00:41:27.390 - 00:41:42.530

It's so different. Um did you make friend at the camp? Yes I- I would like to say, I made—when you’re in a difficult time life, you make friends forever.

00:41:43.900 - 00:41:59.430

I still have friends, keep very close with my farm friends, more than my movie star friends. Yeah every time I have chance go back to China, I- we all visit each other. We talk about that time life.

00:41:59.840 - 00:42:19.580

Very happy. They- right now some- somebody's already back, and somebody's already, you know, different life. But we still treasure, we go back together to visit there. Um so, how do you feel about your experience in the labor

00:42:19.920 - 00:42:33.430

camp when you look back now? Actually right now I think I really treasure about that time. I told my husband if you send me to anywhere in the world, I can survive.

00:42:35.710 - 00:42:51.130

That makes me very strong. You just uh, in hard time. I wish my kids go through that time too. Make you very strong and make you—you always believe something and

00:42:51.130 - 00:43:06.610

—make you have a good friend forever, for your lifetime. Um how long did you stay in the labor camp? Two years. I was lucky enough. Most my friends— nobody that early.

00:43:07.330 - 00:43:26.680

I was when I was there, the school starting, the university starting open again. So that's my first priority, want to go to college and then for the army too, and then

00:43:26.790 - 00:43:42.150

I- but you have to be good you have to be Communist Party, so they can choose you. So I write application for join the Communist Party, but they didn't want me. So I didn't been chose to the army.

00:43:43.360 - 00:43:56.400

And I haven't had got to the university yet— I haven't had a test yet. And I was lucky enough. Because I play in high school during the Cultural Revolution, my grandfather bought me an accordion—shǒu fēng qín.

00:43:57.230 - 00:44:14.250

So I learned, I know how to play. And so we have a 小分队 like a small group entertaining. So I need to go back Chin- Shanghai, go home to pick up my accordion. So during that trip on the bus,

00:44:15.390 - 00:44:32.530

I discovered by a director uh, from Children's Theater— so rest of is history. So that accordion changed my life. When I go there and then I talk to my mom, say,

00:44:32.840 - 00:44:46.570

“Somebody—the director want me be there tonight and if... want to see me or something. Mom, if you want to go with me.” “I'm fine.” So we went there. Actually the company is 上海儿童艺术剧院 — Children's Theater

00:44:47.270 - 00:45:02.470

is discov- uh, found by Madam Sòng Qìnglíng . My con- my elementary school just next to them, so I very familiar with them. So we went there. They want me uh, play— th-they have one new— play an

00:45:02.600 - 00:45:09.570

athlete, they want me play a major character. I said no way. I have never been trained. I never on stage.

00:45:09.630 - 00:45:25.730

I don't know I can play some, uh small role you know 配角 . I- my mandarin is very good so- so later they- they let old actress play the young, like uh, 16 or

00:45:25.730 - 00:45:36.160

15 years old. I just play a small role. Then after 2 months I just play on stage. They borrowed me two months. I just play on the public, you know, theater.

00:45:37.420 - 00:45:48.210

Then I'm back in the factory again, farm. Then the film studio, my neighbor was an artist. She said, “We are looking for a girl.

00:45:48.210 - 00:46:02.500

Is already tested eight actor, eight people but still not feel right.” S-so my mom gave her my picture. I have a ponytail. She gave the picture, my

00:46:02.500 - 00:46:13.300

graduation picture. So one day a van come to farm, like seven people. I don't know any of them. I saw one

00:46:13.490 - 00:46:24.580

lady. I think she- she’s very familiar. Like a movie star, saw her in movie before. Um then they put on army hat on my head, and somebody look like...

00:46:27.070 - 00:46:40.800

later, I know this person is a photographer, and then with a director photographer, makeup person... and Party’s, Communist Party's 党支部书记 , kind of leader.

00:46:41.450 - 00:46:57.260

And they said, “Ok, I think we just want to look at you. And do you have any performs?” I said, “No I-I-I don't dance. I can exercise.” Then I said, “I have one poem,

00:46:58.660 - 00:47:09.160

can read to you.” When I was in the theater, I learn called The Daddy's Eyes. Actually talk about the ethic kids, his father

00:47:09.670 - 00:47:23.410

have to sell his eyes to support his family. It's very sad story—爸爸的眼睛 . So I have to read that. Then they said, “Ok. You continue working here.

00:47:23.790 - 00:47:38.940

If anything happen, we’ll let you know.” After two weeks, I got a letter said, the Shanghai Film Studio want me go to Shanghai for one week for screen test. They are making the movie called Unforgettable

00:47:44.110 - 00:47:57.760

Battle . Actually I was lucky enough. When I was in my mosquito net, I just finished reading that book! That whole novel, I finish! So I know this story by heart!

00:47:58.280 - 00:48:07.650

And also in the radio, they telling everyday. So nothing to do, we just listen to that. So I think gosh I know this. I know this character and I know everything about the story.

00:48:09.350 - 00:48:21.830

So I went there and I don't know anything, do whatever the director want me to do. At same time as the other girl, I remember her uncle is a big director from Shanghai Film Studio.

00:48:22.300 - 00:48:32.760

I said oh, she has a relationship backdoor. I don't have anybody. So anyway the director always want me do first shot and then she follow do exactly same thing.

00:48:33.850 - 00:48:48.130

Anyway after the screen test everybody liked my screen test, so I been chosen to make that movie. That’s already changing my whole life. Never back to farm again.

00:48:49.020 - 00:49:02.760

And then after I made three movies with Shanghai Film Studio, getting me resident to Shanghai. And then on- from then on, every year, two major movie. 10 years, I make twenty movies.

00:49:03.860 - 00:49:19.320

And uh, when I’m not m-making movie, I play uh, stage show. I have two major play—two major, like, theater as ballet dance. And also I make some TV series.

00:49:20.180 - 00:49:37.110

I was MC for 18,000 people in- for Chinese New Year and China Independent Celebration. You know they used to in the like uh- like uh, Toyota Center in Shanghai 体育馆 .

00:49:37.700 - 00:49:52.200

So hosting that many people, you know, and the live for the television. So most of the- if I’m not make movie, most of Chinese New Year or holiday, I not at home with my

00:49:52.200 - 00:50:09.740

parents— I was on TV. It’s the ring. The clock. Yeah um... next question? Um so, you

00:50:11.870 - 00:50:29.080

already told me your experience in the film industry, were you act- were you trained before like before going on stages or like-? Nope! Nope. Um I feel like I'm a learning

00:50:30.770 - 00:50:46.200

and doing the same time, um. Talk about learning during the theater time— the Shanghai and the Children's Theater time, I feel like uh, open my eye.

00:50:47.580 - 00:51:04.630

I heard the director and the actor talk about Stanislavski, the Russian famous theater, the person. So I try to borrow books—you cannot buy.

00:51:05.860 - 00:51:22.370

And when I doing the movie, I talk to so many— we have this movie, have so many great actor, old actor in that group— so I talk to them. When I'm not play my

00:51:22.370 - 00:51:33.410

part when I’m not have my scene. Every day, I was on se- set. I watching other people do—what they do, and uh.

00:51:34.890 - 00:51:50.140

So I can remember everybody's line. If somebody cannot, you know, I can do anything. And uh, also I followed through the older actor, th-they taught me what

00:51:50.820 - 00:52:04.750

they learn when they was in school— in the theater school. So I learn character, like uh, I write the background for the character. I write about what the character

00:52:04.810 - 00:52:17.980

—not only the character the script tell you what the character is— I write about his history, about his parents, his grandparents, his habit, his past, his friends... anything you can think about it.

00:52:18.290 - 00:52:31.100

You just build up more detail is better. And I write every single sentence, 潜台词 , like underneath what th-

00:52:32.140 - 00:52:50.390

what that mean— even he doesn't have sentence, even just take a look. I put down all the verbs underneath. I remember this very important—this stuff like says uh—verbs are important. So like, even like, you right now is listen to me—

00:52:50.500 - 00:53:02.870

Listen is a verb. So underneath the sentence what's that mean. So I do all my homework. Write a lot— every single character I have.

00:53:03.360 - 00:53:18.040

All of twenty whatever character, I just write down all of that. So when you go there, whatever they say, oh even doesn't have the sentence dialogue the director gave to you; but if

00:53:18.040 - 00:53:30.220

you know the character so well, you- you can say, “Oh! If this character in this situation, what he going to say? What is she going to say? What is she going to do?” So I do all my homework.

00:53:30.480 - 00:53:45.540

And same thing like uh, when I not make movie, I- I play a stage play. But I just like, a second guest;

00:53:46.970 - 00:54:00.770

but I was there. And I know everybody's and the stage position, all the lines. Uh one night, the director say— “A group character

00:54:02.680 - 00:54:15.390

sick. It's tonight! You have to go there!” I think—what?! I haven't rehearsal anything yet. I think the director say, “I know you was there every day.

00:54:15.800 - 00:54:27.280

You know all the position. Come to my home afternoon. I go with you, run with you. Just- just read, just

00:54:27.280 - 00:54:39.050

you read, you dialogue.” So I did that. I was so nervous. It's like a major, um leading character. I never, he

00:54:39.050 - 00:54:50.170

never directed for me. I never exercise. Talk to any other actor. I just watching all the time. So I was like, and the director I think want to thank for him.

00:54:50.280 - 00:55:01.270

And he was very trust on me and he say, “You can do it. You can do it.” So I think he encourage me. I couldn't think anything else. He said, “don't think about too

00:55:01.270 - 00:55:17.650

much. Y-you know the lines because you was there every day.” So I did. That was like a major break for me. And for yourself, you feel like you challenge yourself.

00:55:18.500 - 00:55:34.050

Um make you feel like, you did all the work all the homework- works you know. 我们中国话 , idiom say, “功夫不负有心人” . Y-y-you pay the so

00:55:34.050 - 00:55:49.100

many on effort, so that was a— that was a good one. Um, so you were playing a lot of prominent roles in major movies by that time. So how were you

00:55:49.590 - 00:56:04.490

perceived- how were you perceived by public? Um. I have good publicity. Probably have, also have make, you know, stage you only can play in

00:56:04.490 - 00:56:17.990

Shanghai, only Shanghai audience know. But the movie is really different, as the countryside—countrywide everybody from every place in China, they see you acting.

00:56:18.230 - 00:56:28.640

My first movie was very successful, because that particular movie during the end of the Cultural Revolution didn't talk about political. They talk about the civil war.

00:56:29.320 - 00:56:43.690

So people feel like new, and they talked about too the Gang of the Four, and the Cultural Revolution, the things so again. Watch something else, and was all the old actor, very famous actor. We just like, uh it's good, good movie.

00:56:44.120 - 00:57:00.930

And later on I made other movie about the Qing dynasty. From the first one with Hong Kong director, a joint venture. This is history, and also that was very successful, about China.

00:57:01.320 - 00:57:12.850

Probably of all the Qing dynasty movie, that's the best one. Because everything is according to the history— even the costume, the makeup and then the jewelleries— everything, the set.

00:57:12.850 - 00:57:28.330

We actually, we really in the Forbidden City. I really sat on the throne. Right now you cannot do this anymore because all the history- history people said “no, you're going to destroy the things.” So they have to build set right

00:57:28.330 - 00:57:44.840

now. Not doing this anymore. Ok. Um so which movie was your favorite one? Which movie was your

00:57:44.910 - 00:58:00.180

favorite one? You know for all the actors, they always say— next one. I say the first one was pretty interesting. And uh, the one with the Qing dynasty. And I play empress-

00:58:00.770 - 00:58:17.030

empresses called Listen Behind the Curtain. Uh actually called 垂帘听政 , 火烧圆明园 , 西太后 . Like three, uh secret. Actually after two of them and

00:58:17.030 - 00:58:33.070

the third one, I were here and I have to go back to make the third one. The third one was already on the set. We cannot go inside anymore. Um so, can you tell me anything interesting that happened

00:58:33.070 - 00:58:43.950

during your time in the film industry? Yeah this. You- which part? Which kind? So many things.

00:58:44.470 - 00:59:00.290

Um anything that you can think of. I don't know. Interesting things right? In the first time when you make movie, you- you in the crew you like a family with all the people together.

00:59:00.900 - 00:59:11.810

But after 6 months, sometimes you know, most of 6 months. And you feel very sad, you have to leave and you go to the next group. But some of them still

00:59:12.280 - 00:59:27.600

same time, this the one part. And good things, you also make friends like a big family; and also other things, you have the chance to go different places. You can visit different places, other people never can

00:59:27.600 - 00:59:42.530

see it. Um, I remember the second movie 阿夏河的秘密 . I have to go to the Yunnan province. That time in the South China, close to Vietnam. That time doesn't even have, um, the

00:59:43.120 - 00:59:55.980

train— only go to the Kunming. We have to take one week by bus on the- the mountain, kind of very scary. Every turn, everybody was screaming, you know. And no electricity.

00:59:56.460 - 01:00:10.810

Go to the ethnic people, 少数民族, like bái zú . They are total different— like mud- the mud is red, see the flower every year, every time.

01:00:11.290 - 01:00:22.780

But now it’s like a resort, so my time goes. You can see the real beauty about the nature without any pollution. I don’t know if right now you can see, and I have the chance to.

01:00:23.540 - 01:00:39.430

Um, in China. If you are a good actor, you should do that: when you want to be a soldier, you had to be trained. Otherwise, you know, even shoot, then, you not looks like you know how to shoot. And if you are a

01:00:39.430 - 01:00:53.230

fishman, you don’t know how to on the boat, carry these boat stuff. So we had to go through… We called 體驗生活 . One month before shooting, we have to go live that life. So that’s

01:00:53.230 - 01:01:07.470

really you learn a lot of skills. I made three movies about soldiers. So I was being trained how to shoot, how to ride horses, and...

01:01:09.280 - 01:01:23.890

I became a very good shooter, haha… They think I am pure luck for the first time; but somehow, you know, I just very good. And the army, I spent one month… And afterwards, it

01:01:23.920 - 01:01:35.420

was like, everywhere in my body is bruise. Because they trained me as a real soldier you know. You have to shoot. I feel like I don’t like the long gun you know.

01:01:35.560 - 01:01:53.560

It’s heavy. The small one is light. So they training you like a real soldier, you have to lie there, and kneel, and stand in different positions. And you have to… they have training you night times, they call three seconds.

01:01:55.000 - 01:02:07.830

Use a light there —da da da, da da da. So you shoot, you know what the second the one come back. This is all technique.

01:02:07.830 - 01:02:25.880

I learned when I was seventeen— never forget. I learned how to shoot when the person was running or walking. I remember, like, if you- if you run, you shoot front of the person one half.

01:02:26.590 - 01:02:37.940

Something like that. So you shoot one half, and he’s running. So you are going to hit. Yea something like that. I shoot all kinds of the

01:02:38.050 - 01:02:50.260

guns, and machine guns. In the movie, we take the bullets out, the top out. They only make the sound and the fire. It looks like real, but it won’t hurt people.

01:02:51.770 - 01:03:07.930

I even drive tanks. That was a very crazy. The tanks are like the car. They… you know… not automatic.

01:03:08.050 - 01:03:19.550

What are they called? Car. Yeah. And I was there with other soldiers. They taught me so fast you know. And also one movie, I needed to ride a tractor.

01:03:20.480 - 01:03:35.950

It’s the same thing as tank, I think. That’s in Yunnan. I play a worker, Tibetan worker in a lumber company.

01:03:37.050 - 01:03:51.430

The scene suppose, I ride the tractor at the front of the camera stopped, and I jumped out. That is a small creek, like a small river, not very deep.

01:03:53.010 - 01:04:13.310

So there is the, “camera— roll” “da-la-la-la… boom” I jumped out. I didn’t realize— I didn’t put on the right shift! So the tractor still bong, bong, bong… go further. I just saw all the people run back, and the camera guy

01:04:13.780 - 01:04:25.620

holding the camera, and the lighting guy holding the big ball reflect my eye light. They all run to the river. I said, “what’s happened?” Because I was front.

01:04:26.660 - 01:04:36.650

Then I didn’t realize, the tractor—the tractor I didn’t stop. Because they are running for their life. I was wearing high boots. I couldn’t even jump.

01:04:37.110 - 01:04:48.440

So one of the other men actor jumped off there, jumped to the- the tractor, stopped that. so everybody was laughing for me. My embarrassment things.

01:04:49.930 - 01:05:01.500

This is the one thing and you also… for movie, I like it. You make a friend. You go to different places. And you have friend all over the world.

01:05:02.370 - 01:05:16.430

Now, I have friend all over the world. And everywhere. Even I have a fan, right out become a best friend too. For same age, when I was in Guangzhou, they just visited.

01:05:16.430 - 01:05:32.950

They are friend from the- the, um, the artist. The one who makes the set, the artist. So they same age. They are curious. They invite me some day to visit

01:05:33.670 - 01:05:42.060

some park in Guangzhou. Because I’m from Shanghai. I don’t know other city. So we become friend, you know. And now she is in California.

01:05:42.720 - 01:05:55.210

We still, you know, I keep all, like kids, friends, movie, or fun friends. Friend for many many years. I think for that

01:05:55.210 - 01:06:05.610

time, people— we are very pure, innocent, and it’s really nice you know. And I treasure about that. I go everywhere.

01:06:06.530 - 01:06:22.150

If a place for me have a friend, I go. It’s different. You know I even— I remember in Beijing, and we- we, the whole group invited by the embassy from the

01:06:22.900 - 01:06:39.330

French, French embassy. And that time, one of the counselors, one of the French guys speaks Chinese. Some years later, I went here, he became ambassador to China—

01:06:40.090 - 01:06:52.010

three times. Later, he became ambassador to Berlin, Germany. We always write letters in Christmas. One time I receive his letter.

01:06:52.010 - 01:07:07.160

He say, “Chen Ye, if you don’t come to visit us, I probably will go back to Paris again. All your friend already visited me.” I said, “Charles, can we go?” I never think about go to German at that time.

01:07:09.670 - 01:07:25.350

2006, I think. That was the World Soccer Cup there. So we went there. He is the ambassador from France . They have a new... Just— the embassy, just next to the gate

01:07:25.930 - 01:07:35.170

and the big soccer screen. Just in the middle of that, we stayed there. And gosh, and we talk about.

01:07:35.460 - 01:07:47.900

He watched all the Chinese movies during the Cultural Revolution, probably more than me. So my friend became my husband’s friend. He is the ambassador to

01:07:49.110 - 01:07:59.390

Germany. So my husband like political things. They can really talk. He married to a Chinese model. And we are friends.

01:07:59.840 - 01:08:13.680

It’s kinda weird. You have friends everywhere. It has been a long long time, you know. That’s really amazing. Um, so after…

01:08:16.090 - 01:08:28.110

so can you describe the timeline for me? So it seems on your background information form, you wrote you graduated from Huadong Shifan University in 1983.

01:08:28.370 - 01:08:41.520

So was that during the time when you were acting? Yes, because Huadong Shifan University is… Go to the college is always my dream. I feel like I’m not completely.

01:08:43.780 - 01:08:56.490

Even you become a movie star, you famous, but in my heart, I feel like I want to study, I want to get a degree. I want to improve myself. So that was hard, because I cannot like other kids, just

01:08:56.490 - 01:09:08.350

full-time go there and study. I’m working. So I choose night-time to go there. But even night-time, I cannot. If I have a location shoot, I have to go outside city.

01:09:08.350 - 01:09:21.000

I cannot do every night. So I either… I have a friend give me the notes or recording. But at the same time, I also got— what do

01:09:21.560 - 01:09:37.830

you call it, 邮电大学 — through mail, in Beijing Language School. Actually Ping, in the same school. But she is there. The first lady . Ping Sun. She is the same school, but she is inside the

01:09:37.830 - 01:09:46.580

school in Beijing. She is learning English. I am on the mail, in Chinese. I’m learn... 中文 .

01:09:46.620 - 01:10:00.810

So I got both degrees, there and there. It is hard. In Shanghai, I have to ride bicycle go to Huadong Shifan Daxue . Inside, one friend is from

01:10:00.810 - 01:10:13.790

my farm. So she helped me when I’m not there. She helped me, give me the notes and recording for the professor, what did they say. So my Chinese is pretty good.

01:10:13.950 - 01:10:33.560

In China, I always write article for magazines, and sometimes newspaper, whatever you know. I like it. As an actor, I also like voiceover. I think in

01:10:33.560 - 01:10:50.790

China— right here, you make a movie in the voice and acting the same time— but in China, we always double our voice later on in the room- the recording room. It’s good or bad. Good is like, recreation you

01:10:51.440 - 01:11:08.920

acting. If you feel like, you know, I believe the language is very powerful—can create the character, can make the character more colorful. So like, for a movie, we have great people, great group in Shanghai to

01:11:09.000 - 01:11:24.620

double the voice, for Russian, whatever country. You know, you just love them, the voice, the character. So I see that voice, the part is very important for my art, for my

01:11:26.210 - 01:11:36.690

creation job. Also I do for boys . You know, women can do boys, the young boys’ voice. I like that. Feel like a creation.

01:11:36.760 - 01:11:50.810

I also, in China, in radio- the public radio, I read stories. I like that. I feel like this all creation. I like- I like the stage, sometimes better than

01:11:51.010 - 01:12:06.620

the movie. The movie you become a star, everybody knows you. I think the movie, you do all the works; but like real, is the director’s work, because not very continuity. On the stage, from the beginning to the end, every night, you-

01:12:08.620 - 01:12:21.230

you like talk to the audience. Every audience is different every night. You cr... tonight, you say this way; next day, you say a different way. It’s very nice.

01:12:21.670 - 01:12:31.580

The movie today, we can be shooting the last scenes, in the end of the movie. It’s not from the beginning to the end. It’s just jumping over, but you have to understand.

01:12:32.140 - 01:12:45.090

Lots of people don’t familiar with. If I’m doing more homework, so I know… I write very carefully. This is continuity people do. So every scene- every shot I did, I write down.

01:12:45.880 - 01:12:59.790

Today is my button, which one is open? Tomorrow, maybe the next one, not continuity. Sometimes you see the movie, the couple is in this side; next shot, the couple is this side.

01:13:00.330 - 01:13:10.390

So kind of that small things I’m very carefully. Even you are having stuff in which hand, I write down. Actually it’s not my job.

01:13:10.390 - 01:13:23.240

It’s the continuity person have to write down, but I don’t care. I don’t want to make a mistake. So I’m doing my work. Doing more than less.

01:13:23.340 - 01:13:37.950

So kind of… I never late for work. Never late toward work. Actually, I got my Master degree in UH, in the Drama

01:13:37.950 - 01:13:49.040

department. I remember Dr. C is picky. He hate somebody late. I know that. And somebody if late, he is so great, just

01:13:49.520 - 01:14:01.130

say say say, until you cry. So make you never… understand you don’t, specially working you know. Even right now, I have a call, I’ll call back, or whatever. I never late.

01:14:02.070 - 01:14:26.620

This is kind of… I don’t know what you say. The way you treat your career, the job, and the respect for that career. I feel so dark you’re right…

01:14:29.890 - 01:14:46.580

So why did you choose to go to the United States? That’s a good question. That decision. When I was at the top of my career, I was in the stage play, called 春之圓舞曲, I play a

01:14:47.270 - 01:15:00.720

ballet dancer— no B, only A group. That means I can not sick—only person plays this main character. So I was, you know.

01:15:01.140 - 01:15:10.870

I like the character. I like that. But at same time, I heard Beijing Film School gonna be—after so many years, closed ‘cause of Cultural Revolution— they

01:15:10.870 - 01:15:26.660

gonna be first open a new class for actor. You have to make seven major movies, then can qualify. So that time, I already—I think I had

01:15:26.810 - 01:15:39.980

already seven movies as major character, so I’m qualified for this opportunity. I’m so happy. I feel like I’m ready to go. All of a sudden, that day, I

01:15:39.980 - 01:15:53.430

heard this school not gonna open anymore. I feel so disappointed. All my dreams. I got in my language school, but it’s not acting,

01:15:54.020 - 01:16:08.450

right? It’s not acting. I never really perform, kind of like, through school; learn. All the chance is the place, and you have to make seven major movies.

01:16:08.450 - 01:16:20.070

And it’d be a small group, as all actors going there. All of a sudden, my dream is totally broke. I feel like no hope. Then I was so upset, I was thinking, “Gosh.

01:16:21.300 - 01:16:35.620

I feel like I’m a, I’m just like a— I remember Charlie Chaplin's movie, like a, in the worker, and the machine— just like a machine! You roll up, you never stop.

01:16:35.620 - 01:16:46.850

I feel like I’m like a machine. Film studio just uses me to produce, a movie, a movie, whatever. I want to improve myself.

01:16:47.690 - 01:16:57.630

Now my only chance is gone. That day, I decide I’m gonna go. Go somewhere else. I gonna study, by my own.

01:16:58.550 - 01:17:13.380

I want to go to America. Later on, after I come out this class study. But anyway, Dr. Sandyburgur— he is my mentor.

01:17:13.870 - 01:17:28.010

He say even during, before I graduate—take a little longer… I had an opportunity to go to Australia, and for BBC, and Australia ABC, make TV movie called

01:17:28.010 - 01:17:39.820

Children of The Dragon. And afterwards, I showed Dr. Sandyburger. He said you did first-class job. For my professor tell me that I feel so good,

01:17:42.000 - 01:17:55.060

because he is a deep person. Dr. Sandyburger get all the Shakespeare in Houston many years, and he died now already. So he told me you have more

01:17:55.060 - 01:18:11.010

experiences than all the professors in the drama department. Of course, I made twenty movies, they didn’t, but… Why I have to learn this degree? For me, it is to know more people and learn American culture.

01:18:11.780 - 01:18:24.480

So… I really like the school here. I learned a lot of things, you know, whatever. Here different. I compare the

01:18:25.030 - 01:18:37.420

performances different. They talk about Stanislavski too, but not only Stanislavski, part of, you know. Stanislavski is kind of more...

01:18:37.510 - 01:18:50.600

Americans more feel like, more close to life. Not like you perform in China on the stage. Because also I learned, in China, the theater is so

01:18:50.710 - 01:19:07.550

huge, you have to make a big porch — your movement; because the end of the row, people cannot even see you, cannot even hear you. And here, we have different theaters, just like close,

01:19:07.870 - 01:19:17.050

small rooms. You don’t need yelling. Everyone can hear you. That’s different things. In China, probably right now they have more workshops.

01:19:19.080 - 01:19:40.980

It’s different too. So I think art always can be adjusted. So when did you go to the United States? ‘85. Did you know English by that time? Not that much. I learned English through BBC, the

01:19:42.150 - 01:19:58.260

radio. And also I learned most from that and TV too. So when I come here, the pronunciation is different, and… some words you know, I don’t even

01:19:58.260 - 01:20:11.400

understand. People talk different. From the book and the people talking is different. So I remember, when people say, “Hello,” and you say, “Hi.” Then I just run away. I don’t know what they are going to say

01:20:11.400 - 01:20:23.290

more, and then I don’t understand you know. And I remember the funny thing, they always joke about me. We went to EMS , English as Secondary Language school. So we have lunch.

01:20:23.710 - 01:20:34.570

We go to Kentucky Chicken— Kentucky Fried Chicken. So I want to buy things. I like the wings better than the legs. I know how to say the legs.

01:20:35.200 - 01:20:47.750

I don’t know the chicken wing. I couldn’t remember the words. I just go there and say, “I want to that part.” But anyway, the guy understand.

01:20:48.210 - 01:20:56.910

I was so happy. I said, okay whatever. I get what I wanted. I don’t want the body parts. I say, “I want that part and the leg.” So I got it.

01:20:57.910 - 01:21:10.690

So they always jokes on me coming here. And lots of words is different. And British is different. Even I went to Australia, I learned something, like

01:21:11.460 - 01:21:27.110

we call trunk, they call boot. And they call water water. They always go to drop the last pronounce. So, if you, carefully, right now, and thinking

01:21:29.340 - 01:21:44.380

back, lots of funny things, you know, when you learned English here. Why did you choose America, instead of like, going to Britain or Australia? Why did I choose America?

01:21:44.440 - 01:21:59.240

Yeah. Because of the Hollywood. Because I don’t have friend in Hollywood, so I come here first. But I heard UH has a good drama school and also has a good mime class .

01:21:59.690 - 01:22:11.070

I made it to Rice, but they don’t have very strong perform part. They have film part with very technic- technical part. I visited

01:22:11.120 - 01:22:29.850

the UT, also they don’t have very good, strong perform part. And then I choose, check that. UH, fine. Um so… When you first came to the States, were you alone?

01:22:31.270 - 01:22:50.460

Yes. I come here. Then I think if I learn English I have to stay within America. I go to Rice, the student center. They have a book about having students apply, where to live or something.

01:22:50.460 - 01:23:00.830

I find some places there. And in the Rice Village somewhere, I think I probably through the Chinese Consulate. I find a lady, an American lady.

01:23:00.970 - 01:23:13.770

She’s learning Chinese. She’s self- by herself. So, she probably posted in Rice, so I find her. And, like we

01:23:13.770 - 01:23:30.390

can teach each other. So she told me I write all the English words on furniture. And she taught me how to cook something. I remember cook okra, something. And probably just paid a

01:23:30.390 - 01:23:42.490

little bit rent, like 100, or 150, or 200. I can’t remember exactly. And in the ELS , I do some 20 hours of work, like setting coffee or something.

01:23:43.900 - 01:24:00.200

And they discount the tuition or whatever. And later on, I study. I live with a lady- an old lady —also from Rice, I think the information.

01:24:02.530 - 01:24:13.040

She doesn’t need me pay the rent. She want to me to feed her two kids. So she had to go to Hawaii to visit her daughter or

01:24:13.040 - 01:24:27.030

something. I think that’s a good deal. I went there. Actually, we become very good friend. She told me how to make a cake. She told me a lot of American culture things.

01:24:28.240 - 01:24:45.360

Yea. Um, so when you first decide to go to the- to go abroad, um, is there any pushback from your parents? First of parents- first I

01:24:45.630 - 01:25:00.720

have to… Because I already very famous there, that time. When I very famous, the Film Studio asked me to join the Party. I told them I am not

01:25:00.750 - 01:25:14.470

good enough, so I didn’t join. I was thinking, “gosh, when I was in- in countryside, I really wanted to join. They don’t want me. Because right now I am famous, you want me to join”, you know. I just- I just say that.

01:25:14.940 - 01:25:22.150

Whatever they to think. I say I’m not good enough. I don’t want to hurt—I don’t want to be enemy or anything.

01:25:22.150 - 01:25:34.230

I told them this is my own choice, nothing political. So they talked to me. They say, “Ahhh. We love you. We don’t want you to go.” But I say, “This is my own choice.

01:25:34.230 - 01:25:45.550

I’m not going to do anything hurt China. I just want to improve myself.” So my passport… like holding, talk talk for one month, then I got my passport.

01:25:46.200 - 01:25:58.040

Because if I’m Party Member, I probably cannot go. I don’t know. My parents… Yea I cannot even remember. If now I have my own kid I have to go

01:25:58.040 - 01:26:15.060

somewhere else like this, I probably… a girl, you know… I think maybe I went to farm already. My parents, I think, they pretty trust me. I think. Of course, I think they

01:26:15.060 - 01:26:31.900

worries too, but it’s okay. They not really block me, or just say “don’t go” something like that. So how did- how did you hear about U of H and the schools in Houston?

01:26:33.960 - 01:26:46.980

So I got here, go to the language school first. So during that time, I told you I visited different departments. I visited Rice and Austin and here, comparing the drama department.

01:26:49.270 - 01:27:00.580

Finally, I found that one is pretty good. What were the barriers when you first come to the State? Say it again. What were the barriers?

01:27:03.290 - 01:27:21.860

Cultural bump. Yeah, cultural shock or any barriers that you encountered? Yes. I think the language is the biggest one, and lots of… I think the cultural bump really helps me

01:27:22.590 - 01:27:37.290

understand lots of things, especially Chinese Americans. I remember the teacher say— “If the Chinese call you to ask you, How are your parents? How are your grandparents? How your uncle? And you just

01:27:37.290 - 01:27:50.700

don’t know what they really want. In the end, they just want to borrow your bicycle. For the Americans call you, Hey can I borrow your bicycle? Then ask, How is your mom doing? So that’s the difference.”

01:27:51.530 - 01:28:05.310

Maybe Chinese and Indians are kind of like that. You have to understand that, but I think for me I’m probably more like an American. I’m very honest person.

01:28:07.170 - 01:28:19.340

Especially right now, I feel it’s wasting time, making people you know… Sometimes it’s polite, to give you a little bit time to think, but not like the Chinese, to turn around you know.

01:28:20.400 - 01:28:38.620

People don’t know what you are doing you know. If you don’t understand, this is the kind of a cultural thing. Since here many years, I understand. So can you tell me about your involvement in the art communities and

01:28:38.890 - 01:28:54.420

the film industries in the States? Yes, I was on the board of the art, but they have to have a meeting like every two weeks or

01:28:54.420 - 01:29:09.580

something. One time, when I go out to make a movie or something. I don’t want to, I holding position, and you know, don’t do anything, so I gone. Film— we love the film festival, always go there.

01:29:10.180 - 01:29:20.730

Especially a couple of years ago, they have a international festival- film festival. Uh, I’m not criticizing about it, how it... but I just do anything I can

01:29:20.790 - 01:29:32.790

help, whatever. Especial they have a movie from China. You know, I can see through the movie, China being different, changes a lot,

01:29:35.050 - 01:29:45.380

most of it is good. But not, but the movie, you don’t see all of that. So I see something through a tape and stuff, CD and see something.

01:29:45.820 - 01:30:03.820

Movie also reflect about real life, the society, everything. China is really different from the time when I was grew up there, and… good or bad… but I hope China is still, can keep the good part, the

01:30:05.240 - 01:30:26.030

good tradition part, and… I think this is not only China’s problem, probably the whole world. This, I hope— I know— I hope kids and young generation more contact with real people, human beings,

01:30:26.030 - 01:30:44.790

not the kind of errrr . Like my experiences, I think it’s different. And you need technology way, but also you need— the real beauty about real human contact.

01:30:44.910 - 01:30:58.570

Like you interview me, is that we know each other. Otherwise, it probably won’t feel that way. So I don’t mind, say, all people can see me. I want to tell people the experiences that I have

01:30:59.030 - 01:31:12.560

different. Probably not for American kids, even in Chinese kids, they don’t know what I go through. They don’t understand that time, what we- how they feel the

01:31:12.560 - 01:31:24.400

freedom. When I vote, not just vote, you know. In China, you cannot vote that time. I don’t know, right now, still don’t really vote things. So that’s the different.

01:31:24.880 - 01:31:40.790

You know you can have your choice. Lots of American kids born here it’s already like that. They think, they take it for granted. They don’t think about what other people go through, you know,

01:31:40.880 - 01:31:58.330

that way. In here, if you want to do something, then you stick with it, you can succeed. But in China, you can do it too, but

01:31:58.580 - 01:32:14.070

not like here. You have some limitation. So did you continue to do acting in the United States?

01:32:14.860 - 01:32:25.580

I never stopped. I’m just not doing it in this moment you know. Um… I don’t know. Um… Right now, the kids are older.

01:32:26.170 - 01:32:37.230

My mom always say, “Stop! Don’t do it anymore. Let the audience remember you the best.” I said, “Mom, if I make some more movies, I’m not to make a 20 years old. I’m going to make whatever I am right now.”

01:32:39.610 - 01:32:53.360

Let’s see. I don’t know… I did meet the, Kevin Kwan, the Crazy Rich Asian writer. Actually I met him. He promote a second book in Asia Society 2015.

01:32:55.770 - 01:33:06.890

He write, “So nice to meet you.” I didn’t really pay attention since he had a movie. Then I read again. I write a letter to him- to his agent.

01:33:08.140 - 01:33:18.700

This is called Crazy China Girlfriend, the second book. So I read it. I feel like… I don’t know… This is just a sing sung, never gonna happen.

01:33:19.430 - 01:33:33.450

I feel like- I write a letter to him. I say, “I read again your book. I feel I can play several characters.” They have some mother from mainland that

01:33:33.450 - 01:33:47.480

speaks Shanghainese, I speak Shanghainese; and also the other mother in Singapore, same age. And I from mainland. Right now, the Crazy Rich whatever,

01:33:48.280 - 01:34:00.050

I understand that. I didn’t say which exactly character I want to play. That one depends, I told him, depends as actor you choose.

01:34:00.340 - 01:34:14.400

So we have to match. I haven’t hear back because I didn’t send him. I sent to his agent. But I hear he is going to come here end of this month to some corporate high school

01:34:14.400 - 01:34:30.770

speech. Me and my husband bought the ticket, 150 dollars whatever. Bought tickets for lunch. I hope I can have a conversation with him. Yeah this is… I don’t know, this Rich thing, but usually this

01:34:30.770 - 01:34:46.250

movie makes a lot of Asia actor feel like have voice, have a chance. Hollywood movies always make Asia kind of certain way, you know.

01:34:46.380 - 01:35:00.180

It’s not reality, you know. 一个定型了的 . It’s not a healthy way I think. I just read the other day, the article about

01:35:00.180 - 01:35:13.120

Indian and Korea and Chinese actors, what they feel about. So let’s see. Hope I can get some part, that you can see me.

01:35:13.240 - 01:35:35.320

Well, good luck. So speaking of that, what do you think are the differences between the art and movie communities in the United States and in China? Right now— it was a lot of difference—right now, I think probably China

01:35:35.320 - 01:35:48.050

catch up the “business” way, I think. It’s not that much different. And you know China recently had some kind

01:35:49.640 - 01:36:01.210

of not really healthy way. They use money to buy- can get in show in something. I’m not, right now, really know

01:36:01.210 - 01:36:13.480

exactly what they do. I remember, when I was star, I make the same salary as the person holding the light. Not like right now.

01:36:13.480 - 01:36:30.640

It’s different. Right now they are more than here. You see how much Fan Bingbing pay her tax, 8 billion right? So right now in China if you… it’s in my sense, I can go back to make a movie, two TV series, and

01:36:30.640 - 01:36:40.860

I can buy a bigger house than here— more expensive than here. At my time, I make the same money as worker, but you are famous. But now is different.

01:36:41.320 - 01:36:54.950

They- they are just like Hollywood. You know, same thing. So being an Asian actress, how was it- how’s it like

01:36:55.360 - 01:37:09.140

to act in the States? Asian actor for acting or what? For acting in the United States. Actually I think it is not much different.

01:37:09.490 - 01:37:26.550

I think acting is like a basic thing, is like play a human being. A human being doesn’t matter where you come from. So I have the chance to make TV series with Peter Strauss, American.

01:37:27.150 - 01:37:42.350

And British actors, a big one, Shakespeare companies. You know we are fine. They really give my work a thumbs up, so I’m very confident.

01:37:43.240 - 01:38:04.300

In that part, I don’t feel I’m Asian or not. No, I’m very confident for that part. Have you ever experienced any type of discrimination in either movie industry or in the United States

01:38:04.790 - 01:38:18.950

in general? I can say not really. I think I want to tell all my friends to… You have to be confident by yourself first. Don’t always thinking that.

01:38:19.690 - 01:38:32.580

If you acting like somebody look you down because you are Asian, then you will feel worse. Whatever they tell you, you know, I don’t feel that way. And sometimes you have to

01:38:32.620 - 01:38:43.760

be speak out, and you are just confident. Don’t feel like you are different. You feel like, you’re in here, we all come for the United States, from all over the world.

01:38:44.700 - 01:38:58.540

You feel like you’re part of that. So you won’t feel that way. So could you briefly describe your career path in the United States?

01:39:01.120 - 01:39:14.780

Um yeah… Career path. Of course in here, because I’m Asian, right now I hope of more movies like Crazy Rich Asian— the Asian things, because get more Asian people here.

01:39:16.260 - 01:39:30.400

But few years ago, it doesn’t have that topic, that many. So just feel if you, so you know, you have less chance that than when you were

01:39:30.490 - 01:39:49.990

in China obviously. So could you tell me more about your experience when you were in U of H?

01:39:49.990 - 01:40:06.910

Um… UH in Drama department. Yeah, I go through the language school, and then in the Drama department. We- I feel like I’m not star anymore, go back like a student, nobody knows you.

01:40:07.560 - 01:40:14.530

I can wear T-shirt and shorts. I don’t need makeup. In China, different. I have to think about, because you don’t

01:40:14.530 - 01:40:29.420

know when people would take pictures of you, put on a magazine or somewhere. I feel like real myself. I also make some friends too, just get what I missed.

01:40:30.260 - 01:40:42.620

Just as a child actor, I missed my, missed my good time, like college time, whatever. I was working hard you know. Lots of people say, “Oh, I watch your

01:40:42.620 - 01:40:56.290

movie when I grew up.” I say, “It sounds like I’m very old you know.” Because I was a child actor, you know, very young, seventeen starting. So of course, when they are in the school, watch my movie, I

01:40:56.770 - 01:41:11.980

don’t have the chance to go school that time, so they can watch my movie. So when I go to UH that time, I feel like I go back my missing time. Now I understand Michael Jackson, how he missed his childhood, kids.

01:41:12.020 - 01:41:21.410

He have to work same thing. Of course I’m much better than him. He was very young, 5 years old starting. So I feel like I do miss that part.

01:41:22.140 - 01:41:35.970

And in the UH, at lunch time, I sit, lie in the lawn, you know, just eating lunch. Sometimes you meet with professor, different professor, and it was Albee, like a big

01:41:37.440 - 01:41:50.170

playwright. Everybody was scared sitting at his table. Nobody there. So I said, “Can I sit with you?” He said, “Sure. Sit.” And we talked. I’ll never forget he is all the play

01:41:50.270 - 01:41:59.470

very... like “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and all the play he wrote. And he talked about he... I said, “Your play was in China, Beijing.

01:42:00.290 - 01:42:19.490

One of the group want to play him- play his play.” And he was, we even talked about he really want to his play go into China or something. So kind of experiences other people won’t have, you know. And so this I told my kids, you don’t feel

01:42:19.490 - 01:42:32.410

like fear of professor, just talk to them. They probably want. “Nobody talk to me.” Sit there by themselves, you know. Same thing. I met a Rice professor. You see. “I

01:42:32.410 - 01:42:47.900

don’t know anybody,” he said. “At the end of the full year, they want me to write a recommendation letter. Because I don’t even know them, they are afraid to come to talk to me, even the first year, second year, third year.” Then I say “Just go there.” I told my son, “just go

01:42:47.900 - 01:42:59.920

there, talk to your teacher”, whatever. “Any question, or even argue with them, they like that. If I have a student, I like kids to talk to me, ask questions. I can help you.

01:42:59.920 - 01:43:15.930

I feel good all they getting their grades better.” You know kind of, think like that. So how did you get involved in community services in Houston? Because I want to thank you, my husband.

01:43:16.830 - 01:43:29.110

In China, we always, probably think, you keep yourself nice, good— as enough. You don’t want to care all other things. It’s not your business.

01:43:29.910 - 01:43:44.690

But in here, first I come here, my husband says, “Do this.” I say, “This is not our business.” Then by the time passed, I realize that is how to make the society better.

01:43:45.200 - 01:43:59.950

It’s not the government, not the Party— it’s every citizen do something, it will be different. I was very involved with the kids’ school, starting. So I think the school didn’t do all; the parents,

01:43:59.950 - 01:44:14.320

you know, they volunteered do lots of things. Same thing actually like different organizations Chinese organizations or different group organizations. So it’s very important for our city and society.

01:44:18.920 - 01:44:31.330

Could you describe your involvement in Chinese or Asian communities in Houston? Yes, we have a couple of them. One, Asia Society is not just Asian

01:44:32.190 - 01:44:46.810

people, it’s the society helping American know about Asia. But we do have Asian, I think a couple of them, Chinese Civic Center — 活动中心 , and 中华中心

01:44:47.250 - 01:45:03.210

, couple of them. Also has… They even have radio or something, radio stations, stuff. Um… I think they are getting better, especially for the

01:45:03.210 - 01:45:19.430

Chinese. When I come here, more people from like Taiwan; now like mainland more people. Because the professor, student, they are getting more and more; and business. I really don’t like

01:45:20.150 - 01:45:31.320

divide for two. I feel like Taiwanese and Chinese mainland is same people. You talk to them. We speak the same language. We eat the same things.

01:45:32.100 - 01:45:44.160

Because the political things make, you know, make they divided, kind of weird. Actually people want together, you know. They always afraid they are

01:45:44.250 - 01:45:55.240

gonna fight each other. I don’t think so. They are just brothers and sisters, you know. I’m not very involved with this two-party thing, you know.

01:45:55.370 - 01:46:12.210

For Americans, they think you are all Chinese. It’s not two different people, and we should be together, not separate, you know. So

01:46:12.970 - 01:46:30.370

how did you get involved with the Asia Society? Because my husband was the Chairman for the Asia Society for more than twenty years— twenty five years. And so supporting him, I

01:46:32.430 - 01:46:49.910

involve with that too. I introduce him to all the Chinese ambassadors, ambassador from China, and foreign diplomat. You know, my aunt and uncle was in the China,

01:46:52.260 - 01:47:06.800

this kind of field, were ambassadors to Venezuela or something. So have lots of people I know. They were talking about the funny... Current ambassador to America, Cui Tiankai, Ambassador

01:47:07.610 - 01:47:21.200

Cui. He was just here yesterday. My husband had a meeting with James Baker and stuff, a Greater partnership. When, two years ago, when we were in Washington DC, we, he— my husband also is the

01:47:21.240 - 01:47:36.280

Honorary Consul General from Thailand. So we, we just on the line to shake hands with Ambassador Cui, and different countries. By the time we got there ,

01:47:36.330 - 01:47:51.670

he just— all of a sudden, he kneeled down, he says, “Your Majesty.” Kind of, “參見太后” , so use a dialog in the movie. I was so embarrassed.

01:47:51.670 - 01:48:05.210

I say, “Please. Stand up.” He say, “I was your big fan.” You know, his generation, he really saw my movie. He’s from Shanghai too. So kind of things like that.

01:48:05.460 - 01:48:22.440

This is one. Other one is Singapore, in the... Li Lanqing— Premier, Chinese Minister Premier, 副部长 that time. Same thing— a couple of years ago, he kneeled down

01:48:24.100 - 01:48:40.110

too. My husband was shocking. He had no idea what was going on. Now he understand. I told him, first, is movie is so powerful. I have a movie, maybe the other one, it’s ballet dance.

01:48:41.120 - 01:48:51.110

He make movie with me. He told me, “If you dance for the swan, like the prince, for ten years— not equal one movie”.

01:48:52.190 - 01:49:04.350

He played one movie, like everybody knows him. He say, “dance, dance, ten years, on the Shanghai stage, only for the prince. Nobody knows!” So I was thinking, movie is very powerful.

01:49:04.350 - 01:49:18.460

So this is a good tool to make good one, not bad one you know. So I didn’t realize it affects so many people’s lives. So many years, they still remember.

01:49:18.980 - 01:49:26.830

I cannot believe. I remember other things. I was with my husband. They went to Shanghai. They had EB5— he’s a

01:49:26.830 - 01:49:36.580

immigration lawyer. He had a conference. One day, I was in the booth. All the other lawyers- they go to lunch or bathroom.

01:49:36.580 - 01:49:54.910

So I was there. I say I can hold it, take care for a few minutes. One lady come, Chinese lady, come here and looked at me. And she started to cry, and she started to shake. I said, “May I help you?” She just… I just patted

01:49:56.070 - 01:50:05.950

her . She said, “I cannot believe. I cannot believe. It’s you! Are you Chen Ye?” I said, “Yes. We can take a picture together.” I just want to

01:50:06.040 - 01:50:17.590

cool her down. She cannot speak. She just, “I cannot believe.” Then finally I cool her down. I say, “You come here. You have something.

01:50:17.910 - 01:50:32.450

You have some business you want to do.” She say, “My daughter wants to study, immigrate to America or something.” Finally she cooled down, and I have a picture with her. She said, “I just cannot believe.

01:50:32.590 - 01:50:45.640

I feel like I can see you all the years in live, in person.” She say, “I always see, when I was, years ago, you know, in the movie see you, I likes you.

01:50:46.020 - 01:50:58.270

I have all your posters. I keep that.” Somebody sent me lots of posters. They keep it— one year, whole year calendar. I have 12 months, all my pictures.

01:50:59.270 - 01:51:09.040

So lots of people keep that. And magazine— some people sent me the old magazines I was in cover. Stuff I cannot believe, kind of… And my husband said, “you know this is

01:51:09.040 - 01:51:26.000

called Star power.” I say I hope I give people a good character. I feel like my character is always like a good one. I hope I play some bad too.

01:51:29.900 - 01:51:50.380

So speaking of your husband, how did you meet him? In Houston. He has a former client, sees me, asks me “If you don’t make movie, are you gonna die or not?” I say, “I’m not gonna die, but I’m not gonna give up.” I just got here.

01:51:51.110 - 01:52:02.260

He said, “Okay. In that case, I need to introduce you a lawyer, so make you legal here. How about if Hollywood find a job for you? You are international student.

01:52:02.260 - 01:52:12.560

You are not legal working for this country.” I say, “That’s important. I need a Legal if Hollywood gives me a job.” So that’s I met Charles. He’s an immigration lawyer.

01:52:12.560 - 01:52:26.100

And later on he always joke with me. He said, “Hollywood didn’t discover you. I did.” He was very support me, and he support me I finish my degree, because I have to make the

01:52:26.100 - 01:52:42.740

movie between my graduation. I have to post for other half a year, because I have to make the movie, and also I have a baby. And I say, “You know my teacher said, I’m more experienced than the teachers.”

01:52:43.140 - 01:52:57.280

But he say, “This is your dream. Just finish it.” So I finished the degree. I spent more time write my thesis than other people because you know the English part.

01:52:58.420 - 01:53:14.700

So anyway, I made it. So how many kids do you have? Two sons, also graduate from Rice. Really? Yeah. One is mechanical engineering, business

01:53:15.750 - 01:53:32.670

minor. Other one is geology. Yea. Now the geology one is third year law school in UH. The older one is working for US Trust at Bank of America. So do you

01:53:32.710 - 01:53:45.170

try to maintain Chinese culture with your children? Yes. I only speak Mandarin to the boys. So they… This also thanks for my husband. He decide that I

01:53:45.780 - 01:54:00.970

only speak Mandarin to them so they can speak perfect language, the Mandarin and they understand. But Shanghainese they don’t speak, they understand anyway. My husband, “Don’t confuse them with other

01:54:01.060 - 01:54:11.300

dialect.” But in school, they learned Spanish. My husband speak Spanish. So they have three languages. I think pretty good.

01:54:11.300 - 01:54:25.230

But right now they regret they didn’t write well in Chinese, and reading. When they were kids, they would feel like boring; and difficult for the Sunday School in Chinese, only one time.

01:54:25.230 - 01:54:38.110

You need to practice all the time anyway. Yeah, so do you still like- do you celebrate Chinese festivals? Yes, we do. Yeah. I have.

01:54:39.210 - 01:54:53.870

After Christmas, the Chinese New Year, I have all the decorations. And we still have a Chinese, like, New Year, still tries the tradition way— give them hongbao too.

01:54:54.290 - 01:55:06.410

They like the hongbao. It has money. Red envelope. Have you experienced any conflict between Chinese and US culture?

01:55:08.540 - 01:55:23.080

In family or outside? In family, while raising your children? Yes. You see right now, if I talk to them that’s easy. But if I writing, then I’d rather

01:55:24.360 - 01:55:33.450

just talk—easy. But if I write Chinese, they don’t understand. I had to write English. But sometimes it’s kind of funny.

01:55:33.450 - 01:55:47.910

I write English use Chinese alphabet. The sounds like it, because doesn’t have English, we have special words you know. Kind of a way. I taught them when they were kids, speak Chinese.

01:55:47.910 - 01:55:57.520

I think I want them don’t hate the language. I want them willing to speak. I taught them that way.

01:55:57.730 - 01:56:08.120

I didn’t think “Oh, this is the mother tongue. This you have to.” Not that way. I told them, “You both boys, you have your secret language. When you speaks, other people don’t understand.

01:56:09.190 - 01:56:20.330

So while they play ball game, you say, pass me the ball something in Chinese, nobody knows.” So they think it’s pretty cool. It works. So keep them

01:56:20.330 - 01:56:35.030

speaking. This is so cool! Um so do you still go back to China often? Yes, usually go. Before last year, every twice a year.

01:56:35.120 - 01:56:47.650

Last year, the end of year and the beginning the year. We went to with the mayor delegation to three cities, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen. And this is

01:56:47.650 - 01:56:59.350

second time with the mayor. And even last time, with the Bill White, Mayor. I come back. He say, “Oh my gosh.” He say. When we were in Shanghai, some part

01:57:00.180 - 01:57:14.290

about the steel company, big company. “And all the people,” he say, “you don’t want to go with Lily.” Everybody come to me, leave the mayor alone! He feels bad.

01:57:14.950 - 01:57:28.230

He say, “Now you understand.” You know. So his words are funny. Yeah I go back. Every time out I gather with all the my elementary- elementary student- classmate—

01:57:28.570 - 01:57:45.350

same people, elementary, high school; and some when even in the farm, and elementary group boy and girl. We always have a gathering together. Kind of fun. Do you take your

01:57:45.680 - 01:57:58.220

children with you when you go back? Yeah, we did. I took them to the Great Wall, to the Beijing all kind of, you know— the place I made movie, and show them where is where.

01:57:58.620 - 01:58:06.440

But I didn’t take them to the farm. I want to, but I don’t have the chance. Now they can go by themselves too, without me. All my friends knows them.

01:58:06.440 - 01:58:20.250

I send them Christmas card. I write Christmas letter every year in Chinese and report what happened. So last year, I didn’t do it and I felt bad.

01:58:20.250 - 01:58:35.350

My friend say, “We are just waiting for.” Now nobody writes anymore, always just the pictures or just email or something. And I think, “God, so many people really I miss”. So this year I’m going to go back, do this again.

01:58:38.110 - 01:58:58.570

So what were your biggest challenges and rewards in raising your children? Yes. I feel like they have everything, not like when I grew up. So I want them to have some hardship.

01:58:59.940 - 01:59:15.710

Um… I teach them lots of things, but still feel like do too much for them. And when they were in third grade and in fifth grade, we, me and my husband, sent them to Wild Ranch Summer Camp.

01:59:16.920 - 01:59:33.650

Wild Ranch is working ranch, no air conditioning, no TV, stuff like that. They have to stay there. And they have to wash their own dishes and laundry; and they have to ride a horse; they

01:59:33.650 - 01:59:46.290

have to camping or whatever. It actually works. When they come back, you know they just right, wash the dishes and stuff. But after probably a few weeks, they forget about it.

01:59:46.900 - 02:00:00.160

Because we did for them too. And yeah… So because here not like when I grew up, you know kids just in the neighborhood, we all just play

02:00:00.160 - 02:00:14.800

together. Here, nobody here. But in school, they still— when they was young, still have a friend. Here, different. People too, they can’t find them. College I think friends is forever.

02:00:18.780 - 02:00:37.490

So what do you think is your biggest success in your life until now? Um… I don’t think I’m that success. I just doing okay and I don’t think I… I don’t know.

02:00:37.910 - 02:00:52.030

I’m satisfied I have experiences as a woman, as an actress. I did make movie. I go through all the experiences

02:00:52.080 - 02:01:07.800

not everybody can go through. And so far the kids’ education, I think, I almost gave up everything to raise them. Because of them, say I

02:01:08.040 - 02:01:24.680

can’t make movie, go back, or make money. But I think education is important things for me, and so it’s worthy for me now. I realize worth for me to raise them to give up myself

02:01:24.730 - 02:01:43.990

things. But if I have to go do it again, I probably not gonna be give up everything and do something too. I’m continue trying to do things, I think, everything just a little bit.

02:01:44.080 - 02:01:53.880

You don’t need a big thing or something. You do the right things. I always tell them, do the right things even a little bit. You feel good and you feel right.

02:01:53.880 - 02:02:14.560

Is there anything else that you want to add to your story? Like a

02:02:20.350 - 02:02:31.510

really good memory you have, or like... I don’t know... or like, things you look forward to in your life? Yeah. I think not for me, and also for the Asian, all the people

02:02:31.510 - 02:02:46.170

from different countries to American. Keeping your own culture is very important. That’s your root. Every culture has very valuable things. Good one.

02:02:46.960 - 02:03:02.890

So like a religion, every religion is good— tell people to do the right things, just the way different. Same thing. Yea just... Whatever how old are you, keep studying,

02:03:04.430 - 02:03:19.160

keep— what do you say? Always… Because the world is going on. You always study and improve yourself. And whatever, with your kids or outside, you

02:03:19.160 - 02:03:29.640

know, just, in that way, keep you. Especially woman— keep you very confident. And I believe women should be independent.

02:03:30.130 - 02:03:40.890

In China, this is good, because I wish I didn’t change my name, you know. It’s so complicated. In China, women has own names. You don’t— even you marry— don’t change for the

02:03:41.040 - 02:03:52.720

husband name. So independent is very important, and so you confident. Don’t feel like people looking you down. You only yourself can look yourself down.

02:03:53.150 - 02:04:03.490

Never, nobody can look you down. If somebody looks me down, I don’t care. I know who I am. Thinking about that way, I think everybody doing the

02:04:03.490 - 02:04:17.920

right things, we’re gonna contribute to the society. Is there anything you want to add that you haven’t mentioned before? Um.. what part? Um… Just alright…

02:04:23.290 - 02:04:28.600

Thank you for your time. That’s all. I’m so happy to.