The room is so quiet, it's as if you could hear the silence. Two large-screen televisions are showing a scene from the summer Hollywood blockbuster X2: X-Men United. But there's no soundtrack. Three people stare at the monitors, absorbed by the action sequences.
It's the inner sanctum otherwise known as the recording room of the Shanghai Film Dubbing Studio, where foreign films are given a Chinese makeover.
Suddenly the actors' voices fill every inch of space as the trio give the characters a Chinese life that matches the original. To the uninitiated, it's as if the mutant characters in X2 spoke only Chinese.
The scene stops. Everyone is ready to move on, except dubbing director Cheng Yuzhu. He's not happy. He demands perfection.
“This part is a little bit slow,” he says, the actors soon learning this is a common refrain. “Let's redo it. We need to time everything precisely with the original lip movements. We won't allow any tiny flaws. Every detail must be accomplished as perfect as possible.”
Cheng is finally pleased after the sixth take gives him what he wants. But dubbing is only one part of the process.
X2 arrived at the dubbing studio in early July and spent 10 days in the translation department. Once translated, the script is proofread twice: first to check the Chinese lines with movie scenes to modify every word for lip synchronization. Prior to dubbing, all the staff watch the original film and take a second proofread on the script, which helps them understand the characters better. Even after dubbing, Chinese lines, background sounds and music must be mixed together as the final step.
Cheng is involved in every part of the process and is feeling the pressure. He's even doing the voice of Stryker -- the film's main villain.
“The flick boasts 12 main characters, but our studio is rather understaffed,” says the 50-year-old. “I have invited many freelancers and even retired veterans.”
Fortunately Cheng does have help. All 21 voice talents are making every effort to make the sci-fi action flick a big hit in China.
Freelancer Hai Fan, in his 30s, is considered a `real' pro by colleagues. His task is to provide Wolverine's character with the requisite toughness, attitude and, at times, compassion.
“Logan is tough and cool,” he says. “I lowered my voice to make it sound deep and powerful to match his personality. I really enjoyed doing this character.”
Dai Xuelu, 70, a retired dubbing expert, has been called back to provide life to Magneto, a mutant leader with dubious ambitions. But the lines pose a challenge for the eldest of the crew.
“He tells the main line of the movie's story,” Dai says. “His words contain many scientific terms within a short time. I have to read all these terms clearly and make them understandable to all minds.”
Wang Xiaobing, usually lending his voice to villains, has shifted sides and gives cerebral, mutant hero professor Xavier a Chinese personality.
“His voice must release stoutness and a decisive manner when he is with his soldiers,” he says. “But he also shows tenderness with kids. So I make out a thick and raucous voice and shift emotions in different occasions.”
For all voice talents, comprehending the film's characters is the key to success. A complete understanding makes it natural and smooth to communicate lines with proper emotion.
Practice, however, is always more difficult than theory.
Huang Ying, a rookie who voices Rogue in X2, says she has learned a lot from her first year in the industry.
“I had thought that dubbing was an easy task like many others felt,” says the 21-year-old. “But I found I was totally wrong. Actors and actresses use expressions and gestures to perform, but we use only our voices to set up a character. For imported films we are more like their representatives.”
As the only professional dubbing studio in China, the 46-year-old company has made many classic foreign films accessible to Chinese audiences. The list includes Jane Eyre, Zorro and kid's favorite Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Despite the long history, the state-owned enterprise faces uncertain times.
Peng Zhichao, vice director of the studio, says X2 cost at least 100,000 yuan (US$12,106) for dubbing.
“We depend completely on government support for survival,” Peng says. “Even though we still continue the business because it's our career. And we shall stick to our tenet as ever: do the best dubbing, even without profits.”
Financial headaches aren't the studio's sole problem, however. A staff shortage also creates problems.
There are less than 15 voice talents in the studio, explaining why four days was needed to finish X2. These 15 actors are required to do all the voices in the film. Inevitably repetition occurs if the film has numerous small speaking roles.
“No matter how good these voices are, audiences will be bored if they hear the same again and again,” Peng says. “We do need some fresh and different voices.” While Peng longs for more voices and fresh talents, the newcomers encounter difficulties of their own, stemming from a lack of practice and experience. Both Huang and Qian Yue, another newly hired dubber, say they haven't had many opportunities to train their skills in the past one year. It's a stark change from two decades ago. Cheng recalls the early 1980s when China started its policy of opening up to the outside world. Foreign films streamed into the country, giving him and his peers tons of material to practice. Now just a few imported films are available each year, according to Cheng.
The emergence of rampant pirated DVDs in recent years has also damaged the film industry. Many movie buffs prefer to sit at home and enjoy the original version. For some, the dubbed version at cinemas isn't authentic compared with the non-dubbed DVDs.
Professionals, however, disagree.
Qian Yue, 24, says dubbed films still have market potential. “I believe the business can stay alive for a long time because most Chinese still can't understand English or other languages.” he says. “Subtitles may distract audience attention from the plot and even hide part of the scene. Also elder generations are used to and enjoy dubbed films. Dubbing is a kind of all-around art, but most people can't feel the pains and tears behind it.”
(Eastday.com August 28, 2003)
