Actress Tseng Pei-yu detailed her immersive preparation for a cult follower role in The Three Antagonists during a lecture, including guitar training that led to a viral hot spring encounter with fans.
Actress Tseng Pei-yu recounted her dedication to portraying a cult follower in the film The Three Antagonists during a lecture at Taichung’s Zhongshan 73 Film and Arts Space,
revealing the extent of her preparation and a memorable fan interaction.
Practiced Guitar for Cult Role Until Fingers Bled
Tseng described how she trained to play guitar for her role as a cult follower, practicing for three weeks before filming until her fingers bled and were bandaged. “I wanted to authentically perform the song ‘New Creation’,” she said, adding that fans later confirmed she could play live. Yahoo News reported her commitment to the role.
She also admitted her fascination with the cult theme, stating, I was curious about the subject.
This interest influenced her performance, which included leading the song ‘New Creation’ during the film. Life News highlighted her candid remarks about the role.
Hot Spring Fan Encounter
During a break from filming, Tseng visited a hot spring in Wulai and was recognized by fans. Instead of avoiding attention, she joined them in singing ‘New Creation’ in the pool. It became an unexpected fan meeting, she recalled. Udn Stars described the incident as a unique moment of connection.
Her immersive approach to roles is not new. Tseng noted that her preparation for the 2008 film Parking involved living in a northeastern Chinese village for a week to portray a sex worker, an experience that earned her the 2009 Taipei Film Festival Best New Performer award. China Times covered her early career challenges.
Tseng emphasized that each role reflects a different phase of her life, stating, Every character records my life exploration at different stages. She also shared her philosophy of avoiding personal scandals to keep focus on her work, a stance she maintained despite her popularity. ETtoday noted her commitment to professionalism.
Career Evolution and Role Choices
In The Fish That Came Ashore, Tseng played a traditional mother grappling with caregiving and marital issues, a role that earned critical acclaim and international festival selections. The film was showcased at the Toronto, San Sebastián, and São Paulo film festivals, among others. She described the film as a testament to storytelling’s power to transcend culture and language, a sentiment she experienced when watching the film twice at a Toronto screening. ETtoday highlighted her emotional response.
Tseng’s lecture concluded with a reminder to audiences to support independent cinema, calling it a way to expand life perspectives.
The event, part of a month-long Zhongshan 73 series featuring her work, included screenings of The Three Antagonists, The Fish That Came Ashore, and other films. Life News covered the event’s schedule.
Tseng also revealed that her role in Love and Betrayal required her to work under extreme conditions, including a 12-day shoot with a limited budget. She described the production as a testament to the crew’s resilience, as they adjusted the script on the fly and overcame challenges like sudden rain during a dance sequence. Udn Stars highlighted the film’s unique production story.