Qian Zhijun

In this Chinese name, the family name is Qian.
Qian Zhijun
Born (1987-07-15) July 15, 1987 (age 37)
Jinshan District, Shanghai, China
Occupation(s)Actor, entertainer
Years active2003 – present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese錢志君
Simplified Chinese钱志君
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinQián Zhìjūn
Qian Zhijun (second from right) seen with other cast and crew members of the film The University Days of a Dog in Nanjing, China

Qian Zhijun (born July 15, 1987[1]), nicknamed "Little Fatty" (小胖 Xiǎo Pàng), is a Chinese actor and entertainer. His fame began during the "Little Fatty" internet meme, and since then he has appeared in a film and a cooking show, hosted a festival for people with alternative body types, and appeared in advertising.

History

Qian is originally from Jinshan District, Shanghai. In 2003,[2] an individual had taken a photograph of Qian at a traffic safety event.[3] Starting in 2003, his face was superimposed onto various other images.[4][5]

Qian said that he first discovered the meme when, at an internet café, a person approached Qian and asked him if he was the real "Little Fatty." Qian said that he originally felt humiliation, but "I have tried to turn sorrow into strength. At least this makes people smile and I have had quite a positive response from many surfers."[3]

In the mid-2000s Qian worked as a gas station attendant, with a salary of 1,000 Chinese yuan ($125 USD,[6] £60 GBP,[citation needed] about R1,000 ZAR[6]) per month.[5] He weighed 100 kilograms (220 lb).[2] By 2006, as a result of exposure from the meme, Qian had hopes about getting a career as an entertainer.[6]

Entertainment career

La Carmina of CNN said that by late 2006 Qian became "one of the most famous faces in China." Carmina added that, as a result of the internet meme, Qian "went from obscurity to movie stardom."[7] Qian accepted an appearance to appear in Beijing on the talk show Tell The Truth.[5] Qian was to star in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, where he was supposed to play Liu Shan, the last emperor of the Shu Han.[8] In 2007 the film script was modified due to financing issues. The Liu Shan role was altered, and Qian's planned role in the film was removed.[9]

In 2007 New Line Cinema invited Qian to act in a film version of "Ghost Blows Out the Light."[10] Qian also became the host of a cooking show on China Food TV. The program, Little Fatty’s Food Diary (小胖美食日记 Xiǎo Pàng Měishí Rìjì),[11] began broadcast from a television station in Qingdao, eastern Shandong Province on January 29, 2007.[12] The program was broadcast on Mainland Chinese television,[13] and it also was broadcast on Sohu, one of China's major web portals.[14]

In 2010 Qian hosted a festival celebrating people with alternative body types in Shanghai.[15] He starred in the 2010 film The University Days of a Dog.[16] This was his first occasion of starring as one of the main characters in a film. Qian did preparatory work before filming, and in an interview he said that he still had to learn a lot about acting.[17]

In 2006 Qian won the New Weekly Online Person of the Year award. In May 2008, at the Global Chinese Creative Advertising Awards (全球华人广告创意功夫奖 Quánqiú Huárén Guǎnggào Chuàngyì Gōngfu Jiǎng), he was nominated for the Best Newcomer in Advertisements (最佳广告新人 Zuìjiā Guǎnggào Xīnrén) award. Qian starred in a short film, released online, called "Hip Hop Quartet" (嘻哈四重奏 Xīhā Sìchóngzòu); it was directed by Lu Zhengyu. In addition Qian also appeared in advertising for 7-Up, Apple Computer, Canon, Master Kong, Pepsi, Shanda Entertainment, SK Telecom, The9, and Tianqi toothpaste.[18]

Personal life

In July 2011 Qian was married.[19] On July 15, 2011, which was Qian's 24th birthday, his agent, who used the Sina Weibo username "Agent Huldayan," posted their wedding photographs and stated "@ Online Little Fatty Qian Zhijun, wish you dear a happy birthday. In the future please hold my hand tight and let's walk further together."[20] Qian then posted scans of his official wedding documents on his Weibo account.[20]

References

  1. ^ "芙蓉姐姐上央视再遭围观 那些“哥哥姐姐”你还记得谁？" (Archived 2012-06-17 at the Wayback Machine) Hebnews (Hebei News). November 29, 2011. Retrieved on January 23, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "The new cultural revolution: How Little Fatty made it big." The Independent. Thursday November 16, 2006. Retrieved on May 18, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "The Last Laugh on the Fat Joke Heard 'Round the World." Fox News. Tuesday November 21, 2006. Retrieved on May 10, 2011.
  4. ^ Clifford Coonan (November 16, 2006). "The new cultural revolution: How Little Fatty made it big". the Independent. London. Archived from the original on November 19, 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  5. ^ a b c Jane Macartney (November 22, 2006). "A fat chance of saving face". London: the Times online. Archived from the original on May 10, 2011. Retrieved 2007-02-21.
  6. ^ a b c "'Little fatty' likes his newfound fame." IOL. November 15, 2006. Retrieved on May 10, 2011.
  7. ^ Carmina, La. "East vs. West: Asia’s 10 most viral memes knock out their Western counterparts Archived 2010-04-03 at the Wayback Machine." CNN. March 16, 2010. Retrieved on May 11, 2011.
  8. ^ "草根英雄走出网络大行其道 Archived 2012-03-21 at the Wayback Machine." Hangzhou.com.cn. March 8, 2007. Retrieved on May 15, 2011. "小胖，本名钱志君，因为2002年自己无意中的一个表情，五年来被各地网友不断 .... 他来 说最好的机会便是，电影《三国之见龙卸甲》邀请他出演角色，饰演刘备的儿子刘禅。"
  9. ^ "小胖和芙蓉姐姐划清界限 胡戈对内地电影没信心 Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine." SDNews. July 3, 2007. Retrieved on January 19, 2012.
  10. ^ "Little Fatty likely to appear in Hollywood film." China Daily. July 3, 2007. Retrieved on May 15, 2011.
  11. ^ "Bagua Dish Little Fatty’s Food Diary Daily Broadcast." (Archive, Archive #2) China Food TV. Retrieved on May 15, 2011.
  12. ^ "'Fatty' to host TV show." (Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine) China Daily. January 30, 2007. Retrieved on January 12, 2012.
  13. ^ "《嘻游记》八戒：小胖个人简介." (Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine) QQ News. December 20, 2007. Retrieved on January 21, 2012.
  14. ^ "中华美食频道《小胖美食日记》联手sohu征选小胖搭档." (Archived 2012-11-17 at the Wayback Machine) Digital new-Media (BMedia). December 28, 2007. Retrieved on January 12, 2012.
  15. ^ "上百名“胖胖”聚会过节 网络红人小胖：有自信就美丽." (Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine) Xinmin.cn. August 8, 2010. Retrieved on May 15, 2011. Text: "还认得我么？我就是著名的网络小胖。胖胖节我来当主持人。 新民网记者陆俊彦 静安文化馆现场回传"
  16. ^ 《一只狗》原创于深圳宣传造势 场面火爆(图)." "(Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine) Xinmin.cn. September 5, 2010. Retrieved on May 15, 2011.
  17. ^ "一只狗的大学时光将上映 剧中跑酷味十足." (Archived 2012-06-17 at the Wayback Machine) Xout.cn. July 30, 2010. "这次是他首次主演电影，谈及在大银幕上的表现，网络小胖谦虚的说自己还有很多需要和前辈学习的地方，为了拍摄这部电影，他也事先做了很多准备工作，希望大家能够满意他在片中的表现。"
  18. ^ "《一只狗的大学时光》角色介绍：大雄." (Archived 2010-08-31 at the Wayback Machine) QQ Entertainment News. August 12, 2010. Retrieved on January 22, 2012. "　广告：七喜、百事、CANON、苹果电脑、康师傅、九城、盛大，田七牙膏、韩国SK手机等"
  19. ^ "网络红人百变小胖结婚了 网友感叹岁月真是把杀猪刀." Gansu Daily. July 19, 2011. 1 (Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine). Retrieved on January 12, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "网络红人百变小胖婚了 网友：岁月真是把杀猪刀." () Xinhua. July 19, 2011. Retrieved on January 23, 2012.

Further reading